...is destined to burn...

~

Vincent

"So that's how you wanna play it?" I questioned through gritted teeth as sweat dripped down my face and the skin of my knuckles that gripped the knife began to crack.

The blue-white wolf-like animal before me growled and bared its extremely sharp teeth. This foe was much more fearsome than the boar.

It lept through the air and immediately extended its gigantic claws. This was a narrow stretch of cave, and I couldn't merely sidestep the threat.

I quickly flipped my knife so I could switch to an upward grip on it and bent my knees a little. As soon as the wolf was close, I locked my eyes on its chest, and, with my heart rate high and adrenaline going, stabbed the animal right in its thorax.

But the damn thing put up a fight, and this was not the end of our showdown.

It swiped its massive paws, clawing into my arms and taking a nasty chunk of skin out of my right wrist, then battered at my chest, letting out an ear-shattering roar.

I about growled myself and ripped the knife out, hopping over the wolf to get behind it. The damn thing noticed, and it flipped around and jumped, kicking off the wall with its hind legs and propelling towards me.

In a split second decision, I threw myself back and mustered every drop of acrobatic prowess that I absolutely did not have and reached my arms back.

I didn't have to handstand, I just had to kick the shit out of this thing, and I just barely got the force into my arms to push and kick the wolf right in the underside. Both of us fell to the ground as it took the hit, and it whimpered a little.

I was so ecstatic that I'd actually pulled off the move, I nearly forgot to stand up again. I mean that was a god-like defense that I probably couldn't do again if you paid me.

I got up and readied at my feet as the wolf did the same. A few droplets of blood were gathered where I sunk my knife in, and my blade was dripping my blood as the (stinging) wound on my wrist was bleeding.

As soon as the wolf made its next sign of attack, I decided to go all in and copy its move. I've nothing to lose and everything to gain. I launched myself towards the wall and immediately was hooked on the momentum and feeling of bulleting straight over the enemy, and when I was directly above it, I kicked off the wall, sending me straight at the wolf, who was now lunging at my with open jaws.

I changed my grip on the knife, both hands holding it straight forward, and we collided as it chomped down on my wrists, clamping down hard but barely being cut by the knife.

The pain was only fueling me and my dopamine-filled killing need, and I began to force the knife upward in its mouth, pressing and pressing and pressing until it was starting to just break bones and tear tissues. Of course, this didn't feel too great for the wolf, and it gave up, granting it a swift death thereafter.

By what was now force of habit, I wrenched its heart out and took a bite. The blood felt so much more nutritious to me than any amount of meat I could eat. And it just simply tasted so good.

Not that the meat wasn't good for me, because I still cut most of it out and set it in my little makeshift bag that I took off the last animal. I'm sure that was nothing short of a health hazard, and I'm sure I'll be nothing short of kicking the first person that made the mistake of thinking I cared.

Not like I'm losing much if I get a little food poisoning down here.

Now that plants and vegetation seemed to be everywhere, I could make fires every now and then, which let me cook up some meat, and they were also nice to sit down by and recharge my batteries.

Quickly after gutting and cleaning the big wolf and its hide, I got to work trying to turn the hide into something that could keep me warm. Ideally I'd love to find another wolf just its size so I can have fur on both sides, but for now I at least made sure the hide was very nice and clean, drying it out by the fire and making sure anything that could rot was taken out.

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I did keep most of the wolf's face and some of the teeth in its mouth. I have no idea whether or not they'll stay there since I'm no taxidermist, but at least at the moment, having a cool coat draped over me with a wolf's snout glaring out behind me felt just a little badass.

It's the little things in life to make you happy, okay?

I cooked a little bit of its innards to snack on before I moved along, which didn't taste good, I should add, and then decided since I had a decent fire going I would rest.

I tied the big hide (that went almost all the way down to the back of my knees and was super thick) together with a thick, strong vine, and gave it a little bow knot at the front, just so that I could move around comfortably with it on.

It was a bit heavy on me, but even that was comforting a little. Kind of like a very fluffy, very warm weighted blanket. I then wrapped the bites and scratches in my hands and arms with some vines and moss and leaves. It stung briefly, but after that I didn't notice, and then my simple monkey brain grew even happier because I felt even more ruff n' tuff with my arms wrapped in bandages.

I thought about the look in the wolf's eyes, the anger and intent it had to kill me. Then I thought about the feeling of watching that look disappear as it gave up and submitted to me as my prey. It was an empowering feeling, and I was very content with seeing that look of anger and intent to kill in its eyes. It's what I hoped real people would see in mine if I ever resurface... no... when I resurface. That way they know not to mess with me.

I remembered that I still had a gift from the twins back in Donthaar, and while thinking of Donthaar made my blood pressure go up, I took out their letter and read it.

My hands were very shaky, and while they held the paper, I noticed they were covered in dirt. No matter, I still brought it to the light and gave it a read.

To Lydia:

There are many things I wish I could explain to you, so much about this world and this kingdom and the one you came to love. Alas, my pen could never tell such tales, and my lips may never utter them in these walls.

I'm sure by the time you're reading this, the deeds whispered of in the halls have come to fruition, and you've found yourself in over your head.

But, My Queen, while I cannot offer you much in the way of advice or help from afar, as my hands are tied and body bound to the confines of this castle, I can give you this Phoenix.

It is a friend and mentor, a successor to one that fought bravely and protected great warriors many many years ago; it will protect and guide you, and most of all keep you company wherever it is that you wind up. Perhaps things have gone well for you and you wriggled free from the motives of powers greater than you or I, but that's merely hopeful thinking.

I can only spend so much time guessing at what has happened to you, and I can only pray it is My Queen that reads this letter, but what matters is you. Assuming the worst has happened, times may be dark for you. Please take the time to remember yourself before doing something you'll regret.

Our door is always open, and our arms ready to embrace whoever and whatever it may be that you become after the trials you've faced and will undoubtedly face.

Godspeed and the best of luck to you, Lydia Sakari.

~Dasmo

That's not my name anymore, I laughed to myself. What really is my name at this point?

With the letter was a very fancy key with a sparkly red gem at its base. It was larger than most keys are, and looked like it unlocked something rather important. Granted the letter didn't mention what it unlocked, and I have no plans to make my way back to Donthaar any time soon, but I do think it would at the very least score me some money somewhere.

But right now I'm at the bottom of a cave and I'm definitely not gonna see a merchant any time soon, so for now it's just a waste of pocket space.

Which, speaking of pockets, those are something I never added to my new fur coat. Damn.

Every time I looked at the coat, I couldn't help but imagine how fun it was to fight that wolf creature. I could remember every detail. Matter of fact, just about anything after my transformation seemed crystal clear in my memory.

Perhaps I could come to the conclusion that this new body of mine has a stronger memory? Perhaps I could also come to the conclusion that my knees hurt from the position I'm sitting in.

I shifted, and managed to get comfortable for once.

Vaxen the Phoenix, who before was staring at the fire (somewhat ironic), now waddled on his talons in my direction, then stood in front of me blankly.

I couldn't help but admire the majesty of such a creature. For the first time, I tried actually petting him. His flames were surprisingly not hot. They had this soothing warmth about them that transcended just the sense of touch; they kind of comforted me. I could feel his feathers, just as though he were a normal bird.

He seemed to settle down and enter a trance when I stroked his feathers, and after a minute or so, he began to sing. I'd never heard his voice before (at least not when he was screaming), and it was at least a little bit comforting. It brought me back to when Myu and I would sit under the rai tree and she'd hum for hours - a new tune every time.

Myu...

It's definitely been a while since I woke up in that mansion. Since I got a new sister.

Far too long since my world turned upside down. Literally, in a way.