Okay, No big deal... They’re just a Currently living and Very injured person... Nothing wrong with that right? Taking a glance at them they look to be wearing some kind of... robes? Or is it a dress? It’s hard to tell... Do they have some kind of Staff? Are they some religious figure? Religious people have staves right? eh... What do I know? They seem... Super out of it...? I should get them out of here... I may not be Human per se but...It’d be wrong to just leave them here.

Strangely enough, despite the size difference, They’re pretty light. Or... Am I just really strong... Well for something that’s about Knee height for a normal person that’s gotta say something If I can just... Haul them over my shoulders like this. I should be careful if that’s the case, especially with my claws. I nicked myself just with a pinch I can’t imagine the damage I could do to a person. Scratch that I DO know the damage I could do. I just saw it for myself. At least an Adult me... What did I do to be in this situation...

Complaints aside, I think the cave is starting to be going more towards the surface. Other than the slope I’ve been climbing I must be getting close to an exit. Other than the occasional small creature I’ve not seen anything else... Did these people just clear out these caves or something? I’d expect to see some more blood stains if that was true but I think the only thing I’ve seen so far is Moss and a few bugs.

I think I can see the exit? It’s a little far off but I can see a light off in the distance. I just hope it’s not some kind of trap Like a Cave Angler fish... Nah this is too bright for that Even the cave moss that glows isn’t this bright this is a Just stepped out after a week in the office kinda thing. Heh a ‘Light at the end of the Tunnel’ if you will. Okay maybe I shouldn’t make that kinda joke considering I did just die... It was pretty funny though...

Okay yeah this was for sure an exit. If it wasn’t daytime I might have Missed this tunnel. Getting closer I can already feel it getting warmer I think this person on my shoulder can feel it too cause I can feel them starting to stir a bit.

Man... Who knew it’d be so nice to feel the warm sun in the sky overhead. This air is so Fresh and warm too. I should probably sit this person down. Gently.... Don’t slash them open... Okay cool... Blugh... I had this really eerie feeling I’d look back and I’d only have their arm. I feel a chill down my spine as I think about it. It’s hard to shake the image but glancing up at them eases my mind. Now that I think about it. I never did stop to look at myself in the puddles. I’ve no clue what I look like... I could be some kind of horrifyingly ugly little monster. That huge beast wasn’t anything much of a looker but... They were kinda just... Massive... I feel my face out of genuine curiosity and... Eh... I kinda knew I had some kind of Muzzle when feeling my teeth but... Do I really just look like a Freaking Teddy bear? My only saving grace is the ears aren’t round but still. It’s like Asking for people to come pick me up and make gross baby noises cooing over me.

After a few moments of laying back in the grass I can hear them start to wake up proper. I can’t make out what they’re saying if anything but it’s a good sign that they’re not bleeding internally or something. Should... I still be here when they wake up...?

- - - One hour Earlier - - -

??? Pov

“...And you’re absolutely certain this is just a Adolescent Dark Beast?” The voice of one of my companions says with a hint of annoyance.

“Absolutely! I’d put my Life on that!” Responded the second of my companions.

The two of them had always been at each others necks when it came to things like this... or most conversations in general. Always trying to one up each other... I’d sigh letting them know it’s time to pipe down as I sit up from the back of the cart “Will you two ever just... Shut up?” I’d say stifling a yawn mid sentence. I’d glare at them groggily as they would sheepishly pause their argument.

“C’mon now. Can’t let the rest of us enjoy the entertainment?” I hear the gruff voice of our parties resident defender. “’Sides we ain’t got long till we get to this cave.”

I can’t help but groan and lean back against the side of the cart. He had a point. But I like to at least make sure my mana reserves were at it’s peak before entering some random cave system. I want to argue that but I get the feeling he’d retort with something along the lines of ‘Well you could just Meditate instead of trying to get some beauty sleep’ before doing his horrible laugh...

“Well that aside I think we are there actually? but uh...roads a bit rocky up ahead so we’ll have to hoof it from here and leave the cart.” our Stalwart leader and one of the two butting heads would say from the front.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

I’d futilely sigh once again. Getting my things together quickly by stowing them into my storage...

- - Thirty Minutes Later - -

“Are... we sure there’s anything in this cave?” I’d say gripping my staff tightly. Caves are not supposed to be this empty... that and I don’t like the markings on this wall...

“Yep. This is supposed to be a Dark Beast remember? they’re pretty territorial so there’s probably not a lot of critters near here anyhow” He’d give me a gleaming smile that only eases my nerves for a moment. The martials here can’t sense mana like I can and... I don’t like how.... ominous it is... Like a looming blanket of death.

Further in we’re all quiet now. I think they can feel it now. there’s something here... It’s Just up ahead I thin-

Something.... heavy just hit me... I can’t move? I can barely see up ahead... I think I see fighting...? I’m... getting sleepy now... Did we... win?

- - The present - -

My head.... is throbbing with pain... I remember walking and now...

I open my eyes and I’m Outside the cave? I quickly try to stand hissing as a sharp pain knocks me back to my knees “Damned... L-Lesser Healing...” I quickly chant as I let the slow and soothing feeling of the healing magic cover me easing the pain from my side.

Glancing around in the meantime I can only wonder how I got back out here... Did I get dragged out? If so are the other’s still in there? Thinking about it... I saw something before I went out... No I don’t think they made it... but If that’s what happened. How did I get out here?

I wince as I feel something tug on my robe and jump back a few inches... I... Is that.... A Dark Beast Cub?

I stand in abject horror for a moment waiting for it to lunge at me but... it just stares at me tilting it’s head in confusion. If it wasn’t for the sharp claws on it’s paws It’d almost be adorable but... Did... Did It imprint on me? Oh Gods does that mean...

Looking back towards the cave I feel the pit in my stomach grow as that means only one of two things... Picking up my staff from the ground I can only look at the Dark Beast for a moment before rushing into the cave. If... IF it imprinted on me that... that has to mean...

- - - -

Dark Cub Pov

Did... I scare her back into the cave? No I heard her mutter something about her... friends... Crapbaskets... C'mon body waddle like you’ve never waddled before.

It’s not as graceful as you’d think waddling into a cave after someone... Thankfully no one is here to See this absolutely embarrassing sight.

Though on one paw it’s not really as slow as I thought... But on the other hand I must look ridiculous waddling like this. I think I’m a little late though... I can hear some pretty serious crying up ahead... Should I have followed her? she might attack me after all...

Well... There’s No time like the present I guess...

Approaching slowly I dig my feet into the gravel just to make myself known. I can see the girl sitting with her staff glowing with some kind of... Blue-green orb lighting up the room. I... don’t think I can talk but I think I can just...

I put my paw on her arm and look up at her doing my best to non-verbally check on them... I really hope she doesn’t just hit me...

“...Th....They’re gone...” she says. Her voice sullen and distant. I can’t do much more than look back at the gruesome scene and just look back to them and trying to make a noise. It comes out as a low grunt trying to help and placate them. I may look like a demonic teddy bear but damnit I’ll use all the cute I can muster.

It seems to help as they pat the top of my head which... doesn’t feel bad I guess. I give another soft murmur and sit down. I may be tough but hoofing it as far as I did has done me in a bit.

I sit silently with them for some time before she stands and approaches her friends. They reach into pockets and under their shirts as she takes what looks to be some kind of pendants or... dog tags I guess? They’re all made of a similar silvery metal except for the last one. That one has more of a gold trim with a silvery interior. I guess they’re in some kind of Military or something? She also took some small pouches and... just makes them vanish... Uh... Magic I guess? makes sense with the staff. Other than that she just Oh... I should help her...

After about thirty or so minutes I help her pull her friends out of the cave putting their stuff on a cart and covering them with a tarp... I kinda feel bad but it’s not like I could have helped... I kinda get the feeling I might have just gotten killed again if I tried to jump in... Both by her friends and that other... ‘Dark Beast’ I think she called it...I guess that’s what I am too?

I give a bit of a huff after all the pulling and lifting but it’s as I sit down I hear the girl approach. she gives me another pat on the head and I try my best to let them know I appreciate the gesture.

“I guess you want to come with right?” I hear them say as I glance back at them. She’d say as she conjures a bit of magic into her hand as I feel it wash over me and I hear something in the back of my head...

“Accept Party Invitation?”

- - - World Information - -

Monster Types:

- - Dark Types - -

Dark type Monsters are commonly affiliated with the Dark Magic type. While not Inherently Evil they commonly fall to this alignment due to the stigma and general environments that they find themselves in.

Dark Beast: Dark Beasts or Ursus Tenebris for their resemblance to the Common Bear type creatures. These creatures are typically a Violent type monster and are to be avoided when they are Adults by Parties with Less than Three Gold (III) Rank Adventurers. Cubs and Adolescents have the potential to split off into different Elemental or Subtype varients of the Beast Species. However Upon consuming the flesh of a Mana rich Humanoid or Other Human-Like species they will be locked into the Dark Beast Line.