“Hmmm? Is that a bird?"

The bird had to be a young eagle, or what passed for an ‘eagle’ in this world.

It has a reddish-black plumage with white patches on the underparts and wings. Its’ black head is darker than the rest of its body, with a hooked beak and sharp, piercing eyes. I could clearly see those wings begin to fold seamlessly back into the bird’s ruffled feathers. But, most unusual of all - it seems to have two elongated talons on each foot that would not be possible for any creature that I know, more than confirming that this world is not my own.

Every time I reach for memory, it's like I'm grabbing a book off a shelf. No matter how hard I focus - some books are just too high for me to reach.

But by traveling through the air, I've had time to think, to… focus. Basic knowledge about all the trees and fruits I passed could be gleaned easily enough, at least those that I believe are the same as in my past life. An apple I saw was next to, what I could only assume had to be another type of fruit? They were grapes possessing the rough outer texture of limes, and were a yellow hue.

Regardless, I know a few things about birds in general. Like how this eagle is a young adult due to having peaches of white feathers mixed with the light red. Or how they eat insects and smaller birds for their diet.

“Well hello there little guy, you must be… hungry…”

The bird struck first, its beak almost hitting one of my 8 legs. I try to climb down the tree towards the foliage, but saw him preparing another strike.

Seeing a small hole within the bark, I dash for it, just barely passing his beak in the process. This hole was small by human standards, but in this case it was the perfect size for a spider to scuttle in and away from a quite deadly bird.

‘Could I make webbing to block it?’ I thought with the microseconds I had to decide.

‘No, it would break the webs like they weren't even there, got to think of a strategy to kill it if running isn't an option.’

*Silence*

I waited for a few seconds, wiping the metaphorical sweat from my metaphorical brow.

‘… It's gone?’ No noise could be heard outside, I could be free, but that's not how my luck works.

‘If it's waiting for me, I have to go with plan B.’

A single second after my spider body had crawled out, I could already feel my body getting picked up in the bird’s mouth. I knew I only had one chance to make this work.

*Fwip* *Fwip*, 2 balls worth of webbing were sent down its throat, forcing the creature’s self preservation instinct to take hold - it soon swooped down so as to perch on a nearby branch. I made my way out of his mouth just before the bird’s gags caused bile to shoot out along with my webbing. I almost emptied my own stomach after the sight of crushed berries and mouse fur reached my many eyes.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Gross, all kinds of gross.”

**⅗ OF USER’S MASS STORES REMAIN

ANY MORE THEN THAT WILL BEGIN TO CONSUME HOST’S CURRENT SPIDER FORM INTO USABLE MATERIAL**

‘I get it, making these next shots count is essentially the only way that I'm making it out of this encounter alive.’

If this guy makes any loud screeches after this, I may fall off him due to the pain those screeches would cause my symbiotic form.

*Fwip* *Fwip* *Fwip*, I lassoed his beak to his right claw. He began to shake on the branch. Said branch was hurriedly chosen by the bird to land, and this would soon become aperient to the creature after its’ shaking caused the branch to crack.

I hold onto his head for dear life, wrapping a light layer of my own gooey sludge around the roof of my ride’s mouth for good measure.

*Snap*

Both me and the bird brain here begin to fall head first towards the forest floor.

*Bang*

I'm thrown off his head after making contact with the forest’s floor.

**USER HAS COMPLETED THE TASK: FIGHT FOR FLIGHT

REWARD - 350SP**

I thought to myself ‘when had I been given this task? But this ‘shop’ should be open to me when I start hunting - I'm just hoping it will be worth gathering a further 550SP.’

Looking back at the bird, my anger turned to glee. It seemed to be knocked out from the fall, so I quickly tested my legs out for damages, before going over to its body and did my thing.

As I left my spider, I noticed it now lying lifeless, the outcome of this bonding now weighing on my conscious.

**CREATURES THAT HAVE BEEN PAIRED WITH USER MAY SUFFER FROM PSYCHOLOGICAL DAMAGE - THESE DEPENDING ON THE TASK THAT THE USER PERFORMED AND THE DURATION OF THE TWO’S CONNECTION.

SYMPTOMS INCLUDING: MILD HEADACHES, ACHING MUSCLES AND A SLIGHT CHANCE OF DEATH**

‘If it's dead then… can't I eat it?’ I do so quickly, not wishing to stay in this form any longer.

I began pairing with the eagle, my tendrils slowly dug into its skin and weaved into its feathers. After a minute of concentration I got a hold on it's mind and put it into a deep sleep, just like what I did with the spider.

Spreading my wings felt great, it was easy to tell that I was an apex predator just from this power.

image [https://i.imgur.com/lzXzkf6.jpeg]

“I can get out of here AND learn to fly, pretty neat. I bet I can even shoot Webb's from my claws as I fly.”

**USER GAINED KNOWLEDGE ON FLIGHT AND AERIAL COMBAT

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE USER FOR HAVING THEIR PHYSICAL MASS INCREASED BY A LARGE AMOUNT

A REMINDER THAT USER CAN CONVERT THEIR OWN MASS INTO LOW DURABILITY APPENDAGES, WEAPONS AND TENDRILS**

‘My available mass must be increased when I devour living beings, it maybe even contributes to my regular form? If I consume this bird, will I be able to form a similar body? I could use this for making a human body after I analyse a corpse… though that isn't the most pleasant thought.’

I soon began to consume this bird, now that I have memorised how its' body worked. The sludge that had consumed this creature was noticeably larger then when it had arrived, now beginning to evolve into a creature not meant to exist within this world.

‘As an eagle grounded on the forest floor, I sense a world transformed. I feel the earth beneath my talons, the soft bed of fallen leaves yielding beneath my weight. The rustle of branches and the whisper of wind through the trees are now far above me, rather than below.

This creature I copied must have had an instinct for when it was out of its element - seems that I've gained that same sense since taking this form.

It's disorienting, unnerving even. I feel exposed, vulnerable, without the safety of the open air above.

I think for a while as these primal thoughts take place. ‘I got a body that can quickly farm rodents and bugs, then move on throughout this land’s food chain in mere days by my reckoning. It's not like any Symbiote needs to sleep, making nocturnal and daylight hunts always available. Just have to take care of one thing before I begin to gorge myself on other creatures and gain their Skills.’

“System, can you stop telling me how much health, stamina and Mass I have? It's starting to ruin my experience.”

**HOST HAS DISABLED ‘SYSTEM HELP’**

‘Now would be as good a time as any to begin tracking tonight’s prey. Will it be rodents? Or will it be wild boar? Not so sure that I can hold myself back from finding out what magical creatures may be in this world. Better get a move on then.’