Easing myself up against an unrecognizable corpse in the shallow river, I took a brief moment to take in my surroundings rather than dwell on the pain in my neck. Organic trash littered the ground nearby, killing what little flora had grown in the rocky area. I was in some sort of ravine, the only path upwards a small incline just a few feet away. Beyond the incline was an abundance of brown and green. Trees. I had briefly covered terrain in my “classes,” but like the scientists said, seeing was far different from hearing.
Compared to the rest of the vibrant scenery in the distance, this dump site was clearly a stain on the environment. It was apparent that they threw me out with the more organic trash into a river of sorts. Waste continued to flow downstream, but a large portion seemed to have created a makeshift dam, the corpses of various creatures forming a wall as they clung to rocks in the shallow water below.
The sheer amount of flies near the bodies meant that I had been here for at least a day or two, given the amount of time it would take for the decomposing bodies to attract such a gathering. They were making use of the corpses, albeit very slowly, and I was considering joining them. I needed something to eat if I was to heal, and while something fresh was preferred, I wouldn’t complain. Meat was meat.
After some more observation, it was clear that they cut too shallow into my neck. They had sawed through the exoskeleton, but their blade failed to go through the entirety of my neck. They probably figured that the deep gash was enough. Or maybe they forgot that I breathed through my exoskeleton and didn’t need my throat intact. Whatever the case, I was alive with my life hanging on a thread.
It's hard to eat with a hole in your neck, but I managed to wolf down some of the nearby corpses. It was some tentacled creature, its soggy limbs rather chewable. But given that it was sitting in this contaminated river, I can’t say it tasted anything close to decent.
Accident or not, I was alive and needed to move forward. But first came rest. No matter how much I ate, I would need at least half a day to rest and heal. Any longer would push the limits of how long I could stay in one place with no information. In the end, I was nothing more than a monster, and if I was found, be it the brotherhood or someone else, I would be put down. Humans were hostile, all of them, and I couldn't risk getting caught. Not this early.
Survival at all costs and destruction of the Brotherhood is my goal, but the latter will take some time to come to fruition. For the time being….there are simply too many variables in play. It is better to grow off the radar for as long as possible, which would start with some rest.
***
The day dragged on slowly as I lay motionless in the stream, but I couldn’t sleep and risk drowning. My patience would prove very rewarding when I could move effortlessly, no longer impeded by a cage or shackles. I was free to embrace the fluidity of unrestricted movement and renewed vitality for the first time in my life. No fetters around my limbs, no collar around my neck, no cage to keep me contained. Just me and the world.
As I stood up in the midst of the stream, I confirmed my suspicions with a sigh. I was in the middle of nowhere, no sign of civilization nearby to help me with my first priority. Location.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Gaia was supposedly a massive sphere where beings of all kinds lived, and given its size it would be most important to recognize where I was. I would no doubt be hunted anywhere I went solely because of my apperance, but some areas would likely be much safer than others. Like this plain for example.
I needed one of the so-called maps, which could only be found in some sort of settlement. Cities and the like. Considering my situation, acquiring one from a smaller settlement would be ideal. Now that I was able to move, I could do just that.
I began to crawl up the incline, my claws easily finding purchase in the dirt that lined the sides of the river. It took all of 5 seconds to climb up, where I was greeted with a full view of the greenery that surrounded this dump spot.
I found myself in a luscious green environment filled with bushes and berries in addition to trees. In every direction, there was no clear path. Just more and more plants without any idea of where to go or what to do. All alone with the rustling of trees, the chirps of more bugs and the echoing…laughter of some creature out there.
Intrigued by the distinct sound amidst the surrounding silence, I cautiously followed it. Though the source seemed deceptively close, I pressed on through the dense cluster of trees in silence.
This kind of vibrant environment likely had a name but given all there was to the world, I realize they couldn't impart all of their knowledge during my captivity. Some lessons, like identifying edible bushes, would unfold over time.
I was against eating any of the green vegetation, but the colorful, round, and bumpy appendages on the bushes appeared appetizing. At the very least, they were far more appealing than most of what I was previously fed.
With a mix of curiosity and hunger, I took a small bite, savoring the burst of flavor on my tongue. I took one, then another, and another. I just couldn't get enough of these things.
But….there was a nuanced interplay of taste. Not all of them were palatable. Some induced a delightful flavor, while others caused a numbing or burning sensation in my mouth or throat. Of course, I took note of the subtle variations in color and shape that distinguished edible from harmful.
No matter where I went, the wall of trees ahead was never-ending, even as I drew closer to the sound. It wasn't long until I found myself at the spot where the laughter seemed loudest, and yet, there was nothing here.
Nothing to be found until I looked up, that is, where I spotted the culprit. A tiny black creature up on a branch in a brown little circle made of sticks. A bayr? Berd? Bird. That sounded right.
Along with the bird were three miniature versions of it, who continued...laughing? No, laughing wasn't the right word. I could see that it was a plea for help, and that this was one of the families that the scientists mentioned from time to time. Not human, of course, but a family of creatures nonetheless. A creature with children.
Something stirred inside of me. Envy? Jealousy? A desire to have little smaller versions of myself as well. I knew very well that maternity should be the last thing on my mind given the situation, especially since I couldn't reproduce. But what if the scientists were onto something? There was one creature I was sure they hadn't done any research on.
Suppressing the reproductive thoughts and instinct that was rising to the surface, I continued my trek through the forest, doing my best to ignore the creatures above.
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Telepathy
Telepathy is one of the most fascinating disciplines the few known psychics have at their disposal. It synchronizes the energies of two or more bodies, allowing the user to access the minds of others. Some examples of Telepathic abilities include mental communication, mind reading, altering a subject’s perception, or even subduing their will. Telepathy has no effect upon mindless beings – such as golems or similar creatures. Stronger willpower allows an individual to resist Telepathic Powers easier.