Dawn broke, casting a soft light over the landscape. The pup woke up, feeling the cold, hard ground beneath him. His eyes blinked open, but he found himself alone in the cave. He called out for his mother, his voice echoing off the cavernous walls, but he was met with nothing but silence.

He ventured to the cave's entrance, his little paws pattering against the stone floor. "Brothers? Sisters? Mother?" His calls went unanswered, each howl fading into silence. The once vibrant and warm home had turned cold and desolate, devoid of the familiar presence of his family.

For a long time, the pup simply stood at the entrance of the cave. His heart ached with a sense of abandonment, the sting of solitude sharper than any physical pain he had ever known. He called out again and again, hoping each time that he'd see familiar figures rushing toward him. But with each passing moment, the silence grew heavier, the emptiness of the cave more pronounced.

His siblings' cheerful barks, his mother's tender nuzzles, the comforting presence of his family—everything seemed like a distant memory. He couldn't comprehend why they would leave him. Had he done something wrong? He was just a pup, still learning the ways of the world. The thought of his family abandoning him sent a wave of sorrow washing over him, his little body trembling as he fought back tears.

The pup sought solace in the familiar nooks and crannies of the cave, curling up in the spot where his mother used to sleep. He could still smell her scent faintly, the lingering trace of her presence bringing him a momentary sense of comfort. Hours passed as he lay there, lost in his thoughts, his heart heavy with sadness.

Meanwhile, the gnawing sensation in his stomach grew stronger, his hunger reminding him of his immediate need for sustenance. He was just a baby, unaccustomed to fending for himself. His mother had always been there, providing and nurturing him. Now, the harsh reality of his situation was setting in. He was alone, and he was hungry.

With a heavy heart, the pup eventually rose to his feet. He knew he couldn't just stay there, waiting. And so, with a last look at his once warm and bustling home, the young pup stepped out into the world.

His journey led him to the nearby lake, its surface still and serene in the early morning light. He paused at the water's edge, gazing down at his reflection.

Round, a bit pudgy, with a snub nose and deep-set eyes. His fur was dull, dirty-brown, matted in places, and his ears flopped down on either side of his face. However, what caught his attention was the faint, shining light at the center of his forehead, a new addition to his reflection.

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Curiosity piqued, he reached out a paw to touch the light. As his paw made contact with the shimmering spot, a transparent screen appeared before him. The screen was filled with words, and although he had never learned to read, he somehow understood their implications.

Name: _____

Age: 29 Days

Level: Null

Attributes: Null

Prestige: Inspection

Class: None

"Prestige." The word rang a bell in his mind. His mother had spoken of it, describing it as a birthright. Was this his prestige? As for 'Attributes' and 'Class,' they were foreign terms to him, their meanings eluding his understanding.

Abruptly, his vision was engulfed by darkness. Panic surged through him as he was suddenly lifted off the ground. His paws flailed in the air, trying to find purchase but only meeting empty space.

"Boss! I caught something. I’ve never seen a creature like this before." A gruff voice sounded from above him, muffled and distant.

He was swaddled in a rough, coarse material that scratched against his skin. The world around him swayed and bounced as he was carried away, his small body tumbling around in the tight confines of the sack. Despite his struggles, the opening of the sack remained firmly closed, leaving him trapped in a world of darkness.

His captor grumbled and swore, the words barely audible through the sack. The next thing he knew, he was tossed aside like a sack of potatoes. The landing was rough, and he yelped as his body collided with the hard surface. He found himself in an enclosed space, the metallic scent of iron and the rough texture beneath his paws indicating it was a cage.

The voices outside grew louder, their complaints about something being blocked by a wall and their inability to get in. The pup tried to make sense of their words, but their meaning eluded him. All he knew was that he was trapped by unknown captors.

He threw himself against the bars of the cage, his cries echoing in the empty space around him. Again and again, he launched his small body at the cold metal, desperate for a way out. But each attempt was futile, the bars unyielding against his efforts. Eventually, his energy waned, his cries for help dwindling to soft whimpers.

Exhaustion soon claimed him, his eyes growing heavy as the adrenaline rush of his capture wore off. His small body slumped against the floor of the cage, the cold metal doing little to comfort him. As sleep took hold, his mind was filled with thoughts of his family’s abandonment and the freedom he had been so abruptly robbed of.

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Chapter 3: Solitude, Birthright, Captivity