System Message Level 3 Wolf Defeated Choose Attribute Distribution

Attribute Distribution Would you like to distribute earned points to:

STR, CON, DEX, AGI, or PER?

The first thing I saw as I woke from my unconscious state is the system window saying I killed the wolf. I minimize it for now in favor of assessing my current condition. My entire body hurts from flying through the cave and my side hurts from where the wolf's claw penetrated my body. Arching my neck around to see the damage pain blossoms along it's entire length, feeling like a stiff neck on both sides it causes me to wince in pain.

*That was close. I don't think I'll be doing much today if this pain lasts.*

As my side comes into view I can see the damage, there is a massive wound where the claw hit. My body has already started to heal itself but there are no scales in that area, just a bright purple skin that has crept back over the hole preventing me from bleeding out. I do a once over of the rest of my body looking for anymore damage, I have small holes in my scaly hide but they seem to each have a small scale already re-growing. Each of them are a jet black color making them contrast the bright skin underneath. I stretch out my small wings and feel soreness in both but see no damage to either.

*I really need to get up and see if I can move.*

Dreading the next steps, I slowly get my legs underneath me and push. My muscles strain to lift my body off the ground, more from soreness than lack of strength, but I manage to get myself off the ground easily enough. I move back up the rest of the slope and into the back of my cave, getting closer to my shell my stomach grumbles in hunger. I stick my head into the shell and slurp up more of the nutritious fluid, finishing off more than half of what is left.

*Well that didn't last as long as I thought it would, now I'm in a worse spot than yesterday with even less food.*

I pull up the Wolf message and start debating my options.

*It seems that it's worth it to just choose them all at this point, the Rabbit's message said 50/50 distribution though so I'm wondering if this will distribute 20% to each.*

Just thinking about distributing the attributes that way another message appears over the previous.

Confirm Distribution:

20 / 20 / 20 / 20/ 20

STR / CON / DEX / AGI / PER Y/N

*No, I don't think that's how I want to do it, I've already got an extra point in STR, DEX, and AGI. I think it would be better to get the points in CON and PER.*

Confirm Distribution:

50 / 50

CON / PER Y/N

*Yes*

Attributes earned for slaying: Level 3 Wolf CON Increased by 3 PER Increased by 3 New CON Score: 4 New PER Score: 4

System Message New Level Achieved: Level 2 2 Trait Points unlocked

*NO! I just wasted so much, ugh. So the level 3 wolf gave me 5 total attribute points, the fish gave me 1 and the rabbit gave me 2! I really wish I had spread that out now. Level? Now thats interesting, I dont remember seeing that on my character sheet before. So is experience for kills only granted when you assign the attributes or is the Level based off your attributes?*

Pulling up my character sheet to see my new stats, I'm blown away by the difference they make.

Race: Celestial Dragon Health: 34/40 Stamina: 100% Stage: Baby Level: 2 Attributes: Traits: (2) Skills: STR: 2 Breath: 1 Aura Sight: 1 CON: 4 Claws: 1 DEX: 2 Jaws: 1 AGI: 2 Scales:1 PER: 4 Wings: 1 WIS: 1 INT: 10 CHA: 1

*Weird Level now shows, is that because I noted it not being there, or because it's now above one?? CON seems to give 10x it's score in Health, maybe choosing that wasn't as bad as I thought. Fortunately I gain the health difference instead of still being stuck at a low value and having a larger deficit. It also looks like I gained three health back over the night, that's... troubling. It will take me another two days just to get back to full health. I wonder how PER will affect me though, it doesn't seem to have made all that much of a difference. The two trait points are far more interesting though, I really need to not just jump into this but my gut is to go with scales and wings. I would love to be able to fly, but that could just make me a target for other flying things. Claws and Jaws are both the same for me, My STR seems to affect that more, but maybe if my STR gets too high they will break which would be horrible for my potential survival. Scales seems to be the best for my survival, I'm assuming they will become harder to penetrate as I level that up. Putting them all into breath could be really interesting, it already seems incredibly powerful even if it does take a long time to fully regenerate. Dumping all my points into that could make it so I don't have to worry about getting hit, but I don't know how putting the points into that will actually affect it.*

As I mull over my choices I decide to try and take a peak outside my cave. I notice as I'm walking down the slope of my cave that my body is only slightly sore. Checking the claw wound I see that it has been mostly covered back over with scales. Looking around the other parts of my body I can see that those have fully regrown as well.

*Interesting, so the bump in my CON attribute seems to have accelerated my healing. I wonder if CON is linked to my natural regeneration or if it's just a matter of the larger pool. I wish I had been paying more attention.*

As I reach the base of the caves slope I can see that the day is well underway. As I reach the entrance to my cave I can once again hear the life of the forest, if anything it seems even more alive than it was yesterday. I can see the birds moving in the canopy more clearly and can almost make out their nests high above me in the canopies. The colors of the birds immediately pop out at me, some of them look like the vibrant blue and yellow parrots that I remember seeing at zoos.

*That must be that higher PER attribute. I can clearly see and hear much better.*

I look towards where the wolf corpse is and notice that my small earthen wall has been completely destroyed. There are still some sections that are pushed back up against the cliff wall, but the middle section is completely flattened. Moving towards the corpse I can see that other scavengers have eaten away at some of it but the majority of the corpse is still there. Moving over to the corpse I remember how good the brain of the rabbit tasted and decide to try and see if the wolf was the same way. Assessing how to get at the brain I decide that the eyes are probably the best way, them being larger than me makes them look like a perfect way in.

Using my claws to dig through them I eventually make my way to the delicious brain and as I thought it was just as good if not slightly better than the rabbits. After a few minutes of chowing down my stomach beings to hurt with the pains of being overfull.

*My impulsiveness continues to harm me!*

I think groaning as I crawl back out of the wolf's skull. Realizing I wasn't looking through my Aura sight and not getting any skill progression because of that I begin looking through it. The world explodes with light. Everywhere I look is just an incredibly bright pink light, I can make out vague shadows but nothing more. Confused by this I look around and eventually look up, which was by far the biggest mistake I had made so far... today. I could clearly see the sun through everything and it was absolutely blinding. I immediately stop using my Aura sight and blink my eyes a few times to attempt to get rid of the after image. Mid blink I notice the bushes near me moving as though something is coming through them. In a panic I turn and bolt towards my cave. As I reach the entrance I turn and prepare to bathe whatever is following me in max density breath.

A lizard, roughly half the size of me comes out of the bush, turning its head side to side it makes eye contact with me and stops. It stands there completely still looking at me while I look back.

*Is it sizing me up?*

I think, making myself look smaller to present less of a threat, or so I hope. After I crouch down and back it seems to decide I'm not a threat and moves towards the wolf's corpse to get a meal. Debating on the merits of attacking the lizard I decide to just observe it, I turn my Aura sight on to see if I can view it's Aura through the overpowering Aura of the sun and find that I can. The lizard's Aura appears as a darker purple form amongst the bright pink permeating the world.

*Well at least my Aura sight isn't completely useless during the day, but I definitely need to be careful not to blind myself again.*

Keeping one eye on the lizard I find that I can move my other eye around my surroundings and keep a lookout for any other animals approaching through the underbrush. I begin noticing other dark purple Auras moving around as well, some no bigger than pin pricks in the distance. The small Auras seem to be moving in a line between two points, one of the points has a large amount of the small Auras all moving around each other making it look like a swarm of ants on a dropped piece of food. The other end is approaching the limits of my vision but it appears that they are going down into the ground.

*I wonder if those are actually ants! It does seem like a lot of the wildlife here is what I would've expected to see as a human.*

The lizard had filled itself on the wolf during my observations and decided to start coming closer.

*Crap. Here we go*

It approaches the base of the slope up to my cave and pauses, completely still. I turn to look directly at it as it stops moving and we make eye contact. Its tongue pokes out between its lips smelling the air. After a few tastes of the air it withdraws from my slope and moves off into the forest. A sigh of relief escapes me as I realize how on edge I was.

*It didn't seem like it could harm me, but I really don't want to test my luck anymore than I have to after last night. I'm hoping this body doesn't attract more scavengers that could actually harm me.*

I decide to withdraw into my cave and wait out the rest of the day. Reaching the back of my cave I decide to start excavating a small hole for me to hide in just incase some animals that can fit inside decide to attack me. I choose to perch up on my hindlegs and use my forelegs to dig up the wall a small distances. Hoping to create a nook that's raised above the bottom of the cave giving me hopefully a height advantage if needed. The digging takes a significant amount of time but I lose myself in it, finally being able to use my dexterous front claws to create something.

System Message Skill Rank Up: Digging Rank 0 -> Rank 1

The message popping up in my line of sight breaks my tunnel vision on digging, causing me to pull myself back from the hole I've created.

*Another hidden skill, interesting.*

I take a look at what my digging has got me and realize I've managed to make a fairly deep nook that slopes slightly up before leveling out and becoming a small room. Climbing up in I can easily turn around at the end so my head is facing towards my main cave.

*Well that went better than I thought it would. I really lost myself there digging though. Once again I'm lucky nothing decided to creep up on me. How long have I been digging?*

I crawl back out of my new sleeping spot and make my way towards the front of my cave. The light outside is significantly less making me feel as though it's late afternoon maybe even approaching sunset. I flick my Aura sight on briefly to see if I can locate where the sun is and the blinding ball immediately pops up in my vision, rapidly approaching the horizon. I blink repeatedly to get rid of the after image, allowing me to see normally again after a few seconds. Poking my head out of the cave I take a peak at the wolf's corpse. There seems to be roughly six of those lizards I saw earlier all making a meal of the corpse. One of them sees me as I come out of my cave and they all stop completely still. I look towards them and bow my head slightly like two men passing in the grocery store. They look at me bewildered for a moment before making the same movement back and then continuing to eat.

*Are they intelligent beings, or just mimicking me due to me being non hostile?*

The thought crosses my mind when they nod back and I decide to try and vocalize my question but all that comes out is a strange amalgamation of a kitten meowing and a frog croaking. The sound makes them all scurry to the far side of the corpse causing me to internally chuckle.

*Well I guess talking is out of the question, hopefully one day I'll be able to communicate somehow or this might be a very lonely life.*

Over the course of the day the wolf's fur had been completely peeled off and the meat underneath had numerous spots where animals had eaten.

*Interesting so the wolf's pack either never came back or they don't eat their own, either way more food for the rest of us!*

Remembering my two unspent trait points I open up my character sheet and continue to mull over my choices as the lizards continue their communal meal.

Race: Celestial Dragon Health: 34/40 Stamina: 100% Stage: Baby Level: 2 Attributes: Traits: (2) Skills: STR: 2 Breath: 1 Aura Sight: 1 CON: 4 Claws: 1 Digging: 1 DEX: 2 Jaws: 1 AGI: 2 Scales:1 PER: 4 Wings: 1 WIS: 1 INT: 10 CHA: 1

*I really just need to choose, If I end up dying with unspent trait points it would be like going home with an idol in my pocket.*

With that thought running through my head I decide to put the first point into wings.

System Message Trait Rank Up: Wings Rank 1 -> Rank 2

I can feel as my wings expand, growing larger and thickening the feeling causes me to stretch them out to their max width instinctively. I watch out of the corners of my eyes as they slowly grow more and more into the edges of my vision. It has the same feeling of euphoria as a great morning stretch that has you groaning in pleasure. As they stop expanding and thickening I notice they are easily three times the size as they were previously, folding them back into my sides they now cover my front and hind legs where they connect to my body. The outside of the wings have scales much the same as the rest of my body and the inside is still the leathery light purple color.

*Well that was a lot more than I expected, I guess its time to test them!*

I stretch them out to their max span and flap them down, causing the lose dirt and debris to be pushed off the entrance of my cave. The group of lizards immediately reacts skittering off the wolf back into the brush. I can feel them start to lift me off the ground with just that one beat but I don't fully lift off, it feels more like my legs are just carrying significantly less of my body weight.

*Dang I guess one level wasn't enough to just fly. Can I glide though?*

Spreading my wings out to either side I coil back onto my hind legs and then launch myself forwards while beating my wings once, I end up gaining at least my own height in altitude before starting to glide forwards. I can feel the strain in my wings of keeping my body from immediately plummeting but they do keep me in the air enough to not immediately hit the ground. That combined with the gradual slope allows me to glide before coming down hard on the ground. Remembering my first adventure using my wings I immediately retract them to my side hoping to prevent damaging them and end up taking a face full of dirt.

System Message [-1] HP {Blunt}

*Yup, that's basically what I expected*

I think as I pull myself up out of the furrow I had created leading away from my cave. The gouge in the earth wasn't deep but showed just how hard I hit. Walking back to the top of my small slope I get ready for another attempt. Knowing that I have a much larger health pool now makes the one blunt damage I took a lot more palatable. It doesn't seem to hurt nearly as much as the other times that I have taken one damage.

*I wonder if pain is a relation of Health percentage lost and not the numeric value.*

Preparing myself mentally for another HP hit I coil my body like a spring. Wings poised to flap as I leave the ground. My previous experience allowed me to make minute changes to the position and tilt of my wings giving me a natural feel for how they should be splayed.

*Now or never*

I launch myself into the air with all my might, flapping my wings as hard as I can. My initial height is easily fifty percent higher than my first attempt, my memories of falling out of trees come to mind spiking my anxiety. The spike of anxiety is almost immediately suppressed by what feels like instinct. My wings responded automatically as my brain is occupied with trees and broken arms. Snapping down and then back up. I start to gain a small amount of altitude, but the strain is still too much for my baby wings. After the small secondary gain I start to lose altitude, letting my instincts take over I snap my wings down, slowing my downward momentum and transferring it into forward momentum.

As the ground rapidly approaches my human memories continue to scream:

*Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck*

While my dragon instincts brace for landing, my hindlegs... legs, tucking beneath my body bracing for the impact with the ground, my arms pulling in towards my body. As my legs impact the ground my knees soak up most of the momentum and then my body rolls forwards. I snap my arms forwards to catch myself before I plow into the ground. My wings push down arresting my momentum even further. Still not quite enough to bring me to a complete stop I roll forwards my shoulders and neck pressing into the dirt, my eyes closing expecting the pain to come next.

No system message stating more blunt damage appears, to my immediate surprise. I snap an eye open thinking maybe its just that I had them shut. Still no window appears in front of my vision.

*I flew! I actually flew! More importantly I didn't blast into the ground like a small meteor!*

Picking my head and shoulders up off the ground I tuck my wings back into their more protective position covering my shoulders and hips. Far too self-satisfied I merrily climb back to the top of my hill. Surveying the surrounding area for threats I don't see anything in normal vision, but with the sun dipping down below the horizon the sky explodes with color. The forest floor is now dotted with shadows from the massive trees and greenery at their bases. Switching to Aura sight I look around for anything I missed with regular sight.

I immediately see the Auras of the group of lizards off a little ways in the forest, they seem to be huddled together underground awaiting the advent of night. Further in the distance I can see the larger auras of bigger animals but they are so distant that their Auras seem small. Seeing no immediate threats I start examining the ethereal Auras of the trees and plants. Instead of the purple that comes with animal life they are closer to a bluish grey in color, but so sparse and lacking density that it's hard to say if they are actually blue Auras or not.

*That's strange, I would've thought plants had a green Aura not a slightly blue Aura. I wonder what the different colors actually mean. Every animal that I have seen so far has had a purple Aura. The sun's seems to be Pink*

Keeping my Aura sight on to hopefully continue leveling that skill I start making my way back to the pond. The ability to see Auras boost my confidence in being awake during the night and makes me feel as though my species of dragon is intended to hunt at night. Half way to the pond I notice another Aura that looks much like the rabbit did, deciding to go check that out I start moving towards it leaving the cliff behind me.

*I wonder if putting my last trait point into wings would allow me to fly fully, I think that might be worth the investment just in terms of getting away from predators like those wolves. The added defense of them covering my body certainly seems like it would be worth it as well.*

Mentally I try to allocating my last trait point to my Wings trait.

System Message 2 Trait Points required for Rank 3 Wings

*Hmm well I guess that answers that question, I guess scales it is then.*

System Message Trait Rank Up: Scales Rank 1 -> Rank 2

Freezing midstride I can feel the change start taking effect. Just like with my wings I can feel the changes taking place, my scales becoming noticeable thicker and more dense. My instincts take over and I flex my tail and neck, feeling the difference in the thickness and density. The strangest part being that they don't seem to be any heavier.

*Everything I know about density says that my scales should be weighing me down, but if anything they feel lighter.*

Spreading my right wing and looking at the external scales I can see that those have grown thicker and they feel much more dense as well.

*Interesting, so that density I feel isn't a material property it's a property of the Aura infusing them.*

I use my tail to prop myself up on my legs and bring the wing across my chest. Using my left arm I try to puncture one of the outer scales with my claw. The claw makes an almost metallic 'tink' sound as the scale easily deflects it.

*I wish now that I had tested the scales BEFORE upgrading that trait. The only metric I have so far is those wolf claws and I have no desire to test that again*

Wincing as I remember vividly the pain of that claw entering my side. Realizing I have spent far to much time not paying attention I immediately sweep my surroundings. Just like the previous night there are other larger Auras off in the distance clearly hunting and moving through the forest. Not wanting to get caught out again I start moving at a slightly faster pace towards what I believe to be another rabbit.

After a few minutes of travel I find myself above the Aura I had noted earlier. With my upgraded Aura Sight it looks like a poorly drawn rabbit, the main body comprising the majority of the aura with a circle attached to one end and two ovals on top. I immediately start looking around the area for it's burrow hole. My vision in these lowlight conditions is just as good as my vision during the day, if not slightly better, reinforcing even more in my mind that I should be doing my hunting at night. It only takes me a few minutes to find the burrow hole of this rabbit, hidden at the base of a large leafed bush.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

I perch over the hole and extend my neck and head down into the burrow as far as it will go. I take a large inhale and then release roughly a quarter of my breath capacity into the burrow. I pull my head and neck back out of the burrow and watch as the dark cloud outlines the burrow, diving deep into the burrow and eventually making contact with the rabbits sleeping form. Immediately the rabbit reacts, streaking towards the burrows entrance. Having learned from last time I stay completely still as it continues towards the hole. I can see the dark veins invading it's Aura more and more as it plows through my breath. I coil my body in preparation of the rabbit's exit and steel my self for its explosive power. The head of the rabbit appears first followed quickly by the body. It seems from my perspective that this rabbit is much slower than the last one, where as the previous one seemed to be three or four times faster than me this one only seemed half that.

I strike, catching the rabbit around its neck as the rest of it's body shoots out of the hole. My instincts and small amount of experience take over, I shoot my wings out to either side acting as a slowing sail curling my legs up under my body I dig them into the rabbits torso. Raking down with my legs as hard as I can, the familiar catch and pop feeling happens as my claws tear free. Dark veins of my breath pulsing rhythmically as the rabbit's Aura dissipates.

System Message Level 1 Rabbit Defeated Choose Attribute Distribution

My excitement at successfully hunting the rabbit without taking damage or expending most of my breath is only barely overshadowed by further advancement. I crack the skull and quickly devour the brain first, the delicacy of it clashing with my human sensibilities once again. The human memories are quickly thrown aside as the rich flavor and feeling of eating nutritious food overwhelms it. I rear back on my back legs and let out a tiny meow-croak in victory. Once again my luck shines through as a massive winged aura comes plunging down from the canopy with out making a sound, it snatches my trophy in the short amount of time it takes me to realize what has happened.

I lash out with my jaws grabbing its' closest foot and holding on as hard as I can. Its' massive wings beat down easily lifting me, the rabbit, and itself off the forest floor. My impulsiveness once again sending me flying, this time strapped to what must be the largest owl I have ever seen in my life. As the owls powerful wings beat down buffeting my whole body with massive currents of air I can't help but feel like the worlds most pathetic dragon.

*Damn it I just want to keep one thing that I hunt for myself!!*

We begin rapidly gaining altitude, giving me only a moment to realize just how high up we actually are and how much falling from this height is going to hurt. The owl releases the rabbit with the foot I am attached to and tries to shake me free, rattling my brain with the force of its kicks. My jaws release without my permission causing me to have what feels like a slow motion moment to realize my worst fear just came true.

*Fuck*

My upward momentum is quickly turned to downward momentum. I try to right my body as the ground starts coming at me faster and faster, I get my body oriented with the use of my tail and wings so that my arms and legs are below me. I snap my wings out to either side and heave them downwards with all my might, slowing me drastically but not enough as my body impacts the ground.

System Message [-5] HP {Blunt}

The air is blasted out of my lungs from the impact, my wings splayed out to either side I just lay there for a moment.

*Why did I grab it? WHY!?*

I gingerly pick myself back up and fold my wings back in protectively over my sides. My ribs feel like I just took a torso punch from Mike Tyson as I pull myself up. I look around hoping that there are no other large Auras to contend with and I breath a sigh of relief as none seem close. Getting my bearings I can see that even in that short time we covered a large distance. I'm now more than double the distance from the cliff as I was at the rabbit's burrow. Resigning myself to a long walk I start trudging back to the cliff, determined to at least get a few more attribute points from fish. As I begin walking I pull up the attribute distribution window for the Rabbit.

Attribute Distribution Would you like to distribute earned points to: DEX, or AGI?

*Fifty Fifty please!*

Confirm Distribution:

50 / 50

DEX / AGI Y/N

*Yes.*

Attributes earned for slaying: Level 1 Rabbit DEX Increased by 0.5 AGI Increased by 0.5 New DEX Score: 2 (2.5) New AGI Score: 2 (2.5)

*Wait what, I only got half a point for those??? But I got a full point last time! What a rip off!!! Why such a drastic difference in attributes given though, that doesn't make sense! Is it my change in level?*

Thoroughly annoyed at the underlying system I continue my trek back to the cliff, stomping my feet like a petulant toddler that was told 'No' when asking for ice cream. By the time I reach the cliff wall my frustration has subsided greatly.

*I guess it would be a little over powered if I could just hunt rabbits for two attribute points every time, but it would be nice to know the underlying systems. There must be some sort of math equation behind all this that I just cant see all the pieces of.*

After reaching the cliff I assess my surroundings, noting a group large Auras on the far side of my cave as well as back in the direction I came from. I can see in the distance of the canopy an Aura that looks a lot like the owl that just made off with my prize. Looking to my right I see the pond in the distance, or at least the auras of all the fish in the pond swimming around lazily.

*The night is young, I should take advantage of it while I still can.*

Continuing my night time adventure I start making my way to the pond, I decide to try and keep an eye out for the groups of those larger Auras I can see in the distance having a suspicion that they are more giant wolves. As I arrive at the lake I stand up onto my back legs using my tail so I can survey my surroundings thoroughly. The canopy is filled with small Auras of what look like sleeping birds, I can see other small Auras flying in the distance through a cloud of Auras that look like nothing more than pin pricks. The group of large Auras that were on the other side of my cave seem to have moved out of my vision range and the group that was straight out from the cliff seem to have moved parallel to me.

*I really hope they cant see me like I can see them, it seems incredibly suspicious that they seem to have mirrored the distance and direction I have traveled.*

With my anxiety in my throat I look back at the pond, keeping one of my eyes trained on the group of Auras hoping they won't move towards me. As I look at the surface of the pond in front of me my jaw drops, the stars above reflect off its still surface giving a surreal appearance like a perfect painting. I can't help myself and look up at the night sky, noticing without the covering canopy that I can see a plethora of stars above me in the night sky.

*Wow, is this what a night sky looks like without light pollution?*

The sky is littered with stars, some large and brilliant others small and twinkling. The most striking piece is the clouds of purple, red, blue, green, and yellow with a smattering of other colors mixed throughout making a line across the sky.

*Is that what nebulas would look like with your naked eye? I've never seen anything like that before.*

Realizing I was still looking through my Aura sight I stopped and just looked up with my regular vision, the colors fade away replaced by a luminous band across the sky. Looking back through my Aura sight the colors spring back into being.

*I did not expect the night sky to have an aura as well, it looks a lot like the colors in my scales in my normal vision range.*

Having not looked deeply at my scales coloration since upgrading the trait I decided to take a moment to stare at them, the colors of the tiny nebulas slowly swirling across my scales were much more prominent, the deep purple back drop seeming to have a depth that was not there previously.

*Wow, I wonder what they will look like if I continue to rank that trait up. Will I eventually have scales that look like the night sky through Aura sight?*

My awe captures my attention for far to long before I manage to pull myself back to the hunting of fish. I quickly peek at my surroundings paying more attention to the group of large Auras that had moved parallel to me. They don't seem to have moved any closer so I focus on the fish in the pond. None seem to be swimming close to the edge so I rock myself up onto my legs and perch at the edge of the water like I did the previous day patiently waiting for the fish to come closer to shore. After waiting for a hand full of minutes I notice that unlike during the day none of them come anywhere closer to shore.

I decide to use the tip of my tail as a lure to see if I can convince one to come closer. I turn my body slightly to the left so my back is facing more towards the cliff wall and dip just the tip of my tail into the water. The small ripples spread from my tail causing the reflections of the stars to dance on the surface of the pond. From this position I also have a clear view back to my cave home and can see that the second group of Auras has come closer while my back was turned. They are still far enough away though that it doesn't raise any alarms for me. Slowly swishing my tail back and forth on the surface of the water I immediately notice that some of the fish start to react.

Three of the fish that were in the middle of the pond start to swim closer to my swishing tail tip, the one in front clearly larger than the other two. They stop a short distance from it just observing the tail swishing lazily back and forth in the water. Even after another minute or so of me trying to entice them they seem to be unmoving, just watching as my tail dances before them.

*Come on you stupid fish bite!*

As if hearing my mental plea for them to forgo any intelligence the front fish darts forwards and bites my tail. Retracting my tail and snapping my jaws forwards at the fish I manage to grab it just as it turns around, with its' tail firmly in my jaws I yank it from the pond. I arc it over my body and smash the fish on the ground to my left. With a wet 'SLAP' the fish impacts the ground, I can see its Aura immediately start dissipating as the familiar window appears.

System Message Level 0 Fish Defeated Choose Attribute Distribution

Attribute Distribution No Primary advancement found Would you like distribute Secondary Points to:

STR or AGI?

*Well that's a new one, I wonder what it means by 'Primary' advancement, let's put it all into STR and see what happens*

Confirm Distribution:

100

STR Y/N

*Yes.*

Attributes earned for slaying: Level 0 Fish STR Increased by 1 New STR Score: 3

*WTF, THIS MAKES NO SENSE. So if I had chosen 50/50 I would've gotten what, half a point in each, which would still be a full point even though the rabbit only gave me half of what it did previously and the fish is a lower level!?! HOW DOES THIS SYSTEM WORK!!*

I hear a familiar laughing in my head that is not my own.

*Are you playing with me or something you high heeled Bitch!? What I didn't choose the race you WANT me to choose so you're upset, even though you said I get to choose whatever I want!?*

Baby Goblin

*Ha Ha, very funny. Not going to happen though, even if those wolves come back I'll hole up inside my cave and die of starvation before letting them kill me within the week.*

Silence is all that meets my venting. Watching my surroundings even more carefully after the clear threat from whoever or whatever she is I notice the group that paralleled me is definitely getting closer. They have only seemed to cover ten percent or so of the distance to me but I can start to make out that they are definitely the same shape as the wolf Auras that I had seen previously. They have already spread out at some point, just like the previous night making it easy to distinguish four individual wolves.

*I really hope they aren't hunting me again.*

With that thought rattling around in my brain I dip my tail back into the water again. After already having found success I try to mimic the previous movements, the fish react much faster this time to the tail with a group of four approaching this time. The same story plays out again, they wait for a long while just staring at the rhythmic swirls of my tail before one of them bravely shoots forwards. I retract my tail as they bite causing them to come out of the water slightly this time and then my jaws snap around them. I arc the fish over my body and smash it into the ground next to me. 'SLAP' Watching as the Aura dissipates and my favorite window appears again.

System Message Level 0 Fish Defeated Choose Attribute Distribution

Attribute Distribution No Primary advancement found Would you like distribute Secondary Points to:

AGI?

Attributes earned for slaying: Level 0 Fish AGI Increased by 0.8 New AGI Score: 3 (3.3)

The first window flashes briefly before the second window pops up over it, quickly followed by the third.

*Wait what the fuck? I didn't even get to choose what Attribute it went too? You just auto assigned it? Is this because I called you a Bitch????*

Closing the windows in disgust I survey my surroundings again. The four wolf Auras are definitely coming my way, in the time I spent focused on fishing they had cleared easily a third of the remaining distance. Scooping up the two fish in my jaws I start running back to my cave. I flap my wings when I have room speeding up my run by reducing the weight on my legs, after a few of these maneuvers I find that angling them down and back also gives me a good amount of extra forward moment. By the time I'm half way back to my cave I notice that the group in front of me has also spread out making it clear that there are five wolves in front and they have started moving towards me quickly.

*What did they do, tell their friends about me?*

As I'm working my way up the slope I can see the forms clearly of all nine wolves I've moved quickly but they've moved quicker. My quick sprint back to my cave aided by my wings only drained half of my stamina this time and I'm starting to feel a lot more comfortable in my night hunting capabilities, but I'm not loving this constantly being hunted.

*Maybe this is why she said it was a bad idea. I wonder if dragons taste really good...*

As I barrel back into my cave I take a peak over both of my shoulders and realize that the wolves have set up a perimeter. I make my way back up to the flat portion of my cave and turn so that I'm facing the entrance and begin eating the first of the two fish. They aren't very large fish so even with taking my time and enjoying the meal it doesnt take me long to eat it, but it does give me enough time to take in the wolves more. I notice a few things about the two groups, the first thing I notice is that even though they have created the perimeter together there is a much larger gap between the two groups than there is between the members of each group. The second thing I notice is the size of the auras, the group on my right towards the pond has four Auras that are the same size as I remember from last night, but the group on my left has five noticeably smaller Auras as well as quite a difference in their individual sizes. The two on the outside of the group are the largest, while the one in the middle of the group is closer to only half the size of the others.

*Interesting so they are working together, but they aren't fully cooperating? That one in the middle must be a younger wolf, or maybe the runt of that pack. I might be able to take advantage of that.*

My thoughts start racing with my usual terrible ideas, I look down at the second fish still waiting to be eaten.

*How many bad ideas am I up to at this point?*

I start slowly making my way towards the cave mouth, cautiously trying not to make any sound with the limp body of the fish between my teeth. As I get half way down the slope I see movement from the group on my right, clearly more veteran hunters they all start to pick themselves up from their resting spots on the ground and start to slowly creep forwards. I notice an immediate difference from the previous night, I can hear their movements.

*Is that due to my much higher PER attribute? I could definitely only see them through Aura Sight last night.*

The smaller group reacts to the first group getting up and snaps up off the ground, creating a ton of noise in comparison. The wolf closest to them visibly turned towards them and growls causing the smaller group to recoil slightly and then start moving much more quietly. I chuckle to myself thinking this is the exact type of situation that you can get a tactical advantage from.

*Where did that come from? What was I before this??*

I continued my slow descent, pretending like I couldn't clearly see the wolves and hear them. As I approached the cave mouth I could see the Auras around their legs start to condense and get shorter.

*Preparing to pounce?*

I slowly peak my head out of my cave, looking back and forth pretending I cant see them before putting the fish down in front of me. Paying careful attention to the wolves that were still back a good distance, but not far enough for me to feel comfortable, I laid down so that my back legs were tensed under my body ready to fling myself backwards. As I take the first bite of my fish the small wolf leaps forwards, the power coiled in my back leg explodes, launching my body backwards. I snap my wings out and down propelling myself even further into the cave, even with all that effort the wolf still hit the cave entrance and it's fangs came flying at my face. Snapping just above me as I land on my back. Instinctually I unleash the entirety of my my breath directly into its mouth. The dark dense cloud shoots straight into its mouth as it snaps shut. The dark veins immediately start shooting through its Aura, much thicker than in the previous wolf and far more numerous.

*I wonder if the effect is based on the size and density of the aura, or if that massive difference effect is just due to it enhaling the entirety of my breath*

As the snout retracts I can see it continuously coughing out clouds of my breath, each cough expelling slightly less of the dark cloud that represents my breath. Not waiting to see the full effects I roll over and start pushing my body as hard as I can to get up the slope, knowing that the larger wolves can reach a lot further into my cave. As I crest the slope I finally turn around to see all of the wolves huddling around the smaller one, even from this distance I can hear its whimpers of pain. The massive dark veins brutally pulsing and draining its Aura, the density already dropping to easily two thirds of its initial density. The veins showing no sign of slowing their constant drain of the wolf's Aura density.

*Wow, I expected that to get them to leave me alone, not kill it. I may have just declared war.*

As I watch the veins continue rapidly draining the wolf's Aura, pulling its density quickly below fifty percent. The wolf's cries of pain growing in intensity. The larger wolf that had initially snapped at the smaller wolves seems to be pressing its snout or face, it's hard to tell through the crudely 'drawn' shapes, against the smaller wolf's side.

*Should I feel bad about this?*

Its cries of pain peaking as it's aura hit a quarter of its original density, I begin hear its labored breathing over its weak cries as the veins finally started to diminish. The wolf's Aura was still losing density much faster than the veins were retreating, in only a few more seconds the wolf's Aura fully dissipated, the veins pulsing one final time before dissipating as well. There was a long moment after the wolf's labored breathing stopped.

*Well, that went better than expected.*

System Message Level 2 Wolf Defeated Choose Attribute Distribution

Then all hell breaks loose, the wolf that had growled at the smaller group launched itself at my cave entrance. Snapping in a frenzy unlike any I had seen from the night before, I could see the other seven wolves gathered around where the smallest wolf had been, sitting back on their haunches. They all simultaneously started howling, the combined howls barely overpower the sound of the wolf hammering the entrance to my cave. The whole cave vibrating with the force of wolf slamming into it.

*Okay, maybe better wasn't the right word. I really nailed it on the head when I said this was a bad idea though. I get the feeling that they aren't going to let this go.*

System Message: Realizing you make bad choices WIS Increased by 2 New WIS Score: 3

*Oh come on that was a low blow!*

I noticed at this point that the second fish was half way up the slope, roughly where I landed from my initial launch backwards.

*I wonder if I could reach that...*

After a moment of deliberation I realized that my low WIS score truly might have been affecting my ability to make good choices because I squash that thought quickly. Taking my win, I turn and move all the way back of my small cubby that I had made earlier in the day and pulled up the system message for defeating the wolf.

System Message Level 2 Wolf Defeated Choose Attribute Distribution

Attribute Distribution Would you like to distribute earned points to: STR, or DEX?

*Wait what? So the level two wolf only gives me a choice of STR or DEX, even though the level three was all of those options? WHAT IS THIS!? FiNe! 50/50, YES!*

Confirm Distribution:

50 / 50

STR / DEX Y/N

Attributes earned for slaying: Level 2 Wolf STR Increased by 2 DEX Increased by 0.25 New STR Score: 5 New DEX Score: 2 (2.75)

System Message New Level Achieved: Level 3 3 Trait Points unlocked

*Wow, all that complaining and I still managed to level up twice in one day! Wait, isn't even the same day? CLOCK!*

Nothing popped up from my attempt at bring up some sort of 'system' clock.

*Time?*

Still nothing.

*Dang well it was worth a try*

The cacophony of sound coming from the entrance to my cave continued to rattle my bones preventing any chance of me getting rest. With that in mind I decide to start expand my small 'bedroom' as I dig I notice that it is significantly easier than earlier in the day. My progress is quick, I manage to make a second small room off to the right side of the main room. The sound of the wolf's viscious attack on my cave entrance a rhythmic sound track for my digging. Crawling back through the small tunnel I had dug I notice that it seems to be a little tighter than previously.

*Did I grow in size from that level up?*

With that thought in mind I continue crawling having to squeeze a little as my wings and legs are quite tight in the tunnel. Coming out the other side I see the scratch marks I had made the previous day. I use the same index claw I had previously and gouge into the rock, this new gouge was easily five times as deep as the initial and double the depth of the second. Mentally patting myself on the back for giving myself a metric to measure my growth I turn and start widening the tunnel into my small room. As I dig the wolf's attack on my cave entrance start to dwindle, eventually ceasing. When silence finally takes over my cave I turn and look towards the entrance. I can see the aura of the large wolf still at the front of my cave, it appears to have laid down with its head pressed up against my cave entrance. In the distance I can see the other wolves still huddled around where the smallest wolf's corpse must be laying.

Slowly creeping down the slope towards my cave's entrance I can see the bottom of the wolf's eye below the ceilling of the cave. I continue my slow movement forwards until I am staring into its massive orb of an eye. The pupil consumes the entire orb diallated fully and staring directly at me.

*Well then, Fuck. Heres to hoping it goes away...*

As that thought skitters across my mind the wolf pulls back from the cave and I see a paw come flying into my cave, rapidly approaching where I am standing. Pushing backwards and spinning my body I scamper back up the slope. The wolf's claw doesnt reach where I was but is still far to close to where I am currently standing for me to be comfortable. Mentally checking in with my breath organ I can see that its approaching half capacity, I let out a tenth of the overall capacity at the paw. The dark cloud of my breath spreads out into the cave infront of me, expanding to rest on the base of the cave like a heavy fog. The wolf's claw retreats and then shoots out further, clawing at the floor of the cave creating gouges that are deeper than mine but nowhere near the depth of the massive gouges that mar the floors and walls of the cave. It retracts the claw again and shoots it forwards managing to get slightly further, but during this time the dark fog of my breath has moved further and the claw makes contact with it. The hair width dark veins start to permeate the aura of the claw rapidly going up the attached arm, instantly the claw is pulled back.

*Please go away, I didnt want to kill that wolf but you guys keep hunting me!*

I plead mentally, hoping that it heard but knowing it doesn't go beyond the confines of my own brain. The wolf's massive eye appears again briefly looking into my cave before retracting and joining its' fellow wolves huddled around the body of the smallest wolf. I can see the aura around its center start to contract and gain density before it releases a howl that blasts out of the wolf's mouth. The sound reverberating through the walls of my cave, a feeling of sadness invades me, the melancholy howl causing me to feel worse about the death of the small wolf. I press down those feelings with all my will.

*I shouldn't have to feel bad about this! They tried to kill me, TWICE!*

Rage fills my small form and I resolve to do the same to any of them that come and try to attack me.

*It's not even like I tried to farm them for attributes, I've literally just been trying to survive in this brutal world I find myself in. If some fish flopped their way over here and tried to attack me I could at least understand that, or if a rabbit came and kicked me while I was sleeping. At least in those situations I was the aggressor.*

I leave the wolves to their mourning circle and head back up into the cavern at the back of my cave. As if waiting for me to work out my feelings:

System Message Skill Rank Up: Aura Sight Rank 1 -> Rank 2

*I wonder if thats why I could see the howl before it happened*

Turning back to take a final peak at the wolves I notice that their Auras now clearly make out the shape of the wolves bodies. The aura seems to be much denser around their heads and between their front legs seeming to identify the vital parts of the wolves biology.

*Well that's an interesting evolution of that skill*

I turn back and continue my trek up to my sleeping spot. Remembering that the tunnel felt tight I decide to spend a few minutes widening it, between the increase in strength and the digging skill rank from earlier I find it quick work to make it slightly wider than my hips with wings folded against my sides. The pile of debris has started to grow in the main chamber of my cave during my excavations over the course of the day.

As I curl up in my small room I can't help but feel satisfied in my gains for the day.

*Even if I ignore getting to level 3 I managed to start dabbling in flying, I made neighborly progress with the lizards, hunted another rabbit, got it stolen by an owl, found out that I can survive being dropped, went fishing, and started a vendetta with the wolves. All in a days work! I almost forgot about the most amazing part, that beautiful panorama of the night sky.*

I pull up my character sheet to admire my own progress and rest my head thinking about the beauty of the night sky.

Race: Celestial Dragon Health: 28/40 Stamina: 50% Stage: Baby Level: 3 Attributes: Traits: (3) Skills: STR: 5 Breath: 1 Aura Sight: 2 CON: 4 Claws: 1 Digging: 1 DEX: 2 (2.75) Jaws: 1 AGI: 3 (3.3) Scales: 2 PER: 4 Wings: 2 WIS: 3 INT: 10 CHA: 1