[ Ran for 200 meters: +2 speed, +2 stamina ]

It wasn't until my lungs couldn't keep up that I stopped running.

I looked behind me; I wasn't being followed anymore.

I sighed in relief. Apparently, the wolf leader was not so interested in killing me; he just wanted me gone, away from the females.

The situation had changed too suddenly. Cubs E and D were killed in front of my eyes. Cub A was missing. I, too, would have been killed if it wasn't for Beta protecting me at the last moment.

My legs gave in, and I collapsed to the ground, completely submerged in the tall blue grass.

Darkness loomed over my eyelids.

"Such tragedy..."

I sighed.

In my previous life, tragedies weren't few; I thought I had gotten used to them. But I overestimated myself.

Now what? The pack that I had staked my initial survival on had crumbled. Even if they didn't kill Alpha or Beta, even if they spared Cubs B and C for future prospects, I had no place left there.

I was on my own once again, forced to survive in these harsh conditions. This world wasn't too different from my previous one in that regard.

I was also the same: a coward.

"It couldn't be helped. There was no one I could have saved."

That was beyond my power. I forced myself to divert my thoughts from the matter. Dealing with my current situation was more important.

I needed to survive.

For the moment, I was safe; my small body was completely hidden in the tall grass, and my scent was likely masked by their fragrance.

But that would change at night.

Practically speaking, the forest was ten times more dangerous after dark. The most dangerous creatures come out then, hunting for food.

Most of them have night vision.

"Shelter is the first priority."

The moment I thought that, my stomach rumbled.

"Food is second."

After a bit of rest, my vision returned, though I still felt weak. I stood up again, inspecting my surroundings.

Huge trees surrounded me. Looking up, I could barely make out their height. I had never seen trees this big in my previous life.

As I walked ahead, I found myself beneath a dense canopy that blocked most of the light.

Strange, luminescent flowers illuminated one of the trees, glowing with a dim light. They would definitely look stunning at night.

As I wandered deeper into the forest, I sensed an otherworldly presence all around me. Strange whispers echoed through the trees, and I could feel the eyes of unseen creatures watching me from the shadows.

My heart sank. I was exposed; I could be killed at any time.

Luckily, I was a wolf. Though small, I shouldn't be on the menu for most of the creatures—at least, not that I could think of. Who knows what kind of food chain this world follows?

Every step seemed to take me further away from the world I once knew. The gravity of the situation pressed down on me.

This was indeed another world.

After a while, the air grew thick and humid, and I could almost taste something dull on my tongue.

Was it about to rain?

I couldn't shake the feeling of being a stranger in a strange land. It felt like I was trespassing, and any misstep could have dire consequences.

I walked deeper into the blue grass, surrounded by the unnatural hue that colored this forest. Last night's events replayed in my mind—blood, howls, and the giant male wolf. I had escaped, but the pack hadn't been so lucky.

I was alone now. Alone and starving.

Grrr...

My stomach growled, demanding attention. I hadn't eaten since the strange meat from my first night as a wolf, and whatever nutrients it provided were long gone. My body felt weak, sluggish. I needed food.

The forest was still cloaked in early morning gloom, with thick mist swirling around the tree trunks. It was eerily silent, but I could sense movement—small critters rustling in the underbrush, birds chirping in the distance, and the faint scent of something... alive.

Food.

I rose to my feet, my body still stiff from running, and carefully sniffed the air. The scent was faint but unmistakable—prey. My wolf instincts kicked in, and I moved quietly, my paws gliding over the damp ground as I followed the scent deeper into the woods.

The mist parted as I reached a small clearing. A pinkish creature, smaller than me, was grazing at the edge, completely unaware of my presence. Its pink fur was a stark contrast to the blue and green landscape. Its two long ears stuck out of its head like a rabbit's. My mouth watered as my eyes locked onto its fragile neck.

[ Prey detected. Target identified: Albino rabbit. Engaging Hunt mode.]

Finally, a system notification that would actually be useful.

Hunting wasn't too foreign to me in my past life. But there, I mostly hunted rats or raccoons. Though I'm not sure if using traps counts as hunting.

I crouched low, muscles tensing as I prepared to pounce. The rabbit's ears twitched, but it still didn't notice me. My heart pounded as I crept closer, each step deliberate, silent.

Just a little more...

Crack.

Suddenly, a loud crack echoed through the forest—the sound of a snapping branch beneath my paw.

Damn it.

The rabbit bolted, its powerful legs launching it into the trees before I could react.

"Damn it!"

I sprang after it, but the adrenaline surging through its veins gave it a significant head start. I dodged trees, leaped over roots, and forced my body to keep up, but the deer was fast—too fast.

[ Ran 50 meters: +1 stamina ]

Another notification flashed in my mind, but it was useless. I needed food, not stats.

The rabbit vanished into a thick patch of underbrush, and I lost sight of it. My lungs burned, and my limbs felt like lead. I slowed to a stop, panting, eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement.

Nothing.

A growl of frustration escaped me. My first real hunt, and I had failed. At this rate, I wouldn't survive another day without food.

Russle.

Just as I was about to turn back, something shifted in the shadows—something much larger than the rabbit.

I froze.

A hulking figure emerged from the mist, its grey fur blending with the surroundings. A wolf, bigger than any I'd seen in the pack. Its yellow eyes gleamed as it stalked toward me. My heart sank.

It was from the rival pack. Were they still looking for me? That couldn't be right.

Instinctively, I bared my teeth and growled, but I knew I was no match for a wolf this size. The scars crisscrossing its body marked it as a seasoned fighter, while I was just an inexperienced outsider, barely hanging on.

[ Adversary: Grey wolf. Combat probability: 1% success. ]

That was a nice way of saying I was about to be torn apart.

The wolf circled me, lips curling back to reveal sharp teeth. It was sizing me up, deciding if I was worth the effort. I stood still. Running wasn't an option—not this time. There was nowhere to go.

Suddenly, the wolf stopped, its nose twitching. It sniffed the air, then shifted its gaze elsewhere. For a moment, I thought it was over, but the wolf didn't attack. Instead, it let out a low growl, then darted into the woods, vanishing into the mist as quickly as it had appeared.

I stood there, stunned, trying to process what had just happened. Why didn't it attack me? What had it smelled?

Before I could make sense of it, a system notification appeared.

[ Danger level reduced. Threat has departed. ]

I let out a shaky breath. I was still alive—barely.

But there was no time to ponder why. This forest was full of unknowns, and every second could be my last. I needed food and shelter before nightfall.

I forced myself to calm down, then continued deeper into the woods. My legs ached, and hunger gnawed at me, but I pressed on. Survival was the only option. If I could find food, maybe I could gain the strength to fight back. Maybe I could find my pack again—if they were still alive.

That thought lingered in my mind as I trudged through the forest, senses on high alert for anything edible.

Hours passed, and I still found nothing. I chewed on some grass leaves, but they were too bitter to swallow.

Exhaustion overtook me, and I collapsed, trying to clear my head. Food would have to wait—shelter was now the priority.

Just as I gathered my thoughts, a faint, delicious scent drifted to my nose.

I shot up and ran toward the smell. After running for a few minutes, I spotted something unusual in the distance. A faint glow, flickering through the trees. Fire?

I moved closer, cautiously, until I saw the source: a campfire, with a group of humans sitting around it.

They were speaking in low voices, unaware of my presence. My heart pounded as I watched them. Humans meant food. They had supplies—meat, maybe even cooked food. My wolf instincts told me to run, but the human part of me longed for their warmth and safety.

I crouched low behind thick bushes, heart racing as I peered through the underbrush. Just a few yards away, three humans sat around the fire, their shadows stretching long in the fading light. The fire crackled, sending sparks into the dusk, while the scent of cooking meat filled the air.

They were hunters.

Dressed in worn leather and furs, their clothes were stained from a day of successful hunting. The woman sat with her back straight, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings as though still on guard. Her black hair was tightly braided, and she expertly flipped a piece of meat over the flames. Next to her, a broad-shouldered man with a thick beard drank from a flask, his face flushed with satisfaction. The third, a lean man with sharp features, tended the fire, poking the logs to keep the flames alive.

"That stag didn't stand a chance," the bearded man boasted with a grin. "Three arrows in it before it even knew what hit it."

The woman smirked, wiping her hands. "Lucky for you I softened it up, or it would've outrun you both."

The lean man chuckled, shaking his head. "Either way, we've got plenty for tonight."

As they talked in a tongue unknown to me, they tore into the cooked meat, barely paying attention to the pile of carcasses behind them. My eyes shifted, and my heart skipped a beat.

There, among the bodies of deer and rabbits, was Cub A, lying beneath a tree. His breathing was slow but steady.

Relief and anxiety warred inside me. Cub A was alive—but captured by hunters.

Why hadn't they killed him? Why wasn't he chained or caged? And if he wasn't restrained, why wasn't he running?

My body trembled with suppressed emotions—grief, rage, helplessness. These hunters were dangerous, and the smell of blood—both old and fresh—hung thick in the air.

I couldn't act. It was either Cub A or both of us.

I pulled back, my heart heavy. I could only watch, waiting for the right moment.

Crack!

I stepped on a trap. A vine snapped up, catching my back leg, pulling me into the air.

I let out a reflexive growl before I could stop myself.

"Dammit! No way..."

The hunters noticed immediately. I heard hurried footsteps and excited voices approaching.

"Well, look at this! Can't even have lunch without prey falling into our traps. Talk about luck!"

"Eh, it's too small," the bearded man grunted. "Barely enough skin for a decent purse."

I couldn't understand their words, but their faces told me enough. A knife—no, a dagger—glinted in the bearded man's hand as he approached me.

I was hanging mid-air, like a piñata, helpless.

"It's over," I sighed.

It had never really begun for me, to be honest. I stayed still, hoping they would finish me quickly if I cooperated.

But then, the female hunter stepped forward, eyes locking onto mine.

"Wait! It's too cute... I'm keeping this one."