As I've already decided to explore, I don't tarry around my home any longer. Since coming here, I still have yet to go out of sight of the Eggshell, always keeping relatively close to it; but since I have a way to get home In case I get lost, there's nothing to worry about.

"Alright! Off I go."

Setting off, I pick a direction and start running! The feeling of the wind in my face, the grass under my feet, this sense of freedom... I could really get used to this!

The farther I travel from home, the denser the trees and foliage seems to get. The wildlife seems to get denser as well, as I have already seen many species that I've never seen before. Different types of bugs, reptiles, birds, all types of creatures... I notice a commonality in all of them though. None of them that I have seen have black eyes, save for some of the bugs, and I don't think that counts.

Running farther into the forest, I suddenly detect a powerful entity. Concentrating on it with my clairvoyance, I realize what it is.

"I found a bloodcat already, lucky!"

Slowing down, I creep closer. Observing it intently, I notice some differences compared to the bloodcat I fought. It's about half the size of the one I killed, but its ruby coat is a much more vibrant red. It also feels much stronger!

Though it seems more powerful, it's actually missing a back leg, and its body is covered in scars as well as fresh wounds.

I'm slightly disappointed that it's in such a weakened state, but I nevertheless sneak ever closer to my pray, ready to pounce. But suddenly I notice something. There's a faint presence coming from behind the cat. No wait, several of them! As if confirming my suspicions, the bloodcat stands up, revealing four baby bloodcats!

"Man, I can't kill it now!"

Neglecting my habit of talking to myself, I alert the bloodcat to my presence.

The mother bloodcat turns towards me and starts walking back and forth in front of her children, growling and hissing threateningly. It seems to be very nervous. I think this is the only black-eyed creature, besides the sitchles, that has been frightened of me! It somehow makes me a little proud of myself.

'Haha, you should be afraid! You should- wait no! You shouldn't be afraid! Don't worry; I won't hurt you or your babies!'

"Sorry Mama Bloodcat, I'll back off!"

Lying as low as I can, I slowly retreat, careful to make as few movements as possible. Seemingly appeased by my actions, Mama Bloodcat retreats to her cubs, lying down beside them.

"She looks exhausted. I wonder what did that to her?" I whisper to myself.

Since I have nothing better to do, I decide to wait a distance away to see what's been injuring her. I also silently hope that the bloodcat I killed wasn't her husband.

The sun is starting to set. I can hardly tell the difference though, since I can see just as well at night as I can during the day. I have a feeling that whatever gave her all of those wounds might have attacked at night; therefore as the sun goes down, I redouble my vigilance.

No more than two hours later, I see something. It's actually a group of three elk-like creatures! They are each roughly as big as Mama Bloodcat. They have black eyes, as expected, and extremely dark blue, nearly black hair. All three of them have a set of sharp, almost blade-like antlers adorning their head.

I was skeptical at first, but as I observe them proceeding directly towards the bloodcat and her cubs, I'm all but certain that they are the perpetrators. One of the creatures splits off from the group, circling behind Mama Bloodcat. As for the other two, she seems to notice them and stands up, snarling. They take a few more steps forward and then stop, still quite a distance away from her.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

I turn my attention to the elk creature skulking around her. It barely reaches her flank before the other two charge her. Faced with the charging creatures, Mama Bloodcat chooses to stand motionless over her babies. Preoccupied with the two charging elk, she seems unaware of the elk prowling behind her, preparing its own charge.

"I don't think so!" I shout as I dash towards the elk creature, which just so happens to have walked right in front of me.

As it hears my shout, the elk swings its antlers towards me. Unfortunately for it, it wasn't fast enough. Using as much strength as I can muster, I tackle its flank, grounding it. Not giving it time to recover, I get up and rush at its neck.

As if sensing my intentions, it rotates its neck, waving its antlers at me. Ducking under the antlers, I succeed in grabbing its throat between my teeth, crushing it. Unfortunately I was unable to completely avoid its attack. During the exchange I received a long slash down my back. Luckily it was not very deep, so it shouldn't affect my movements. As it dies, I notice a stream of blue fog leave its body, heading towards the marble on my chest.

In no mind to pay too much attention to such things, I anxiously turn my gaze towards Mama Bloodcat. To my shock, as soon as I turn my head, my gaze is met with a blinding red light emanating from her mouth. One elk receives the brunt of the attack as it gets pushed back and falls to the ground, body covered in burns, nearly dead. The other fares relatively better, receiving only minor burns.

I stare in shock for a split second before quickly regaining my composure. This is a prime opportunity to quickly finish off the other elk! Running as fast as I can, I close in on the elk that's still standing. It doesn't seem to notice me as I leap towards its neck, though I doubt it could defend itself even if it did.

Hearing the sickening crunch, the other elk flails on the ground, attempting to stand up. Unfortunately for it, Mama Bloodcat shows it no mercy. With a 'roar' she pounces on the elk, clamping her jaws around its neck, breaking it instantly.

After they die, the second and third elk also release blue fog, which funnels into the bead on my chest. Now that the fighting is over, my mind starts wandering, thinking about what the fog might possibly be.

Suddenly remembering the situation I'm in, I lift my head only to see Mama Bloodcat panting lightly, looking wearily at me. It makes me sad somehow, that she still seems so suspicious of me. I crouch down to appear less threatening and start backing off.

Contrary to my expectations though, she starts walking toward me. I stop and sit down again, looking at her curiously. As she reaches me, she bends down and gently grabs the scruff of my neck with her mouth, carrying me to her cubs and placing me among them. Seeing them up close, they seem to be about the same size as I am.

"..."

After putting me down, Mama Bloodcat walks to one of the elk carcasses and starts eating it. After eating for a while, she heads to a nearby creek to drink some water. After she finishes eating and drinking, she heads back over and curls up around me and her cubs. Detecting her presence, her cubs wake up one after another in order to get some food.

Seeing my reluctance to eat, Mama Bloodcat nudges me.

"Do I have to?"

As if she can understand me, she nudges me again.

"Haa, I guess I have no choice..."

Latching on, I start sucking. It actually tastes pretty good. Never having a mother figure in my life, I guess this is kind of touching... in a really weird way.

'Ahh man, why am I crying? She's not even human... though I guess I'm not either.'

Letting out my pent up emotions from the last several lonely years, I start to silently cry.

'What am I, a baby?' I mock myself.

Mama Bloodcat starts licking the wound on my back, and soon after, I peacefully fall asleep.

As I open my eyes, I'm met with a blurry world. I quickly adapt to the brightness, as I release a yawn so deep it causes me to squint.

"Ahh, that was a nice nap. I slept like a baby..."

My words trail off as the current situation slowly dawns on me. I'm lying amongst a group of baby bloodcats, with a huge bloodcat right beside us. I start to recall what happened last night.

'First I was... and then I... wait a second... did I actually fall asleep last night? I can still sleep?!'

And now the urge to use the bathroom hits. I guess that answers the question of digestion. Though it occurs to me that I could have just taken a drink out of a creek all along...

'I wonder why I can digest properly when I don't even need food or water to survive?'

Still. Eating, drinking, sleeping, I feel more like a real, living being than I have for years. It makes me kind of happy...

Heading back to Mama Bloodcat after finishing my business, I see the cubs playing with each other. Realizing we never had a formal introduction, I walk over to greet them. But when they see me walk over, they suddenly stop playing and, as if by design, all pounce on me at the same time!

"Stop, that tickles!" I laugh, covered in bloodcat cubs.

Mama Bloodcat, who's sitting by the side, seems to be smiling.

And so I seem to have been adopted by a family of bloodcats.