waking up....

Tanuj's return to consciousness was slow, like surfacing from the depths of a strange, surreal dream. As he came to, the first thing he noticed was the softness beneath him. It was so unlike the rough, hard ground he'd grown used to that for a moment, he thought he was still dreaming.

His eyes fluttered open, and he was greeted by the sight of an ornate ceiling, intricately carved with designs that looked like something out of a palace. Tanuj blinked, then blinked again, trying to process what he was seeing.

"Wait… I'm inside?" he muttered, his voice scratchy with sleep. He pushed himself up, the soft sheets slipping off his body, revealing a large, luxurious bed. It was covered in blankets that felt like they belonged to royalty—certainly not to someone who had spent the last month sleeping on the ground with a blanket he'd scavenged on day one.

He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes and looking around the room in disbelief. The polished wooden floors, the finely crafted furniture, the large window letting in the first light of dawn—everything screamed wealth and status. It was so far removed from the harsh, unforgiving world he'd been struggling to survive in that Tanuj couldn't help but wonder if he'd somehow died and ended up in the afterlife.

"Okay… this is definitely not the street," he said, his voice tinged with confusion. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, his feet sinking into a plush carpet. The sensation was so foreign that he almost didn't know how to react. "Have I been kidnapped by a furniture-obsessed millionaire?"

He stood up, the room spinning slightly as he adjusted to being upright. Despite the oddness of his surroundings, his body still ached from the battle with the Shadow Wolf, reminding him that whatever had happened, it had been very real.

Tanuj walked over to the large window, pulling back the heavy curtains. The view outside took his breath away— the town, with its winding streets and stone buildings, stretched out below, framed by the vast, intimidating forest that surrounded it. But from this height, everything looked peaceful, almost serene.

"This… definitely isn't where I passed out," he muttered, pressing his hand against the glass. "Unless someone finally decided to give me a break."

He glanced back at the room, trying to make sense of it all. The bed was massive, the kind of bed that could fit an entire family, and the furniture was made of fine wood, polished to a gleam. There was even a wardrobe against the wall, its doors slightly ajar, revealing clothes far more luxurious than anything he'd ever worn.

"Okay, let's recap: I was fighting an oversized dog, then everything went crazy, and now I'm in a five-star hotel room. Yeah, this tracks," he said to himself, trying to keep his usual humor intact despite the strange situation.

He moved to the wardrobe and peeked inside, his eyes widening at the sight of the clothes. "Wow, I'm really moving up in the world. From street rat to… uh… whatever this is."

But despite the luxury surrounding him, a sense of unease gnawed at the back of his mind. "Alright, Tanuj, focus. You've been here before—well, not *here* here—but in weird situations. First things first, check the system."

He raised his hand and tried to summon his status window. "System, status window."

Nothing happened.

He frowned. "System?"

Still nothing.

Tanuj sighed, feeling a familiar frustration bubble up. "Oh great, now the system's decided to take a nap. Just when I need it most."

Without the system to rely on, Tanuj felt a bit lost. Over the past month, it had become his lifeline, guiding him through every fight, every decision. Without it, he was just… well, Tanuj. A guy who had somehow managed to survive in a world where even the bunnies were out for blood.

"Fine, be that way," he muttered, turning away from the wardrobe. "Guess I'll have to figure this out on my own."

He continued to explore the room, looking for any clues about where he was or who had brought him here. As he rummaged through the dresser, he found a small, leather-bound book. Intrigued, he flipped it open, expecting to find something helpful—maybe a diary, or a list of evil plans. Instead, he found a series of intricate sketches, each more detailed than the last.

One of the sketches made him freeze. It was a drawing of a wolf—no, not just any wolf, but a Shadow Wolf. The likeness was uncanny, down to the dark mist that seemed to swirl around its form.

He closed the book and placed it back in the drawer, his mind racing. This room, the sketches, the luxurious surroundings—nothing made sense. And without the system to guide him, he felt like he was stumbling in the dark.

Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, he heard footsteps approaching the room. They were soft but deliberate, growing louder as they neared the door.

Tanuj's heart skipped a beat. He quickly closed the drawer and stood up straight, trying to look as nonchalant as possible. "Okay, Tanuj, play it cool. Maybe it's just room service."

The door creaked open, and Tanuj's heart nearly stopped when he saw who was standing there. A man, tall and imposing, with an air of authority that was impossible to ignore, stepped into the room. He was dressed in simple but elegant robes, and his sharp, assessing eyes locked onto Tanuj with an intensity that made him feel like a mouse caught in a lion's gaze.

Tanuj gulped. "Uh… hi?"

The man didn't respond immediately. He simply looked Tanuj up and down, his expression unreadable. There was something about him—something that screamed power and danger. And Tanuj had a sinking feeling he knew exactly who this man was.

The man took a step closer, his gaze never leaving Tanuj's. "I see you're awake."

Tanuj nodded, doing his best to keep his tone light. "Yeah, and I have to say, the hospitality here is top-notch. Five stars, easily."

The man raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by Tanuj's attempt at humor. "Do you know where you are?"

Tanuj opened his mouth to respond but then thought better of it. Did he know where he was? Not really. Did he have a clue who this guy was? Probably. Was he in trouble? Almost definitely.

He opted for a cautious smile. "Not exactly, but I'm guessing it's not the local inn."

The man's lips twitched, almost as if he were suppressing a smile. Almost. "This is my home. And I am the Chief of this town."

Tanuj felt his stomach drop. "Oh… cool, cool, cool."

"Indeed." The Chief's voice was calm, but there was a weight to it that made Tanuj's skin prickle. "There are things we need to discuss."

Tanuj's mind raced. What could the Chief want with him? Did he know about the Shadow Wolf Cub? About the pets? About—oh, crap.

But before Tanuj could string together a coherent response, the Chief turned and walked out of the room, leaving the door open behind him.

Tanuj stood there for a moment, his brain scrambling to catch up. "So, uh… see you at breakfast?"

The Chief didn't answer. The door clicked shut, leaving Tanuj alone in the room, his heart pounding in his chest.

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "Well, that could have gone worse. I think."

He glanced around the room one more time, trying to make sense of everything. But the more he thought about it, the more questions he had—and the fewer answers.

"Okay, Tanuj," he said to himself, trying to muster some confidence. "You've faced down killer bunnies, ninja squirrels, and a freaking Shadow Wolf. You can handle this… probably."

With one last look at the closed door, Tanuj sighed. "Yup, definitely in deep shit now."

And with that, he began to prepare himself for whatever was coming next, his mind racing with possibilities—and a few choice curses for whatever cosmic force had landed him in this situation.