Chapter 5
"Ah uhh, thanks for taking me back here," I said, a little awkwardly. The Fenrir just stayed there, watching, I now realized that it was holding some kind of rabbit in its jaws. After a couple seconds of just standing there the Fenrir took a step towards me and dropped its bounty at my feet. "Thanks?"
'Ding' *The Fenrir seems to be thankful for your assistance.*
That much is obvious, "So this is for me?" I picked up the rabbit by its ears, although I had to use both hands. It's back legs were huge compared to its body, which was about the size of a medium dog "Apprasial,"
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Grass Rabbit Carcass
Rarity- Common
A Grass Rabbit has elastic tendons in its hind legs, giving It tremendous jumping power.
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"Cool," I turned the rabbit face down and saw its legs still stayed stretched out, pushing on them it took a bit of effort to push the legs into a folded position, just one leg could easily push thrice the weight of the rabbit. "Couldn't I use this for something?"
'Ding' *Yes, Technically, but it would be a waste.*
"Why would it be a waste?" A little defensive at what seemed to be another jab at my crafting ability.
'Ding' *It is Highly nutritious.*
"Ah," I relaxed, it seemd that there was a good reason for-
'Ding' *And you are shit at crafting, so it would waste good material.*
"Well fuck you, I'm not that bad," the Fenrir's ears perked and I felt mine grow warm, I wonder what it thought of me seemingly talking to myself, clearing throat awkwardly I addressed the fenrir. "Well you have my gratitude, I haven't had meat in a while," returning my attention to the rabbit I took it to the counter and started to butcher it. Narrating as I went along, "I'm glad my dad made me hunt with him, so I know how to take care of an animal Carcass, first I carefully skin the rabbit, taking care not to ruin the pelt, because it can be used later," As I went along the Fenrir just sat and watched me as I talked about the process of preparing a rabbit without the use of any electronics. For some reason it felt like it could perfectly understand everything I said, but it was just a stronger wolf right?
When I finished preparing and set up the hide to tan, I put the rabbit over the Fire and started to let it roast. It was slightly unnerving that I basically had a snow white shadow following me everywhere, looking at everything I did with highly intelligent eyes, when I took out Heartsong to play a little the Fenrir's ears perked and it tilted its head to the side in the traditional dog curiosity, which made me chuckle.
"You like the Guitar? Me too,"
I started playing a small tune but gradually let myself get lost in the music, making sure that after every song I checked the rabbit.
===
The Human seemed to have recovered, they were quite lively and talked quite a bit, although sometimes they seemedto carry on a whole conversation by themselves, which I guess if they have been alone for a while is only natural. If I remember correctly humans are more packlike than wolves, most of them craved each other's company, which is understandable.
As I listened the human spoke of a time when their elder took them and their sister out to hunt, but only the sister was successful in catching a 'damn big Turkey'
"The whole thing was as big as she was! When Dad had to put it to brine he needed a storage bin to even fit it, and its wingspan was huge,"
That was impressive, my fist kill was a small squirrel, as the Human went along my opinion of their pack rose.
"It's claws were huge as well, at least as big as my palm back then, and the hair on its chest was at least 6 inches long,"
After listening to the human I tried to imagine what a 'Turkey' was, if it was big, had wings, fur, and claws. I figured that it might be a type of griffin, and if the elder felt that they were safe enough to hunt on their own, then they must hunt this 'Turkey' often, I wanted to meet with their warrior family, at the very least it would be entertaining to hunt with them. The human In front of me looked weak, and acted weak, but I saw with own eyes how it fought with a flock of Axe-Beaks. Of course it was still weak compared to me, but still impressive.
When the human finished 'butchering' the grass-rabbit it started a small fire using a small magical tool, I have seen humans putting their food in fire, but I never knew why.
As they sat back they took out their weird club and lay in in their lap, my curiosity peaking I inspected it, It looked to be a large axe shaped club with many strings on it, and a hole in the center of the large part. It looked to be rather unwieldy for a human, the weight would be to unbalanced. Not to mention the spikes at the end of the handle.
The human spoke "You like the Guitar? Me too," so that is what it was called, a 'Guitar'
They pulled on one of the strings, making a droning hum, which surprised me. The human frowned and spun the spike at the end and pulled on the same string, but a lower hum sounded, there was no magic being used at all, but it could Humm different sounds. It was baffling, humans did so much magic without magic, but that shouldn't be possible, to change a sound required magic, to make something louder should take magic. But the 'Guitar' did all of this without a speck of magic, after a while longer the human started running their fingers over the strings, creating a wonderful melody. Then I felt some magic ripple, using sound mana, which human 'Bards' used to do a variety of feats. Which was comforting, something I could describe and understand. I lay down and listened.
After a while an odd aroma made itself known, and after following it, I found it to be from the rabbit, it was odd but not unpleasant.
The human leaned forward and checked the rabbit, "It's not ready yet... do you have e a name? I don't want to call you wolf, or anything like that,"
I looked at the human and shook my head in the negative, Fenrir get a name when they accomplish some great feat, or a namer with enough mana names them. Names give a Fenrir power proportional to the meaning of the name, the power of the namer, and how well the name fits the Fenrir. And if they are lucky they can get a gods blessing, but not much is known about that.
Names connect the soul to the body, and with the experiences it has felt, which drastically raises the efficiency of mana usage and learning speed, that is why humans place so much importance on naming their spawn, but instead of naming their spawn when they establish themselves and picking an appropriate one, they choose one immediately when it is easier. And sure it does work, but it is much less powerful than later true naming.
Of course one can always get a new name, but it is quite like marking a tree that was already marked, there would still be some remnants of the previous name, so the new name can't attune perfectly, although there is a great chance of improvement, because if a name doesn't fit at all, then it could actually inhibit the named.
"How about Skadi?" The human asked innocently.
I was stunned, was the human trying to mess with me? With how much we know of each other there is no way they could find my true name. How could anyone give a name that would allow a perfect connection between the soul and body after a day?
"Wait what?" The human looked shocked.
A surge of mana froze me in place, everything grew sharper, and scents more defined, I could smell that a male Bismuth striker passed through here about 20 days ago by the faintness of the scent. I could hear a mouse chewing on something wooden in the next human building, the shadows cast by the fire became brighter. I felt like hunting something, anything, so dashing out I began the Hunt.
===
"How about Skadi?" I figured that name would fit, it was the name of a Norse goddess of the Winter and hunting, so the Fenrir's white coat and honerable personality fits quite well, as well as Fenrir being part of Norse mythology, I forget exactly what but I know it is.
'Ding' *Asking Skaði's permission to bestow her power upon the target White Fenrir.*
"Wait what?"
'Ding' *Permission granted.*
As I watched the Fenrir froze and became... sharper, there is no other way to describe as her form shrank very slightly and became more taut, her muscles getting smaller, but much stronger. Before I could do anything she dashed out.
'Ding' *showing modified stats*
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Skadi
Race- white Fenrir
Age- 562
Level-1352
HP-100%
MP-100%
SP- 10/10
Will- 10/10
Disposition- Honorable
Skills-
>Regeneration<
>Battle-form<
>Tracking<
>Detection<
>Sylphs Stride<
>Stealth<
>Subspace Storage<
>Snowsquall< *New*
*Current Statuses
*Skaði's Blessing- {Skaði Has blessed her namesake} *new*
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"Ok thats a lot to unpack, first things first, what the actual FUCK,"
'Ding' *What?*
"What do you mean 'what?' How the fuck did you 'ask' a freaking GOD permission to do something?" I was incredulous. I mean who expects to interact with an actual God?
'Ding' *Easy, you just tap into the divine and request a specific god.*
"Easy? EASY!? OK fine I'll accept that, and hell I'll accept that she decided to accept, but what is with her stats!? Level," I glanced at her absurd panel. "1352! Why didn't you let me know the first time?"
'Ding' *Information was irrelevant at the time.*
"Irrelevant!? If I somehow piss her off I'll fucking DIE!"
'Ding' *It was your choice to assist.*
"You help someone in need, that's just being a decent person," I grabbed at my hair trying to process what was happening.
'Ding' *Well at least it is in your debt.*
"I don't want anyone in my debt," something just then dawned on me. "If she was that strong what in Sam hell got her in that condition?"
'Ding' *high Probably of an entity more powerful.*
I started packing with trembling hands "I need to get my ass out of here,"
'Ding' *What about Skadi?*
"Who? Oh yeah the wolf," I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, this was the single biggest shock I have felt in my life, but I could definitely be handling it better, the breathing didn't help all that much. "I hope she just goes on her way, I don't want to even chance making her angry, fuck why is it so hard to think?"
'Ding' *Wrath skill enhances emotions, fear is an emotion.*
"Is there any way to get rid of it?" Wrath seemed like such a stupid skill, who would want enhanced emotions? I mean sure happiness, and other positive ones are awesome, but negative ones just ruin your day.
'Ding' *Technically No.*
Rage at Apprasial's antics helped push away the fear, "for once could you give me a straight goddamn answer?"
'Ding' *I don't wanna.*
I could only yell in frustration..
'Ding' *Now you aren't scared anymore.*
It took a second to realize what Apprasial meant, "I mean yeah, but still fuck you," I finished packing and started heading out.
'Ding' *Shouldn't you leave a shrine?*
"Oh yeah," I cleared a space on the counter and tried to find anything that could pass as a shrine to a god I have never seen. "What should I use? I mean I don't even know what they look like,"
'Ding' *Try using your new skill.*
"Wait I have a new skill?" I pulled up my menu, and sure enough there was.
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Alex
race- Error
age- 19
level- 11
HP- 100%
MP- Error/-0
SP- 10/10
Will- 6/Error
Disposition- Kind {Really Too kind for your own good, it baffles me how you are still alive}
Skills-
>Vamperic Empath >Wrath >:ŒĮĐ ÞÆĮŅÞ< {just nonsense, even I can't read it}
>Child of the Storm< {Nature rages at her children's pain}
>'Apprasial' >Call of the Void< {When you gaze into the Abyss, it's residents gaze into you}
*Current Statuses*
*Depression[Chronic] {if I wasn't omnipotent I would seriously doubt this}
*Voids Blessing {The god of the void gave you their blessing so you wouldn't die immediately, so you would be more entertaining to them}
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"'Call of the Void'? What does it do?"
'Ding' *It is a summoning skill, try to conjure a 'suitable shrine for the God of the Void.*
"OK then, activate 'Call of the Void' for anything suitable for a shrine," As those words left my lips a jagged crack appeared above my hand and a small figurine fell into my grasp, it looked like a human with a bone white mask and a darker than black cloak, which on the inside held a galaxy, the deeper I looked into it, the deeper it got. "Thanks," I set the figurine down and put my hands together. "I thank the God of the Void for giving me a seco- no third chance at life, and put this shrine down in honor of them," I couldn't think of anything else to say so I just turned and left.
===
At first I was tempted to go and exterminate the humans in my den. But I decided against it, they may have been extremely dishonorable, but they did win, so this territory was now theirs. So I went and hunted in my favorite spot one last time, it was a place with much more greenery and a small river running through the middle.
At the moment I am stalking a crystal deer, one of the few prey that still gives me trouble, they are fast and pack a punch, and their Horns can temporarily blind anything that looks at them. Which wouldn't bother me much but they have no scent, not in the way that the strange human has no scent, but they smell exactly like their surroundings.
As I crept closer snow started falling, I ignored it, determined to get this particular crystal deer, last year I managed to shatter one of its Horns but I was too wounded to continue, and since then I haven't seen a hair of the damn thing. One of its ears swiveled towards me and I froze midstride, by now the snow has coated the treetops and ground. The deer snorted and resumed grazing, blowing away snow to reveal green grass. I stayed rock still, knowing that it was feigning not being ready to bolt. After a few minutes the deer let out a sigh and I watched as it relaxed its haunches and started actually eating. Creeping closer I made it into the small clearing, the snow increasing to almost a blizzard.
The deer looked my way and I tensed, ready to give chase, it definitely could see Me... or not as it looked around and gave another snort, then shook itself to knock off the snow accumulating on its back, as soon as it looked away I dashed and locked my jaws on its neck, it's Horn flashed and it tried to kick me off. But I kept my eyes shut and body away from its sharp hooves, wrenching my head I felt its throat tear. I shook my head again to further damage it then I let go and dashed backwards, as the deer fled panted and waited. Following once it got far enough away, so it didn't decide to turn and fight, but run away instead.
It didn't take long until I came across its collapsed form, eating my fill I returned to the humans temporary den. But when I got there the human was nowhere to be seen, everything the human had was also gone, they must have decided to move on, it was annoying that they left without telling me, but humans are irresponsible, and had a pitiful sense of honor, like poorly raised cubs, so I should treat them as such. As I left I noticed a small... thing on top of what the human called a 'counter' I had no idea why they needed something else to count, but humans are eccentric so I didn't think much on it. But the thing on the counter felt ominous, I was tempted to destroy it, but it had the same Null scent from the human, so I left it be and started following the humans trail, which was surprisingly difficult. I had to follow until I could smell something, then backtrack and keep trying until I managed to follow the path with much less scent.
===
I awoke to an uncomfortable pressure, I havent slept all that well while the strange two legged creature was here, I knew the wolf would ignore my nest, but I was unsure of the creature. When they finally left I thought I would get a good night's rest, but my Primal instincts told me that it was dangerous now. If my eggs weren't about to hatch soon, I would Flee. As I got lower to the entrance to this weird cave, I saw a strange thing floating off to a side, connected to a small creature that looked like the two legged one. As I watched a bone white Claw many times larger than the two legged creature, came out of the floating thing and drew a large furrow as if it was trying to get a grip. With that failing another creature came out, it looked to be a Wolf, but was made of the impossibly black substance, with a Skeletal structure covering it, with a wolf skull covering its face. If I had a choice I would Flee, but I had to protect my eggs, so I tried biting the creature. I felt my fangs shatter against the bone, but the creature ignored me and started heading towards my nest, so I slammed my tail against it. It finally looked at me, as our eyes met, I felt myself being lost in theirs. It's eyes were infinitely deeper than the nights sky, and had a purple tint, in a desperate final struggle I whipped tail again, hitting it across the nose. But it didn't even flinch, as it stepped closer I felt something important leaving my body, as it fell limply to the floor. I could do nothing as it's opened its mouth and slowly closed its jaws around my lifeless body. I hope my eggs will be safe...