From my new vantage point I look down at the wooden structure that cut down the tree. I gape as the strange thing collapses away from the stump. Shaking my head, I get my bearings before I hear a strange howling coming from the gathering of wood near the stump.
I stare as the lumber starts to glow a pale green, rising and rearranging itself into a new animalistic form. Green soulless eyes appear on its face as stakes affix into its mouth, body forming from the rest of the glowing lumber. The awakened wolf shudders before taking a look around. Noticing the fallen tree, it pads over and uses its claws to slice it into smaller pieces.
After the creature cuts the log and trims the branches; it arranges the wood in three piles situated in a triangle, each with with a specific amount of wood inside. Seemingly satisfied, the creature makes its way back to the center of the strange triangle.
Once centered the beast glows and begins to send whips of energy toward the piles, carefully scribing runes into the wood and infusing it; drawing energy from itself. I look on as the beast finishes the ritual, giving a mournful howl as the last of it's energy is spent. The being loses its glow, and collapses into a heap.
I drop out of the tree, seeing as the coast is now clear and inspect the center wood pile. The wood is scarred in many places and looks worn, smooth along it’s paws. I shake my head and make my way to one of the outlying pile, curious of what the wolf did.
As I neared one of the piles, I hear a stirring. Looking around I notice that the piles are glowing with the same color and intensity as the first wolf was.
The griffin grins, thinking of making another easy meal out of me. I stand calmly waiting for him to make the first move. Spike is fearing the worst.
The Griffin begins to circle. Seeing my non-threatening stance, he takes his time in toying with me. As he circles around, he comes to the realization that I am not at all shaking or quivering, or giving off any of the normal pheromones of adrenaline. He is Flabbergasted! He doesn't understand why his prey isn't fearing the predator! 'Why isn't he shaking in fear?! I am the apex predator! I AM FEAR!' The griffin thinks.
Needless to say he was livid.
As the griffin circles, I watch how he walks and tense his muscles as he attempts to intimidate me, gathering as much anatomical data as I can. I sigh inwardly, 'another cocky prick. All predator are the same then.' I keep my aloof attitude and do nothing toward his actions, I notice he is clenching the ground with each step.
'He is pissed. This will be easier than I originally thought. All I gotta do is ruffle his feathers a bit and he'll pounce.'
"Are you going to do anything or are you just going to keep going in circles?" I ask with a chuckle.
The griffin stops abruptly. "Strange... Usually prey wants to wait for as long as possible for it's demise." The griffin laughs evilly, "I guess I can grant your death wish." He pounces, claws outstretched ready to take my life.
I dodge out of the way with a grin as he misses and falls into a heap. Quick to recover, the griffin tries to use his tail to trip me. I jump over his tail and stomp on it as he stands, hardened biomass piercing his tail, infecting the griffin. The griffin cries in pain and turns as I step off sprinting towards his left side and punching as hard as I can into his chest. I feel a few ribs crack as the griffin gets knocked back by the blow. The griffin is staggered and clasping his side, he coughs up some blood as he tries to stand. I laugh at his pain.
He looks to me in fear and asks, "Who are you?! What are you? I have never even seen one of your kind before, and you took me down with one blow. Such strength shouldn't be possible from someone of your size!" I nod as I approach the wounded griffin. "I would assume that you haven't. I am the only one left of my kind and I have no need of company as I tend to consume them. Although I have taken a liking to the young drake over there." I stop and gesture toward the trees behind me. The griffin give me a confused look and shifts his gaze past me to the tree line.
Spike was surprised and confused at his friends strength as he fought the griffin. He only had to strike the griffin once for it to go down. He didn't know anyone who would have fought a griffin and didn't need help of any kind. He could think of a few, mostly his friends the bearers of Harmony. What confused him though was that Rikket had stopped his assault against the griffin when for sure the griffin was down. He got further confused when Rikket looked like he was having a conversation with the griffin. He watches Rikket open his mouth.
"SPIKE!"
Spike gets startled, the branch he was sitting on gives under the weight shift and he ends up face first on the forest floor, knocking him out.
Rikket looks to where Spike fell out of the tree and sighs. Spike must pay attention if he wants to be a successful hunter. The griffin's gaze goes back to me as I resume moving to his position. I change my arms to their gauntlet forms, vastly increasing their explosive strength and adding clawed finger tips. I see the fear in his eyes when he sees them. I jog the rest of the distance and drive my right arm into his side. The griffin cries out in shock and blistering pain as his life begins leaving his body. I sigh with pleasure as my body begins to consume the flesh I'm touching while spines rocket from my back into the corpse, consuming the biomass at a faster rate than with my body alone. Since I had infected the griffin I am given even more strength and vitality from the griffin. Let's just say that I'll feel perfect once again after my meal.
Spike wakes after a short respite to notice that Rikket had tube like protrusions coming from his back that lead to the griffin; he also noticed that the griffin wasn't moving anymore. Spike puts two and two together. he raises to his feet and makes his way over
"What are those things coming out of your back?" Spike asks when he comes near.
I explain that they are what do the consuming. I also tell him that they only come out when I am consuming any creature that is larger than myself. My body's biology convert the tissue into useable biomass that repairs and strengthens myself. I go on to explain that any living tissue consumed can cause my body to evolve in certain aspects; be it strength, speed, endurance, or in the rarest instances, create/improve new/existing abilities. Spike nods in understanding.
Spike takes notice of the arm that isn't in the griffin. "What happened to your arm? Why is it different?" I continue my explanation. "My abilities manifest physically, changing my body's chemistry, structure, and function. The one you see before you I call Gauntlet. It increases my normal arm strength to untold levels. It can also control electricity." Spike was in awe.
I pulled my arm out of the corpse when I had my fill. Spike was uncomfortable when the arm was covered in gore. Seeing his face I apologize and to his surprise I changed my arms back to normal, cleaning it of gore. I motion for Spike to follow me.
I lead Spike to the griffins kill. A half-eaten rabbit.
"You said your caretaker tells you to stay away from this place correct?" I ask him.
He nods, "Yeah, she only tells me it's dangerous though."
"She doesn't want to tempt you. More then likely you will not be able to eat plants or hay after you try meat for the first time." I try to explain. "Would you like to try some rabbit?"
Spike doesn't want to disappoint his new friend, although the act of eating meat would change the way he would eat forever. Spike needs more information. How will his body react? How often will he need to come out here to be able to live normally?
Spike sighs and looks at the rabbit. He looks to me and nods. I change my arms back to Gauntlet and pick up the remains. Spike is a bit confused, 'I thought I was gonna try it...' he thinks. Rikket's arms begin to faintly smell of ozone. He electrifies his arms and flash cooks the meat. Rikket take a whiff and sighs contentedly. Even to Spike himself the smell is tantalizing, like fresh hayfries.
"Spike, I have no idea what will happen when you eat this, Hopefully nothing but if something does," I say while looking down at him with conviction. "I shall stay with you until you recover, then take you home." Spike nods in confirmation.
I hand him the cooked rabbit and watch with interest as he sniffs at the food, noticing his slight salivation and eye dilation.
'This might have been a bad idea...'
Spike takes a tentative lick, his face expressing shock transitioning to deep desire, before he ravages the foodstuff with explosive gusto. Spike quickly strips the corpse of remaining meat, tossing the bones to the side. He hungrily looks around for any other sources of meat. He drops on all fours and plants his muzzle to the ground, scenting the ground for any other animals in the area. Finding nothing he nearby he makes his way toward the griffin corpse.
I follow Spike, making sure he doesn’t try to eat the corpse or get into any trouble. I don't want to expose him to my virus too soon. He drifts past the corpse, toward an alcove on the edge of the clearing I hadn't noticed yet, as it had been slightly hidden by thorn bushes. Spike disregards them as he plows through, most likely following a scent. As I don't want to disturb him in his frenzy, I start following via the trees, As I begin to climb the tree I hear snarling and cries of fear. Panicking, I drop from the tree and sprint through the thorn bushes.
I came into the alcove and the humorous antics of a baby dragon with his arm caught inside the entrance of a rabbit hole. He was flailing around, twisting and grunting and causing a ruckus. He flails until he ends up on his back, exhausted. He had yet to notice me. I sigh, and like the predator I am stalk over and tap his tummy with my foot. He stops moving once I touch him his head snaps to me and stares with fear.
"Spike, I need you to relax and take a deep breath. You're not thinking clearly." I say calmly, crouching down as low as I can, "Do you recognize me?"
Spike continues to stare, eyes needlepoint. He begins to notice that this new being is not harming him, and relaxes. He blinks a few times as his eyes return to normal, the bloodlust fading. He calms down enough to take a deep breath, finally coming back. "Rikket?" he questions, shaking his head to clear it. I nod.
"Do you need help Spike? You seem to be stuck." I motion toward his arm.
Spike looks over and notices his arm is down a rabbit home. 'Weird...' He thinks.
"Hey, how did I end up like this?" Spike asks disgruntled "All I remember is you handing me the rabbit and smelling it.... then nothing."
I nod, "You went into a feeding frenzy and started searching for more once you ran out. I assume you found a scent leading to this burrow, but I have no idea how you got your paw stuck though." I explain. "Can you move your hand or claws?"
Spike gives his arm an experimental tug, nothing moves. He attempts to wiggle his claws when he notices that not only are they not moving but they are also stuck in something. Spike uncomfortably rolls onto his belly and pushes himself up with his free hand, trying to get more leverage to yank his arm out of the hole. He pulls with conviction but his arm stays rooted.
"Let me try something." I activate Gauntlet and slam my fist into the ground near entrance of the burrow. The shock of the strike shakes the ground, loosening the gravel and dirt. I hear a quiet rumble as the burrow collapses in on itself. Spike accidentally flings himself back as the ground gives. Grinning at my success, I look to where he landed and notice what had trapped him.
Stunned, Spike takes a gander at what was attached to him and freaks.
Attached to his claws was another rabbit.
"Spike, it seems that you have made your first catch. This is most likely the mate of the other rabbit slain by the griffin." I say congratulating him.
Spike stares at the rabbit. “What should I do with it Rikket?”
