2 hours and 30 seconds later...
'Fuckin' hell man... What happened?'
I wasn't feeling pain, but my body was buzzing with a feeling of satisfaction but also, dissatisfied with something.
Unlike when I first woke up, this time I was standing and I felt soaked head to–hooves? Hooves, with blood. There's really no mistaking the feeling.
And when I switched my gaze from my bloody hooves, I was met with a screen and the familiar robotic voice of System.
[Welcome back to your senses, Host. You have finished satiating your hunger for a limited time.]
'Oh, right.' I was eating that body and blacked out. About that... 'How long was I eating for? It feels like I ate a whole dinner table worth of food for a family of ten.'
[You have been eating for 2 hours and 30 seconds. 2 hours and 30 seconds of consumption, as you have also eaten the other body that was behind the one that you have eaten before.]
'What... There was a whole other body, and I ate it too? Everything?'
[Yes, everything.]
'To the bone?'
[To the bone.]
'Well shit.' I knew I was a glutton and I would be more so with the fact that I'm a forever hungry monster now, but I didn't know I would turn out to be this much of a glutton.
[Host, I urge that you clean yourself first and find a suitable hiding spot for future purposes, and for your safety. Suggestion: Trees.] What the System suggested seems logical, time to do it. 'Yeah, seems like a good idea.'
I only briefly read a little of what the screen had before it disappeared as I turned back, looking around for a second. I take in the info that I really did eat the whole thing to the bone.
There was nothing left but the pool of blood on the ground, covering the unfortunate tree trunks, rocks and leaves. There were still a couple of the icicles that were on the carcass on the ground, looks like I took a chunk outta them.
'I probably look like a bloody mess.'
I walk back to that river from before, listening to my surroundings and realizing that I somehow got used to these stronger senses.
It's a good thing, it means a lot of these new abilities that I have now would somewhat come naturally to me. It was also a bad thing, because I'll have to remind myself that I'm no longer a human anymore. I could try to forget, but I'll always remember.
I look down on the running water of the river, in my reflection, I look exactly what I thought I'd be right now. A bloody mess.
The dark fur and skin tainted with the deep red color of blood, my skull looks like it got poured over with realistic fake blood for halloween, except that it wasn't fake. Blood was still slowly dripping down my jaw, I barely felt it. Everything is soaking wet with with the red liquid but I didn't feel the slightest bit disturbed by it, and I hated that.
Sigh... Eh, there's no use in thinking about this too much. 'Welp, time to wash up.'
While taking a bath, I had time to get a real good look at myself. Time for a good ol' body check out. Looking in the reflection of the water, I could see my new self.
I had no tail, which I'm pretty glad about since it's useless and it'll hinder me. The bumps on my skull's head are obviously where my antlers are supposed to grow. If I can grow any.
My fur and little feathers, while soggy, looks actually luscious. Since there isn't blood staining 'em anymore, it glistens under the moonlight with the water droplets. There's a sum of fur that wraps around my neck and shoulders, like one of those fancy fur coats or a lion's mane. I ran my fingers through my fur and it was soft, real soft. Maybe it's because I'm a "baby" monster.
This is my fur now, I'm gonna take care of it.
This fur reminds me of my past life's hair. It wasn't too long, I'd say medium length, but it was my routine to take care of. Wavy, dark brown and soft.
I remember when it wasn't like I described before I met those basterds. Matted, dirty as shit, and tangled to all hell.
And I remember how it was exactly when and after I met boss. Softer waves, and the lingering, affectionate touch of care.
It was nice to have a routine. It grounds me, gives me something to be proud of, and makes me feel like I've finally got my shit together. It wouldn't hurt to take pride in something new...
Y'know what? I'll make it my new routine. This fur will be luscious, soft and comfy. It'll be the best 'round and no one will stop me!
Anyways, enough about hair and fur. Time to check out the rest of my body.
I had no eyes. Only dark, empty sockets stare back at me. No creepy white dots o' light starin' back, or those intimidating red ones. I don't know if I feel disappointed about that or nah.
I'm glad I got reincarnated as the cooler lookin' wendigo though. Just look at my head, I'd rock a metal album cover! Actually, scratch that... I'll ruin the cover since I haven't grown out my antlers and don't look terrifying yet. Damn it.
My skull, or more accurately, my head, is what I think is a sort of small deer skull. But with most of the teeth bein' sharp, I would've thought it was a wolf's skull if those bumps on top of my head weren't visible. Maybe it's both. Don't know.
I was curious to see what I'll look like when I open my mouth. And what I discovered was a little somethin'.
When I opened my mouth as wide as I can to see how much I imagine I can eat, my fucking jaw almost unhinged entirely. Two other, longer and thin fangs uncoiled from wherever they were tucked away at behind my long, larger canines. By the time I reached the point of my mouth locking in place, my head was facing up at the cloudy night sky, while my jaw was facing down at the river water. "Grotesque" is what I'd describe that whole thing, shit looks like it was ripped straight from a horror flick.
The inside of my mouth looks disgusting as fuck. Like the insides of an alien mouth. Seems like my blood is black because I can't see shit 'sides my teeth. Other than those two fangs, it looks like I have a few extra rows of teeth, just a little smaller than the main ones. They can move. I guess this is how I was able to chew? Man, I don't know... most of this makes no sense to me.
I closed my mouth and move along to my body. My body is very wendigo lookin' alright, all skinny and malnourished. Bones are visible, some muscles on my arms that I doubt could do anything. My legs are deer legs with the hooves and all.
The front of my body is the most interesting part, well, more concerning but it's my body now. Mght as well get used to it.
My rib cage looks like it'll rip out of my skin and my skin is struggling to keep it in there. Below it, where my guts, stomach and where all that complicated biology stuff is, is bein' squeezed in there. I can almost see 'em. I'm glad my guts ain't all out there for the world to see. It'll be way too easy to take me out if I had to fight.
I'm wonderin' though... how in the fuck did I eat that thing? It was ten times my size. Probably even twenty times...
Eh, won't question it.
If I have to describe my height, I'd say... a dog on two legs. And I've got a hunched back posture, I can straighten up a bit, but not enough to look, uh... healthy. Heh, at least boss ain't around to scold me this time.
And I think that's it for my body check out session. In conclusion, like System said, I am a baby wendigo.
I gotta say, I'll look horrific if I started running at top speed on all fours towards someone... Full on horror movie style.
[Host...]
'I'm on it.'