The world exploded around me, overwhelming my senses as it bombarded me with a variety of sights, smells, and sounds. This definitely didn't happen when I took over the Lynx, but why now? Was the difference from jumping to cat from boar so much more than from dream human to cat? And did that even count? I'm only human in mind, but I've already integrated into the cat, so I should be kitty in everything else. I would have to ponder this experience at some point. But for now, I had a whole day of hunting squirrels, pouncing on stuff, and being generally adorable ahead of me.
Every sound, every flicker of movement, every scent that wafted through the air, none of it escaped my notice. I blinked slowly, testing the new eyes I had commandeered. The faint glow of moonlight filtered through the cave entrance illuminated the blood-streaked remnants of my former host. Poor piggy. It had served its purpose.
A shiver ran down my new body, the rippling muscles beneath the sleek black fur, reminding me that I wasn't a worm, a bird, or a pig anyway. I was a legitimate predator now, and not just any predator. This thing was built for hunting in ways I hadn't even begun to grasp. Every twitch of my ears picked up echoes of the cave, the scurry of tiny claws on stone, the faint whistle of wind through a crack in the wall. My tail flicked instinctively, and I realized I'd been holding my breath.
"Alright, let's see what we're working with," I muttered, though the words came out as a low growl. My feline throat couldn't form speech, but the thought was there. My instincts urged me to stretch, to shake out the stiffness of the fight and flight that had led me here.
I stretched, claws unsheathing as they dug into the rocky floor. Damn, these things are sharp. The power in my limbs was intoxicating, coiled potential just waiting to be unleashed.
Okay, okay, time to move.
I padded toward the cave entrance, my steps silent to even my superior ears. The soft pads of my feet barely disturbed the dirt and rock. The lynx's body was made for this, every muscle working in tandem as I instinctually passed over clutter like a ghost, not stirring the smallest pebble, it was like my feet just knew where to go without me telling them. As I neared the exit, the cool night air hit me, and on that wind, I took in the scents of everything nearby. The scent of damp earth, the musk of distant prey, the faint tang of something metallic, blood? It wasn't my boar's blood, it was out there somewhere. This made me think, that if I could smell another predator's kill, they would likely be able to locate mine. I brushed away the thought for now, eager to learn how a creature like this moves and hunts.
I crouched low, testing the lynx's instincts. The movement was smooth, and natural, like I'd been doing it my whole life. My tail swayed behind me, balancing my weight as I prowled forward. The world outside was a canvas of muted grays and silvers, the moon casting enough light to make the forest glow faintly. Wait, the moon? I thought I just fell asleep? I glanced around, and then to my feet, which I could not see despite the enhanced night vision. I was bathed in a shadow and had become entirely invisible to the naked eye. Then it all hit me.
Ohhh! I'm a cat that hunts in the shadows. I'm pretty sure plenty of cats are nocturnal predators anyway, so the fact that I need darkness to kill only makes that much more sense why I would be sleeping my days away.
The instincts of the lynx surged within me, a primal hunger driving me on. I had eaten not long ago, and as long as I didn't go crazy, my metabolism should work pretty well, paired with the fact that I still did have a decent amount of food back at home. These instincts were a bit different however, it wasn't like the boar, which was mostly driven by the need to eat and breed (thankfully I wasn't driven by the second one while I was still part of the… pack? Herd? Then again, I was pretty hyped up when I got to Morgana, even if what we did couldn't result in breeding. Argh, I'm letting my mind wander.)
Despite my human brain interfering, it was clear that these instincts were much sharper and more focused than the boar. The lynx didn't scrounge around for food, it stalked, calculated, and anticipated. The thrill of the hunt began to take over as a few familiar, yet unfamiliar scents reached my snoot. I grinned from ear to ear, at least mentally. I wasn't actually going full-blown Cheshire with this cat.
"Let's test this shadow-jumping thing," I thought, recalling the lynx's terrifying ability to leap between shadows. If I could figure out how to use it effectively, I'd be unstoppable.
I focused on the shadows around me, the way they shifted and pooled under the trees. The lynx's body seemed to respond instinctively, a faint hum of energy vibrating through my limbs. I crouched, eyes locked on a dark patch beneath a nearby bush. It wasn't far—maybe ten feet—but it was the perfect test.
I pushed off with my hind legs, the motion fluid and explosive. For a brief moment, the world around me dissolved into darkness, and I felt myself pulled through the void. It was disorienting, like being submerged in ink, but it lasted only a heartbeat. When I landed, I was in the shadow beneath the bush, my claws digging into the cool earth.
[Skill Activated: Shadow Pounce]
Shadow Pounce is an innate ability tied to the Shadow Lynx, allowing it to harness the shadows around it to execute powerful and precise movements. This ability is a primal, instinct-driven variant of the more refined human skill, Shadow Dance. While Shadow Dance relies on calculated and trained execution, Shadow Pounce channels raw animalistic instincts, making it an unpredictable yet devastatingly effective.
Activation: Shadow Pounce allows the user to target any shadow within a specific radius (currently 10 meters). By focusing on the chosen shadow, the lynx's body becomes infused with shadow energy, momentarily dissolving into the darkness and reappearing at the target location.
Execution: Upon reappearing, the lynx can choose to attack immediately or reposition for another leap. This makes it a versatile tool for both ambushes and evasive maneuvers.
Instinctive Control: Unlike Shadow Dance, which requires deliberate calculation, Shadow Pounce operates almost intuitively. The lynx's heightened senses automatically identify suitable shadows within range, and its predatory instincts ensure optimal positioning upon re-entry.
Holy shit, it worked! That was so easy, too. This thing practically runs on autopilot, and according to the notification, I shouldn't have to think too hard about what I plan to do.
A rush of exhilaration flooded me, my tail lashing behind me in excitement. The potential of this ability was staggering. I could escape pursuers, ambush prey, even avoid direct attacks by slipping into the shadows. I needed to test it more, to push its limits.
The faint rustle of movement caught my attention. My ears swiveled toward the sound, honing in on its source. A rabbit, nibbling on grass not far from the edge of the clearing. Its white fur stood out starkly against the dark undergrowth, practically begging to be targeted.
I crouched low, muscles tensing as I prepared to strike. The lynx's instincts whispered the steps to me: approach silently, stay downwind, wait for the right moment. But I wasn't just the lynx, I was Lucian. I could think beyond instinct, and strategize.
I activated the Shadow Pounce ability again, this time aiming for a shadow closer to the rabbit. The world blurred into darkness, and I reappeared silently just a few feet away from my prey. The rabbit froze, its ears twitching as it sensed something amiss. Too late.
I pounced, my claws sinking into its soft flesh as my jaws clamped around its neck. The kill was quick, efficient, and almost too easy. As the rabbit went limp, a notification pinged in my mind.
[Experience Gained: 20 XP.]
Something began to glow blue across my chest. I tried to investigate and found that my new cat-like flexibility made it easy to locate the source. As if branded into my fur and skin, the arcane sigil Morgana had carved into me back in dream world was transferred to my real body. It pulsated in a deep midnight blue, illuminating my surroundings and shattering my stealth. That was a bummer, but only for a moment as it faded into blackness almost an instant later, and a new notification popped up.
[Sigil of the Chosen Activated. Bonus Experience Gained: 20 XP.]
"Well, that's new," I thought, releasing the rabbit and looking around before my tongue acted on its own, cleaning the blood around my lips.
I guess I know what it does now. I'll have to be careful that I don't expose myself mid-battle with that glow, but other than that, this could do wonders for my advancement. As my thoughts reached their conclusion, I couldn't help but notice that the taste of blood was, though unfamiliar, not entirely unpleasant. It was actually rather empowering.
The forest fell silent around me, the echoes of the kill dissipating into the night. I carried the rabbit back toward the cave, my mind racing with possibilities. This host was a game-changer, a predator built for domination. I'm sure there were bigger baddies out there, but I just needed to master this one and the rest would submit to me in time.
As I settled back into the cave, I took a moment to reflect. Morgana's boon had given me a significant edge, and this new body was brimming with potential. But there was still so much to learn, so much to adapt to. I was eager to take down something larger, to really test myself, but baby steps were important. I did well with the boar, compared to the Crow, but this host wasn't something to be squandered. I bet I could take down a human with it, even if I couldn't dominate them.
For now, I had the shadows at my command, and the night was mine to conquer. I tore into the rabbit which satisfied my hunger and activated a flurry of notifications.
[Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Bonus Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Bonus Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Bonus Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Bonus Experience Gained: 8 XP.]
[Total XP: 1,552/1,600]
At this rate, I was only going to need a few more little fuzzy fluffballs to level, but I couldn't help but shake the thought of what a doe would give me, or a buck, or… a human?