"This power..."
A surge of raw power coursed through Xerxes, and he felt confident that he could shatter a human-sized boulder with a single, effortless punch.
Instead of facing ache of pain, a tingling sensation spread through his limbs.
His muscles bulked, hardening like granite. His claws transformed, growing muscular and sharper, mimicking the formidable claws of the bear. He felt himself growing taller, his body lengthening and broadening.
"This feeling... it's exhilarating!" Xerxes sprinted towards a massive oak tree to his right and unleashed a thunderous punch.
"Thud!"
The mighty oak splintered in two, the impact barely registering with him.
Xerxes stood amidst the wreckage, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. He was surprised, confused, bewildered, and inexplicably exhilarated all at once.
"This power... it's like evolution in action," Xerxes mused. He concentrated, and his body underwent another transformation, reverting back to the hybrid form—half man, half wolf.
"If I can do this..." He focused his mind once more, and his body shifted again, returning to its human form.
However, this time, the transformation was profound. His features had sharpened, his physique more defined with subtle musculature.
He looked attractive, more mature, a far cry from the youth he possessed when he first arrived in this world.
On the other side of the clearing, the wolves had emerged victorious from their own battle, having brought down a massive brown bear.
However, none dared approach Xerxes, wary of the unsettling power emanating from him.
"Let's go," Xerxes commanded, his gaze settling on the white wolf, whose pristine fur was now stained crimson with the bear's blood.
Mounting the wolf, they set off, the pack trailing behind, dragging the colossal bear carcass.
Upon reaching the den, a cacophony of excited yelps erupted as the wolf pups scrambled out to witness the spoils of the hunt.
Their eyes widened in disbelief as they beheld the enormous bear. Fearful, they instinctively huddled behind their mothers.
Hunger gnawed at Xerxes's belly, but there was nothing for him to eat. He watched as the wolves prepared to feast; their eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Despite his hunger, he felt a strange reluctance to partake in the meal.
Suddenly, the white wolf dragged the bear carcass to Xerxes's feet and bowed its head in submission. Initially bewildered, Xerxes soon realized the significance of this gesture.
Within the wolf pack, tradition dictated that the alpha male claimed the first bite of every hunt. By offering him the first taste, the wolves were acknowledging Xerxes as their new leader.
Xerxes was overwhelmed by the unexpected honour. The idea of consuming raw bear meat, something he had never encountered in his previous life, was deeply unsettling.
He glanced at the pack of wolves, their eyes burning with hunger, their bodies trembling with anticipation. With a deep breath, he tore a sizable chunk of flesh from the bear's chest and fed it to the closest cub.
Hunger gnawed at him, a primal urge demanding satisfaction. "But raw... I don't think I can," he muttered, the thought of consuming raw flesh still repugnant.
After offering the cub the meat, he turned and left the cave. "Eat well," he instructed the pack.
Seeing this, the pack of wolves was stunned. The white wolf, understanding the gesture, took a bite of the raw meat. After a few bites, he tore off a few pieces of flesh and offered them to his mate and their pups before leaving the cave to follow Xerxes.
Xerxes sat perched on a boulder outside the cave, gazing at the moon. It was unlike any moon he had ever seen in his own world, appearing larger and more luminous.
Sensing the white wolf approach, Xerxes spoke without turning, his gaze still fixed on the big moon. "Why are you here? You should have feasted with the pack. You should understand that I'm not one of you."
He took a deep breath, the cool night air filling his lungs. "I don't know how I ended up in this world," he confessed, "but I am human. And humans, especially from my world, rarely consume raw meat, let alone the flesh of a giant bear."
He smiled faintly, meeting the white wolf's gaze, who seemed to understand his words, a flicker of empathy in its intelligent eyes.
"AAWWWOOUU!"
The wolf let out a low growl, then lowered its back, inviting Xerxes to mount. "Where are you taking me this time?" Xerxes asked as he settled onto the wolf's broad back.
The wolf sprinted through the forest, its powerful legs carrying them at a breathtaking pace.
After a gruelling thirty minutes, the wolf skidded to a halt, and looked in front of it.
Before them lay a river, not wide, but teeming with life. Xerxes could sense the presence of numerous creatures within its depths – some small, some larger. "Crocodiles... and fish," he mused.
"Why did you bring me here?" Xerxes asked, dismounting the wolf.
The wolf glanced towards the river, but then Xerxes noticed its gaze was drawn across to the other side.
"AAAWWWOOUUUU!"
The wolf growled, and Xerxes, still speculating, finally understood. "You want me to go beyond the river?"
The wolf nodded its head. Xerxes looked at the river again, imagining the monstrous creatures lurking within, but his confidence in his abilities remained unwavering.
"Is this goodbye?" he asked, his gaze turning to the wolf. The wolf looked sad, its eyes conveying a sense of longing.
Yet, it persisted, urging Xerxes to continue his journey and find his place among humans, where he truly belonged.
Xerxes wasn't sure if it was emotion or a growing kinship with the white wolf, but he understood the wolf wanted him to leave and rejoin humanity. Still, the thought of parting ways filled him with a profound sadness.
"Well, we'll meet again, right?" Xerxes smiled, patting the wolf affectionately. "You go back, they're waiting for you."
The wolf nodded solemnly and let out a long, powerful howl that echoed through the valley,
"AAAAAAAAWWWWWWOOOOUUUUU!"
Then, with a burst of speed, the wolf vanished into the undergrowth.
Though the journey to this place had taken only thirty minutes, the wolf's den was nestled deep within the heart of the mountain range. Without the Alpha's guidance, the journey back would have taken them well over two hours.
"That wasn't necessary," Xerxes chuckled helplessly, realizing that the Alpha's powerful howl had undoubtedly alerted the creatures lurking within the river to his presence.
"Well, not that it will change anything," Xerxes muttered, clenching his fists and rolling his neck.
He began to move towards the river, his body undergoing a transformation, morphing into a hulking humanoid bear.
[Read author's note for more detail]