chapter 10

Chapter 10

Mom leading us down the mountain pass to that grassy hunting ground became a daily routine. We were catching more rabbits than our puppy bellies could hold, but Mom and Dad would always eat the extras before they spoiled.

Mom also loosened the watchful leash she had over me since my near-death experience and allowed me the freedom to get back to proper hunting again!

I spent most of my hunting time with Lily. Unfortunately, her illusion skill didn’t seem to have much practical use for capturing prey. At least, to the extent that she found a good way to utilize it. I could imagine using it to set up some kind of trap, but our current puppy-level of communication made it hard to coordinate strategy.

Though Lily’s illusions definitely had combat viability, as witnessed against the snake and the first time she used it against Luke. Though, now that Luke knew how it worked, he was much more cautious when he instigated some playtime with Lily.

Speaking of which, it had become undeniable that Luke was now stronger than me. Extra stats or no, it wasn’t enough to make up for whatever extra levels he was gaining from his aggressive hunting tactics nor the aggressive nature of his Path.

I suppose if I did more sneak attacks on him, I’d have better chances of winning, but I guess I’m just better than to stoop so low.

However, there was one slight consolation prize that came from my brother’s advancement over me—Basic Fighting increased to level 3 out of the blue one day when we were rolling around together. I figured it was much better to level that up against my brother than things that could fight back. I think I could also confirm that it was more likely to level up when fighting something stronger than me.

Luckily, it wasn’t on me alone to keep Luke in his place. For all of Luke’s brute strength, he Iris was clearly top dog of our pack. Her mobility and strategy made her impossible for Luke to contend with. On the occasions they fought, Iris would use a hit-and-run strategy. I believe she had some kind of dive attack skill that came with her wings, because there was an unnaturally fast downward attack she could perform on him when she wanted to.

Then one day, Iris developed a new skill that left me completely speechless (well, if I had speech). While battling Luke in the den, her white eyes suddenly glowed brightly, and a beam of light shot out of them. It struck Luke with enough force to send him flailing backwards and letting out a surrendering yip and a whine.

Iris had responded by turning her chin up at him in a very princess-like manner and then trotting off to be by herself somewhere. She certainly could be quite smug herself at times, but I think Luke had just gotten on her nerves too much that day.

Ben and Jerry’s fireballs had become larger, more frequent, and more carefully aimed. Where before they were nothing but a menace with those damn things, they were actually managing to strike fleeing prey from a distance now.

***

Pulse Sense Level Up!

Pulse Sense is now Level 2!

…is something I was very happy to see one morning when we were just getting started in our hunting ground.

I went ahead and activated it.

{Pulse Sense}!

Instantly, the world felt different. It wasn’t just the ba-dump of nearby prey anymore—that part did become a little crisper, and I felt I’d have an easier time sorting out the closer ones from the ones that were further away. But that wasn’t all…

I wasn’t just hearing the heartbeats; I could see them!

Faint, moving lines danced over my vision with clearly discernible depth. I could almost imagine invisible silhouettes that these lines belonged to as they pulsed through their veins along with the heartbeats. The entire field was alive with these red, pulsing sparks.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

My tail wagged without my permission. This was incredible!

“Yip!” Lily barked beside me, tilting her head with her usual curious look. She couldn’t see what I was seeing, of course, but when I gave her a playful ruff and bounded forward, she was quick to follow.

I stalked low, weaving through the tall grass. The glowing pulses flickered with every beat, and I felt like an unavoidable predator now, watching enemy weak points shimmer in the dark.

One rabbit got startled by our pawsteps, and darted sideways. I was already there, cutting it off precisely as if I could see through the thick grass. My jaws snapped shut before it could even squeak in alarm. I gave it a powerful shake, snapping its neck instantly.

Prey Eliminated – Lvl 1 Rabbit

Experience gained!

Lily yipped happily, circling me as I led the way out of the grass and started a rabbit pile. As I set the rabbit down Lily gave me a lick across the muzzle, congratulating me. I instantly turned around and went back in, activating {Pulse Sense} and signaling out my next victim.

I found it as easily as the last, gunning right for it. I didn’t need to move slowly to avoid scaring them anymore. Every pivot it tried to make to throw me off its track I saw clearly, and it was only a matter of time before I caught up and pounced on top of it.

Prey Eliminated – Lvl 1 Rabbit

Experience gained!

I brought it back to add the second rabbit to my pile, then went right back in.

{Pulse Sense}

Identify the target, run it down, and pounce. Bring it back and add it to the pile.

I did it again and again until I had a pile of five rabbits in no time at all. I was so excited with my newfound ability that I didn’t notice the less and less enthusiastic yips from Lily as I kept going.

On my sixth trek into the grass, Lily didn’t even follow. I found my prey, snapped its neck, and brought it back, happily adding it to my collection.

I turned towards the grass, using {Pulse Sense} again planning to go for lucky number 7. However, I picked up something different this time. Something bigger. It was coming from above.

I tilted my head back, squinting against the red-tinted light of the hell-sky. A white glow cut across my vision, and my ears pinned flat a moment before something slammed into the ground in front of me hard enough to spray dirt into my muzzle.

I yipped, staggering back, hackles rising.

I let out a threatening bark until I realized it was…

…Iris?

Her white eyes blazed like stars, wings unfurled, feathers faintly translucent. She glared at me with an intensity I’d never seen in her before. Not calm. Not patient. Furious.

My tail wagged hesitantly thinking she must have wanted to join me in hunting—but then she lowered her head and growled. At me.

Iris bared her teeth as her eyes began to glow brighter. A hot beam shot forth, striking the dirt just short of my pile of rabbits, scorching the ground black.

“Yip!” I barked in surprise backing off as she ran at me. My pile of five rabbits—my pile—now sat behind her like she was guardian it.

Oh, I see what this is.

Oh, you always did play so innocent, Iris, but I should have known better! Finally showing your dark side now, huh?

My muzzle curled into a smug little grin, tongue lolling out.

What’s wrong? Are you jealous? Finally realizing you’re not top dog anymore?

I flicked my tail, making a show of trotting forward a step. I’d figured she’d been too aloof to care about competition, but now… now it was obvious. I’d out-hunted everyone, proved myself better than Luke, better than Ben and Jerry, and now even Iris couldn’t stand it. She must have been watching from her perch, getting so mad about realizing how quickly I’ve surpassed her all of a sudden.

Iris snorted and nodded her head to the side.

I looked to see Iris was nodding towards Lily who sat a few paces off, tail tucked, ears flat against her head. She wasn’t wagging, wasn’t bouncing like she always did when we hunted together. Her little body hunched low.

I looked between Iris glare and Lily’s pout. Finally understanding what this was really about.

Iris wasn’t jealous of my pile of rabbits; she was mad at me.

She snapped an accusing bark at me. The message was clear: “You ignored her. You’re the one she looks up to, and you were not involving her at all!”

I opened my mouth, trying to think how to bark my apology.

Lily had come out here today, just as excited about hunting as I was, and I didn’t give her a chance to be involved. I didn’t even notice when she stopped following me.

Suddenly, something overwhelmed my Pulse Sense.

My ears folded back, as I looked up, just in time to see a shadow descending on us.

It was a bird with talons easily big enough to snatch one of his up.

I quickly charged at Iris, pushing her into the grass, then hopped over-top of Lily. There was no way I could fight that giant thing, but I could at least protect my little sister!