Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Searing hot pain exploded through my nose. I yelped, jerking backward from the bite, paws scrambling in the grass as I spun away. Warm wetness dripped down my muzzle, and the coppery tang of my own blood flooded my tongue.

The snake’s head hovered close, muscles flexing beneath emerald scales. Even as I retreated, it didn’t back down—it slid after me, tongue flicking as if it could taste my fear. In my ears, its slow heartbeat pounded like a steady drum of war.

Lily darted to my side, hackles raised and a growl rumbling in her throat.

I yipped sharply at her, telling her to back off. Not only did the snake’s fangs puncture deep into my snout, but that burning sensation was now slowly crawling through my body, making me feel weak and sick. I didn’t want her to get hurt as well.

The snake suddenly lashed at her with such speed I knew there was no dodging it, but I jumped at its flank to help her.

Lily, just like when Luke attacked her, didn’t move a single muscle. My fear for her safety vanished as I realized what she was doing.

The snake went right through her as if she were a ghost, and only then did I notice the shuffling of the grass as the real Lily burst forth.

We clamped down on the confused snake at the same time, Lily latching right under the base of its neck and me grabbing the middle part of its body. It hissed in pain, its heartbeat finally increasing to that of something that felt fear. Its tail whipped at my head, stinging the side of my face and neck, but that was nothing compared to the venomous bite that was still spreading its burn through my body.

We pulled in opposite directions, shaking violently. My vision was starting to swim from the sickness spreading through me, but I did not allow my grip to falter, even knowing Lily was likely doing far more damage than me.

Finally, the snake let out a final hiss of pain, and its stretched body gave up on it as its head tore free, each side ripping into bloody ends.

Me and Lily both dropped our halves of the venomous creature and watched the severed ends wriggle around chaotically until falling still.

I opened my mouth, perhaps to yip for help from Mom, perhaps just to express my pain, but it got lost in my throat. My legs folded under me, and I hit the ground, ears drooping flat against my skull. Lily’s panicked yips echoed dimly in my head as everything began to fade.

Basic Fighting level up!

Basic Fighting is now level 2!

+4 strength

+2 dexterity

New passive skill obtained: Poison resistance lvl 1

You have killed Snake lvl 4

Experience gained!

You have leveled up!

You are now Level 3!

Stat Gains

+1 Dexterity

+2 Attunement

+3 Sense

New achievement unlocked: Near death.

+2 Vigor

With the last effort my conscious mind could manage, I checked my HP:

15/60

14/60

13/60

It was ticking down at an alarming speed. I knew I was done for. I couldn’t even move anymore, the venom settling into my muscles as even the sounds around me faded. I could barely hear Lily’s panicked yelps anymore.

10/60

9/60

8/60

7/60

My chest burned with every shallow breath. The world tilted sideways, the grass blurring into a mess of green and shadow.

6/60

Shapes moved above me—Lily darting toward the cliff, yipping for all she was worth. A darker shadow loomed in the distance.

5/60

Heavy paws pounded the ground, vibrating under me more so than making it to my ears. The only thing I could hear now was my own failing heartbeat.

4/60

The shadow resolved itself into a familiar silhouette. It had three heads.

Dad… You came for me…

I couldn’t even lift my head or wag my tail. I could only barely raise my eyes to see him towering over me. His red eyes glowing through the haze of my failing vision.

3/60

2/69

He put his mouth around me, picking me up.

All sensation faded to numbness. There was no more pain, at least, but I felt so sad.

I didn't want to leave my family behind. They were all so good to me, and we had such good times. Even Ben and Jerry, who were often an annoyance, or Luke, who was rude, or Iris could be aloof, and Lily who could be clingy. I loved them all so much, and I loved my puppy life. I didn't want to loose everything I had there!.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

1/60

Please! Don’t let me die! I—

0/60

…

…

I heard soft, frantic yipping.

…

…

“Lisha!”

…

…

…

‘Lisha!”

Pound, pound, pound.

“Yip! Yip!”

…

…

…

“Lisha! Open your door this instant!”

I was startled awake…

No… I'm not sure where I was exactly.

I was looking down at a room that was quite familiar.

Yes, it was my bedroom from my old life.

It was quite large for one person. The bed seemed way too big with a canopy over it, plush pillows, and a dark wood desk pushed against the wall. A TV with a video game console and a bookshelf. All of those human-world luxuries, but somehow it seemed even emptier than the cave my new family used as their den, which only had rocks and discarded bones.

Back in that human life, I doubt I ever truly realized just how lonely having your own bedroom was. But that was normal for humans, and sharing a room was actually thought to be an inconvenience for them.

“Lisha I said open this door NOW, young lady!” cried a shrill voice.

“Just a moment, Mother!”

“Yip, yi—”

“Shhh! You have to be quiet!” I heard Lisha, my old self, whisper. “Please, please, please. She’ll make me give you back! I know it’s scary in there, but you have to stay quiet.”

The puppy whined softly, staring up at her from inside a shoebox.

Lisha held up a hand, splaying out five fingers. “Five minutes, I promise. Then I'll get you a good treat.”

The puppy quieted down, and Lisha closed the lid on the shoebox, then slid it under her bed.

I then watched as the girl answered the door to a woman with no face. There was just a black shadow that sat atop her neck.

My spirit head turned curiously, then noticed how my old self stared at the ground. No wonder I couldn't remember my human Mother's face. My past self was always too scared to look up at her.

I watched as the faceless woman berated Lisha over something to do with test scores, throwing a stack of papers down on the desk that was tidily kept with pens in a cup and ruler perfectly along the side.

When it was over, Lisha went back to the bed and slid the shoebox out. The puppy looked scared, and Lisha wrapped it up in her arms, apologizing. The puppy seemed to calm down quickly with its tail wagging, and when it licked Lisha's face, the girl smiled.

“I really am sorry… I don't know if this can actually be a good home for you. I'll try to find you a better one soon.” Lisha frowned, setting the puppy down. “Or… maybe if I can convince my parents you can have a good home here. I don't think it will be possible to hide you forever.” She sighed. “That’s probably wishful thinking, though. Mother dislikes animals, and especially dogs… She already said no last time I tried to bring one home.”

I continued to watch the room for a while. Lisha playing with the puppy, or it sitting by her feet while she studied at her desk, or sleeping curled up with her in bed. They moved around the room like phantoms, teleporting over here, then over there, with Lisha coming in with a bit of meat in some of the iterations, and her clothing constantly shifting.

At one point, Lisha was sitting on the bed playing a video game while the puppy sat diligently next to her, and Lisha explained how the game worked.

I didn't remember this life very well, but I knew it once was my life. Though, I couldn’t remember that puppy for some reason. Out of all the random things I did remember of this life I felt like that is one thing I should have remembered.

Then the scene changed dramatically as the faceless woman was standing over Lisha while the puppy nervously shook on the bed. I got the impression that several more days had passed.

“Honestly, I don't know what you were thinking! Bringing that thing in here!” the woman yelled.

“Sh-She was outside all alone,” Lisha protested. “It’s winter, so she could have died.”

“You mean you picked it up off of the street?” the woman yelled, no hint of sympathy in her voice. “Lisha, how foolish can you be? Who knows what diseases it might have!”

“She doesn't have diseases! She—”

“Enough! I'm getting rid of it!” The woman tried to step around Lisha, but Lisha protectively kept herself in the way. “Lisha! What has gotten into you!”

“No, please stop, Mother!”

“I said move!” She pushed her daughter to the side, Lisha falling to the floor and scraping her elbow. The woman grabbed for the puppy, who instantly chomped her fingers the second her hand got too close. “Aaaaah! It bit me! That's it, I'm throwing it in the damn—Lisha!”

Lisha dove onto the bed, snatching up the puppy and running out the door with it cradled against her chest.

“Lisha, get back here this instant!”

I floated after them. My past self stepped into her shoes without tying them and didn't even bother to put on a jacket before running out into the cold night air.

I remembered this.

This was one of the last memories I had from my old life. I recalled how when I woke up in this world, the first thing I remembered was being cold and a flash of light.

Did I get hit by a car or something when I wasn't looking, and that's why I don't remember?

For now, my spirit body just floated after them, following them through the night.

“I'm sorry I don't know where to bring you.” Lisha said to the puppy. Though her whole body was chattering, she held the puppy tightly against her chest. “Don't worry, I'll keep you warm until I figure it out.”

I don't know if the puppy understood her or not, but it bobbed its head forward enough to give her a lick on her nose, which made Lisha giggle despite her chattering teeth.

She was walking through the cold in nothing but sweatpants and a sweater, which were obviously not nearly thick enough to contend with the frigid temperature. Even her shoes were getting wet from the snow, now having proper footwear to keep the water out.

At one point, Lisha pulled a cellphone out of her pocket and tried to call someone, but with no luck.

She stopped by a strip mall, watching the last of the cars leave the parking lot as everyone went home for the night. She was perhaps hoping some store owner might be able to take the puppy in.

Finding no solution there, she continued to walk. Eventually she tried an abandoned house, but it was sealed up too tightly, and she couldn't find a way in.

Finally, she wandered over to a river that cut through town. There was a slope leading down to it and a bridge nearby with a steady stream of cars going over it.

She sat by the water, knees folded up, curling herself over the puppy and ignoring the snow melting through the back of her pants.

“I'm so cold…” Lisha whispered. “I'm sorry. I don't know what to do. I can't take you home, and there are no animal shelters around here.” She hugs her tighter. “Even if there were… I've heard strays who don't get adopted get…” She didn't finish the sentence.

The puppy whined softly, and Lisha's shaking fingers scratched behind her ear.

“Don't worry. I just need to rest a moment. Then we’ll keep looking.” Lisha tilted her head up, looking at the stars. Then she pointed. “Look up there. If we see a shooting star, we will be granted a wish, and we can just ask for a new home for you.”

The puppy unfolded itself from the cradle of her arms to look up, fixing its eyes along with her.

“I'm sorry someone like me is the one who found you. I wish I could give you a better home. I didn't even think to give you a name yet… Some pet owner I am…” She sighed. Her teeth chattered. She kept talking, as if the act of speaking could warm her up a little, but neither she nor the puppy’s eyes ever left the stars. “I don’t have many friends… no… I don't have any real friends… And my parents just think I'm a disappointment. You didn't have anyone either; you were just all alone out there on the streets, so maybe… maybe that's why I thought I should take you. I thought since we were both all alone, we could be each other's friends. I know that was stupid now. I didn't think things through at all. There was no way I could have kept you hidden in my room for very long, and that wouldn't have been a good life for you anyway.”

Lisha leaned back more, putting one bare hand back in the snow to prop herself up while cradling the puppy with the other arm.

“Maybe there's a better family out there somewhere, waiting for both of us. One that would accept us for who we are, and defend us if we were ever in danger, and care to hear what we have to say… and just wanted… just wanted us to be happy…”

Her skin was becoming so pale, and her lips were turning blue, but despite that, she smiled.

I wanted to bark at her, to tell her to get up and go somewhere warm. She wouldn't be able to help the dog if she froze to death! I wondered if this is really how I died?

Then Lisha’s hand lifted out of the snow. “Hey… look.” She pointed one shaking finger at the sky. “A shooting star… just like I said there would be.” Her blue, cracked lips forced themselves into a smile. “Make a wish…”

I looked up at where she and the puppy were looking.

Yes, there was a shooting star… Except… it kept getting bigger.

It kept getting bigger and brighter, and then as it tore through a wispy cloud, a shockwave dispersed around it, tearing the cloud apart.

It wasn't just a shooting star! It was a—

Despite the futility, I barked, “Look out!”

There was one last flash of blinding light, and then the whole world shook as the thing that fell from the sky crashed near the riverbank.

I covered my paws over my eyes, my spirit fighting against the resulting shockwave.

Once the light cleared, car alarms were left blaring through the town. Far in the distance, a low drone of a warning horn began to rise into a constant scream that drowned everything else out.

I looked to the riverbank. There was a crater, fire, melted snow, and smoke… but no puppy and no girl.

[Achievement! Back from the brink!]

A god-tier spell has whisked you back to life moments after all hope seemed lost.

Major stat points gained!