My [System] interrogation finally complete, it was time to deal with Percral's body. Frankly speaking, I didn't much want to eat it, but there was the possibility that it would offer me some sort of growth, as I have no idea what the Administrator expects of me. Further, it was a lot of good food, and the twin's collective mouth was watering as we dragged the corpse into our den. Thus... we ate our breakfast. I had avoided thinking of taste as I ripped through all this raw meat, but it just wasn't getting any more pleasant. On top of that, I got nothing from eating Percral, other than a full belly.

Thus, I was left to stew, sitting in my spot, incapable of really moving myself anywhere without help. It was another day before I could reliably begin to walk, and I spent that day half pacing, half limping around the den. I just helplessly looked at my [Status] screen, and thought about ways to channel my newfound magic. Unfortunately for me, however, I couldn't figure anything out until I thought of a vein of questioning I hadn't considered previously.

Is there a way for me to use magic without invoking the Words of Power?

[The Administrator is excited that you finally thought of this. Yes. Through evolution, a creature may develop organs specifically tailored for the development and use of magic. These organs are exclusive to non-humanoid races.]

Ok, then can I see the requirements to evolve and develop one of these magically adaptive organs?

[The Administrator has deemed it unnecessary to… The Administrator is willing to give you that information as a part of the next quest that appears, once you complete your current quest.]

Great... so now I just need to get back into fighting and killing the wolfstags. And how am I able to tell if they are, in fact, "Young Thunder Wolfstags"?

[They will look just like the largest of the cubs that you killed two days ago, except will exhibit remedial lightning-manipulating capabilities.]

So... even more dangerous than the most dangerous thing we have faced thus far?

[Yes.]

Of course...

...

I anxiously waited for my pack to return from their hunt whenever they left, as any subordinate lost would take me one step away from my goal of becoming an alpha, and every day that passed was weighing on me. I wanted to cram every evolution I could in before I hit adulthood. I didn't know why I had this specific urge, but I had a sneaking suspicion that growth would come much harder once I was no longer experiencing the continuous growth of youth.

After each hunt, I would see my pack walk through the door, slightly more banged up than the last time. Once, they returned without any prey at all, and Oncli explained to me (at length, may I add) that they had only found traces of wolfstags, and even the tracks of an adult, thus, they had wandered, until they decided to call it a day, being safe rather than sorry. I was glad they had heeded my advice, and, after two long days, I was ready to reunite with them on the hunt.

Shemira had poked her head in a couple of times, attempting to pull me to her side every time, but my continuously more terse responses seemed to have communicated that I didn't want her around. Finally.

On the third day from my duel, my 9th day of life, as my [Status] unerringly, continuously reminded me, I was finally ready to get back into the field. I was going stir-crazy, and couldn't understand how the twins were generally happy with their positions as den-dwellers.

As we went out the den to begin the hunt for the day, I heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, the newbie finally gets out of bed." It was Rulac.

"... Can I help you? We're going on the hunt now."

"Normally, I would encourage you to go out and cut your fangs on some living flesh, but a couple of things--1. it's pretty crazy out there right now. I'd give it 2 days if I were you. If you need to go out, go at night. The wolfies don't see like us." He grinned, "If they're stupid enough to come out at night, then they're prey, nothing more. 2. I said I'd introduce you to Redael. You wanna meet him now?"

I had the sneaking suspicion that this wasn't a request, and voiced as much. "I need to come with you right now, don't I?"

Rulac grinned. "See, I knew I liked you for a reason. You're smart. He'll probably like that. Also--it's just you. Leave the rest of the spawn here if you don't want them to get nibbled on."

I gestured for Took to retreat back into the den, and she did so grudgingly. I then nodded for Rulac to lead the way, and followed him deeper into the den, deeper than I'd ever been yet.