Shifter - Infinite Transformation-Chapter 14: Fern

Eyes filled with the light of intelligence lurked in the shadows of the Eserian Grove’s outskirts, their owner seeking the anomaly that had entered claimed territory.

A nimble yet graceful frame flashed through the dense undergrowth. Like a fairy, she brushed past plants that were as beautiful as they were dangerous, her eyes constantly searching for the anomaly.

Was it human? A monster? The truth eluded her. She, the owner of those bright eyes and a frame as graceful as it was fast, could not be sure. Humans were known to her, killed by her, yet the anomaly was different. It smelled human, yet not at the same time. There was more to the anomaly’s scent, which might be the only reason she kept him alive.

The boy. Brilliant eyes. Short black hair, as well as features too beautiful to belong to those brutes. He looked more Fae than some she knew. Then there was the anomaly’s body–the most confusing of all. A broad frame, yet lacking the muscles needed to move nimbly through the woods. Muscles that failed to grow fast enough. A frame that shifted, his scent changing, merging with hers.

He smelled funny. Dangerous, but not the kind she was used to sensing from humans. The good kind.

If her people were to hear her, they’d ridicule her. Or would they not? She was not sure. Watching the anomaly, her curiosity only increased.

A human turned slime. A scent that pulled her closer.

’I shall watch you. To... make sure you are no danger to my people.’ She nodded to herself, the faintest smile blooming on her lips.

’Yes, that’s it. I need to make sure he won’t put my people in danger. That’s why I am watching him.’

***

The lithe figure of the silent watcher stared at the anomaly in awe. She remained in the shadows of the trees, enjoying their embrace and protection as the battle unfolded before her.

The anomaly was weak. She had sensed his power before, but that did not lessen her intrigue–it only strengthened it. No human would enter Eserian alone while being as weak as the anomaly was.

Yet, he did not die. He defeated a Hnoll patrol without injury. Staring at the anomaly’s panting figure, her smile widened.

She had never seen someone like that human before. He was unique in a way she couldn’t quite grasp. Dangerous, yet all the more alluring.

But whether the anomaly was for her people or against them, she had yet to find out.

"I wouldn’t go that way," she whispered as the thoughts flashing through her mind slipped past her lips, watching the human drag his weary body deeper into the forest–further away from the Eserian Grove and closer to Hnoll territory.

He did something that should have relieved her, yet she could not help but worry. As to why she worried, Fern couldn’t comprehend. It was a first for her, and she did not want to see it wasted, even if the man she worried about was human.

’Is he really human, though?’

Fern was set on finding out.

***

A gust carried sonorous whispers into my ears. They sounded real enough to slow my weary steps, and I looked around.

Saying I was scared shitless was the understatement of the year. I felt like my heart was about to leap out of my chest at any moment. If not for my hand pressed firmly against my desperately heaving chest, it almost would have.

I was still alive. Even better, I had succeeded. I defeated the Hnolls, which reminded me of a familiar species of humanoid monsters–Gnolls. Taking a closer look at the corpses, I noticed the similarities. The only major difference was the Hnolls’ heads. They looked like badly beaten hounds. Now that I had the time, the resemblance was obvious.

Fortunately, the Hnolls were weaker than the Gnolls described in the Beastariums. Adult Gnolls were usually monsters that had already advanced a Tier, their progression granting them tremendous strength.

The Hnolls had been far weaker. Even the strongest among them had only reached the higher stages of the first Tier.

That reminded me of the System notifications, and I pulled them up once more.

Hnoll has been defeated. Shift has been updated.

Hnoll has been defeated. Shift has been updated.

Hnoll has been defeated. Shift has been updated.

Three notifications–one for each kill. And each time, my Power had been updated. Accessing Shift, something particular jumped out at me.

Accessible Shifts – Human (Main Form), Blue Slime, Arok Serpent, Hnoll

Even though I had transformed into two different versions of the Hnolls, the System listed them only once–and that was before I killed the third.

If transforming hadn’t been so exhausting, a small experiment would have resolved most doubts. Alas, I felt like collapsing on the spot.

The next set of experiments could wait. For now, it was better to leave before more Hnolls found me.

A familiar musk permeated the air, and I could have sworn something moved ahead of me. That left me with few options. I hurried to the corpses, looted them quickly, and returned the way I had come.

As far as I was concerned, a stranger kind enough to give me a waterskin was far less dangerous than whatever I’d seen moving in the distance.

Dragging my feet through the densely grown forest, I cursed my sore muscles. My body hadn’t been pushed all that much, yet the constant shifting placed a heavier strain on it than I’d expected. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

While it was good to know, all I could do was curse and hope the soreness would fade quickly. If not, I’d have to rely on the stranger’s kindness once more. I had little water left in the waterskin, and I ate the last bit of serpent meat for breakfast.