The hut felt quieter once Rex left, the crackle of the fire the only sound keeping me company. I knelt beside the egg again, palms resting gently against its shell. The warmth had intensified, no longer just comforting but rhythmic—like a heartbeat syncing with my own.
*Thump… thump.*
A thin silver line spider-webbed across the surface.
"Oh—okay, that's new," I muttered, scooting back just in time as the crack spread. The air around the egg shimmered, faint motes of light lifting like fireflies. That strange connection tightened in my chest, tugging at something instinctual and ancient.
[Hatching imminent.]
Well, that was direct.
The shell split cleanly, not shattering but peeling apart like petals. From within emerged a small, silver-furred form, damp and blinking, letting out a surprisingly loud squeak for something that fit neatly in my arms.
A silver wolf pup.
Its eyes—bright, liquid blue—locked onto me instantly. The moment they did, that same wave of happiness surged through my body, stronger than before, not quite used to the feeling, it was almost overwhelming. I gasped, steadying myself as the pup wobbled forward and pressed its tiny forehead against my chest.
[Bond established.]
"So that's how it is," I said softly, cradling him. His tail twitched, a faint glow pulsing beneath his fur before fading. The system chimed again.
[New familiar registered: Silver Wolf Pup – "Scooter."]
…Rex was absolutely going to insist on that name.
The pup let out a small yawn and curled closer, already dozing. I felt something flow from me—warm, gentle, not draining but *shared*. The traits the system mentioned weren't abstract concepts anymore; they were instincts guiding my body without conscious thought.
Footsteps crunched outside.
Rex froze in the doorway when he saw us. For a moment, the hardened survivor was gone, replaced by someone openly awed. He crossed the room in two long strides and dropped to his knees beside me.
"He hatched," he said, voice rough.
"Yeah," I replied. "And he's… a lot quieter than his brother."
Rex huffed a laugh, carefully reaching out to stroke the pup's head. The little wolf stirred, nose twitching, then turned slightly toward him.
[Family recognition detected.]
Rex swallowed. "Guess that settles it. We're really doing this."
"Looks like it."
Silence settled again, but it was comfortable this time. Outside, the wind shifted, carrying unfamiliar scents—distant forests, unknown beasts, places I'd never seen. The system spoke once more, less clinical than usual.
[Departure recommended. Growth—yours and theirs—requires movement.]
I looked down at the pup, then at Rex.
"After breakfast," I said, standing carefully, "we should probably head out."
Rex grinned, tail flicking behind him. "Good. I was getting tired of staying in one place anyway."
As the fire died down and we prepared to leave, I felt it clearly for the first time—not just the weight of divinity, but responsibility. This world was vast, dangerous, and full of things that wanted to test a newborn god.
I tightened my hold on the future, curled against my chest, and stepped outside.
...
The forest wasn't much different from the clearing.
More trees.
More dirt.
Slightly fewer memories.
Scooter shifted against my chest, poking his head out just enough to watch the leaves sway overhead. His ears twitched at every sound, his tail tapping lazily against my arm.
At least one of us was interested.
Behind me, Rex pulled the door to the hut shut.
Not that it needed it.
The place had survived decades without anyone taking care of it. One crooked door wasn't going to change that.
"You gonna miss it?" he asked.
I looked back once.
"No."
"...That's cold."
"I've been here for a day."
"Still."
"It was a building."
Rex stared at me for a second before shaking his head.
"I keep forgetting you're weird."
"I've noticed."
He snorted, adjusting the pack on his shoulder before starting down the trail.
The silence that followed wasn't awkward.
It was preferred.
The System remained absent.
Apparently, it trusted me to walk without supervision.
That was optimistic.
Scooter let out a quiet yip before wriggling free.
I made a half-hearted attempt to stop him.
He ignored it.
The pup landed on all fours, immediately tripped over a root, rolled twice, and somehow looked proud of himself afterward.
"...Good recovery."
He barked.
Rex laughed.
"I think he's showing off."
"He's terrible at it."
Scooter puffed out his tiny chest.
Confident.
Delusional.
Close enough.
He trotted ahead of us, stopping every few seconds to sniff something new before deciding it wasn't interesting enough to eat.
Probably for the best.
The trail narrowed as we descended deeper into the forest. Sunlight became harder to find beneath the thick canopy, replaced by long shadows that stretched between ancient trees.
I noticed the quiet first.
Birds had stopped singing.
Wind still moved through the branches.
Leaves still rustled.
Everything else had gone silent.
"...Rex."
He stopped immediately.
"I hear it."
His hand settled on his bow.
Scooter returned to my side without being called.
Smart.
A bush several yards ahead shifted.
Not from the wind.
Too heavy.
Another moved to our left.
Then one behind us.
Rex exhaled slowly.
"We've got company."
The familiar blue window appeared.
[Warning.]
[Hostile entities detected.]
Figures.
I'd barely left home and something already wanted to kill me.
I sighed.
"Of course."
A deep growl answered from somewhere in the trees.
I set Scooter behind my legs and reached for the bamboo staff strapped to my pack.
"So much for breakfast settling."