Before continuing my journey, I suddenly remembered one thing.
Water.
I couldn't rely on luck to find another source in the midst of this ever-shifting forest. If I left with nothing, I would only repeat my old foolishness—depending on the mercy of a world that had never given me anything.
Fortunately, I had stored a small amount of clean water in that stone basin.
But how was I supposed to carry it?
There was no way I could bring the entire stone with me. Even if my body was stronger now, I still couldn't haul something that large wherever I went.
I let out a short breath, trying to steady my thoughts.
"I need a bottle." I muttered, my voice quiet yet firm in the stillness of the forest.
That was the only answer. Something I could fill, carry, and hold without shattering my shoulders with every step.
I swept my gaze around, assessing the tree trunks surrounding the water source. The large ones were too thick and the old ones too hard. I needed a small or medium tree, soft enough for me to cut, but strong enough to be used as material for making bottle.
A medium-sized young tree caught my attention. Its trunk was about the size of my waist, thick enough to become a container, but not as old as the giant trees around it. Its shape was straight, sturdy, and still looked young.
That… might work.
I stepped closer, placing my palm against its bark.
I took a deep breath, clenching my fist. I didn't actually want to do it like this, forcing my body to work at a level I didn't even understand yet. But there was no other choice. If I didn't cut it down myself, I wouldn't have a water container. And without water… this journey would end here.
"Let this be enough."
I swung my fist.
The first strike shook the trunk hard. The vibration traveled into the ground, causing dry leaves to fall around me. The bark cracked, and where I struck, a small crater formed, piercing through the outer layer of wood.
But the tree was still standing.
I continued with the second strike.
The second blow hit deeper. The resulting vibration spread to my wrist, not as pain, but as a strong pressure forcing my bones and muscles to work harder than usual. As if my body was learning to accept the magnitude of the strength I had just drawn out.
The crack on the trunk widened, thin wooden splinters breaking off and falling to the ground.
But the tree still hadn't fallen.
And the third strike.
I brought my fist down harder than the previous two, forcing my new strength out entirely. The crack widened quickly, like fissures spreading across dry land.
With a sharp snapping sound, the trunk finally fell. It hit the ground with a heavy thud, sending dry fragments and fine dust lifting briefly into the air. The scent of fresh wood and raw sap spread immediately into my nose.
I looked at the result, my breath slightly unsteady.
Once, I couldn't even withstand a single slap without collapsing.
Now… with only my hands, I could bring down a tree.
I approached the newly fallen trunk, running my hand along its rough, splintered surface. This wood was light enough to carry, yet sturdy. Suitable for making a container.
Without waiting, I began to work.
My sharp nails, capable of tearing a bear's flesh, moved along the surface of the trunk. With one swipe, the bark peeled off in a long strip. I pulled it away, removing layer after layer until the rough exterior disappeared, revealing pale young wood beneath.
I cut the top part of the trunk with several strong slashes. Each stroke of my nails left a clean mark, and after a few swings, the piece detached with a small crack.
I began carving out the inside.
With slow, controlled movements, my claws scraped the soft inner wood. Splinters fell in piles onto the ground. I kept digging, forming a long cavity inside the trunk, deep enough to hold water but not so thin that it would crack. Each swipe shaped a new curve, and each pull smoothed the container's inner walls.
Once the cavity was finished, I realized one problem. I didn't have a lid for the bottle.
I lifted my head, scanning the area. Not far from where I stood, the bear carcass I killed a few hours earlier still lay between the large roots. Its body was starting to stiffen, but the skin on its back remained intact, thick, tough, and still suitable for use.
Seeing it, one thought immediately crossed my mind.
That hide… could become the bottle's lid.
I walked toward the bear's carcass and knelt down. With my sharp claws, I began slicing the bear's back hide. The flesh beneath had started to soften, but the hide remained thick and strong. I cut line after line, pulling the skin as it slowly separated from the tissue underneath. After a few minutes, I obtained a piece of hide large enough to serve as the container's cover.
Now for the binding.
Not far from the carcass, a tree with low-hanging roots stood. Several strands of dried roots dangled like tangled cords. I reached for them and pulled gently, separating the fibers that were still strong. Their texture was coarse and flexible, ideal as rope.
Returning to the trunk I had carved, I placed the bear hide over the mouth of the wooden container. The hide was stiff, but with a bit of pressure, it fit tightly enough. I twisted the root fibers into a thin rope, wrapping it several times to secure the lid.
One final pull ensured everything was firm. The simple water bottle was finally finished.
Its shape was rough and uneven, but the lid was strong, and the medium-sized container was sturdy enough to hold water during my journey. And for now… that was more than enough.
After that, I filled the bottle with the clean water I had prepared earlier. I submerged its mouth, letting it fill completely. Clear water flowed in unhindered, filling the wooden cavity until it felt heavy in my hand. When it was full, I lifted it slowly, letting the excess drip back down before sealing it tightly.
The preparations were finally complete. I placed the bottle beside my leather skirt, tying it with the root-fiber rope so it wouldn't fall off during travel. After making sure it was stable, I stood and looked again at the pool before me. Its water was no longer as clear as when I first arrived; a bit of murkiness remained from when I used it to bathe a few hours ago.
Without wasting time, I turned away from the pool and retraced the narrow path toward the next part of my journey. This world waited for no one, and I had no reason to linger any longer.
Before leaving, I bent down to the flat stone where I had stored the water earlier. Some water still remained in the hollow. Not much, but enough to moisten my throat. I drank it slowly until none remained.
After that, I drew a short breath, straightened my back, and immediately left the pond to continue the journey awaiting me between the trees.
Every step produced a small sound drowned among the forest's whispers. Thin fog still hung low, dancing around the trunks of old trees.
I sharpened my hearing, letting the sounds of nature slowly enter my mind. Small birds were heard in the distance, their wings flapping softly between branches.
This forest felt more alive than before, or perhaps, I was now more sensitive to the life within it. Every time the wind passed, I could feel its direction, even hear twigs trembling subtly from dozens of steps away.
My steps took me further from the water source, but I didn't look back. Something inside me pushed me to keep moving forward, not because I knew where to go, but because stopping was no longer an option.
I walked past trees that towered above my head, their thick trunks thicker than a human body, with roots crawling on the ground like sleeping snakes.
Every time I stepped, dry leaves crumbled under my feet.
I didn't know what awaited me ahead, but for the first time... I didn't care. This forest was silent, but a peaceful silence.
No mocking laughter, no harsh calls, no orders to submit. Only my own footsteps, and the sound of my breath blending with nature's rhythm.
I paused for a moment between two large trees.
My left hand touched the trunks , the bark was rough, yet I could feel a faint pulse of life within. I didn't know why, but this world, however strange, felt more real than the palace where I was raised.
More honest. Here, there was no pretense. If you're weak, you die. If you're strong, you live. It was that simple.
I looked far ahead. The path between the trees opened slightly, creating a faint trail towards an unknown place.
I took one more long breath, then stepped towards it. The first step towards something I didn't yet know.
But this time, there was no hesitation. All that remained was conviction.
That every step I took, no matter how small, was part of the change that had started since I refused to die that night.
My steps continued penetrating the seemingly endless forest.
Every time I stepped, the damp soil under my feet made soft sounds, like the earth's calm breath.
moonlight infiltrated from between the high branches, forming dancing lines of light amidst the thin fog.
The air here no longer felt threatening, instead, there was a soothing silence, as if the world was watching me without ill intent.
I didn't know how long I had been walking since leaving the water source earlier. Maybe an hour. Maybe more. Yet my body didn't feel tired, my steps remained steady, their rhythm stable. Every swing of my leg felt light, as if this body knew how to move without me forcing it.
At some point, the sky had shifted. When I first left, it carried the soft glow of late afternoon, muted, warm, and almost gentle. But now, that faint light had thinned. The forest above me was growing darker, the hues deepening into the early shades of night, shadows stretching longer between the trees.
Occasionally, I stopped to listen. The sound of leaves rubbing against each other, gusts of wind swirling softly between tree roots, and... something else.
A small sound, almost inaudible, like a breaking twig.
I sharpened my hearing. The sound came again. This time closer. My steps stopped completely.
I swallowed slowly, not from nervousness, but because my instincts immediately realized.
I was being watched.
Then… two pairs of yellow eyes emerged from behind the foliage. Faint light illuminated their fur.
"Wolves..." I murmured almost soundlessly.
Their size and shape were the same as the one that first attacked me in this forest. But this time not one, but two. The two wolves advanced slowly, growling with bared teeth.
But I didn't step back. I actually stepped forward, one step… two steps. My heart beat calmly. Every second seemed to slow down, and I could feel the rhythm of their movements, how the muscles in their legs tensed, how their tails twitched before pouncing.
I knew what would happen. But this time, I wouldn't wait for them to attack.
"Let's see… how strong I am now," I murmured softly.
Once the distance was close enough, I moved first. The ground crunched under my feet as I shot forward, my body's speed making the air around me rustle.
My purple nails caught the faint moonlight slipping through the branches.
The wolf on the left hadn't reacted when my hand slashed towards its jaw. A hard impact sounded, the creature was thrown sideways, hitting a tree trunk and curling up with a heavy groan.
"GRAAARRRR!"
The other one growled loudly, reflexively jumping towards me. I twisted my body to the right, then swung my leg with full strength. A soft slosh came from the water bottle strapped to my hip as I moved.
My kick hit its ribcage. Air rushed out of its lungs with a rough sound, and the large body was also thrown, tumbling on the leafy ground.
"GRAAARKHHH!"
I looked at them, two wolves now lying on the ground, panting but not yet defeated. My hands were still raised, the purple nails trembling slightly, reflecting light like embers.
"GRRRRRRR"
Then both wolves began to rise, staring at me with bared fangs and low growls. The fur on their backs stood up, their yellowish eyes watching me fiercely.
The forest air felt heavier, and I could smell the faint scent of blood coming from a scratch on one of their shoulders. I took a breath, lowered my stance, adjusting my balance on the damp ground.
They circled me slowly, their steps slow but firm, creating a small circle where only we moved.
Every movement they made left soft sounds from shifted leaves, but to my ears, everything sounded clear and sharp, almost like echoes.
My body wasn't stiff. No tension like before. My muscles felt ready, as if knowing where to move before my mind could give the order.
"GRAAAARR!"
One of the wolves pounced first.
I met it, not with fear, but with an impulse that came naturally. My hand rose, my purple nails slashing towards the creature's chest.
The impact was hard, making the air between us vibrate. The large body was thrown again, but only to rise faster, more wildly.
The second one came from behind. I felt the wind on my back change direction, and without thinking I twisted my body, kicking sideways.
"GRAAKKHH!"
My kick hit its jaw, hard enough to twist its head sideways. It bellowed, but remained standing. Thin blood dripped from the corner of its mouth, but its gaze remained fiery, full
I gritted my teeth, stepped back half a step, then counterattacked. My nails shot out quickly, slashing through the wolf, hitting one of their shoulders.
This time they both moved simultaneously, one attacking from the front, one from the right side.
I crouched low, ducking between them, letting my body move as if without conscious command.
My nails missed slightly, but their claws also didn't touch my skin.
Only the sound of my uniform tearing was heard, making the air around me feel increasingly tense.
I twisted my body again, punching the chest of the closest wolf with my fist.
My hand hit hard, hard enough to make the air in its chest seem to stop.
The creature retreated with heavy breath, but still tried to bite me.
I dodged half a step, then grabbed its jaw and pushed down strongly, slamming it to the ground with the pressure of my entire body.
"GRRRAAKKHH"
The impact sound was heavy.
"GRRRRRR"
The wolf groaned loudly, trying to get up, but I had already moved again.
The other one came from the left, faster than before. Its claws swiped the side of my cheek, almost hitting my eye, but I ducked just in time. My hair swung forward, covering my face momentarily. I turned quickly, slashing towards its neck with my sharp claws
This time my blow found its mark, a long wound tore across its skin, and dark blood spilled out in thin streams, not gushing, but enough to make the creature roar angrily and retreat two steps.
I looked at them with racing breath. They were still standing, but their steps were beginning to falter.
My hands trembled, not from fatigue, but from the flow of energy that felt increasingly wild. My body was hot, my blood pulsed quickly in every vein.
Every breath felt deep, heavy, but controlled. As if the entire world around me had shrunk, and all that remained were the two creatures before me, opponents I had to face.
"GRAAAARRRR!"
One of them suddenly leaped again, higher this time. I ducked, twisted, then kicked towards its stomach.
My kick hit hard, making its body lift momentarily before crashing back to the ground.
"GRAAAKKKHH!"
The second attacked simultaneously, but I was ready.
I swung my arm forward, deflecting its claw, then used that momentum to push its body with my shoulder.
The impact was hard enough that the creature lost its balance and fell to the muddy side of the ground. I stood between them, my breath heavy, my chest heaving.
The forest air felt hot, even though the night was wrapped in thin fog. My nails still shimmered faintly in the dim light, trembling slightly with energy that hadn't fully settled.
Both wolves were still alive, but now their bodies trembled, panting, as if starting to lose energy. I looked at them silently, without anger, without pity.
There was only coldness in my heart. One of them growled softly, trying to rise once more.
I stepped forward, looking straight into its eyes. That gaze, the gaze of an animal trapped between instinct and fear, made me pause for a moment.
Then, with one quick movement, I slashed towards its chest.
"GRAAAAAAAKKKHH"
Screams of pain that pierced through the air, harsh and full of despair, before being cut off abruptly.
This time the creature was completely silent, no longer moving.
The other one retreated, then turned and ran, disappearing into the forest shadows.
I stood still in place, watching its departure. A long breath escaped my lips, followed by silence that enveloped the forest again. My hands lowered slowly.
The purple nails were now dim, but felt warm, like a pulse of life not yet willing to extinguish.
I looked at my own hands, dirty with soil and wolf blood, but not trembling.
No fear. No panic.
"Before, I almost died fighting one," I whispered softly, while regulating my breath.
"Now two at once, and I'm not even injured."
Silence…
Only the wind answered, passing through the wet leaves, carrying the faint scent of blood still lingering in the air.
I looked at my hands once more, then at the wolf's body lying on the ground. Only the desire to keep walking, and to test how far I could go.
I stood on the damp soil stained with blood and broken leaves.
My body still felt warm, but not from fatigue. More from the residual adrenaline that hadn't faded.
I stared at the wolf. Blood was flowing from its body.
Before, just seeing blood was enough to make me nauseous. Now? I could even sense it in the air, faint, but clear.
That metallic scent, once disgusting, now felt... ordinary.
I crouched slowly, touching the fur of one wolf. Still warm. Under my palm, its flesh felt dense and heavy.
I looked at the meat for a long time. Then a thought emerged.
If I ate it again... could I become even stronger?
I took a soft breath, looking at my left hand, the purple nails now looked calm, without vibration.
I've eaten wolf meat before. That was what first changed my body. But would my body react the same if I ate it again?
Without much consideration, I moved my middle fingernail, slicing a small portion of meat from one wolf's shoulder.
Warm blood immediately dripped to the ground, emitting a faint metallic scent. I looked at it for a moment, then bit slowly.
The taste... different from what I remembered. No longer bitter like before, no iron taste stinging my tongue or foul smell making my stomach revolt.
Now, it tasted like fresh meat, slightly chewy, but light in the throat. Turns out I was right. My tongue had changed too… just like the rest of my body.
Haaah… it seems I'm really no longer human if I can accept eating raw meat without feeling disgusted…
I swallowed it, and waited. One minute. Two minutes. Nothing happened. My body didn't react.
No spreading heat, no strange pulsations under the skin, no increase in strength like before.
Only silence.
I tried a little more, but the result was the same. My body remained the same, stable, calm, and strong as before.
"So that's how it is..." I murmured softly. The curiosity in my chest slowly turned into understanding.
"My body won't change from the same meat. Maybe… only new creatures can give me new strength."
I looked at the piece of meat once more, then threw it to the ground. I sat leaning against a large tree trunk, taking a deep breath.
"I'm not afraid anymore," I whispered softly.
"This strength… is not a curse. But not a blessing either. Just a tool. And I will use it as best I can."
I looked at the purple nails on my fingers shimmering faintly in the dark light.
For some reason, that light reflection made me think, if I continued like this, how long until I could truly no longer be called human?
But I didn't answer that question. I just remained silent, letting the wind pass, carrying the fading scent of blood.
While in the distance, the forest fell silent again, as if nothing had happened.