"It's been hours and I'm still lost in this damn forest! Just how big is this place?!?" I shouted in frustration.
I immediately covered my mouth with my paws. I really needed to stop yelling. Who knew what kind of nightmare creatures were listening?
I forced myself to keep walking, this time quieter and more careful. Being small had its perks, I could slip around most things if I moved smart enough.
Sundown was creeping in, and I was pretty sure I'd wandered kilometers away from where I first woke up. I had no clue what part of the forest I was in anymore. No compass, no map, nothing. My only strategy was to memorize every path I'd passed through, hoping it would help me find a way out eventually.
It was getting darker, and I was exhausted to the point of collapse. I hadn't eaten anything all day, and my stomach was practically screaming for food.
I mean, I'm a cat now, right? Shouldn't I instinctively know how to fish? Ugh, I really should've hunted while I was still by the river.
A laugh escaped me as I realized how ridiculous I sounded.
"Aah… who am I kidding? Me? Hunt for food? I barely survived not getting eaten earlier!"
I kept walking, desperately scanning the area for anything edible. I was already close to giving up when. Luckily, I stumbled upon a bush bursting with bright red berries.
Oh, thank goodness! I finally get to be the one doing the eating and not the one being eaten!
I was about to devour them on the spot when hesitation kicked in.
Wait, wait, wait…
This forest is absolutely not normal. Everything here is either weird or deadly. What if these berries are poisonous? What if they make me hallucinate? What if they explode inside me?!?
Or… or…
Right on cue, my stomach growled loudly.
"Aah… damn it! I don't care anymore!"
I shoved the berries into my mouth without hesitation, and thank the heavens, they were actually delicious.
I'll deal with the consequences later. If I wanna survive, I need food. End of story.
I ate until my stomach was full and let out a satisfied burp.
"My first meal! And a good one too. I should save some for tomorrow."
Night had fully settled in, and I knew it was even more dangerous now. Normally it's hard for anyone to see in the dark, but not for me. I could see everything clearly. Cat perks, I guess. It really felt like having night vision goggles, well, if I'd ever worn a pair.
Why do I remember useless stuff but not who I am? Whatever. It's not the time to think about that. I need to find a safe place to sleep.
After searching around, I spotted a small hole at the base of a nearby tree, perfectly sized for me and perfect for hiding from predators. I crawled in, yawned, and curled up.
My body begged for rest. My eyes were heavy, my limbs numb, but sleep wouldn't come. My mind wouldn't stop spiraling.
Why? Why can't I remember anything? Who am I? What am I supposed to do? I… I don't know.
Whatever. I just need to survive tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that…
I almost died today, but it's fine. I'll find a way out of here. No matter what it takes, I'll figure out who I am and why I ended up here.
Slowly, I drifted off to sleep.
…
Morning came. Sunlight and the sounds of the forest woke me up. I stretched my stiff body.
"Nyaaaaah! Aah, I had a nasty dream. A giant lizard was about to eat me. Wait… huh?" I mumbled, rubbing my eyes.
The moment I looked around and realized I was still in the same forest, I sighed.
"Here we go again…"
I ate the berries I saved and continued moving.
As I walked, I encountered creatures even worse than yesterday.
There was a giant snake, a scorpion with wings on its back, a gorilla with four arms wearing armor, a spider with long slender legs, a flying manta ray that spits acid, a horde of insects with giant teeth that devour prey in seconds, and so many others.
This forest is just full of creepy monsters. I haven't even seen a normal one yet. And the worst thing is, they all hunt each other or eat whatever's smaller.
Avoiding them was mentally and physically draining. I had to watch every step just to stay alive. Eventually, I had to stop and rest.
"Aah… the pressure is too much!" I muttered as I sat on a rock.
I swear, if I don't calm down, I'm not gonna die because of a monster, I'm gonna die from a heart attack!
While I was mumbling to myself, I heard someone humming nearby. Curious, I followed the sound, and froze.
In the middle of a grassy field stood a tiny sunflower with a cute smiling face, dancing and humming with tiny insects swirling around it. It looked like something straight out of a cartoon.
I'd seen terrifying creatures all day, so seeing something remotely harmless made my eyes sting with relief.
"Finally… something that doesn't want to eat me," I sniffled.
I lowered my guard and walked toward it, desperate for something friendly.
Big mistake.
Vines shot out from the ground, wrapping tightly around my arms and legs.
"W-wait! What is this? I can't move!"
Panic hit instantly.
I smell trouble…
The ground rumbled.
The sunflower's smiling face twisted downward into a frown, and the insects around it melted mid-air. A muscular green frog with a humanoid body erupted from the soil beneath the flower. Its red eyes glowed, its thick red lips stretched into a sinister smile, human-like teeth gleaming.
The sunflower sat on top of its head, its roots buried into the frog's skull, pulsing like veins. A parasitic monster, using the cute sunflower as bait.
"L-let go!" I screamed, struggling helplessly.
I tried to think of a way out, but nothing came to mind.
Oh! The bad luck thingy!
I tried to clear my mind, hoping it would activate, but nothing happened.
Aaaah! Why won't it work?!
The frog began laughing hysterically. More vines sprouted and forced my mouth open. I screamed as its tongue slowly extended toward me.
It's trying to take over my body! What should I do?! What should I do?!
I'm out of options. Honestly, did I ever even have one?
No! No no no no! I don't want to die like this! Anything but this! I refuse to fall to this perverted-looking freak!
As my will to live exploded, particles of dark matter gathered in front of my mouth, forming a sphere of condensed energy.
Then… BOOM!
A massive beam of dark energy fired straight into the frog, obliterating its upper body and vaporizing the sunflower. The trees behind it disintegrated into ash.
"W-what just happened…? Did I do that?"
The vines loosened and dropped me. I hit the ground trembling.
"Ha-ha… ha-ha…"
"I'm alive… again."
That was insane. I didn't know I could do that. No wonder I'm this exhausted.
I panted, trying to process everything.
"Why is it that every time I'm in danger, something new comes out of nowhere to save me?!"
Aah… Who else can I blame? I don't even understand my own body. Maybe it's time I try to.
After resting, I moved to a clearing to experiment.
Okay… let's see.
I definitely have this thing where bad luck hits anyone trying to hurt me. Black cats bring misfortune, right? Maybe that's why. I don't know if it's automatic or if it has rules, but it didn't activate this time. Whatever. For now, I'll call it the 'Curse of the Black Cat'. Pretty cool name if I say so myself.
I can see clearly in the dark and hear from far away. It makes sense, I'm a cat.
But the craziest thing? That dark energy beam. I can shoot a powerful blast from my mouth. It takes a few seconds to charge and drains me like crazy, so I'll only use it when I'm desperate. Actually… how do I even activate it again? Open my mouth? Think about it? Ugh, forget it. I don't wanna pass out.
Now that I know what I can do… What else am I capable of?
I started thinking of cool abilities.
"Maybe I can fly?" I said as I eyed a cliff.
Yeah, no. I'm not jumping off that.
Next idea.
"Oh! What if I can move things with my mind?"
I stared intensely at a rock and pointed my paw at it for minutes.
Nothing happened.
"What a scam," I muttered.
I tried dozens of ideas. None worked.
I sighed.
Maybe forcing it is pointless.
Thinking so much made me hungry again. And the beam earlier drained most of my energy.
"I should've saved those berries…" I groaned.
I continued down the path I'd been following. It seemed to have fewer monsters, so I stuck with it.
Hours passed until I smelled something delicious, so delicious I felt like drooling.
"Is that… fish?!?"
I pushed through some thick bushes and peeked. Then I saw a freshly cooked fish lying on the ground.
My eyes sparkled and drool escaped my mouth. I was ready to devour it… until I noticed a rope tied around it. An obvious trap.
But honestly? I was too hungry to care.
If it were a mindless creature, sure. But the monsters here are huge! No, gargantuan! A little rope wouldn't stop any of them.
Whatever, I'm eating it.
I grabbed the fish without triggering the trap and turned to leave, until the bushes rustled.
Something, or someone, was hiding.
I panicked for a second until I noticed a pair of dog ears poking out.
A figure suddenly leapt out.
He looked like a mix between a man and a beast. Lean, muscular, dressed in leather and fur, with bandaged hands and golden bracelets. A wooden fang hung from his necklace. His wild orange-red hair framed a fierce but lively face. A canine ear twitched on his head, and a matching tail swayed behind him. Sharp sapphire eyes glared at me, and his fangs glimmered.
He pointed at me with clear irritation.
"You! Give me back my bait!" He shouted.
I didn't answer because the fish was still in my mouth, but I was secretly thrilled.
Someone talked to me.
Finally! Someone who understands me! I thought as hope shined in me.
Maybe he can help me get out of this place!
I was about to speak when he suddenly rushed at me.
I thought he'd listen first, but nope, he just charged blindly like a wild mutt.
I panicked… but didn't feel threatened. I prepared to dodge but then, he tripped on a small rock and tumbled past me, rolling face-first into the dirt.
I didn't even need my power of bad luck.
This guy was just a clumsy dog.