The two-headed monkey snarled again, twin throats vibrating with discordant screeches that set my teeth on edge. Each head moved independently, glaring at me with bloodshot eyes. Its thick yellow fur was matted with dirt and reeked of dried blood. Its long, black claws flexed scraped into the ground on its oversized hands.

  A wild monster, no mercy required.

  I bared my fangs and lunged forward.

  It shrieked and bounded sideways on all fours, nimble despite its pot-bellied frame. Its claws scraped against the ground, sending up a spray of dirt. I pivoted sharply, sidestepping the pitiful attack easily. It took another hobble back as I made sure to keep herding it away from Keagan.

  The monkey hissed and struck by swiping its right arm across its body.

  I underestimated its long arms. It raked across my shoulder, and I regretted it. My thick pelt did nothing but absorb most of the blood. The wound opened up a roaring fire inside me.

  Finally something to rip apart.

  I snapped my jaws toward its closest head, but it ducked low and swung its opposite arm, aiming for my face. I twisted sideways mid-strike, feeling the air part around its claws. My instincts, paired with years of excessive combat training, roared at me to punish its overextension.

  I obliged.

  It tried to rush me, raising its hands over its heads.

  Too slow.

  I slipped low under its attack. As I went by, I extended my claws and raked a heavy swipe across its belly as I went by. Satisfyingly the skin tore under my claws, the sticky warmth of blood coated the pads of my paws. The monkey staggered and stumbling past me in an awkward lurch.

  It turned on me, teeth bared and yellow foam flying from its mouths.

  Does it have the frenzy? Is that a thing in this world? Either way, I can’t let that thing bite me. Its claw really did a number on my shoulder.

  The monkey blindly charged again. I hopped back and let it keep following me, further away from Keagan. The boy sat on the ground, shaking and staring. As claws swiped from each direction, I led it towards a tree. When a claw slammed into a tree, I slammed my paw on its arm to pin it to the tree before biting down on its elbow.

  It tried to slap me off with its other hand, but I jerked it around with a hard tug. Then it slammed the top of my head. I let go and stumbled to the ground. My vision swam while I struggled to coordinate five limbs to stand upright.

  “Craglins have high power and toughness. But their resistance is lower than average. If you have elemental attacks, use those. But first, look out!”

  The boy’s voice barely cut through the fog in my head. I saw three copies of the monkey overlapping each other. It was about to slam both hands on my head at once. I leapt into the attack.

  We collided with a bone-jarring thud. For a heartbeat, we rolled backwards and its claws dug against my scruff while my jaws snapped inches from its throats. I could smell its foul breath, hot and reeking of rot and spoiled berries.

  To my disappointment, I was barely stronger. My claws and bites hadn’t been slowing it down as much as I had liked. So, I decided to try my magic ice for the first time since arriving in this world.

  Planting my forelegs, I gathered the mana crackling under my skin. While I could use ice magic in my last life, this felt different. While I tried to shape it into something sharp, there was only one way it would move.

  Mana flared inside my throat. I opened my jaws and expelled a small spearhead of clear ice. It jetted forward.

  The shard struck the monkey’s right shoulder with a wet spray of blood and sent it spinning sideways. Blood dipped down its arm, and when it ripped out the shard making the wound even worse. The monkey screeched, its two voices harmonizing into a pained wail.

  The wild monster screeched and raked its claws through the dirt as it hopped to its feet. It scooped up a rock and threw it at me. I jumped to the side, created a second icicle, and willed it to fly towards the two-headed monkey. The sudden dodge disoriented me again and caused my aim to be off. So I did it again. The magic came faster.

  Before my opponent could throw another rock, the icicle hit it in the base of its neck between both heads. Reflexively it clawed at the projectile and knocked it out. The monkey shrieked—only one voice this time. The other head lolled to the side limp. Blood drained from the wound.

  I charged again, slashing a deep rake across its exposed ribs. Blood splattered the ground in thick, steaming arcs. It tried to roll and crawl away. Unwilling to let prey run away, I pounced and closed my jaws around the back of its neck. My fangs punched through hide and muscle and cracked the spine beneath with a muffled pop.

  The struggling stopped instantly. Its body sagged into the slush.

  Enemy defeated. Level 2 achieved. New special attack available.

  I dropped the carcass.

  The clearing was silent again, save for Keagan’s ragged breathing behind me. The stink of blood filled my nose. My fur was damp and sticky at the edges, but none of it was mine.

  I turned, slow and deliberate, and padded back to him. His eyes were huge, his small hands trembling slightly as he clutched the satchel against his chest.

  "That is why you stay behind me.” I rumbled, my voice low and steady,

  Keagan bobbed his head so hard it looked like it might pop off his neck. “Y-yeah. Got it.”

  Then I heard a rustling behind me. I turned and watched another one of the two-headed monkeys jumping out of the brush. Before it got close a serpent dropped from the tree above it. In a chaotic tumble, the serpent coiled around the monkey. In seconds I started hearing bones snapping and weak gurgles coming from the strange primate.

  Before it died a second monkey jumped towards it. Without letting go of the first, the snake snapped out with its jaw at the monkey’s neck. It bit down hard. With a quick twist, it snapped the monkey's neck and threw it to the ground in a limp pile. All the while, the one in its coils suffocated to death.

  Where I struggled with one, this serpent killed two faster and more effortlessly than I did. That serpent was much stronger than me. And now it was slithering off the corpse and towards me.

  When she uncoiled from the monkey’s corpse, I finally got a good look at her. Bands of red, yellow and black—in that order—rippled along her body. Given how one bite ended the craglin, there was a potent venom in her fangs. The hood behind her head flared wide, patterned with two false eyes that followed me. She wasn’t just long, she was a solid eight inches thick.

  “Efficient as always Tyra,” a calm voice called as a man pushed his way past a low hanging branch. He looked at us. “You alright kid?”

  The man was dressed in heavy clothes lined with fur. His face was square, a contrast to his soft green eyes. Like the boy, he has pointed ears and three fingers covered in gloves. He was as tall as me with broad, square shoulders. The closer he walked the more I arched my back and gave off a low growl.

  This guy is far more dressed than the boy. I know I have fur and can't feel the cold. I turned and noticed the boy was shivering slightly. Okay, he's cold. He must not have anything warmer. That must mean he meant it when he said this was his last chance.

  “Y…yeah,” the boy stammered out. He brushed the front of himself off. “Are you a…a hunter?”

  The man looked the boy up and down. “That would mean you aren't one who picked up the bounty too. This direwolf yours?”

  The boy looked at me. He wrung his hands together. “Yeah, she's my…”

  I growled a little longer and battery my fangs. I'm nobody's.

  “Is the boy yours?” Tyra asked.

  I lowered my growl back down and gave a curt nod. If the man is a hunter, I can't let him think I'm a wild monster. From how the two are standing next to each other, the serpent must answer to the man. I don't stand a chance against that serpent. It seems I have to use the boy to survive this encounter.

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  “Isn't that what I asked?” The man looked down at his partner.

  Tyra shook her head. “No. You asked if the boy was above the wolf. Direwolves are incredibly prideful, and she is the alpha of the two.”

  Keagan slowly turned to me. I glared at him through the corner of my vision. This is because I need him not siccing that snake on me. I haven't accepted you as any partner yet. Based on the shivering probably never will. But I should at least get you someplace warm.

  “Ah, I forgot.” The man sighed. “My name is Gustave, and this is Tyra. I take it that you just summoned her. Is she your first monster?”

  The boy nodded. “I di…did. I'm Keagan and this is Lu…”

  “Lucia,” I interrupted.

  Gustave eyes me for a second. “Right.” He snapped his attention to the boy. “Anyway, I take it you're headed to the guild for registration.”

  “T… that's right,” Keagan said as he straightened up. His shivering was getting worse despite his his pitiful attempt at showing confidence.

  “Don't you have anything warmer to wear? It's freezing out.” Gustave waved the boy over. “Come here. Tyra will warm you up.”

  I flicked my tail to stop the boy.

  “You didn't trust us?” Gustave asked me. I nodded. “It's nice to see you so protective of the kid but we're not in the business of heckling kids.”

  I need this kid to take me to town so I don't have hunters putting bounties on my hide.

  “Boy, hang onto me. Just don't grab the tail,” I grumbled.”

  The boy wrapped his arms onto my back and started lift his leg like he was going to climb onto my back.

  “Don't!” I snapped. The boy looked confused as he flinched. “I said hold me, not ride me.”

  “Uh, oh, okay.” He then just hugged me. “You're really actually really warm.”

  I rolled my eyes. “I'm covered in fur. What did you expect?”

  “It's just nice,” he mumbled back. “Sorry. I'll stop talking.”

  “Lead the way,” I barked at the man.

  He didn't move. “Kid, there's no shame in admitting a monster is too much for you. Try again in a couple of years.”

  The boy gripped my fur tighter, but he didn't pull on it. “No. I can do this. I need to do this. One day you will remember me as the best monster trainer.”

  “Okay, okay.” Gustave held up a hand. “Although, you really should consider an easier monster to handle as your first. Maybe a friendly golem. Remember it's a marathon to reach your goal, not a sprint.”

  The boy nodded. “I will.”

  With that, the hunter finally turned around and headed away. He held out his arm and Tyra coiled up his arm and around his torso. I winced at the thought of having a seventeen foot snake coil around me. Tyra settled over his shoulders, heavy enough to sag the fur lining of his coat. He didn’t so much as stumble, adjusting with a roll of his shoulders as though the serpent were no heavier than a cloak.

  I made sure the boy could keep up with me. Just because I don't like him doesn't mean I have to be heartless. If the kid can get a new monster, I can get someone else who is less delusional.

  The sky darkened as we walked. The boy was getting colder.

  “Kid, do you have someplace we can take you, a home of sorts?” I asked. “It's going to be dark soon and only get colder. Can this registration wait until morning?”

  “Our ranch is just out…outside of town.” The boy's chattering teeth made me feel bad for him. He attempted to point in a direction with an equally shaky hand. “That way.”

  “Hunter, I'm taking the boy to his home,” I said.

  He turned back to me. “That is a good idea. You two should be safe from here then.”

  I turned and whispered, “Get on.”

  “What?” the boy gasped.

  I clenched my jaw. “You're walking too slow. I will get you there much faster if you weren't slowing me down so much. I'm not about to watch you freeze to death, I'm not a monster.”

  “Technically you are,” the boy wheezed.

  “Shut up.” I turned and shoved the boy onto my back with my snout.

  The hunter watched and grinned as I took off in the direction the boy pointed to.

  “Maybe he did find a worthwhile partner,” the hunter whispered.

  I loped along, making sure the boy didn't fall off. I didn't wanting him pulling any fur. The sun dropped faster than I anticipated. Clouds in the sky made everything far darker. My eyes adjusted to the dark easily and eventually I came across a small hut in an open field.

  “Is this the place?” I asked the boy.

  “Yeah.” His voice was weak.

  Really? This is it? It would be wrong to leave him alone like this.

  After plodding up to the door, I glared at the handle. It was round. Stupid paws… not having thumbs… this sucks.

  “I need you to open the door,” I whispered.

  “Right…” He fumbled with his bag and pulled out a metal disc. “I need to unlock it first.”

  He slid off me and placed the disc on the door above the handle. When he dragged it to the left, I heard metal sliding inside the door. Then he pulled the door open. I shoved the kid inside and followed him in.

  This is only until morning. When things warm up, well go into town, find him a nicer little monster to get started. Then I'll see how this world works and see if I can find someone who isn't waiting on puberty.

  It didn't feel much warmer inside. “Do you have a fireplace or something? Blankets will get you started.”

  He headed off to a room. “Yeah, I've got some blankets in the bedroom. But I don't have wood for a fire.”

  I wanted to slap my forehead, but my arms didn't bend that way. “Get in the bed.”

  The boy folded his hands as he shuffled towards what I hoped was his bedroom. This kid isn't ready to be on his own. He climbed into a barebone bed with two ragged blankets dotted with holes.

  My mouth fell open. “How long have you been living like this?”

  And he bothered locking it?

  “A couple of months now,” he answered. “The firewood ran out two days ago. There's some food left, but not much.”

  I hung my head. “Why let it get this bad? Isn't there anywhere you can stay until you grow up?”

  The boy huddled in his blankets. “I'm fourteen; I'm old enough.”

  Malnutrition makes you look younger.

  I walked onto the bed. Surprisingly it held my weight without groaning. Although, I had no reference of how much I weighed now. “But clearly nobody taught you what it takes to live on your own. Do you have extended family? Aunts or uncles? Grandparents?”

  “None that I know of. What are you doing?” The boy scuttled away from me.

  I laid down, taking up more than half of the bed. It groaned under my weight. “Keeping you from freezing to death or developing frostbite. You said you don't have firewood, so I am the next best thing.”

  “Why?”

  I put my head down on my front paws. “I told you, I'm not a monster.”

  The boy cuddled up to me. “Why would you say that? You are a dire wolf, aren't you? Although, nothing in my books identifies what subspecies you are. With the white fur, I'd expect it would be yeti, but your eyes are blue. What does your system say?”

  “It just says fenris,” I said without thinking. Then I did a double take off what he said. “Wait. You know I have a system?”

  The boy jumped out of the bed. “You're a what? Like a real legendary fenris?”

  “Legendary?” I turned to the boy. “Now answer my first question.”

  The boy pumped his first. “I have a legendary monster as a partner. How cool is that?”

  I narrowed my eyes on him. “When did I say I was your partner? I'm only here to make sure you don't die. That's not something I want on my conscience.”

  “But I summoned you.” Keagan started walking back and forth, staring at the ground. “I summoned a fenris! People can't find out about that. Nobody can know.”

  I twisted. “Huh? Why can't people find out about what I am?”

  When the boy stopped, he stared at me, terrified. “You're supposed to end the world.”

  My ears shot up. “Okay, that's bad. But I'm not out to destroy the world. What is this prophecy?”

  The boy scratched the back of his head. “Well, I don't know it exactly. I just know a creature known as a fenris is part of the prophecy involving the end of the world. We have to research it.”

  “I'm not here to destroy the world,” I said flatly.

  The boy froze. “Why did you say that? Here? How can you be ‘here’ as if you have some kind of purpose that you know about?”

  “Uh, never mind.” My ears grew warm. “That's not important. You never answered my first question. How do you know about my system? How is this apocalyptic prophecy going to change my situation?”

  “Well, all monsters have a system.” The boy called down some. “That's normal. The whole, ‘if someone finds out you're a fenris’ is the bad news. Some people might, more likely than not, try and kill you for it.”

  “Oh, is that all?” I started at the boy. “It looks like the prejudice against me continues.”

  The boy pointed at me. “There it is again. What kind of person, or monster—especially a new one, would say something like that?”

  There's really no reason to keep it a secret. It didn't change anything in my last life. “From my interaction with Tyra earlier, and how you've been just accepting the fact I can talk, that's normal.” The boy nodded. “Have you ever wondered how I know how to talk so normally?”

  Keagan rubbed his hands together. “It's been speculated that you retain basic skills from before you were trapped in the disc, even though you don't retain your memories, like amnesia.”

  “Not that bit again.”

  “Are you ever going to answer why you keep saying cryptic stuff like that?”

  I motioned him over. “Get in the bed. I'm not going to kill you, eat you, or anything like that. It's a long story.”

  The boy crawled back under his meager covers.

  I turned and stared at a barren wall. “This isn't my first life, nor is it my second.”

  “You remember the time before you were trapped in the disc?”

  “How about you start with telling me about this world and where these ‘discs’ normally come from.” Before the boy could answer, I laid down completely. “In the morning. Get some sleep.”

  I was getting tired, something I wasn't used to. A new life, new rules. Yet the more things change, the more they stay the same.

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