By the time Dominic was satisfied that he should be able to get some use out of his newest Ability, the sun was balancing just above the horizon. Still, he felt it was time well spent since he’d been able to answer a few of his questions.
First of all, and the most important in his mind, was that his flesh was unaffected by the acid, unless he held it in his mouth for more than thirty seconds or so. Even then, it only began to burn slightly for a few seconds before ev...
2024-04-11 18:00:04 +0000 UTC
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The first thing that Dominic noticed was the number of Prey Points to his name. Since he’d been 28 points away from levelling up before killing the lions, and he’d earned 30, he was expecting to only have 2 Prey Points now. But instead, he had 82. Not that he was complaining, but why?
‘Isn’t it obvious?’ scoffed Leo. ‘It’s because of the challenge.’
‘Sure, I realise that,’ Dominic told Leo with a mental eyeroll. ‘B...
2024-04-09 18:05:01 +0000 UTC
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Author's Note:
Since this chapter is in large portion his full status sheet (and I do want to put this in at this point), I will be releasing chapter 8 today as well. So enjoy a double chapter :)
*****
Heading over to the carcasses of the lions, already starting to buzz with flies, Dominic Consumed them. Interestingly, nothing happened until he had Consumed the third carcass. At that point, the same message he’d seen before flashed up.
[Congratulations!...
2024-04-09 18:00:04 +0000 UTC
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He’d been expecting it, but the pain to his teeth still took him a bit off-guard.
‘This is like the worst visit to a dentist ever,’ Dominic groaned to Leo, squeezing his eyes shut as the agony built. It was like he was getting a deep hole filled – without anaesthetic. No, a root canal with over-the-counter paracetamol, he decided with a mental moan.
Then the pain shifted. It eased in his teeth, but started increasing un...
2024-04-06 18:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Getting back to the carcass, Dominic was less interested in eating than he was in checking whether he could finally level up – and then finding out what rewards he’d gained from the Challenge.
Progress to Evolution: 464/462 PP level up
‘Yes!’ he cried to his companion as he saw it. It was close – only two more Prey Points than he needed, but that didn’t matter: he’d finally got enough! ‘No more cracking teeth!’
2024-04-04 18:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Turning to see what the lionesses had been getting up to while they fought, he saw two battle lines clearly drawn in an increasingly tense situation. All the lionesses were facing each other, ears pinned back, lips drawn away from teeth. Rumbling snarls and growls filled the air, the sound of unhappy lions.
However, it hadn’t broken out into outright violence – yet. Dominic sensed that the situation was on the knife’s edge; it would only take one overeager youngster – prob...
2024-04-02 18:00:05 +0000 UTC
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The first indication that they’d entered another pride’s territory was when Dominic saw the deep indentations of claw marks and scented the territorial marking that the pride had left on a stand of trees. The sun was poised just above the horizon already, their sleep through the heat of the day and then the walk to this new area having taken almost the whole day.
His lionesses were tense, aware that they were unwelcome in their current environs. They hesitated for a moment, then mov...
2024-03-30 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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‘Oh, they’re levelling up, are they?’ commented Dominic. He’d risen to full consciousness only a short time before, probably when Leo did too. Apparently it was possible to sleep in his mental space – and he felt a whole lot better for doing it.
He’d slid back into the ‘active’ space just in time to catch the lionesses blurring. Curious, he pulled up the Pride status sheet.
Pride status
Lev...
2024-03-28 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Padding through the savannah in the light of the rising sun, each step taking them further away from their territory, the mood among the pride of eight adult lions was low. Tails drooping, bodies slumped, ears flicking between back and down, they were the very picture of disappointment.
‘That’s the downside of increasing intelligence’, Leo mused in Dominic’s mind. ‘Hopes can be raised too much; disappointment is all the more bitter.’
Domin...
2024-03-26 19:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Author's note:
So, with this chapter, Book 1 is officially complete! :D
Enjoy!
*****
The hyena matriarch watched as the lions retreated, that male watchful with his teeth bared until they were far enough away that they would get sufficient warning of any attack. He was the only reason she’d called off the attack. Broken his fangs might be, but his claws were still all too sharp.
Grunting at her daughters, they took up the call, whooping and gru...
2024-03-23 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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Fumbling with his relatively new Ability, Dominic felt an oddly resounding click when he met eyes with the female hyena. Sensing that the connection was established, he poured his thoughts down the link.
‘Why are you doing this?’ he cried, not even thinking to communicate with images rather than words. ‘Why did you attack us?’ Realising his error, he started trying to figure out what sort of images might possibly communicate his meaning. About to call on Leo fo...
2024-03-21 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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After his attacks on the higher-level hyenas, the seven which remained turned on Dominic, seeing him as the greater threat. Which he was, but the lionesses weren’t to be discounted either.
While not moving too far from the little knot of lions, Dominic saw Sekhmet and Anuke leaping at the turned backs of the hyenas closest to them. From how their attacks made the attackers’ health bars drop significantly, he guessed that Pounce must have been adding a bonus due to attacking unexpect...
2024-03-19 19:00:05 +0000 UTC
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This time, the powerful scavengers had come in force. The lionesses swiftly grouped together, Dominic swiftly joining them at their head. The cubs were behind the adults who were standing in a vaguely curved line, cowed into silent obedience by the wariness of their elders.
The hyenas were arranged in a roughly triangular fashion, led by one hyena with two flanking it. Interestingly, the one at the front was clearly the leader; just as evidently, it wasn’t the biggest. That title belo...
2024-03-16 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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In response to Dominic’s mental contact with her, Sekhmet sent a number of images to him, detailing exactly what had happened. As it turned out, three of the cubs had gone a bit too far from the rest of the pride and were espied by a troop of baboons. The cubs had put up enough of a defence against the opportunistic primates that they had drawn the attention of the closest lioness.
Sekhmet hadn’t been first on the scene – that had been Isis, the oldest lioness and the apparent mat...
2024-03-14 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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‘So, lions are using tools now,’ Dominic told his companion in a bit of amusement. ‘What next?’ It was rather interesting to see how the lionesses had taken to killing their opponents with a means other than claws and teeth.
Dominic had finished poking the lizards down from the canopy with his stick. He’d even jumped onto the branches themselves, patrolling the tree top just to make sure he hadn’t missed any. Although he’d found a couple he’d had to nud...
2024-03-12 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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As it turned out, they weren’t. Though that wasn’t all good news for the lions.
Dominic had theorised that the lizards would have to have some sort of neutralising agent in their mouths at least, just in case they got splash-back from whatever orifice the corrosive spit was emerging from. They probably did, but Dominic didn’t need to check for one simple reason: they also had it on their skins. But sometimes the cure was as bad as the disease.
The lion had found that out the...
2024-03-09 19:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Although Dominic didn’t have much of an idea of where to go to find the other pride members, fortunately Neith and Hathor did. Perhaps they were used to separating and then coming back together. Either way, after communicating what he wanted to do, the two lionesses sent him a sense of ‘follow’, then moved off in a particular direction at a fast pace.
Dominic found himself exchanging a look with Jenkins. Then realising that he’d suddenly found common ground between himself and t...
2024-03-07 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Author's Note:
For those who have received this post for a second time, sorry about that! I have been informed of an error regarding Leo and Dominic's prey points. As a result, they now level up in this chapter. I will be going through the other chapters to make sure this is taken into account in future stat sheets.
Sorry about that!
*****
By the time the last of the moons was heading towards the horizon, all the members of their little party were tire...
2024-03-05 19:00:07 +0000 UTC
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Hi everyone.
First, let me say a big thank you to all of you! Your support for my writing is definitely appreciated.
Second, the main reason for this little message - more of a heads up than anything else. I'm going on holiday next week. For Monarch, Hunter, and All Included members, all that might change for you is that if you leave a comment, I might not be as responsive as norma...
2024-03-02 19:05:01 +0000 UTC
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Watching the fight from the backseat had been as interesting as always. Dominic had seen each death, and had kept vague track of the numbers involved. It was therefore not a big surprise when all three of the lionesses shimmered as they levelled up. What was a slight surprise was that they didn’t change in the same way.
Jenkins got bigger again, having obviously chosen that as her enhancement. Hathor’s teeth grew longer. As for Neith, there were no obvious physical changes. Perhaps ...
2024-03-02 19:00:02 +0000 UTC
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In almost unison, the four lions leapt, each for different targets. Leo’s target went down in one blow, the 75% bonus from Pounce adding a not inconsiderable amount to his already high damage capacity.
‘Nice,’ Leo heard his brother say, even as Leo himself was unable to read the squiggles that appeared before his eyes. Fortunately the former-human was willing to translate. Or was that unfortunately? Leo would frankly rather keep his mind on the fight than count how many P...
2024-02-29 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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As it turned out, it was pretty simple. It seemed to require Dominic to initiate the invite and the lioness to accept it, but that was all. Since they were still recuperating from the previous fight, he decided to check it out.
Pride status
Level 1 Pride (progress to next level 3/5)
Current information shared:
Health, Abilities
Current members:
Dominic/Leo (T...
2024-02-27 19:00:05 +0000 UTC
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Author's note:
The Patreon editor doesn't allow me to do strikethrough. Where it says 'party Pride', the 'party' is supposed to be crossed out. Hope that clears up any confusion!
Enjoy!
*****
Without taking his eyes off the enraged hippo, Dominic sent an image to each of the lionesses, of them touching the bodies and them turning into golden smoke which then healed the wounds on the lionesses’ bodies. The hippo was still ignoring them in favour of at...
2024-02-24 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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‘I know exactly what we should call her,’ he grumbled to Leo as he quickly took a glance at the new situation. ‘Leroy. I don’t care that it’s not a goddess name or even a female one – she deserves it for this stunt!’
The hyenas were already turning to gang up on Leroy, two of them distracting the hippo while the other three turned to attack the lioness. Sekmet might have coped with holding off three hyenas before, but this was a different situat...
2024-02-22 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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Heading back to the pride, Dominic noticed that Sekhmet had a bit of a spring in her step. Sending her a sideways glance, he tried to ask her why she was so excited. She didn’t understand his initial question, so he sent her two moving images – one with her normal measured and efficient pacing; the other with her current bouncy gait. He attached a feeling of confusion and curiosity to the pictures.
This time, she seemed to have understood. She replied with a sense of anticipation an...
2024-02-20 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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For sure, the lioness was fully healed and cleaned, her coat unmarred by the injuries which had previously been decorating it. Other changes would have to reveal themselves in time.
Dominic padded around the area, collecting the Cores from the resorels which had already been Consumed. In total, there were ten just lying there, glinting in the sun which he quickly licked up. The rest of them would have to be absorbed after he’d Consumed the bodies.
Though should he? After all, hi...
2024-02-17 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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The resorels were clustered around the body, giving him flashbacks to the last time he’d been in this situation. Hopefully it wouldn’t end with him almost dying. Again.
Sending a telepathic signal of ‘ready?’ to Sekhmet, Dominic tensed his muscles. It was very tempting just to leap into the fray and become a whirlwind of death, but he couldn’t forget that the main purpose of this expedition was to help the lioness increase in level. Which meant that, though he’d mourn the la...
2024-02-15 19:00:04 +0000 UTC
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They set off into the savannah, Dominic leading, Sekhmet following. Dominic had decided to show the lioness how he normally attracted prey, and so was searching for a decent-sized herbivore.
It took a while to find some tracks, but that was OK. They were past the heat of the day and the closer to dusk they got, the more likely their prey would be active – both the bait and what he hoped to attract.
In the end, they actually found a lonesome wildebeest. It was clearly old and hal...
2024-02-13 19:00:06 +0000 UTC
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It was fortunate that Leo had much better directional sense than Dominic himself, the former-human reflected as he padded through the savannah. He’d travelled far enough away from the pride that he would have been hopelessly lost or reduced to following the traces of his own passage to find his way back to them.
With Leo’s help, though, he was able to use landmarks in the landscape as well as important scents on the wind to orientate himself. On the way, he saw a bit more of his ‘...
2024-02-10 19:00:03 +0000 UTC
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