Twice Reincarnated

New Modes of Life

Everything was pitch black except for two glowing red eyes that hovered just inches from his own. He tried to call out, but his voice was nowhere to be found. He had faced death before, but being voiceless sent shivers of fear through his spine.

He would rather die than experience being mute again. Each second felt like hours, just as he couldn't take it anymore the glowing red orbs closed in on him. He shut his eyes, he could feel the creatures breath on his face. 'please give me a quick death'.

Suddenly he felt something wet drag across his face. '...' He opened his eyes, it was still to dark to see. 'Did it just lick me'? He felt a headache coming on from trying to understand the situation.

The initial shock of seeing beast like eyes inches from his face had distracted him from an important realization. He was sure now, his body was not human.

'From the shape of my body... it seems like I'm a puppy?' He tried to sigh, but all that came out was a quiet whimper. 'humiliating' he thought.

He looked up at the eyes of the creature that was currently licking his face. 'Something feels familiar' he thought, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. With a jolt, it suddenly came to him. 'That's my mother'

He hadn't felt this way since he was Haruya back in his first life. Back when he had a mom. His distaste for wolves had left him feeling disdainful of his new existence, but perhaps it was not so bad.

Once his mother had finished licking him, she picked him up and curled her body around him. '...' His new body was already tired and he found himself falling asleep within seconds.

He was woken by the gentle tongue of his mother lapping at his face. When he opened his eyes streams of sunlight drifted over his eyes, forcing him to close them.

After his eyes adjusted, he began to take stock of the situation. He was in a cave of some kind surrounded by wolves like his mother, who had shining eyes and glowing patterns.

Suddenly his mother picked him up and carried him in her mouth. 'Where are we going' he wondered. She walked until the stood in front of a large grey wolf with green eyes and patterns.

His mother barked out and to his surprise, her understood her. "It's his time" He hadnt realized it in his past lives, but it was clear that animals have languages of their own, albeit less complex.

In response to his mother, the grey wolf stood to the side, revealing a glowing blue liquid dripping down from a stalagmite into a shimmering pool. His mother nudged him with her nose to get his attention.

He watched as she mimicked looking up and opening her mouth. 'It seems she wants me to drink that liquid'. He felt a bit put off at the thought of drinking the mysterious liquid, but her trusted his mother.

'Here goes nothing' he thought. He looked up and stretched his neck as far as it would go to position his mouth under the strange stalagmite. He watched as the drop fell straight into his mouth.

The moment the liquid touched his tongue it disappeared into his body, sending warm shivers throughout. Suddenly his vision became clear and his frail body was full of energy.

When he looked down at his feet he noticed he had some markings of his own. 'It seems the liquid is at least partially responsible for the strange eyes and markings these wolves share.'

His mom picked him up once again and brought him away from the pool and the grey wolf who had been watching the processes intently. He marveled at his newfound strength.

I'm his second and most recent life, he had practiced strengthening his qi and acquired a lifetime knowledge. But now that his body was no longer human he could not use the qi he once relied on.

'Because I can no longer use qi, all of my knowledge is useless now... but it's kind of exciting, exploring a new kind of power'. However, part of him still wanted to be human

Once his mother set him down, he looked looked at her and tried something. "I want to explore". His mother showed a look of surprise.
'I guess I'm a little to young to be communicating clearly'.

The one thing he could not stand was not being able to speak to others. His first death had left a deep impression on his soul. "I'll be watching" came the reply. 

At that he set out to explore the cave of wolves