Day 3. The trees and grass of the forest seemed to have no end, their twisting branches forming a maze despite the bright shafts of light shining through onto the grassy ground below. Trudging through the layers of vines and flowers, Hunter surveyed the land, trying to find any sort of clearing or structure to break the monotony. Nearly three full days of searching had revealed nothing of value, not even a single strange twig or wild fruit.
As he wandered, Hunter made a mental note to pack his supplies better the next time. It didn’t even take a single night for his pack to be raided by some sort of creature, only the barest of scraps of his provisions remaining. With the week it took to recharge his dimension-hopping gear not even halfway done, he was painfully aware that he was going to need some sort of sustenance if he hoped to survive. Another pang of hunger shot through the wolf, sending his hand to his gut. Straightening himself out slowly so as not to aggravate his stomach further, Hunter resumed walking, desperately looking for anything that could serve as food.
A bright blue glow caught Hunter’s eye as he passed the next tree, the wolf immediately swiveling around in its direction. Approaching the light as cautiously as he could, Hunter’s brain finally made sense of the shining dots that were dazzling his vision. In a small clearing sat a bush covered in translucent blue berries, their reflective surface gleaming in the sunlight. Hunter’s previously dry mouth immediately began to water, the delicious looking fruit almost enough to overwhelm his instincts.
Trying with all his might to restrain himself from making an irreversible mistake, Hunter crouched down next to the bush, hands trembling as he picked one of the berries and looked it over. Consulting his previous experience, Hunter recalled the many poisons he’d seen in the past, comparing its appearance to each one by one. The berry didn’t show any signs of relation to any family of poisonous plants he could recall, a quick look through the books in his pack confirming his thoughts. Still uncertain but faced with no other options, Hunter placed the berry in his mouth, painstakingly lowering his teeth to break its skin.
The moment the juice spilled from the berry, Hunter’s mouth was filled with a flavor the likes of which he’d never tasted in his life. A tangy, honey-like glaze coated his tongue, sending a sugary shock through his system. Despite being far from reminiscent of any other berry, the flavor seemed almost nostalgic in its wonder, reminding Hunter of the home-cooked meals of his youth. Hungrily, the wolf tore into the bush, too blinded by hunger to notice that the rest of the world seemed to have gained a few inches on him. Hunter busied himself shoving as much of the sweet fruit into his mouth as he could, completely oblivious to his surroundings growing and shifting around him. Even as his belly began to fill, Hunter failed to stop, only slowing down slightly as he noticed a sudden loose feeling around his body.
Hands and mouth covered in juice, the wolf looked down, squeaking in shock as he saw his clothes falling away from his body. Hoping to minimize the effect, Hunter scrambled away from the bush, wiping his hands and face on the nearby grass to rid himself of the deceptive nectar. The bush now significantly larger than before, Hunter set to examining himself, hoping to find some clue as to the nature of the effect that had befallen him. Completely different body proportions, softer fur, and the fact that everything around him seemed to have grown significantly in size led Hunter to only one possible conclusion: he no longer had the body of an adult, but rather a child of early elementary school age.
Shocked and frightened by the sudden development, Hunter’s long dormant instincts kicked in, tears springing to his eyes for the first time in years. The new wellspring of emotion overwhelmed his mind, Hunter falling to the ground as he began to wail in fright. Curling up into a ball, the pup instinctively pulled his thumb into his mouth, searching for any source of comfort he could find in this new, scary world. “Mommy! Daddy!” Calling for his parents in between sobs, the little wolf felt the pain of being alone stronger than he’d ever felt before.
Piercing through the sound of his cries, a comforting feminine voice echoed in Hunter’s head. “Shh… You’ll be okay. You’re safe.” His wail dwindling to a mere sniffling, Hunter looked up, trying to catch a glimpse of the owner of the voice. “Don’t you worry one bit. You’ll be all grown up again in just a few hours.” Clambering to his feet, the shaking pup spun around, only to hear the voice return once again, this time in the form of a pleasant giggle. “Just know this: you have someone looking out for you, little one. Have fun!”
The last words lingered in Hunter’s mind as they faded, his tears drying quickly. For some reason Hunter didn’t quite understand, he was filled with a certainty that the voice was trustworthy. His confidence restored, the boy wandered back towards his fallen pack, trying to figure out a direction. A quick check of his instruments verified that he still had at least another three days to wait before he could leave. Setting his attention to the bush, a quick estimate in his head confirmed that the number of berries scattered around should be more than enough to keep him fed until he could leave. Intent on making the most of this opportunity, Hunter piled as many berries as he could get his hands on into the empty compartments of his bag, stripping the bush bare with all the food he’d need for at least the next few days.
Its pockets bulging, Hunter stepped away from the bag, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his once again juice-covered hand. Satisfied that he’d packed enough to be comfortable, the boy gazed among the trees and plants with renewed vigor. His imagination ran wild, the little wolf imagining himself climbing trees, swinging on the plentiful vines, even rolling in the dirt. Filled with a sense of excitement and wonder he hadn’t felt since he was a child, Hunter ran, silently hoping that the next few days would never end.