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 grunting to order the clan to move out. The weakest hyenas, the immigrant males, were the first to move, turning tail. The males of the clan were second. The lower ranking females were next, though went with reluctance at times. Finally, with a final look at the pride of tawny-coloured lions making their way up the hill, each of the females’ mouths filled with a cub, the hyena matriarch turned and made her way into the bush too.

  It was time to find easier prey. The male had been right: this attack had offered too much risk for the potential gain. The male would have offered significant advancement potential for her and those she wished to grant it to. But killing him would have taken far too many bodies.

  Especially with the new possibility he’d opened to them all: the ability to gain even more strength from their enemies and their dead.

  While that new ability was very interesting, it didn’t help if he was able to kill her clan members before they could absorb a kill and heal their wounds. They had to gain more strength to match him, overwhelm him with numbers, if not power. Force him to take wound after wound until he succumbed, all without losing any of their own.

  He had been more powerful than she had anticipated. They had already killed more than one of his kind without anything like this difficulty. She had expected it to be more difficult because of the females defending cubs, and so had made sure to bring as many reinforcements as possible, but her calculations had fallen short.

  At least it wasn’t too much loss – the majority of the dead were immigrant males, ones which had either been sniffing for scraps on the periphery of their clan before the world changed, or ones which came sniffing around later after.

  Only one female had died, but the matriarch wasn’t upset – she had been a rival who had been gathering support. Perhaps if she’d been allowed to live, she’d have staged a takeover at some point. Not that the matriarch would have allowed that to happen.

  None of the matriarch's own sons or daughters had died, which was the most important thing. Most were not present here anyway; they didn’t need to be to benefit from the fight, thanks to the matriarch’s personal Ability.

  They would have another rematch, the matriarch didn’t doubt it. Lions were as attached to their territory as hyenas were. Only now the world had changed, hyenas were no longer forced to scatter at the approach of a scavenging lion pride.

  One day it would be hyenas which ruled the land. This territory was a good starting point.

  *****

  Leo growled sulkily. He had withdrawn into that odd mental space his brother had created and that he had added to. Choosing to lie under the shade of a tree in the savannah extension outside the inside cave, the lion was grumbling to himself about the loss of their territory.

  I’ve only had it for a few days, he moaned to himself. What are the females going to think of me? A male lion chased off his territory by scavengers of all things.

  A male was supposed to be the defender of his territory; what did that say about Leo that he couldn’t even do that? Who was going to want to mate with him now? He’d be lucky if the females didn’t just chase him away and be done with it.

  This is all my brother’s fault. If I’d been in control, I’d have…I’d have….

  This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

  He’d have what? Continued attacking? Sure. Probably died? Also likely. Dominic was right – that they’d got away with their lives, all of their lives, was something of a miracle. They’d lost a lot more the first time they’d encountered this group of hyenas, and there had been much fewer of them at the time.

  That didn’t mean it didn’t rankle, though. Especially since they might have killed a good number of the filthy vermin, but they hadn’t made much of a dent into the mass all the same.

  And what of the former-human’s latest hare-brained plan? Attacking the nasty creatures which had made them flee before? Was it not better to go and take over another pride’s territory? Perhaps even absorb some more lionesses into the pride?

  That was a good idea, Leo decided. I’ll suggest it to my brother. Then he thought for a moment. Later. He didn’t really feel like talking to Dominic right at that moment.

  *****

  Almost halfway across the world, a woman shivered. Leaning forwards, she threw another bit of wood on the fire.

  “We’re going to need more firewood, Reggie,” she said, her voice hoarse. The bruises ringing her neck that were revealed as she moved gave evidence to the reason for her difficulty speaking.

  “We’re running out of furniture to destroy,” the man also sitting in the firelight told her tiredly.

  “Then we need to go scavenging for more,” she said firmly. The silence that followed indicated his lack of agreement. “Reggie….”

  “It’s dangerous, Lindie.” The woman, Lindie, made a sharp gesture towards her neck.

  “You think I don’t know that?”

  “It’s not only humans to watch out for now,” Reggie warned her. He shivered for a moment. “Have you seen the size of the rats out there?”

  “Stuff out of nightmares,” Lindie agreed with a similar tremble that had nothing to do with the cold. “But we can’t just hide here forever,” she pointed out doggedly.

  “Why not?” Reggie demanded. “I don’t mean forever, I just mean until things get better.”

  “And when’s that going to happen, Reggie?” Lindie snapped back at him, her eyes flashing. The man grumbled in his chest, but looked away, unable to meet her gaze. “Electricity went off more than two weeks ago, cars and guns with it. Phones, computers, all of it – dead! And with it, civilisation. I know you think the army’s going to swoop in and make it all better, but all I see is things getting worse!”

  Reggie refused to meet the woman’s gaze, staring instead into the fire, a muscle ticking in his jaw. With an explosive sigh, the woman went back to poking at the fire, her stomach rumbling as their ‘dinner’ cooked over it. At least they’d opened the can this time: living through one can exploding had been more than enough of a lesson.

  Then a humourless chuckle broke the silence.

  “What’s so funny?” grumbled Lindie, half-heartedly glaring at the man.

  “I was just thinking of the rats, and then thought that at least we didn’t have lions around. And then I thought of –”

  “Dominic,” Lindie sighed in unison with the man. “Do you think he could have…?” The man shook his head.

  “Poor bastard,” he sighed instead, thinking of his nephew. “Bet he didn’t stand a chance.”

  A pall fell over the two of them, and this time neither of them broke it.

  *****

  In a galaxy far, far away, a being stirred. She had been sleeping for an age, digesting her most recent meal, a godling who had challenged her…at some point. But now, the lethargy of a good meal having left her limbs, she stretched.

  The impact of her enormous limbs shifting sent earthquakes rippling through the surface of the great planet on which she lay. The cities around the edges of bodies of water found themselves abruptly facing tsunamis. Fortunately, built to be resistant to all sorts of damage, they made it through the permutations unharmed. Not that she cared: if they were too weak, they deserved to die.

  Around her she felt a stirring, members of her pride vanishing, perhaps to signal the others that she had finally risen.

  “Lady, what disturbs you?” the pride member closest to her asked, staying a respectful distance away from her and keeping his beak lowered.

  She yawned, razor-sharp teeth like sky-scrapers set in her cavernous jaw.

  “I feel a shift. A change. Tell me, what has been happening while I’ve been resting?”

  Status of Dominic Martin Cole / Leo

  Species: Lion (body) / Human (mind), Two-Souled, Chimera

  Level: Evolved Beast Level 19 Tier 2 (Path of Evolution)

  Progress to Evolution: 434/462 PP level up

  Satiation level: 100%

  Hydration level: 100%

  Health Points: 521/600

  Stamina Points: 103/260

  Mana Points: 0/15

  Quests: A Noble Endeavour; Regain what is Lost

  Acquired Abilities:

  Quick Strike (T0) level 3 (10% –> 15% to level 4) – 3 SP for +35% speed; 8 SP for +70% speed.

  Second Wind (T1) level 1 (16% to level 2) – activatable when under 50% health or stamina. Gain 50% of your maximum health and/or stamina for the duration of the timer. Timer: 05:00. At the end of the timer, lose 50% of your max health and stamina.

  Crushing Bite (T0) level 1 (36% –> 57% to level 2) – Use stamina to enhance the crushing power of your jaws. +6% - 60% Crushing damage for 2-57 stamina per second.

  Group Attack (T0) level 1 (0% –> 8% to level 2) – +1% to offensive damage dealt per other being who is considered to be in the same group during an attack or defence.

  Pounce (T0) level 1 (5% –> 11% to level 2) – +50% damage to a hit which is delivered without the target being aware of you until the attack is too close to avoid. +25% damage to an attack which is made directly to a vulnerable area.

  Powerful Swipe (T0) level 2 (57% –> 63% to level 3) – Use stamina to enhance the damage of your swipe. +6% - +60% damage increase for 5-75 stamina per second.

  Rapid Attack (T0) level 1 (16% –> 22% to level 2) – Spend 3 SP or MP to attack for a second time within 1 second. SP or MP costs double per additional attack within half a second of the previous. Maximum number of chained attacks at level 1: 5.

  Sharp Nip (T0) level 1 (0% –> 11% to level 2) – When lunging to bite at something, consume stamina to offer a burst of speed. At level 1, consuming 1 SP will offer +10% speed. Consume 3 SP for +20% speed. If the bite is to a flesh and blood creature, a Bleeding effect may be applied.

  Rage (30% to level 1)

  Charge (67% to level 1)

  Stunning Roar (19% to level 1)

  Easy Landing (48% to level 1)

  Rending Bite (17% to level 1)

  Fleet Foot (15% to level 1)

  Enduring Stamina (5% to level 1)

  Bloodied Stalwart (40% to level 1)

  Enhanced Fertility (16% to level 1)

  Bleed (48% to level 1)

  Dominant Chirp (6% to level 1)

  Pack Attack (52% to level 1)

  Acid Spit (48% to level 1)

  Sure Feet (100% to level 1) level up to acquire Ability)

  Defensive abilities:

  - Fur level 3 (12-16 Slicing damage reduction, 2-4 Piercing damage reduction, 6-8 Crushing damage reduction, 2-4 Tearing damage reduction)

  - Skin level 5 (6-8 Slicing damage reduction, 4-8 Piercing damage reduction) Flexibility +5%

  - Mane level 2 (4-6 Slicing damage reduction, 2-4 Crushing damage reduction, 2-4 Piercing damage reduction (attacks to the relevant area)) +30% charisma (for members of the same species)

  Offensive abilities:

  - Claws level 2 (53-65 Slicing damage, 32-41 Tearing damage, 24-35 Piercing damage)

  - Bite level 3 (54-82 Crushing damage, 72-100 Tearing damage, 55-76 Piercing damage)

  - Strike level 1 (+10 to Crushing or Blunt damage, +5 to all other physical damage types)

  - Roar level 1 (+10% chance of intimidating the listener. +20% - +50% if listener is already intimidated by you.)

  General abilities:

  - Muscular Body level 8 (max speed 34 mps; max speed duration 15s) (210 –> 260 SP)

  - Carnivore Constitution level 3 (600 HP) +60% health regeneration

  - Enhanced Regeneration level 3 (2.25 HP / second)

  - Brain level 4 (Cognition speed standard measurement 7)

  - Mana heart level 1 (15 MP) - 75% penalty

  - Soul level 1 (Resilience to mental attacks standard measurement 7) +2% mana regeneration (-80% reduction to mana regeneration)

  - Bones level 2 (growth +20%)

  - Flesh level 1 (growth +10%) +5% resistance to basic magical attacks.

  - Nervous System level 1 (reaction speed +10%)

  - Sinuses level 2 +10% range; +5% intensity

  - Telepathy level 2 +10% force.

  Spells:

  Lightning Discharge level 1 (10% progress to level 2) - 1:1 mana / unit of static electricity to damage ratio. Coat your weapons with electricity and discharge it into your opponent on contact. Electrical resistance is effective against this attack. Magical resistance is partially effective against this attack.

  Equipment:

  - Leather Gorget (T1) - +12 to Piercing/Tearing/Slicing damage reduction and +6 to Crushing damage reduction to attacks to the neck. 6m3 storage space (non-stasis)

  - Tail Armour + Tail Morningstar (T1, Common) - Tail armour offers +20 to Tearing/Slicing damage reduction and +12 to Crushing and Piercing damage reduction to attacks to areas covered. Tail club offers +10-24 Crushing damage and +5-12 Piercing damage.

  Pride status

  Level 2 Pride (progress to next level 9/10)

  Current information shared:

  Health, Abilities

  Current members:

  Dominic/Leo (T2, L19) – leader. (Health: 521/600, Abilities: Quick Strike, Second Wind, Group Attack, Crushing Bite, Pounce, Powerful Swipe, Sharp Nip, Rapid Attack)

  Hathor (T1, L6) (Health: 146/380, Abilities: Pounce, Rending Bite)

  Neith (T1, L6) (Health: 244/380, Abilities: Pounce, Keen Senses)

  Jenkins (T1, L6) (Health: 289/450, Abilities: Pounce, Quick Strike)

  Menhit (T1, L6) (Health: 184/380, Abilities: Pounce, Sure Feet)

  Isis (T1, L5) : (Health: 94/300, Abilities: Pounce)

  Sekhmet (T1, L7) : (Health: 315/380, Abilities: Pounce, Sharp Mind)

  Anuke (T1, L5) : (Health: 182/300, Abilities: Pounce)

  Pride enhancements:

  1% increase in Prey Points for all Pride members – level 2

  Increased damage for Pride members fighting together by ((number of enemies/number of pride members in the fight)*level of enhancement)% – level 1

  Equally shared Prey Points for all Pride members (within a single fight) – on

  here!