After stepping into the forest, I started to have second thoughts. However, going back would be admitting defeat and I wasn't about to do that.
Part of the problem was that I'd never really been in the woods at night, at least as a raccoon. It was… different.
Moonlight didn't just light up the trees. It flowed through branches like water. I didn’t notice it at first, but I slowly noticed a faint shimmer clinging to the bark. It extended a few inches and looked like heat rising off asphalt.
When I focused, the shimmer thickened into a soft, dense yellowish-green glow. It wasn't bright or dramatic. I stood there staring like an idiot, wondering how many years I’d walked past these things without realizing they were alive in a way I’d never understood.
Where the tree trunk met the ground, the aura took on a brownish tint. Even the air buzzed with mana so thick I could taste it. Copper and something that smelled old and wild.
Maybe there is something to what they're saying about me. Okay, maybe that's enough for tonight, I thought as I started heading back to the cabin.
My physical senses were going crazy too, although that might have been because I still wasn't used to them yet. Every little sound was setting me off. I was actually proud of the fact that I didn't run home with my tail tucked between my legs.
Once I entered the clearing around my cabin, I breathed a sigh of relief. I looked back at the tree line I'd just emerged from.
Something's out there. I can feel it watching me.
That's when I saw movement high in the trees. There was a flash of gray fur in the branches. I looked up, expecting some mutated animal. Instead, I was staring at a squirrel.
But not just any squirrel. It looked like it had been hitting the gym and taking steroids. The squirrel was easily twice the size of any squirrel I'd ever seen. It had muscles that shouldn't exist on something that ate nuts for a living.
"What the hell?" I muttered as I took a step back.
The squirrel's eyes locked onto me. There was intelligence there. It looked like it was sizing me up, and it didn't seem impressed.
Before I could figure out what was happening, the furry missile launched itself from the tree branch. I barely had time to yelp before it slammed into me like a linebacker tackling a particularly small quarterback.
I tumbled backwards. My tiny raccoon body was no match for whatever the roided-out tree rat. Pain shot through me as I rolled across the ground. I scrambled to get my paws under me.
"What the hell, Nutty McRoidRage?" I squeaked. I tried to put some distance between us as I backed toward the porch.
The squirrel dropped into a fighting stance. It looked like the muscleheaded rat knew what it was doing.
What the actual fuck?!
The squirrel's tail twitched like a battle flag. It reminded me of Bruce Lee taunting his opponents. Its eyes were both terrifying and mocking.
This wasn't just random forest aggression. It felt personal.
The squirrel lunged again. Its speed had nothing to do with normal squirrel behavior. I dodged, barely. I was barely quick enough to avoid getting my ear shredded.
"Look, tree rat," I panted. I tried to circle away from the crazy critter. "I don't know what your deal is, but squirrels and raccoons usually get along. You stick to the treetops during the day, I own the ground at night. We coexist!"
The squirrel didn't seem interested in peaceful coexistence. Another swipe, this one aimed way too low, made me yelp and scramble backward.
"Targeting the family jewels? Really?" I protested. "What kind of fight is this?"
That's when I noticed that it didn't have any family jewels. I realized this with the part of my brain that wasn't panicking.
Jealous much? I wondered.
Then I didn't have time to think as I dodged her next attacks. That's when I noticed something weird. Her attacks were precise and controlled. She wasn't trying to kill me. She was just testing me.
This didn't make it any less terrifying, though. Especially when she barreled into me and sent me sprawling again. My ribs hurt from the impact. I could feel the unnatural strength behind her attacks.
Whatever the mana thing had done to her, it had turned a normal squirrel into something that could probably arm-wrestle a house cat and win.
I was clearly outmatched while trying to fight against a furry gladiator. I was getting tired of being a punching bag.
Fed up with getting my ass kicked, I growled. It came out more like an angry squeak but carried all the frustration I felt. Something inside me responded to that anger. Something hot and wild that felt like the blessing power I'd used on Shelly and Alder.
I didn't think and just pushed that energy outward at the tree rat.
Mana flared around me. Green-gold light made the air shimmer.
CHILD OF CHAOS ACTIVATED.Companion bond created.
Trigitala, descendant of Ratatoskr, has become your companion.
MESSAGE FROM GAIA. Congratulations.
The system notification flashed across my vision. I nearly fell over.
Ratatoskr? The Norse mythology squirrel? The one who carried messages up and down Yggdrasil?
I wanted to do a quick fist pump. It turned out being a nerd actually paid off. Luckily, she didn't use my hesitation to attack again.
Instead, she froze too. Her eyes went wide. The crazy energy that had been driving her attack suddenly faded. It was replaced by something that looked almost like... respect?
The nordic squirrel chittered softly. A sound completely different from her earlier war cries. She hopped closer. Then sniffed at me with what could only be described as curiosity mixed with admiration.
"Uh, hi?" I said. Still panting from the unexpected fight.
She sat back on her haunches. Her tail flicked in what seemed like a pleased gesture. She studied me with intelligent eyes. The way she looked at me now was completely different. It was like I'd passed some kind of test I hadn't known I was taking.
Before I could figure out what to make of my new 'companion,' that burnt-copper scent got really strong. Trigitala's ears turned toward the tree line. Her whole body went on alert.
Apparently, she hadn't been the scary presence I'd felt. Something else was out there and it was watching from the shadows.
Movement caught my eye. Multiple eyes of various sizes stared at me across the clearing. They were all clumped together in a small area. Either they were all near each other or the thing had way too many eyes.
My claws dug into the ground as I resisted the impulse to run. Fleeing without a plan was a waste of energy.
My new companion chittered nervously. She moved between me and the shadow. Her tail puffed up to twice its normal size. Whatever she was, she apparently took her new job seriously.
The eyes didn't move closer. They just watched with a creepy intensity. Then, as fast as they showed up, they started to fade back into the darkness.
"I'll see you again, soon," it whispered. It left behind only that faint mana trail and a feeling like I was being graded.
I was so focused on what was in front of me that I wasn't paying attention to what was behind me when I backed away. That was when I stumbled into what used to be my grave.
What the…? Someone ate my body!
There were no drag marks, just human footprints leading away from where I'd died.
Did my body get up and walk away?
I was so confused. And scared. I shivered and hurried toward the house with Trigitala right beside me. She kept looking between me, the tree line, and the empty grave.
Although I wasn't an expert in the supernatural, a dead body rising out the grave didn't sound like either Wendigo or skinwalkers. My fur stood on end. The idea that my body was out there walking around creeped me out to no end.
I hurried through the doggie door while trying to figure out if the spooky presence was responsible for stealing my body, or if there were now two threats. Either way, I'd seen enough supernatural bullshit tonight to last me a lifetime.
I peeked through the doggie door and waved for my new companion to follow me inside. The stubborn little critter was still standing outside.
Trigitala was too long and Trig sounded like homework, so I decided the squirrel's new nickname was Tala. I needed something quick I could call if my body ever showed up.
Reluctantly, Tala followed me. But not before squeaking something at the night.
Inside, I climbed onto my recliner and wrapped the blanket around me. Trigitala made herself at home on the side table. She helped herself to a berry from Shelly's plate like she owned the place.
I could hear Shelly snoring in my bed. This seemed to annoy Tala for some reason. She glared at the bedroom and snorted before going back to the food.
If my new companion was getting attached, Shelly was in for some furry competition. And that was assuming I could figure out what the hell was happening with my powers. Why did I have a mythological squirrel sidekick? What was I supposed to do with her?
One thing was certain. I wasn't just a beacon anymore. I was apparently collecting supernatural creatures like some kind of paranormal Pokemon trainer. I had no idea what that meant for my future or my sanity.
Outside, the forest hummed with old energies. Somewhere in the darkness, things that had been sleeping for centuries were definitely starting to wake up. And walking among them was my dead body.