The seasons passed quickly while living my new tribal life as an apprentice hunter. I wish I could claim things were exciting, but life here felt rather mundane. Searching the forest for food and daily tasks around the village took up most of my time. I managed to learn curing hides, tanning and tailoring just because I got bored by constantly looking for food. So I managed to sell my crafting services to the villagers for parts of their next catches. It added some diversity to my life, improved my crafts and kept me from constantly having to hunt.

  I had even managed to find something that reminded me of clay and I experimented a fair bit with it, I had great plans for it and were hoping it would benefit me greatly in the future.

  Over 12 years had passed since I arrived in this world, I had done my best to cling to my old memories and engrave the idea of myself into my soul. But the longer I spent in this world, the more my memories faded into blurriness. I could barely remember the faces of my old parents, friends and even myself. The best I could describe my old self was that vague description about me being an average tall white guy, with dark hair and eyes, I couldn't really say for sure anymore. I wished I had enough faith to be able to claim any of those things to be true, but everything from my previous life felt so distant and unreal.

  I had even started to doubt if anything I remembered was true, it felt more like a series of repeating dreams I had convinced myself were the truth. The concept of sitting still and watching tv for an entire evening, and everyone staring Into their phone instead of actually socializing felt so foreign to me at this point. But all my concepts and outlandish ideas had to originate from somewhere.

  I had also had an enormous growth over the last 12 years, I stood only a head shorter than most adults and Arissa was mere inches above me now. We had both grown to be fine hunters, and we're looking forward to being a part of the dedicated hunter groups going out for the bigger and longer hunts the adults were constantly bragging about. However all forms of growth were not as welcomed as the increased height and strength. To my great annoyance my breasts had started to grow, they might only be a mid A- cup so far, but running around in rough linen shirts made me feel and notice them constantly. And to my great dread I had also started bleeding a year ago, I can't express how uncomfortable it is. I vaguely remember dismissing women when they were complaining about such things back on Earth, but now I'm the one complaining loudly to myself on a monthly basis. To make things worse, the options for hygiene products are nonexistent. So saying that things end up being a bloody mess is fairly accurate statement. And having to kneel in the river while muttering curses as I wash stains out of my pants has become a distasteful routine by now.

  My thoughts were interrupted by something sharp poking into my side. I let out a loud yelp, making it a futile endeavor to keep pretending to sleep.

  “Good morning Lunaria” I heard Mother say, in an unusually cheerful tone.

  I let out a jaw breaking yawn, and groggily asked. “ What put you in such a good mood today? I know it's supposed to be a communal meal today, but you seem especially cheerful today.”

  “You just have to wait and see.“ her words coming out in an unmistakable melody of happiness.

  Curious of what could put Mother in such a mood, I fumbled out of my sleeping quilt, and started to look through the small pile of clothes I owned.

  “If you can hurry getting ready today, I will even give you something extra as a reward” Mother nearly sang, so overjoyed that she couldn't even stand still,

  I looked up at Mother as she was skipping around in our tent, curious about what could put her in such a mood. I couldn't even remember seeing her being this bubbly before. She halted her skipping around to meet my eyes and she gave me one of her biggest predatory grins I had seen on her. Such a sight would have terrified the bravest of men on their best days, and I would have been shaken to my core if I hadn't spent over a decade receiving motherly love from the same being.

  I was getting more and more curious about what this was about. So I just grabbed the first shirt and pants as I struggled to force them on, something that was a lot harder than usual, I had apparently grown a fair bit over the last couple of weeks. I knew I needed to make myself new clothes, but this felt tighter than yesterday, Maybe that is what I should do after the communal meal.

  After finally managing to squeeze myself into my little outfit, I hurried after Mother who had left while I had been struggling with my clothes.

  I caught up with her just before she arrived at the longhouse, and as we entered together, the entire tribe sat seated and waiting. Everyone seemed in high spirits and the atmosphere was unnaturally cheerful. If I didn't know better this was a group that had just watched their favorite football team win the champions league, and not the barbaric and murderous group of foxes I knew them to be.

  At the sight of the matriarch, every stood up, and bowed to her as we walked past them to the matriarch table. She took her rightful place behind her table as I sat down besides her, and without her having to mutter a single word, the entire longhouse had gone completely silent.

  With all the attention fixated on her, she held her paws up, just like a priest would to honor their god.

  She took a deep breath, and spoke loudly, addressing the whole longhouse.

  “Today is a great day everyone, some of you already know of the treat that awaits us today, while others might not. For those who doesn't, I'm overjoyed to announce that our hunters discovered a whole group of elves that had foolishly stumbled into our territory.

  Taking on a larger group of these poses a risk, but our hunters managed to pull off a successful ambush without suffering any major injuries. We haven’t feasted on elves since the naming ceremony of my own daughter, and back then, we went through great lengths to obtain a single one. Today we have fifteen elves to devour. Enjoy this rare treat, Let them become our strength for tomorrow !”

  Everyone cheered loudly from Mother’s speech, and like clockwork several tribesmen got up and went out to bring in our meal.

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  One by one the tables were filled with the corpses of naked elves, displaying several mortal injuries, each long table had gotten six elves each, and the matriarch’s table had gotten three whole elves, and their corpses filled the entire table.

  I felt an inner turmoil, seeing the naked corpses lying on the table, treated just like any other prey animal. These were sapient beings, creatures that built civilizations, maintained their own culture and socialized, just like we did. And we were just gonna eat them in good conscience ?

  I knew I had eaten an elf before, or at least the heart of an elf. It had been a long time since then, so I can't exactly remember how it tasted, I just remember I liked it, and how I hated myself for enjoying the taste. I wanted to leave, to not be a part of this, last time I had been force fed that heart, now I am old enough to be able to refuse.

  The scent of blood entered my nose, and I felt my stomach growl in anticipation, I wanted nothing else than to punch my own stomach for its greed. I knew I had to flee. If I stayed here, Mother would throw down some meat for me to eat, and if that happens I don't trust myself enough to withstand the temptation. Why must I be so damn hungry ? I hate this, I hate myself, I hate this race, I hate these monsters !

  Suddenly Mother yelled out. “ Let's feast” and the normal hell broke loose

  I had made my choice, I just couldn't be a part of this, it was taking it several steps too far. I wiped away my tears, holding firmly to my resolve. Just as I was about to stand up to sneak away I felt Mothers paw on my head, stroking my hair.

  I tried to hold back my tears, not wanting her to see me for who I actually was. In her eyes I must be weak, someone with sympathy, someone that would rather talk to the elves instead of murder them.

  Mother just smiled at me, wiped away my tears, and whispered. “ It's alright, my adorable little fluffy pup. I know the joy could be overwhelming, today is a great day. I did promise you something extra today.

  With those words, Mother put an entire elf down in front of me. She gave me a huge smile and rubbed my ears with affection. She completely misunderstood my feelings, she thought I wept out of joy.!

  Feeling even worse by this point, I had a good look at the naked corpse in front of me. The victim was a fully grown woman, with a sculpted figure, with the perfect amount of curves where they would be most desired. With her golden hair, she must have been like a glowing goddess in life. Instead she had her throat ripped out, and her hazel eyes were staring into nothingness.

  My stomach growled at me yet again, and I had to swallow to avoid drooling at the poor woman. I desperately wanted to run, but my legs didn't respond, and I had to fight the inner urge to devour. I started to breathe faster, doing my best to resist, but the sweet metallic scent of blood flooded my nose for each breath I took. The sent was fueling the growing urge to devour in me, resisting felt harder and harder for each breath I took. I felt so weak, so pathetic, the inner hunger only grew and I felt myself losing my inner battle, I was just so incredibly hungry.

  My tears were streaming down my face and my paws were shaking, I tried to keep resisting but it seemed futile. I grabbed the elf’s hand and held it up to my face, I just couldn't resist any longer, I needed to feed, I had to quell this insufferable hunger.

  Before I knew any better I bitten off two fingers, they moved around in my mouth, crunching under my teeth and were truly delicious. Without another thought I had taken another bite and the rich flavor spread from my mouth into my entire body, The sensation was unlike anything I had even eaten before. This was without any doubt the most delicious thing I had ever tasted, I remember loving the taste of a perfect grilled angus beef, but that pales in comparison to this, I felt made to eat this.

  I had completely lost myself in the intoxicating high of elven meat, I ripped her skin off with my claws and slurped strips of skin down my endless maw, wanting more, needing more.

  The rest faded in a blurred feeding frenzy, and before long I was surrounded by bones. I slowly landed from my elven high and I started crying again. What have I done ? I didn't want this, but I couldn't stop myself when it was right in front of me, I'm like a junkie, not able to resist my drug when it's right in front of me. I’m already craving more, what will become of me ? Will I go out hunting elves now ? just so I can get my fix ? I'm already well on my way to become a bloodthirsty monster, is there even hope for me left ?

  Still hungry, I looked up at Mother, eating enthusiastically with her entire face. Her face was stained by clotted blood and gore, and I could barely tell that she actually had white fur under all that mess. It was a sight that would only be seen in some kind of grotesque gore movie, but I had somehow gotten used to sights like this by now, I doubted I looked any better.

  I was not quite sure what to do with myself, I struggled between self loathing, disgust over eating a sapient being and the incredible delight in the empowering feeling of eating quality meat. As I was about to contemplate my actions there was a sudden commotion at one of the common tables. When I tried to see what the commotion was about, I saw Arissa standing on all four, dry heaving and looking like she was in incredible pain. Everyone had ceased their feasting to see what was happening. I had never seen anyone actually stopped eating for any reason before, so I feared the worst.

  Everyone started encircling Arissa, and to my surprise they suddenly started cheering the struggling girl on. Confused why no one tried to help her, I decided to at least try to help, even if the only thing I could do was to provide moral support. As I took my first step, Mother held a paw in front of me. She looked me in the eyes and shook her head gently.

  Not allowed to take any action, I had no other choice then to watch Arissa in her struggle. Her claws dug into the dirt floor, clawing out chucks of earth and threw them around herself, while flailing around her limbs. She snarled out in pain as her body started to give off a faint silvery glow and steam started to rise out from her.

  Forced to stand there witnessing the spectacle, I noticed Arissa rapidly growing in front of us, she grew bigger for each minute that passed, and after nearly five minutes of growling and flailing around, a new tail sprouted out of her tailbone. After her second tail had manifested the glow started to fade and the steam ceased and Arissa fell down to the floor, exhausted and breathing heavily.

  Everyone broke out in loud cheers, praising Arissa and congratulating her on the transformation. After everyone had quieted down, Mother stepped into the circle and knelt down, held her paw out to Marissa to help her up and said loudly. “ Arissa, daughter of Marissa, congratulations on your second tail, now rise as one of the eternal hunters, may your hunt be plentiful.”

  Arissa, opened her eyes, the exhaustion obvious to everyone, nevertheless she took the matriarch’s paw and rose up, beaming with pride.

  With Arissa standing the entire gathering cheered in unison. Mother, still holding her paw, guided her gently to her new seat at the long tables. Without a word she tore the foot off a corpse, and handed it to Marissa, as it was the most precious gift she could give.

  With the commotion over, everyone returned to their seats, and the mad carnage resumed in full force, and I was the only one still sitting on the floor. The sole junior hunter.