The next few days seemed like weeks for Lupus, as his now frail body hibernated to regain its strength. The transformation had taken a lot out of him. Some reserved energy he never knew he had. He had found a cave on the far edge of the forest, hidden from the dirt path of which the humans tread. He collapsed when he crawled inside and didn't wake up until several long hours later. His body curled up into a tight ball, a safety technique to stop his underbelly being attacked. He shuddered during his slumber as his mother's scream echoed and rang in his ears, like a broken record on repeat. He suddenly woke up, not able to take it anymore

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

He screamed as his eyes looked around; seeing no-one was there. His body sweltering, and Lupus panting. Just a nightmare.

Just a nightmare…

He grunted as he uncurled and took to his feet, a little sore from the running a couple days prior.

"Ugggghh… Food…"

His human tongue wasn't the best as he learnt by what his 'parents' were saying. But his stomach growled as deep and loud as if he made it with his mouth, showing his hunger. He prowled out of his cave and into the forest, to hunt and explore his new surroundings and habitat. He sluggishly heaved his body around, due to fatigue. Clumsily, he caught a Zigzagoon who was miles away in its thoughts by a beautiful big blue free-flowing waterfall. His first proper meal. He tore into the poor unsuspecting prey savagely, blood splattering all over his muzzle and the grass. The Zigzagoon let out a shrieking cry of pain before he fainted, and then passed away. Lupus' eyes changed from a harsh yellow to a blood red once again, the feast enhancing his body. Regenerating his power and healing any cuts and bruises on his skin. His small hunt continued as he now gained some speed and reflexes, and every single bit of food he had increased his ability to move. From a weak cub to a fully built monster. After feasting for 2 or so hours, scouting his surroundings and learning his ways, Lupus headed home, his paws banging into the dirt, leaving deep paw prints. As soon as he got back to his cave, he explored it, to see what he could do. During his time with the humans, he watched and learned many different aspects of human life. How to build. How to decorate. But one main thing was Alchemy. When he explored the cave, he found there to be 3 main 'rooms'. One near the entrance, which was slightly larger than the rest and two near the rear of the cave. One backing onto the edge and the other to the right. The one on the right was interesting as it was a near perfect square, like a human had carved it for a proper room. But, on the left hand side there was a little running stream through the cracks on the back wall, ending near the other side. A nice water trough to drink from. After Lupus explored, he leaned against a wall and let out a shriek as he fell right through the rocks into a dark secret cavern below. Luckily, the humans had taught him flamethrower and so he could use it to illuminate the room. Nothing inside. he used his claws to grapple himself back up and went into the main room, the one he was going to call his and fell asleep again, fed, watered and strong.

The next day Lupus woke up bright and early. The sun rays barely entering the caves rocky mouth. He grunted as he got up and stretched. He had nothing, and while he learnt things with the humans, he wanted to make this cave his. His own lair. He walked very slowly out of the cave, his head down to protect his eyes from the sunlight as he took a deep breath and turned left. Back to the town. He didn't know why he wanted to go back, but it was clear it would not be an issue when he got within distance. The town that was,. is now gone. Deserted. Half of the buildings burnt down to a cinder, others just simply abandoned. He took caution, prowling and staying low, checking the corners in case he was walking into a trap. But no-one came. He soon came face to face with the building he was imprisoned into only a couple of days prior. And he slowly crept inside. Silence. Only the trickle of water from a leaking pipe was heard as most of the walls were black of charcoal from his outrage. Paper crumpled and burnt. Lupus trampled over them, making them even more crumpled than they already were. He wasn't there for that. Instead, he went back to the cage, the bars smashed in two from the front, the scrap metal coating the floor around. He picked up a blanket, clock and the little hay bed he was given, stuffing them in his mane.

"I'll come back you later."

He growled to the cage, as if it could understand him. He meant he would come back and get the cage, something he had planned to use in the secret room he found the night before. He looked around the rest of the place, where he had never been before. New territory. As he walked around he studied all the shelves and tried to read some labels on weird glass bottles. It was hard for him to do but he read some. He picked up many potions and herbal ingredients before making his quick dash back home, following nearly the same steps he took on his first transformation.

When he got back, he put the stuff he found on the floor, deciding where to put them. He put the hay bed down in his 'room' - where he had been sleeping - and the clock on a stuck out rock in the other room, the blanket at the far back rock in case he had any 'Visitors'. He then put the rest of the chemical stuff in the last backroom, before using his claws to make a dodgy workbench (with chunks of wood missing or splinted out) and dump the potions on there. The first items in his new cave. He felt proud of himself, standing back and licking his lips, emitting a growl of approval that echoed through the cavern. And then he went back out of the cave to hunt again, something that would now be a usual life cycle for him...