Another week passed. I can move better now and I’ve grown quite a bit; it seems this species develops at an incredible speed. My mother wants to take me out of her pouch already, but the idea terrifies me. Even though I’m safe in the shelter, I can’t stop thinking about what happened to me. I clung to her abdomen, but she was already annoyed. I don't want to leave! Let me stay in this warm little pouch.

  In the end, my mother grabbed me by the neck with her claws and forced me out. Damn it! Being outside, I could get a better look at the nest, and I’m impressed. Either Viktor was lazy, or these beasts have evolved, because this den is quite decent. From up here, you can see the tops of the other trees, so it’s at a considerable height; also, it has so many leaves that I can’t even see the ground. The floor is solid due to the pile of sticks and, although it has no walls, it is spacious. But in the end, they are still disgusting animals; they drop their waste into the void.

  I was marveled by the primitive engineering. This house is better than the one I made before; I feel humiliated. How are wild animals more ingenious than me? I could have built the hut on top of that log; that way, I wouldn't have died being devoured and wouldn't have felt that living hell.

  After a while, my father returned after being away for two days. He brought several of those rodents I hunted in my previous life. They look delicious; I guess I’m becoming a savage. A doubt arose: can I eat meat yet, or am I still too small?

  My mother cleared up my questions immediately: with her teeth, she bit one of the creatures in half and gave me a piece. Without a second thought, I put it in my mouth and ate with gusto; I had been drinking only breast milk for too long and, even if it's raw meat, it’s wonderful. Truly, my life now is crazy.

  I’ve realized that this species reasons a bit; it’s not just instinct, they possess some intelligence. Once, my father looked exhausted when he arrived from looking for food, and surprisingly, my mother began to comfort him and nuzzle him; you could see the love in their eyes. How sweet! On Earth, very few animals act like that. Perhaps the first humans were like them? Or maybe they resemble one of our ancestors?

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  I still haven't seen any others of my kind besides us; it’s just like with Viktor. Maybe they stay alone until they find a mate? Or was Viktor super antisocial? I’ll say it again: they are similar to felines in that aspect.

  After eating, I fell asleep as we always do here at home; we rest about 16 hours a day according to my calculations. Although I just found out we have that habit. Before I died, I hardly felt sleepy; how curious. Perhaps I’m like this now because I learned from my parents? I’m discovering many things.

  After a while, I woke up and sat there looking at the landscape. I still don't dare to put a single foot off the platform; I tried to do it, but my heart pounded hard and I started breaking out in a cold sweat. I’m not ready yet. Night fell; it’s time to sleep again. I tried to get into my mother's marsupium, but she wouldn't let me in again. I threw a tantrum and everything, but she flatly refused. My mother’s warmth is wonderful, but now I have to sleep outside like a dog—though they sleep like that too. Luckily, the cold isn't too intense up here and there is no fire to attract predators.

  After a few minutes, they were already lying down and dreaming.

  —Hey, stupid voice—, I said to the wind.

  I took advantage of the situation to try to talk to the mysterious voice. It had never answered me, but perhaps this time it would deign to do so.

  —Do you hear me? Explain that thing about the failed evolution and the postponed penalty.

  —"Samuel looked like a madman talking to the wind alone."

  —There you are! This is my chance... Explain what you are!—, I demanded.

  —"I am the System," the voice replied, dry and direct as always.

  System? How does that work? Am I in some kind of video game? I realized everything clicked: the electric blue letters and the missions. It could be that I’m part of some kind of game or something I don’t understand.

  —Okay, now explain what I asked you—, I replied, hiding my nervousness and my urge to ask more.

  —"You failed the evolution; therefore, you will receive a penalty: you will have less control over your animal instinct"—, this time it spoke with a stronger tone and seemed annoyed.

  [You have a penalty: at times, you will lose control of your body]

  —How is that? What does it mean?

  … There were no more answers.

  —Hey, answer me!

  The voice was gone. I was left with more questions than solutions; now I doubt my reality.

  —Is this really a game? Although now I realize it could be a story; that's why the voice sometimes narrates my actions—, I proceeded to ramble, searching for answers.

  —Maybe they are gods?

  My vision began to blur and looked like static, like some kind of glitch in my reality. I blacked out after that.