Feeling his stronger limbs and the growing power in his body, Mike headed back into the tall grass in search of prey. Thoughts of Kelsey, what she might be going through at home began creeping back into his mind. He tried to push them away, to focus on survival and getting stronger. But the anxiety wouldn't stop. A deeper fear rooted itself inside him:

He might never see her or his family again.

Mike kept thinking:
I cannot give up. I have to find a way home. Focus, Mike. Focus.

He pushed forward, scanning the tall grass for any signs of movement. Slowly, deliberately, he moved through the blades. As he neared the edge of a dense row of trees, he spotted a group of deer-like creatures grazing between the trunks.
He crouched lower, carefully controlling his breathing. Step by step, he crept behind a tree, just a few feet from one of the deer.

He lunged.

Claws dug into the nearest animal, and it screamed in pain. The others fled into the woods. Mike held on, biting and slashing, but then he noticed something strange, the deer's shiny antlers were starting to glow.
He aimed for its throat, but the deer bucked wildly, trying to break free. Mike dug in all four sets of claws, trying to deal as much damage as he could. The antlers were now glowing so brightly he had to avert his eyes.

Then came a crackling sound.

A jolt of energy surged through him, stopping his muscles cold. His body convulsed violently as the deer staggered away.
He couldn't move. He lay twitching on the ground as the injured deer collapsed a few feet away, still bleeding.
When he finally regained control of his limbs, Mike staggered to his feet, disoriented. Pain radiated from his left shoulder, but he couldn't see the wound. The air was thick with the smell of scorched skin.
His thoughts blurred as he stumbled toward the deer. He dropped beside it and began eating quickly, fighting to stay conscious. His vision faded in and out as he blindly tore bite after bite from the creature's flesh.
Eventually, a familiar warmth spread through him.
His body had grown again, slightly larger overall. But this time, something new had emerged: a small, thumb-sized horn protruding from the bridge of his nose.

Staring at it, Mike thought,
How do I make you glow like the deer? Can I get powers like that? Was that electricity?

He tried to will it to glow. Nothing happened. Staring at it didn't help. Thinking about it didn't help.
Frustrated, he moved on, continuing his hunt deeper into the forest.
For hours, Mike preyed on smaller deer and lizard-like creatures. By nightfall, he had grown to the size of a small bear. The horn had thickened, it hadn't glowed, but it was useful in gashing enemies in close combat.
Eventually, Mike realized he had wandered far from familiar ground. He needed shelter.

No matter how much I grow, there are still beasts like the one by the lake, he thought.

Killing helps me forget, but now I have to wait again. Another night away. Another night not home. Why the fuck am I here?

His mind raced, unable to reconcile the strangeness of his situation. All around him was wilderness, populated only by strange, deadly creatures. He dreaded the long hours of darkness, and the fear of never seeing his family again crept closer.
As he moved through the trees, he spotted a narrow opening in a rocky outcrop.

What now? he thought. What monster's going to be in there?

He approached cautiously. The cave wasn't deep, but it was just large enough for his body to rest inside. He sniffed the air, no signs of another creature.

Finally, he lay down in the shadows.

Another night. Another battle inside his mind.