4 Remnant

'I wasn't isekai'd as a pretty princess or some badass mafia queen, but a bird? What is wrong with this unfair world?'

I clenched my teeth, 'This isn't how it usually is in novels. Shouldn't I be the protagonist with some overpowered armor, powers, or companions? This is total bullcrap.'

'...Well, at least I've got two arms—err, wings now,' I shook water off my feathered limbs and shivered to warm my freezing body. I thought for a bit before getting up to waddle to the water.

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the river and felt my face darken. Staring back at me was a tiny black bird with red eyes. It looked adorable, like a little ball of puffed fluff... the kind that'd attract big predators.

'I'm screwed,' I chirped out loud. That's when I saw in my reflection the razor-sharp teeth that lay in my beak. It surprised me, '—or maybe not?'

I scrutinized my odd teeth while coming to a conclusion, 'So I'm in a fantasy world, huh.'

Considering the insane variety of stories I've read in my previous world, I wasn't too surprised. Maybe it's because this whole situation was so surreal that I took it so easily. I would've preferred a sci-fi world, but Que será, será[1].

'Oh god, what thoughts am I having? I should be taking this situation more seriously,' I shook my head awake, 'I need to think about this rationally.'

'So, what is my next step? With a beak, sharp teeth, and dark feathers, I can tell that my diet won't be limited to just berries and nuts. I will be able to hide from predators at night while simultaneously being able to sneak up on animals that are smaller than me and successfully catch them. I guess I'm pretty overpowered then, right? But the thought of eating something uncooked...' I closed my eyes nervously, 'Agh, screw human pride! I'm a bird now, and I can't be picky with my choices!'

But I was still having second thoughts, 'The taste...'

I grew up in a higher middle-class family, so I was able to experience the taste of various dishes. I had a pallet that I liked sticking to, but I couldn't afford it in this situation.

I could've regretted not staying within the nest I hatched from, but I'd rather starve to death than eat bird vomit. I took the situation as I would in an RPG and kept myself as calm as possible.

'I should search for food while there's still daylight. I don't know if my species of bird can see in the dark or how dark it will get at night,' I scrutinized the canopy of trees above me.

'...Let's hurry.'

...

I trudged through the snow with my bird feet, walking around in search of something resembling a rat or a berry.

I found nothing. Not a single nut was on the ground.

Almost losing hope, I caught sight of something red in the corner of my eye. I dashed over skillfully, warming myself up in the process, and cautiously approached something red behind the bush.

I peeked through the leaves to spy on my victim, but the sight I saw instead was a gruesome scene of only the lower half of a rabbit lying on the ground. One of its legs could be seen still twitching. The body was still relatively warm, meaning it wasn't killed too long ago.

That meant the killer could be close by.

I involuntarily gagged, 'This, what is this?'

A strong sense of disgust overwhelmed me, but oddly enough, my instincts drove me to walk closer and embrace this hunger.

My mindset and starving stomach defied logic. My body moved by itself and dove toward the rabbit. I tried with all my might to resist the pull and irresistible urge, leaving bleeding claws and clear marks in the snow.

Yet, to my horror, the body rebelled. My beak morphed to become a yard long. I could feel new and sharper teeth growing on the insides of my mouth, quickly connecting nerves and muscles to clamp down on the rabbit.

Before I knew it, a loud crunch sounded between my jaws. I tried to stop it, but I unconsciously swallowed to digest the raw meat. I stood motionlessly.

My beak returned to its normal size, and I turned rigid.

My legs went weak and I fell back. I couldn't help but stare at the leftover rabbit blood before me, which stained the snow a horrific red.

I looked down and trembled.

That's when I came to a realization; this wasn't some game, story, or fantasy webtoon.

I didn't reincarnate as a bird, but I became something else entirely.

...

The sun slowly set, painting the sky a beautiful blue and purple. One moon stood alone, casting light down on the planet, but not below the thick leaves of this deserted forest.

I felt lost, unsure of who I was. I've never felt such a strong desire to return to my armless body.

Looking out to the setting sun, I was lost as to what my next step would be.

I refused to search for more food; it was already clear that there were no more berries in the forest, just plenty of live meat.

At this point, it was more than survival or whether I'd live to see the next day.

No, it was my morals as a human being that prevented me from doing something so inhumane.

I could taste the remnant rabbit leg on my tongue. It was juicy and rich in flavor, dressed in blood and fresh gut. It was revolting, but...

I liked it.

That's right.

I fucking liked it.

The fact had long sunk in;

'I'm no longer human.'

...

[ 1 ] Que será, será: Whatever will be, will be.