Wolves, approaching his location. Large, powerful, their eyes glowing with predatory hunger.

  "This is not good," Tara thinks. "I mean, I am not worried about myself. Rather, I don't want to obliterate them to nothingness. They're probably just territorial or hungry. Probably both."

  The wolves are getting closer. About a dozen of them, led by an alpha wolf that is significantly larger than the others. They fan out, surrounding him, cutting off escape routes. They are coordinated as a pack.

  "Okay," Tara thinks. "I need to handle this carefully. Let me shapeshift and fight them. That way I won't need to blast them with energy."

  He transforms into a massive wolf form using Shapeshift. The transformation is smooth, natural, the pyramid becoming a large, powerful wolf. The other wolves pause, confused. What is this? A wolf?

  Tara's wolf form stands tall, its size even larger and more imposing than the alpha. He readies himself for the fight.

  A moment of doubt. Then the alpha wolf steps forward, its growl low and menacing. But instead of the whole pack attacking, the alpha comes forward alone, stopping a few meters away, challenging Tara directly.

  "Wait," Tara thinks. "Does this alpha want a one-on-one with me? Is he that chivalrous? I thought wolves hunted in packs, but he's coming forward alone. Is this a dominance thing? Does he recognize me as a worthy opponent? That's kind of... honorable." Tara puffs his chest, feeling proud. "Well recognized. I can see why you're the leader of this pack. Alright then. I accept your challenge as a mighty wolf warrior."

  As Tara indulges in pretentious grandstanding, the alpha wolf lunges. Tara comes back to reality as his wolf form meets it head-on, the two massive creatures colliding. Claws, teeth, strength against strength.

  But the alpha is no ordinary wolf. It is experienced, skilled, and it has tricks up its sleeve. As they clash, the alpha suddenly twists, using its momentum to spin around Tara's side, its claws raking across Tara's flank. Tara feels the impact, but his energy-enhanced form absorbs most of the damage.

  "Okay," Tara thinks. "This guy knows what he's doing. This isn't just brute force. He's skilled."

  The alpha backs off, circling Tara, its eyes calculating. Then it lunges again, but this time it feints, pulling back at the last moment before darting forward with incredible speed, aiming for Tara's throat. Tara barely dodges, the alpha's teeth snapping inches from his neck.

  "Whoa," Tara thinks. "That was close. This alpha is fast. And smart. He's using feints and speed. This is getting interesting."

  The alpha doesn't let up. It uses its agility, darting in and out, testing Tara's defenses. It strikes, then retreats, then strikes again from a different angle. It is a dance of death, and the alpha is leading.

  As the alpha lunges again, Tara anticipates the move, sidestepping and countering with a powerful swipe of his own claws. The alpha yelps, stumbling back, but it recovers quickly, its eyes now showing respect mixed with determination.

  The fight intensifies. The alpha uses its pack tactics, trying to herd Tara, to control the battlefield. It feints left, then strikes right. It uses its tail to distract, then attacks from an unexpected angle. It is a master of wolf combat, using every trick in its arsenal.

  Tara is impressed. This alpha is truly skilled. He matches the alpha's moves, countering each attack.

  After several intense exchanges, Tara sees an opening. The alpha lunges, but this time Tara is ready. He sidesteps, grabs the alpha's leg with his teeth, and uses his superior strength to flip the alpha onto its back. Before the alpha can recover, Tara is on top of it, his massive form pinning it down gently but firmly.

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  The alpha struggles, but can't break free. After a moment, it stops struggling, submitting.

  The other wolves watch, uncertain. Their alpha has been defeated.

  "This should be enough to scare them," Tara thinks.

  Tara releases the alpha, stepping back. The alpha wolf gets up, shakes itself, and then... bows? It lowers its head, showing submission. The other wolves follow suit, all bowing to Tara.

  "Wait, what?" Tara thinks, shocked. "They're... bowing? To me? Shouldn't these guys run away? I just beat up their leader and now they're... Wait, are they making me their leader?"

  "Guys," Tara thinks, shifting back to pyramid form, his consciousness processing the absurdity of the situation. "I can't take responsibility for you guys. That's why I didn't become a manager. Heck, that's why I didn't marry. I'm a pyramid. A shape-shifting pyramid, but still a pyramid. I can't be your leader. Can I? Is this even allowed?"

  But the wolves don't seem to care. They've accepted him. Or it. Whatever Tara is. They didn't budge even when he transformed back to his pyramid form.

  "Okay, fine," Tara thinks. "I'll just ignore them. They'll get bored and leave eventually. Right? Right."

  He tries to continue doing his own thing. He moves forward, deliberately not looking back. He focuses on the path ahead, on finding a good location, on anything except the pack of wolves that is definitely, absolutely, not following him.

  He glances back. Nope. They are still there. All of them. Watching him with those reverent eyes, trailing behind him like persistent groupies.

  "Okay, ignoring them isn't working," Tara thinks. "Time for plan B. Run and hide."

  He dashes forward, using Dash to move quickly through the forest. He doesn't want to shapeshift, lest these wolves get the wrong idea. Trees blur past him. He zigzags, changes directions, moves through thick undergrowth, trying to lose his scent, trying to lose them.

  "Did I lose them?" Tara thinks, hiding behind a large rock.

  He waits. One minute. Two minutes. Nothing.

  "Great," Tara thinks, feeling triumphant. "I'm free. They're gone. I knew I could lose them. I'm fast. I'm smart. I'm—"

  Then he hears it. A loud sneeze. "A-CHOO!"

  Tara freezes. That came from right beside him. That came from—

  A wolf's head is popping up from behind the rock. It is one of the wolves—Tara recognizes it because its tail is cut short, making it easily recognizable. The wolf looks at Tara with those same reverent eyes, as if saying "Found you!"

  "AH!" Tara thinks, jumping up in shock. "How did you find me? And what's with the tail wag? I'm not playing hide and seek."

  The wolf just looks at him, its tail (what is left of it) wagging happily. Then, one by one, the other wolves appear.

  Before Tara can process all this, something happens. A large predator—a massive jaguar with dark fur and glowing red eyes—emerges from the forest, probably drawn by the dense energy signature of Tara and the wolves.

  "Uh oh. Another predator," Tara thinks. "What luck."

  What will Tara do?