Weighing her options, Catherine was ready to decide which Genetic Sample to take in what really was her Singular Hope for Survival.
There was more than enough meat and nutrient from the slain sled dogs and beast to see her through months if needed, but the only way to be able to take advantage of that was by being close enough to the food source to consume it, which without resorting to drastic measures meant staying in her current location. There was simply too much weight for her to carry.
And with some 250 miles between her and the Base Camp where the others would be wondering where she was. Could they be out looking for her? Unlikely, since they wouldn’t even know where to start looking, the consequence of her hasty departure, neglecting to bring even a Ham Radio. In any case, if Catherine attempted to travel light, she’d never make it back, not knowing all the skills necessary to surviving for an extended period in these conditions.
Which left her with only one option for Genetic Material to try and use on herself. That of the beast itself, the Critically-Endangered Polar Bear. Depending on what effect it would have on her, outside of Laboratory Conditions, the Hare, the dogs, they could well be too small and lacking the raw grunt needed to haul the heavy sled, and all the equipment, shelter gear, and food on it.
Despite its being Dead, there was still Trepidation on Catherine’s part as she drew the needed blood sample from what she hoped was a clean area. Mixing the sample into the vial containing the rest of the Serum.
“Well. To my Health.” Catherine spoke to herself when she returned to her shelter, its makeshift walls and ceiling enough to keep out the biting winds and enough cold to let her open her top (above waist) layers of winter gear and get the point of the injector gun against her upper arm.
Wincing at the sting, the liquid hissed into her, working its way into her bloodstream to be carried throughout her body.
Now. There was little to do but wait, and see if her gamble would yield results. To busy herself, the slain dogs were retied to the sled, more samples from the dead Bear taken - after all that had been the purpose of her reckless trek, and she would at least try to get some samples back - and the Hare she’d caught and killed earlier abated her hunger.
And with nothing else to do, sleep claimed Catherine.
[+]
Rather groggily, Catherine pushed herself up to sitting, feeling famished already. The events of the previous day hazy until the moment she remembered the slain dogs, her being stranded, the injector gun.
A harsh gasp escaped her as she pulled off all her upper layers, desperate to see what, if anything, had happened.
“No wonder I’m so hungry…” Catherine realised once she got a look at herself.
She’d definitely bulked up some. Thicker arms, more muscle, and insulative body fat all indicators that the serum had had some effect on her. How much it would have was still unknown to her, but she didn’t have the time to worry about it, with Time being something she was lacking in if she intended to make her way back to Base Camp.
But before she could move, she needed Food. Now. The Polar Bear looking distinctly appetising when she was dressed again and outside. Closing in on the perished beast, she couldn’t stop herself from lunging into the carcass, pulling out massive chunks of its meat and consuming it there and then.
And only when she’d had her fill, did she see what she’d done. Blood staining the sleeves and front of her white winter gear, a significant portion of the bear eaten, and…was her gear tighter?
“No matter. Have to get back now.” Had Catherine paid attention to her tone, she would have noticed it was deeper, harsher, a rumbling undercurrent to it.
An hour later, and with her shelter dismantled and on the sled, along with all she could carry. She gave the ropes a tentative pull, increasing the pressure until, to her own surprise, it began to move with rather more ease than she’d expected, almost overbalancing because of it.
Though at this point, what it meant to Catherine was that she could start returning to Base Camp sooner than she’d expected, and noting she’d have a Hell of a lot to explain to her colleagues upon her return.
If they’d recognise her at all…