The
city of Haldim.
"Out of my way, whelp!", he bellowed. Twitch sat back up and wiped the blood from his lip as the huge sailor bullied his way past the crowd. If he was to fit in, he would need to be a bit more inconspicuous. He wandered through the alleys until he found what he was looking for. A mangy mutt was rooting through the garbage. Twitch smiled. The dog warily approached him as he called. He stroked its fur, feeling the texture of its skin. Suddenly, he grabbed its head and forced its muzzle to his mouth. The dog struggled and yelped as Twitch breathed out his essence and entered the dog. The boy's body slumped to the ground as the dog howled. Soon, it stood and calmly walked out of the alleyway.
Twitch walked unnoticed through the streets, watching carefully. He heard the sounds of fighting coming from a tavern to the east and entered. What he saw amazed him. A gigantic Haitorin was fighting two lacerti and the sailor that had bumped into him earlier, tossing them across the bar like dolls. The patrons were scattered around the room, and a dancer was cowering in the corner of the stage. Twitch was immediately impressed. The Haitorin's face was distorted in a fierce grimace, showing a full mouth of sharp, white teeth. He grabbed one of the lacerti and buried his claws in its face.
"She's mine!", he growled. "Any of you who even so much as look at
her will answer to me! Now keep your filthy scaly hands to yourself!"
He picked up the lacerti by its face and threw it into a corner where it
lay lifeless. The 'she' he was referring to was obviously the dancer,
a beautiful Haitorin girl that immediately caught Twitch's eye.
Twitch
eyes the dancing girl.
The Haitorin sat back in his seat and was served another drink. The music started again, and the girl continued her dancing. She moved across the stage and into the Haitorin's lap. She purred gently in his ear. The dog's acute senses allowed Twitch to hear her from across the room.
"Aren't we possessive, tonight.", she cooed. "Why is my General so upset?" The rugged General held the girl closer.
"It's these damn lizards. They make my blood boil."
"No more than mine, I hope.", she said, her tail wrapping itself around his body. The General was obviously enjoying it. Twitch looked around the tavern and saw the irritated face of the bartender talking with a Tervadi patron.
"It's always like this.", the bartender said. "He comes in on his ship, steals the finest room for himself, and destroys my bar." That convinced Twitch. he had found his host; a powerful, war educated butcher with a means of transport. Twitch wandered up the stairs of the tavern to the rooms of the inn. He sniffed along the floor until he found the distinct scent of a Haitorin. He expelled himself from the dog and flew under the door into the room.
Downstairs, the dancer's advances had taken their toll. The General
headed upstairs with her close behind. As they approached his room,
he looked down. The body of a dog was lying at his door. Growling,
he picked it up and threw it down the staircase. He laughed as the
sounds of chatter silenced as the corpse hit the floor.
Andit the bartender.
Inside, Twitch lay in wait as the door opened, the General and the girl in an embrace. She made her way to the bed as the General undressed. As the General turned, he heard the girl scream. He turned and saw a black light speeding it's way towards him. The light swept into his mouth and down his throat, knocking him off his feet. The girl sat back, screaming on the bed as the General twisted and howled. He fell to the floor and roared as Twitch battled within him. Finally, he succumbed and stopped writhing. The girl inched her way across the bed towards the lifeless body on the floor. Suddenly, he lurched! Moaning and retching, the General vomited out a thick postule of blood.
The girl crept back against the bed as Twitch rose. His new body towered above the dog's level and was much more powerful. He could feel the life flowing through him. Twitch turned to the girl and grinned. She stammered as she eyed him.
"Wha. . .what was that?" Twitch looked her up and down.
"Just an annoyance.", he said as he approached the bed. "But I'm feeling so much better."
After his encounter with the dancing girl, Twitch walked downstairs into the tavern. The patrons stared at him, having heard the noises from his room. He threw a handful of gold pieces at the bartender and wandered out into the street. He made his way to the docks and boarded the General's ship. The knowledge of his host had transferred over to him and he easily mastered the skill of sailing. As he left the port, Twitch stifled a laugh, he had begun.
After days of sailing, Twitch arrived at a cliff. The ship struck
the rocks at the base and he made his way up the rock face. By this
time, he had become accustomed to his new body, and he navigated the cliff
with ease. He reached the top and turned west toward a town.
As he entered the city, he looked at the bustling crowd. He pulled
a street sweeper aside.
Twitch
wrecks his ship.
"You, where is this place?", he asked. The sweeper blinked at his stature.
"You're on Docker's Road, sir.", he said. Twitch growled.
"I don't mean the street, you idiot. What is the name of this city?" The sweeper started to tremble. He stammered as he answered.
"Discordia, sir. This is the city of Discordia." Twitch let him go and the street sweeper fled across the alley. Twitch smiled.
"Discordia.", he murmured. "I've made it to the central city."
Twitch knew his quest had finally begun. He was to kill, destroy, and prepare the way for his father, who would bring death to the world and Twitch would rule by his side.. He turned on his heel and
headed northward through the main square and became lost in the crowd.