A Parasite and a Bear

[Seto]

All that I knew is that there was a bear, man, bear-man. A fight bear I even dare to say. It was trivial really to find myself skulking around where I don't belong. What was the true essence of belonging or not belonging anyway? Here on this planet I wasn't bound by their laws. Futile really to one such like myself a Shratar. I leave a dark green trail of slime behind me as I inch closer and closer to one of the passersby of the Citadel. I stalk my prey with the subtle tactics of a Concordian Viper.

I slide stuck to the bottom of the registration desk of the Citadel. I can hear the man whose leg I hover over talk to the contestants as they fill out the required paper work in order to join. Sorry friend today is not your day, like the goop I am i dripped onto the pant leg of the monk just as he pushed back his seat and rose. Today wasn't about this poor man though. No Seto wasn't hear to bond with just anyone; he wanted the colossus. Merely hitching a ride on this unsuspecting man to get close enough to the man of the hour. If I've timed it correctly this man should be bringing me right to him in the last arena of the hall. That was where he was taking all challenges.

But as luck would have it, my carriage and myself were not alone. Following close behind was the competitor who registered for the fight, what a poor son of a bitch doesn't even have any clue. With a small hop I leap into the contestants boot before stretching to engulf him. I do this subtly as not to disturb my host. If he doesn't notice me until I'm done then he can't fight back. Quickly I ooze my way up his leg and over his arm then his mouth. He couldn't even scream before gagged him and continued to walk him forward myself. By the time my greenish black biomass engulfed his limbs he couldn't fight back even in the slightest.

The monk I now followed stopped short of the large looming archway of the arena with one hand ushering me inside. By now I've suffocated this boy, and he is nothing more than a body I worked like a puppet. To say he was dead would be false, he was more in a state of uncontiousness that facilitated my biomass to operate him with relative ease. I force him to nod before passing though the entrance.

The arena appeared as a maze of building like the lower quarters of Radasanth. Shadows were cast on every surface and only faint light of oil lanterns were present on every corner. I was perplexed on how I was to go about locating this man bear but was damn sure I wanted to eat him.

[redford]

John popped into existence among the deep brown buildings of downtown Radasanth, in evening by the looks of it. There were candles and oil-lanterns dotting the winding cobbled streets. He smelled the night air, cool and almost crisp. A man stood, a little on the tall side, down the road about fifty paces, shrouded in shadow. He was already walking toward John, who bent his knees a little, sliding one foot back as he grew spikes at his knuckles, covering his chest and legs in the shiny substance.

His opponent's gait was strange, and as he drew closer, John raised an eyebrow, then both, his blue eyes widening in surprise.

It was a man, to be sure, but he seemed to be covered in....something else. It looked to be a clear-ish tarlike substance that flowed and oozed around his body. John thought it thoroughly unnerving, and considering what he'd already seen in the citadel, was quite a thought to have.

The giant raised a hand, clinking a metal finger against his chest.

"I am John," He said quickly, settling into a defensive stance. Studs formed at his knuckles.

[Seto]

I start to drip on the cold cobblestone of the street as I lurch my puppet forward. In the shrouded distance my prey has appeared. Shivering with anticipation my mind is set on the collosus, he would be the perfect meal. My puppet's mouth starts to foam as my ooze now starts to consume him completely.

Like any predator I hunt my prey, but what makes the Shratar unique are their methods. Preferring to the constricting style used by the many snakes of the land we suffocate our prey. In my puppets palm I start to form a blade of my biomass, simply a diversionary tactic. This man isnt one to fall to a mere blade.

As the brute of a man announces himself I can only force a gurgle out on my puppets. Which was natural due to my species inherent lack of speech. In truth I couldn't understand the man if I wanted. A shame really, the only true communication I am capable of is with my host via telepathic link. Odors were the only way for the Shratar to commune without bonding.

Then without warning I leap but not toward the man, that would be a death sentence. Instead through a side window into one of the conjured buildings. Inside it was a very sparing layout with little furnishings. A table in the middle of the room with the off hand chair or two. Quickly I force this body to perch itself on the table as I wait. With knees bent and his body in a hunched position my ooze starts seeping onto table as it now fully consumes the man. His jaw now drops to reveal a sharks mouth worth of fangs and a long twisting tongue. From his back two whip like tentacles of biomass begin to trash violently. Original blade still firm in hand waiting for the man to run in so that he may squier him.

[redford]

John grunted, refusing to follow the oily man through the window. It was bait, and he knew it. The giant walked a few paces down toward the shop, spying his form dimly through the now-broken window, blade in hand formed of the same stuff that covered him.

A thought, unbeckoned, came to him as he pondered a strategy.

What if he's like me?

The thought stuck with him as he approached the door into the place. His eyes darted this way and that as he considered the possibility that he wasn't the only one who had abilities like that.

Curses like that, he reminded himself as he raised a massive foot, kicking the door in.

The door flew, off the hinges, through the room and skidded to the ground, bouncing on the opposite side. The man stood on the table in the center of the room, the blackish green substance coating him thickly, extending in tendrils on his back and a blade in his hand. He called out.

"Hey!"

His opponent, perhaps comrade, turned. John grew a blade out of his own metallic armor, shaping it to be like the one he saw. The rest of his armor came up to coat his body. He didn't like the height of the room, it was just too low to stand in, but if he bent his knees he was good.

"What are you?"

[Seto]

The door slammed against the wall with a powerful thunk. The giant walks in with armored to the shoulder. Before reworking his metal in much the same way I control this form. John, John. I can't allow myself to forget that. What exactly is a John?

The most alluring thing about the giant was his confidence. The tales of a metal clad warrior undaunted on a journey of triumph drew me like a parasite. I could already taste his cosmopolitan of adrenalin and various chemicals just thinking about it. I turn my head slowly looking over me hunched shoulder.

Simply intoxicating, compared to this worm of a boy I was puppeteering. Two gray patches appear in place of eyes as my tarlike form begins to solidify slightly. Let's have some fun! Just then I back bend off the table and with my tentacles I fling it towards the giant.I move like a feral beast as I dive into the thick shadows cast from the faint outside.

I let out a spine twisting screech, one higher pitched than the northern Harpies. From the corner shadow only my lashing and thrashing extremities can be viewed before receding. There I sat as calm as I could, it proved to be a challenge. I begin to shiver with violent anticipation, exilerating.

If I could only speak to you, I would tell you I was happy to meet you. That I was in search of a home and that I was a useful friend. But I can't and im sure it would take more than words to convince a warrior. I just need to touch him to make him understand. My creator didn't teach me much beyond my vial, but i do know I'm not long for this world without a true host, a partner.

I lurch and leap out of my hiding place with ooze saber in hand at the giant.

Please understand.