A surprise arrival on the eastern shore. Unseen and unheard by all but squawking seagulls, a bipedal creature trotted from receding waters. It raised its head and scanned the beach; empty, quiet, and unmanned.
He took his first step on alien land, graced by a freshly birthed day. A smile found itself on the creature’s beak. He puffed his chest and let out a laugh. He finally completed the first phase, but he didn’t let himself celebrate long. He wasn’t here to kill time.
“Huh?”
Time passed swiftly. Long ago did his feet leave the sands, now the sun hovered above the town’s head. The creature burst through a wooden door, finding himself in a busy shop. A shopkeeper immediately tended to the noise but shrugged his shoulders at the creature’s appearance. Very few paid heed, granting him inquisitive gazes at most.
“Who’s the boss around here,” the creature asked. And then all their heads turned towards him.
“Oh, it can talk? This one talks!?”
“Awesome! I never thought I’d see one who could talk.”
The creature wasn’t met with scorn but with awe and worship. He smirked, chuckling to himself and soaking in the praise, but it soon became overwhelming. He raised a flipper and commanded them to cease. Some listened, some merely toned it down, and that was enough to satisfy him. However, his inquiry went unanswered, so he took a few steps to the largest figure there and shouted.
“Are you the boss?”
“Hmm?”
It was a hulking man, but hardly taller than the rest. Despite this, the creature had to tilt his head all the way up to meet his gaze.
“You’re looking for the boss? They’ll be right behind the counter to help you, sir.”
“Ah-Ha! But of course! Thank you, stranger. This deed won’t go unremembered.”
“S-Sure.”
The man gently waved at him. The creature turned around, flippers to his body, and looked for this ‘counter’ thing the man spoke of. He found it only because he noticed a duo of people behind an obstruction. He shuffled to the obstruction– fortunately transparent –and hollered for the attention of the people behind them.
“You, human!”
“Ah, yes. How can I help you, Wise Familiar?”
“--?”
He cranked his head at that title but didn’t question its meaning.
“Yes, I hope you may have some information I’m searching for.”
“Information,” the shop owner mused while poking their chin, “well I don’t know what a flower shop will do for you, but I’ll help you as much as I can.”
“Excellent, I ask of nothing else. Now!”
He pointed a flipper at the owner, building the question as it left his beak.
“Tell me, purveyor of botanic novelties, where may I find a Soul Emperor?”
“...Bwuahahaha!”
It was not just the mouth of the owner who chattered with laughter, but nearly every customer who spied the shelves. The creature looked around with a raise of the eye, beyond bewildered at the sight. Their chortles weren’t mocking, but amused.
“What? Why laugh you all? What’s the matter?”
“Well, Wise Familiar, if it’s a Soul Emperor you’re looking for, then it definitely won’t be here!”
“...”
He thought deeply to himself as he tapped his head with his flipper. Of course, naturally, it wouldn’t be so easy. But something was amiss; a premonition within him told him it wasn’t time to go.
“Then maybe, where may I find one?”
“I’m afraid I don’t have an answer. They’re an elusive bunch. But y’know, people have been trying to trace them for so long that… maybe you’ll find a clue elsewhere.”
“Excellent. I thank you for your cooperation.”
“Sure, but don’t you want to know–”
And then out the shop he went. Not a creature of architecture, he had a difficult time discerning one building from another, let alone snuffing out their purposes from looks.
The streets were subject to his infinite scrutiny, but the people were different. They bowed and waved at him, despite never even exchanging glances. It smelled fishy to the creature, and he knew all too well what a fishy smell entailed.
But of course, he realized, that he shouldn’t have left that store so soon.
“But it is no matter!” Yes, it wasn’t. He yelled so while thrusting a flipper to the sky, gathering a mutiny of shocked and pleasant looks. “For, quite simply,” he continued, slapping his belly with the other flipper, “all I must do, is repeat the process.”
And the creature did. He entered the nearest building– he tried to, at least, but there was a door made of steel, and he hadn’t the biology to for such an advanced apparatus. But that was no matter! He moved to a different building– oh, another silver door.
“How odd. Is it perhaps poor fortune?”
He smirked. Yes, of course, poor fortune. He puffed his chest at his genius but was forced to deflate it fast. The next building didn’t have a blockade, but the person within it couldn’t offer the creature his desired service.
“But it is no matter!”
Had he tried to keep count of that phrase’s utterance, he’d have gone mad. And it was no secret that, just maybe, it was a matter.
The sun circled the sky and now set on the opposite horizon. It was one he couldn’t see, for a mountain obstructed it. But such a fact didn’t rob the fluorescent, sparkling hues of their viscera.
“But I have no time for such trite!”
Night would fall soon, and sleep wouldn’t come without a proper answer. The strategy of running through buildings like a checklist was too inefficient and tiring, so the creature conjured a new course of action: he’d be targeting odd buildings rather than all buildings.
Of course, determining what was odd or usual was difficult for a foreigner such as him. Yet, at the same time, some infrastructure was so outlandish that familiarity became nothing more than a needless luxury. He pointed his flipper at the first building that caught his eye. It was up the road, conspicuous in its location but not in its details. If the creature had to make a guess, he couldn’t, because he wasn’t a human. But if he had to, he’d say it was a place of business.
“Indeed. It must be so.” And that declaration was all he needed to move to the destination. He found himself before its double doors, boasting a clean and hardened surface, unlike any wooden door in the city. He put both his flippers forward, and–
“Woah woah woah! Now where did all this ruckus come from?”
His sense of urgency vanished upon entering. As expected, the interior wasn’t a lavish foyer, but a still posh, yet endearing room. There were men and women yelling and laughing with each other.
“Eh? The hell’s a penguin doin’ over here?”
A single fellow noticed the creature''s entry, identifying him with a title or name he hadn''t heard before. He pointed his flipper at the man and spoke.
“You! What''s a penguin?”
The man snapped his fingers and let out an “ahh.”
“I see. I was wondering why you looked so unusual. Well, Wise Familiar, a penguin is what us humans call animals of your likeness. Please, don''t let me bother you; enjoy your time at the Inferno Bar.”
“I see. Very well, I shall do just that.”
The man bowed with elegance, though that elegance was canceled by his dropping towel. The creature veered his attention to the atmosphere of the room. Loud and rowdy, but not chaotic. He noticed a couple of humans on top of circular chairs– stools if he recalled correctly. He approached them as they were beside yet another “counter.” He reckoned his desired information would be found there.
The creature struggled but lifted himself well enough to stand on the stool. There were two men beside him. One had a great, disheveled beard and damaged skin, but a stern look that complimented his features. The man on his right, however, was entirely cloaked. The creature thought of asking that man first, but he stopped just short of placing a flipper on him. Sighing, he shook his head with understanding. Though, considering the odd universal reverence he’d been receiving, maybe the man wouldn''t mind.
He didn''t linger on those thoughts, immediately pivoting to the man on his left. With a pointed flipper, he raised his voice.
“You there, human!”
“Oh, a talking Familiar. How can I help you, little guy?”
The veins in his head pushed against his feathered skin, but he proceeded without raising a fuss.
“I was only wondering if you may possess… information.”
“Information? Sure thing, but first, how about a drink?”
He tilted his head as the man called over a “bartender.” He was given a small glass cup that was quickly filled with a strange liquid.
“What is this?”
“Just some whiskey. What, you haven''t seen alcohol before, Wise Familiar?”
“Ah, alcohol. Your offer is appreciated, but I have no need for such beverages.”
“You sure? It won''t hurt you, and it''ll be lots of fun.”
The creature pushed the drink towards the man with his flipper. He sighed leaving the glass full as he spoke.
“Alright,” he said, letting out a satisfied breath, “what''re you wondering about?”
“Know you of where I may find a Soul Emperor?”
The man’s eager countenance sunk at the question. The creature patiently awaited a response, but the man just wiggled his glass, letting the liquid splash against the rim.
“That''s a damn fine question, Wise Familiar. But, before I answer: which one are you looking for?”
“It matters not to me. So long as I may meet one, that is all I care for.”
“I see, I see. Then, I just have one more question for ya.”
He put the glass down and straightened his posture. His head turned to face the wall before him, granting no eye contact during the inquiry. His gargantuan coat rustled with his movements, and he placed his arms off the countertop while giving the creature a sidelong look.
“What business do you have with them?”
With his flippers pushed against his oblique muscles, he bestowed a candid answer.
“I wish to kill one, and claim the title for myself–”
It was a bolt of a movement, telegraphed by the jerk of the man''s hands. At the very instant the creature put his period, a gigantic claw erupted from nothingness, gliding around the man and soaring to his beak. The creature was startled, but his surprise waned as he shook off the rust. It had been quite some time since an assault from a beast traveled his way. He let a sigh loose in his lobe and raised his flippers to intercept–
**CLANG**
But to his genuine shock, his movements were rendered null. The beast’s claw didn''t halt before him because of his ability, but from being caught on a small blade. An arm hovered over him. The creature turned his head to see his defender.
“What a shame. Couldn’t even sip my cider.”
It was the cloaked man to his right.
The sound of tumbling furniture blasted the creature''s ears. The bearded man made a messy attempt to step away from the cloaked one. He glared at him with malicious eyes, but confusion was betwixt his retinas.
“What the hell? Didn''t you hear that Familiar? What are you doing, defending an Accursed?”
“Killing a Soul Emperor? Yeah, I heard him loud and clear. So hear me now, Snatcher Jack.”
He brandished his knife to the man, pulling back his baggy hood.
“If you want to burn this one, then you''ll have to kill me first.”
“...Who the hell even are you!?”
The bearded man grew agitated. Another beast claw appeared from thin air, but its ubiety didn''t end at a single limb. A gigantic, burly, and chubby beast of fierce mein erupted from the blue. The creature shuddered for a brief moment because he recognized that for. far too well. The only difference was the change from white to grey fur, with golden tufts lining the body from eyes to back.
The Beast charged at the cloaked man with a reckless tackle. It''s speed requited its bulbous form. Nevertheless, the cloaked man evaded with ease by jumping on top of the counter. He ran across it, whizzing by the creature and leaping at Snatcher Jack.
Jack stepped away from the attack, but he was a hefty being himself. The cloaked man quickly followed with a thrust of his blade, but Jack blocked the attack with his forearm. A ringing clang came from their contact.
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“--A guard?”
The cloaked man quickly dashed to the side, avoiding an attempted sucker punch from the beast. The beast snapped at him with its jaws but narrowly missed his body. However, Snatcher Jack wasn''t the slightest disgruntled at its whiffed attacks. The creature soon understood why, because the beast quickly pivoted to attacking him.
He didn''t have the cloaked man to help him that time, but that didn''t matter.
The creature raised his flippers to the sky, and in that moment the beast’s charge slowed to a crawl. The attack wasn''t negatable, but it didn''t have to be. The beast’s face lost its savagery as the change of tempo computed. But by the time it realized to retreat–
**SMASH**
The creature smacked its face with his flipper, sending the hulking beast rolling across the floor. The creature looked up from its body at the patrons of the establishment– at least, what should have been the patrons. Save a few frozen souls, the area was vacated. It dawned only now, the sudden silence of the zone.
“Odd. Are humans not adjusted to beastly combat?”
*click.*
“Huh?”
The creature turned his head in response to the click. His eyes met with a cylinder of metal, attached to a strange frame the bartender held. He didn''t know what the device was, but shivers shot through his nerves regardless.
And he was right to fear it–
**BANG**
The thunderous sound made his head spin, but the creature didn''t whimper in pain like he expected. In fact, he wasn''t even on the stool, but on the floor instead.
“Huh?”
“Get the hell up! He has a gun!”
It was the cloaked man. He picked up the creature and ran across the room, sprinting for the exit. But he couldn''t finish the race in one fell swoop. He stopped at a table, chucked the creature to the other side, and flipped it over.
“GET THE HELL OUT OF MY BAR!”
**BANG**
Another boom rang through the room. The creature hid behind the table, gazing at the man with a conflicted look. He, on the other hand, was bewildered.
“I didn''t feel a bullet–”
“You,” the creature yelled whilst pointing his fin, “what is that device? Why did you tackle me? Was it to save me?”
The man gazed at him with abject dejection but tidied his look with a waving hand.
“Not now. You and I are in a life-or-death scenario.”
He peered over the table, quickly ducking as a “bullet” whizzed by his face.
“Nonsense. I could never die from these hooligans.”
“Well… you did give that bear a nasty smack. Snatcher and his Familiar are behind another table. Once I get rid of the sharpshooter, how about you do it again?”
“Hahaha! No.”
He prolonged his lower jaw and narrowed his eyes. The question he meant to ask, what the hell the creature meant, was obvious enough, but the creature hesitated with his reply.
“...My business with that beast is finished.”
“You don''t have a damn choice in the–”
**BANG**
The table recoiled after the noise, causing the man to push against the force. Splinters of wood burst from the other side. A hole the size of an eyeball was cleanly, or rather messily, carved into the appliance.
“That device attacks rather slowly.”
The man shook his head, “he just isn''t shooting it fast. You oughta be grateful. Even for you, it''d hurt like hell and send you flying.”
**BANG**
“CHRIST! RELAX, MAN!”
“I don''t see any moving! If you two need to quarrel, do it somewhere else!”
“...Just one small, problem, man.”
—
—
—
<hr>
The cloaked man peered over the edge of the table, catching a decent gander at Snatcher Jack. He was hiding behind a table opposite the room. He had retracted his Familiar, but the bear’s claw still hovered around him, poised to strike at any moment.
“If I make a move, then he does.”
He chipped the tip of a nail with his teeth. He lowered his head and stared at the ground, running through his choices. Two options came to mind, and though one was easier than the other, it would be a bigger pain to deal with the outcomes.
He looked at the Familiar, seemingly unbothered by the situation, but his lack of movement spoke to his awareness. He figured that the Familiar couldn''t move very quickly– he was a penguin, after all.
“Hey, how much do you weigh?”
“Hmm?”
The penguin tilted his head.
“How would I know? Does it matter? Do I look heavy to you?”
“I guess not, but all it takes is a couple of pounds, y''know.”
“...Are you planning on capturing me–”
**BANG**
“That''s your final warning!”
The man clicked his tongue and took a breath. He looked at the Familiar. He noticed his face was contorting, ever so slightly. Whether that was from the gunshot or the man''s plan, he couldn''t tell. He clicked his tongue and pinched his nose, preparing to spill a concept even he had gripes with.
“I’ll run an idea by you.”
“...”
The penguin eyed the exit. He didn''t have an arguing attitude, but his inner conflict was clear. Still, the man heard an answer he could rock with.
“Very well. You did assist me, so I shall listen.”
“Run to the exit. The bartender won''t shoot you if you''re leaving, and if that fatass decides to make a move, he''ll be gunned down.”
“Hmm. And what of you?”
“Well…”
He opened his cloak and reached into its pockets. Out came a device much like what the bartender held; a pump-action shotgun. Only, its barrel was cut short.
“I''ve got something that''ll make the job easier–”
“Why in all that is holy didn''t you use that sooner!?”
“Shh! Just go! Go!”
If the penguin had a human’s face, there would be an ugly, yet irritated grimace. But to the man’s luck, the penguin complied. He waddled to the exit as quickly as his webbed feet could take him.
“That''s one. And what of the others?”
The penguin reached the door, but he didn''t open it quite yet. He glanced once more at the man, who gave him a thumbs-up and an assertive nod. He could tell the penguin didn''t get it.
But nevertheless, he opened the door. Once he saw the thing leave, the man made his move.
He sprung from his spot right into the bartender’s vision. He was successfully startled but recomposed himself, then lost his focus again when he noticed the man’s gun.
“Moron.”
The man didn''t have a standoff with the bartender, nor did the man ever pull the trigger. Rather, the man raised the iron sights to his face.
“Hah!”
And then threw the gun directly at the bartender.
The barrel of the gun landed square on the bartender''s nose. He flinched and took a few steps back, clutching his face at where it landed. The man struck amidst his disorder. He kicked the bartender to the ground and snatched the shotgun as he landed. Immediately, he turned around and–
**BANG**
That shot didn''t send it flying, but it still stopped the bear in its tracks.
“See? This one has bullets!”
He cocked back the forearm and fired the gun again. That round made the bear roll over in pain.
“--Huh?”
And then, it vanished. He couldn''t pinpoint why until he heard heavy footsteps. He lifted his head to peer at the exit, catching Snatcher Jack mid-flight.
“Bastard!”
He raised the iron sights again and pulled the trigger. But, of course–
“Empty! Ack, fuck you, man!”
Saying his laments to a missed end, he tossed the gun aside and broke into pursuit.
Now, despite his frustrations, he wasn''t terribly upset at the circumstances. Certainly, Snatcher Jack would be able to catch up to the penguin eventually, but he was no world-class athlete. When the man burst through the bar’s doors, he expected to see that fatso a nary ten feet away from him.
The fatso was rather 30 feet away and on top of that even bigger bear of his.
“God, damn it!”
He watched the bear run for a moment, clasping his head and rubbing it furiously. He was just a man; no matter what, that bear would catch up before he did. That penguin looked powerful, but against a Familiar with a Charmer, it was unlikely he''d see the next morning.
“Guess I should just cut my losses. Damn it, and I really wanted to– ow!”
Suddenly, he felt a hard object dink his head. He clutched the spot and looked around, but failed to find where the rock came from. That was until he saw an unmistakable figure jump from the bushes.
“Your expression is pictorial. Are you shocked to see me?”
“...Alright, punk. Yeah, I am.”
He walked over to the penguin and raised his hand. The penguin looked at it inquisitively.
“Come on, you don''t even know what a high-five is,” he asked, slumping his hand back to his side.
“I do not, but I reserve no doubts that it is irrelevant.”
“If you say so. Come on, let’s get moving.”
The man took half a dozen steps from the penguin, then looked back to see it hadn''t covered a fifth of the distance. He pinched his nose and muttered “right” before picking him up and wrapping him around his arm.
“Hey! What is the meaning of this!?”
“You''re too slow, man. We need to get a move on; Snatcher Jack isn''t out of mind just yet.”
As he said that, he swiveled his head to look behind him. The Familiar wiggled in his grasp but lacked the strength to break free.
“Oh- this is ridiculous! Put me down this instant! I didn''t consent to your abduction! You and I have much to discuss before I go anywhere with you– why are you running!?”
His face was a stronghold, letting not a single hint of thought or feeling seep through the cracks. The penguin, bewildered, looked around to see what could''ve thrown him into such a state. It became obvious enough when he looked behind.
He quit his wiggling that was just slowing the man down, opting for a more encouraging approach.
“Faster, you mongrel! Are your lengthy legs so pathetic!?”
“Shut up or I''ll throw you at them!”
His insolence enraged the penguin, but he knew he was in no position to negotiate. In fact, assuming anger would be antithetical to his desires. But doing nothing still frustrated him, so he played the only role he possibly could.
“The Beast is gaining on you!”
“I''m already– at maximum sprint– dipshit,” he yelled between heavy breaths. The creature immediately understood the implications; all they were doing was delaying the inevitable. He wasn''t so crafty that he could make use of the borrowed time, nor did he have a tool to slow the pursuer.
With that in mind,
“Release me!”
“--At him!? You actually want me to throw you!?”
“Yes!”
The man clicked his tongue, but the penguin saw trace hints of a smirk on his face.
The man swiftly turned around while sliding against the pavement, lifting the creature and tossing him as hard as he could manage. Snatcher and his bear hesitated their approach if only because of surprise, but that curt break in momentum was all he needed.
Because, with both flippers on his sides, the penguin flew like an arrow into Snatcher Jack.
“Ahck”
Snatcher was dismounted. His plummet to the floor was unceremonious. The man didn''t have time to appreciate his fine aim, because the biggest threat was still standing.
He took a gander at the penguin, who had just dislodged his beak. He was laying down a barrage of blows on Snatcher, leaving him incapacitated, but it was a vulnerable position at best. The beast quickly realized what had gone awry and turned to face the perpetrator, growling in tonal depths that shuddered bones.
–The man couldn''t kill the Familiar, nor could he inflict any meaningful wounds. At most, he''d be a nuisance, and since this Familiar was so massive, he''d be about as threatening as a horsefly.
But he didn''t have to threaten or hurt the beast to get it to go away.
For the second time, he broke into a full sprint, whizzing by the beast who hadn''t a chance to accrue velocity. He brandished his butterfly knife and spun it like a toy.
“Heads up!”
The penguin heard the call-out clearly, hopping off Snatcher and tagging in the man. He snatched Jack by the collar and dragged him as much as he could a man his size. He spun around and fell to the ground, skating a few meters, and pulling the knife up to his throat.
The both of them faced the bear. It didn''t hold contentions, but the knife dug an inch for every one it moved.
“--Stop! Recall!”
The bear’s attack vanished with its visage; its golden strands fluttered against the breeze, like paper in its fluctuations, dispelling no serenity until the very tip warped in on itself.
The Familiar was tucked.
“Haaaa… phew.”
The man let out an exhausted sigh, but he didn''t allow his grip to slack. He couldn''t see Snatcher’s face, but the fumes of his rage painted a perfect sneer.
“So, will you kill me?”
“No, not unless you move. But, I will make you promise me something.”
“As if I''d–”
The knife dug in just one, tiny, bit, closer.
“Ack! Fine, fine!”
“Great. I want you to forget about me, and about that penguin, alright?”
“...”
“Alright?”
There was further silence. The man''s egging wasn''t reaping a reply, but he felt no inclination to subsidize his threat. The penguin inched closer to the two while Snatcher continued his obvious mulling.
“Did you see the way I flew? Oh, and how I held that furious beast back? My magnificence must have dazzled it!”
“Yeah yeah, sure. Anyhow, what do you reckon we do with him, little guy?”
A vein burst within his head, a response to the man’s dismissal, but it quickly grew in size when his words registered.
“I will not tolerate such trifling referrals. One more mistake will land a flipper through your chest.“
“Jesus, where''s your gratitude? And why are you so uptight? I didn''t even say anything.”
The penguin rolled his eyes, deciding that answering his first question was better than arguing.
“Ugh, allow me.”
He stepped closer to Snatcher. He put his flippers together and dragged them to the side, shaking them like he was ready to release a pair of dice.
“I can promise to forget you, but if I see you again…”
“--I get that. You have a grudge, don’t you?”
As he had no pair of dice–
“I don’t blame you one bit.”
He released instead a brutal swing.
Colliding with Snatcher’s cheek, the force was so great that the man flew a foot as well. If the penguin had smacked him the other way, there was no doubt Snatcher’s head would''ve glided right through his knife. He was happy not to see a fountain of blood on the street, but at the same time, he was not happy about being jerked so suddenly.
“Where the hell did you store all that power? I don''t see any muscles on you!”
“Fool, I have no need for muscles. It is all an effect of my imperium.”
The man stood up and brushed the dirt off his pants and coat.
“You need to be knocked down a peg. For someone your size, that''s saying something.”
He peered over to the body of Snatcher, needing to squint his eyes to see him well. The darkening evening didn''t help matters either, but he could see that mountainous fat of his move, so he was alive.
“Maybe I should call a doctor. Oh, but then they''d see my fingerprints, wouldn''t they?”
“What are you babbling about?”
“Nothing, nothing. Never mind what I said, you and I have some business together.”
“...That we do.”
The penguin straightened his posture. Sudden anticipation must''ve gotten to him, thought the man, but he could tell the Familiar was getting impatient. How would he feel if he was picked up all of a sudden? He’d be embarrassed maybe, but not spiteful and bitter like the penguin.
He quickly shook his head to escape his toyish self-distractions. The suspense was starting to get to him.
But first–
“How about we exchange names,” he asked, raising his hand yet again.
“Names? Frivolous, there is more pressing–”
One gander at the man’s sunken face said enough, how much of a washout he thought the creature was. He found himself wanting to retaliate, but among other things, was too tired to raise his voice.
“Your proposal ought to be generational. You may call me Pendgy.”
“The name’s Vin. It''s a pleasure.”
The two shook, one hand to one flipper. It was a preliminary rite, a soft induction into their propitious partnership.