Welcome back to Dragon's Torment. Last time, Dragnarok faced down a monster based on his friends and fellow Element Guard members, and managed to face it down and reclaim some of his abilities. Now our hero is out of the hospital and back on the streets. So, what happens next? Read on to uncover...

"My friends turned into my enemy. This world must really want me to suffer if this is happening to me. Is this a nightmare? It feels too real for that to be true. These burns and scars attest to that. But as well, it just can't be real. Nothing here seems possible, it all seems too bizarre. Am I going mad?"

(Our story resumes outside the initial building of Alchemilla Hospital, with Dragnarok emerging from what looks like a storm cellar entrance, revealing we're back in the normal misty world of Silent Hill.)

Dragnarok: (Looking out to the streets) Well, that was interesting. Well, time to press on. And just hope we're getting out of here soon.

(And as usual, No pops up at this point)

No: Don't be too sure, hero guy.

(As Dragnarok ignores No, Serpens returns)

Serpens: I've only heard stories of your combat prowess, but that was better than any tale ever told! Watching that was like poetry in motion!

Dragnarok: Thanks.

No: (Realizing this) I know your here, you know.

Serpens: Was I that obvious?

No: I can sense you, you know. (To seemingly no one) And I know you two are listening in!

(With that, two new voices emerge)

?: I told you this was a bad idea!

?: Come on, he's not mad. (To No) Right?

No: I'm not angry, I'm just surprised all three of you are here. (Realizing Dragnarok is still here) Well, introduce yourselves! No names yet, because that'll spoil everything.

Deca: Just call me Deca.

Astra: And I'm Astra.

Dragnarok: Now there's No, Serpens, Deca, and Astra in my head right now?! I must be going mad!

Serpens: Nobody said we were in your head, dude.

Dragnarok: (To himself) Yep, I'm going mad.

(With Dragnarok already teetering on the brink of madness as it is, you can see why he thinks he's going crazy. But as he ruminates on his apparent madness, he continues through Silent Hill's streets, and trying to ignore the cacophony of voices these four are providing, he narrowly avoids bumping into another chained monster and setting it off to attack him.)

Dragnarok: (Whispered) That was close...

(With No and company now shut up by the near miss, Dragnarok continues to stealthily sneak his way through what looks like a field of those monsters, trying to avoid startling them at all costs. But as they reach the end of this trail they are on, they see their path is blocked by a large crowd of the monsters, completely obstructing any way for them to get through.)

Dragnarok: (Whispered) Great. Now we're going to have to find another way around.

Deca: (Noting something) There's a forest over there.

(With that, Dragnarok looks over to a clump of trees, and the terror on his face is clearer now that it has ever been.)

Dragnarok: (Truly terrified) There has to be another way.

Astra: It's just a bunch of trees, man. It's not like there's something in there that's going to kill you.

Dragnarok: (To himself) Apparently you don't know the legends...

(Now we flash back to Dragnarok as a younger drake, about 7 or 8 maybe, being watched by a teenage Fear dragon, about 16, who may look rather familiar)

Younger Leroy:(Seemingly startled by something) You've never heard of a Tailypo?

Younger Dragnarok: No.

Younger Leroy: Oh boy, that explains a lot! No wonder you want to go into the forest at night! You don't know what dangerous beasts are lurking in there!

Younger Dragnarok: (Now noticeably scared) Dangerous...?

Younger Leroy: Let me tell you. A Tailypo may look like your average cat, but they aren't. You can tell because even though their fur is black as night, their eyes shine like the moon. But you had best not provoke them, for their claws are razor sharp, and will cut you to pieces if you provoke them!

Younger Dragnarok: If...?

Younger Leroy: Yeah, Tailypos are normally docile, unless you mess with their tails. In fact, I can recall a story about an old farmer who learned that lesson the hard way. He lived on the edge of a forest where those beasts nest, becoming quite a nuisance to him, always stealing his crops or slashing his livestock. One day, the farmer caught one by the tail, and it came clean off. The Tailypo left, and never returned, or so the farmer thought. Rather than leave him alone, the Tailypo he wounded began to stalk him mercilessly, patiently waiting, silently preparing. Until one day, while the old farmer slept, the Tailypo snuck into his barn, lured him in there with it's cries, and slit his throat with it's razor sharp claws!

(With that complete, we can see the terror on the younger Dragnarok's face, but Leroy isn't done yet, as the look in his eyes gives away)

Younger Leroy: They say that same Tailypo still wanders the woods to this day, still looking for it's missing tail. (Looks out a window to a nearby forest) And those woods outside look pretty familiar.

(And with that cue, a Poison dragoness in a black cat mask with paper in the eye sockets jumps up at the window, scaring this younger Dragnarok to the point of him screaming at a very high pitch, garnering a laugh from Leroy)

Younger Leroy: Perfect timing, sis!

(As Leroy continues laughing, the dragoness in question takes off the mask revealing herself to be a younger Sizzle, about 15 I would say.)

Younger Sizzle: (Amidst a bit of laughter herself) Ah, don't take anything he says seriously kid. The Tailypo is just a myth, invented to... well, scare kids.

(With that little flashback concluded, we return to the present, where Dragnarok is, begrudgingly, walking through the nearby forest.)

Serpens: (Noticing Dragnarok is slightly scared) Come on man, it's just a forest! What's the worst that could be in here?

(As if on cue, as soon as Serpens says that, faint scratching can be heard in the trees all around Dragnarok, as a pair of lights emerge, followed by many more, all later revealed to be eyes)

Dragnarok: (Quietly) That...

(As these eyes are revealed, the clicking of razor sharp claws moving across a surface can be heard, freaking Dragnarok out even more, and he's not very good at hiding it)

Dragnarok: (Quietly and quickly) Got to get out of here, got to get out of here. Watch out for the tails, watch out for the tails...

Deca: Is he always like this?

No: Not usually. This is more terrified than I've ever seen him.

Astra: Bizarre, isn't it?

(Dragnarok is probably the most panicked he's ever been right now, thankfully, these cat creatures are higher up in trees than their tails are long, so Dragnarok should have nothing to worry about right? Wrong. Just as he's about out of the woods, literally, one of these creatures drops down from a tree and startles him, eliciting the same shriek as from his youth, but with the added reflex to punch the threat, accidentally knocking it's tail off.)

Dragnarok: (Seeing the tail fall separate from the creature) Oh no...

(With that, the little cat beast leaps up in Dragnarok's face, razor sharp claws at the ready. As Dragnarok dodges, he does get a few nicks and cuts from the creature, but ultimately just turns around, picks up the severed tail, throws it at the creature, and flees the forest screaming. And as he does, the rustling of trees transitions into the rustling of bushes, as we join Rokko and Twirl, out canvassing the nearby woods, looking for any indication their leader was here, calling out his name as they look. Looking beyond them, we can see many other parties doing the same. And on the sight of them, our tale ends for now)

And that wraps up today's update. Looks like we got a little peek into Dragnarok's childhood in this one, where we learn how he actually met Leroy and Sizzle, and that the two are brother and sister. So, what's next for our intrepid horror traveler? Tune in next time to find out. Same time... same channel... same horror...