With almost feline grace, Yomir shot across the empty glen, keeping low even as he trudged through the snow. He felt himself fall into a trance, the pain and hunger and desperation washing aside as a much greater force took over... it was predatory and potent and he embraced it thoroughly. The world fell away and only shapes and obstacles remained and he knew how to do what he needed and did not care what it would take.

Power boiled in his limbs and he unleashed it with a level of unease, nearly tripping despite the trance, and tossed himself towards the wall. The impact sent purest agony through his still bleeding back, but he ignored it as best he could, focusing on climbing with a skill...

He clearly lacked.

'Clearly not all aspects of physical survival come naturally to me after all.. hehe..'

The thought lasted for a moment before being swept aside by the intense concentration that had beset him once again, and soon he found himself over the wall only to slip on a harsh patch of ice. The wind was agonizing as he fell towards the ground, his poor back screamed in pain... but despite that, he managed to force himself to land feet first. He slipped to his knee, ignoring the cold as he attempted to recover from the agony.

Slowly, very slowly, he managed to rise again and slowly slunk behind the nearest structure, aiming to hide and escape the sudden sense of exposure that overtook him the moment his pain began to dull. Whispers carried upon the wind, of Urgals questioning the sounds they had clearly heard in at least some capacity. The cold of the night dimmed their light, their heat enough that he could barely trace their path. With urgency he managed to rush towards the next house, using the momentum of his sprint to leap into a slightly open window.

'Clever, clever boy.' Fear and cold beyond reason slithered into his mind the moment he landed softly in the Urgal's home as the voice from his nightmare returned. 'You are learning faster then I anticipated... perhaps you will prove worthy after all.'

"No! I..."

Pain and greed slammed through his heart next, leaking from the monster in his head. 'You will be whatever I want you to be, my dear Yomir. I own you, never forget that.'

"I DON"T-" Turning on heel, he grabbled his temples and attempted to rush out of the damn village, sprinting past a dim fire place, only to slip on a something. 'Please, get out of my head!' The words echoed through his mind, insiting only laughter from the monster that lived in his soul.

Pain and darkness exploded from his forehead and sleep took him once more, forcing him to return to the void within, where that beast lived.

'Not so clever afterall… still, I cannot hold your fear of my power against you, can I? It is natural for one such as you to fear one such of me, even if you do not remember who or what I am.'

In his mind in the void, Yomir shivered as the words slammed against him like the wind in the mountains… only, this time, there was no shelter from their sapping frigid power.

'Please... what did I do... why are you doing this?' He only expected mocking, cruel laughter and vague answers that did little to really help him.

The world changed, the empty void exploded into color and suddenly he was sitting in a cell, chained to the wall facing a terrifying man. Taller then most with blood red hair and eyes, his skin had a nasty sallow tint. Everything about him seemed to be sinking inward, his skin, his cheeks, even the light around him. Like his very existence sapped the world of it's light and purpose, as if to sustain himself he had to take from all others. This was only matched by his black and red cape which seemed to flicker and flap on it's own, almost as if it was alive.

His cruel smile, decorated with fangs, only served to emphasize this unnatural, predatory, parasitic presence.

"Hello, Yomir." His voice had changed, losing it's whispery aura and taking on a much stronger, fuller presence. It was no longer an echo, like someone screaming from miles and miles away. The sounds was rich and almost velvety, firmly grounded in reality. "It has been far too long since you and I have truly looked upon each other."

Shaking and terrified, Yomir managed to bark out. "I don't even know your name... and I didn't even know my name until you told it to me."

"Ah yes, that... I am afraid that was my doing... as for why... well, it doesn't matter for the moment." Leaning down, the man pressed a long, boney finger against Yomir's forehead, it was beyond agonizing. Threads like lightning shot through his consciousness and he could do nothing to stop it, collapsing fully when Durza released him. "There... that should clear a few of your questions."

"What are you AHHHHHHHHH!" The same agony bombarded him as it had before but this time it was accompanied by tiny flickers, like fading embers, dancing across his vision.

He saw a boy, small and frail, shivering next to two adults, both missing various limbs and pieces of flesh. The women, who stood to the boy's left, was missing her right ear and a section of her bottom lip and yet she still seemed in charge, carrying herself with the same haughtiness as any noble bitch. Behind them was an odd collection of buildings, tall

"As you ask for, Lord Durza." With her right arm, which ended as a stump, she shoved the small boy forward. "He is honored to join your service, as we all are." Her smile was an unnatural sort of thing, and it left Yomir terrified even if the image didn't seem to focus on her for more then a moment or two, shifting itself towards the boy with unnatural clarity.

Wearing only a pair of trousers, everyone one of the boy's ribs showed in contrast to his distended belly. His hair had been shaved off, all of it, even his eyebrows. There was no hope in his eyes, only a clear terror that came from one who knew exactally what evil it was about to face.

The image shifted, as if kneeling, and an all too familiar voice spoke to the boy. "And what is your name, child?"

Said child shivered and barely managed to look into Yomir's own eyes. "Yo... Yomir, M'Lord."

The image faded, and he saw the man he now knew as Durza, smirking at him with insanity and excitement. " Do you see? You and I have been well aquainted for... well, many years by your measuring."

"I was a slave... you bought me...is...is that right?" He kept his words low, almost a perfect replica to the sound his younger self had made. "Why are you doing this?"

Durza just hummed for a moment. "I admit, I never intended for you to end up on the mountain... that was an accident, I was... distracted by other pursuits. I never expected you to survive as you have, so callously murdering others to sustain your own needs... it was too much for me not to enjoy. Be proud, so few things can reinvigorate my interest once I have decided to cast it away. Now, wake up little bird, there is much you need to accomplish if I am going to allow you to live."

As if his words was backed by the same power he stole, they slammed into Yomir and lifted him from the void and back into the waking world.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a fun chapter and I think it really showcased just what Yomir actually is... his story is actually quite interesting.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.