Chapter 1 - Destro

Destro's eyes scanned across the sprawling display of extravagance that lay before him. Perched precariously upon a crumbling rooftop the eight year old youth looked down upon the rugged cobblestone street covered in sand below him. Wisps of Brown hair flitted deviously in the wind as he narrowed his amber brown eyes.The boy was clad in grey worn linen clothes whilst a black cloak rustled behind him. The aura emanating from him was raw and intense, if others were around they would definitely feel unsettled by the billowing pressure he was giving off. Muttering under his breath Destro cursed the people below him.

The very people he was cursing were five ancient old men who walked down the crowded street. Their skin was shrivelled and worn from many long years residing in the desert but none the less their crafty glittering eyes flitted around sizing up the surrounding crowds revealing a rather fierce intelligence. Behind them came a procession of both Beasts and younger men. Around two dozen young men strolled leisurely with their hands behind their backs, amiable smiles gracing their faces.

Their noble stature was only further promoted by the five ferocious beasts that followed in each mans wake. Metre long scorpions with carapaces blacker than midnight showed off insidious stingers that hovered in midair, swaying threateningly. These BlackIron Scorpions walked side by side with majestic crimson dogs that were at least two metres tall, they're fiery coats rippled with each step barely containing their power and might. These great dogs were RedDesert Mastiffs that prowled at the heels of the young men. There were even three BlueCloud Kestrels perched upon three of the men's shoulders, they sat up high looking down at anything they're eyes fell upon.

This arrogant and powerful procession strolled onwards to there base of power in the area. The Shakur clans grand manor located in the centre of the small town of Shuda. The town was called Drego until five years ago however in recent history the Shakur clan produced a Beast Taming genius which led to their prompt rise to fame and power. But only five years ago this prominent genius was felled in battle. In honour of the great talent the council had decided to rename the town to remember and glorify his achievements.

After the awe inspiring procession had passed hatred still burned inside of Destro's eyes. Slinking off the rooftop he made his way down through the ramshackle mortar building and out into the broken streets. Sand piled up against the houses on either sides making seats for the beggars who were wrapped from head to toes in sand encrusted rags. Rugged wooden boards filled the windows of the houses that had been turned yellow from the sun and sand. The poverty riddled streets could thank the Shakur clan for their current state. Because they're the local overlords they charged protection rates from the citizens of Shuda, claiming that if it weren't for them Shuda would've been wiped off the map by bandits long ago. Of course bandits and Dark Guilds were a problem however Shuda had enough military might to protect itself sufficiently, all the Shakur clan was doing was using its power to suck the towns citizens financially dry.

Therefore within the town there were two factions of people, the naive fools who thought the Shakur clan was like royalty whom only had their best interests at heart and those who weren't deceived and saw the wolf in sheeps skin for the wolf it truly was. Destro fell firmly into the second category of people. Destro had no clan and was the offspring of two beggars. His parents were cold individuals who showed little love for their only son. His mother had scarcely fed him until the age of four at which point they were framed for the murder of a lowly scion of the Shakur clan and executed. The only grace his parents had given him throughout his life was to kick him to the streets with two gold coins as the Shakurs clan men had stormed into their ramshackle hut, had he been affiliated with them he would of been killed out of the public eye.

One gold coin was worth a hundred silver coins which was worth ten thousand bronze coins. Destro had no knowledge of where his parents had encountered such a grand fortune, he was only thankful that his parents had left him with something before departing this world. A loaf of bread was worth ten bronze coins so logically if he ate a loaf of bread a day the two gold coins should of lasted for over six years. However foolishly the inherited fortune went to his head and he ended up spending a whole gold coin in just a year. At the age of five he had realised his error however he could only grit his teeth and regret his choices. So for the past three years he had lived frugally not spending on anything apart from food.

Digging his slender hands into his pockets he pulled out the meagre amounts of currency he had left, which amounted to fifteen bronze coins. With a sigh he placed it back into his pockets, showing wealth without sufficient strength was never a good idea on these streets. Without another word Destro pulled his cloaks hood up and quietly padded away.

Slipping through a few back streets and gaps between houses Destro hastily arrived in a decrepit market square. The few ragged merchants present had little wares to sell and even less buisness. Aside from Destro the only other patron of the square was a old man browsing the goods available. The reason for the frugal youths arrival at the market was because he had decided that having five spare bronze coins was of no benefit hence he decided to treat himself to a bit of meat. The only meat he had ever tried was the occasional burrower he could get ahold of, as well as a rare desert fox every now and then.

Strolling into the bakers whom also dabbled as a butcher Destro pulled down his hood and was met with a friendly nod from the baker. The room was divided into two by a large counter that Destro could only just peek over, behind the counter was a door leading to a storage room. A large man strode out from the storage room behind the counter as he heard the shop door close. Displaying beefy arms and a large stomach the man was enveloped with a deathly air however as his eyes fell on Destro that grim aura partially dissipated. Having come here to buy bread every day for the past three years the two had become rather familiar as one would. With a fluid motion the baker removed a large steaming loaf from below the counter and started to wrap it in paper. "Actually Jufer I came for your skills as a butcher today"

A flash of surprise ran across Jufer face before he recovered with a smile "What's the occasion Brat? You made your fortune?" Jufer knew exactly how frugal this boy was, during the past three years this boy had never bought anything apart from a single loaf of bread each time he came in.

Destro smiled awkwardly "I suppose you could call it a last meal of sorts" he replied slightly remorsefully.

Jufer narrowed his eyes as he heard that and sized up the kid with his eyes. He'd seen many people come in to buy food with that same remorseful smile and whimsical look upon their face, it was the look of a person who was resigned to the fact they probably wouldn't be eating anything else in the little remaining life span they had left. Jufer's heart had long ago calloused after seeing such a scene many times. However Destro had been giving him patronage everyday for the past three years in addition he knew the boys harrowing story. Knowing he was the only adult the boy came into contact with daily made him feel a slight inclination of responsibility towards this youth.

Weighing it up the beefy butcher let out a deep sigh before he tilted his head towards the youth "Wait for me outside brat" saying so Jufer turned around and walked back into the storage room. Slightly puzzled and bewildered as to what Jufer was doing Destro gingerly padded outside of the store to wait in the decrepit market square. Eight years experiencing a harsh life made the boy wary and tense but he waited, on the balls of his feet ready to flee but waiting none the less. After a couple of minutes Jufer walked out of his shop carrying a bundle of black cloth. It looked small in his arms however Destro knew it had to be at least half the size of himself.

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"When I was a youngen I had a mutt called Gret. Goddamn mutt was always causing trouble for me, nicking my stuff and fucking off or worse nicking other people's stuff and fucking off, anyways one night some bad types took me aside and started laying into me real good but just as it was looking pretty bad Gret came tearing down the alleyway and scared those bastards off. She got mashed up real bad though poor thing passed whilst nuzzling my hand. Had a soft spot for degenerate mutts since plus I ain't got no clientele looking for mutt meat. Take it, salt the meat good it'll last for a week or two" Saying so Jufer handed the rags over to Destro.

The bundle of rags shrouded a prone figure, all Destro could see was a red paw hanging out the side of the rags. Speechless Destro could only stammer his thanks to Jufer and hastily handed over his fifteen bronze coins. Smiling sincerely Jufer accepted this meagre amount as if it could cover the price of the item he had gifted the young man. They both knew there was clientele for any type of meat in Shuda and a dog carcass as large as this could go for at least fifty bronze coins. Grinning from ear to ear Destro sincerely thanked Jufer three more times before he hefted the bundle upon his shoulder turned and departed the square. Jufer watched the figure fade from his sight before turning and sighing to himself "Your getting to soft and senile Jufer"

Sweat soon broke out on the young boys brow as he carried the carcass that was as big as his upper torso on his shoulder to the outskirts of the desert town. Soon he had exited the town but still he carried onwards into the desert. For two hours the boy trudged onwards in the blistering heat becoming entirely caked in the sand that was flayed and whipped by the scorching desert wind. Rivulets of sweat cascaded down his forehead however after two hours of constant walking a rocky outcrop covered in lush vegetation came into view atop a great sand dune. Rejuvenated the boy picked up his pace and soon arrived at the rocky outcrop.

The town of Shuda was like all settlements in the desert founded around the discovery of a water source. This water source was a great rock twenty metres tall that stood atop a sand dune. Crystal clear water leaked from the north facing side of this porous rock which had eroded out a giant rocky pool that collected this crystal clear water, moss and vegetation grew among the rockery surrounding the pool turning it into a veritable oasis. The towns founding citizens originally built there settlement directly around this oasis however the founders records tell of a fearsome Beast Rider who came with his great Beast and told the original settlers that he would reside quietly in this oasis, however he would not impede them from taking water from the rocky pool. Being in awe of the venerable master and his Beast the citizens had relocated their buildings five miles away from the oasis and set up pipes that carried the water from the pool to their settlement.

For a few hundred years this was the arrangement and everything was in a symbiotic harmony. However a mere twenty years ago Shuda Shakur found a great freshwater lake below the towns people's feet. So they abandoned the oasis and dug deep wells to draw the water up from the great underground lake below them. Just like that the man made pipes around the oasis fell to ruin and the solitary rock gained its previously lost tranquility. That was until Destro chanced upon it whilst tailing a desert fox out of hunger. As soon as he set eyes upon the tranquil land he decided he would reside here, out of the town and away from the poverty that besieged him and many of the other citizens.

The rock that Destro had finally arrived at was indeed the oasis Shuda's founders had built their first settlement around. Using the meagre decrepit remains of the piping system Destro had been able to make a small hut beside the great rock. It was a beautiful view Destro mused to himself as he approached his hut. The solitary lone rock stood tall and proud against the yellow sand background whilst to its right was an iridescent shimmering pool of water practically circular with a diameter of twenty metres. The pool was framed by lush moss and vegetation that grew like grass around the edges of the rocky pool. However the thing Destro found the most strikingly beautiful was the small hut he had erected. Corrugated iron served as the roof whilst bits of piping functioned as the walls. Cyan rags cascaded down the front of the hut serving as the door. The piping used as walls was arranged in a way that gave the huts roof a slight lean to the left. Destro had arranged it in such a manner after his previous roof collapsed upon him during monsoon season, the flat roof had accumulated to much water, the roof not being able to bear the weight had fallen directly on him, both squashing and drenching him.

Reaching his living quarters he hurriedly slipped inside of his makeshift home. The standing rock was used as the back wall of his hut whilst on the floor was a brown rag he had laid out. The hut was constructed in a square shape with each side being about two metres long, a pile of linen blankets in the right corner served as Destro's sleeping quarters whilst all of his worldly possesses were placed on a makeshift shelf to the left. Items that had caught his eye were placed here. A mess of roots that had entangled and strangled each other, a large blue tinted egg, the two foot long horn of some Beast, a sparkling rock that glittered luminescently and the small skull of a lizard type creature. Each were objects that Destro took great delight in studying and admiring, especially true of the luminescent stone.

A rare smile graced his face as he walked into the home he had made for himself, placing the carcass down gingerly on the floor he took out a rusty iron dagger from underneath his blankets. The edge of the blade was blunt and dull however it would still serve its purpose. Unwrapping the rags from the mutts body Destro happily mumbled to himself "A Dog skin would certainly look nice on the stone wall" after finally unwrapping all of it Destro looked at the animal in the tattered ruins of its previous glory. The dog was at least a metre in length, probably a metre and a half if you measured from tip to tail. It had a graceful curved snout with small ears that obviously were permanently stuck in the air, long slender legs were attached to a broad chest and slim wasit. Adorning the dog was a black coat that could've once been beautiful and glossy but was now all tattered and covered in sand, rusty red splotches of fur were distributed throughout the dogs coat.

Remorse flashed through Destro's eyes upon seeing such a beautiful creature dead, however it's body would sustain him for at least two weeks maybe a bit longer if he ate sparingly the remorse was replaced with glee upon such thoughts and Destro went to move the carcass outside. However his hand froze as he touched the dogs midriff.

Faintly ever so faintly the dogs chest rose before falling again, as he saw his food for the next week breathing an incredulous look appeared upon Destro's face. "It's not dead" His jaw fell with the realisation.