Jordan swirled his head the the voice behind him.
A squat and sweaty figure, given the stream rising from his shoulders, waddled up thr knoll. The double glint from the moons' residual beams blinded Jordan, as the the comb over did little to break the patterned baldness that had stopped shy of the head's earlobes. And though the way was dark, Jordan could still make out the scant beard that covered the lack of neck on the hurried figure.
"Out here playing sick again, are ya? You're lucky to have a job at this point. You think anyone wants a weak, spineless wimp like you?"
Weak? Spineless? Jordan's brows drew into his face. His new body might be a bit willowy, but he was not going to take that from a pig bellied bastard he just met , and weak? Jordan eyed the silhouette near him. The body was round with short limbs, and from the labored breathing, one not accustomed to extended activity.
Just brush it off. "I think you have e me confused with someone else. Piss off. Im not in the mood for company."
The man fused and pulled an illuminated stick from his back side, "You've got guts. But I'll make you sorest ass in came by tomorrow morning. Now get over here now!"
Jordan looked back and glared.
The man stumbled back before regained his compose. Before he had only been bluffing, his prize was hard to come by especially in the company he kept. Still he was a noble and to have a nameless lout talk back to him was more than he could bare. Good looks could only take a person so far. He would have to train his new pet slowly and diligently.
The man snapped his wrist and tendrils spring out. Each individual whip had glowing sparks the ran up and down. It was the man's favorite training tool. The whips was good for punishment. And a a torch it could light his path, but was also slender enough for other activities.
Jordan hardened his glare as a sick grin spread a cross the man's face. Maybe this wasnt the best time for a squabble. But crouching into position, Jordan felt a need to let off some.
"Crawl over to me right now, and I'll only whip you for a little while."
"Or else what, fatty?" Jordan countered.
The pot bellied man let out a frustrated snarl, "Do you wish for death?"
Jordan smirked. "Keep talking shit, and its you who won't survive the night."
Having lost his patience the offending man snapped his whip and stalked toward Jordan.
Jordan rolled up to a standing position. Every signal in his body confirmed he was in no condition to stand his ground. And truly he held no longer anger, as it was clear he was a long way from Earth and his former problems. But it didnt matter what body he was in, Jordan Mitchell Evers was no spineless weakling. And given the glint and drool coming off the man's mouth, Jordan wasnt too keen on finding out the man's intentions.
There were 4 meters between them. That'll do. The former athlete thought.
The youth rolled back his shoulders testing his torso flexibility. Though nothing compared to what he had, his current body had a decent amount of strength for one decisive blow. And with a quick twist of his hips, Jordan charged. In four strides he made it to the man. Without anything to grip, a fisted punch was a poor choice. So he opted for a cupped hand to the man's temple instead.
"Arrg!" Like any human, the eardrums and temples were sensitive to sudden attacks. The round man dropped to his knees craddling his head in his hands as the agony shook his core. His tool had fallen and lost its light. But Jordan didnt move in any closer. Any opponent can fake a server injury then turn the table when you drew too near.
Everyone has different thresholds for pain. The temple, regardless of species, is going to stun anyone. But Jordan sucked his teeth in disappointment. He anticipated a few seconds but the man was still rolling on the ground like he'd been kicked in the groin. Jordan flexed his new hand. His veins didnt rest against the surface of his skin like they used to. Sure his strike was effective, but Jordan could it wasn't that strong. So either he was over powered without having to put forth much effort...or this man was punk.
However, then unknown man's appearance had helped Jordan clear his head. Though limited by night, the moons' light not only gave hints on his and the stranger's clothing.
There was a clear distinction between the simple cloth that hung on Jordan's body that had clearly been made for a larger body. The clothing, outside if the stain Jordan ha e given it early, was clean. It clothing felt soft enough to be better and basic cotton but not the left of silk or velvet. Jordan just realized he wasnt wearing pants at all. Just the oversize tunic and some sort of skir...Ahem, kilt, of course. He could fell the breeze way between his legs. A secure strap of leather kept his clothing secure and the size made Jordan uneasy.
Lost to the man still rolling on the ground, Jordan sucked his teeth again. The man's own garbage looked to be somewhat ornate with stitching and multiple layers of shirts all tucked under his belly into a pair of paint that were equally ornate.
It didn't take much to surmise that Jordan was wearing the man's hand-me-downs. Jordan sighed heavily. He was keen on walking about naked. Surely in any realm, public nudity was frowned upon.
The fact t or the matter was, the man he'd just attacked held some sort of authority over him. Yet even so the Evers pride had been pushed in him too deeply. Even his grandfather had only dropped him once. No way was anyone going to beat him. Especially not a solid thinking pig bellied bastard with no hair.
The man had stopped whined, Jordan checked his pulse. The side.of his head was swollen, be he was alive. Jordan felt satisfied. Though he felt perhaps saving honey for flies was the best option. Now he'd have to wait to gain information form who ever else came along.
Then again why wait? This lug isn't gonna do me any favors.
Jordan squinted towards the direction the man had come from East. Again, he wasn't sure how he knew that. As Jordan trudged along, he took stock of his senses as taught to him by his greatgrandmother.
"The earth speaks to us. The wind, the flora and the fauna it shields. They all tell stitches of what we needs. You just have to listen."
The wind felt cool, but the air was tepid. If he was on Earth, that would mean it was in the middle of a season change, from warmer temperatures to cool. Combined with the light clothing he had and the lack of over coat on the knocked man, Jordan didnt expect temptress that would uncomfortable shoukd have have to sleep outside.
He breathed deeply. The air was clean, carrying the scents of foliage and fauna. Jordan knew, not just sensed, which animals were nearby. Rodents and things akin to basic forest dwellers. The grass on the ground was low but not sparse. Typical of clearing near a forest and with no nearby water sources about ground. This area at least deoended onnfrequent raint to thrive.
Jordan looked to the forest. The trees were thick with dark barck, but the tree coverage allowed moonlight to pass through. And given that it was the same direct the stranger had come through, that direction seemed his best best for getting some answers. The area had common sound of night light in the trees. There was little to fear even in a foreign place.
But as hr began to walk through the woods Jordan began to fear yhe air of familiarity. Not with the forest itself, but his process if navigating, as if it was the most naturak thing in the world. He knew the best path to avoid the tree roots that playfully waited for unsuspecting toes. Jordan's heart beat faster as he felt an incomprehensible understanding of this new world.
The wind that continued the blow through eased his anxiety as questions formed in his mind. He knew he was headed in the right direction. He knew that there were different herbs that he step over that he could use for most basic ailments. But none of the herbs were like those that head seen on earth. They could have existed, but Jordan new these were distinct. In fact, the way the herbs held an almost ethereal glow gave Jordan the impression these herbs might not be found elsewhere.
Against his better judgment. Jordan began to collect them. After just the petal or leaves, then finally opting for the whole root. Luckily his skirt...erm, kilt, had plenty of pocket space. Still he chimed himself. You in the middle of a forest in a world you've never seen. Now it not the time for souvenir collection. But that didnt stop him. Especially as help continued to walk passed other clusters of the same plants he had tried to ignore.
Jordan gave into his urges up rooting then all. He reason that as walked further ahead there were any other plant to gather so he had accomplished his goal. Jordan sighed and trapped the knot on a tree. The bark was a thin sap on top. Jordan scrunched his face. The sticky sweet aroma was familiar. Jordan shook his head. How could tree sap from another world be familiar?
In any event he needed to focus. He had already be walking awhile and as he could no longer see now foliage, he assumed he arrived to a depth of the forest where other had already scavenger what was available, then the recently dug portions on the ground around the path.
"OK. Let's be logical about this." Jordan paused and gripped his throat. In the dark his eyes widened and his breathe hitched. His voice. His basic, but well developed manly voice was gone.
"T-testing 1, 2.." He paused again. It came to his attention that even when bickering with the stranger before, his voi e had sounded off. But Jordan assumed his voi e cracked vsuse it was the first time speaking in this body. But now. I sound like a girl. His hands rest on hips and a realization set in.
Jordan felt a dread creep in as his hands slowly felt around his torso. It was a bit fleshy. His fingers twitched as they reached lower and tapped above what should have been well defined abs. Instead a softness and made a lump rise in his throat. Jordan inched his finger toward the meeting of his thighs. He quickly ripped the fabric up above his waist and leaned over his hips to inspect. Jordan released the held breath.
"Hey Lil buddy." OK all hope is not lost. He was still a man...though of smaller stature he had to begrudgingly accept. Not that he had any prospects at the moment, but his pride took a hit as he realize he was no longer as visibly impressive as he had been before. At least according to Leah.
Jordan shook his head. "We'll check that further later. There are two moons in the sky. If this were earth there bee wide spread panic. The oceans would be affected."
The forest he walked through had grown calm. Certainly if two moons in the sky were abnormal, every the animals would be anxious. "The oceans, animals, everything would feel the change. But it seems this is the norm. Fuck...we aint in Kansas anymore, Toto."
Jordan winced at the softness of his voice. He remembered being a 13 year old with changing vocal chords. Avery's voice had had a smooth transition. But for him it took almost 2 years for the random squeaks and dips to even out. But now. Jordan had the ill impression that his voice was a permanent feature of his new body.
One that is not without recognition. The man he'd slapped knew him, even if for disgusting reasons. The thought of being reborn into someone else's body hadn't occurred to Jordan.
Or maybe his memories hadn't caught up to him. Either way, he needed info fast. His experience in middle reminded him of all the WuXia and transmigration series he had read.
1. He was no longer on Earth.
2. His sense were for keeper than they had been before
3. Only his mind or soul had transferred, not his body.
4. .... Jordan paused on his mental check list. 4th he had attacked the first person he came upon.
"OK. Maybe not the best introduction." It wasn't like rude greetings were the norm on Earth too. Call his teammates limp dick or jackass had been form of affection. Getting called by you name, albeit surname, was a way of distancing yourself.
Still given the way the bother man had walked up to him, it wasnt inviting. Sure it took Jordan grading him for the conversation to take an illicit turn; but Jordan knew yhat man's ilk. Jordan felt the same false superiority from Avery's lackeys. People that couldn't stand on their own, but basked in to power of other to make themselves seem important. That man wasn't someone to be fear. Just a paper tiger that bit the fire.
Jordan nodded his head. With his resolved strengthened he continued to recount what he already knew.
4. Even with this weakened body, he could talk down a full grown man
5. His body was not as impressive, but healthy.
Jordan rolled his shoulders and took exaggerated steps, testing the flexibility of his joints and tendons. He had to give this new body credit. It make not have the honed appearance of a D-1 athlete, but it was capable. Jordan was certain he could run 5km without too much issue. His eyes trailed over the trees that lined the barely visible forest path. He knew he could hop up a few trunks and make it to a lower bough if a predator crossed his path. Hell. I might even whchow! Kick its snout right off. Bring it on!
Yet all at once, Jordan could feel the liveliness of the forest shift. The fauna hadnt fled but he hadn't heard a crickets chirp or nocturnal birds call. And usually if the forest was quiet that meant a large predator was nearby. Jordan felt his neck hairs stand on end. He felt watched.
But he kept the same pace. His feet nimple over the underbrush, each foot fall barely disturbing the pregnant quiet of the night. Jordan focused his senses on any stray sound that could help him avoid danger. Yet, though he could feel the steady gaze of something, it gave no indication of engaging; at least Jordan hoped.
And all at once he stopped. 50 meters. Jordan hadn't been walking long, but it was far enough to determine if he was walking in the right direction. And his sense tugged at him. He had been so caught up in gather new plants and thinking, he hadn't realized he'd been walking in circles.
His gaze swept over the forest floor and the sturdy tree trucks. The moons' beams broke the tree covering with ease. Though in the depths of the forest, Jordan's vision had not been sacrificed. He could see just as easily as when he had been in the clearing.
I might not be on earth...but that. Jordan sharply turned himself to the chill he felt on his spine. There was nothing behind him. Not a stutter rodent or even falling leaf.
Jordan snorted and rubbed his neck. It was just the winds chill that had startled him. Jordan sighed. Even the wind had an eerie quietness to it.
Jordan's eye closed and he felt his heart skip a beat. He slowly opened his eyes and stared down the way at the forest floor. Even the wind is...silent? His eyes squinted. It wasn't a torrent, but even a gentle breeze should cause a few leaves to tremble. How could blades of forest grass withstand the force of the air's movement.
Jordan hmmed to himself and began to walk back to the direct he was heading. He kept to his previous pace. He bit the inside of his cheek, suppressing the urge to whistle. It was a theme of seemingly inconspicuous to whistle as if one had no care in the world, but the words of his greatgrandmother, then only person in his family that believed in him echoed in his mind.
"There are beings older than the salt of the sea. They wait for you. In the dark corner of a forgotten alley way, at the edges of clearing. Their eyes hungry and always watching and waiting. Do not stare. Do not answer their call. And never call out to them."
Jordan back then nodded along as his other relatives dismissed their aging matriarch as senile. She still followed the old ways before man had conquered their region. He remembered his aunts jeering and singing light hearted songs on the porch late at night. Greatgrandmother would take the children that she could with her and sit in a closet with a single handmade wax candle, giving each a red bead for protection.
Jordan grimaced. He never assumed that the unfortunate happenings for his once thriving family were due to disbelieving children testing their grandmother's words.
He always thought it was just bad hand. But what had started from his own birth as a family of several grandchildren, end with just him and Avery as male heirs and a few granddaughters that were soon "sent away" for marriage. It almost made the last few years of his life comical. Maybe curses were real, and all the curses his mother and greatgrandmother had dished out had final taken root.
That didn't explain why he was here. He may not go around chant to the ancestors and blowing smoke over everything, but he took his greatgrandmother's warning as gospel, well before coming here. How was he to know the damn rules applied?
The dread in his mind pricked at forgotten warnings and descriptions of what happened to those that awakened slumbering spirits. Greatgran'sstories never did paint them in a positive light. She said dont test them. But Jordan also remembered that thickest would use people feature to materialize as something greater. Fear is what supposedly gave them more power.
Jordan felt the urge to call out into the darkness. He wanted to confront them and draw them into his sight, face to face. And yet, there was a tugging at his core urging him to resist.
Yet, the further Jordan walked, the ability to resist grew weaker. Something felt off. More than just being in an unfamiliar place. His ears strained for sound outside of the blood rush in his head, but nothing came. His eyes were open and seeing, yet how?
Humans dont have night vision. And why does that tree look familiar? No not familiar. Jordan was certain he had passed the same tree with the same knot 4 times. Dread brought a cold sweat to his back. He wasnt just walking in the circles. He was on a fixed loop. Tracing the same path ever since he stepped into the forest.
Why could he not have remembered his grandmother's word sooner? He would have never stepped in this forest in the first place. He shouldn't have attacked the first human he saw. He shouldnt have been wallowing in self pity for so long.
Avery. Leah. His grandfather. His parents. They were all gone. Earth was outside of his grasp. Survival is what mattered now. Yet very time he lost focus, he kept recounting his regrets.
Jordan didnt know who or what he was up against. This wasn't a simple cougar sighting or crossing a bear. Whatever was in the forest with him had the upper hand, and Jordan had served himself up neatly.
He kept walking. He knew he was psyching himself out. Whatever demons his grandmother wisdom had cautioned against. This was a different world, right? Doesn't that mean you have no defense? What will you use a stick?
Crack.
Jordan's yelp caught in his throat. His heartbeat thundered and his breath stilled. His eyes darted around, before falling to the ground.
It was a stick. Just a small stick. Jordan swallowed a dry portion of spit. It was the first stick he had seen since entering the forest.
All the confidence he'd had about manipulating his new body to ensure his safety melted away. He was being played with.
Still Jordan didnt move. He breathed slowly and wiped his hand on his face as he waited for his heartbeat to slow down again. The beats were no longer rushed, but he could feel the spread of adrenaline. Every survival instinct was telling him to run. Even if he failed, he had to try to get away. But run where?
Jordan eyes glared at the stick. Sure with a lighter maybe could make some ash and build a ward around himself until morning. Did this place even have a morning?
Jordan gripped his shoulders and the slapped both cheeks. No. Dont do it. Focus on the now. Focus on what you can do, right now.
Jordan still glared at the stick. It wasn't thick or long enough to even count as a weapon. If he had transmigrated with his own body, at least he would have his lighter wnd knuckles. THINK.
But even with a flame, with such a small bit of wood, what good would it do? Jordan slapped himself again.
But there was no way he could survive. He was alone. Had he stuck with the other man, at least the two of them could have four their way back. 'Or maybe you could have left him to die in hopes of escaping. But his already gone. For such a thick body. Not very satisfying. '
Jordan's head shot up as him felt the same chill down his back along the side of his head. He slapped his face again. Harder this time. Both his face and his hand stung.
True his had been slipping into negative thought about his situation. But that last thought hadn't been his. He would never..not even if it was Avery, leave someone to die, especially not in his stead.
'Not satisfying all all. You look very satisfying'
The voice pierced through his own thoughts. It's here. It knows where I am. Shit. Think, stupid. Do something.
Enjoyment. He couldn't hear it. But Jordan knew what ever was prey on him, it was enjoy his fear and his struggle. Could it hear it thoughts? Or was telepathy the way it communicated?
Jordan swallowed again. He knelt down and picked up the broken twig. It was dry on the outside, but Jordan could smell the moisture that was still inside.
'A mere twig can do nothing.'
Jordan bit his lip until he drew blood. He didn't have a way to make a spark. But he had his memories. He remembered, faintly, his grandmother's words.
"Life is our strongest weapon. The blood that runs in our veins is the strength of warriors. Generations or our people that survived against the creatures in darkness. As long as our blood is alive, they cannot stop us."
Jordan had assumed the old woman had meant the modernization of the region. Perhaps the matriarch was aggrieved at how her own son had greedily given and supported the corporate conquering of the once forest lands that became industrial parks.
But her words had carried a heavy intention. And whenever his greatgrandmother predicted a outcome it came true.
"Blood carries power. You dont need much. Those who spill in excess are drawn to darkness. But just enough can bring even the tallest mountain down. Remember..."
Jordan spat on to the exposed grenade of the trigger and recited, "The blood of our people never wanes. It simmers and shines even in the darkness!"
Jordan stood with a starting lip and the twig in front of him now slightly pink.
His face warmed and he almost dropped to a squat. It was like those shows where the unlikely tried the stance for the ultimate move in front of the crowd only for nothing to happen.
He here was betting his life of the probably confused ramblings of a senile old woman, whose mind was stuck in the era before industrialization.
Jordan had tried to use blood magic and feat he had never learned from his great grandmother, and in a world where he already knew the rules were different. Jordan didn't feel foolish. He felt dumb as hell.
He sigh and couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry. What did you think was going to happen? Jordan shook his head. He was just a little jumpy. Surely this was just a nightmare and he'd wake up in his bed, hung over and ready to face the consequences of the previous night.
Jordan sneered at the twig in his hand. He really needed to grow up and stop hoping for the impossible. Without care he threw twig behind him and moved to continue on. Whatever was after got a free show, he wasnt going to linger. He needed a solid plan.
Bam!
Jordan fell to the ground and shielded his head after the fact. "Fuck!" He covered his mouth and raised up to look around. He obviously was too convinced his great grandmother been wrong, what if it came for him now And what the fuck is THAT?
Jordan's eye grew wide and his jaw dropped up. It was a fire. And not a small one. The flames crept over and out of the space where the twig had dropped.
Jordan gripped the ground beneath him. The flames didnt spread up the trees or over the forest floor. There was a figure, something Jordan believed could only exist in myths and his greatgrandmothers warnings.
Naming it didnt matter. What matter were the yellow pupils against the black eyes that had locked on to Jordan. He could see it was in pain, afterall it was being burnt alive. Jordan felt the weight of the creature's.
Never call out into the night. Don't make eye contact.
Jordan gave up thinking and delved into the deepest reaches of his cerebellum. Run.