Isamu has a minion!

the Hayt

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In the earliest of days, Sun and Moon waged a terrible argument over whose cosmic rays had a greater impact on the lives of Subeta's many inhabitants. Nowhere were the effects of this argument more strongly felt than in the land of Shengui Guo. Sun's blistering heat evaporated the water needed for growing the critical rice crop so many relied on for food. Moon's bitter replies caused enormous tidal waves that destroyed homes and threatened even the mighty Bathhouse that had stood for many generations. The citizens of Shengui Guo cried to the stars to mediate this awful spat before they would be forced to leave their beloved island and seek their fortunes elsewhere.One star alone couldn't hope to draw the ears of mighty Sun and Moon but all of them combined made quite a clamor. Why waste your resources in fighting when the two of you combined could create a being of such epic might that both of you will prove now and for all time that you are indeed the wisest and most powerful cosmic forces in the entire cosmos?

So Isamu was born.

Sun is his battery. He charges by day, lapping up the sun's rays as a regular tigrean laps cream. The more energy he absorbs, the darker his skin and the more powerful the glow of his manes and tufts. A creature of fire, his pyrokinetic powers allow him to ignite a flame with one subtle flick of his tale. Spontaneous combustion of any object is mere child's play. He can grace a fire with greater heat or absorb the heat from a wicked flame that seeks to burn where it is not welcome. He can even transform his body entirely into flame...and vanish.

Moon saw this glorious creature, so heavily bestowed with gifts from Sun, and was displeased. She had little say in Isamu's appearance and powers but his might would be at her command. From the pale rays of her body and the darkness of night, she shaped the companion that could enhance Isamu's powers tenfold. The catlike creature that follows in the great tigrean's wake is Hayt, a living shadow he is capable of duplicating one thousand times. She and her copies are shadowhunters that feed on the souls of the lost or the cursed.

It is not for them to decide right or wrong, only to uphold the natural balance. A small fire started by a careless cook might kill a whole village. Isamu will absorb the flame and Hayt and her sisters will work together to harvest the soul of the careless one. True justice is truly blind. The loyalty of Isamu can never be bought, though if an offering is pleasing, he may cast a blessing on a house to keep it charmed against fire for the span of one year.

He fears nothing, for his very name means Courage.

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The thieves moved through the forest with velvet-soft steps, eyes darting left and right. The one to the rear would shoot an occasional glance over his shoulder.

It had been almost too easy to steal from the shopkeepers of the Floating Market. Their packs were bulging with jewel-encrusted combs, fine silks and dragon pendants with jade eyes and silver scales. They'd had decent luck in the Sacred Lands and made a particularly bold score in Centropolis but never had they found such easy pickings for so little effort.

They weren't the sorts to study up on local legends.

Much to their sorrow.

Isamu slunk through the trees like a savage shadow, keeping the heat he'd stored all day down to a dull simmer.

He flashed into the open like a vengeful star fallen to Subeta. That first vision of his flaring mane and long canines had all three thieves shouting in terror and reaching for blades that would prove useless. He was too fast, too strong and far too cunning for the likes of these simple bandits. The first felt the bite of claws packed with all the fury of a raging inferno. He did not even have time to register the shadows moving in.

The second was their leader, a dragarth of mighty strength and no small amount of courage. He had faced down temple guards of the highest strength and best training. Little could make him cringe.

A nightmare face out of a sudden burst of flames did the trick.

Isamu took his time, playing with this would-be tyrant as a cat sometimes plays with her prey. Isamu could sense all the misery this particularly bandit had caused, all the lives he had ruined. A quick death would not serve, not when there were always a thousand mini-tyrants awaiting their opportunity to spread a little more evil in the world.

Hayt and her sisters circled the combatants, waiting until Isamu's opponent inevitably fell. His last cry was one of sheer horror.

The third bandit had long since abandoned his part of the treasure. He fell to his knees, begging for his miserable life.

Isamu found the display disgusting but his objective had been met. A flick of his mighty tail branded the third thief's cheek, forever marking him as a threat to peace. It did not do to take life where such a sacrifice was unnecessary. Let the coward live, let him spread the legend of the great defender of Shengui Guo's borders.

Isamu's flames dwindled back to the dull furnace glow of coals merrily glowing on a winter night.

Then he vanished.

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Story by Pureflower

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