I feel myself beginning to awaken. My consciousness rising up from the depths of sensation-less oblivion. I have survived and that sure was quite the high. Definitely the richest sensations that I have ever felt, not that I really have gotten to feel much cooped up in the palaces and at court. Most of my body is simply warm and minor pinpricks of sensation from sharp rocks and debris in the small crater that my body left in the asphalt, Who builds with asphalt anymore, it's downright primitive! but there is a more intense feeling in my left leg and I stir. I lift my head and this damp dark brown mat of hair falls in front of my face. I try to figure out where it came from before remembering that I had set my form to human as a precaution. It's so hideous compared to my normal gold and I frown internally at the human form my body decided on even as I finally turn my head to look back at my legs. 

Quite a curious creature is perched on my left leg and digging claws and teeth into it. The damage is minor and quickly healing as I watch, curious about it and enjoying the sensation as I continue to gather my thoughts. It is very odd, my bestiaries of earth life did not include this creature. It is small and only about a foot tall and shaped like a human only with red skin. The hands have claws and the mouth is full of sharp teeth. As much as I don't mind the sensations I have to admit there is something sickening about another creature consuming me and I kick with my leg.

I'm not strong really, my first trial didn't give me any extra strength and neither did the fall and I haven't done anything else on my harrowing. But my kick still sent the creature flying with a squack of surprise. I see it go splat against a building and feel some satisfaction. "Eat that fugly red thing." I declare and smirk as I extricate myself from the crater. Then I notice the chattering and squacking sounds coming from around me and I glance around slowly and a smile grows wider on my face.

Perched on walls, lamp posts, signs, streetlights, parked cars, and even some corpses are hundreds of the little creatures. And as I look at them they all turn towards me and silence falls. First I let my body revert. I definitely don't need to wear a human disguise for this, and I really don't like it all that much. Then I strike a pose and gesture to the creatures. "Come and get it." I call out and laugh as the things charge towards me. Some are flying, others are hopping or scrabbling along, but they are all coming.

I kick at the first couple to reach me and send them flying, but then the tide sweeps over me and they climb up my body in a biting and clawing horde. But as they bite and claw I just tear them off one by one and revel in the feelings. Still there are a few more than I think I can handle before my regeneration will be outpaced. Even as they keep sending ripples and flashes of sensations through my body I examine myself, looking for what feels different and then smiling. I grab one of the red midgets and use its own clawed hand to slash across my throat.

I feel a hot flash and creature screams and tries to pull away from me. It is so strange that other creatures recoil from sensation instead of embracing it. But I do not let it pull away and force the claws deeper, cutting across vessels and severing key components in my throat. It's a marvelously unique sensation as you choke on your own blood but that's not the goal and as the damage reaches a threshold my body erupts with great heat and radiation emerges in a pulse.

I spit the blood from my mouth as my throat knits back together and I release the scorched remnants of the creature. Around me there is only dust and scorched bodies from the creatures. I feel triumphant, but at the same time I know that there was no trigger in that. I have not gained anything in this conflict and since I'm in harrowing it is essential that I gain things. 

A loud roar of rage catches my attention and the ground beneath my feet shudders as something else draws near. It definitely seems more like it should be able to trigger a change than these crimson pygmies and rather than fleeing from the shaking I walk towards it. I know my eyes widen as I see the source of the shaking. I curse the foolish person who made the bestiaries for earth. I could understand that he'd miss something small but missing a monster like this? Clearly a case of neglect.

The thing towers over me, at least up the fourth level of windows on these strange boxy buildings that the humans seem to prefer. It has scales and a long pointed head. It almost looks like a creature from the human myths I had briefly browsed. What was that creature called again? A dra, dar, drag, drag something. Its huge eyes sweep past me to focus on the charred pygmies and then back to me as if making a connection. I simply smile and laugh as the thing opens its mouth and vomits forth fire.

I make sure to take a deep breath as the flames pour over me and draw the flame inside. I learned how invigorating that burning heat felt during the fall and I'm not about to miss it. As my skin crackles and burns and my golden hair goes up in flames I feel myself changing. The fire begins to dance around me instead of burning, and while I lament the loss of sensation I embrace the fact that I have become stronger. I thrust my arms out and the fire begins to race off of me and push against the other flames still rushing out of the creature's mouth. But while it can breath flames, I can control them and in seconds all the fire is flowing back into the thing as I seemingly can generate more myself. 

The creature's eyes begin to roll with panic as it starts to bloat, but it does not flee and simply redoubles its efforts. I do not relent and continue to force fire into it until finally the great beast simply pops. An explosion of fire and charred bloody chunks of flesh erupts outwards and washes over me. And upon my face is etched a smile of triumph.