Chapter 002: Chance Encounter

Author: WolfSpatial

Editor: None

[Some things are so unexpected that no one is prepared for them.]

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Sebastian perched himself on a tree branch, overlooking the bandit camp from a safe distance. The camp was a sprawling collection of rough-hewn wooden buildings, tents, and makeshift shelters. The bandits had set up a crude palisade made of sharpened poles to protect themselves from outside threats. The bandits moved around the camp with a sense of purpose, some were sharpening their weapons, others were mending their clothes or armor, and a few were gathered around a fire, discussing their next move.

He noticed that the bandits had a variety of weapons at their disposal, ranging from rusty swords and axes to more modern firearms. Some of the bandits had armored vehicles, which they used to move around the area. They also had tools like hammers, saws, and other equipment that they used to maintain their weapons and vehicles.

The main building in the camp was a large wooden structure that seemed to serve as the bandits' command center. It was here that the leader of the bandit group, a ruthless and cunning man, was planning their next move. Sebastian could see him through the window, surrounded by his lieutenants, poring over maps and discussing strategy.

Sebastian watched the camp for a few more hours, taking note of everything he saw. He knew that this information would be vital in his plan to gain resources, knowledge, and power from the bandits.

As the sun began to set, Sebastian waited patiently for nightfall. He watched as the bandits finished their preparations and settled down for the night. He licked his fur unconsciously, then stopped, realizing that his new form might be affecting his mentality. He couldn't help but wonder if he was becoming more animalistic and if he would eventually lose his humanity altogether.

As the camp grew quiet, Sebastian decided that it was time to make his move. He crept down from his perch and made his way toward the camp, taking care to stay hidden in the shadows. He moved with a cat-like grace, his enhanced senses allowing him to navigate the darkness with ease.

He approached the main building, and listened at the door, trying to hear what was being said inside. He could hear the bandits' leader, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, talking to his lieutenants. They were planning to raid nearby villages, looking for resources and new recruits. Sebastian could hear them discussing the villages' locations and defenses, and he knew that this information could be useful to him. He made a mental note of everything he heard and the map of the camp, and then slipped away unnoticed to sit back on his branch.

Sebastian didn't care about the lives of the innocent, he was only interested in furthering his own goals. He knew that he could use the information he had gathered to his advantage, and he would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. He would bide his time and wait for the right moment to strike.

Sebastian waited until everyone was asleep before he made his move. He crept back into the main building, where the leader of the bandits was sleeping. He crept towards the leader's bed and absorbed him, taking on his form. He looked at himself in the mirror and saw that he had the leader's rugged features, but with his signature blue eyes and black hair. He began to experiment with his new body, testing his strength and dexterity.

He noticed the furnishings of the room, an old wooden desk in the corner, a bookshelf filled with maps and ledgers, and a small table with a lamp on it. He picked up the lamp and examined it, noticing that it was made of a metal that he had never seen before. He set it back down and continued to explore his new form.

As he was trying to get used to his new body, he heard a noise from the door. Sebastian knew that he had to act fast. He quickly transformed back into the form of the cat that he had absorbed the day before and hid behind the desk. He could hear the bandit shouting an alarm and calling out for the other bandits to come and help. He peeked out from behind the desk and saw the bandits running around, searching for their missing leader.

He could hear them calling out the leader's name and asking if anyone had seen him. But no one had seen him, and they all assumed that he must have been kidnapped or killed. They searched the building and the surrounding area but found no trace of their leader.

Sebastian knew that he had to keep a low profile, so he climbed up onto the windowsill and lay there, pretending to be a normal cat. The bandits didn't give him a second glance, and he was able to slip away unnoticed. He knew that he had to be careful now, as he had taken on the form of their leader and could be recognized by anyone who knew him. But for now, he was safe and could use this opportunity to gather more information and resources to further his goals.

Sebastian made his way back to the village, his mind racing with all the information he had gathered. He knew that he had to be careful now, as the bandits were on high alert and would be looking for their missing leader. He needed to lay low for a while and gather more resources. As he approached the village, he saw that the people were still asleep, so he snuck into an abandoned building and transformed back into his cat form. He laid down and closed his eyes, letting the exhaustion of the night's events wash over him.

He slept soundly until the morning when he was awakened by the sound of a young child's voice. He opened his eyes to see a small child standing in front of him, looking up at him with wide, innocent eyes. The child was about six years old, with curly brown hair and a dirty face. He looked up at Sebastian and said, "Please, protector of our village, my mother is very sick and I don't know what to do. Can you help her?"

Sebastian knew that as a cat, he couldn't help the child's mother, but he also couldn't respond to the child. He saw the child's face fall as he understood that Sebastian couldn't help and the child turned and walked away, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

Sebastian watched him go and felt a twinge of sadness, he couldn't shake the feeling that he should have done something. He lay there, lost in thought, feeling the weight of his new form and the responsibilities that came with it.

Sebastian stood up, stretching as he lept from the wooden chair that he had slept on. He landed on the soft pads of his paws and moved limberly out of the abandoned house.

Sebastian made his way back to the bandit camp. He knew that he had to be careful now, as the bandits were on high alert and would be looking for their missing leader.

He arrived at the camp, staying low and avoiding detection. The small frame of his form and the agility it granted allowed him to sneak into the storeroom unnoticed. He quickly scanned the shelves, looking for something to help the child's mother. He found a pouch of medicine and grabbed it in his mouth before sneaking back out of the camp and making his way back to the village.

He swore to himself that this would be the last time he did this for the village, as he would need to leave as soon as he got what he needed from the bandit camp.

Sebastian padded silently through the village, the small pouch of medicine clutched securely in his jaws. He made his way to the small dwelling where the boy lived with his sick mother. Sebastian dropped the pouch at the boy's feet, and with a soft meow, disappeared into the shadows. The boy opened the pouch and found the medicine, tears of gratitude welling in his eyes.

With his task complete, Sebastian set his sights on the bandit camp. He made his way back through the village, carefully avoiding detection. As he approached the camp, he could see the bandits moving about, their laughter and jeers carrying on the wind. Sebastian waited until nightfall when the camp was quiet and most of the bandits were asleep.

He crept into the camp, his cat form allowing him to move silently and evade detection. He made his way to the storeroom, where he helped himself to whatever supplies he could find. He gathered food, water, and other supplies, stashing them in his slime body for safekeeping.

With the camp ransacked, Sebastian turned his attention to the journey ahead. He knew he had a long way to go before he reached the airport. He would have to make his way through cities, towns, and rural areas, avoiding detection and surviving on his own.

As he traveled, he encountered various animals and people. He avoided human attention, sticking to the shadows and staying out of sight. He hunted small animals for food and drank from streams and rivers. He passed through cities, marveling at the technology that was so different from what he was used to. He saw cars and trucks, buildings reaching for the sky, and neon lights illuminating the streets.

Through it all, Sebastian remained focused on his goal. He knew that he had to reach the airport, and he was determined to make it there no matter what. As he journeyed through Egypt, he could feel the weight of the past and the possibilities of the future pressing down on him.

As Sebastian made his way to the airport, he came across a private jet on the tarmac. The jet belonged to a man named Harrison, a wealthy and mysterious figure known for his cutting-edge technology and scientific advancements.

As Sebastian approached the jet, Harrison stepped out to inspect it. His eyes fell on the small grey cat. He paused for a moment, studying the creature. It was an unusual-looking cat, with striking blue eyes that seemed to sparkle in the sunlight. Harrison couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity. He turned to his steward, "Bring that cat on board with us, would you?"

The steward looked at him, confused. "But sir, it's just a cat."

Harrison smiled. "Yes, but it's also a reminder of the beauty and simplicity of nature. And who knows, perhaps it will bring us good luck on our journey."

The steward nodded and walked over to the cat, scooping it up in his arms. Sebastian, in his cat form, didn't resist as he was brought onto the plane. Harrison watched as the steward placed Sebastian on one of the seats, the cat immediately curling up and making itself comfortable. Harrison couldn't help but smile, amused by the creature's behavior. He shrugged and walked to his seat, taking the seat across from Sebastian.

As the plane took off, Sebastian opened his eyes and looked around. The inside of the private jet was luxurious, with plush seats and polished wood paneling. He could see Harrison Wells sitting across from him, typing away on his laptop. Sebastian felt a sense of unease, he knew he needed to keep a low profile, but the man didn't seem to be bothered by his presence. Harrison looked up and caught Sebastian's gaze, "Don't worry little one, you're safe with me."

Sebastian understood he needed to be careful and not attract too much attention.

He ordered a bowl of milk for Sebastian and watched as the cat lapped it up. Wells, being a man of science, was fascinated by the cat's unusually calm behavior. Putting away his laptop, he spent the flight observing Sebastian, taking notes, and making sketches of his observations.

As the flight progressed, Wells ordered a cup of tea and set up a chess board with magnetic pieces to pass the time. He played a game against himself, the chess pieces clacking against the board as the jet flew through the sky. Sebastian watched curiously, his eyes following the movement of the pieces. Wells, noticing the cat's interest, set a rook piece in front of him.

Harrison watched as the cat looked up at the rook, his blue eyes studying the intricate design. The cat then looked back at Harrison, and the scientist couldn't help but feel as if the cat was trying to communicate something to him. Harrison picked up the chess piece and moved it to another spot on the board, testing to see if the cat would react in any way. Sebastian simply blinked but made no move to interact with the piece. Harrison couldn't help but feel a little disappointed, he had been hoping for some kind of reaction. He shrugged and went back to his game, leaving Sebastian to nap in the comfortable chair.

[A/N: Thanks for reading. Let me know if I missed anything or you have any suggestions. As always, I don't want your damned Power Stones. Have a great day.

Join the Discord: [discord.gg/PawRYvp]

~Wolf out.]