Chrysalis

“Something strange is happening,” Zluth said, his voice burbling as if rising from the depths of a particularly thick bog.

“Oh?” Shozzl replied, not particularly interested.

Zluth continued to operate the array with his numerous, spindly limbs as he leaned closer to the readout.

“Many of our monsters are being lost under D-6. Too many.”

“Which mountain is D-6 again?”

“It’s next to D-5.”

“I know it’s next to D-5, you slimeless stooge. How does that help me?”

The fierce, primal anger that dwelt within all his kind boiled up in Zluth now, hissing within his slug flesh. He suppressed it. Those who surrendered to the rage too often soon found it became more difficult to resist. It was hard to find a role within the tribe when one had a nasty habit of biting off the heads of one’s partners. And those without a role were meat for the pits.

“D-5 is claimed by the tree, huccop,” he spat, a thick wave of mucus overflowing from his mouth. “Remember now?”

eyes that had previously drooped on the end of

now, she defies

subtly turned one stalk to monitor his partner. She was getting a little too heated, and a little

investigate,” he deflected, folding away the device and sliding it within the folds of his protective layer of

“I won’t,” Shozzl declared.

herself to sink back into the bubbling acid pool. He cursed. Of all the Krath he could have been partnered with for ranging, he got Shozzl, the most

don’t, I will be forced to report your lax attitude to

acidly, the gas that emerged along with his words would have melted a human face in

as you are digested within the bowels of the Blubbeast, perhaps you will find your spawn mother there. I’m certain she still lives,” he concluded, eyes curving into

eyestalks blazing red with her mindless anger, and Zluth raised his limbs

as he slithered through

and stupid she was, Shozzl had certainly cultivated a potent acid. Zluth’s digestive tract groaned and contorted in

on up here?” he muttered to himself, checking the readings on

slime, but as far as the Slee were aware, this mountain was empty except for those useless termites. Having collected useful samples already, they had hoped to clear out the bugs and nurse a ripe pit of filth within its cavernous halls during this wave.

elongating his body to ten times its original length and burrowing himself into the ooze. Faster and more agile than a slime-snake, he powered forward, his mucus-drenched foot propelling him at great speeds as he rushed towards

through the slime and even the rock below. There was a battle going

stuck to the shadows and the deeper pools, cautiously advancing, wanting to see what it was

it was still going on. The