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?”

that had previously drooped on the end of Shozzl’s

tree. Even now, she defies

one stalk to monitor his partner. She was getting a little too

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

“I won’t,” Shozzl declared.

more allowing herself to sink back into the bubbling acid pool. He cursed. Of all the Krath he could have been partnered with

forced to report your

gas that emerged along with his words would have melted a human face in a tenth of

Blubbeast, perhaps you will find your spawn mother there. I’m certain she still lives,”

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

his stomach roiled unpleasantly as he slithered through the slime-soaked tunnels, rising

had certainly cultivated a potent acid. Zluth’s digestive tract groaned and contorted in pain as it was eaten away and reformed itself,

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

were going absolutely berserk, which only happened when someone tampered with the blessed filth of the fifth. This in and of itself wasn’t unusual, the so-called ‘civilised’ races always beat back the 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

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

before he saw it. Vibrations, travelling through the slime and even

Zluth slowed his pace and retracted his stalks, bringing his eyes close to his own acidic flesh. He stuck to the shadows and the deeper pools, cautiously

attacked the slime and triggered this rage. Except that didn’t explain why it