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?”

came into the eyes that had previously

Even now, she

continued to operate the array, but subtly turned one stalk to monitor his partner. She was getting a little too heated, and a little caution was

away the device and sliding it within

“I won’t,” Shozzl declared.

the bubbling acid pool. He cursed. Of all the Krath he could have been partnered with for ranging, he got Shozzl,

I will be forced to report

his words would have

the bowels of the Blubbeast, perhaps you will find your spawn mother there. I’m certain she still

blazing red with her mindless

slithered through the slime-soaked tunnels, rising up to the

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

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

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 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 the source of

slime and

his own acidic flesh. He stuck to the shadows and the deeper pools, cautiously advancing, wanting

slime and triggered this rage. Except that didn’t explain why it was still going on. The monsters of the fifth were inherently superior to those of the