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?”

life came into the eyes that had previously drooped on the end

tree. Even now, she

partner. She was getting a little too heated, and a little caution was called

go and investigate,” he deflected, folding away the device and sliding it within the

“I won’t,” Shozzl declared.

He cursed. Of all the Krath he could have been partnered with for ranging, he got Shozzl, the most useless drip of slime in the Slee

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

along with his words would have

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

eyestalks blazing red with her mindless anger,

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

tract groaned and contorted in pain as it was eaten away and reformed itself, struggling to break down the flesh of his

to himself, checking the

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

ooze. Faster

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

pace and retracted his stalks, bringing his eyes close to his own acidic flesh. He stuck to

the wave, had attacked the 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 fourth. When the two clashed,