《The Abyss That Stares》Chapter 12: A New Predator
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No.
This one begins moving, consume the pack-prey on the ground.
“What!? But Great One, We must insi-”
No. Don’t want to.
Eat. Eat eat consume.
“But why!? The Great One saved the den, the pups, from the Ravenous One. You even resemble the pack. You belong with us-”
No!
Turn to face pack-prey.
Growl.
Pack-prey lowers to ground again, submission.
Disgust.
If this one were to join the pack…. unpleasant. It would be cowardice. Relies on others to hunt prey. Is not how one should hunt, fight. Is cowardice. And, structures are inferior.
Sniff.
Smug.
Pack has nothing to offer this one. No Cores, no interesting structures. So, no.
Turn back to dead pack-prey. Resume eating.
“But Great One, you could mate with We-”
ANNOYED!
This one said no!
Wave tentacles. PIERCE COWARD PAC-
“CORE! We can teach the Great One how to use its Core! We know that the Great One is still unsure how to utilize it fully!”
…
Reluctant. But… interested.
ANNOYED! But pack-prey raises good argument!
Admission, this one still does not know how to form psionic link. Despite having Core ability for at least three awake and stasis cycles.
This one attempted to utilize the psionic blast against the competitor, but was unsuccessful. Learning how to utilize Core abilities would be… beneficial.
But!
Reluctant. Do not like coward pack-prey.
“And… biomass? That is what the Great One calls prey? Pack and We can provide… biomass.”
Reluctant!
But… is good offer.
Growl.
Fine!
“SUCCESS!!”
But! This one will demands you to not be coward! Which means no more groveling or submission. Do you understand?
“We understand. Now, the Great One must-”
Growl.
“... please, follow We to the pack. Sun-Walker and Star-Reader will be most interested in studying the Great One.”
… Don’t like the terms used. Similar to how interferers would refer to this one.
But if they can teach this one how to utilize Core effectively… fine. This one can tolerate it.
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This one follows the Observer-like pack-prey. But make sure to consume dead pack prey before doing so.
Pack-prey seems a little distraught upon witnessing this one do so. Why? It is wasteful if all biomass is not consumed.
“... We understand. But still, We were friends with the pack members the Great One is eating.”
Friends? What is that? Superior designs? Or coward reliance?
“... Never mind… the Great One’s thinking is beyond Our comprehension.”
Smug. Knew this already, superior design.
...
Walk for long time. While walking, repair damage and analyze new structures.
New anatomy: Complete mutated mustelidae (Honey Badger) anatomy (Complete honey badger skeleton, organ system, pherem…), Complete canine (Wolf) anatomy (Complete wolf skeleton system, orga…).
New Core ability: Minor electrokinesis, electroreception (Active use consumes Core energy).
Core energy is at 53%.
“So the Great One can use new Core abilities and prey bodies? Star-Reader will be very interested in this!”
The psionic link is still active!?
“Apologies. Once the psionic link is formed, We maintain it passively. It consumes less of Our Core energy than building new links.”
…
It is efficient… but annoyed. Does this mean pack-prey (wolf) are always listening to thoughts?
“...”
No confirmation from wolf. But know in Core that they are!
Sniff.
Hmm...
There has been a strange scent for a while now. Marks territory, repulses other prey. Strange.
Pass by tree.
Sniff.
The same scent. Smells similar to the scent from the wolf this one is traveling with.
“Yip!”
“Yip yip, growl, yip!”
Ears swivel to detect other wolf noises. Odd, these sounds are higher pitched than usual.
BARK!
The wolf this one is traveling with makes a noise.
“PUPS!”
Wolf CHARGES! IS IT NOT PACK-PREY BUT OTHER PREY THAT THIS ONE IS HEARING!? CHARGE WITH THEM!
…
Smaller versions of wolves are rolling on ground, displaying aggressive behaviors. Fighting? But not killing. Strange.
Fighting outside of very big tree, hole in the middle of it. BIG TREE!
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“PUPS! TAKE THIS!”
“AH! MIND-WALKER HAS ARRIVED! RUN!”
“YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE WE!”
Confused.
Smaller version of wolves attempt to flee as the wolf this one had been traveling with pounces on them. But again, aggressive without killing. Very strange.
It is not a contest. The wolf this one was traveling simply rolls onto smaller-wolves, crushing them beneath its main body.
“MIND-WALKER! TOO HEAVY! YOU HAVE NOT BEEN PUP FOR A MOON NOW! GET OFF US!”
Mind-Walker does not seem to care, simply lays on the pups with their tongue hanging out, licking them.
Confused.
Cannot comprehend. Aggressiveness without battle.
Growl.
Vibrations in air, deep. Mind-Walker immediately gets off of pups, submissive. COWARDICE!
More vibrations in air, hear paws pad against earth.
… Threat. Know it in Core. Source of vibrations is dangerous.
Wave tentacles, prepare for fiGHT!?
BIG!
SO! BIG!
New wolf - TWICE AS BIG AS THIS ONE’S MAIN BODY - exits from the tree hole, growling, studying pups and Mind-Walker.
Shake.
Familiar feeling from the big wolf. It is predator.
Mind-Walker sits up, but their head is still lowered. Communicates.
“We greet the Time-Breaker.”
Big wolf ignores Mind-Walker, inspects this one’s main body.
Shake.
You want to fight!?
Wave tentacles, grow big. Intimidation! BIG WOLF IS NOT AS FEAR INDUCING AS THE OTHER PREDATOR!
Wolf… snorts!?
IS BIG WOLF-PREY LOOKING DOWN ON THIS ONE’S SUPERIOR - reluctant, maybe not superior - DESIGN?
“Who are you?”
Growl.
THIS ONE WILL SHOW YOU WH-
…
Strange. Can sense that Mind-Walker is communicating with the big wolf.
Big wolf looks from this one, back to Mind-Walker.
Snort.
Know that the big wolf is insulting this one’s superior design.
THAT’S IT!
CHARGE!
Mind-Walker stands up, shaking.
“NO, STOP GREAT ONE!”
STAAAAB!
PAAAAIIIINNN!
PAIN IS BENEATH SKIN! BUT DOES NOT MATTER, STAAAAB!
Tentacles pierce big wolf. VIBRATE TENTA-
…
Confusion.
Wasn’t this one just running towards the big prey? Why is this one back where it started? And tentacles are no longer piercing the big wolf?
And… why is Mind-Walker sitting again?
DOES NOT MATTER! CHAAARGE!
Mind-Walker stands up once more.
“NO, STOP GREAT ON-”
…
What?
Back to starting point again? And Mind-Walker is sitting again?
…
Cautious. Big wolf is strange.
Big wolf inspects this one. Snorts.
Hatred.
CHAARGE!
“NO, STOP GRE-”
…
AGAIN?
WHAT IS GOING ON!? WHY DOES THIS ONE KEEP MOVING BACK TO THE STARTING POINT?
Wave tentacles.
FRUSTRATED!
“... Mind-Walker, who have you brought to Us? Its mind is not reset with Our Core ability. Only its body.”
More communication between Mind-Walker and the big wolf.
Reluctant to charge again. May be futile. For now, only observe.
…
Pups come up to this one’s main body.
Strange urge. Protect pups, develop them into hunters for the pack.
They sniff this one’s main body. Then, the smallest of them communicate.
“You smell strange.”
Unpleasant. This one smells perfectly fine.
Growl.
“You look strange. Weak. Useless.”
The pup bristles, growling.
Growl back.
Pups yelp, back away, hide behind the big wolf.
Smug. Cowardice. Won the non-battle.
Wiggle.
“You killed the Ravenous One?”
The big wolf communicates. Still. Big wolf appears doubtful.
“This one killed all that challenged it. You will be no different.”
CHAAAARG-
…
FRU! STRA! TED! BACK TO STARTING POINT!
Big wolf is inspecting the main body. Yes, observe this one’s superior form. Does not rely on weird Core ability that puts it back at a starting point.
“This one killed the honey badger, what you call the Ravenous One.”
…
After observing this one’s main body for a longer period of time, it nods. Turns away, begins walking back to hole in the tree.
“Follow. Star-Reader will want to speak with you.”
Annoyed. But for some reason cannot harm the big wolf. So this one follows.
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