《The Path to Pacifism is Long and Paved with Blood》Denouement 1: The Noisy Cricket
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Skrrr-pidit hopped down from the apple he was eating with a satisfied plop. He had just eaten his fill, and couldn't be more satisfied with the world at this particular moment.
No predators, no scary clouds, no competition, no worries.
Skrrr decided to go on a quick romp through the grassy forest to clear the full feeling in his tiny belly, hopping from one patch of grass to the next. The wind blew overhead, enthusing Skrrr for his next bound. He jumped so far this time!
Life was good for Mr. Pidit. The only thing that could make it better was... "Chirrip, chirp, Skrrr, Pidit," he called.
Skrrr waited a second to see if he would get lucky...
Hmmm, maybe not today. Oh well.
Skrrr decided to rest a moment on a sunny rock, listening to the birds above argue over who would get to mate with who, or the weather, or some other nonsense Skrrr couldn't understand. He sat there an hour, contemplating nothing, and just rested. With a full belly and no distractions, there was no reason for Skrrr to do anything else.
Then he decided to try again. "Chirrip, chirrip, chriip, chir-irp."
A brief hesitation later, he decided he was unlucky again, so he bounded off into the wild to try again.
"Chirrip, chirp, Skrrr, Pidit," he shouted out with his wings, waiting anxiously for the response. No luck. Relocation necessary again.
At some point he landed on some bare dirt with a good view in either direction. He figured this was as good a place as any to call out, as he could see a potential mate from potentially miles away. "Chirrp, chirirp, chrip-ip, chirp."
"But I just don't see why we have to go to a dungeon with all these living creatures! Who cares if they're monsters, any life is too precious to snuff out!"
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"Get over yourself, they respawn in another day or two, they'll be fine."
"That doesn't change the fact that they feel every death! How would you feel if once a month you got brutally murdered?!"
Skrrr hopped away from the frightful noises, less because of any potential danger they may suggest, and more because he felt the one he was trying to woo might not hear him over it. But the more he moved away, the closer the noises got. How annoying!
"So what would you have us do to collect your precious materials then? How do we get the money for next week's rent at the inn? We don't have much choice."
"Are there no dungeons with undead, or bounties on such? There has to be a better way!"
"We've been over this, there are no other options. All the zombie dungeons have been cleared out, and they're not due for another clearing for at least another fornight. We have to take our chances with this one. Now just shut up and keep studying that new spell of yours."
Skrrr happily noted the noises stopping, but a moment too late. He already saw her, standing in the road, looking at him. It was time.
He readied his back legs for the greatest leap of his life, praising his luck at finding both a perfect meal and a perfect mate within a day, and at that same moment, a distracted cleric managed to land his foot right on top of the would-be cassa-cricket. Thus ends the story of Skrrr-pidit
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