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Conflict Before War

Chapter 4
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The Primal Chief sauntered sadly through the caves, drawing attention from the remaining Rixixi. Burunaa gave Rarka a bodyslam of a nudge as Aahtar Korid walked by them, nearly dropping their friend to the floor instead of catching their attention. The bushy-tailed Primal pulled a face, miming some version of what do you want me to do about it, and to their left, an albinistic mackerel conveyed a melodramatic version of the same face to Kaye. Rolling their eyes at Lure - the mackerel - the anaesthesiologist trotted up beside the Chief. No use arguing with that bizarre, toothy expression, especially if it was Lure. They were only trying to help, after all.

"Mind if I walk with you, Chief?" Kaye tipped their head down, embarassed to speak so openly in front of a public figure. "I'm meaning to head out to see if trading is of use today."

"That's quite all right, Doctor," The Chief was more graceful than Kaye managed, and than Kaye expected - they felt a bit silly for that, but mostly relieved. "I am headed out, myself. There is an important meeting to take place."

The remaining trio of Primals watched as Kaye and the Chief departed, unable to listen in on much more. Burunaa stood up soon after, starting on their unofficial rounds. Hoping to find anyone else in the cave. Rarka took a deep breath and sighed.

"Well, sounds like the Chief is bringing in the big guns," Lure smiled a bit, staring thoughtfully into the distance.

"What big guns are there?" Rarka tried not to sound too hopeless.

"Darling, I live under a rock," Lure turned to Rarka, eyes shut in a wide smile. "Won't it be interesting to find out?"

Rarka couldn't help but laugh a bit, in part at the absurdity of the situation. They tried not to show it when their heart skipped a beat as Lure's face collapsed for a split second.

"Think you're stealthy enough to chase 'em and find out?" Lure put a paw on Rarka's shoulder, attempting to gently turn the doglike Primal around.

"No, that's you," Rarka's ears drooped.

"Silly me," Lure had nothing else to say.

Something wet dripped from the ceiling. Rarka lifted their paw to see a sinewy mass fall off, rooting into the dirt below. Another piece of muscle fell from above, much longer this time. A paw clasped over Rarka's face as they began to turn.

"Don't look up," Lure whispered. "Please, you're better off not knowing. Head out, I'll be behind you."

Lure watched to make sure Rarka made it to the exit tunnel before getting to their feet. The melting flesh from above came faster as they stood, and there was a crack. Something dark fell before them, dangling as a shadow in the cave - looking something between a series of ropes and a malformed beast's body stripped to the inedible by wildlife. Tendons opened what might have been a jaw, held to the ceiling like a sick marionette.

Tears formed in Lure's eyes. "So that's what Death looks like..."

Death, the horseman only known in legend, said to be only visible to the dead. Sometimes described as a terrible facsimile of life, sometimes a mound of living flesh that cannot truly live. The faceless face before Lure smiled, an egotistical smile, and at that moment Lure knew they were wrong, and they did not know what to expect any longer. The skull leaned in.

THAT'S WHAT DEATH LOOKS LIKE?

Lure saw Rarka through the backs of the monster's glowing eye sockets.

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