-From Canticles: 1:48-50
The neonate leaped back. It jarred the arrow wound in her side and she hissed in pain.
She had to shove her fist to the ground to steady herself and not fall over. The club still clutched tightly in her hand, it was her knuckles that scraped against the sandy soil, sticking to her fist, coated in Trapmaker’s blood.
Biter appeared above her as if she hadn’t bothered with the space between.
Attack!
Grinding her teeth, struggling against more pain, she planted her foot, digging in her toeclaws. Twisting her whole body into the strike. The apex’s jaw shot forward.
Knock it askew!
The club whistled through the air in the warriors claws!
CRACK! SNAP!
The club knocked Biter’s skull sideways before she could bite through the neonate’s snout. Spittle flew from Biter’s lips with the impact.
The neonate let her swing carry her over. She rammed her knee into Biter’s stone hard abdomen.
Momentum! Her Instinct demanded, pulling her dagger free, inverted.
Making a full rotation, back-to-back with Biter as she did, she stabbed down at the other female. Aiming for her side. Not wanting to kill, needing not to.
Biter was indisputably one of the best physical specimens of this hatching. There was no possible way to justify her death.
Biter saw it coming, glancing over her shoulder. With a growl she twisted too. Her wide hand locking around the neonate’s wrist, her claws digging in painfully.
The neonate put all her weight behind the knife, but it barely budged. Worse, Biter squeezed with a gloating snarl.
The two bones in her forearm flexed and she yowled in pain.
Damn you!
She twisted the black blade, managing to cut Biter’s arm but to no avail. Biter didn’t let go, and yellow flickered in the apex’s pattern. Planting her feet, the neonate tried to yank her arm free. Her toe claws dug into the scales of the apex, and Biter ignored those injuries as well.
Instead, Biter pulled the neonate closer, jaws opening again. The neonate’s eyes widened. Slowly, surely, her arm was being dragged closer toward the severing maw.
N-no!
Distraction!
Shaking out of it, she swung the club.
BANG!
Biter flinched, but pulled harder, so the little predator backhanded her rival with the wooden weapon.
KRACK! SNAP!
The jaw closed with a snarling whine from Biter, who was blinking dazedly.
The apex staggered with a hiss, pulling the neonate with her. The neonate roared her conviction, deep in the black and red, letting it swirl and twist in mesmerizing patterns.
She wouldn’t let the apex keep a hold of her.
The club lifted high!
THWACK-ACK-ACK-ACK!
Smashing into Biter’s fingers. Each jolt sent shivers of pain through her arm, driving the claws deeper into her own flesh so she could batter them into submission.
Life and death! Accept pain!
Dominate!
On the last strike Biter hissed and her hand sprung open. Knuckles split and bleeding. The neonate slashed with the blade, forcing Biter to jump back.
She was too close! She had been through too much! She would live!
“I will not die here!” She roared, deep, powerful, full of conviction!
Fight! Her Instinct agreed, bellowing from her core.
The neonate snarled. She could feel the Provider’s eyes on her. The eyes of the survivors joining the circle. The eyes of her true peers.
I can’t let them see me give up! Even if she was to last to the dawn afterwords. This was her chance, like it or not. She would find victory!
SNAP-AP! Biter snarled and glared at her. Sensing the crowd as well and deciding to posture.
“You stupid runt!” she hissed, spitting pink phlegm onto the ground, “You can’t be allowed to live through this. It would be a travesty to have a stunted newt like you live.”
Crickle-crackle-pop.
The neonate shook her head, feeling her vertebrae shift back into place. Biter growled at the lack of response, but the neonate was too invested in scanning the other female.
Assessing.
Searching for the weakness to exploit as they circled each other.
She had heard the derogatory remark though, and it honed her own ire to a keener point.
No limp? Her Instinct hissed.
Biter stood tall, moving easily. Gnashing and snarling.
Damn. Her injury healed. She had hoped to exploit the wound in the other female’s thigh.
Her Instinct continued to inspect the wound. Why?
Biter lunged!
SNAP!
The little warrior managed to leap away, ducking under a kick and jumping over a tail sweep.
If I hold back like I have, she’ll kill me. She wasn’t sure that she had a choice. She might have to risk culling herself if she wanted to get out of this alive.
Her Instinct rumbled, sending uncertainty through the neonate.
She jumped back as Biter lunged again, not biting, but startling the neonate by sweeping with her tail again before slashing with her claws. Moving so fast that the air whistled around them.
She stabbed, swung the club, slashed, kicked, swept her own tail. And Biter twisted and dodged most, knocking the other attacks aside easily.
The neonate recognized this as similar to what Fisher had done.
She is testing me! The neonate felt her heart sink. She had to run. To drag this out.
No! Her Instinct yanked her eyes to the Provider. At the gathering crowd of the others.
She couldn’t run now! It would be a black mark against her. But how am I going to live?!
Biter grabbed the neonate’s wrist and spun.
She yelped as her feet left the ground as she sailed through the air, twisting awkwardly and landing in a jumble.
Biter’s jaws were wide as they shot forward.
Damnit! This couldn’t continue! She needed an edge!
She swung the club!
Biter’s jaws snapped down on the wooden weapon.
CRUNCH!
It shattered into thousands of pieces.
No! Fuck!
Ignore! Fight!
She rolled backwards, feeling the ground shake as Biter’s claws slammed into the hardened mud.
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“Still think you are on the same level? You stupid mistake of a hatchling.” Biter snarled, kicking the neonate in the chest and sending her skidding along the ground.
Like it had before, her Instinct recognized some of these motions.
The neonate gasped for air, then snarled, forcing herself up onto her feet. Rage boiled, hot and acidic inside her craw.
She had made it. She had done what was expected of her. And now, she had even more to deal with.
The gods either don’t care, or are forgetful of the fact that mortals have lives to live. She hissed in her fury.
“I still breathe.” She hissed quietly, feeling a guilty sort of pride at the way Biter’s eyes widened. She regretted it almost instantly.
Biter charged, far too fast. A blur. Faster than any of the others she had fought before. Her thick skull ramming into the neonate’s stomach, knocking her back. Skidding against rough sand and splintered eggshells.
Ignoring the pain she forced herself back to her feet. Biter was still charging her down. The neonate threw the splintered remains of the club at the other female’s face, sprinting left.
Trust! Her Instinct hissed.
She’d have to. No more holding back.
Biter shut her eyes and let the splintered weapon bounce off her face. When she opened them again she saw the neonate had moved. The Apex slipped in the sand, packed as it was, redirecting to keep moving towards the neonate.
She hissed, stabbing at the apex’s face. Biter’s eyes went wide.
Not expecting that.
It forced Biter to dig in her heels. The blade sliced a thin line just under her jaw and she lifted her head up and to the left. She started to fall backward.
It was up to Biter to keep herself alive.
She slashed down with the blade, and Biter slid to the left, reaching for her knife hand again. The neonate swapped hands and thrust at the other female's eye. Biter dodged back with a hiss, getting a cut along her brow ridge that time.
Slash at her pride! Her Instinct snarled from her hands. Gleeful at the direct combat.
“They all saw that.” She hissed. She gestured at the crowd. Reminding her opponent that the audience was even there.
Biter glanced at them, fresh burgundy fury blazing across her pattern.
The neonate didn’t defend, she attacked. Slashing at the big female’s powerful jaws. She scored another minor hit, blood leaking from the wound on the apex’s face.
It was freeing! She struck where it felt right. Going full speed. Focusing more on the technique than the kill, not wanting to get too lost within her own bloodlust.
Biter snapped, but was wary of the matte black blade. Whispering death in the neonate’s skilled hands.
No… It is my eleventh claw!
She knocked aside a slash and bit at the neonate’s off hand, so quick that it scraped off some scales before the neonate could pull it fully away.
Careful. Her Instinct hissed.
She could feel more eyes on her now. The rest of the brood arriving at the outskirts of the space. All of them. Slowly forming a ring.
Show them!
She feigned a stab at the other female’s chest. Biter pulled back, staggering again. Her Instinct noticed that. The neonate turned and sprinted towards the Provider.
The crowd muttered. He started to growl. Lifting a huge black scaled hand to stop her, but she was already halfway up to his shoulder. She leaped off of him, grabbing a vine, swinging higher.
More survivors joined, the muttering grew louder, and she shifted to match the canopy around the nest. Holding her breath. Tearing up the moss. Scrubbing herself with it.
I need to drag this out! She looked at the sky.
She wasn’t sure why she expected anything different. The sun was still below the horizon.
“Coward! Stupid inbred runt! All talk!” Biter screeched.
Kill! Destroy! Now!
She ignored her Instinct and moved to get above Biter.
Land on her shoulders, choke her out. She’d have to accept getting torn up by the other female’s claws, but she needed to end this. If she could get her legs locked properly, that wouldn’t even be an issue.
She waited for Biter to be looking the other way. Then dropped, matching the surrounding’s perfectly.
Biter spun and caught her by the throat.
“Grrrk!”
The neonate’s eyes bulged as the big female squeezed tightly, slamming her onto the ground.
“Moving branches change the light, runt.” Biter growled.
She’d have to remember… tha…
Her vision started to fade.
Fight!
She inverted the knife again, slamming it through Biter’s bicep and yanking it free.
The big female yowled in agony, letting go and reeling away, blood spouting out.
The neonate coughed and rolled over before she vomited onto the ground, wheezing.
She looked up to see Biter grab a stone with her claws from the Provider’s fire, dashing away before he could take it from her. The apex’s flesh sizzled as she pressed it against the spouting wound twice. Blood boiled. Flesh roasted. She snarled as she continued burning the gash closed on both sides.
Snarling, she turned hate filled eyes on the neonate.
The neonate’s Instinct stirred. It pulled her eyes to the injured thigh.
She staggered up, and Biter threw the still searing hot stone at her. She hissed as it burned her arm even as she knocked it aside with her blade with a clang of earthbone.
There was a whisper of air behind her. Then pain!
Claws longer than usual raked across her back. She stumbled and lashed out wildly with blade and claw alike.
Slash snarled and stepped back away from the swing. “I agree. You should not live.” He slammed his forehead against hers and she crumpled to the ground, having to scramble back to not be raked by his claws again. “You clearly come from a weak bloodline. Just accept it and die.” He snarled, speeding up.
She got to her feet, backing away. She tried to slice at his fingers, his wrist, but he was too fast. The claws chipped when they contacted the knife, but she could never get a square hit.
She couldn’t do this. How could she? He was just as fast as Biter and she could feel her own speed diminishing.
Exhaustion and blood loss… Fuck…
She heard the other female’s feet dig into the sand. A unique sound.
Pouncing!
She ducked and Biter sailed over her.
SNAP!
Why am I still fighting?
Live!
But I can’t win.
Slash had charged back in, and she scooped a handful of sandy dirt into his face, making him hiss and swing wide. She slashed at him while his eyes were closed. He tilted his head, hearing her blade cut the air and sliding back, still scrubbing his face.
He yowled as she kicked the side of his knee. Before she could capitalize on it though she was forced back by Biter, who plowed past her rival to try and kill the neonate.
She couldn’t use her best skill, her camouflage, to wait them out.
Biter kicked her in the side, pain flared again and she whimpered. Doubling over onto herself.
No time! Get up! She forced herself to her feet, looking up just as Slash moved in front of her, claws swinging. She hissed, swinging her knife.
No! Better angle!
She adjusted her grip. Tilted the blade ever so slightly.
SHLICK!
It was a solid hit!
It lopped off the claws like they were nothing.
He screeched and gasped, blood pouring out of them.
If he had been moving slower, it would have only sliced off the outer shell. Instead, she could see white bone and pink marrow.
BANG!
Biter knocked him aside and lunged forward. The neonate’s arm was spread too wide, to far out away from her body to bring back as a viable threat to the apex female.
“Die runt!” Biter hissed.
Adrenaline surged through her.
In that moment, that instant of time, she understood. Words and sounds were weapons. Why not sights too?
Tried this before.
I will make it work this time! She was much more versed than she had been. This wouldn't end like when she had taken One-eye's eye!
Survive!
She flexed her skin. She sent her black and red to the right side of her body as she moved left, shifting to match the background. Biter went right, confused only for an instant.
It was all she needed.
The neonate pushed her camouflage until it hurt.
She became color, a riot of it!
Impossible combinations swirling and shifting into unnatural geometric shapes and patterns. She thrust at Biter and the knife sunk in deep, and the big female roared in agony!
YES!
She had only a moment to feel her triumph before the big female slashed her across the chest again. Her claws tore into the neonate. Not as bad as it could have been with Slash, who was on his knees, cradling his maimed hand. But bad.
Biter ripped the knife free, not letting go of the neonate. She watched, struggling to free herself, as Biter placed the neonate’s elbow on her shoulder.
Her eyes went wide.
Gonna break it!
Jump!
Frantic, she knew she had to keep her arm intact. She jumped, rolling over the other female’s back just as she pulled down. She landed in front of Biter, only to see waiting jaws!
SNAP! She howled in pain as the big female bit into her clavicle. She felt Biter’s fangs slide around the bone. The apex shook her head back and forth. The neonate could feel it starting to tear.
Snarling she kicked Biter hard in her wounded thigh. The apex’s leg buckled, and she kicked again harder, digging in toeclaws. Bellowing her defiance as the apex’s jaw opened to scream in pain before she could tear a chunk out of the neonate.
She broke free of the female. Thinking of the Provider. Of him fighting that massive beast.
She bent low and rammed her good shoulder into the other female’s thigh, stabbing the blade in again and again.
Biter howled. Her blood spraying the neonate. Then she was suddenly sailing through the air.
Biter had thrown her. Grabbing her by her bag’s strap and just tossing her.
Shit!
She crashed into a tree, a knot jabbing right into the arrow-wound. The black blade sailed out of her hand. She heard it clang against a stone. Her body locked up as she was filled with so much pain she couldn’t breathe.
She panted, gasping. Bleeding. Exhausted. Biter glared at her. Still standing. Still capable. Blood running down one leg. Not letting that stop her.
“Give up.” Biter snarled. Breathless. Limping again now.
Never! Her Instinct snarled, pulling on her inside her mind to stand.
The neonate didn’t think she had any energy left.
Find some, idiot neonate!
She rolled over. Hissing in pain. Starting to push herself up. “N-never. Would you?”
Biter stared at her. Then grunted, the first ever sign of respect. “This is true. Too bad you will die.” She charged.
A weapon! She needed one.
She hurled the bag, it tangled in the apex’s legs, buying her some time as Biter stumbled.
There! But Biter was right behind her!
She tossed some of the sand into Biter’s eyes, her mouth already wide. She closed her eyes, slowing for just a moment, but then she sped back up, still growling.
The neonate reached down, roaring defiance as she grabbed the carved gravestone of Gix.
It was cool and heavy in her hand.
Yes! Strike!
The little warrior swung it as hard as she could.
CRACK!
It smacked into the side of the apex’s head! Biter crumpled there on the ground.
Face down in the dirt.
Groaning.
The neonate staggered up and lifted the stone high. Her shoulder seared like fire. She ignored it, though her one arm started to tremble.
Kill! Attack! Murder! Her Instinct squealed with glee.
She could do it!
She was right there.
The excitement was back again. She could do it!
Biter snarled and rolled over and looked up at the neonate. Shock and surprise.
Like all the dead hatchlings.
Killed.
Because they were weak.
Because they had lost.
She deserves it! Her Instinct gnashed.
Biter’s eyes were slightly unfocused.
She could do it. And Biter knew. Even with a concussion.
The neonate wanted to.
Kill! Her Instinct screamed for it.
No.
She dropped the stone, still glaring down at the other female.
The brood needs her. Needs us.
Everyone was silent.
I find the little one sufficient. Maruc said, looking extremely pleased.
I grinned. Good job Kiddo.
The golden rays of the sun finally pierced the horizon. And the neonate bellowed into the sky. Victorious, and the other living hatchlings joined her. Just as they had the day they had hatched.
She spread her arms wide, just like she had done so many times in the temple below their feet. Her one arm straining against the injury, the other holding her knife. She brought them in and bowed.
Tok grunted.
“The trial is over. Come. You all have wounds to tend.”
I did it… The neonate staggered back, fighting to stay upright as she stared at the bright blue sky. I did it! She roared again, swaying drunkenly.
She had proved that she was worthy of being a person.
I am going to get a name.
She looked at Biter, blue shock still rippling through her pattern. She will too. They all would.
She coughed, blinking slowly. “Congratulations… sister.” She said.
She felt dizzy.
Dull pain rippled across her body as she fell to the sand, the sensation fading as blackness swallowed her world.
PATREON! It is also 15 chapters ahead, and I am working hard to get it up to 20.