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| The near star fractures deep mist late morning. The dark soil of Slean’s underground cradle lightens, enlightening her to the change in weather. She tunnels up. Breaks surface. When she closes her eyes, she tilts her head back, basking. The near star’s warm, golden fingers caress her. Triggering her shredded skin-cells to react, producing oil to heal her wounds. Greased and gleaming. She stretches lean legs, a neck like a flute. Then notices and follows the trail of blood spilled last night in the wake of her escape. Long-lined like a salamander, she stays close to the ground. Running, liquid smooth over rock, searching for her enemy’s hidden path. She must find him. Kill him before moonlight vies for her attention. Mist masks the ground. She drops into the grasses. Breaks below dandelions. Waiting for the near star to reappear, to provide safety. She sleeps too long, wakes to the pressing moon. Light. Lucid. Her heart thrums, knowing he is near. Stalking her. She rolls, attempting to cover the smell of her fear with a dusting of the ground. Drawing the moon down beneath her skin, she gathers herself for a win. He leaps, shadow shouting warning. She reacts too late. His claws pierce her skin, hook the meat of her. He bites into her belly. Opens it. Spills her bowels. Wades inside. Implants his future. She howls. Pulls free. Folds in on herself. Breaks open the pain and scatters it. Powered by success, he devolves into the mist. She lays aground, breath heavy, skin faded. She scoops entrails, presses them back into her body and seals the wounds with her slick oil. Hours pass under the soft moon, her sallow belly hardens. Balloons. Soon. Her belly splits open. A flush of blood spills, carrying her enemy’s doppelganger out onto the ground. Lifting his gruff head, seeing his first feast lying greased and gleaming before him, he bays at the moon. She lashes out, but blood blocks her eyes. He wolfs his meal and mother. The moon inside him. Hunting through mist. Hiding from the near star. Not knowing how far his quest will take him. He searches for openings into earth’s cradle. |
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