Black Hole: The Book of Iratus, Episode 9

Chapter 81

The day was coming to an end, with Iratus and the four others sitting in the common room. Most everyone was in some form of undress as the day had been another scorcher.

Iratus, "So, uh, are you two gonna be permanent residents here? I ask because your friends left and you stayed here."

Ignis, "Friends is a strong word. Alone, most of us were with each one of us our own train car. We hardily interacted with one another."

Resonantia, "I'd say being here is the safest we can be, no offense to the others."

The mouse boy nodded and then spoke.

Iratus, "Alright, then let's talk about our next goals. For me, I'd like to loot that crashed train and also eventually reach the coast."

The shark girl rustled her white hair and responded to Iratus.

Resonantia, "The coast?"

Iratus, "Yeah, I just want to drink up on all that salt water."

After a chuckle, Victoria flicked her tail to indicate she was next.

Victoria, "I'd like to explore more of our surroundings. We need to find more places that have tools that we can use. Currently, we need more woodworking tools, containers, and rags."

Ignis, "A most noble of goals, to be sure. Aestus, what about you?"

The otter girl was scratching at the bandages on her right arm.

Aestus, "Maybe explore the river some more, although right now I just want to rest. I'm not sure heat therapy is healing the infection, so I just want to take it easy for a while."

The red panda girl had a concerned look on her face at that.

Ignis, "Then I purpose the hospital immediately."

Iratus, "What about making our own medicine?"

Ignis, "Even with the proper tools, this one is not confident in such matters."

Iratus, "Isn't the hospital really far away on foot? Does the train hold any medicine?"

Ignis, "Ah, perhaps. One of our companions required specific medical care; maybe we didn't use the medicine for infections."

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Chapter 82

The night was slowly devouring the day as the group suited up for a raid on the destroyed train.

Victoria, "I'll stay here with Aestus, you know, just in case the other three show up again."

Iratus, "I don't think those three were bad people; I doubt they'll cause any more problems for us."

Victoria, "Regardless, someone has to stand guard, and Aestus isn't up for it."

Ignis, "Also, not knowing if the blackest day can happen at night requires precaution as well."

Victoria, "Sorry, what?"

Resonantia, "The blackest day...oh shoot, after all that downtime we spent together, we completely forgot to explain the blackest day."

Iratus, "Well, then, please explain."

Resonantia, "Neither one of us has witnessed it, but some of the others have. Apparently, the blue sky turns black, and all manner of horrific things happen."

Ignis, "The others expressly refused to tell us much about it. Gelus said that it was a touch of literal hell."

Iratus, "Do we have to worry about this blackest day happening?"

Resonantia, "As far as the two of us know, it's random. I also wonder if the ebony creature you've talked about is a remnant of the blackest day."

Iratus, "I don't know anything about this black day, so I'll just shrug."

They continued to get ready for their departure with Iratus taking his sword and leather bag and Ignis taking a wooden spear.

Resonantia, "The bow is mine."

Iratus, "You really like using bows, huh?"

Resonantia, "Since the day I could walk, I've been learning to use the bow."

---

Chapter 83

Iratus, Ignis, and Resonantia eventually got to the hill where they could see the train tracks, the ash-covered ground, and many treeskins in the area. The ashlands seemed less like ash and more like dirt at this point, with a number of treeskin trees and some patches of grass growing through them.

The three moved towards the train, which pulled some of the treeskins to them. Using their superior reach and the shark girl as support, they took down a total of seven treeskins.

The group moved inside the train and explored and looted what they could. There were luxury cars that had been burned by the ashborn but still held some of their original opulence. The plush seats are burned or singed, and shattered glass litters the floor. As for loot, there were a few remnants of once-expensive luggage, broken jewelry boxes, and torn designer clothing from a multitude of different planets and time periods. The girls grabbed some of the clothes for themselves, with Iratus continuing to search but finding nothing else.

For the dining car, it was a scene of chaos. Tables were overturned, and charred curtains were hanging loosely. Among the wreckage, the group uncovers silverware still in roughly good shape, along with cracked fine diningware and damaged bottles. Iratus took the silverware into his bag.

The girls headed to where their rooms were, only to scream in panic. Iratus moved forward to see an ashborn, but a very odd-looking one. This one had a clear and striking feminine feature and even had a detailed face. While most ashborn were ash, this one was bright, with more embers than ash.

Resonantia, "Emily? It looks like Emily!"

The creature reached out to burn the girls, but Iratus pushed his sword past the girls and into the creature. Resonantia backed off while Ignis pushed the ashborn back with her wooden spear. The heat was extremely uncomfortable as the battle continued, with Iratus nearly backing out completely, but before then, Ignis finally got room to impale the ashborn, thrusting the creature backwards. Iratus wiped his brow and his sweat-soaked fur and ran forward to finish off the ashborn.

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Chapter 84

Emily ashborn's light went out as the sword went through her head.

Ignis, "How uncanny this ashborn is."

Iratus, "Someone said it looked like their friend?" Ripping the sword out

Resonantia, "Yeah, I heard the metalheads melt people into new metalheads, and the treeskins are self-evident, but ashborn? I guess they have to reproduce somehow."

Ignis, "Maybe use people; all monsters do?"

Resonantia, "Not gray masks. The conductor believed them to be aspects of imagination itself."

Iratus, "Hey, go ahead and search back here; I'm going to the cars in the hole."

As Iratus was moving back towards the front of the train, he saw movement in the corner of his eye. He stopped and looked outside, but found nothing. Continuing, he started to carefully descend into the first fallen train car. The cars were so resilient that, despite the fact that half the train was now in a pit, they had stayed connected through it all. The car in which he found himself appeared to be some sort of storage area, though whatever lay here was smashed together. Iratus did his best to salvage what he could, which was very difficult as the only light that existed was some glowing flora and insects far away. Despite that, Iratus was able to grab a short sword, a package of ammo for a weapon he did not know or could see, and a backpack. This backpack was tailored almost like clothing, which made Iratus examine such an interesting invention.

Once again, Iratus was looking around and saw something from the door he left open. He walked over and looked around, but saw nothing. Iratus used all his senses but could not detect anything. He sniffed the air but only got the smell of ash and dying embers. Iratus thought for a moment before cautiously heading back inside the storage car, as there were still many crates he had not searched through.

Iratus only found items that were of no use—artifacts and items of lands and times that looked pretty but had no real purpose when it came to survival. Iratus stopped when he heard a commotion, and upon seeing Resonantia, he felt a sense of relief.

Resonantia, "We found something, but we are going to need that bag."

Iratus, "Take it, and here, take this strange backpack too."

Resonantia, "Perfect. Don't go too far down because this thing already looks like the link here is about to break."

Iratus, "Ok, I'll just go through the rest of the crates here and get out."

Iratus continued to move crates out of the way, but the train felt like it was cracking making Iratus back off and turn around and when he did, saw a person clad in a brown cloak and wearing a grainy gray mask. It stabbed a long crow bar into the link that connects the trains.

Iratus, "Ah, my friends told me creatures like you would come around."

Iratus walked up while the gray mask attempted to dislodge the link.

Iratus, "How about coming over here so that I can kill you?"

The link broke and the upper-half of the train nearly fell into the pit. The train was jammed up and Iratus took this time to move as fast as he could to the gray mask, but the monster gave one more attempt at getting the train to fall. Iratus reached out for the gray mask only for the train to finally break with metal shattering and the front end of the train fall into the pit. It started by sliding against the walls, the front end refusing to move and this forced the now released part of the train to slowly fall over. Iratus waited for the last second before jumping and rolling away before the broken train car slipped in slammed in the pit.

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Chapter 85

Iratus was fine, but his legs were greatly strained, and he struggled to get up at first. He looked around to see the train now in a horrific state, as it had crunched up even more in the fall. Iratus sighed and looked around. He found several pieces of clothing strewn about that matched perfectly with the gray mask he saw earlier, masks included. There was also a corpse sitting up against the train, a wolffolk wearing strange clothes to Iratus, but they were the most stereotypical suit for a train conductor. Only the lower half of the train seemed to have moved, letting the body remain in place.

The two girls eventually came by and looked into the pit.

Ignis, "Survive we strongly wish, Iratus."

Iratus, "Yeah, yeah. I'm here, and I think I found your conductor."

Resonantia, "Dead, I assume? God bless it!"

Ignis, "Hang on. If destiny allows, we will most definitely get you out."

Iratus looked around again and saw a large tunnel in the distance.

Iratus, "Sure, but I also see a tunnel if that does not pan out."

There was a sound, and the two girls looked up and became shocked.

Resonantia, "Ignis..."

Ignis, "Most dangerous problem we now face!"

Resonantia, "Iratus, we have a problem. We have to go; there is some sort of...I don't know, treeskin...uh, lizard thing. We'll come back later, but we have to go."

Ignis, "Go now, go, go."

The girls fled, and Iratus could hear the thumps of whatever creature was after them. He flailed his hands up and then shook his head.

Iratus, "Can't help. Alright then."

Iratus took a moment to look at the train and had a few thoughts about loot, but decided to get out as soon as possible instead. He walked down the tunnel, which opened up into a wider tunnel that looked like a mine of some kind, though the tunnel was great and massive, which made him wonder about that. Ashborn were around too, giving just enough light to activate Iratus's night vision, with Iratus himself trying his best to avoid them.

Some ashborn started to follow Iratus, making him pick up his pace. Eventually, the tunnel opened into a chamber with three more paths to follow. Iratus walked up to one that was completely dark inside. He looked and listened as hard as he could. He did hear something—a clattering and chirping too silent for those without strong hearing capabilities. The sounds and darkness actually overwhelmed Iratus, causing him to actually back away in fear.

Iratus, "Ok, not that way."

---

Chapter 86

After that, he moved to the second tunnel, which opened wide like the tunnel he came in from, though there were a lot fewer ashborn here. With the small group now following him, light wasn't much of a problem.

There came a point where the tunnel was constrained, and a large hole was drilled in the pathway. Iratus looked in, and despite how hard it was to see, he was able to make out a black mass in the hole. Iratus covered his nose as the smell of rot and blood was thick all over this thing, and when it started to writhe, Iratus started to back away.

A familiar figure ripped itself out of the mass: the ebony monster with its towering height, long arms, ragged clothes, four eyes, and bone blades all along its arms.

Iratus, "Sorry to visit your home uninvited; I'll just leave now. Bye!"

Iratus moved back down the tunnel, doing his best to avoid the ashborn who did manage to scorch some of Iratus's gambeson.

The ebony monster was in pursuit, smashing and kicking away the ashborn that got in its way. It slammed one into the wall and walked on top of another, buring its flesh as it stepped on the ashborn's body.

Iratus got back to the hub area and quickly moved down the third and final path. Luckily, the ebony monster never ran; he only power walked, which allowed Iratus to get far ahead. This final tunnel was actually a familiar-looking mine with carts, picks, and everything else that a typical mine would have. Eventually, Iratus entered a large room that appeared to be the command center of the mine, with the entrance in sight. Before he left the tunnel, he saw off to the side an old fire pit with two small logs by it. The fire pit looked recently used, and next to it was a small sack with two regal and legitimate golden crowns. Iratus dared not stop, so he ignored the items and continued to the exit.

Iratus ran out into the open air and scanned the area. He made a mental map of what he thought were the tunnels, and Iratus believed himself to be east or north-east of the tower, but with the night in full swing, it looked pretty bleak that any sort of navigation would be easy. Iratus moved what he believed to be southward and, after many minutes, did come across a dirt road, to which he gave a sigh of relief and probably started heading westward. However, not long after he started walking again, Iratus stopped and looked around, as his senses were screaming danger. The leopard from last night came out of the dense woods and attempted to pounce on Iratus, who instinctively covered his throat, causing the predator to veer off course and crash and bite into Iratus's leg. Iratus pulled his sword, but the leopard had already backed off rapidly and began to circle Iratus.

The leopard almost dived in again but backed away, and Iratus heard the sounds of the wilderness being disturbed. He moved to the side and looked back from where he came to see a shell of darkness withdraw from the ebony monster. It had chased down Iratus and put on a serious and concerned look. He quickly thought about what to do next, making several plans as he had a few seconds to spare. Finally, he moved back and east on the road away from the tower, sure, but now the ebony monster was between him and the leopard. The ebony monster ignored the beast and continued to follow Iratus. The leopard took the initiative and pounced on the ebony monster, giving Iratus the time he needed to flee around the two as the woodlands were quite dense, maneuvering through them with a limp as his leg felt like that one bite nearly incapacitated it.

After getting around the two thrashing around, Iratus soon stopped, his limp getting the better of him as well as all the travel he already did, and his gambeson was overheating him as well. He thought about the road and wondered if he could successfully flee. He turned around and saw the two creatures still locked in battle.

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Chapter 87

Iratus limped over and thrusted his sword into the ebony monster only for it to react and swing its lantern at Iratus, which when near him devoured all light forcing Iratus to fall on his butt and scramble away. He stood up and turned to face the ebony monster again only to see it finally grab the leopard and pulling it off, which they leopard held onto the monster's throat ripping a massive chunk of flesh out as it was pulled away. Iratus saw blood this time, red blood, and he didn't remember it bleeding last time. He searched through his memory but never once did the ebony monster bleed. The only thing here is that the bleeding was very minimal.

The ebony monster held the back of the leopards neck and drove it into the ground. Iratus stabbed a few more times at the monster and despite landing and digging into it, this time paying attention, didn't see any blood. His confused look snapped into a look of terror as he heard the crunch of the leopard's neck breaking. The ebony monster wasted no time, standing back up and moving to attack Iratus, lantern out forward most of the time.

Iratus thoughts, "Is it bleeding from the missing flesh? Are my strikes doing anything? Whatever, I only need to hack off this things limbs is that is the case!"

Iratus tried to move to the side to strike at the foe's torso but the lantern continued to stay in front of Iratus, causing him to miss his strike with the darkness that took away his vision. He managed to not get grabbed and turned around to make more room. After he got some breathing room, he turned back and got into his high guard stance. When the ebony monster came upon him, Iratus smacked away the lantern and lashed out a single strike which connected to the shoulder. Once again Iratus got back to make more room and to not get grabbed by the ebony monster.

The next clash Iratus use the creature's lantern arm as a shield against the bladed arm and ran straight through, slicing successfully at the creature's neck. Unfortunately, his wounded leg hindered his movement enough for the ebony monster to round on Iratus and tag him in the shoulder. Iratus struggled to not flail to the ground and just managed to right himself and making more room once again.

Iratus was breathing heavily already and could only do minimum cuts into the monster's lantern hand while using an incredible amount of stamina to avoid being attacked. After a deadly cut into the lantern arm, deadly to normal people, Iratus finally noticed red blood on his sword and after another back track he had enough time to notice that all of the cuts and wounds Iratus made started to bleed as well, it was like this thing had the ability to hold in its blood and stop it from leaking out and now it seemed like it was at its limit.

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Chapter 88

Iratus deflected the bone hand and gave another small cut into the monster, even though he was blinded, but this time when he tried to back away, he found his strength not there. He was breathing so hard that it was painful. He could no longer move away and was forced to face this monster directly. He tried to deflect another attack, but at this range, the monster had its whole weight behind the strike, which was enough to stagger Iratus.

Iratus dived forward and drove his sword into the creature. Iratus was still in the darkness from the lantern and didn't see the attack coming as he was pulling away. Iratus's head was slammed with the clap of the monster's hands. Iratus had a moment of shock, but just as he was regaining his senses, he was pushed down into the ground.

Iratus didn't even have time to think when the ebony monster slammed its foot into his unwounded leg, making something pop as his foot was bent cock-eyed. The abomination reached down, but Iratus held his sword like a spear, which the monster basically impaled itself, and the monster continued reaching down with force only to drive the sword deeper until the free arm of the ebony monster went limp. The monster stood up and paused for a couple of seconds, like it was thinking. Iratus sat up, pulled his sword from the creature, and reeled back to strike. The ebony monster held out its lantern in defense, blinding Iratus, but he still stabbed something.

The sword strained inside the metal cage; Iratus had stabbed the lantern and, by extension, the black flesh thing inside of it. Screaming came from the lantern until an abrupt stop dispelled the supernatural darkness. The monster looked inside the lantern to find it now empty with some black sludge pouring out of it. Iratus was able to heave a few more thrusts into the monster before he got its attention.

Using the other leg, the ebony monster started to stop on Iratus's torso, slamming into his chest, ribs, and hips. Iratus managed to deal one more strike, which seemed to get the monster more angry. It stepped off his leg, only to step on his arm, and then began to use the lantern to bash Iratus's face in. When Iratus used his other arm to block the strike, the monster would smash into the arm until it forced it to the side, where the monster used its other leg to stand on the arm. Now fully restrained, the ebony monster was free to launch its wide strikes across Iratus's head. One strike became two, then three, and they continued until Iratus's head was bloodied and his face torn with wounds. Somehow the monster stopped and paused, then staggered off of Iratus only to fall on one knee.

Iratus wiped the blood from his face to see what was happening. He didn't see anyone else around, and once he saw the ebony monster, he saw why it was seemingly dying. Blood was running through all of its wounds, to the point that it no longer looked ebony because it was drenched in its own blood. If anything, it seemed like the creature was finally out of blood. Iratus grasped his sword and crawled over to the monster to stab into its head, which seemed to be enough for the ebony monster to finally collapse and become unmoving.

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Chapter 89

Iratus continued to breathe heavily, and taking a break only helped so much. He finally began his trip home, though he could not stand. His right hand was stinging in pain, and he had trouble moving it, but it didn't stop him from using his arms to drag himself down the road. His legs were mangled, but sometimes he would walk on his knees. At one point, he tried to stand on his wounded leg and jump home, but he discovered that while his wound wasn't too bad, it didn't seem possible to force all of his weight on it. Thus Iratus began his very long trip home, crawling slowly to the tower.

It took probably an hour, but Iratus finally crawled all the way to the tower and managed to bang on the door. His friends were able to haul him inside after their shocked surprises, and they managed to set him on some sheets. While wrapping and washing his wounds, they conversed, and Iratus was able to tell them everything that happened and how he was able to slay the ebony monster.

Iratus, "What about the medicine? Was there any?"

Ignis, "Favored we are that most medicine is universal between many species."

Resonantia, "Heinrich explained it once to me. We all have biological similarities and pharmacological compatibility to the point that almost all medicine works between our species. Most."

Ignis, "Deeply troubled we are in as antibiotics are a complicated matter of the most logical extreme. The bacteria in this world follow the same...whatever Heinrich calls them, which means antibiotics usually have reduced effectiveness or no effect at all. Now we are satisfied that we train folk found some medicine explicitly made for the diseases here."

Iratus, "Wait what? Look, I know a lot about diseases but this is starting to out weigh my people's knowledge. Ok, so I have a question. How does one have technology in this chaotic world to make medicine just for the people here?"

Resonantia, "On the train, we've seen many empty cities and buildings. However, we did see some towns and fortress-like buildings made by the inhabitants, I mean people like us. Apparently, civilizations have popped up here before, and while I don't know why they have collapsed, some most definitely fell to the gray masks."

Iratus, "The anti-civilization monsters? I wonder if your train crashing was due to them."

Ignis, "By the time Resonantia joined us, we had found an abnormal amount of harassment from them. A strongly depressive emotion will be upon us if they have us in their sight."

Iratus, "So we still have a threat around us, traveling or staying here, then? We got rid of two major threats, and now we have this. Wait, I think that blob of ebony goo is still down in the tunnel. We've got to do something."

Victoria walked up, bringing fresh water for Iratus.

Victoria, "Yeah, no. Here, drink this."

Iratus, "Thanks."

Victoria, "Gonna take forever to repair your gambeson again. It has been torn and burned everywhere."

---

Chapter 90

The 10th day came, and Iratus, despite his critical injuries, was able to get around, albeit slowly. He was also covered in medical bandages from all of his wounds. Iratus sat next to the girls, minus Aestus, who ate her breakfast and returned to resting. The girls each made a piece of papyrus paper. There were probably enough stems for three sheets of paper, and the process would involve peeling away the outer layer, layering the strips, pressing, drying, and then finally polishing the sheets.

Iratus was unable to partake in the craft as his right hand was still messed up. He slowly regained its use as the day went on, and while the girls worked, Iratus was only able to talk and roll some dice. His wooden dice were hastily made with only a knife to craft them with, so he rolled them and kept track of the numbers rolled to see how balanced they were, one die at a time. He had plenty of time.

The papyrus paper wasn't pretty, but it was functional despite being made by non-papermakers.

Iratus, "Perfect, now we just need to make the ink."

Victoria, "It took seven days to make these!"

Iratus, "No, it took six days to soak and another day to put them together."

Victoria, "I ain't going to like making more of these, let me tell you."

Iratus, "As I was saying, ink."

Victoria, "I'll make the glue tomorrow; it's way past time we got to sleep for the day."

Ignis, "I've been meaning to ask about this. Doesn't animal glue take weeks to make?"

Iratus, "Ah, no! Don't say that."

Victoria, "Is this a bad time to say that I have never actually made animal glue?"

Iratus, "After today, that's two days to make the ink. No, one because the day after is the day we are suppose to deliver it."

Ignis, "Perhaps we make ink known to my lands. I've spotted some plants that could be used for the starch-based ink. On a side note, we really should grow a garden; not only would that help in making ink but also greatly improve our diet."

The conversation lasted for a little longer before everyone started heading out, as it was very late in the night. Iratus was able to hug the wall and climb the stairs to his room. Iratus closed his eyes as the day came to an end.

---

EPISDOE 9: END

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Episode 9 End Character Sheet
Name: Iratus Lionheart
Species: Mousefolk
Age: 14
Coverings: Blonde Fur, White Gambeson (moderately damaged, leather patchwork), leather gloves
Weapons: Long Sword, Knife, Bow
Equipment: belt, belt bag, water skin, leathercraft backpack, 2 bags, 33 oval copper coins, 7 small silver bricks, 6 gemstones
Community Stash: a fire starter, whetstone, small metal pot, several leather items, a lot of animal bones, a lot of animal hide, 3 glass jar, 50 oval copper coins, 1 fish net, primitive sewing kit, trowel, woodcutting axe, several wooden spears, crossbow, some woodcarving pieces, wooden dice, lots of sheets, metal scrap, a tarnished silver brooch, fifteen ancient coins, a small ornamental figurine, a brass ring, a handful of sparkling glass beads, weathered leather-bound journal, a dainty silver bracelet, a small wooden trinket box, a collection of delicate, hand-painted porcelain charms, lots of rusted metal, several small fish nets, short sword, box of unknown ammo, tailor craft backpack, some medical supplies, surgery tools.
Home Base, Tower: Large Storage Area (many crates and clay pots), Basic Butchering Area (few tools, smoking rack), Basic Workshop Area (some tools), Kitchen Area (many tools), Outside Makeshift Tannery, Muddy Hole
Wounds: Left Leg bitten (moderately severe), Right Foot dislocated (fixed with lingering pain), Right Hand (limited functionality), Torso bruised (greatly damaged and somehow no internal problems) Face (multiple fractures, significant swelling, troubles seeing)

Year 0, Day 11

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(Extra Stories)

Extra Story 1
(The night of Day 7) The campfire was starting to die down. Two imposing figures sat around the fire in a familiar mine entrance. These people wore a mix of their formal regal attire along with some patchwork cloths from Nexus Prime. The first was a white-furred male rabbitfolk with short blonde hair, with the second being a white-furred male goatfolk with long blonde hair. Both figures were tall, muscular, and old, with their fur giving out from their age, and both wore golden crowns on their heads. Against the wall was the large bag Iratus would see later. At the rabbit's feet was a great sword, and at the goatman's was a battle axe, similar to a Dane axe.

Goatfolk, "I've been thinking. The dark man didn't take her body. Clamor, I think these things don't eat people."

Clamor, "And how does that help us with our no-food situation? Look, I'm sorry your bug ant and girlfriend died, but Provocatio, we have to stop thinking about what happened today and get out of here as soon as possible." His voice almost didn't fit his stature and was a bit on the fast side of speaking.

Provocatio, "I know, but hear me out. You know how that black mass ate that giant fox? My people have a story written about the birth of our species. We were nothing but a mass of shadow buried far beneath a mountain. They were angels cast out of heaven, and being in darkness for so long made them lose who they were. After many years of asking for forgiveness, God finally sent many goats into the mountain, where they would find the place where the angels were kept. The goats walked off of the cliff and into the pit, where the angels used the skin, bones, and flesh to hold their almost formless selves. They were able to walk out of the mountain and became the first of us."

Clamor, "Is that pagan non-sense or blasphemous heresy? Assuming any of that is true, it is strange to allow His angels to ascend. I mean, I guess in new forms, sure, but still, that is quite the stretch."

Provocatio, "But you can see the similarities."

Clamor, "Being here, I've heard many religions and creation stories, and they all sound crazy to me. No offense, but you have to agree about your ancestors being black goo now trying to kill us."

The goatman took off his crown and set it in front of the sack.

Provocatio, "I'll miss you."

Clamor, "While I love these kinds of symbolic stuff, we are taking her sack. Anyways, what does your story have to do with those ebony things not eating your lover?"

Provocatio, "Maybe they can't; we are people after all. We have souls, which may contaminate our bodies. There might be something with this information we can use to kill these things."

Clamor, "I'd love to test any theories you have some other time. Unless you want to throw a dead person into that goop?"

Provocatio, "I think it is worth a try."

Clamor, "Buddy, I love you; you saved my hide when I was in serious trouble. I've traveled with you for over a year now. When the blackest day happened to us for the second time, you ran outside to safeguard me until we got back to the base. Now I just want to say that I ain't murdering anyone, manipulating anyone, or really desecrating a corpse by feeding it to that abomination."

Provocatio, "Hold on, if we found a dead person, you still wouldn't give it a try?"

Clamor, "The lord's children deserve better than having their corpses destroyed like that."

Provocatio, "Wow, I didn't think anyone was more zealous than my people."

Clamor, "Everyone should be zealous for the one and only Lord."

Provocatio, "Too much."

Clamor, "Sorry, I forgot that not everyone gives service to the Almighty as much. Would you believe this isn't the first time I've apologized to a heathen?"

Provocatio, "I like to think that the one I worship is the same god."

Clamor, "For your soul, I hope so. I tell you what, if I died and my body could be used for the benefit of others, I'd take it. If we find any dead bodies, I think it's reasonable that they'd say the same thing. How about we try to find that train again tomorrow? We never did find out if it was down here."

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Extra Story 2
(The morning of day 10) The camp came into view as the group of Avaritia, Heinrich, Gelus, and Clamor, now without his crown, walked up into the campsite.

Clamor, "You three still have not told me why we came here other than a safe place. I can smell those oily metalheads."

Heinrich, "Strange, yes. Our other two group members should have eliminated them by now. Maybe they conserved ammo and...let some live?"

Gelus, "Don't call them friends. Those two hyenas are cruel and dangerous psychopaths. Considering how much they verbally threaten people's lives, I honestly hope they die here."

Clamor, "I'm starting to regret following you guys. Didn't you folks say that there is another group around here?"

Avaritia, "A bunch of children, actually. We plan on going back when they realize they can't survive here without us."

Heinrich, "I am three times as old as the boy who chased us out!"

Gelus, "Honestly, it was our fault for thinking they were normal children."

Avaritia, "Define normal."

Gelus, "Like living life in a safe environment, never knowing conflict, and being kids."

The other three stared with a dumbfounded look on their faces.

Gelus, "What?"

Avaritia, "I can't believe I followed your plan. Dude, that's not normal."

Gelus, "What, do teenagers fight in wars and stop having a childhood?"

Avaritia, "They obtain adult responsibilities. We even marry and pay taxes."

Gelus, "Well, it's wrong to do that to children. Teenagers shouldn't have to grow up and should enjoy childhood for as long as possible."

Clamor, "Spoken like a woman."

Gelus, "I will not tolerate sexism here."

Heinrich, "Don't worry, he does, and I am proof of that."

Gelus, "And I shouldn't! You killed a lot of people."

Heinrich, "No, no, I tried to protest. I had no idea what was happening."

Clamor, "With all of this arguing, I know that you three are good friends. Now how about those kids and their tower?"

Avaritia, "Maybe later today or tomorrow; luckily, Iratus seems like a devout follower of God, so he'll accept our apologies. We are here to ask the hyenas to stop being arseholes and listen to reason.

Gelus, "Oh my god, that is why we came here? We are going to get killed!"

Clamor, "Wait, yesterday you complained about all my god talk; what changed?"

Gelus, "It's just a saying."

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