The little creature had slept all the way from Fornax. It was exhausted, it’s side slowly rising and falling, mandibles occasionally twitching and wrinkled brows furrowing. It had taken recently to hugging the tip of its maggoty tail with its frontmost four legs.
It might have been cute were it not for the place it dwelled in. It was completely hidden from view, soothed in part by the warmth of Pride’s body, and in part by the soft rocking motion as he walked. It was nestled deep in the centre of his belly, oblivious to the outside world.
@Amras
It wasn’t awoken by anything in particular, but somewhere along the line Squick began to stir. At first it huddled into itself, curling tighter, wrinkles deepening as it clamped its eyes shut. But soon it was fully awake and groggily uncurling. There was no cold this time, no hard shell to break out of. Looking around didn’t reveal much; it was too dark. Slowly the memories of Pride and its new home resurfaced and unfurled, and it remembered where it was.
It squelched softly with contentment, stretching each stubby limb in turn. Vaguely it was aware of a dull, muffled murmur of voices; the boom of pride’s sending vibrations throughout the entirety of his belly, but still largely illegible. It listened for a while, curious, before it set about to finding food. But alas, it seemed the deer hadn’t eaten since the contents of his stomach were emptied along with the parasite.
It felt around with its little mandibles for a time before giving up. It felt afraid for a moment, then remembered what Pride had said. Of course! Magic! Contact him with magic! The tiny creature surged with excitement, sinking down onto its stomach with little legs sinking into wrinkled tummy flesh as it squared its many limbs and tried to give Pride a nudge.
The little creature felt itself begin to softly glow, and excitement lit up its little features. But the light did not extend to Pride. A strange feeling overtook it; and it wasn’t a good one. It felt suddenly weak, little legs giving out and falling in all directions around it. A pain began behind each of its eyes, quickly spreading to the rest of it. Its hunger became acute, and yet its appetite nosedived- it feared that anything it ate would be quickly lost. The little thing curled up again in a tight little ball, hiding its face and hoping it would go away soon.
Mr. Host? it thought out fearfully, hoping with childish innocence that he would hear, but somehow knowing that he wouldn’t. Pride would know what to do.
@Amras
The creeping pain lingered for a while, but as Squick curled up tighter, it gradually began to fade. To its disappointment and sadness, Pride didn't answer. Soon the nausea, too, had passed, and the parasite uncurled with an exhausted squishing sound. It was tired again, but antsier than before- hunger returning with a vengeance. It pattered and paced as it considered for a few moments what to do, before huddling close to one wall of Pride's stomach, as if for comfort.
It had little magical knowledge. It didn't know that this was normal, that magic simply required pushing through the failures until one found success. Squick was afraid.
It found itself at a crossroads; did it try to nudge Pride again using magic and risk it backfiring? or did it simply starve? Both options frightened it equally. The little one blinked slowly. At the present moment, its hunger was more pressing; the sickness had faded into the background. The little one made a decision. Cautiously it planted its paws and focused hard, tentatively, mandibles twitching.
Its gem glowed, illuminating the slick walls around it- veins of light connecting it to Pride. And to its relief, the feeling was pleasant this time- it was the magic that Squick remembered.
@Amras
