#cychus

Still working on that ref.

[the screaming was all around them—the Huntress could belch fire, somehow, and the trees were blazing, smoke thick in Cychus’ respirator as he barged through the flames]

[Everywhere hurt, everywhere burned. Coughing and spluttering, he found what he was looking for—small, soft, a pulse—and scooped it up in his mouth]

[The sparkling whimpered faintly as he carried it through the inferno, eyes streaming coolant. He couldn’t tell who it was—one of the mammals, maybe—but they were still alive, which was enough]

[Finally clearing the smoke, he collapsed on his side and spat out the youngling, along with a decent lungful of smoke and cinders. As the makeshift medics rushed to attend to the sparkling, Redruff sprinted over, tail wagging furiously]

Boss! Boss… you’re… Hah! [The dhole whistled loudly as the postosuchus forced himself back onto his feet, hide smoldering quietly] You’re a lot darker now, yowp!

Frag you, Ruff [the Raussie managed weakly, still exhaling smoke] I’d like to see you get your fur scorched off.

But you’re scaly, boss! Ain’t got no fur to burn, yowp! Much rather you than me!

Face it, Cychus! [the smaller gorgonopsid’s teeth are bared at his superior, a clear challenge] You’re no longer fit to rule this Clan! Not after what happened to—

How about you shut your mouth, yowp? [Redruff’s hackles are bristling beside the Clan leader, and there’s drool practically flying from the dhole’s mouth. On the other side of Cychus, Littlebelly is standing on his hindlegs, tiny paws firmly clenched into pink fists]

Calm down, Redruff. [Cychus just looked Wholetooth in the face, leaving his regret open for the younger to see] I did everything I could for Trod, and I’m sorry about what happened to him. He was an integral member of this Cl—

SHUT UP! [Wholetooth took a daring step forwards, but immediately froze as Littlebelly and Redruff sounded warning growls] … Not going to face me without your bodyguards, Cychus?

[the postosuchus ambled forwards, blue gaze fierce as he nudged his two advisors back] We’ve lost a good mech today, Wholetooth. Do you really want us to lose you, too?

[the whole Clan drew in their breath at once. Wholetooth twitched faintly, met Cychus’ gaze—and wavered. A second later and he was backing down, furry head lowered in submission] I… I know you tried, Cychus, but—

I tried. [the Raussie repeated in a firm voice] And I failed. I am not Primus, Wholetooth. Trod was already passing into the Well when I found him. Now be silent, you insolent whelp. Trod was your Primus-dammed tank-brother! Now mourn him like he was one!

[Wholetooth’s head lowered even further, and he made his exit, the Clan parting either side of the silenced gorgonopsid]

I hate doing this [Cychus mumbled out of the side of his mouth. Littlebelly placed a paw on the postosuchus’ neck, and Cychus glanced at the kangaroo rat questioningly]

We all hate it, big guy [the tiny mech squeaked] But the Huntress presses onwards… This is the third Clanner this month.

[it had been nearly a year since the pale Huntress had last bothered Cychus and his crippled tank-born—he lumbered slowly along the riverside, watching as Fidget sprinted on ahead. Or, rather, hobbled]

[The little postosuchus only had three legs.]

Slow down, sprog. [Cychus picked up the pace a little bit, shooting a worried look deeper into the heart of the forest] You haven’t recited the rules, have you—?

Ugh, keeeeeeps! [Fidget rolled into a mud puddle with a prolonged groan] We alwaaaaays—

It puts my mind at ease!

You’re never at ease. Old mech. [Fidget poked his tongue out and wiggled it, then yelped as Cychus flicked it with a claw] Awight, awight! Don’t wouch my dose!

[Cychus settled down patiently, and quirked an eye ridge. Fidget stood back up with a huff]

Rule number one - never, ever let humans see you. Rule number two…

… We never, ever, trespass on the Huntress’ land [they finished in unison]

And why do we never, ever trespass on her land? [Cychus gestured with one forepaw]

[there was a pause as Fidget gathered his breath, and then he grumbled] Because she’ll eat us alive.

Fidget? Fidget, sweetspark, where are you?

[the injured postosuchus forced himself to his feet—the feel of the Huntress’ jaws still linger, like the bite of a steel trap, cold fire burning in his belly and spine. Pale blue eyes slightly narrowed with pain, the elder Raussie limped out of the cavern]

[a tiny version of the larger reptile is resting on a sunning rock, scales pale greys and browns instead of dark red. With a sigh, Cychus flopped down beside the tank-born]

You’re not supposed to leave the cave, Fidget. You know how dangerous—

Did it hurt? [the sparkling squeaked suddenly, twisting around to look at his protector’s wounds] I… I saw when she—

Of course it hurt. [he gathered him closer with one paw, and started grooming behind his scaly crown, ignoring the high-pitched protests] But if I didn’t fight her, she would have eaten you, wouldn’t she?

… Yeah. [Fidget stopped struggling, although he spluttered when Cychus gave him a quick lick between the eyes] Keeps! I’m not a tank sprog anymore! I can clean myself—!

You’ll always be my tank sprog [the older mech chuckled]

… You promise, keeps? I mean… That we’ll always be here for each other?

The head of Cychus' bipedal form, which he never seems to use (on account of being way too fond of his bestial mode).