Chapter Text
A desolate planet… A cold lump of rock drifting in the orbit of a dying star.
Or so it seemed.
Harsh blizzards beat down on the surface were painted a soft red from the dim glow of a once great sun though it had been aeons since those glory days. Yet, the fresh snowy sheets were rife with various footprints as this planet continued to thrive despite the minimal contact with surrounding solar systems. Various bug-like beings skittered across the desolate plains, similar to those seen on our home, Earth.
A lonely isopod crawls along the side of a rock pile, frost covering it’s fragile shell. It’s antennae feel around for any potential food, completely oblivious to the large, drooling maw lunging down. The poor thing was swept up in an instant as it met an untimely end. The larger creature chews for a while, ruffling it’s wool and laying down with a satisfied bleat. It’s appearance resembled that of a sheep although with some major alterations such as it’s third set of legs and strong jaws lined with razor sharp teeth.
The “sheep” scratched at it’s thick fleece as it felt a constant crawling along it’s skin, the major flaw of it’s species being incredibly prone to parasites as they nestle in the wool and feast on it’s blood. It rests it’s head on the rock in front of it, exhausted. It’s efforts for scraping the surface for any morsel of food were in vain as the leeches attached to it constantly drained it of it’s blood and it’s energy by proxy.
As it’s breathing slows, the surrounding world seemed to stand still. The woollen beast laid against a boulder, unmoving. It savours it’s last moment after a lifetime of struggling, forced to finally be at peace…
The distant crunching of snow slowly advancing caused it’s ears to prick up and it slowly begins to stand. The creature turns in the direction of the footsteps and bleats aggressively, baring it’s teeth. It’s pupils narrow as a large pair of glowing yellow eyes pierce through the fog and falling snow. The larger creature snarls and lunges at the weakened beast, sinking both their teeth and mandibles into it’s neck, quickly putting it out of it’s misery.
The larger creature lets out a huff and begins to drag the carcass to the entrance of a cave, their claws scraping across the stone floor. They head down into the depths, back to their home where several others of their kind crowd around the carcass, ready to prepare it for eating.
Many more Peniliens poked their heads around the winding tunnels hearing the news of fresh meat, clicking their mandibles in excitement. The hunter who’d returned with the sheep shakes the snow out of their fur and proceeds to greet each of their peers with an affectionate nuzzle on the cheek before helping them prepare the mutton by shearing off the wool which would be used as bedding in the nursery.
Several successful hunts later, the rest of the Peniliens living in that sector gather for a feast, pleasantly chattering amongst themselves as they eat their meal. The bowls quickly empty and a young bug tries to squeeze in to take her fill, being quickly dismissed by her elders. She manages to reach a paw past their shoulders and snag a bowl for herself.
She sits off to the side and chews for a while, despite the meat being shredded beforehand, it still had a toughness to it. The crowd later dissipates as they eat their fill and the sound of yawning echoes off the cave walls as most are ready to settle down to get some sleep. Most of them leave for their sleeping quarters while a couple stay to clean up.
“Why are we always the ones to clean up after them?...” One chatters to the other.
“Because you’re not old enough for a proper role yet, cousin…”
“So tending to grubs all day is not a proper role huh?... Damien, be serious with me now…”
The other stammers a bit, “Cass-”
“Just say it’s because I’m a runt… I know you don’t want to hurt my feelings, just please don’t lie to me…”
“Cassandra…” Damien gives a sympathetic look and they collectively decide to drop the subject.
The two continue to clean up, washing the stone bowls and stacking them neatly in the corner although unwanted thoughts kept crossing Cassandra’s mind. She was noticeably shorter than other Peniliens her age, she’d heard it was from her hatching prematurely but she wasn’t entirely sure.
They head off to the sleeping quarters and settle down, nestling amongst the other sleepy bugs. It was crowded but comfortable, Cassandra thought, although it would become a problem when the grubs grow up and move out of the nursery. She curls up as the others’ purring lulls her to sleep.