Blue, Red, Black, Yellow, Gray and White. Six siblings moved as one beneath treetops. Their small forms let them nimbly dodge larger predators. All moved on four lower limbs and all but one had another pair that stuck out from their back with leathery expanses. Ducking their long necks beneath a tangle of roots, they gleefully watched the menacing fangs snap fruitlessly in the air.
White crooned loudly, “Told you we could do it!”
“Only because Gray was on lookout!” Yellow reminded.
Blue and Black silently curled up in their nest as Red mocked, “Still, I ate the most while we were in its nest!”
“Cause you were stealing my share!” bickered Gray. Red and Gray began butting heads while White alternated cheering one side or the other on. Yellow ignored the scrapping and went to watch the entrance.
Since their awakening, the six had been inseparable. Their survival required it. Food was scarce and grew more so without requiring one to ambush an apex predator. They came in largely three types.
Moving on four limbs and with glittering collars around their throats were the Will, as they called themselves. These creatures moved in groups. But even isolated their shaggy fur resisted fang and claw. The Will’s glittering collars also contained a power. Able to manipulate a power, they could also call down storms, bolts of lightning or other effects. The six avoided them the most.
Bipedal and always armed with a weapon of some kind were the Zekish. Their weapons were often poisoned and had jagged edges to let the poison reach deep into an enemy. Though they worked together, it was easier to isolate the Zekish. They were easily distracted and fought amongst themselves frequently. What made them dangerous were the endless numbers of them that poured out from their dens.
Feared and dreaded by all were the forces of the Titan Rizark. His malformed forces were disorganized and readily fed upon one another. They altered all they came across and added to their numbers. The Titan itself was a huge being with skin pockmarked by rocks. His mass sent the world trembling with every stride he’d make towards opposing forces.
Despite the constant upheaval around them, the six had managed to carve out a small eye in the storm. Deception, death, dismemberment and disappearances kept the outside forces out. During the brighter hours, Gray, White and Yellow hunted around their Den. At night, the other trio alternated toying and decimating any threats.
Even when apart, the six were conscious of each other. An unseen connection was felt at all times. Through this bond the six coordinated their attacks, feints and escapes.
It was during this time that a messenger came. Standing at the limits of the Six’s domain, the Will roared day and night. And when one grew hoarse, another took its place.
First to inspect it was Gray, then Blue, then White and Yellow. They’d creep close but turn away after seeing no threat was present. FInally, all six stepped out to meet the source of the noise. As they stepped out, the light above grew blinding.
On a multitude of wings and with a writhing serpentine form that coiled around the clouds, appeared a being. The serpent spoke, “You six, I am the Goddess Lesara, one of those vying for these lands. I have an offer for you.”
Only white spoke up, unimpressed, “What could you offer us?”
“New lands, far from here. Away from the war where you will be free to live as you see fit,” The Goddess tempted.
Blue snickered, “And what prey will we consume in such a place?”
“Oh, your favorite prey are plentiful there. Your existences guarantee that. But surely you’re sick of having to see my children and their enemy?”
White cocked their head to the side. From their perch on a branch they asked, “And if we were to accept this proposal, what is it you want from us?”
“A simple task. Bring low Rizark. Whether simply crippling it so I may deliver the finishing blow or killing it outright I will let you choose.”
Black licked their lips before looking at Blue. Yellow and White shared a knowing smile. Red and Gray chuckled to one another. Plans had been in place to hunt them anyway. Why not pick up an extra boon?
“We may agree to your terms but we need to see the place you plan to bring us first,” White turned back to the Goddess. A portal opened, pouring a breeze with unfamiliar scents of fresh grass, clear, clean water and the chirps of small animals. All six sat in stunned silence, never had any of them imagined anything but the war ravaged world they’d known.
A bird passed through and landed on Gray’s head. Several chirps deafened the six before it passed back through. The portal closed and Yellow asked, “Was that real?”
“Y-yes, it was,” Blue stammered, clearly shaken the deepest.
Black stepped in front, “We will accept these terms but we will do so on our own. If you agree, have your servants bring us food regularly and we will leave the corpses of his army to show we still hold to the deal.”
“Agreed. Until your victory then,” The great serpent wound its head to vanish above the clouds. Sometime later its tail followed to vanish upwards.
Without a word, the six returned to their den. Each silently crouched on their beds.
White asked, “What scared you so much Blue?”
“T-the water there….it was….there was….so much of it,” Blue’s voice quaked even as it tried to articulate the feeling the world had evoked in it. Yellow and Gray nodded in agreement causing the others to look at them quizzically.
“I can’t really explain it better than this; We all know we share a connection to each other and a connection to something else.” Yellow said and took a deep breath. Looking up towards the others it explained, “Whatever that second connection is, for us it had never been as potent as when that portal opened. I want to know about that place. No. I need to go there. Even if it was a lie, I need to see what the lie is.”
Black tilted their head to the side. Their eyes scan the room before asking, “I assume it is the same for the other two. So, then shall we move on to how we shall topple that delicious meal…”
Each set of lips became a wry smile studded with fangs.
Time ticked past quickly.
At the border of the six’s domain, heaps of bodies regularly appeared.
Each time they were carried away and fragrant foodstuffs were left in their place.
Then, one night came.
In the darkest hours, the pitch black night made it almost impossible to see. Yet, each of the six moved with fluid grace through the undergrowth or amid branches. Fleeting blurs of movement came and went.
Scouts were silenced by Gray before the others would fall upon them, leaving yellow to bury the remains. Like this, the six tore through the night’s deadly forest. Their target perched upon a large hill. In the distance was a grand barbed tower. All seven of the Titan’s eyes were transfixed on the building.
Like any night, the Tower gave off brilliant purple sparks and eerie green lights. A show that spoke volumes of the cruelties delivered to those brought before the God of Hate who resided there.
Rizark’s servants dared not get too close to the Titan, lest it crush them without realizing it. This let the six sneak in close. Then it was Blue, Red and Black’s job. Their bites were toxic individually. Together, it would meld and make something potent enough to make a Titan weak.
Growing drowsy, the Titan would collapse and snore loudly.
All the while, the six feasted on him. Rending flesh enough that he’d barely have healed by the morning despite his ferocious regenerative powers. Long before he would wake, the six vanished into their territory to digest. Their own powers grew with each of these clandestine meals.