Eclipse of the Damned || Original Story ||

Chapter 11

A mountain cave sat hidden beneath layers of jagged rock, overlooking a valley blanketed in mist.

The air here was thick with the chill of the mountain, the kind of cold that seeped into bones and refused to let go. Inside the cavern, though, there was a warmth that flickered in the heart of the darkness—a small fire, its flames casting long, shuddering shadows against the rough stone walls.

Two hulking figures sat near the fire, wrapped in quiet conversation, while a third—much smaller—curled up on the stone floor, wrapped in layers of worn blankets. The child slept soundly, her chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm that was the very picture of innocence, a stark contrast to the brutal world around her.

Linzara, a tall, lanky creature with a goat-like appearance, leaned forward toward the fire, her fur-covered arms bracing against the cold stone floor. She had large, powerful hands that resembled lion's paws—thick, calloused pads with curved claws hidden beneath her fur, poised and ready to swipe at any threat that dared to come too close. Linzara's fur was dark, almost black in places, with patches of soft pink skin that peeked out along her face, chest, and the inner parts of her arms. She had an unsettling grace to her, despite the roughness of her appearance, and her features, though haunted, held a kind of quiet beauty.

Three large, expressive eyes—each framed with shadowed, delicate lashes—watched the cave entrance with a restless vigilance. Her ears twitched with every distant sound, tracking movements from beyond their refuge.

"More of them are coming lately." Linzara murmured, her voice a low whisper that barely disturbed the air. She had an unsettling sense of alertness in her demeanor, as though she was always waiting for something to happen. Her voice dropped even further, a thread of nervousness winding through it. "They know most of us are here now."

A fine mane of spiked black fur circled her neck, giving her an almost regal appearance, despite her otherwise nervous posture. Her horns, smooth and curved like the sweeping arc of a ram's, gleamed faintly in the firelight, while smaller, twisted tufts jutted from her head like a crown of thorns. The soft rasp of her fur brushing against the stone as she shifted forward seemed unnaturally loud in the stillness.

"We won't be able to stay hidden like this any longer." she added, her words heavy with resignation.

Next to Linzara, Beelo sat with his massive bulk. His frame was solid, imposing—he resembled an insect more than an animal. His exoskeleton, rough and greenish-brown like worn armor, covered his muscular limbs and clattered with every movement. His head was a dark, featureless shell with only a gaping mouth lined with jagged teeth—so wide that it almost seemed as if he could swallow a grown man whole. Two long, sinuous antennae extended from his head, twitching nervously as they both listened to the silence beyond the cave.

His posture was a stark contrast to Linzara's—beefy arms crossed over his broad chest, legs sprawled out lazily before him. A ripped blue cloth hung around his waist, the only trace of any clothing he bothered with. It was his only concession to modesty, and even then, it didn't seem to fit properly. But it was enough. In his mind, anyway.

"We can handle them." Beelo growled, his deep voice filling the cave like the rumble of distant thunder. "Exorcists may have tricks, but they're just flesh in the end—same as any other meal we get." He spoke with an air of indifference, as though his words alone should be enough to erase the concerns that were troubling Linzara. There was no real conviction behind them—no belief in the certainty of his own words.

Linzara shot him a sharp look, her three eyes narrowing. "It's not that simple, Beelo." she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of frustration and fear. "We're talking about people who know how to hunt creatures like us. They have... techniques, tools. I've seen what they can do." Her hand gestured vaguely as though to show her exasperation, her claws slicing through the air. "It's getting harder and harder to get by when food is getting scarcer by the day!"