‘yes food.’ the specter answered with a flippant wave of its ghostly hand. it strode forward with silent steps, the shadowy form of the king cloak swayed around its legs. ‘and not fish or shells either.’
no, thatch had wanted to act like a beast and so it had made him one. now this simple beast thought to act like a man with its sweet childish music and simple words. this wouldn’t do at all! where was its own furious threwd? the hissed threats? the burning acid?
licurius’ stolen features were thunderous as the specter fumed. ‘you should be outside taking what you want.’ it said, ‘hunting, not being fed. and humans are so easy to hunt you know for all their bluster they whimper die as easily as rabbits.’ it continued to press its will upon the poor nadder, urging it to stop trying so hard to please the humans, to act like one, and follow that bogelish nature
The nadder lowered itself as the Threwd's presence thickened with displeasure. Had it done something wrong? Surely it was not angry that it had found an easy place to live and feed? With comfortable sand and delicious fish? Why would it go when it was so content here?
It followed the shadow, crouched down like a scolded hound as it sensed the pacing and mood of the Threwd. But as it went on and pressed its thoughts and will against it, a single indignant question burbled up from the nadder's mind.
"Why?" it rasped, stopping to sit up and look at its threwdish master. "Why? Food. Song. Safe. Why...?" Its voice trailed off, unable to find the word it was looking for, but instead pressing its own simple thoughts toward the dark specter. 'Why fight? Why threat? No harm here. Food. Shelter. Safe. Plenty. Why fight? Why fury?'
