Burning Shadows (Chapter 2)

“ . . . and then he left with Kra Li’l!” The headmaster’s eyes hardened and he dismissed the tearful girl with a wave of his tentacle.

“Is there a problem headmaster?” The headmaster, an aged lavabious creature vaguely reminiscent of both a lobster and an octopus did not turn his wizened head when he responded.

“That idiot Soofor managed to convince Kra Li’l to accompany him on an unauthorized investigation of one of our old silos.” The headmaster’s aide started, but quickly recovered.

“Shall I dispatch a rescue party?” Slowly a crusty eyelid creaked shut over the globulous eye as the aide waited patiently for a response.

* * *

Slimy and covered in verdure unimaginable, Notek emerged victorious onto the barren surface. One coughing fit later and Kra Li’l’s wearied body was likewise hauled to the lip of the rounded opening. The two youths collapsed back onto the ground, gasping for sustenance in the coarse, dry air. It was some time before either of them spoke.

“I’m never gonna’ get this crap out of my hair” Notek moaned, running his fingers through his locks, now darkened with filth. In between pained breaths Kra Li’l spoke.

“It’s a good . . . thing you found that . . . tunnel. We . . . probably wouldn’t have . . . .” He lapsed into another, more vociferous, fit of coughing, spitting blackened blood onto the dust. Notek sat upright and stared worriedly at his partner.

“Kra, you alright?” Notek noted the dimming of his friend’s usually bright skin. “Listen, you just stick here, I’m gonna’ go get a ‘port and a medteam. How’s your symbiote?” Kra Li’l’s dark eyes rolled up in pain.

“Feeling . . . weak . . . Li’l . . . is gone . . .” Notek recoiled in horror as the cold blue of Kra Li’l’s skin began to sweat black droplets. Hesitating, he finally compelled his feet to obey: he leapt into a frantic sprint back towards the school.