Book 2 Chapter 24

They stood, tensed, readying themselves for the Beast’s onslaught. Tirr channeled his Blessing, ready to cast a shield if it resorted to its species acid attack. Maria readied Bren’s hammer, intent on slowing the creature down if it started to try and shift to its full size. At the same time, icicles formed and swung around Nerida, ready to pierce through the creature in a single strike.

Having finished their preparations they started forward, only to see the Beast collapse with a small cry, seemingly having lost its footing on the slippery rocks. They stopped themselves, watching as it struggled to right itself before slowly continuing towards them.

The menacingly slow approach now looked almost comical as the Beast struggled towards them. They softened their stances, confused, as they watched it carefully. Suddenly, Tirr broke away as he moved forward, walking confidently towards the wobbling monster.

“Tirr!”

“Lord…” Maria and Nerida both started, watching anxiously as the young god approached.

Tirr kneeled next to the starfish, now only the size of an adult’s hand. Its once bright colors now seemed pale and lifeless. It ignored his presence, continuing its way towards the others.

Curious, Tirr waited for it to take another slow wobbly step forward before reaching out with a finger to poke at it just as it was off-balance. The Sea Beast tumbled with another cry, struggling as it tried to right itself once more. Maria and Nerida watched, seemingly convinced by the display.

“What’s wrong with it?” Maria asked as she approached where Tirr still knelt.

“I think Garm wounded it worse than we thought…” Tirr replied, still watching the Beast as it swayed. He reached down again, this time directly picking it up as he turned it over in his hands.

The Beast was too weak to resist as Tirr turned it to and fro, eventually settling on the wound left by Garm’s massive fangs. The wound was ugly, blood slowly seeped out of what seems like a mix of charred and torn flesh.

He set it down again watching as it once more resumed its wobbly march. Ignoring them once again as it moved steadily forward. Tirr watched it for another moment, his eyes following the line the Beast seemed to be traveling until he came to where Nerida pack sat. Understanding quickly lit in his eyes.

“It must have smelled the food…” Tirr stated, standing as he wiped his hands off on his trousers. “Probably too weak to catch anything itself anymore.”

“What is it even doing here? Aren’t we trying to find out what might have made them leave this place?” Maria asked, looking at the weak-looking thing in front of them. “Why did it come back? And where are the rest of them?”

“Perhaps it thought it didn’t have much time left and wanted to spend its last moments at its old home?” Nerida suggested as she stepped towards the creature with a determined air. “It probably left its children to wander elsewhere and came here on its own.”

Once she reached the swaying figure, she lifted a hand, icicles formed in the air as she focused on the blue shard set in her chest. “Whatever the reason, At least it this means it will be easy to finish off…”

Maria looked at her in shock as she saw the thin spikes of ice form, “What are you doing?”

Nerida looked back at her confused, “I thought it was obvious… I’m killing it.”

Maria looked at the still wavering Beast, “But it's helpless…”

“It became god’s enemy, so it deserves death,” Nerida said plainly, unsure of why it was even a question.

“But ...” Maria started, she thought back to the sight of the town in ruins and its blood painted streets and couldn’t help but agree that it would be better to finish it… Yet… She looked towards Tirr, unsure of how to put her feelings into words.

Nerida saw her look and stayed her hand stepping back to look towards Tirr as well. “What are your orders, my Lord? Whatever you wish for I will make it happen.” She smiled pleasantly at him as she spoke.

Tirr looked at the Beast on the ground and frown. At this point, it had fallen again and was too weak to try and move once more. Instead, it lay on the ground, occasionally letting out a mournful cry.

Tirr thought for a moment, “Was there any more food?” He asked Nerida suddenly.

“Yes, my Lord…” Nerida answered obediently. “I made extra just in case. And there’s more stored away on the ship as well.”

Tirr nodded, moving over towards Nerida’s pack, rummaging through it until he found another two sandwiches. He picked them both up and brought them back towards the Sea Beast, setting them down in front of its quivering figure. He then stood and began making his way towards the cavern entrance. “Let’s go…” He said over his shoulder as he left.

Nerida grabbed her pack and followed silently, smiling away as she followed after him. Maria took one last look at the Sea Beast. It had somehow found the strength to pull its body the last few inches towards the food Tirr had left and was silently eating…

She turned and jogged to catch up, slowing as she reached Tirr. “Was that all right? I mean that thing… those things… they killed so many people…”

Tirr was quiet for a moment, “The animals should take care of the animals and the humans should take care of the humans…”

“That’s...” Maria started, still unsure.

“It was its job to take care of itself and its children and it did it the best way it could. Protecting those people was the water priest’s job, and they abandoned it.”

“Then shouldn’t we heal it?” Maria asked, looking back towards the cavern's entrance. “Even with food it still might die…”

“If it survives on its own then it earned the right to live…” Tirr said nonchalantly. Nerida nodded along, agreeing with him.

Maria couldn’t help but smile at his hypocrisy…Then why give it food in the first place? But she kept that thought to herself as they continued down into the cold, damp cavern…