Food on the Table

The darkness from the deepest depths of the Alpha labs began to slowly melt away. With every footstep the air began to change, it was warmer here and moisture came with every tepid breath. It was a strange sensation in comparison to the bitter cold down below, but a welcome change for Ruin and her little hoard of 'companions'. Afterall, Ruin wasn't hanging around this lot by choice, though that hardly mattered as they made their way upward upon the spiraling metal stairs. Off to areas unexplored, having heard rumors that there was an abundance of prey up above. 

Each one of them wanted to get up there for their own selfish reasons. Some to prove themselves worthy of the hunt, others for a hearty meal... for Ruin, well, she was just following orders of a deranged and troublesome tyrant who called himself a King. 

Yet, King or not, they all would need to be cautious. The bigger Acros below had no problem tearing adolescents like them apart- literally- for stepping into their Territory and stealing what was percieved as their food. Thus this impromptu mission above was one of great risk, but it was their youth and their grumbling stomachs that compelled them onward anyways. 

"Who's going to go first?" Mandias spoke, his red and black markings unmistakable- even down here in the dim dark. 

"I think it should be Doom, the rest of you lot will scare off the game otherwise." He added, much to the annoyance of Doom who had hoped to sit this one out. 

"Well I think Ruin should go first. She always talks a big game, I'd like to see it." She spoke, her voice laced with goading. 

Ruin ignored the comment, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other as they ascended further up. The metal of the stairs scraping underneath her claws, echoing softly around the barren room. 

"Oh come on Ruin, you're telling me you're too much of a hatchling baby to go first?" Doom insisted, getting closer to Ruin now, practically in her face. Doom was Ruin's clutchmate - her sister by blood - though the two of them always seemed to be hostile in some form or another. Maybe it was becausethey got seperated as hatchlings and by the time they had .reunited, blood wasn't enough to keep them close. However, they both ended up finding themselves owing the 'King'. Thus the two sisters were cordial enough to not tear each other apart but the animosity couldn't be ignored. 

"If it'll keep the lot of you quiet, then sure." Ruin spoke, not bothering to match her sisters eager gaze. No doubt she was excited to witness her downfall, though Ruin wasn't about to give her the satisfaction. 

Now, up at the top, Ruin peered onto the new level, crouched low so only the top of her head and eye could be seen over the ledge. A doorway loomed closeby, doors slashed open and barely hanging on its hinges. Claw marks belonging to bigger Acros than she had made these massive wounds. 

"Coast looks clear." Ruin spoke softly, turning around to the other two behind her. They nodded, small grins etching their features- a mischevious flicker playing in their gazes. 

"Hurry on up then 'Ru ru'- we don't have all day." 

Of course not. 

The clock was ticking, and there was no prey in sight yet. She'd have to hustle before someone or something noticed them up there. 

Cautiously, Ruin rose up from the steps, now firmly on the floor and approaching the open doors. The silence was palpable and eerie, like the tombs down in Acro territory... yet here the silence was more ominous- perhaps because it was an unfamiliar place, and Ruin didn't know quite yet what to expect. 

No matter, she would press on, putting the doorway now long behind her as she moved swiftly and silently down corridors. It was a surprise to see green the further in she went - vines clambered in every nook and cranny and wall. Giant leaves peppered the halls as well as vibrant, poisonous looking flowers. What a strange world Ruin had found herself in. Perhaps, she could explore for just a little longer... 

Her nose lifted up to one of the overgrown flowers, taking in a deep whiff of sweet aeromatics. Yet, her small little moment became short lived as Ruin froze. A pair of eyes suddenly caught hers from across the flowers petals. A strange dinosaur stood before her, spiked and long. Ruin hadn't noticed it before because of the pink of the dinosaurs body seemed to effortlessly blend Into the flower. 

They remained frozen there for a while, eyes locked, but neither dared to make a move. Ruin was absolutely sizing this dinosaur up, hoping to determine if this specimen was worth the hunt- especially given the large sharp spikes upon the body. She'd have to be efficient and quick to take it down. 

However, the dinosaur didn't hang around for long. The pink spiked meal seemed to scurry off in haste, leaving Ruin to make a split decision to chase or let it be. Ultimately, the prey drive was too strong, bringing Ruin charging after the creature as her stomach churned in hunger. She wanted to eat, she had to eat - and this somewhat smaller dinosaur seemed like her only option presently to satiate her. 

Thus, the chase began. Though thicker and more stocky, the dinosaur moved efficiently and with purpose. It knew this place and it was evident as the pink meal weaved and dodged and dipped down corridors and over walls and through overgrowth. If it wasn't for Ruins speed, she would have lost her mark already. Yet, she was growing weary of this particular hunt, hoping her meal would grow tired before she did. 

This situation did not come to fruition as the snack found itself at a dead end. How? Ruin wondered, given the creatures superior knowledge of this place, yet she didn't linger on the idea for long. 

Like dejavu they were frozen in time again- neither moved, though the fear In her preys eyes seemed to sum up how this encounter was supposed to go. "Sorry dear, but one has to eat." Ruin spoke, her mouth opening wide to show her teeth as drool began to drip out. 

She was salivating now, unable to stop herself as she imagined digging into her meal served up to her on a silver platter. It had nowhere to go, except into her jaws. So, she lunged, aiming for the neck and looking for a clean kill. Yet, she was hit hard by something she didn't expect, a tail with such force upon her head that her ears began to ring. 

Ruin stumbled, finding herself momentarily on the floor before trying to scramble back onto her feet. Her prey was trying to seize the opportunity and flee, but she couldn't let it. Not now! In desperation, Ruins jaws clamped around a leg- the warm gush of blood filling her mouth. She held on tight, as the pink creature wailed in protest, kicking and flailing to escape. Another solid whack of a tail to the face sent Ruins ears into more static and her eyes blurry, yet she was not about to let go. 

So, she held on. Teeth locked in for the longhaul - no matter what this dinosaur did to her, she was going to finish what she started. But, in order to do that, Ruin felt like she had hung on for an eternity, taking a beating again and again until finally her prey lay still, crumpled to the floor. 

It had been a hard fought victory, one Ruin was thankful to have succeed in despite the roar of her body in agony and the pitter-patter of her own blood upon the ground. She had won! Yes, she had done it. She was to return to the two Acros at the stairs victorious with her kill, proving herself someone to be feared and respected... or so she hoped. So, with everything she had left, Ruin dragged her pink prize back through the overgrowth on her way to the depths from which she came.