Meat is Meat

Blood exploded into the water as the jagged edged tines of the sahuagin king’s own trident ripped through the surface dweller’s pale flesh. Even as death claimed the human, Huaanton grabbed the man’s head, cracked the spinal column with his great strength, and finished the decapitation. Holding the head, Huaanton shoved the corpse back to the guards.

“Share the bounty of this brave warrior,” the sahuagin king commanded. “Let his flesh impart to you his courage and cunning. Meat is meat.”

“Meat is meat!” the crowd responded.

Huaanton stripped flesh from the head, savoring it with obvious gusto.

“Meat is meat!”

Turn Back While You Still Can

Jherek wanted to ask the shark what it was he was supposed to turn back from, but he couldn’t. The dream had him in its thrall and fear closed his voice. He still held the bucket, unable to let it go even now. His father’s rules still controlled him.

The shark opened its mouth, revealing rows of sharp teeth eight or nine inches long. It flicked its tail, speeding around him in a circle. Without warning, the shark dived for him, letting him know it was going to take him in one gulp.

Then die, boy, the shark said, that you might be eaten!

Blackness blotted out Jherek’s consciousness.