Sneaking around the valley - with so many creatures thrashing around, engaging in small fights and charging for the castle as soon as they had space - should be exceedingly difficult. But the frog's mind wasn't as constrained as these masses': if approaching on the surface was impossible, then it would just go under. And as it turned out, the ground that had looked so regular and uniform - covered as it was by wriggling flesh - was anything but.

  There were deep gashes and caves crisscrossing their way throughout the entire valley, though different from anything it had ever seen. For one, their walls were a bit fragile, and kept giving under its weight if it wasn't careful to distribute it. And they were just so very . Outside, there had been a crevice, cave or anything such, that the bison couldn't stand at the base and still peek out of - wideness issues aside.

  These felt like bottomless pits. Perhaps actually so, as no matter how far down the frog went down to explore, there was always more to go. The unfortunates that got pushed down by the frenzy and failed to catch onto something were never seen again.

  All in all, it was no wonder that almost no creature tried its luck down here willingly.

  But for a mind as sharp as the frog's - with dexterous limbs to accompany that - it was as easy as walking. If it weren't for how thin the essence could get in here, it would almost be pleasant, especially compared with the mess above. A whole new layer of exploration was available almost exclusively to it! Though it wouldn’t try its luck any time soon deep down, where things got a bit more... volatile.

  If only these tunnels didn't all stop right as they got closer to the castle!

  No matter the angle one approached from, it was barred, and the blockages were much more stable than the walls around, for some reason. As if made of different material... Trying to mess with them was tempting, but the frog had only just arrived: better to try at least a few things before getting itself crushed by a cave in, or thrown into the void below. But there would be something to bar the way. If there weren't, more creatures would be trying their luck down here, no matter how treacherous the terrain.

  Ah, to be able to glide in like the owl!

  Twisting and turning back from its probing all around the hill was a bit painful, but soon enough, the frog was in perfect position to observe what would most likely be an enemy.

  Hidden in a sideways crevice into a harsh slope at one of the far reaches of the valley, the frog had a good view over one of the patrolling bands of guards, and could watch their behavior more carefully.

  Not that there seemed to be anything new to learn: they moved around close together, slaughtering anything in their way and adding the strongest to a pile close by.

  Occasionally, single guards would break formation to go recover the body of a stronger creature. Because there were myriads of bodies lying around, the frog now realized. Some even pretty strong. Usually, scavengers and non would flock to these things if they were this free for the taking, but apparently everything here were so single-mindedly focused on reaching the collateral that they didn’t care about anything else.

  Other times, a small group would break formation to engage a stronger creature relentlessly and wouldn't stop until it either ran away or the fight was over. It never ended in the creature’s favor, its body dragged back and set on top of the others.

  After the pile had grown large enough, they would haul it back to the castle.

  This close, the frog felt even more disquieted, but still couldn't understand where this feeling was coming from.

  They might be violent, but so was almost everything in this world. Actually, they were more similar to the frog and its friends than to predators, because all these creatures around where assaulting what was clearly their haven. They might just be defending it, just like the frog and its friends would theirs.

  Only with unreasonably greater effectiveness.

  What they wanted with the bodies was far more mysterious, and might be linked to the bad feeling. But how?

  Also, they felt... weak. At least compared to how undefeatable they appeared. Though the impression from them was much stranger and more subdued.

  By now, the frog felt confident in its ability to correctly assess the essence of a creature and determine its strength. What it got from these ones though... it was off. As if some fundamental parts were not how they were supposed to be, and what stood in their place was too slippery, too twisted, to properly grasp. Sight glossed over them, turning out nothing but a spooked shiver, and instinct insisted they weren't that strong, no matter that they could so easily defeat purportedly much stronger opponents and effortlessly hold their haven against endless numbers.

  ... Still, the frog knew that it could handle those guards. Maybe even the whole group. They were nothing compared to the owl, and the bison would just stomp them without even noticing. So it wasn't their strength that put it on edge.

  But then what?

  Of course, observing from safety would only get it so far: it needed something more direct. Maybe they would even turn out to be friendly, if approached peacefully?

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  Despite its optimism and recent positive experiences with the newly acquired friends, the frog wasn't simple. Escaping from the patrol should be easy with how slow they were, but better to wait for one of them to get separated from the rest.

  It was just caution. Nothing to do with how much these things spooked it.

  In any case, with how enthusiastically the guards chased after strong opponents, there was no shortage of opportunities. And soon the frog found itself very close to a guard that had just downed a pretty strong fennec, far away from the rest. Conveniently, before dying, the predator had also scared away most others nearby: they would be undisturbed for a good while.

  This would be the perfect first contact. Because this guard's missing arm, the limp and the generally very battered appearance invoked a sense commonality in the frog. Certainly not because it was by far the one in the worst condition it had seen yet, and possibly the easiest to push around with that lone, puny arm.

  It let the guard approach the fennec at its leisure, only moving once it had reached the body. Letting the thing take its time was a more peaceful approach, especially if the frog walked up very, very slowly, after. Which also allowed it to witness the preliminary work done to the bodies of creatures they hunted.

  The guard was cutting indiscriminately with the edge of its spike, damaging bones, stones and muscles. It was a completely pointless endeavor, but as long as it took care not to- and then the guard pierced the gem into uselessness.

  ... Why?

  That was the that was precious in all these predators lurking around! The one thing that needed to be cared for.

  What was the point in hunting them, otherwise? What was the point in taking possession of the bodies, if the gem was completely ruined?

  So flabbergasted was the frog, that it didn't realize when it crossed a threshold, garnering the guard's attention. Though the sudden way with which it turned was a good reminder.

  … Or at least, the frog thought it had turned.

  Just like any guard, its large, curved, bumpy plates covered it completely - no trace of eyes or mouth or anything to understand it. Only at the joints of its limbs did the shell stop, but even those were covered by that same hard material.

  This one even had a huge growth covering the stump of its limb, for good measure.

  Still, the frog felt a gaze pinning it down and stopped walking, for fear a provoking a fight. There was a small moment where both of them stood stuck.

  Then, the guard started approaching in that slow, choppy gait of theirs, accompanied by a strange, recurring sound.

  The frog didn't move, curious where this would go, and trying to listen better: it didn't feel like a result of its movement, of the plates rubbing against each other, as it had initially thought. It was far stranger.

  The closest thing to the sound were the cries some creatures made when in distress. But this was more... measured. Contained. Without any of the passion creatures put into their screams. It didn't feel as raw. Though much more unnerving and... melodious.

  Then, it realized that the guard was much, much bigger than expected... and that it wasn't slowing down!

  The frog jumped back and to the side, handily out of the way of the spike, and stared resentfully at the guard. These things had felt different enough from the others around, it had hoped they would be more open-minded. Truly disappointing.

  Well, not that it had ever expected a different outcome, deep down. Not with their level of violence. Not with how clearly wrong they were.

  But the guard didn't let up and started chasing the frog around, trying to poke holes into it with the same unshakable determination their kind had with the stronger creatures, strange chattering always in the background.

  Unfortunately for it, even if the frog likely wasn't stronger or any quicker, it was much smoother.

  The guard would never catch up.

  With a quick look around to confirm that there were no reinforcements coming, it decided to test this creature, to tease its tricks out.

  ... but got bored soon.

  There was just not much to see: the guard would only walk forward and lunge with its spike. Coupled with the jerky movements, it was simply ineffective. And it felt very uncomfortable to be close to, besides. As if it could debase the frog by sheer proximity.

  Time to go on the offensive. Perhaps it would show some more, then?

  The frog kicked the thing hard onto its chest plate... but the strike just thudded weakly, barely pushing the enemy back at all. Fortunately the frog had been expecting something similar and jumped out in time to avoid the counter spike. Of course such a bulky shell wouldn't be just for show.

  In any case, if hitting the armored part was useless, then there was a tried and true strategy.

  During its observation before and during the fight now, the frog hadn't located any glaring weaknesses like with the porcupine or the crab. Though the joints looked promising: they seemed made of the same substance as the plates, but they must be softer. How could they bend otherwise?

  So, the frog dodged under the next lunge... and tackled low, grabbing for the offending arm. As they both crashed on the ground, it started biting and clawing at the joint, which indeed felt much more vulnerable - its claws and teeth digging deeper and deeper.

  The guard tried to fight back, but when its only means of attack was kept in a firm hold, it could only struggle pointlessly. It had no mouth to bite and its only other hand was missing at the shoulder. And even had it been there, how would that huge plate it would be holding be any help? The frog kept digging and digging as usual, confident of its victory by now...

  until the guard's chattering changed into a haunting whining, and something slipped inside it.

  Something ineffable, unexplainable. Something at the very edge... A whisper.

  It was only a vague sensation, barely there. Gone before it could be properly tasted. And yet a terrible foreboding seized the frog, and it immediately kicked off the guard, landing some distance away. It kept a wary eye on the enemy, as it clumsily got to its feet.

  Whatever that had been, the frog had never felt its like before. Rather... perhaps something had been similar? though it couldn't really remember what...

  Then, the guard started coming again, and somehow it was faster. Not anything incredible or worrying, but still something felt terribly off. Its gait was still every bit as awkward as-

  the enemy lunged so impossibly fast that only paranoia saved the frog. And the tip still dug into its chest.

  Its thick skin absorbed most of the impact, luckily, and it wasn't too painful when it stumbled back and got the tip slid out. But the guard didn't give it any time to rejoice and launched into another attack, and another and another...

  Its arm had been almost entirely cut off, but that didn't seem to deter the creature one bit. Even with the sheer violence of its strikes, they were only getting faster and stronger.

  The frog was immediately pushed to its limit, jumping all around, trying to dodge everywhere it could. But the guard was relentless. All too soon, its foot got caught in a nook, making it stumble and fall to the ground.

  And then, the guard was on it.