Last of a Dying Breed

Vemarra Taranis

Prologue

I can only remember back to a time when life was simple. When the world was young, and the planet was just being born. The rocks were barren, devoid of anything remotely alive. The only sustenance to sustain anything of substance, were the few minerals that were buried in the hardened earth itself.

Naturally, our existence in the first few thousand years were harsh and short. Brutality and competition were the ruling factors of our thoughts and hearts. We had no other desires, other than pure need to survive by any means necessary. This led, swiftly to conflicts among us, and caused great strife among our people. It left many dead, their bloated, rotting forms stinking among the barren rocks.

Yet, this also bred life. From death, came the first seed of our world. As the bodies decayed, the flora of our planet flourished, and the initial root of what would breed future prosperity took hold. Organisms began to start growing, and over the next few millennia we watched as they developed into more and more complex creatures.

Many of them were still primitive in nature, compared to us; they had no collective intellect, and valued individualism over the good of the whole. Their furred bodies were kept warm, even in the rough, frigid environments by the skins of their fellows. They warred, and killed each other out of pure necessity of survival.

Just as we used to do, long ago. In the early ages, when we knew not ourselves or the better ways we could survive and thrive together. In ways, I envy a lot of them. They live such, simple existences; unclouded by any notions of morality or remorse. This has made many of us curious, to watch them from secrecy. For they know not of us, the original masters. The observers, who lurk beneath the earth.

It is rare most of us travel to the surface. To leave the safety of our caverns and tunnels, our source of sustenance and propagation. Our clans and colonies remain protected and secure, safe from barbarism. Our children grow and are nutured, taught our collective knowledge for the betterment of our species.

What are we? I know the question may have been lurking since the moment these recollections were written. The answer is simple.

We are Lekgolo.

More specifically, I am the combination of many Lekgolo. Or, Mgalekgolo, as it were. Each of us, a simple worm. Yet combined together, we can form around natural objects or machinery and commandeer it to possess a stronger, more suitable form. Most of us in this process may look like mere hulking brutes of strength and nothing else; but in reality we are so much more.

There is a lot many will not understand, or ever be able to comprehend about us. But we are uncaring to this end. Mostly I am indifferent to even penning this record, were it not simply necessary to preserve my people's memory. For it is, in unfortunate happenstance, that I am the last of my colony on this continent.

This is due in part to our inherent nature. Unfortunately, we as a species value basic nutrition over most things in our basest form. Unlike those of us who have pulled together to be Mgalekgolo, who can carefully consider what we should ingest; the others have no filter.

There were once great artifacts of the ancients who came before us, scattered on this world. Left behind by a dying breed that has seemingly long since passed away. Now in our current age, these have been consumed and destroyed by the weaker-minded of our race who live as separate entities.

The direct result? Mostly that we have lost access to invaluable technologies that could have assisted our species in becoming more adept and dominant. And secondly, that my colony attempted to devour what I can only surmise as a geothermal refining facility. The ultimate consequence was that once the equipment became damaged and corroded by my lesser brethren, the facility overloaded and had a catastrophic meltdown.

What happened next shook most of the other clans and the world, and threw the surface creatures and their tribes into chaos for decades. It left most of my former clan dead and or missing; rendered many of the remaining Lekgolo feral. They fled, and left me as the only Mgalekgolo alive in the region.

It is an unfortunate fate, to be the last of my kind. I have no outer voices to talk with, or to discuss the research we had made progress on prior. I have, once more, only my innate desire to survive. To try to rebuild from the ground up. The only issue, is that the caverns were destroyed when the facility exploded nearby.

I am left, tentatively considering the surface as the only option for my initial survival. And my hopeful outlook is darkened by my knowledge of the savages who lurk at every corner. But most will not bother me. They know, seemingly on an instinctual level, not to cross us Mgalekgolo. With this, I find mild comfort. But I am still cautious. With care, I have taken steps to explore the local region.

It is strange, to walk the surface. To see all the thick flora. The massive towering trees whose leaves are made of odd needles. To feel the chill of the air, brushing against my collective body. The tangle of bushes that cling to my feet with each step, with the scent of some small flowers that are sickly sweet striking me every now and again. This world has changed much since my kind wandered its surface briefly in our youthful years.

I find that, there are markings in many trees. Primitively drawn and relatively crude. Claw-like in nature; but very clearly intended for use as a sort of directional sign. Perhaps these are made by the furred ones who dwell these lands. I am left to my thoughts. And I note the skies start to darken. It is time to return to the remnants of my caverns. I must seek rest and sustenance for the evening.

Off in the distance, I can hear them howling. Faintly, thankfully. They are very far away from my current encampment at the mouth of the ruined cavern. So I am watchful, remaining on guard at all times. Prepared to defend myself and my ancient home for the night. I form around a few rocks and begin crushing minerals down to dust for consumption, allowing the younger Lekgolo who comprise my muscular structure to feast before I eat the leftovers.

We are content, and finally I can rest for the evening. Watching the sun slowly fall below the horizon and bring full darkness. And thus, I can settle. In the morning, I should make a point of procuring basic resources to try to reinforce and protect this space from any outside influence. It will be an arduous spot of work; but if I am to survive it will be done.

So I end this log, with my first night of survival.

Hiya there everybody! I hope y'all enjoyed my first attempt at writing anything. I chose the Halo universe since I enjoy the games and universe in my spare time as a hobby. Again I hope you liked it and if you did be sure to follow and favorite. Leave a review with your thoughts if you don't mind or if you're shy don't be afraid to pm me your thoughts. I'm always look for critique so I can improve.

Love all y'all, Vemarra