Silence was the only thing you could hear in the Wild Spores Cave, where the famous Shane Gang's HQ was located.
The group considered by much of SlugTerra as the great protectors of order and peace, led by the current Shane, Eli Shane, the group consisted of:
Beatrice Sting, or Trixie to those closest, the Slug Specialist and temporary leader of the group when Eli is absent.
Kord Zane, a Cave Ogre, the team mechanic, responsible for upgrading Meccas and launchers when situations arise.
And finally, Pronto, a Molenoid, owner of keen senses, which make him the official tracker and guide of the team.
The group boasted a vast arsenal of slugs, which received a peculiar treatment that most slugs received, not being considered ammunition, but friends, comrades and parts of the team.
However, there was one slug in particular that stood out from the others, owner of an orange skin with flaming details.
Burpy, the small and powerful slug Infernus was at that moment, propped up in one of the base windows, as his eyes focused on his fellow slugs who were fresh, as well as their snipers, from the last battle that had taken place a few hours ago. against Dr. Blakk's minions who were carrying a load of dark water to some cave that Burpy didn't care to remember, after all, he had already fought so many times against people of terrible nature wanting to dominate or destroy SlugTerra for so many years, that he I already knew how it worked:
Villain showed up, he and his wielder thwarted his plan, killing him, imprisoning him or whatever the current Shane was going to do.
He just wondered how long he would have to fight those endless battles?
How long would he wait to finally be able to rest?
Another thousand years?
Until he grew old and became an old slug with the flame already fading?
If that's the right option, he will definitely have to learn to be patient, but he had been patient for over a thousand years, fighting, protecting, seeing one by one pitchers, friends, companions, dying of old age and the pass it on to their soon-to-be-old children, grandchildren, or nephews and then hand it over once more to SlugTerra's next protector, it had always been that way, for two thousand years since she was a young, inexperienced slug.
He still remembered his first carrier, an ancestor of Eli, a young and frightened Indian, who had lost his tribe in an attack by the Deeps that had plagued the American surface at that time.
He remembered when the Shadow Clan had found him hiding in one of the caves that led to SlugEarth and taken him to the Shadow Sanctuary, where they had trained and taught him the many secrets of slugs, to ultimately transform him. in a mighty guardian, created with the aim of ending the reign of terror of the inhabitants of the Deep Caves and the memories of the days of war still kept fresh in the mind of the fire slug, screams, bloods, trebles, all to the end, the Deep being taken back to the place from which it came.
"And all this, for nothing..."
The Infernus slug muttered, remembering Dr. Blakk's recent actions as he turned his crimson eyes toward the window, catching a glimpse of the beautiful backdrop of the large fluorescent mushrooms, emanating a faint bluish light that reminded Burpy of the stars. in heaven, one of his favorite pastimes he did whenever he was on the surface with Will.
"Thoughtful today, Burpy." The Energy Elemental's voice caught the attention of the fire slug, who turned, seeing Doc walking toward her, until he was on her side.
"Sleepless?"
"How could I sleep feeling your energy being so…depressed?" Burpy let out a heavy sigh as he heard those words coming out of his 'uncle' mouth, turning back to look at the large fungi.
"What torments you so much?"
"The past…the present…and the future…" Doc focused his one eye on the fire slug, already realizing what ailed his mate.
"You know, I understand how you feel..." The energy slug moved to his friend's side, catching a glimpse of the beautiful scene. "I've been in the hands of a lot of people before I finally got to Eli, I've met good people, I've met bad people, I've met people who made me have all kinds of life experiences, who made me realize that before I was the Ancestral Slug of Energy, I'm still a slug, I had friends I'll never forget, I had enemies I respected, I had loves I'd never find again."
"How can you do that? How can you live knowing that you will witness the death of your friends who will grow old and die while you are still alive?" Burpy looked at the green slug who only gave a small smile.
"You know, I thought like you before, but a long time ago I met a man, a sage, who spent his whole life in an eternal search for the meaning of our existence and it was only on the day of his death that he found."
"And... did he tell you?"
"No, he didn't, but it wasn't necessary, I found out, at the same time he…" The Energy Elemental placed his hand on his 'nephew' shoulder, not taking that simple smile off his face. "The reason for our existence is to live according to our ambitions, with our desires, without regrets, without whining, without pain and always carrying in your chest, the good memories you had with friends, family and loves, that's why Burpy, he doesn't give so much for his old comrades, they're still alive…here…" Doc poked the fire slug's chest, right in the heart region. "Well, I'll be rested, I hope you do the same, after all, we'll have a full day tomorrow."
Those were Doc's last words before leaving Burpy alone at that window, a thoughtful expression visible on the face of the slug Infernus, who took one last look at the window, before starting to walk towards Eli's room, his current companion, your current friend and that just like his predecessors, he will always keep in his memories, until the end of his life.