35

You stab into its mantle several times over. It doesn't raise its tentacles to fight back against you, just releases a cloud of ink. You're grateful for the cover it provides, shielding Flynn and Tamru from seeing as you finally deal enough damage to end its life. Its eyes stay open. You take a moment to watch, relieved that it's finally over.

Flynn swims forward. "Is it dead?" he asks. "Do you mind if I…if I examine it? I don't know when I'll get another chance." You nod in the affirmative. Its blue blood is making the water stink, making it hard to concentrate. Even through the distraction, you can feel something strange: the electricity of a single body moving toward your location quickly. You perk up and focus in that direction as the humans busy themselves with the body.

Tamru holds his hand to his mouth. "It didn't even fight back," he says. "Why was it there? What was it doing?" He looks to Flynn for support, but he's intently focused on readjusting the body, taking pains to lay its tentacular arms out straight. Tamru shakes his head and backs off. "Maybe that was the right choice," he says, "but maybe that was a chance at peace. Now we'll never know."