#anyway insert something or other about artificer mauling pups before she was patched.

[i3utterflyeffect]

So, had a thought about stick world—does Dark know about the Cycle when it and Chosen first escape? I, uh, don't think that would go over well when it becomes relevant. Specifically because I know Chosen would attempt to protect it at any cost.

i don't think that they worry too much about it at first; for almost all creatures i imagine the cycle is just some fact of life, and if you don't think about it too hard, it'd really just be iterators bothered by it--

but of course... then it Isn't

and with every cycle dark's rot gets worse, and they say it's fine, they can conquer anything including this stupid rot. but they keep getting worse. and they think it'll be better once they discover they can use spitter spider venom to help anesthetize the rot and the sharper weapons; they make ways to fix it, chosen learns from the scavengers when dark isn't terrorizing the local populous

but it's not just growing, it's contaminating Dark on the inside, too. it comes and goes, but when it's at its worst, Chosen can't stop thinking about it.

What happens when they completely turn to rot? will they keep living? will they die forever? will the rot be all that's left? or will dark be inside, suffering?

they bring up the thought of ascension but dark doesn't want to. and even though chosen thinks about it dark prefers to ignore it, they don't want to think about that inevitable end result

of course, the hunger of the rot doesn't let them sleep soundly sometimes.

especially when they think about turning on chosen. another slugcat could provide easy food.