(As told by Queen Sapphire to her adopted son Sky.)
High Lord Ebony and the three Snail Lords crept away from the Crystal Caverns, leaving the bodies of their comrades where they died. The flood had brought nothing but sorrow and death in its waters, and the caverns were tainted forever with the stench of death.
They inched along a path that led away from the flooded stream. Ahead of them in the center of the trail lay a soggy, miserable-looking creature with silver fur caked in clumps across its body and a black and white striped face. It was large and muscular and looked to be as large as the Snail Lords themselves.
"Stay here," Ebony said.
He crept forward to investigate the creature. The stench of wet fur filled the air the closer he got to the beast. Ebony approached carefully and bent low. The creature's muzzle twitched, sniffing the air. Slowly, its eyes cracked open, focusing on Ebony.
The great snail backed away slowly as the creature lifted its head, clearly exhausted but possessing a strength that was tangible.
Ebony's shell glowed warning shades of yellow and red, and the other Snail Lords began to back away in response.
The beast struggled to its feet and stood low to the ground on four dark, shaky legs. It lowered its head so that its back hunched in an aggressive posture, which alarmed the great snail. It turned to face Ebony fully.
The High Lord glanced at his companions. "Duck!"
A thick, raspy voice growled behind him. "No. Badger."
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