M O T H E R
It hit the floor, hairy forearms smacking the pavement with a thump. The spray of embryonic fluid hit it and splattered to the ground. It coughed up the umbilical cord in a series of hacking motions, vomiting the last of the potent soup that had given it life the past month since its inception.
The Ancient came forward and helped the youngling to its feet, accidental lightning crackling from his claws.
He was over six hundred years old and held some of the ancient knowledge. He knew the decline of his race would continue until they were mere yowling beasts, but he also trusted in the Mother.
He approached the huge mass of her body which had produced his son. He knelt, lowering his head.
The Mother, ancient beyond reckoning, leant forward and gently broke his back, dividing his carcass into segments easily eaten. The youngling made rumbling yowl of appreciation at the food.
The Mother leant back. Another child. In time he would be reabsorbed and continue the race, another progenitor. She tried to remember when she had come to this place, with its boiling heat and safe surroundings. Memory was hazy. How many centuries had passed? They were a scattered race, now. Intelligence grew thin but the lust for survival remained strong.
How long since she had used her legs? They had atrophied beyond any ability to move her bulk.
Why continue the madness of producing these almost mindless offspring whose only desire was to hunt - they understood nothing of the former glory of their kind. The one race, the Masters of Reality. Star Vampires, Dimensional Shamblers; they had become animals.
She leaned forward and slapped the youngling away with a howling grumble; a sigh. It burped a yelp and ran away on all fours, apelike. One of the elders approached through one of the gates, baring his teeth in subjugation. He held two untouched humans in either hand. They were very small, possibly young, or nearly so. He bowed his head and presented them to her.
She leaned forward and began to drain them of their essence. They were indeed new, fresh, untouched by any other. She felt the rush of blood and vitality. He had done well. She leaned forward and picked up the supplicant.
Now he would father a child.