Grendel Pack was a diverse bunch – large, small, humanoid, beastlike, utterly bizarre. This was quite unlike their rivals.

  The malforms of Cerberus Pack were overwhelmingly large and voracious – they had to be to survive the Lake of Fire.

  The Widow Mantis were all identical, all of them the general idea of a frightful insect. There weren’t any other ‘repetitions’ among malforms – they were unique in their non-uniqueness. No one knew why. Perhaps something in the Lake of Venom flattened all malforms into a single shape. Perhaps they were born from some kind of basic residue left over from other malforms.

  But Grendel Pack, they were a medley of strange creatures. It was a place you belonged if you didn’t belong anywhere else. It was home.

  Everyone’s metabolisms were all over the place here, so you couldn’t have gotten people to sit down to eat together at the same time – some would be stuffed and others starved. You basically just grabbed what you were hungry for and ate.

  Right now, Thyssa watched a few malforms picking bits off the scrap heap – bits of the humans’ ruined machines. Scrap metal was as tasty as you’d expect, but if you could digest it, there was a lot to go around.

  Her body couldn’t eat metal anymore. She hadn’t missed it. A girl ate much better than a malform, when she did eat. But a girl could also feel hunger much more acutely. It’s easy to shrug off pain when you always hurt, easy to starve a body you never liked. She closed her eyes and tried to relax.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  Her meditation was interrupted by a sudden chill.

  “Tsigon.” She didn’t have to look. No other malform made the air cold around him.

  Tsigon sat down next to her. “Hey, kid. Listen. I wanted to say sorry about all that.”

  Thyssa was composed. “You thought I was the enemy. I’d have done the same.”

  Tsigon produced a slab of meat and tore it in half. He gave one half to Thyssa, who tore into it. She’d craved meat, and it was even more delicious than before.

  “I should’ve heard you out,” he said.

  Thyssa swallowed a troublesome chunk of meat. “Would you have believed me?”

  Tsigon opened up his chest cavity, letting out a rush of freezing air. He popped the meat inside, then closed himself up. Thyssa never really registered what a depressing way it was to take your food.

  “I guess it’s still a lot to take in,” he said. I mean…look at you. A girl and all.”

  Thyssa did a flattering stretch, proud of her new body. “Quite an improvement, isn’t it?”

  Tsigon nodded. “What’s it like, being human?”

  “It’s…different than what I expected.”

  “Doesn’t live up to your dreams?”

  “No, it’s…it’s better! I couldn’t really imagine a body that isn’t always hurting.”

  Tsigon nodded. “Yeah. I see how that’s the big thing for you.”

  “It’s not. I mean, it’s a big thing. So is eating and really enjoying it. Wearing pretty clothes.”

  “But the big thing?”

  She gave Tsigon a coy smile. “Being something cute. Something people can look at and they don’t want to run.”

  “Something people can love,” Tsigon said, wistfully.

  “Something I could love. You were always kind to me, it’s just…I could never completely accept it. Until now.”

  “You think you fit in with us malforms better as a human?”

  “Well, no, but…it’s hard to explain.”

  “You always belonged here, you know. You were always loved. We all missed you. Hell, most of us figured you were dead. I didn’t. You always land on your feet.”

  Thyssa grinned. “You got that right.”