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Far away from the last remaining humans of the dogscape, strange things were happening. Kaff took an old world tool, and scraped some dogflesh that had begun to grow back, like a mould on his bedroom wall, revealing the concrete beneath. 'Spores.' He mumbled to himself. 'It travels in spores. Infests.' Moments later the flesh would repair itself and regrow. His head felt tired and he knew his days were drawing to an end. He had survived up until now, had never really lived. There was the breadth. He found some solace sat on the coast, the saltwater spray, the hypnotic effect of gazing upon the waves. He'd play old songs upon a dogharp, and close his eyes. Casting away the world around him. He sat back, prepared for death. Tired. Desperate for elsewhere. The hereafter. Howls from afar. As he drifted between sleep and consciousness, two men of the cult of Aduk burst in, their primitive dog furs, wielding sharpened rods crafted from dog bone. Kicking down the door and positioning themselves before Kaff. They screamed in their tribal dialect. Kaff understood it well. 'Did somebody send you? Or were you just stupid enough to invite yourselves?' Kaff reached into his pocket, clasping a dagger. 'We were warned not to come. We are here all the same. And we mean to kill you.' Kaff laughed. 'I've been doing a lot of thinking about dying. How I'd sooner be dead than suffer another day on your beloved, wretched dogscape. Do you ever think about dying? Do you ever think about how much you hate this place? It's bitter fruits and stagnant water. The ugliness of it all.' The tribesmen did not show any emotion, though his words moved them both to anger. 'Aduk has provided, we receive gratefully. You take without gratitude. You must die.' As Kaff stood up, hand still in pocket, both tribesmen positioned themselves ready to strike. Staffs aimed for the kill. 'Fuck you and your bastard dog god.' Kaff launched himself at the nearest tribesman, dagger plunging into his neck. A sharp, burning pain as the other speared his calve. Limping to turn, laughing maniacally. The dying man on the floor beneath him making awful noises. His friend shaking, stepping backwards. 'We were warned not to come. They said you were dangerous.' There leader had said Kaff was out of bounds. Too dangerous. These kids just wanted to make a name for themselves. Earn Aduks favour. They were willing to risk their lives. As the tribesman charged at Kaff, sharpened dogtooth staff aimed at his upper chest, he threw himself to the side. On the floor now, expertly evading every potentially killer blow. Finally dropping the dagger and gripping the end of the dog tooth staff. The tribesman went hurtling down as Kaff violently pulled the staff sidewards. On the floor, Kaff was over him in no more than a second, reaching for his dagger. The tribesman knew it was over. Before the kill, Kaff laughed to himself; 'You know, I think you've renewed my will to live.' He'd deal with the bodies tomorrow. Sat back, pouring a glass |