ENTWINED: Anthology [GL]

Life within the Sanctuary (Monster girls)

Pilot chapter (Proof-of-Concept)

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The story is about a curious gecko-axolotl hybrid monster girl named Lila and a stern shapeshifter panther-lynx hybrid monster girl named Nyx, who can switch between humanoid and quadruped forms.
They live in a peculiar world within a territory monsters call "The Sanctuary." This place allows monsters to retain their individuality and consciousness, while those who leave succumb to madness, becoming mindless creatures. The maddening effect is known as "The Howling," and those inflicted are called "Howlers."

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Lila crouched low, her slender form nearly invisible among the gnarled roots of a withered tree. Her large, bulbous eyes, with their distinctive vertical pupils, blinked rapidly as she focused on the tiny creatures scurrying below. These 'crawlers,' as she called them, fascinated her with their intricate social structures and tireless work ethic.

Lila's skin, a mottled pattern of pale green and brown, glistened with a thin sheen of moisture. Her limbs were long and nimble, ending in dexterous digits perfect for climbing. A wide, permanent smile stretched across her face, giving her an air of perpetual amusement despite the harsh world around her.

As she watched the crawlers, Lila's body began to rock gently back and forth, a soothing motion that helped her process the intricate details of the 'crawlers' colony. Her voice, a soft chirp, broke the eerie silence of the devastated landscape.

"Fascinating," she murmured to herself. "You're using all the yucky stuff to make your home stronger. Smart little things!"

Lila had spent countless hours observing the various creatures that inhabited her corner of the Sanctuary. Each day brought new discoveries, patterns to decipher, and behaviors to catalog in her ever-growing mental repository of knowledge.

It wasn't that Lila was particularly intelligent – in fact, many in the nearby village considered her quite simple, and annoying – but her intense focus and excitement about these things made her see the world in a special way, even if others didn't understand or appreciate it.

The world beyond Lila's hiding spot was far from the wonderland she perceived it to be. Twisted, leafless trees stretched toward a sickly sky, their branches like grasping fingers. The ground was parched and cracked, with only the hardiest of plants managing to eke out an existence. Yet to Lila, every crack in the earth held the promise of discovery, every withered plant a story to be unraveled.

As the harsh light of the twin suns began to fade, painting the sky in bruised purples and angry reds, Lila reluctantly prepared to leave her crawler friends. She stood, her lithe body stretching to its full, albeit short, height.

"Bye-bye, for now!" Lila waved. "Lila will come back tomorrow to see your pretty new house. Sleep tight! ...Oh! Do crawlers sleep? Lila doesn't know!"

Lila made her way back to her solitary dwelling, a small cave she had fashioned into a cozy home over the years. As she walked, her gait was slightly awkward, her movements sometimes jerky or exaggerated. But despite her unusual stride, Lila moved with surprising agility, easily navigating the treacherous terrain.