Bounce has brought a Maung back to the group — but if it dies, it can infect them with the organism that forms its nervous system. Such infection can lead to the parasite taking over the human mind.
[Coralie] swallowed hard. This wasn’t at all the kind of threat she was used to. “What does it eat?” she asked uncertainly.
“It’ll survive on our emergency bars, at least for a few days,” Audi replied. “Longer than that — Ginger, don’t they need a little different trace elements and vitamins than we do? And we don’t have all that many of the bars; we’re going to have to find something we can eat.”
I’m still a little unsure about what’s following Six Sentence Sunday, but I’ve signed up for two lists. One was Skye Warren’s if it goes, which will presumably still be six sentences — but I haven’t heard back on that one. Last night I couldn’t even get the website. The other is Weekend Writing Warriors, which allows up to 8 sentences. I went with six this time, but I may start posting eight. Next week will be a double, as I’m also doing Year of the Snake with a bit from later in the same book.
Update: Skye’s site is apparently going, but only the first Sunday of the month. I’ll be here every Sunday, with 8 a week except the first Sunday, when I’ll drop back to 6.
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Oh dear, the presence of the Maung seems like it’s going to make their situation even worse. Great way to pile on the tension.
More uncertain, anyway.
Yet another complication—I love this!
Guess things might get worse .. I’m hooked and glad to be back reading your stuff. Great way to pull someone in again. 🙂
They will.
They definitely have a new problem. Good snippet, Sue Ann.
They’re starting to get into the longer-range survival need–like food.
This is one of the most clever and unusual complications I’ve seen in a plot. Nicely done!
Had to do something to explain why Maungs aren’t really evil.
That maung sounds like a ticking bomb! I’ve just joined, so I have a lot of catching up to do!
All the SSS excerpts are listed in the Index, top of the page.
I love the concern about alien nutrition. It’s always bugged me when every single race in Sci-Fi can subside on the same food. Excellent snippet!
Right. The digestive systems vary, and in this case so does the need for microelements.
The further, well thought out details on the maung are fascinating. I went with the Weekend Writing Warriors so I put up 8 sentences this week. It’s a bit confusing with the various new options! But I’m so happy you gave us more of *this* story!
I’m on all 3 lists right now, but it looks like Skye’s is only going to be monthly, so I’ll start doing 8.
That Maung is a problem. There’s also a Facebook group doing six sentences. I like the WWW because they give you 8 sentences.
A complication, at any rate.
Intriguing problem for them to have! Over from the FB group…
I probably won’t have time to check all the lists.
Love your imagination, Sueann. I do believe everyone will find something to dine on. YIKES!
Yes, something. But some of that vegetation has nasty stuff in it.
Now *that’s* an interesting twist. Sounds like there’s an “us or it” scenario in the making. Intriguing!
Stick around and see.
Ugh. Remind me to stay away from Maungs. I hope his diet can stand adapting to the local flora and fauna, otherwise things are going to get rough.
Oh, they’re fine–as long as they’re healthy.
What a dilemma! Keep the Maung alive or everybody dies. Very interesting and imaginative.
This is a continuation from SSS. I described the species in the World Building blog hop.
Really interesting, Sue Ann. You are one of the few writers I “know” who write straight up scifi. Good stuff. It is neat that you use a very basic requirement of living, in such a unique manner. Everything eats something else to live. Doesn’t matter where we look on this planet, or in the universe, if it’s alive, it eats or dies.
Good snippet!
I think food is 5 or 6 (depending on where you put signals) in the 7 steps of survival. But this group has already decided that signals would be a disaster for them. (recognition, inventory, shelter, water, signals, food and play.)
that’s a very adroit way to introduce menace and make your key characters sympathetic. I notice that none of them have suggested sending the Maung away.
Coralie probably would have, if Audi hadn’t indicated that would be more dangerous than having it with them.
I’d be freaking out if I were her, and I’m wondering why he even brought the Maung back if it’s so dangerous. Great plot twist to hook the reader!
If the Maung dies anywhere close to them–and it was close, in the jungle–they’d most likely be infected by the symbiotes released by its death. And they have a range of at least 10 miles. Safer to keep it alive.It’s not deliberately hostile.