"Are there any who are not human among the Pax Humanis members?"
They're rare, but there are. Let me tell you about the best hunter I ever met. A havenworlder whose first target had pushed too them far. -- Anon Guest
He had been selected for his bright plumage, and kept in conditions meant to maintain his health. Little else but that. He learned to be clever by playing dumb, just to get his captors to relax and get careless.
It took him months. Including the plot to steal and hide the keys to his everyday cage.
He had to swallow them, and regurgitate them after the lights went out. In the liminal darkness, he stepped out of captivity, and went stalking around the complex for the very interesting chemicals. Adulterating all the ingredients he could with identical-looking chemicals. Borax in the salt, rat poison in the sweetner, drain cleaner in the iced tea. All that stuff.
Then, to make certain they'd all be distracted, he found an obscure corner to hide in. Just about everyone would be all over themselves looking for him. They weren't paying attention to what they were consuming.
He only ventured out when the noises of sickness carried up to his hiding place. The entire household of his captives were incapacitated. Which made it easier for him to get hold of something large and sharp.
He started with the biggest, baddest boss. The knife, a peak example of cutting-edge technology from the most over-designed kitchens in the universe. It slid into the baddest boss' flesh like a spoon into gelatin. He tried to drink the blood, but it was completely disgusting. It made him retch.
But it felt good to watch the boss die.
The boss, who called him 'Chippie' like he was a pet. That was not his name. He didn't have anything better, but he sure as flakk wasn't 'Chippie'.
One by one, he made sure his tormentors were ended. Then he worked on all those who supported the tormentors.
By the time people came to investigate, the entire complex was dead. Poisoned or cut. They were the ones to recognise him as a cogniscent being. They gave him clothes, proper comfort, and respect. They were the only ones he granted life.
They let him find a new name.
Claw.
Killer of those who would make pets out of cogniscent life.
[Photo by Christian Schickler on Unsplash]
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