>>20677921For several hours LILLITH has not moved, her eyes transfixed on nothing. For half the night she has kept watch; a silent guardian; a statue outside the Dojo; the final bulwark against little more than a sour feeling. Every second, the darkness grows more oppressive as if the stars themselves hide from impending doom. Every minute, the Dojo chef must remind herself to breathe. Every moment, the sensation of burning tingles in LILLITH's fingers. Is this... fear?
. . .
With the smallest clops of hooved feet, LILLITH is joined outside by DOG. Slowly, and hesitantly, LILLITH looks away from the horizon, and locks eyes with the first creature to treat her as more than a monster, beast, or demon. Underneath her painful, metal mask, LILLITH smiles softly.
"good dog. dog making sleep now."
LILLITH gives DOG a gentle pat on the head, and the small pet wanders sleepily back inside, flopping onto her bed to continue her sweet dreams. The Dojo Chef returns to her watch, staring out across Spaghetti Town; across the Kingdom; across the seas; across the world. Her eyes are fixed to the east.
