It is an abomination. A creature straight out of nightmare.

It has the head and body of a cat, the tail of a scorpion, legs of a spider, and claws like a lobster. It skitters across the ceiling of the ancient, buried temple, seemingly unaware of gravity. There is very little light here, and the monster likes it that way.

It moves in and out of shadows, but mostly in darkness. Finally, it moves down onto the wall until it reaches the open portal of a collapsed entryway. Then it drops down on a slender thread of spider silk so fine that it shouldn’t be able to hold up the monster’s considerable weight. It descends, slowly, patiently, until it reaches the floor, where it detaches from the silk and scuttles across the floor.

A rat dashes from out under cover just then, and lightning quick, the monster is on it, sinking its poisonous tail into the poor creature, paralyzing it. Then it takes the rat in its claws and dismembers it quickly, efficiently, swallowing down the gobs of rat meat through its catlike mouth.

Then, its appetite temporarily sated, it turns its attention to the pedestal in the middle of the room. It climbs up and then centers itself upon the giant ruby that lies nestled at the top of the pedestal. For this creature is no mere monster. It is a Guardian, and it waits for any foolish enough to enter its domain. It has waited for a very long time. It will continue to wait.

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