Character concept

Epoch smiled to himself, although it was hard to tell. With the head of a coelacanth, his expression seldom changed visibly. The L'na surveyed the forgotten ruins with satisfaction and settled down to meditate, folding his six scaly reptilian legs underneath the large carapace that protected his body. His eyes rolled back until only grey milky sclera remained exposed. He sat almost perfectly still; only his shark-like tail shifted occasionally, as if unable to cease moving completely.

Epoch willed his mind to project itself beyond the limits of his corporeal frame. As his spirit-self twisted free of its carnal bonds, the L'na could feel his perceptions drifting into the past, towards the Event. His spirit-self watched the sun and moon dance in retrograde, while the overgrowth of centuries vanished. Entropy folded in upon itself as the buildings around Epoch crumbled up into existence. "At last," Epoch hoped, "I might have a clue..."

In the present day, something shifted in the rubble to Epoch's flank. A small round blob rolled into the sunlight, only a few meters away from the reposed Twilight. The C2K normally prefered to attack smaller prey, but this creature was resting so tantalizingly still, and food had been scarce for days. Urged by hunger into a sense of bravado, the voracious spheroid launched itself into the air and latched its massive jaw onto the curved armor of the L'na.

Epoch, his mind centuries away, did not sense the C2K gnawing on his horseshoe crab exterior. Even when the small predator bounced on top in a futile attempt to burst the chitinous layers, he was ignored. Instead, the L'na's mind focused on a strange slit that hung in midair, chaotic energy pouring from the impossible hole. "Is this what started it all?" he wondered as his spirit-self leaned closer to examine.

At that instant, the pale monster lost its balance and fell off the back of Epoch's shell, landing right next to the tail. This seemed more promising to the starving C2K, as it watched the muscles ripple under the thick, rough skin. Extending its jaws to their breaking point, it could just about encircle the tail without touching the suculent meat. Almost swooning with anticipation, the C2K bit down. Hard.

Suddenly, Epoch felt his spirit-self yanked roughly into the future. He could feel his consciousness audibly snap back into his ancient skull. Slowly realization of pain followed, and Epoch could sense, although not see, that something was biting him.

A quick flick of his tail sent the C2K flying, and before it came to a stop, the L'na pounced and pinned the creature with its two front legs, its crocodilian claws restraining in not too ungently. "Miserable creature, do you know I may have lost the chance to sift the sands of time in this vicinity?"

In response, the trapped omnivore began gnawing on a thickly scaled claw. "Very well, creature, since you cannot answer me as an equal, we shall part ways. By my own code I cannot kill you, but I shall place you where you cannot harm others."

Holding the interloper firmly with one claw, Epoch struck the ground with its other front claw, causing a massive burst of dirt and rock to cascade upward, exposing a deep gash in the earth. The bottom of this furrow glowed dully with flux crystals. Without hesitation, Epoch tossed the small orb-like creature into the hole and, with a smooth motion of its claw, covered the earthen pit. Weaving arcane strands of energy over the erstwhile trench, Epoch smiled another faint smile to himself. "Should we ever meet again, I grant you sentience. Not speech, just sentience." It then turned and shuffled back into the wilderness, in search of answers to questions lost in time.

Deep in its barrow, the C2K began feeling different. "What am I doing here?" it thought to itself. "I feel such a well-spring of inner power and resolve that I cannot remain trapped." Strength seeped into its small body, and it could feel an unquenchable fire spark deep within. Opening its mouth, a gout of magma spewed forth, the heat and pressure pushing dirt up and out of the makeshift tomb. Soon a clear tunnel afforded light down to the creature, and it eagerly rolled upwards into freedom.

Upon reaching the sunlight, the mind of the C2K burst into frenzied appreciation of its liberated state. "Wonder of wonders, the universe unfolds anew like the nascent blossom teased by a springtime sun. I feel infused by a oneness with all creatures. Just as my body was trapped in an earthen womb, so my mind is trapped within a prison of myopic sensations. Surely if I but redouble my efforts, I can escape the bonds of my perceptions that I may enjoy a meeting of the minds with other individuals that share this indescribable oneness." This is what the creature thought.

It said only, "Blapphhbtt," as it rolled off into the brambles.