Fractured

Sometimes, they remember.

It's triggered by small things, different each time- a stray scent, or sound, or sight, something which causes a flash of familiarity. It's like an electric shock, and suddenly, they're in another place entirely- another time, another body- standing upright, and walking with purpose, not just meandering. What purpose? They had a plan, or plans, they had desires, they had a name, or names-

What names? What names? They're not sure, they're never sure, because it's always just beyond their grasp, and before they can maybe catch it, hold onto it, it slips away, all of it, and it's all gone, leaving behind only confusion and this kind of numb anger-

And they roar and roar and they tear up the trees for that unknowable thing they have lost.

Then they go on with their life, or what's left of it.

They wander, over mountains, past trees, through streams. Sometimes, they snap at passing wildlife, just for the entertainment- there's satisfaction, feeling bones crack between massive jaws, then tossing the body aside with an easy swipe of a paw. Sometimes, when there's nothing else to do, they sleep, sometimes for years at a time. They do not dream. It goes on like this for centuries.

Eventually, they're attacked.

It's their own fault, though of course they don't know that. They don't know that they wandered too closely to a human encampment, brought attention to themselves. All they know is they're being attacked, and that these beings (Gems? Some dim part of their mind recalls)- that these beings are hurting them. So they fight back, roaring and clawing ferociously, but their assaulters are fast, jumping and dodging out of the way, then attacking again, relentless. They try their best, but they're outnumbered, and they have no concept of strategy. There's the sharp sting of a whip- a furious punch which pounds them into the ground- and then finally, a terrible, bright pain as a spear is plunged straight into their flesh-

- and poof, they're gone.

The pair of gemstones fall to the ground with two dull thuds. They're bubbled, and sent on their way to hang silent and dormant in the heart of the Temple.

Maybe, if they could remember, they'd say it was better this way.

oOoOoOo

Author's Note: Anybody else wonder what kind of twisted kind of existed the corrupted Gems must lead? I did, so I wrote this short, vague piece about a corrupted fusion.