It That Fled, short story

“It has home now, It is happy”. The creature had troubles keeping text in a straight line on the small piece of paper it was using as a notebook, but all the letters were calligraphically accurate. Then it crossed out the last word and wrote “It is safe” instead. Then, after a long stare on the simple wooden door in the safehouse it crossed out “safe” as well, and emitted a deep sigh.
At least It has home now.

Experiments with pen and paper were interrupted by the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Slow, heavy and confident -- It That Prays. Creature swiftly got out of its room and almost run into another person, who wasn’t as easy to notice. It That Sneaks gave the creature one of its numerous gazes of disapproval and continued listening to its opponent in conversation.

- Vorici, our Lord never approves meaningless bloodshed. You are killing your soul faster than you murder these exiles.
It smirked, as It That Prays has never seen real Lords, ones that have Names. Perhaps for the better, as not many have lived past being to the Dark Place.
- El, your lord allows this… thing to exist - It That Sneaks pointed his finger at It, - I doubt he cares that much about a humble geomancer with some controversial hobbies.

Some disputes are not to be interfered with, and It slipped away quietly enough to trigger much more rare Vorici’s nod of approval.

Time had come to do It’s work -- collecting valuables. It That Raises was making sure everyone in Syndicate were acquiring something worth saving. This time there were some abyssal jewels ready to be harvested. Abyssal dwellers, much like It’s homeworld inhabitants formed some sort of hive-mind, but instead of their will being dominated by the Lords, these drones were mindless to begin with. Stories were told about their leaders hiding somewhere, but It was never curious enough to dwell that deep.

It quickly found the “tail” of abyssal hive and started carefully applying chaotic energy. Done right, this process would force its “head” to pop out of the ground without triggering allergic reaction, that would call out all the drones in the area to protect it. Couple minutes of hive visibly shaking underground later It was rewarded with an abyssal trove, chest-like head that stored all alien objects looted by nearby drones.

- A fresh jewel, pile of trash aaand what’s that?

A couple seconds It stood in awe, trying to analyze something covered in slime and mud. The object was one of the most beautiful, rare and expensive things in Wraeclast. If objects could have Names, It was sure this one would have a name.

"Mirror? Here, of all places?". Thoughts of leaving the Syndicate and living a peaceful life somewhere in Its own house with dozens of slaves satisfying Its every need were interrupted by the booming sound of portal opening nearby. It That Dismembers had to choose the worst possible timing to interfere.
It panicked and tried to defend Its trophy, but It that Dismembers was too strong and moments later It That Executes had a sharp knife to Its throat.

- What should we do with this thing, exile?

It That Dismembers ignored its companion and went straight for the chest. There was a long pause followed by loud exclamation as it stood up holding mirror in its hands.
There was a last chance to get back the trophy and It had to at least make an attempt. Unnoticed by its captors It dismissed chaotic veil that numbed the pain of Abyssal hive. Hive’s cry for help was the answer, unnoticed by human’s limited organs of perception. Drones, however, immediately rose from the ground, dozens of them of different shapes and sizes.

It That Dismembers froze in place, trying to handle all monsters coming at it from different sides, then disappeared with a loud puff of smoke. The mirror fell on the ground and It watched in terror as it shattered in many pieces, ruining all Its dreams of grandeur.

- Gods damn it, that was the last portal too. Guess we don’t need this creature then.

One short swing of blade, and It began another journey to the Dark Place. Not the first and not the last one, for anyone in Immortal Syndicate could not truly die while It who Raises was still on duty.