Oozey Snack

Hunger gnawed fiercely at the crimson male. He couldn't quite remember when he'd last eaten, but surely it had been a while now with how hungry he felt. He was no longer tainted by the ooze, but many other animals still seemed to be. Especially prey. He stalked the trail of a sickly elk that left behind an oozy blood trail. The scent alone told him it was weakened by the sickness, and the ooze and blood told him it was likely injured as well. This would be an easy takedown, he was sure. Normally, he'd need another set of paws or two to hunt down an elk, but that was normal if it was strong and healthy. But not this one. This would be easy prey, and his hunger drove him to search it out. Could he get sick again from eating an infected animal? He wasn't sure. But he wasn't in the mood to go searching for something that wasn't sick...

It didn't take very long for him to find it. As he neared the end of the trail, a small pool of blood and ooze was on the ground and Ignis noted the amount. It likely had been attacked by another animal before he had found it, so that made it even easier for him. Licking his lips, he stalked forward a few more yards and found the elk leaning against a tree, struggling to remain on its feet. Well...that was unfortunate. Despite its weakened state, the young elk still opted to try and get away from the approaching wolf, but Ignis smirked as he approached the stumbling creature. It slipped to the ground, eyes wild with fear as it tried to get back up but couldn't. Its eyes dripped ooze, as did the wounds it had. Crystals grew from the beast's eyes and ears as well as random parts of its body. He watched it for a moment as it struggled, and then without warning, Ignis struck for its throat and held it until it stopped breathing. In its last throes of life, it kicked and flailed, but it was ultimately no use. Ooze crept into his mouth along with the blood, though it didn't taste much different save for a bit of bitterness from the ooze.

If he got sick again, he supposed it was just his fate. But as he started to tear into it, he couldn't get enough until his hunger was satiated. Inside, ooze poured from its heart and places where there should have been blood...but perhaps that's what happened when one was too far infected.

WC: 434

OOC// Using 1/2 word prompt pass

"Speech"