Within the hollow earth, horrors beyond the lay man's imagination reside. from gargantuan arachnids to crawling ghouls that carry death atop their heads, anything and everything could be found within the beating heart of the planet they stand on. And within this nightmare breeding ground, a small patch of soil begins to quake. The ground split open to reveal a bone pale white larva, frail and grasping its first breath of the world.
'Strange...place' The first thoughts the newborn critter had. the hairs on its body tingle as it feels the slightly damp soil from whence it came, the slight chill of the atmosphere and a delectable smell. 'FOOD!' focusing on the smell, the larvae inched forward, worming its way forward until it comes into contact with something squishy. Using the mandibles near its face, the larvae clamps down on a piece and tugs. The material seems to be elastic, as it stretches before being pried free. 'Tasty.' The rich flavors never experienced before melt on the taste buds of the larvae as it enjoys its first ever meal.
SKrreeee!
A strange noise suddenly reaches the larvae. Though it has never heard such a sound before, its instincts warn of danger. Mandibles clicking, the larvae slams them into the ground, digging as quickly as the weak pinchers will allow it to, covering its body with the upturned soil in the process. The larvae makes it underground, and not a moment later as talons swipe at where the newborn beetle just was. The creature resembles a chicken without feathers yet carries itself with the webbed wings of a bat. The hell hawk circles the area, squawking in confusion as the seemingly easy meal was eaten by the ground before it. Having lost such a meal with no way to get it, the hell hawk took to the skies, leaving the pile of bones and flying of to find the rest of its flock(along with maybe stealing a meal from one of them if the chance occurs.)
An hour passes before the larvae cautiously pokes its front end out, the hairs slightly swaying to feel any disturbance. Sensing none, the larvae wriggles its way out to continue its meal. The minutes pass as the last of the scraps on a carcass were consumed. The larvae resumes its journey, feeling the warm ground beneath it. It would have loved to stay and enjoy such a soothing experience if not for the vibrations telling of the many large creatures nearby. Day soon turned to night, with the chirp of nocturnal beings and swaying grass creating a false sense of safety for those unaware of the hollow earth.
The larvae burrows into the ground as the chill among its hairs and skin deem it uncomfortable to the touch. As it went deeper and deeper, it suddenly stopped as it smelt another treat nearby. 'Grab...food. Grow...larger!' Now heading east, the larvae increased its speed as it gnawed through the innards of the world. The soil soon gave way to a chamber that had the strong scent of rotten eggs. To others, such a smell would not be appreciated, but for the larvae, it was an entire week's worth of food. And the best part? They seemed to have been abandoned as there are no recent pheromones within the are from what the larvae can tell.
Renovations soon took place as the larvae worked to create it's new home. Many tunnels leading to different parts of the chamber were formed by the time the moon had reached its peak. Satisfied with its work, The larvae feasted upon an egg. The larvae swelled as it enjoyed the rotten yet enjoyable ooze from the broken shell. The week passed in a monotonous routine of eating, digging and sleeping. By its end, the larvae had gone from the size of a pin to a soda can, a massive five times increase for a creature.
'is...time.' The larvae could feel it. raw energy that will force the first change. Blocking the entrances with soil, the larvae then began to shake. Patches of it skin soon snapped off as it crawled forward, leaving behind an almost intake replica of itself, if only more paler than thought possible. Having gone through the first of many moltings within its life, The larvae, now half of its size, felt drowsy. The larvae coiled around its now exhausted state, and rifted to sleep, ready to start the cycle anew when it awakes.