The creature took another step forward, its multifaceted eyes blinking at different intervals. The air grew cold, and the pulsating walls seemed to slow their rhythm, as if the entire nest was holding its breath.
Then, it spoke.
Its voice was a horrific symphony of grating insectoid chitters, low mammalian growls, and the wet, guttural tones of something that had never been meant for speech. The words came out slow, broken, and dripping with a terrible, childlike curiosity.
"Yooooouuuu..." it rasped, its head tilting. The sound echoed unnaturally in the chamber.
The creature's gaze swept over them, lingering on each face as if studying specimens.
"Ffffff-flesh... w-arm... live-ing," it continued, the words seeming foreign and difficult in its mouth. It raised its pincer, clicking the tips together with a sound like snapping bone. "Why... c-come... h-here? To... g-give... knowledge? To... g-give... f-feelings?"
It took a shuddering, wet breath.
