Leo blinked, disoriented, his senses struggling to adjust to the unnatural gloom. A pungent odor burned his nostrils as he tried to stand, his powerful limbs trembling. His mind raced, piecing together the last memory—the crocodile’s maw, the sudden rush, and then nothing but blackness.
Leo staggered forward, the ground uneven beneath his paws, and his heart sank at the sight before him. The remains of his frat brothers were strewn about, some still recognizable, others barely more than twisted shapes. Nearby, Max, once the loudest of them all, whispered, his voice hoarse.
"Leo... is that you? I thought we were done for,"
"I'm here, Max. I won't leave you behind," Leo replied, though his words choked with despair.
Leo rallied his friends, gathering those who could still move. Each step was a battle against exhaustion, the caustic air sapping their strength. Ravi huddled close, his fur matted and eyes wide with terror.
"Are we really inside? This can't be real,"
"We have to find a way out. There must be a weak spot in the wall," Leo urged, searching for hope in the darkness.
Leo clawed at the stomach lining, his once-mighty muscles faltering. Acid stung his pads, and every movement became agony. His brothers called out, their voices echoing in the cavernous belly:
"Leo, don't give up! Maybe if we all push together—"
"I'm trying... but my strength is fading. I can't feel my legs anymore,"
Leo collapsed among his friends, the fight draining from him. He gazed at the faint light above, memories of their wild days flooding his mind. Max rested beside him, their paws touching in silent solidarity.
"We had a good run, Leo,"
"Yeah... we did," Leo whispered, tears mingling with the acid around him.
The crocodile slumbers on, jaws slack and breath deep, utterly undisturbed. The world continues, unknowing, as the echoes of the fraternity fade away within its belly. The river flows, and life marches forward, indifferent to the tragedy beneath the scales.
