Ebony stopped short, turning on his heel and facing the beast. The gennyid immediately ceased its motion, tilting its head curiously.

"Go away," he said to it.

The worm made a scraping sound with its mouthparts and lowered its head to the ground. It almost looked...pitiful.

"Well..." Ebony said helplessly. He couldn't believe he was attributing draconic emotions to a big ugly worm. Who was he, Jet? "Good worm. Good worm."

The gennyid made a happy sound and lunged at him. Ebony jerked backwards, but the worm still managed to rest its head on his shoulder. And its chitinous head was HEAVY. He collapsed, his legs unable to bear so much weight in his current condition. The worm reared up and off him, nudging him with its face and making concerned clicking noises.

I must be delirious, he thought. It's asking me if I'm okay. He tried to get up, but his legs seemed like straw. The gennyid appeared very agitated, its body moving in quick waves as it twisted and coiled around him.

"Good worm," Ebony whispered. Shakily, he reached out a claw and patted it on its smooth, hard head. Then the heat and exhaustion overcame him, and his vision turned to black.