Differences in The Wandering Inn 4.40 L

• one with a pink stripe on either side of his face.
• Pink Stripes raised his four fists,
• Twin Stripes raised his four fists,
• each one a bludgeoning tool that could gouge,

• At first,
• Pink Stripes went to grab Yellow Splatters,
• Twin Stripes went to grab Yellow Splatters,
• but the [Sergeant] punched him back.
• Pink Stripes circled,
• Twin Stripes circled,
• lashing out with careful punches and keeping two arms back for a guard.
• Yellow Splatters ignored defense and went for a full-out assault.
• He—gently—hammered Pink Stripes,
• He—gently—hammered Twin Stripes,
• dominating his opponent.
• Despite that,
• Pink Stripes kept fighting,
• Twin Stripes kept fighting,
• doggedly avoiding blows and blocking where he could until Yellow Splatters decided it was time to rest.

• and Yellow Splatters saw a group of Soldiers gathering to go to the surface.
• Among them was Pink Stripes.
• Among them was Twin Stripes.
• Yellow Splatters strode over,

• Even the ones who’d been above once or twice,
• like Pink Stripes,
• like Twin Stripes,
• were staring.

• It hurt to see Soldiers like Pink Stripes,
• It hurt to see Soldiers like Twin Stripes,
• who were pathetically grateful to see the sky,

• they pushed back their bowls and stood up.
• Yellow Splatters saw Pink Stripes hesitate before pushing back his bowl of eggs,
• Yellow Splatters saw Twin Stripes hesitate before pushing back his bowl of eggs,
• untouched.

• punching weakly with another one in a corner of the sparring area.
• Pink Stripes wavered as Yellow Splatters approached,
• Twin Stripes wavered as Yellow Splatters approached,
• but he put his fists up and tried to spar.
• This time Yellow Splatters made Pink Stripes go on the offensive,
• This time Yellow Splatters made Twin Stripes go on the offensive,
• blocking blows,

• He put force behind his blocks,
• making Pink Stripes work hard for every hit he landed.
• making Twin Stripes work hard for every hit he landed.
• He kept the spar going until someone thrust himself between the two Soldiers.

• Pawn again.
• The Worker pushed Pink Stripes back since Yellow Splatters wouldn’t move.
• The Worker pushed Twin Stripes back since Yellow Splatters wouldn’t move.
• He clicked his mandibles together repeatedly,

• The Soldier looked towards Pink Stripes.
• The Soldier looked towards Twin Stripes.
• Yes,

• He smiled,
• and turned to Pink Stripes.
• and turned to Twin Stripes.
• The other Soldier was looking at Pawn,

• He too raised his fist and Yellow Splatters beckoned.
• He lashed out and Pink Stripes dodged back wearily.
• He lashed out and Twin Stripes dodged back wearily.

• Wasn’t that all that mattered?
• Yellow Splatters looked into Pink Stripe’s multifaceted eyes and saw his reflection looking back.
• Yellow Splatters looked into Twin Stripe’s multifaceted eyes and saw his reflection looking back.
• Yes.

• so he took nineteen Soldiers,
• including Pink Stripes,
• including Twin Stripes,
• to be on alert.

• He wanted to get to Level 13 today or tomorrow.
• He was so engrossed in his mock combat with the two Soldiers that he only noticed Pink Stripes when he walked into the sparring arena.
• He was so engrossed in his mock combat with the two Soldiers that he only noticed Twin Stripes when he walked into the sparring arena.

• but Yellow Spatters appreciated his willingness to spar.
• He stepped towards Pink Stripes,
• He stepped towards Twin Stripes,
• ready for a bout,

• Yellow Spatters stopped in surprise.
• Pink Stripes was trembling in place,
• Twin Stripes was trembling in place,
• in the center of the sparring area.

• and then it rose.
• All four of Pink Stripe’s hands clenched into fists,
• All four of Twin Stripe’s hands clenched into fists,
• and as he looked up,

• They couldn’t make real noises,
• but Pink Stripes—
• but Twin Stripes—

• Aberration.
• Pink Stripes had become an Aberration.
• Twin Stripes had become an Aberration.

• It was too late for questions.
• Pink Stripes lunged at Yellow Spatters,
• Twin Stripes lunged at Yellow Spatters,
• hands reaching to tear him apart.

• Other Soldiers rushed forwards,
• yanking Pink Stripes off Yellow Spatters.
• yanking Twin Stripes off Yellow Spatters.
• There were over a hundred in the barracks,
• but Pink Stripes fought with possessed strength,
• but Twin Stripes fought with possessed strength,
• throwing Soldiers off him,

• In the end,
• Pink Stripes was contained,
• Twin Stripes was contained,
• bars of iron bent and hammered into crude restraints to prevent him from attacking anyone.

• demanding answers.
• He stared at Pink Stripes,
• He stared at Twin Stripes,
• as the Aberration gazed in fury at him and was taken to a holding cell.

• But all the while,
• he was looking at Pink Stripes,
• he was looking at Twin Stripes,
• at the Soldier who had abandoned who he was.

• For what reason?
• They were doing this for Soldiers like Pink Stripes.
• They were doing this for Soldiers like Twin Stripes.
• Everything Yellow Spatters had done—the war was still continuing.
• Why had Pink Stripes become Aberration?
• Why had Twin Stripes become Aberration?