Day 2: Preparations

Truth be told, I did not get much sleep last night. The image of the creature was seared into my mind. Its eyes were blankly staring at me. The first thing I did in the morning was scout the perimeter. Everything was clear. I had noticed It smelling my clothing, which is how it must be following me. I proceeded to cover my scent with various odors I could harvest from my surroundings. Bug juices, plant fluids, anything to get this thing off my trail. I had fashioned clothing out of various vegetation and plant material to offer some minimal protection against nature and the elements. Returning from my scouting, I noticed something off about my makeshift shelter. It seemed... different. Something looked like it was missing. Must not have been too significant since I could not recall what was gone. I moved on.

As I walked throughout the Great Forest, I began to think to myself, Why did this happen? Why am I here? While questioning the circumstances that brought me here, I neglected to pay close attention to my surroundings. The sounds of chirps and growls grew progressively louder. I soon found myself at the edge of an enclosure. The forest floor ended and a new path began. It looked similar to sand. A closer look revealed that it was sand. I conjectured that I must be close to the ocean or some source of water. By this time I was nearing dehydration and my body was starting to shut down. I eagerly scrambled forward only to not find what I was expecting. No, it was not what I expected to see at all.

Nests. Mounds in the ground delicately covered with light material. I had inadvertently stumbled into the nesting grounds of some residents of the forest. Realizing the predicament I was in, I slowly removed myself from the enclosure. Suddenly, a snap. I look into the distance, 20 or so feet away. A reptilian foot steps out from the bush and soon the whole body emerges. It was about my height, 5 and a half feet tall. It was a shade of green so well developed, it could camouflage perfectly into its environment. A grunt. A growl. A few sniffs of the air. It then began to move forward. As if an okay signal, the leaves and vines around the lone saurian began to shake. 1. 2. 3 more of the same species, except smaller in stature, came out. Feeling slightly intimidated by their presence, I reached for my trusty knife. That's when I realized: my only weapon was missing.

I could do nothing, except hide in the shadows as the pack moved closer. The leader of the pack, the Alpha, stopped at the first nest. He used his clawed appendages to gingerly uncover the nest. I heard the sound of squeaking, squealing. The Alpha dipped his head inside the nest for a few seconds. Then he viciously tore at the infants. Snarling maliciously, he ripped into the baby creatures and consumed their innocent lives. The others followed suit, ravaging nests and committing mass infanticide. The shrieks of the babies rang loud and clear. I looked on. There was a sound rapidly approaching from where the saurians entered. Howling and roaring, a pack of what appeared to be wolves entered the scene. They charged at the invaders and swiftly fought tooth and claw. At this battlefield, were many casualties. 3 wolves had been slain. 2 of the saurians had been killed. The Alpha and the other survivor retreated while the rest of the clan pursued them into the forest, snapping their jaws and swearing lupine curses under their breath as they chased. After they were long gone, I left my lookout and entered the nesting grounds. All the pups in the nests were slaughtered. This must have been a territorial dispute. As I was about to leave these bloodstained grounds, I heard a soft whimpering. I searched for the source of the sound, and found a young pup only about a year old. The sole survivor. I don't know what compelled me to, but I picked her up and took her with me. I guess I just couldn't leave her there and let the jungle pass its cruel judgment. That's how Vivi came into my life.

End log.

~Celes