Chapter 8

Animalia awoke to find herself so close to Michael she literally jumped back. That was terrifying, she thought to herself. He was still sleeping soundly, not disturbed by her startle.

Naturally, with her animal instinct, she was the first to get up. And naturally, she was the one who got to wake everyone else up. She invited herself right into the separate tent, Prokaryet and Catheryn's, and started to scream,"Hey, people! Wake up already! It's 5:00 in the morning for crying out loud!"

"I think you're the one who's crying out loud. Very loudly, I might add." Cat said with a smirk.

Animalia only grinned and walked out of the tent.

"Hey, Animalia."

Animalia turned to see who was talking to her. "Yeah? What's up?"

"I could hear you from inside my tent. And you know I'm a deep sleeper."

This only made Animalia's grin wider. "Yeah, how did that go for you?"

Michael rolled his eyes. "Great…"

Animalia turned her back to him and went towards the burnt out fire in the middle of the camp. She asked Michael to start the flame for her, and before long she had a beautiful blaze going. She told Michael, Cat, and Prokaryet to wait for her return.

She was going hunting out in the wasteland. There have to be some animals here somewhere, she thought. Animalia quickly changed into a lynx, as she preferred felines to canines, and went off to stalk her prey.

Animalia padded out into the wasteland, her pace quickening with every step.

What if I don't make it back?

What if I don't find anything?

What happens if I die? She began to think.

And think…

And think…

Soon, Animalia came across a rabbit. Not daring to leap, she slowly and quietly stalked the quivering creature. Now's my chance, she though. The rabbit's ears started to twitch, but nothing more.

She pounced on the rabbit, her teeth sinking into its flesh. She felt blood running down her teeth and her fur. Get it off. Get it off. She searched frantically for a stream.

She came across more and more creatures, innocent, harmless creatures. Each life she took was more painful than the last. Finally, she weighed in on her kills.

Two rabbits, one shrew, and two voles. I'm sorry.

She changed back into a human, but not willingly. She had run out of time. She looked down at her hands. Soaked in blood, she thought.

Animalia grabbed her kills, and slowly began the trudge back through the wasteland to her camp. The camp seemed like a beacon of light compared to this hellish world.

She must've looked terrible, because when Animalia was in Michael's line of sight, he immediately rushed her in the tent. By then she was crying for those animals. Cat and Prokaryet took the kills from her arms, those blood-stained arms, and she quietly cried on Michael's shoulder.

Michael gently laid Animalia on a blanket, and held her hand until she fell asleep. Sweet relief.

Animalia awoke to the sound of voices coming outside. She could barely make out their words:

"I'm telling you, we have to go!"

"But why? Why can't we stay here?"

"Why can't we go to the Biosphere?"

"Did you really like being in there?"

"No, but it's safer than here."

"You know Animalia, she can't kill something and stay in that same place; we have to go. For her sake and mine."

"Okay, that's fine. I'll prepare the food."

"I'll handle the supplies."

Animalia looked through the flap in the tent. Should I go out there? No. On that note, she went back to sleep.