Chapter X: Bond

Anxiousness and excitement swelled deep within his stomach as Randall took in the sight of the animal standing before him, completely unaware of his presence. An animal this size would not be easy to bring down, and he had to wonder if it was even worth wasting his energy for, but small fish and squirrels didn't offer much, especially when he was feeding more than one mouth. He needed bigger game, and certainly a deer could offer more than enough. The issue was catching it. Exploiting his camouflaging ability was his best option, but he knew the deer was highly alert and would hear the slightest noise. He might not get another chance like this. He couldn't afford to blow it. The monster eyed the ground before taking his first step forward on all eights, making note of every rock and twig within his path and being careful to avoid them as he slowly crept forward. His approach could have easily been compared to that of a cheetah. He would advance a few feet and then stop every time the deer would look up from its grazing, rotating its left ear as it listened carefully for anything that sounded suspicious. If it weren't for his invisibility, the deer would have already spotted him and bolted before he could give chase. It made him wonder how well off he'd be if he didn't have his camouflaging to aid him in his hunting.

Randall paused again and held his breath as the deer looked his way. He was so close now; roughly six feet was all that separated them. Eagerness got the better of him, however, and he accidentally knocked his lower right hand against a stick. The sound it made was subtle, but it was enough to startle the deer and send it running. Undaunted by the animal's quick retreat, Randall shot after it, wasting very little energy as his speed proved to be superior. He tackled the animal within seconds, coiling his entire body around its midsection before then sinking his teeth into its neck. As the deer kicked its legs wildly, Randall coiled himself around the animal even tighter, much like a python. The struggle lasted for several minutes, the deer becoming stiller as the monster's body coiled tighter around its own. Eventually its struggling ceased completely, and Randall was finally able to relax. Sliding out from underneath the dead weight of the animal, he dusted himself off and looked down at the corpse with a look of satisfaction. Now all that remained was just getting the thing back to camp.

Reaching down with one of his lower hands, Randall grabbed the deer's hind leg and began dragging it along, all while resisting the urge to keep the animal for himself. I shouldn't even be doing this. That furball better be damn grateful for this. Finally returning to camp, he released his grip on the deer and quickly surveyed the vicinity for any sign of the tiger. "Dinner time, Whiskers!" he shouted. "Come get it before the maggots do!" Randall turned away from the corpse and refocused his attention on his own needs. Grabbing the turtle shell, he made his way down to the edge of the water where he began sifting through the mud and sediment in search of a particular creature he had only just discovered yesterday: crawfish. He had discovered them by accident when one had clamped onto one of his fingers with its pincher while he was trying to catch fish. The dusky-colored crustaceans made for a decent meal once they were properly cooked, though they were a hassle to catch. He managed to scoop two inside the turtle shell, which he promptly brought back to camp, a pile of tinder and kindling already waiting to be ignited. He held his breath as he grabbed for the lighter, making several failed attempts before the lighter was able to produce a flame.

Randall's gaze was constantly shifting. He always expected to look up and see the tiger sauntering towards him, its hungry gaze set squarely on the deer carcass that had been so graciously offered to him. It was only when the monster truly allowed himself to become disinterested in the tiger's whereabouts did it finally emerge. He entered the camp cautiously, his copper eyes shifting from the dead deer to the monster, who purposely ignored him as he held the skewered crawfish over the fire.

The tiger crouched down and stretched his neck out, inhaling the scent of the dead deer. He looked towards Randall and then back at the corpse, clearly hesitant. Randall noticed this immediately and finally gave the cat his full attention. "It's yours. Take it." The cat looked his way again, and Randall almost laughed at the way he looked at him. "Go on," he pressed with a nod. Though still appearing hesitant, the big cat slowly stretched out its neck and took a firm hold behind the back of the deer's head with its jaws. As quickly as he could, the tiger dragged the carcass away, well out of sight of the monster. "That oughta keep him busy for a while," Randall murmured as he began working to get at the meat beneath the hard outer shell of the crustacean. He cringed every so often when he heard the sound of bones crunching. It was never a pleasant sound to hear, but it didn't seem to bother him quite as much as it had during his first encounter with the predator.

ooooooo

Randall hadn't managed to cover much ground in the last few days. He spent most of his time trying to learn new survival methods and hone his hunting skills. And as he continued to learn and adapt, caution was something he was becoming less concerned with. In the beginning he had written off the idea of eating any sort of plant life, figuring there were too many risks of eating something toxic, but such a risk seemed minor at this point. Even if he did get sick, surely it couldn't be any worse than what he had already endured in these woods. He plucked leaves from low hanging branches, rubbing them against his skin to see if there was any kind of reaction. He even placed some in his mouth and held them there for close to ten minutes. His body had no reaction, but he supposed he'd know for sure once he ingested them. Of course the leaves wouldn't be on the trees much longer anyway. Soon the only thing they'd be good for was fuel for a fire. He made use of them as a food source while he could, even getting creative and finding ways to make salads with them, while using bugs as a substitute for croutons and their guts as a dressing. He would later mention it in one of his log entries: Made a salad out of tree leaves and bugs. I even crushed them up and mixed them with water to make dressing. This isn't a joke, okay, you can't make this shit up. I can't even begin to convey in words how much I want a pizza right now.

The tiger had kept a low profile for the last three days, which Randall had chalked up to having a full stomach. A deer went much further than a few small rodents, after all. The cat was probably good for about three or four days, but he was certain he was still close by, quietly shadowing the monster as he continued his travels. It was a little unnerving to know he was likely being stalked by a predator, but if the feline hadn't killed him by now, he saw little reason to think he ever would, at least if he didn't give him a reason to.

It was around midday, and the air felt cool and comfortable, with a gentle breeze blowing. He watched as yellowed leaves fell from the trees, landing in the river, on the ground and even landing lightly atop his back. He lay on his stomach near the bank of the river, his lower back resting in a spot that was exposed to the warm sunlight, while the tip of his tail glided back and forth through the water. "I can't believe it's been over a month," he said quietly. He almost laughed at the realization. What a fool he had been in the beginning, thinking he'd be back in Monstropolis in less than a week.

He didn't move from that spot for a solid three hours. Even when the sun had shifted and he had lost the warmth against his back, he stayed right where he was, too content to move. Now the sky was no longer a vibrant blue but instead was a wide variety of colors, consisting mostly of orange and pink, with a mix of purple and blue hues. It was a breathtaking sight, and it was made even more beautiful by the fact that it was perfectly reflected in the mirror still water. He realized it was the first time he had actually taken in a sunset since his entire ordeal began. For a fleeting moment, all his problems, all his stress ceased to exist. For the first time in a very, very long time, he had found inner peace. It wouldn't last, he knew, but he was going to enjoy it, however long it might last.

The monster was so relaxed, in fact, that he didn't even notice the tiger approaching until he caught a flash of orange and black out of the corner of his eye. He glanced at him briefly, never showing an ounce of concern for his own safety as the animal drew nearer. The animal paused at the river's edge, crouched down, and then stretched its neck out to drink. Randall watched him for only a few seconds before shifting his gaze back to the constantly changing sky.

"We're still here, Whiskers. Hard to believe…but we're still here."

Drinking its fill, the cat ran its tongue around the edges of its mouth.

"I think we've done okay….don't you?" the monster asked quietly as he continued gazing into the darkening sky.

ooooooo

"C'mon….C'mon," Randall hissed through clenched teeth as he glared at the small piece of bark laying before him. He shifted the blade of the knife slightly, causing the small dot of sunlight to shift more towards the center of the bark. Excitement flashed in his eyes as he saw the smallest hint of smoke begin to billow up. "Yes…c'mon…that's it." He held the knife in a vice grip, keeping the blade perfectly steady.

Day 36: My lighter finally bit the dust. Life as I know it could soon be coming to an end. If I make no other entries after this, I'm probably dead due to having no fire to cook my meals….or I just simply killed myself in utter frustration of it all. Either outcome is likely at this point. Already tried rubbing two sticks together. There goes a full hour and half of my life I'll never get back. I've got another method I'm going to try, and if that doesn't work, then the only other option is to stick a carcass out in an open space and hope a bolt of lightening hits it.

"Yes!" Randall shouted excitedly as he saw the tiniest glimpse of a flame. He gently nudged the bark towards the pile of dry leaves and twigs, holding his breath as he waited to see if the fire would grow. Though smoke continued rising, the flame seemed to die within seconds. The excitement faded from the monster's eyes, and he sighed heavily as he momentarily called it quits, dropping the knife onto the ground. Getting to his feet, he quickly shifted his focus on finding a spot to relieve himself, the discomfort of having not done so already becoming too much of a distraction. It wasn't long, however, before he started hearing something rustling in the brush nearby. Though he suspected it could have been the tiger, he knew better than to assume that. "Look, can't this wait until I'm done peeing?!" he yelled over his shoulder. "I'm warning you, I'll piss on myself if I have to! I won't be so appetizing then, will I?!" Rolling his eyes, Randall stepped out from behind the tree once he had finished. "I'm probably screeching at a rabbit or something."

Just as the monster began retreating back to the campsite, he heard the rustling become much louder, and he turned sharply. At that very moment, he saw the tiger dart out from the bushes and charge towards him. He vanished instinctively, jumping back out of fear and stumbling over a fallen tree branch as he tried to turn and flee. He landed on his back with a loud thud, looking up just in time to see the cat come to a sudden halt just five feet in front of him. "What the…?" Looking at the predator, he didn't see any noticeable signs of aggression. The cat's face seemed relaxed and its ears were perked. He wasn't even growling at him. "Okay…" Randall managed to get to his feet, never taking his eyes off the animal for a second. "You mind telling me what that was? You nearly gave me a heart attack!" he snapped as he brushed the dirt and leaves off his back. "It's just a good thing I already peed." As the monster tried to sidestep the cat and head back to camp, he saw the animal jerk away from him, taking off in a steady trot. He made a circle around a tree and came back at the lizard, suddenly bolting towards him before then veering off in a different direction as he came within just feet of the perplexed lizard. "The hell's gotten into you?"

The feline continued this strange behavior, leaving Randall to stare and occasionally jump back in fear every time he got too close. Bu after spending a few moments studying the animal's behavior, it finally became apparent that the predator wasn't being aggressive; it was attempting to engage the monster in play, which he did not know how to do. This was a tiger, not a dog. Making physical contact with the animal, even playful contact, could easily get him killed. But in spite of his fear, there came the tiniest twitch at the corner of his mouth. It was amusing to watch, he had to admit. He then began mimicking the feline's behavior, approaching the animal and acting as though he was going to pounce on him. He could never get close enough to actually physically touch the cat, as he was always quick to jump out of reach. Of course, Randall never allowed the tiger to get too close to him, either. If he saw that the animal was about to jump at him, he would blend immediately, which always threw the cat for a loop and also proved to be a good source of amusement for the monster. "Too slow!" he teased, reappearing just a few feet away. "Some top predator you are!"

Their playful interaction only lasted a minute, and the tiger soon found himself sitting back on his haunches as he panted, squinting at the monster standing only feet away from him now. That's when Randall heard him make a sound that he had never heard before. He could only describe it as a sort of breathy snort, and the animal made this sound several times, all while gazing at him through squinted eyes. What it meant, he wasn't quite sure, but his relaxed demeanor indicated the sound couldn't have been anything aggressive. He took the cue and slowly began to approach the cat, holding his breath as he came within arm's length of him. The tiger gazed up at him, still making the odd snorting sound. Randall's hand began to tremble as he slowly lifted it upward and towards the cat's face, images of the animal violently clamping onto his hand and ripping it off flashing through his mind.

Despite his fear, Randall slowly and very gently placed his hand against the cat's head, feeling a strong swelling sensation in the pit of his stomach as he finally made physical contact with the animal that had both fascinated and terrified him for so long now. The cat lifted its head slightly upon being touched, its nose bumping against the monster's forearm. Randall exhaled deeply, not even realizing he had been holding his breath the whole time. His racing heart steadily eased, though his hand still trembled slightly. As he started to move his hand, the tiger drew back slightly, leaving the monster's hand to hover just in front of his face. The animal touched its nose against the tips of his fingers, proceeding to rub both sides of its cheeks against them. As the feline looked away, Randall slowly withdrew his hand, grinning slightly.

The moment was shattered when a loud, thunderous sound rang through the air, prompting the tiger to suddenly retreat in fear and Randall to blend. The sound echoed through the air for several seconds before finally fading, leaving the forest in complete silence. He couldn't be sure how far away it was, but however far away it may have been, a gunshot was the last thing he wanted to hear right now. His first instinct was to pack up and leave, to get as far away from his current location and put as much distance between himself and wherever that gunshot had come from.

ooooooo

Quick, multiple flashes of purplish light illuminated the forest, accompanied by a low rumble of thunder shortly thereafter. Randall had sensed the storm approaching well in advance of its arrival. He threw a quick lean-to shelter together, which did a fair job of keeping him dry. The storm was gentle, with very minimal wind, though the rain was quite heavy and had been falling pretty steadily for the last twenty minutes. The monster had been traveling for close to an hour when he saw the shift in weather. The tiger had been trailing him for most of the afternoon, which he had paid no mind to. Even now, the feline sat just twelve feet away, huddled beneath a tree.

"You're probably not a big fan of storms now, are you? I know that hurricane probably rattled you pretty hard. When I was a kid, I used to hate storms. I know I put my mom through a lot of stress 'cause I'd always hide when I heard thunder, and she'd always have to come find me. I'd hide under the bed, in the closet…Hell, I'd even bury myself deep inside the clothes hamper. Why I thought I was safe in those places, I don't know. It was kid logic, what can I say? But I learned to stop being afraid as I got older. I even grew to like storms, so much so that my dad was convinced I'd grow up to be a meteorologist 'cause I'd always stand outside like an idiot watching one roll across the city. But that was before I got up close and personal with a hurricane." Randall flinched slightly as a quick flash of light briefly illuminated his surroundings. He braced for the thunder, which proceeded within just seconds.

The tiger groaned in agitation, earning a light chortle from the lizard. "Come on," he laughed. "This is no tempest, scaredy cat. Relax." Randall's expression suddenly became more thoughtful as he gazed at the fidgeting animal. "Tempest…"

Author's Note: Randall, you're not supposed to name it. Once you name it, you start getting attached to it!

Well, I'm afraid this is going to be the last chapter for a while. I'm hoping it won't be quite as long a wait as last time, but it'll definitely be a month or two. Chapter 11 is mostly complete. There's just a few areas that I'm struggling with. I've also skipped ahead and started working on chapter 12. So maybe in a couple of months I'll have 11 through 13 to post. Beyond that, the plot's going to be taking a shift, and I'm still not entirely sure how to write it. My doubts about it are extremely high, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Anyway, thanks to all who have continued reading and reviewing through Part 2 thus far, and to my newer reviewers as well!