It seems, I'll be damned. After following those suspicious tracks all day yesterday, I've finally found the creature responsible. And what a creature it is. It looks like something out of a fever dream—some bizarre mix of a koala and an elephant. I'm calling it a Koalefant! A fitting name, I think, for something so strange.
The beast is massive, though not as large as a Beefalo, and certainly not as aggressive. It seems... neutral, indifferent to my presence, much like the Beefalo were when I first encountered them. It just wanders around, minding its own business, occasionally sniffing at the ground and munching on grass. Honestly, it's almost cute, in a weird sort of way. But as docile as it seems, I know better than to be lulled into a false sense of security. I've learned from my Beefalo disaster. This creature might look harmless now, but if I provoke it, there's no telling how it will react. Still, the opportunity is too good to pass up. Full chunks of meat, and that trunk—it could be the key to making something to keep me warm through the winter.
I've spent a good while observing it from a distance. Its movements are slow, deliberate, and it doesn't seem particularly fast. It's far less threatening than a Beefalo, which gives me some confidence. If I can corner it, I should be able to bring it down without too much trouble. Its sheer size means it won't be able to dodge or flee easily once I've gotten it in a tight spot. And I'm more prepared this time. My spear is sharpened, and I've scouted out a good location where I could try to corner it. But I have to be careful. If it charges, I'll be in trouble—though, compared to the Beefalo, it should be easier to handle. I'm not exactly in peak physical condition after all these days of foraging and struggling to stay fed. But if I manage this right, I could have enough food to last me a long time, and that trunk... it could be invaluable.
There's also something... calming about this creature. It's strange. Everything here feels so hostile, so dangerous, but the Koalefant seems almost peaceful. For a moment, I hesitate. It's just an animal, after all, trying to survive like the rest of us. But necessity outweighs sentimentality. In this world, it's eat or be eaten.I'll take it down tonight, if I can. I just need to be smart about it—get it alone, corner it, and make sure I don't let my guard down. I can't afford another failed hunt, not with winter looming on the horizon.
Tonight, I shall feast.