🦖Journal Entry 5 - A Brush With Death

Today, I could feel the anticipation in the air. I was preparing to cross the swampy bog that bridges the Forest and the treacherous expanse of the Volcanic Pits, a journey from the comfort and safety of the Forest I knew to a land I’d only visited a handful of times. Whenever I did visit, it would be a quick pit-stop at most, barely entering beyond the outskirts, avoiding the dangerous laval and arid land. The Volcanic Pits were not a place anyone would want to spend much time. And it was certainly not a place you would want to try and capture a near-mythical beast.

Regardless, I packed my tent up and began the journey, stepping into the swamp. There was a low hanging mist hanging in the air, masking the path ahead, but I pressed on. With each step, I felt my Tentacles slip into the wet, soggy land below. As I walked across and shifted my weight, the ground moved and stirred beneath me. I had to move slowly, unsure of how deep it could get. If I fell into the swamp, entangled in the vines and shrubbery, nobody was around to help me get out.

Yet, with patience and a steady nerve, I made my way across, emerging on the other side with the Volcanic Pits stretching out before me. The area was like desolate canvas, with nothing but shades of grey and brown. How could anything but a reptile or insect survive here?

I pressed on. The hunt for the elusive Dinosaur was afoot. I marched toward the towering volcano at the heart of the Pits. I walked for hours, and the land offered little in the way of company—occasional glimpses of lizards darting amongst the rocky terrain, and vultures circling overhead, their watchful gaze a silent testament to the unforgiving nature of this land.

Even though I was still about half a day’s trek from the Volcano, the air began to feel warmer. With a lack of shade from the sun and the increasing temperature all around me, I feared I didn’t have enough water or supplies. Fortunately, the horizon was no longer just flat barren terrain—I could see the mountainous walls that surrounded the Volcano. I made my way toward the closest point, seeking shelter and rest from the long day so far.

After another couple of hours of walking, I finally made it to one of these walls. They were as high as at least 7 Octopies stood atop one another. As I got closer, I pondered if any Octopie had ever tried to climb it. From the base, looking up, they looked like a cliff face like you would see on the coast. There were no entrances, no openings, no places to sling a rope. Just a sheer wall of rock. I imagine even a lizard would struggle to make it to the top.

I found a place without as much direct sunlight and set my bags down, careful not to touch the scorching hot rock walls. I was beginning to unpack my lunch and rest up, when I noticed something—animal tracks on the floor.

They were there. Faint, yet unmistakable. They crisscrossed the dusty ground. They weren’t deep in the ground nor were they large footprints. They looked like a small rodent-like animal that had moved quickly—some sort of reptile, perhaps? My instincts kicked in and I began to follow them. The imprints led me along the rocky mountain wall until they arrived at a small opening on the side. Barely visible even when standing right infront of it. I never would have found it myself. As I peered in, I realized this small opening led to a much larger cave.

With my torch in hand, I ventured into the entrance. The flicker of the torchcasted dancing shadows upon the rocky walls as I walked along the cave. The tracks were still leading me deeper into the passage. I heard nothing but the sound of my footsteps echoing around the cave walls. As I continued, I found myself walking into a small corner of the cave, and my gaze fell upon a creature cowering in the shadows—a small rabbit, its chest heaving with fear.

I let out a small chuckle. I never expected to find a rabbit here. It must have gotten lost coming out of the Forest. It’s little face appeared full of adrenaline. Unfortunate for the rabbit, but fortunate for me. I was ready for supper.

I unsheathed my knife and slowly edged toward my next meal. But as I moved in, the rabbit dived into the corner it was trapped in, and…disappeared?! I thrusted my torch into the same corner the rabbit ran into, and found another small opening. It was dark and narrow. I figured it must be a burrow the rabbit made. I sheathed my knife and got on all 8 tentacles, ready to scoop the rabbit up from its hole.

But when I crawled into the space, within just a few meters it started to widen up. I pushed forward. Before I knew it, I felt grass and mud under my tentacles.

I looked up—in front of me, there was no longer a dark cave or dry barren land. Rather, what I saw was… beauty. There were big, green trees and brightly colored flowers everywhere. I found myself silenced by the shock, and in that moment I could hear the sound of small animals rustling through the trees and water flowing in the distance.

This was paradise. I couldn’t believe it. I couldn’t wait to explore this hidden jungle, surrounded by the mountainous rocks, seemingly miles long. Completely untouched by the Slices of Octopies and their destructive ways. I must be the first Octopie to ever step foot in this land. Maybe they would name it after me?

But I was getting ahead of myself. First, I needed to catch this pesky rabbit and fuel up. I followed along the tracks, which thanks to the soft mud and shrubbery, were much easier to spot. I found the little guy within just a few minutes, this time hiding at the base of a large tree.

I stalked toward the animal with my knife in hand. But this time, there was no hidden cave to run into. As I got almost within striking distance, I could see the rabbit's chest beating heavily, frozen in fear. I was staring into its eyes, into its soul, when I noticed something…The rabbit’s fear-filled gaze was not fixed on me It was looking behind me.

This was peculiar. Turning slowly, I looked in the same direction. At first… I saw nothing but trees and bushes that I had never seen before. I held my gaze into the bushes when suddenly something moved. Before I could react, a thunderous roar shattered the silence, and a towering beast emerged—a Dinosaur!

The beast charged toward me. I dove to the right as the monster came within striking distance. As I did, I threw my dagger into its side. The knife found its mark and cut into the beast's flesh. The creature's ferocity remained undeterred as it let out another ferocious roar. I gathered myself and drew my poison-tipped spear off my back. With my pack on the other side of the wall, and my dagger in the Dinosaurs leg, this was my only weapon left.

I turned to face the Dinosaur.

Its roars echoed across the jungle and its frame towered over me. I gripped tightly with 2 tentacles on my spear, preparing to face the beast when it charged again. The plan was simple and worked countless times—the animal would charge at me, I would dodge and strike, and repeat. Until I was the victor.

Except it didn’t happen that way. The Dinosaur wouldn’t come close enough for me to strike. Instead, it kept circling around me. It's as if it knew the spear was to be avoided. Could it smell the herbal poison that I had doused it with? Or was something else going on?

I made an offensive move myself, diving the spear toward my adversary. The Dinosaur tried to move to the side, but was too big to be as agile as me. I managed to connect the spear and create a flesh wound, but the Dino swung its claws at me, injuring me just as badly as I’d injured her. The poison on the tip was a sedative, but would have no impact if it wasn’t plunged deep into the target's muscles.

We continued to trade blows and inflicted minor injuries to one another, but could not break the stalemate. I was shocked that the Dinosaur didn’t charge at me like most large predator animals would. The heat of the jungle, the minor injuries, and the day of travel were all taking their toll on me. My concentration, my strength, my energy were all dropping. Badly. I began to fear the Dinosaur’s game plan was not to win with a messy fight, but to fight me on attrition. If we stayed here much longer, I was liable to collapse. But if I drove at the Dinosaur, even if I bested the beast, I wouldn’t survive the trip home.

This was a stalemate like I’d never experienced. One I felt I was destined to lose.

Until, as if the Pieties themselves were helping me, there came an unexpected distraction.

The same little rabbit. Like most small prey, when facing a massive predator, its instinct is to stay still. But I suppose the rabbit figured we were now too distracted. So it launched into a sprint. But, oddly, the rabbit ran right through the middle of our standoff.

The movement distracted the Dinosaur, drawing its attention for just a second. I saw its eyes drop down and its snout twitched. This was my window.

I seized the opportunity with the desperation of an Octopie that knew death was certain. I launched myself right at the beast and drove my spear deep into the creature's leg. The Dinosaur let out a deafening cry and swung its claws at me, flailing them in desperation.

One of them caught me across my face, and my bloody fillings gushed out. I fell back to the floor, my spear still stuck in the leg of my adversary. The Dinosaur collapsed to the floor, writhing in agony as the poison herb-infused spear exacted its toll. Unable to move, it laid there, wailing in pain. I crawled a few tentacle lengths away and treated my face wound as best I could with the supplies I had.

Once I had stemmed the bleeding, I felt the wave of relief sweep over me. I was exhausted, but victorious! The combination of a well-placed spear attack and the herbal remedy would keep the animal subdued for at least a few hours. Now all I had to do was wait for it to be sedated and I could tie it up.

I mustered the energy to collect my pack, before slumping on the ground near the Dinosaur. My entire body was stained with blood and sweat. As I sit right now, journal in hand, mere meters from one of my most legendary victories, I cannot help but reflect on the thin line between predator and prey. Between hunter and hunted. Between life and death.

And I can’t help but wonder… what ever happened to that rabbit?