I stood nestled onto the shelf at the back of my cave. The cold night air bit at my skin as I waited for the uninvited guest to arrive. A small part of myself hoped that it would never arrive whispering comments of complacency and comfort. But, the larger part of myself knew that this had to be done.
The tiger was too close for comfort, one way or another this needed to end, otherwise my chances of dying would be almost assured over time. So time passed further into the night, and I remained silent and unmoving.
Until, a shift in the air gave a slight tension in the cave. Not a sound had been made, but it was definitely here. I readied my mind, the bait was set, and all I could do was wait so see if the trap would spring.
A minute passed before I could hear a slight clawing at the entrance to the back of the cave. The hairs on my arms and the back of my neck raised ever so slightly as goose bumps ran across my body. I silently took a deep breath and steeled my nerves. Just a little more patience.
The silence seemed to stretch on without end. Each second being pulled out and stretched as my nerves drew taught. In this moment, I could hear a slight crunching noise as the bait was finally consumed by the beast. I had crushed the white speckled and red berries I had found into a fine paste and covered the wolf meat I had left in it. The speckled berries were a powerful muscle relaxant, and hopefully… The sound of the beast's heavy body lying down resonated through the small cave.
I let a few more minutes pass before I uncurled from the shelf and quietly brought myself down. The stone slightly numbed my feet as I cautiously uncovered a pilot light I had covered in the corner. Its weak orange luminescence cast deep shadows over the stone as I winced at every slight scuff as muted noise. I lifted the spear from the ground and adjusted the new uncomfortable flint and bone knife strapped to my right leg.
I strained my ears to hear. A shallow breathing rhythm was all that I could tell.
Ever so slowly I started squeezing myself into the main chamber. As I carefully pushed further, my small flame flickered dangerously threatening to go out, but luckily the flames calmed. With one final push I broke free into the main chamber.
My breath caught in my throat as I saw its still form. Its length was taller than a grown man and could crush me with its weight. I slowly lowered the flame to the floor as I leveled my spear at its form. Hopefully a single strike would be enough to kill it. I had to make this count. My breathing slowed as I coiled every muscle in my body to strike. One good strike to the neck and it would bleed out in a handful of seconds.
My instincts screamed at me as I saw its lazy eyes flutter open. With only a moment's hesitation I launched myself over the remaining few feet. The beast sprung to its feet in a blur and in the movement I felt my spear pierce through flesh and glance off bone, nearly getting ripped out of my hands.
The tiger roared in fury with a deep wheezing rumble as it kept its distance and faced me. A small trickle of blood from its ribs showed itself in the faint light. One of its lungs popped from my strike. It was significantly injured, but not enough it wouldn't kill me.
A roar of challenge issued from my lips as well. It was full of terror as my heart pounded in my chest and blood rushed through my limbs. I kept my grip on my spear firm like it was my last life line. With each probe of the beast my spear plunged forward at its body or tried to cut at its paws. I desperately tried to keep the beast distant.
Suddenly one of its paws moved at blinding speed, batting aside my spear and leaving deep cuts across my stomach. In the next moment, it surged forward, its razor sharp claws digging into my sides. I cried out in pain as I fell back from its imposing weight. At the last moment, I managed to jam the haft of my spear into its open maw, stopping the razor sharp teeth inches from my neck. My eyes locked with the beast's almost blazing red eyes as it struggled and pushed its weight against it. The shaft bending and flexing slightly but remaining impossibly strong. My breathing hitched as the claws dug deeper into the flesh of my sides. My hands clamored for the knife at my thigh. My last life line.
Time slowed for me; my fingers wrapping around the cold bone handle of my knife. I would probably get one chance, this was the only moment. With all the strength and speed I could muster, the knife flew from its crude sheath. The sharp blade ramming through the side of its neck, buried to the hilt.
A hot, red iron smell burst into the air as the beast staggered backwards from myself. I slowly brought myself back to my feet quickly bringing my spear back between us. I could see it in its eyes. It knew it was going to die. It was a mournful primal kind of look.
With a loud thud, its body fell to the stone floor, its head wavering in the air. For the briefest moment I saw a form of recognition in its eyes as it stared into me. It was acknowledgement, from one predator, to another. With a final rattling sigh its head fell and its eyes went dark.
A raw screem erupted from my lips, a sort of war cry. I had hunted, my plan had worked, I would get to live at least one more night. Slowly, the adrenaline stopped pumping through my veins and the midnight chill begam sapping the heat from me again.
Light warm tears began to flow from eyes as my whole boddy trembled and nearly colapsed. I knelt down as a low sob escaped from me. This was terrifying, I was terrified. My stomach and sides burned as a trickle of blood flowed down my body from my wounds.
A little part of my mind wispered to me in the dark, saying it would just be easier to hide away in the cave. To never leave its safety again. But my resolve slowly hardend into steel. This was only one night. A terrifying night of blood and pain. Tomorrow might be the same, but i would over come its trials. This was only the beginning.
Somewhere, in a dark room, a dim glow suffused from a sleek looking monitor as words began to fly across it.
Error, unknown variable…
Unexpected results logged.
Death of Jallbann
Referencing database.
First occurrence
Calculating likelihood.
Error
Tracing variable source…
Inconclusive.
Contacting Advisor…