Page 31 of Citrine

The sound of the wind whistling through the leaves of the giant trees and grass is soothing and I clutch my limbs to my body, praying to anybody that would hear me to let me live another day undigested.

Bugs chirp and chitter around me, flying around in the tall grass, their calls creating a discordant disharmony. They sound odd and look even odder. Their flight patterns, and shapes subtly wrong.

Maybe I can eat bugs, I muse.

That would be a grand way to stop being vegetarian. I look at one of them nearby, a black body with an iridescent red sheen, a dozen prickly looking legs.

Nope. Not that desperate just yet.

I survived homelessness before, albeit in a far different environment. I can survive living on an alien planet.

It isn't the same though. I miss sleeping on a bed and I miss at least knowing where my next meal will come from, even if it's a cheap diner meal.

As my thoughts continue to drift, the raucous cacophony of the bugs eventually lulls me to succumb to my exhaustion. Fear still runs rampant in my veins and my eyes are still focused on the entrance of the cove, waiting for the octo-man to rise from the water.

However, I have little strength left.

My eyes feel heavy as I remember I need another way to protect myself now that my only weapon is gone. Figure out food.

Stay alive. Live another day.

15

Wroahk

My eyes open from restless slumber and my body springs back to life. I unfurl my tentacles and twirl them, trying to get rid of the stiffness.

Though I've staked my territory, the Many Teeth in this water are more than willing to dispute it, unlike the creatures of my world who know better.

A moment later, my mind is back to the female. Watching her flail around is as unexciting as trying to figure out why I feel strangely drawn to her, but both must be done.

Ever since I saw her, she's all I can think about.

The sun isn't up yet so the lake and its environs are mostly quiet. It wouldn't be difficult for me to slip away. If I search enough, I can find another suitable lake and a more abundant source of food.

Maybe even find a river that leads to an ocean. It was my plan before she arrived, so I should get back to it.

I won't have to deal with the frustration of staying beside this female anymore.

I say that, but my mind rejects the thought of abandoning her, even though it is exactly what should be done to the weak. They are dead weight, but I feel… reluctance.

The few times I've felt reluctance before did not coincide with this curious feeling I have now.

I go looking for food, swimming aimlessly until I come upon what looks like a nest. I sense them before I see them. Floating near the nest are two Many Teeth with their eyes closed. I can tell they're sleeping. If I swim closer, their eyes will snap open.

I can't bring myself to kill her. Why don't I use them? I can be rid of her and them in one breath.

I like this plan. She must perish for this feeling of uncertainty to leave me. Since they are just floating around, catching them isn't that hard. All I need to do is carefully extend my tentacles and disable their body's defenses, trapping them between my limbs.

The best place to catch them is the midriff, wrapping my other tentacle around their snout so their teeth remain shut until I need to release them.

I do so before I change my mind. Holding two of them at the same time is the difficult part, but I manage, making a dash forthe surface, ready to unleash terror on her while ignoring the thrashing of the Many Teeth.

As I approach the surface, ready to find her and throw them on top of her, one of the constantly thrashing creatures breaks free for a moment. I catch a glimpse of the long and sharp rows of teeth the creature possesses, and my body involuntarily stops.

The image of her being torn into pieces, chewed up by this creature, flashes through my head and anger surges through me.

No. She is my prey. Mine to eat.

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