Episode Seven - Octopod (Part 1)

Chapter Song Suggestion "Danger Snow by Dan Henig"

*note : all dialogues like so {example} are spoken from the predator's perspective

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THE PAST | Eira

Her first achievement as a child was killing a ratillo – a small and tough, armoured predator often hunted for its hide and claws. The only thought that crossed her mind when she grabbed the still warm body and carefully packed it inside her bag was — why did predators have to be killed? Were they all bad?

This one seemed harmless. What if it had a family? Was it a parent or child? Would it be missed? As usual, she shoved the lingering sadness aside. This was for the tribe's sake. Living in the harsh desert climate, they needed to be self-sufficient. It was nature's way of giving and receiving, she told herself.

Eira remembered how often her parents had drilled the fact that all predators must be killed. They were vicious and evil, all of them craving only one thing – to feed on human flesh. As honoured hunters of the Qeath tribe who have encountered deadlier predators than a measly ratillo, Eira never questioned her parents' judgement.

But her young mind couldn't help but wonder if there was a way for predators and humans to co-exist. Surely not all of them were harmful?

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PRESENT DAY

{Fish!}

Eira was startled by the voice echoing in her head – almost childlike. They watched as the white streak unfolded into a long, streamlined body partially covered by a pair of wings. Its odd posture reminded Eira of an animal trying to conceal itself from the enemy, like an old era ostrich sticking its head underground, believing itself to be unseen. An urge to laugh gripped her. The predator appeared to be mimicking a trick it had picked up.

How fascinating! It was learning to adapt.

The more she stared, the more convinced she was that it was harmless — given that it wasn't provoked or harmed. She couldn't explain how she knew this to be true. What she couldn't fathom was how she could hear its thoughts without initiating a link. From the corner of her eyes, she realized Florian was preparing to shoot it down. Lighting quick, she seized his arm and shook her head furiously.

"Why did you stop me?" he whispered, looking sharp and alert.

"Wait and see." She crept to her feet, moving undetected in the shadows to get closer to the engrossed predator.

Florian cursed softly. What the hell was she thinking? This was an unknown predator. In all his years of service, he'd never witnessed anything like it. It could be lethal despite its misleading size. Troubled, he tracked Eira through sharpshooter's nightscope lens.

Eira was close enough to see the downy feathers adorning the creature's — leathery wings? How strange. At least three metres long, she presumed it would stand as tall as her on its hind legs. She watched as it stretched a clawed limb, methodically hovering over the aquaculture pool to catch a meal. Assuming it wouldn't hear her, she froze when its head whipped around, and its wings flared in warning. A loud screech followed — sharp and quick with a grating undertone.

{Enemy! Hurt!}

She immediately crouched low and made herself look as small as possible. In a gentle tone, she spoke, "I'm not going to hurt you. Can you understand me?"

The predator took a step back, mistrust evident in every line of its body. Its flattened ears told her that it was afraid. Biting her lip, Eira knew she had to gain its trust. Palms levelled on the ground, she laid chest down and assumed a non-threatening pose.

From afar, Florian gritted his teeth with his finger curved around the trigger. What the hell was she doing? That creature could easily rip out her throat if she wasn't careful! If the Captain were here, he would have already shot it ten times over.

"I'm not going to hurt you," Eira murmured, maintaining eye contact and showing no fear. All beasts were sensitive to emotions — the first aspect of hunting she had learnt — because fear attracted the vicious ones like old era sharks to blood. "I know you can understand me. Are you the one who has been hunting the fishes?"

{Liar! Not me!}

Eira refrained from smiling at its offended tone. Her intuition was right, this predator wasn't a mindless killer. "I believe you. I know you're hungry and I won't stop you from taking the fishes. Is it alright if I stand up?"

Ears lifting and flattening repeatedly, the predator chuffed. {No hurt.}

A corner of her lips tilted. "I won't hurt you. And you have to promise not to hurt my friend and I."

It emitted a reverberating growl. {Friend. Where?}

"Florian!" Eira shouted without hesitation. "Put sharpshooter down and show yourself. It's not going to hurt us if you do." To the predator, she said, "I won't let him hurt you."

Warily, it raised its narrow snout into the air and sniffed for Florian's location. The moment Florian appeared, its wings stretched wide open to mimic a large and threatening presence.

{Man. Enemy!}

"It's okay," Eira murmured. "He's a friend."

{No trust humans.}

"Eira, what the fuck is going on?" Florian's agitation provoked the predator further. It released a snapping growl.

Holding in her frustration, her heart pulsated restlessly. She was more concerned about the riled-up predator in front of her than the distressed male behind her. "Hey." She regained the creature's attention. "Are you hungry? If you let us go, we'll catch lots of fishes for you. Would you like that?"

They had underestimated the creature's hunger, for it must be starving. Dropping onto its haunches like an obedient pet, the predator acquiesced without a fight.

{Want fish.}

Eira knew better than to be fooled by its abrupt docility. Rising to her feet, she motioned at Florian. "Come closer, slowly."

He did, cautiously staring at the predator that watched him in return. These two weren't going to get chummy anytime soon.

"Our friend here is hungry." She patted his shoulder. "As the champion of our bet, I'll give you the honours to feed it. Take off your shirt."

He threw her an incredulous look, like she had lost her mind. His question was stilted. "You want me to go fishing for a predator in this cold water?"

Hitching both shoulders, she remarked lamely. "I can't swim."

He stared at her; dumbfounded. "You can't swim?"

"That's right." She crossed her arms, daring him to say something. "You're the only one who can, so it's up to you to feed this little one."

Two sets of eyes pinned him down. Why did he get the feeling that they were cohorts working against him? Lungs deflating, he kicked off his shoes and plunged into the pool. Having caught one, he aimlessly tossed the flopping fish into the air. To everyone's surprise, the predator leaped and snagged it, swallowing the fish whole.

Mouth wide open, she laughed and clapped softly. "That was amazing!"

{More fish.} It licked its scaly lips.

Florian regarded them both with amusement and annoyance. "I'm glad you're both enjoying this." Sarcasm dripped from his words.

While he continued feeding their new friend, Eira took the opportunity to study the creature's unique features. It reminded her of a miniature dragon with a sturdy, slender snout, triton-shaped horns on its crest and webbed like ears. White from head to toe, it was covered in iridescent scales and its secondary wings appeared leathery soft, yet its primary wings were constructed of asymmetrical feathers. At the bend of each wing was a hooked talon that extended beyond the wingtip – slim and bony — it was a weapon on its own.

"What are you?" she whispered to no one in particular.

"Alright, that's enough." Florian waddled with the intention of getting out. To his consternation, the predator nudged him back into the water.

"It wants more." Eira smirked, amazed by how fast the creature warmed up to them. She realized it wasn't fully grown, lacking the guarded, blood-thirsty inclination of an adult predator. And it also explained its underdeveloped physique. The interesting question was — how big would it grow? Suddenly, the predator reared its head and emitted a sharp growl before taking off.

"Hey, where are you going?" Eira watched as it disappeared into the night.

"Fuck! It got away!" Florian clambered out of the pool. "Hurry, we need to capture it!"

"It wasn't the one responsible for the fishes," she insisted strongly, blocking his path.

"Eira," Florian exhaled with forced patience. "Even if it wasn't responsible, we can't allow it to roam freely. That creature wasn't your average predator. It's a new, undiscovered species."

Damn it. He was right. "Alright, fine," she relented. "But don't hurt it. You may not believe me but, it has no desire to harm. It's not like the predators we've killed before."

Florian read the earnest pleading on her face. Those emerald eyes were dangerous, imploring him to soften his heart. Reluctantly, his jaw tightened. "You have my word."

They tracked the unknown predator to the beach, moonbeam filtering through the darkness.

"The prints have disappeared." Florian frowned, glancing around before looking up at the night sky. "Did it fly away?"

An abrupt cry yanked their attention to the open waters.

"Ah, fuck," Florian muttered, removing a blade hidden inside the base of his boot. "Our tentacle friend is back."