Hunger and Thirst

Once Titania heard the sound of running water as though the sweet melody of some love sick musician he dashed in any direction that it got louder in hopes of finding it soon. During his mad dash of water finding he glances up in the sky and sees that the sun is hung in midday with white clouds forming a halo around it as though to worship its radiance. He then returns his focus back at the goal at hand.

Eventually through the thick trees he sees glimpses of the blue rushing river, he ready his gun in hope of finding a wild animal drinking from the river. Once he finally gets a clear view of the river he makes a beeline straight for it.

Once he reached the bank of the river he gets down on his knees and starts cupping the running water into his mouth. He drank the river water, unaware of its nasty impurities and parasites that thrive in its running waters.

Once he was full of water he stopped at took in a couple breathes of air and looked around. He saw the river making a small winding clearing at it running through the forest and out of Titania's eyesight. He looked around and saw far up stream of the river was a brown furred bear wadding in the river, mouth open as though waiting for food to come into its mouth.

'Dinner,' He said to himself as he crept slowly up steam of the river, gun ready in his right hand. He crept to the bear close enough to get a good aim but enough space to give to run away if things with south.

He aimed the gun down the sights, closing one eye to improve his sight. The bear moved around lazily in hopes that it would find a fish to eat. Titania aims for the bears eye, a small weakness common in most animals of the land, air, and sea. Usually the eyes have a direct connection to the brain. So aim for the eye and if it is at the right angle, then brain dead. One shot, one kill, one bullet.

That was the prime concern at this moment, how many bullets he had. He doesn't know, he should have checked early. Would have been much smarter to check in front of the general when he gave him the gun. He felt its weight in his hands. It could carry 12, 9, or 24 bullets. It could be a point-blank bullet too, making it easier for him to kill the bear.

Now he crouches to minimize his size and holds to gun towards the bear. He felt the trigger with his index finger. He felt resistance on it, letting the user know that they have to be aware of every shot taken.

He pulls the trigger. A loud crack sounds from the gun, ringing his ears to his brain. Then the force of the shot makes his elbows buckle, sending the gun flying above his head but still in his grasps.

The bear lifts its head and stands on its hind legs, from its maw it lets out a primitive roar that rings throughout the forest like a bell announcing the changing of an hour. It shifts its body looking for some animal to make its appearance and start a brawl. Streams of blood rushed from the bear's face as it keeps surveying for enemies. Titania slowly crawls away in hoping to get out of sight of the bear. He missed.

He curses at himself as creates distance, he failed and he had one less bullet. One less chance to defend himself and one more chance to fail. He could continue to stay and shoot more at the bear but if he shot a second time the bear would find out where he was hiding.

His stomach pangs in hunger as he debates his options. He flees and keeps what he has on him but leaves with nothing but a wasted bullet. He could stay and kill the bear securing him food that would definitely last him throughout the test but he would risk not only bullets but also his life.

While he mulls it over he questions himself, why is he doing this? He is free to do whatever he wants. If he wanted to he could run away and do what he pleases on impulse. It could be possible, he is left alone and no one to check on him. If he leaves the research facility would chalk it up to failing the test and start anew, forgetting him and continuing with the project.

But if he leaves, what can he do? He has no money, no way of direction to a city or town. What if the research facility does continue with using him for research, not that he minds but the desire to be free is always present. How would he explain himself to society, that he emerged from the trees like a nymph of old tales and is here to help everyone?

He mulls over what to do with hunger keeping his mind present of the situation.

Hunger pangs his stomach and head, making decisions was difficult. He wants to stay and kill the bear to secure the a large source of food but would have to risk his life. He wants to leave to save his life and bullets but would remain hungry. Secure his food at the risk of his life and vice versa.

Hunger pangs his body and soul once more. He finally makes a decision.

He chose to stay and hunt the bear but in a different way. He shifted the pistol to his non-dominate hand and cupped his hand to his mouth. He started to collect spores into a small ball. Once it got too big for his one hand he put down the pistol right in front of him on the side, the muzzle aimed to the right.

Once he made the ball that fit in the palm of both hands he started to add more spores, compressing it into a smaller ball, more tightly packed. Once he got it to his desired size he stopped adding spores and held it up to his eyes to admire his work. He tossed the compressed ball of spore in the air and to each hand as though he was playing with a tennis ball. He would create more but had no means to carry them.

He then picked up the gun with his non-dominate hand and kept the ball of spores in his dominate one. He then crept towards the still roaring bear on its hind legs, waving its head as though its hair was on fire. He crept slowly towards the bear like how a hungry predator stalks it prey. He creeps slowly at first but as he grows closer so does he in speed. He gets back into his original spot and ready himself.

He stands up to get a better aim to throw the ball. The bear notices him and turns its attention toward him, it gets back on for legs and starts running at him. Titania steels his courage as death approaches on four legs.

He throws the ball of spores at the face of the bear. Once it made contact with the bear the ball exploded, aerating the spores. The spores then hung in the air surrounding the bears head as though an helmet of protection.

The bear, surprised from what happened stopped in its tracks and looked around as the spores filled the air, this was its fatal mistake. The bear took a whiff of the spores and started its own doom. The bear started to wave its head so though to shake off the , but still remains in the fumes of the spores! Then the bear opened its mouth and started to gagging as though it might purge the illness but nothing comes out! The bear realizing its impending doom lets out primitive wails, mourning its own death. It had given up on killing Titania and strives to survive.

It tries to turn around and flee but when it does one of its forelegs has given. No, its body wouldn't betray its owner during such a dangerous moment, the leg got caught in the river's current and lost its placement. And the cloud of spores still lingers in the air, embracing the bears as though a hug from its mother.

The bears breath started to turn rigid and starts to hang its head low, its death imminent. Finally the infection has taken a hold on the bear's body. The fur warming its body started to fall off of its body in abundant amounts, showing its wrinkled pink flesh untouched by the elements of nature. Now the bear's throat started choking in on itself, as though a snake constricts its airway.

Looking at what the ball of spores was doing, calling it a gas grenade would be more bettered named.

Now the bear falls over into the river, few bubbles emerge from the bear. They rise to the surface and hover for a moment before popping. The bear dies and the cloud of spores still hover above it as though the angel of death claiming a soul.

When Titania saw the bear stop resisting he cried with joy on the inside as hunger eats at his own body movements. He glances quickly into the sky and sees the sun. It has about a quarter of life left before the moon makes its debut, sending the sun back home to rest.

Now Titania goes into the river to collect the hairless bear as it is food for several days and nights, enough to make him sleep with a full belly, a commodity which he now sees as rare.

As he waddles through the river, his legs slowly becoming numb from the cold water a person watches, the bushes and tree leaves rustle with trepidation for Titania. No not Ajax, for Ajax knew better than to make such a noise so close to the target, no, someone else. Could it be a research member who has to collect data? No, for they are accustomed to controlled environments and temperature.

Yes, a third party comes closer to Titania and their intent unknown.