Chapter 18: The Formidable Beast?

10 years ago, somewhere in the eastern region of the great forest of Gia lived a small population of apes. All its inhabitants were active and undertaking various tasks under the guidance of the bright and vibrant sunlight. Amongst them was a particularly thick and tall tree where an albino ape hung from one of its branches while nursing her newborn.

She then began to climb down the tree while holding her baby. She keeps climbing down until she reaches the ground. At the very moment, she could hear sounds and cries from the distance. The sound of trees falling and twigs snapping and even the screams of near apes. Coming into view was a large group of Bears on a rampage.

They were viciously clawing and biting numerous apes who were slow to put up a fight. The Bear's sudden brutal action indicates that they were trying to take over the ape's territory. Whatever the case, they attack the apes with a sense of urgency. Leaving ape both startled and unprepared at first until one of the bears leading the assault made one fatal mistake.

Worried for her baby's safety, the albino ape was about to turn tail and run. Unfortunately, before she could do so, she felt a searing pain in her right arm. She looked down only to see a bloody stump left. She leaps forward and scratches with her one good hand, leaving deep gashes across the bear's nose. The bear took a few steps back holding its nose and growling in pain. The albino ape screams in rage and sadness and begins to beat on her chest. The Albino ape rawr so loud the nearby trees tremble a little. For a breath moment, the entire forest area fell dead silent. The other apes started to beat on their chest as well. They rawr simultaneously and with that Battle had begun.

The Apes greatly outnumber the Bears. they group up on each other and pounce on them. They beat the bears to a bloody pulp using their large fists. Some even used objects such as large rocks repeatedly bashing them against the bear's head. Pretty soon all the bears were getting a trashing. some even collapsed and got continuously beaten to death.

Realizing they were fighting a losing battle, the bears retreated. Notably, in a different direction from the one they came from. A few of them gave a chance until the Albino ape roared, they halted and returned to the fold. The look on her face was fierce and unforgiving as they gazed in the direction the bears ran. That day was the day a formidable shrewd leader was born.

1 year later, the bears had already found and settled in a new habitat. A small peaceful meadow that slopes downward on one side and is surrounded by trees on all remaining sides. Below the slope was a flowing river bountiful with sprightly fish. Some Bears could be seen nursing their cubs. In one instance, There's one specific bear that was seen merrily playing with her cub. The two to be having fun and enjoying quality time together. At one point, the cub fell and the mama bear was rubbing her snout on the underbelly of the cub as it flailed around playfully. Upon hearing a strange noise the mama bear raised her head and looked like scratch marks.

Sensing danger, the scarred nose mama bear grabbed her cub and flung it away as far as she could. The cub hit the ground rolling down the sloping land leading to the river. Confused about how hard his mother had flung him, the cub slowly got back on its four feet and began to walk. As the cub started to the small hill, the roars and cries were getting louder and intensifying by the second. All sudden, the atmosphere got much quieter than before. Fearful something terrible is happening to Mother, the cub hastens his paste. The cub finally got over the hill only to witness the decimation of every single bear and the habitat overrun. He looked over where he last saw his mother, Her whole body was lying flat on the floor- well mostly. On top of the upper half of her body was a creature hunched over it while repeatedly raining blows on it. It was to the point where her head was no longer there but its place was what looked like minced meat.

The creature stood up and beat on its chest and rawred. It was none other than the albino ape who had come for revenge. As if responding to their leader's command, the apes rawred right after in unison. The Albino ape had indeed become the leader of over 200 Apes. Furthermore, the albino ape has also evolved into a magical beast. Hence, this was the reason why it was powerful enough to single-handedly make quick work of the scarred nose mama bear. Petrified by the deafening roar of all the apes in addition to the gruesome demise of all the other bears, the cub is in dismay. Fearfully, it took a few steps backward and unintentionally slid down the hill once again. Luckily the apes were too far to notice it, which gave it the opportunity to run alongside the river and escape.

Wandering the forest alone, the cub learns how to hunt, scavage, and hide from other predators. For 9 long years, it continued in this fashion, until one day it stumbled upon what appeared to be a graveyard for bears. Instead of tombstones and flowers, it was the bones and rotten flesh that decorated the entire field. This field was where they previously migrated from before attacking the apes several years ago. Something or someone seems to have killed off a great number of them. Those who did escape were desperately trying to find a new place to live. Unfortunately, they ended up attacking the ape's territory which led to the cub's current situation. The cub, however, was no longer a cub anymore since so many years had passed. It now weighs approximately 400 pounds and was a fully grown bear. The lone bear traverses through the field of all the dead corpses while surveying the area. All of a sudden the bear heard a noise close by and ventured towards the noise. 

From a short distance away, the lone bear noticed another bear lying down that looked as if it was slightly decomposing but had most of its flesh and fur on it, unlike all the others. Yet, it was moving its head and making noise. Curiosity prevailed as the lone bear approached it and began to sniff around. Upon closing inspection, The lone bear saw that the bear's body was in far worse shape than its head. The body was decomposing at a much faster rate than its head which looked almost in fair condition. What was even more bizarre was the fact the bear's head was completely detached from the body but it was still moving!

At the base of the head where the neck and body were supposed to be attached was a mass of meaty flesh protruding out of it. It was greyish pink in color, with groves and channels connecting one end to the other. It resembles a human brain except there were long hair follicles sticking out of every direction on it. Suddenly the faint noise the dead bear's head was making suddenly stopped and the entire area fell quiet. Hearing a twig snap in the distance it quickly turns its head toward the noise and away from the dead bear's head. The hairy gob of meaty twitch leaps up towards the neck of the lone bear like some sort of alien from a sci-fi movie. Outlandishly enough it grad along the severed head of the dead bear while attempting to attach itself to the lone bear. It quickly burrows its long hair follicle-like tentacles under the fur and into the skin of the lone bear. Taken off guard and panicking the lone bear fought back by trying to shake it off. It even attempted to claw it off but to no avail.

Like a parasite taking over a host, it was too late once it dug in. The lone bear cried out loudly as the nearby bird flew away and the sound echos through the forest. Pairs of red eyes could be seen glowing bright red, like a demon-possessed. From then on, the once lone bear had weep mayhem, and carnage among its path for months to come.