Now Or Never

It stood on four legs, its back arched upward, dry skin that looked like they have been roughly patched together in certain areas, its head like a seave basket turned upside down, pair of teeth like the sharp part of a saw, obviously no eyes, nose or ears in its basket face.

At least I could relate the former beast to different animal parts. This one however has no definite comparison to any animal I have come across.

The only saving grace to this beast is its height standing at five feet tall when it walks on all fours on the ground.

Other than that, it's an entirely new species, a horrendous soul-shattering species.

For a moment there, it kept me questioning the validity of my being on earth.

I shuddered even more as I hastily moved my head inside while the beast passed my tree by.

It was also on high alert, turning its head in several areas like it was in search of something.

The question of what to do arose within me. I had made up my mind to fight any beast I came across next. It was the only option I had to satiate my hunger.

But this?! My mind never prepared me for this.

What a fool I was. Busy making up plans to take down a beast and not once did I ever stop to think about what kind of beast I would be approaching!!

I... I Was terrified!!!

What to do? I know I should engage, but I have no such strength in me to do so.

To even move a muscle of my body is already a tough deal for me who has a hard time coming to terms with this.

Running was not an option. I don't want to do anything to rile it up or call its attention to me.

In this desperate moment, the cowardly side of me surfaced, and the me that had been carefully executing and planning was nowhere to be found.

Pathetic! Yes. But I am just like any other man, desperate to live in the face of an utter absurdity.

The beast kept poking its head in different directions, especially to the path it walks on.

It appears that was its way of sight since it has no eyes, ears or nose to help navigate its path.

'I can take it out!'.

From nowhere, I had this ridiculously dangerous idea flow into my thoughts.

Like, I could die. What was I thinking!!!

Yet, the idea refused to leave my thoughts. Rather, it kept pestering!

I saw a glimmer of hope in its weakness. No eyes, ears, and nose. It is handicapped in a lot of ways, several advantages opened up to me.

That was what gave me the courage to think of that!

'Should I take advantage of it?!'.

I would be a fool not to. But, I would also be a fool nonetheless if I let myself get conceited that I could take it on simply because it had none of the crucial sensory body parts.

Even without those, it lived up until this height and is even able to move around, so surely, it must have its way to compensate for those weaknesses.

'Should I go or should I not?!'.

I was torn between the two options, weighing out which one I should or shouldn't do.

At the end of the day, I decided to go with the one possessing more risk.

One thing I know is that sooner or later, my body will succumb to my lack of nutrients.

When that happens, forget trying to question if I should or shouldn't hunt. I will instantly become the meek, defenceless prey.

Now that I still have the energy to spare on thinking up questions is the right moment to strike?

I shouldn't waste it on fruitless thoughts and options.

If I don't move now, I will never know what outcome I will arrive at. No, I already know what the outcome is.

Still, if there is even a one percent chance, I should be willing to risk it.

I said all those energetic words and boosted up my morale to you know, confront the absurdity as I like to call it.

I clenched the branch in my hand tightly and slowly made my way out of my hiding place.

I came out behind the absurdity and stood there, watching if it would notice my presence.

This was my way of ascertaining to what limits its senses can go.

Does it extend to me not making a single squeak or is there more to it?!!

I had questions brewing up in me. At least before I proceed to make any irrational moves, I need to have a certain, if not the full scope of what I am dealing with.

Getting no reaction from the absurdity compelled me to want to try other extreme means.

I spanked the tip of my branch on the tree by my side. Immediately, I changed my location by moving to the right and hid myself behind a tree.

From there I waited and monitored the absurdity's reaction.

The sound of the spank got to the absurdity and it turned toward the direction. Its reaction speed was out of the norm.

'What the hell was that about?!!'.

If I hadn't paid close observation, I swear I would have missed sight of how it got to the tree.

Is this really what I intended to fight?! I fear the more I try to know it, the faster my morale dwindled and I see myself losing the credibility to go up against it.

'No! This isn't the time to falter!!'.

I keep reminding myself that if I let go of this prey right now, there's no telling how insane the next one I come across would be!

'It is now or never! Now or never! Now or never!!'.

I metaphorically turned my balls into steel, clutched my branch tightly, locked my eyes on my target and boosted my fighting spirit.

'Here I go!'.