Chapa 3

"Geeez... How much more till the entrance of the forest?"

The voice of a man could be heard while walking on rocky desert-like terrain. The ground was harsh and yellowish and the dirt was so dry that the cracks form by the vapors of the moister once held by the soil could be seen all over the ground.

Hours had already passed since the man had taken in the direction of the forest. From the farm, where his journey began to the forest, was at least five to six hours of arduous walking. On his way, he encountered some unexpected events but thanks to previous experiences he was easily able to deal with them.

While walking, the biggest danger he would face is that of the scorching heat produced by that demonic yet majestic star in the sky. After walking for another hour, he decided to stop next to a big boulder to get some shade. It had been some time since he started walking to the forest and it would do him good to stop and rest for a few minutes before continuing. "Woosh... Woosh... Rattle... Woosh... Rattle... Woosh... Woosh... Rattle... Woosh... Woosh..." the dry wind howled and mixed within, there was a subtle rattling noise.

The Fat Farmer ignored it and took the water canteen strapped on this shoulder. This water canteen has a unique look. It was made from a hollowed ram's horn and it could hold at least three litters of water in it. When he was about to take a sip, he heard the rattling noise again. "Swoosh," a sleek shadow jumps from behind the rock he was resting at. With fast reflexes, the fat farmer dodges back while placing his hoe to block the shadow's strike. The shadow forcefully clamped on the hoe's handle with its fangs.

The next instant, the fat farmer while driven by instinct with his quick reflexes, grabbed the body of the slippery fiend and smashed it into the rock, headfirst. After, he took his hoe and with a swift strike to the head decapitated the beast. "Swoosh! Splat!" blood flew everywhere.

He got closer to take a look at his assailant, it was a rattlesnake. This type of viper is a deadly killer. It was around 1.3 meters in length. It's venom potent enough to kill a grown man. The neurotoxins in the venom of this snake are one that attacks the nervous system, causing loss of vision, skeletal muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, and the eventual respiratory failure leading to death.

While looking at the carcass on the ground, he swallowed deeply. Being a doctor in the past, the fat farmer knew how dangerous a bite from this animal could be. The body of the snake was still flailing around. Usually, the bodies of reptiles make some involuntary movements after death due to muscle contractions.

With the threat neutralized, he walked closer to the carcass and grabbed the body. It would make a great ingredient for a bowl of soup or broth. After packing the body into his bag, he walked to the head. He carefully took the head and made it bite into the side of a small jar. With this, he extracted the venom stored in bags behind the rattlesnake's fangs. He stored the small jar of venom in his bag and proceded to grab some pliers to extract the fangs.

After taking care of the carcass and head, he gulped down some water before proceeding. He didn't feel safe standing next to this big boulder anymore. Snakes are cold-blooded animals that can not naturally regulate their body temperature. During scorching hot days like the one today, they tend to group and hide under shaded places similar to the one he was standing near.

Although these beasts don't normally attack unless provoked it's better to stand on the side of caution. Hanging his water canteen around his chest, he continued in the direction of the forest.

A few hours and tumbleweeds later, he was finally able to see the entrance to the forest. Only a few more kilometers to go before arriving at its entrance.

Straw hat covered his face from the sun; sweat drops rolled down his face; on his face, his lips were arched into a huge grin.

"Finally the forest is in sight," he said while looking at the forest entrance.

Just when he thought the heavens providence was shining on him, the winds picked up. The dry winds were hit the skin hard taking away any moister it might hold.

He quickly covered himself with a desert cloth he had packed for the journey. He looked back seeing the loose dry dirt was starting to get picked up by the growing winds. Panic surfaced on his face and he started to run. If the winds intensified any more he would be a goner.