The prey’s Gambit

In the heart of the jungle, it was very quiet, air hung heavy, stillness enveloped the landscape. and every animal seemed to be asleep peacefully under the starry sky. But that would soon change……

At first, it was just a low rumble that barely disturbed the tranquility, but gradually sound swelled and it turned into a roar echoing through the dense forest, and then there was a sudden boom!! And in a flash of light that shook the whole forest. The brilliant barest of light and sound disappeared in a flash. Many animals were awakened by the sound and sudden stir. As their senses attuned to the unexpected disturbance they began sniffing around.

Amidst the confusion, a leopard ventured forth, drawn by the scent of charred grass and the faint lingering traces of smoke. Unfazed by his discovery the leopard moved on, He was aware such occurrences were common in the wilderness. He was unaware of the actual events and well who would have thought that humans no longer roamed the earth all that was left were faint echos of their existence.

The reality was beyond is control or understanding who knew, the sound had been caused by all the commotion was made by humans. THE HUMANS HAD LEFT EARTH, And the faint sound remaining was the rocket far in the blue skies. All that was visible was a faint trailing smoke of rocket carrying the last humans themselves. Now all that was left were untamed creatures.

5000 years later……...

When the jungle thrived in solitude, its secrets were hidden from the passage of time. The world’s land had shrunk to being around 1000 kilometers wide and long. In the heart of the most secluded nato colony, a creature named Oni stood amidst the bustling commotion of departure day. Today was the day he would leave the colony to find a new one. He surveyed the bustling scene before him, taking in the sights and sounds of departure day with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. Oni was a very light green creature with a sleek body, it was easy for him to camouflage in the lush green habitat of the forest.

Despite this advantage he was STILL NERVOUS though! Natos had evolved from weasels, but unlike weasels, they loved water. Oni embraced the unknown ready to embark on a voyage that would Change his life. His only mission was survival and finding a new colony.

The nearest colony was very far away, and Oni knew it would take a long time to get there. A few hours after his departure from his colony, his stomach started rumbling and soon it was hard for him to ignore the growling sounds.

He had to find food. Oni sniffed around, hoping to find a fruit tree nearby. He could sense his lack of focus and felt weak. He continued to scan the forest and finally, what seemed like an eternity he spotted a big, old tree with lots of ripe-looking fruits at the top.

The tree had many sturdy branches, making it easy for Oni to climb because of his slender build. He was hopeful of fulling is hunger and felt even proud of himself and how independent he had become in just a short timeframe. He had to over come the shadow of his past and be self sufficient enough to survive.

With Hope in his heart Oni jumped onto the lowest branch and started climbing up. The branches were thick and strong, so he didn’t have to worry about them breaking. He kept jumping from one branch to another until he reached the top. Oni picked two juicy fruits and began climbing back down.

But just as he was about to reach the ground, he heard a loud SCREECH!!!!!!! Caught off guard, Oni’s heart raced as he instinctively tightened his grip on the fruits, his mind filled with thoughts of fear and survival. A huge bird with a sharp beak swooped down from the trees, trying to grab one of the fruits from Oni’s paws with its long talons.

Oni swiftly avoided the bird’s dive and braced himself for another screech. When it came, the bird swooped down and grabbed the fruit Oni held tightly. Despite his best efforts, Oni knew he couldn’t keep his grip forever without being dragged into the sky with the fruit. Fear crept over him, making him uncertain of what to do next. Reluctantly, he made the tough decision to release the fruit.

As the bird flew off with his prize, Oni felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him. He was frustrated at losing the fruit, but also scared of what the bird might do next. Yet, deep down, he knew he had to stay strong. Taking a deep breath, he reminded himself that giving up wasn’t an option.

Even though things hadn’t gone as planned he was able to find a few half-eaten fruits on the ground to take care of his hunger. Oni refused to let this setback stop him. With determination burning in his heart, he prepared himself for the challenges that lay ahead. He knew the journey wasn’t over yet, and he also knew he had to keep pushing forward, no matter what obstacles came his way. After all, he had faced challenges before, and he knew he had the strength and courage to overcome whatever came his way.

With an empty stomach and dwindling energy, Oni faced the pressing need to find shelter for the night.

It wasn’t safe for natos like him to be out in the dark. Nighttime was when most predators hunted, so finding a secure place before sunset was crucial.