The Other Thing

~ Part I ~

Dark things roam the forest at night, great terrifying creatures that are best left alone. But we are not your enemy. No, your enemy - our enemy - is the Things. Things have no claws or fangs - they do not have thick hides or scales. They are not strong and mighty, nor are they stealthy or swift - by all means, they appear to be the perfect prey; make no mistake, dear hunter, their appearance is a lie. Hunt a Thing for need or sport, and its child, its neighbour, a member of its race, will vow vengeance. To slay a Thing is to damn oneself to a life of preyhood, but that is part of the fun.

Every day I creep into their lair, and quietly, so as not to disturb them, I climb to the peak of their highest den. I have chosen my perch with the utmost care. Other places obstruct my view or leave my fur exposed to the sun’s searing light, but not here. Here, I am comfortable, hidden, safe. Here I watch as the Things crawl out of their homes and embrace the sun. Watch as their children come screeching out of their beds, and I wait.

I do not wait for a victim - such arrogance would be my undoing - I wait for the Sel-Ee-Na. The Sel-Ee-Na is the greatest of the Things. By some trick of nature, the Sel-Ee-Na has crossed the forest under the light of seven moons. It has outsmarted my brothers and sisters at every turn, but it will not evade me. I, the great watcher in the wind, the eldest and wisest of the Others, cannot be fooled by the Sel-Ee-Na’s paltry tricks. I have observed the Sel-Ee-Na - I know how it thinks and feels, I understand it wholly. And thus, I have mastery over it.

The Sel-Ee-Na will make a crossing tonight, and when it does, I will eat it. Satisfied, I spring from my perch and slip into the shadows below. The Sel-Ee-Na will not grace the forest until dusk, which gives me ample time to rest. It may be too bright to seek my den, but the high branches of the forest will do.

I wake to the traitorous growls of my stomach. It gurgles and aches in a painful display of mutiny. I had intended to rest until Mother Moon reached her peak, but sleep, it seems, is less important than food. Begrudgingly, I swing from the high branches to the ground below, searching for something to sate my appetite. I stroll through the forest idly, musing about the coming hunt. A cool breeze wafts through the air and with it the sweet tang of blood. I breathe heavily, savouring every breath and each layer of flavour that it brings. It is fresh and fulfilling, intoxicatingly sweet… Adrenaline courses through my veins, screaming for me to answer the blood’s call.

I do not care if the prey is dead or alive. Indeed, I do not care for the prey at all; my only thought is the blood that taunts my senses. I need it- I need it! Faster, I must be faster! I must have it! I sprint recklessly through the forest, tearing through my surroundings as if I were weightless. I can smell it… I can taste it… There- there! I have found it! I pounce on the still-bleeding corpse delightedly and put my ravenous claws to work.

Sated, I lean back and examine my surroundings properly. The hunter, it would seem, is an amateur. The prey’s flesh hangs in ribbons throughout the brush; its innards are strewn carelessly across the low branches. It is a gruesome kill and one done with no technique. The Ax-Ex’s work, no doubt, no other would leave such a wasteful disaster.

The Ax-Ex will always be the least of the Others. It has no skill - no finesse - it hunts to kill and nothing more. It is a senseless, mindless, worthless fool. And I, the greatest of the Others, the most skilled, most dangerous, most feared and reviled, am eating its scraps. It is a humiliating thought and one I am loath to entertain, but I needn’t worry long; a resounding howl echoes through the forest and with it the piercing war cry of a Thing. The Sel-Ee-Na has arrived.

Limbs pounding against the forest floor, I rush to meet the Sel-Ee-Na. I hear an Other in the distance, I smell one to the East, but they will not reach the Sel-Ee-Na. I will make sure of it. I spy the Ax-Ex’s wings in the distance ahead and leap into the boughs above, bounding from tree to tree with ease. I roar a warning to the Other, but the Ax-Ex only turns its miserable head and bares its canines. It wants to play. It should know better. I throw my body forward, crossing the distance between us with ease. The Ax-Ex swings its claws in a pathetic attempt to slow me. It is not ready for my amused purr or the fangs that follow. I catch the Ax-Ex’s wings and tear, revelling in the scars I create. It will not bother me now. I hurl the Ax-Ex’s pitiful form to the ground below, watching in amusement as its body catches on the sharp branches. With the Ax-Ex handled, I am free to resume my hunt. I gaze out across the forest. The Sel-Ee-Na is intelligent - it knows that we Others cannot cross the Great Water. That is where it will head. That is where I will catch it. I spring between the treetops with ease, reaching the Great Water in a matter of minutes. The Sel-Ee-Na will be along shortly: I need only wait.

The smell of fear floods the area as the Sel-Ee-Na comes barrelling through the underbrush. It is bleeding and unsteady it stumbles and falters where it would usually stride; foolish Thing. I expected better from it. I creep forward eagerly, claws and fangs ready to strike. Closer, it need only come closer. The Sel-Ee-Na’s pace slows. It takes one step, another. Come now, little Thing- just a bit closer. A sharp thorn pierces the ground between us. A low growl escapes me. How dare the Others interfere! The Sel-Ee-Na whirls to face me, scanning the darkness as if it could see. Another thorn strikes, whizzing past the Sel-Ee-Na with startling accuracy. I whip my head in the direction of the thorns the Sel-Ee-Na does the same. Yet it cannot see as I; it cannot see the Things lurking in the darkness.

The Things step out of the shadows and towards the Sel-Ee-Na, uttering nonsense in their guttural tongue. The Sel-Ee-Na’s fear spikes as it growls and roars at the Things. They stalk towards it, launching thorns that the Sel-Ee-Na dodges easily. I see the truth of it now - the Things are hunting the Sel-Ee-Na. Rage and insult spike my veins. How dare they interfere with my hunt? I will not stand for it. The Sel-Ee-Na is mine, and I will have it one way or another.

I spring from my place in the shadows, ripping into the Things with gleeful ferocity. The Sel-Ee-Na should have known better than to bring such base prey before me. I hear the Sel-Ee-Na’s screams and pounding footsteps as it flees, but I am preoccupied with its kin. I savour every drop of blood, revelling in the taste - the sheer lavishness of enjoying not one but two Things. I suck them dry and drop their empty bodies to the ground below, privately enjoying the brawl such a feast will cause amongst my brethren.

I take a cursory sniff of the air and catch the Sel-Ee-Na’s scent with ease. The sweet perfume of its fear is impossible to miss. I bound into the forest with fresh enthusiasm; to have slain not one, but two Things, and the Sel-Ee-Na? I will be untouchable. No Other, no Thing, will dare to cross me!

I spy the Sel-Ee-Na in the distance- can hear its ragged breaths. In but a moment, I will be upon it. I can all but taste victory! The Sel-Ee-Na glances back to see me and stumbles in fear and revision. It has no chance! I will have it! I- roar in outrage as pain wracks my body; constant, overwhelming pain, as if my very soul were burning. As if my blood were boiling from the inside out. My hubris has led me too far. I have followed the Sel-Ee-Na straight into its worthless little wards. I roar in fury and frustration, screaming at the Sel-Ee-Na and its loathsome smirk, wailing at the Things and their baneful magic. Countless lights spring to life in the distance as they crawl out of their homes to witness my humiliation. I will grant them no such pleasure. With a last roar of outrage, I retreat to my forest, enduring the Sel-Ee-Na’s laughter with grim determination. The Sel-Ee-Na will not be so lucky next time. Someday soon, it will falter, and I shall be there to catch it.

~ Part II ~

Some moons later, I am rudely awakened by the harsh tones of a Thing lurking outside my den. It is strange to see a Thing so deep in the forest, even when the sun is at its peak. Curious and careful to avoid the bones that could give me away, I creep to the forefront of my cave. The Thing outside my cave is old and decrepit; it reeks of decay. I watch in amusement as it shambles along as if each step brings it closer to the grave. I am fascinated by this Thing; it is not often that an elder graces my forest. I should like to see what it does. I leap smoothly into the shadows nearby, careful to avoid the sun, and begin stalking the elder-Thing.

It occasionally stops to pull weeds and ferns from the ground. It seems invested in the fauna it collects, yet I find nothing remarkable about the foliage’s taste. Perhaps the elder-Thing no longer tastes. Such a condition would not be uncommon for one so near to death. I set my musings aside as the elder-Thing approaches a small tree and settles itself by the base, producing a small burrow from its fur. The burrow is round and smooth - most likely made of bone. The elder-Thing fills it with its foliage collection, and with surprising ferocity, pounds the foliage rhythmically with a small rock. Push, pull, pound, push, pull, pound, the elder-Thing grinds its collection to a pulp. I watch in fascination as the herbs and plants form dirty water. The elder-Thing dips its tiny claws into the water and murmurs in its ghastly tongue.

I do not understand the elder-Thing’s actions, but it is pleasant to watch. I sit contentedly as the elder-Thing coats small stones in the dirty water and watch fascinated as those stones begin to glow and form- runes? I see the truth of it now. The elder-Thing is performing magic- in my forest! The audacity! The impudence! How dare it spread its poison here! I will not see my grounds so defiled. I am upon it before it can think to scream. I have dragged it into the shadows before the sun can think to burn. And there, in the dark, I devour it whole.

I drop the elder-Thing’s corpse in disgust. Its blood is stale and unfulfilling, reminiscent of dirt. Age, it would seem, sours a Thing. The elder-Thing’s body rolls to a stop next to the cursed stones. I gaze at them blankly for a moment; it would not do for such things to be in the open. But I do not want to touch them. Bemoaning my fate, I seek out the elder-Thing’s burrow and swipe the runestones into it. I must dispose of the stones carefully, but how?

Runestones are indestructible; they cannot be beaten or broken. Yet the elder-Thing handled them as if they were no more than pebbles. There must be a trick to it. I carry the stones to my caves and drop them haphazardly, unsure how to proceed.

My eyes land on a small pile of bones; perhaps safety is the key to this endeavour. I select a large bone and set about prodding the runestones. They are unbothered by the intrusion; they barely move at all. Violence is in order, I whack the stones with measured ferocity, yet still, they do not react. Befuddled, I step towards the runestones; if they are unbothered by the bone’s presence, they may be unbothered by my own.

I reach a pointed claw towards the stones, wrapping my talons around the stone gingerly. A moment passes, then another as I stand breathless and unflinching. Yet the stone withholds its fire. Fascinated, I lift the stone from the floor and examine it closely. It is an unremarkable stone; it does not glimmer or sheen like those worn by the Things. It is dull and imperfect. I reach a wary claw towards the rune itself and touch the surface gently; the stone flares to life and sears my flesh in a spark of inanimate fury. I hurl the stone pain, roaring my displeasure. The stone strikes the wall with a dull thud and ricochets into the others, sending them flying in every direction.

Growling in frustration and agony, I stalk towards the nearest stone, intending to voice my displeasure against its indestructible surface. Yet my strike falls short, and my anger bleeds away as I see the consequences of my action. The stone is cracked - split like a spring egg, and the rune is dead.

I eye it curiously, fearing it to be some trick of the light or misguided hope. I place a claw against its marred surface and find nothing but stone. Understanding dawns on me, and I sweep the remaining runes into the center of the room. Mindful of where I place my talons, I pick up a stone and hurl it at its brethren. I watch in delight as it crashes against its kin and sends several of them splintering into pieces. A delighted roar escapes me as I admire my handiwork. I cannot break the stones, but they can destroy each other. The border is no longer impenetrable. The Sel-Ee-Na is no longer out of reach.

~ Part III ~

I wait for darkness’ smooth embrace, taking the time to prepare myself thoroughly. I have but one chance to catch the Sel-Ee-Na unawares: I will not waste it on inefficacy. Stone in hand, I leap through the forest, dancing across treetops as if they were nothing. The Things’ dens dot the horizon, each glowing with its own set of stars. I slow my pace and creep forwards cautiously. The barrier is close; I must not disturb it prematurely. I scan the ground carefully, watching for the tell-tale glint of the runestones or the incessant buzzing of the barrier’s magic.

There, a going of light in the darkness. I creep forwards, eyes set on the borderstone before me. It, like its brothers, has been placed with the utmost care. They form a flawless line of defence, one that has kept the Others at bay since the Beginning. It will stand no longer. I hurl my runestone into the line watching in amusement as it crashes messily against its kin, bouncing between stones and splintering two border runes. I watch in pleasure as the barrier’s lights flicker and fade. To think that such a fragile line is all that stood between me and my prize is laughable, indeed. I reach an eager claw beyond the barrier, entranced by the ease of the motion. I have done what no Other has done before.

Triumph and anticipation surge through my body and send me bounding towards the Things’ territory. I reach the outskirts and scale the tallest den in a matter of moments. How strange it is to see the Things’ land under the cover of darkness. It is quiet and still, unlike the hustle and bustle I have come to expect. There is hardly any sound - barely even a breeze - it is strangely serene. I shake my head to clear it. There is a time and a place for such thoughts, and that time has passed.

I scan the dens for the Sel-Ee-Na’s lair. It is indistinguishable from the other dens, but I have seen the Sel-Ee-Na emerge from it on many occasions. I leap from my place above and let the wind carry me to the dry tufts below. The den shudders beneath me as it struggles to balance my weight. It need not worry; I will be quick.

I step delicately to the edge of the den and swing my head over the side. I push against the surface of the den’s entrance, delighting in how easily it gives way. Truly nothing was standing between me and my foe. It is a wonder our quarrel has lasted so long.

I swing myself into the den and admire my surroundings. The den is full of wood and stone structures of little interest to me; the walls are plain and unadorned. It is a simple home for so mighty a Thing. I had thought the Sel-Ee-Na would mount its prey on the wall as other Things do or display the hard-won furs of my brethren on its floor. I am disappointed by its lack of pride - did its battles with my kin mean nothing? Where are the trophies, bones, and furs?

The sound of its breath clears my head. I am not here to judge the Sel-Ee-Na; I am here to eat it. I prowl towards the Sel-Ee-Na, intoxicated by its scent and the promise of blood. Closer… Closer… I can all but taste it. I stalk towards the Sel-Ee-Na’s unconscious form, unfolding my body as I move. I lord over it, surrounding the Sel-Ee-Na until I can feel its breath upon my face. It shall evade me no longer.

With a roar of triumph, I strike. I feel it tense beneath me - feel its fear permeate the air, but there is nothing it can do; there will be no escape. I drink of the Sel-Ee-Na lavishly, savouring every hard-won drop of its blood. It is sweeter than any I have tasted, thicker and juicier than the choicest game. When I finish, there is nothing left of the Sel-Ee-Na. All that remains is the tattered husk of what was once my fiercest enemy.

But as I lay my foe to rest, I do not feel victorious. The Sel-Ee-Na fell to me with ease - there was no grand battle or glorious hunt, it just died. I have done what could not be done; slain what could not be slain! Yet I take no pride in it. There will never be another Sel-Ee-Na. There will be no furious chases through my forest or crafty tricks to avoid. No other Thing is as cunning and swift; no other prey has plagued me this long. I am the most skilled hunter there ever was - but what is a hunter with no prey? I realize that this was the Last Hunt, and as sunlight streams through the cracks in my enemy’s walls, I choose to follow the Sel-Ee-Na to the next life. I am its hunter. It is my prey. And where it goes, I follow.