CREATURE

In the darkness of the shallow
cave, moonlight peaks a glimpse of an eye.
Awake, the creature unfolds its expansive wings. Wrapped around it's armored body, they had protected it during the long slumber.
" The moons are high" it thought, in it's own garbled tongue.
" Time to hunt, time to mate." The message repeated
itself, redundant instinct.
Hunger drove its actions.
the mating must wait.
The creature rose on its four lower extremities. Wings stretched to length, scraping claws across hard rock.
It lumdered towards the mouth.
Moonlight lead the way, bright in the creature's newly aweakened state, eyes adjusting slowly.
Outside, the creature purched on the edge, an impossible hight. Should it's wings not catch the wind, death
would be eminent.
Wings spread, the creature exhaled an alien scream. Notice to any trespasser, " I have awakened"
Leaping from the cliff, time held its breath until wings captured thin gaseous air.
Soaring high over the moon swept land, the hunt began. Eyes scanned landscape, watching for unsuspecting movement.
Impact was sudden, confusion struck. The creature's flight interrupted.
There was no pain, not at first. Not until it saw the speared tail of its predatory superior protruding through its chest plat.
Death would come slow the creature knew, but death was imminent.
The superior bit hard around the creature's head. Jaws engulfing, sharp fangs infiltrating armored skin.
The last sound the creature heard before death, was the snap in it's neck.





© Kevin Langdon