by Alex Just
~ Island – pacific ~
Night had settled over the jungle and once again, the creature was prowling through the dark. It had grown stronger, more powerful. Eyes glistened in the dusk as it stalked a parrot. Since birth its craving for flesh had only grown. This was its first attempt at a hunt. It was surprisingly harder than it had thought, given its stealth and prowess. The parrot was up in a tree, it was a huge bird, plump and colourful, King of jungle birds. It would make a very satisfying morsel. A loud crack severed the silence of the night as the creature leapt on to the tree trunk. It froze in place, suppressing a furious hiss. The parrot gave an indignant screech as it lifted off into the air, hovering around its tree to see what dared disturb its sleep. It took one look at a dark shape clinging to the trunk, jaws wide open and bright eyes that burned with intense anger and screeched off. The creature attempted to follow, powering up into the air and springing from tree to tree, but the parrot was too fast in flight and the beast, in its attempt to catch the parrot, misjudged a leap and crashed onto the jungle floor. The fall was not deadly, but nonetheless pain exploded through its body, and with great difficulty it managed to crawl across the jungle floor to a safe place where it could rest. The last thing it remembered was the mocking chirp of the parrot.