The Individuals

Story#15: Weed Eater

I wish I could save them all

***

January 5th, 16th Year of Our Pinyke

In long-forgotten fields, it ran, using the tall grass as cover. Starving, it hunted. As it searched, that's when it came upon it. A collapsed scarecrow left to waste on the ground. It's not what it was looking for, but it was still a nice find. Swiftly, it slid inside its new suit and hurriedly left. It was uncomfortable at first, but it soon got used to it.

Slamming its limbs into the dirt and propelling itself forward, it ran swift through the grass. As it ran, it grabbed any bug, squirrel, or snake it passed by and shoved it deep down its throat. But it was not enough. It required more. Eventually, it finally stumbled upon what it was desperately searching for. Growing out from underneath a large rock was a bundle of weeds.

Saliva dripped from its mouth generously. Finally, it had found its favorite snack.

Without wait, it leaped atop them and smashed its mouth down over them. It didn't matter what kind, it ate them all. Flowery, greeny, smelly, crunchy, spiky, soggy, big, small, cowardly, brave. It ate every last one. Throughout the land, it was known by one name: the Weed Eater.

***

Finishing up its feast, the Weed Eater straightened itself up on its two wobbly hind legs. For a moment, its sack face wobbled side to side. All of a sudden, in celebration, it broke out into a feverish dance. Wildly, it shook its arms and legs around while hopping from foot to foot. For several minutes, it unrelentingly continued its jig.

After a while, it eventually stopped and fell back down to the ground. Spinning around, it was about to continue its search for more sustenance when in the distance, it heard a booming noise ring out.

" AAAAAHHHHHHH!!"

Shortly after, another sound followed after it.

" Let me go!!!"

Curious, the Weed Eater flipped back around and began to crawl its way toward the sound's direction. Jumping out from the tall grass and onto the crunchy floor of the forest, it hoped that whatever it was, was going to be something tasty to eat.

Sprinting along on all fours, abruptly, it halted to a stop. Sticking its face to the clouds, it waited and listened for a moment.

" L-let me down!!!"

It was heading in the right direction. Falling back to the ground, it continued on. Anxiously, saliva drooled from its mouth. It couldn't wait to find out what was making all of this racket.

Inching along the forest floor, it did its best to stay as quiet as possible. Steadily, it gently poked its face out from the bushes and stared out into a small clearing. Sitting in the center was an ancient oak tree and crowded at its base were several strange-looking creatures.

" Hahahahahahaha!" Four of the strange creatures belched out, directing the irritating cacophony towards another who was seemingly stuck to a branch of the tree.

" Mmyh! Hmph!" The one stuck to the branch heaved, trying to free itself.

Like a flash, the Weed Eater recalled running into these creatures before. If it remembers correctly, they are called "humans". The one specifically caught on the tree was a boy. Many times have humans tried and tried to hunt it down, but of course, each of their attempts failed. Regardless, it came to learn that humans are a persistent bunch and are quite annoying to have to deal with, so it tries to stay as far away as possible. Being by them is much more effort than it is worth.