Keera [1]

9. Spider

The spider's life span can vary as much as the spider's life cycle. Most spiders live about two years, but some have been known to live up to 20 years when in captivity. Female spiders tend to live longer than male spiders.

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Day 23, May 25th

EMK'S POV:

The avian inhabitants of Africa rise with remarkable enthusiasm at the crack of dawn, filling the air with their lively and melodious tunes.

Following a restful night's sleep in their respective tents, the EMK team slept in the heart of the forest, almost ready to start the day.

Vera was in a restless slumber, tossing and murmuring in a state of half-consciousness. Abruptly, her mesmerizing blue eyes fluttered open as a ravenous hunger gripped her.

Still groggy, she emerged from her tent and scoured the campsite in search of food, only to find the fireplace devoid of any sustenance.

Pangs of hunger gnawed at her insides, intensifying as she observed that Tanner's tent was missing, a telltale sign of his hunting expedition.

She wanted to find his backpack full of food, but he also took it. With the first hints of dawn in the sky, approximately 5 am, Vera knew she couldn't wait for Tanner's return. Her need for nourishment was urgent, bordering on desperation.

Driven by this primal hunger, she seized Troy's rifle from beside his tent and ventured into the forest, determined to hunt for some protein.

Despite never killing anything with a rifle before, she pushed forward, her determination overpowering her lack of experience.

As she made her way through the dense forest, she navigated between the closely packed thin trees that barely allowed any light to filter through.

The early dawn made it difficult for her to see, but her ears were keenly attuned to the sounds around her.

Suddenly, she detected a faint rustling and soon spotted a large wild rabbit playfully hopping between the trees just a short distance from where Vera stood motionless, not wanting to disturb the rabbit.

The situation was dire, and she knew she had to make a risky move. Hunger had taken hold, and she could no longer afford to remain silent. Despite not knowing Tanner's whereabouts or activities, she decided to take the shot.

As she aimed Troy's rifle at the swiftly moving rabbit, she grappled with uncertainty, unsure of her ability to make the shot.

Thankfully, her concealed position allowed her to remain undetected as she unleashed all 30 bullets in the rabbit's direction. As she hurried to reload, the outcome remained uncertain - had the rabbit escaped, or had her shots found their mark?

As she painstakingly reloaded her rifle, her heart raced at the sound of twigs snapping behind her. The air was filled with the menacing combination of heavy breathing and low growls.

Then, the unmistakable odor filled her senses. Slowly, she turned towards the silhouette looming just 2 meters away.

In the dim light, the features were obscured, but the putrid scent, the lumbering gait, and the unmistakable outline left no doubt in her mind - it was the Hulk.

Vera's heart pounded in her chest as she frantically aimed the gun at the approaching Hulk. Her hand trembled as she pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. The gun hadn't loaded in time.

The Hulk drew closer, just a mere meter away from her, and Vera found herself paralyzed with fear, unable to do anything but watch in helpless shock.

Hulk then grabbed both of her thin hands and brought his big, scary, and sharp jaw toward Vera.