Monster Legends - Volume 1: A World Of Monsters

6. The cyclop thief

As I soon found out, Bolt was a bit jealous of Thunder Eagle. With the help of Stella, we named it Thundy. At first, Bolt didn't really mind her, but after a while, I noticed he growled at her when she got close to me. "Bolt!" I said for perhaps the hundreth time. "Your being very naughty! I love you too Bolt, but Thundy deserves some attention as well." He snorted, turning his back on me. I turn my eyes to heaven. "What did I do to get such a disobedient Monster?" I ask loudly.

We stop for a break near a river, and I take all of my Monsters out. I feed them all, smiling as I see Thundy gulp the Monster food down hungrily. I look at Bolt with a mocking grin. He looks from Thundy to me. We stare at each other for a while, then Bolt sticks his tongue out and walks away.

"We've decided to go fishing." Stella says. "We've?" I ask. I finish brushing Thundy's beautiful yellow feathers. "Bolt and I." She says. "Oh. Okay then. I'll just stay here." I say. Stella nods, and walks towards the river. I notice Bolt sitting on her shoulder, his long, bushy tail wrapped around the back of her neck. A sudden wave of sadness washes over me. Why is Bolt so jealous? I ask myself.

I can't help but smile, as I see Stella checking the water from a safe distance, her eyes scanning the surface for any possible danger, most probably Mersnakes.

I watch as Bolt climbs into the water and his keen eyes scan the water's surface. But unlike Stella, he's looking for fish. And he sees one.

Bolt stares as the fish swims closer and closer, not moving a muscle. And then, when the small trout is only a few metres in front of it, Bolt barks. His fur sparkles with electricity and a lightning bolt strikes the water.

"Aaaaaaargh!" Stella screams, falling over. "Bolt!" She shouts at my Monster angrily. I was in the water too, y'know." She says accusingly. Bolt returns her stare, and then shrugs. I knew the gesture well. He did not care, one bit.

We eat the trout Bolt has electrocuted earlier today. We sit at our camp site next to a forest. The fish is still hot as I cut it open and serve everyone a bit of the fish. We're sitting beside the campfire, enjoying the warmth of its flames.

As we sit, gently chewing on the fish, I feel Bolt's soft fur brush against my hand. I smile broadly, picking him up and stroking him behind the ears. Bolt purrs happily, and I laugh as he closes his eyes and snuggles closer up to me. He does love me after all. Then, suddenly, he climbs off of me. I smile to myself, look down and...

"Bolt?! Where the hell did my fish go?!" Bolt looks at me. His expression innocent. I swear he was trying to hide a grin. I puff up my cheeks with anger, but then count to ten, calming my mind. I wanted to get on Bolt's good side. I was about to say something, but I stopped as I saw Bolt's ears pointed upwards, listening. "What's going on?" I whisper. Bolt glares at me. Shut up. His expression seemed to say.

Stella too noticed, and she scurried closer to us. We held our breath, too listening to the sounds of the forest. Listening out for something out of place. And then I heard it. Distant but heavy thumps on the dirt ground. Footsteps, I knew.

"Come on!" I whisper. There was no need to do so. The footsteps were far away, and there was no way anyone could hear me from that distance. But in the current situation, it seemed appropriate.

We follow Bolt towards the sound of the footsteps. Stella repeating over and over: "This is not a good idea, this is not a good idea." As we enter the oak forest.

The thumps get louder the further we walk. That meant whatever made these thumps, was large and slow. We step lightly on our feet, looking all around us, careful not to make any sounds as we plant our feet lightly on the soft leafy ground, dodging roots and sticks.