Predator Lurking in the Waters

Chapter 5: Into the Unknown

The time that had passed completely consumed him. Running on adrenaline since his sunken departure had made him focus on one goal: to get on land.

Now that that he had accomplished that, thirst, hunger and pain had exacerbated at full throtle.

He got up, dragging his hands onto his grotty, devastated pants, and waddled in search for food.

Richard had wandered the jungle, captivated by its beauty and mystery. He had been on islands before, had made contact with many indenginous people that inhabitated them, but never before had he'd seen one so plentiful with exotic bearings. He was not familiar with the fruits that decorated the trees and shrubs, nor had he seen so many animals with such peculiar apperances. It was no wonder he had momentarily mistaken such a place for Heaven. It truly seemed like a place of wonders, and perhaps, a place of magic.

Richard's stomach groaned impatiently, and his tongue was rough and dry as sandpaper as he roamed through the inhabitated island, stumbling on the the massive roots on the trees.

He fell smack down, face first onto the murky ground. Mud splashed on his face, and he groaned irritably, pausing for a moment before he hoisted himself up again. There was a odd tingling sensation scattering across his chest, like thousands of tiny feet walking ontop of his skin. He screamed, scratching away at his skin till he found the long heathen, chucking it across the forest.

A sigh of relief left his chapped lips, and when he haphazardly looked down, he noticed a fruit.

He picked up the the fruit nearest to him. It was round, reassembled a melon almost, and was vibrantly pink on the outside with blue stripes. However, it wasn't hard like a melon. The outer surface had the texture of an orange, and seemingly peeled off easily when Richard's fingers punctured the root of the stem. Heartily, he took a scoop of the gelatinous insides of the fruit in his hand and into his mouth.

Richard moaned and smiled dumbly in satisfaction. Within moments, fruit had easily quenched all of his pain away.

It was exquisitely sweet, but it had some sour notes in the flavor as well. It somewhat reminded him of a tarte pear sorbet, with a hint of citrus added in.

A pear sorbet. How long had it been since he'd eaten such an exquisite dessert? Perhaps eight years ago? Nine, even? He still recalled every detail how delicious it tasted, how cold it was on the tip of his tongue, and how wonderful it looked decorated with a dash of sugar, sweet cream...

Enough with the reminiscing, Richard scolded himself, shaking his head feverently. Just eat.

With another scoop of his hand, he poured the jelly into his mouth, taking a full swing of the honeyed fruit.

Richard was too hungry to question if was poison, and too hungry in the moment to care if it actually was. If he died tomorrow, or possibly, in the next couple of hours because of this fruit, then so be it. At least, he would die here in paradise, rather on the raft with that, that creature.

The creature.

It had been more than a day since he left it. Had it died by now? Or was it still there crying out in pain? When he had left it, the thing looked so...so human and yet, the beastly quality of it remained.

Don't, Richard told himself, Don't think about it, and don't try to help it.

Just because it looks human, doesn't mean it is. You are not obligated to help something that tried to kill you, he reasoned, angirly taking another gulp of the fruit.

Don't be a fool. Save yourself.

Remember, it tried to kill you.

But what if it was just hungry?

The prince tugged on his bottom lip anxiously. He looked back in the direction that he came from, and shook his head at the idea of helping something so dangerous. The idea was absolutely ludicrous, crazy, an instant death wish...yet, he couldn't help but feel guilty.

He didn't like knowing he would be the reason it died. Because he attacked it and could very much save it.

The prince immedietly looked down at the half-eaten fruit in between his palms. Would it eat this? He wondered, observing the fruit in a curious manner. Again, he looked back from where he came, regret filling his visage.

---

Richard didn't exactly approach the creature. He knew at this stage, it could do him no harm, and yet, he was still very much afraid of the apex predator. The memories of it dragging him down under, that voracious smile, claws jamming themselves into his legs, instilled fear into him.

So why was he helping something that tried to eat him?

Simple. He was too kind. Too stupidly immersed into his guilt that he could see no other course of action than to aide in its survival.

For a moment, he thought he was too late. The creature looked dead--well at least from the behind. It was not after a few minutes of observation did he realize it was alive. It hadn't moved in over 24 hours, and yet, by mother nature, it still survived. Sure, it was on the cusp of death, but it survived. It was truly a resilient creature. If a man had been beaten down, his legs broken, left in the sizzling sun, he would surely have perished within ten hours give or take.

Richard was certain. He had witnessed on the battle field more than a dozen times when he was general. He had seen men cry to their mothers and wish for death within moments after being mutilated because they were in so much pain. He had felt it too, when he had to kill men in order to survive.

He hated the wars. He always thought them to be trivial, and unecessary in sacrafice. There was not a day during his reign as general did he sleep, the faces of men crying out in blood curdling terror come to mind. His guilt, and the raging depression that came in waves.

But this was not war. Richard didn't have to be merciless. He could show compassion. He could be himself without the watchful eye of his kingdom. He could be soft, knowing it would be his downfall, and not feel disappointed by his father.

And he could be utterly stupid, and remind himself that he was essentially wishing for death by trying to save that thing.

Early day was rising now. The sun was barely suspended in the sky. He gulped, his adam's apple bobbing up and down as his hands hesitantly rolled the fruit towards the siren. He jumped back, further into the greenery, and watched warily to see if it would react.

The fruit gently touched the base of its back. And with sedated movements, which Richard was sure that took up a lot of its energy, the siren took the fruit in between its claws.