SABIS the SURVIVOR

Chapter 8: His Constant Companion

Chapter 8: His Constant Companion

Sabis saw his vision constrict as it turned a whiter shade of pale. If he did not extricate himself from this predicament, his visual field would soon turn blue with dread. Sabis recognized fear as a constant companion across his visual landscape: as he trekked across this strange land, he foresaw a strange series of SkyGod plagues. Be it a swarm of flying locusts blocking his path or reptilian creatures caught in a tangled web, he still had an obligation to push through this fear of the unknown, incorporate it into his being and benefit from it so that he could accomplish his mission.

He took stock of his resources: he had his steel blade, brand new prey boots, snowshoes, rib and spine spear, blood-filled shell and a raw intestinal covering. He also possessed his will to survive, which was substantial, and his faith in Mother Earth.

"I also have the love of my tribe and the knowledge that the Elders have passed onto me."

He put his right hand into his pocket and felt the cave flesh there, secured to the inner lining. Pulling out his steel blade and grinding it against the edge of an icy crag so as to sharpen it, helped distract him and ease his fear. Hunger gnawed at his gut so he carefully removed the blood-filled shell from his knapsack and laid it on a flattened aspect of the crag. He removed the intestinal casing that covered the blood and dug out a chunk of the dried and hardened life source with his newly sharpened blade. He bit off a piece to chew and flung the rest of the clotted blood from his blade's tip as far as he could in the direction of the raging beast.

"One for you and one for me."

After swiftly swallowing his bloody snack, he inhaled the crisp air and spoke to his foe:

"I offer you this taste of life before I take what is mine; recapture my path and get back in line, to what lies beyond."

The beast caught a whiff of the congealed blood and dove on it. After consuming it with one thrust of its tongue and gluttonous gulp, it scanned the perimeter for more. While this occurred, Sabis had already backtracked to a safer distance.

Sabis thought he was going to escape from this situation unscathed. But the SkyGod had another plan. The sky poured down its revenge in the form of a thick white powder interspersed with a clear hardened pellet. This powder and pellet mixture pelted Sabis from head to toe. The exposed skin on the back of his neck, face, and palms stung with every icy pellet blow. As each pellet landed on him, it stuck to him like a powerful bone glue mixture to his clothes, knapsack, and reddened skin. He needed to find shelter but the nearest one he could see was the beast's den.

"Could I lure the beast away so that I can hide in its lair for a time?"

Fear sucked the remaining moisture from his already arid mouth and throat.

Using the remaining congealed blood as bait, Sabis lured the beast further and further away from its lair. Now, Sabis had to dash for the opening of the circular ice bridge, the one refuge that could hide him from the forceful ice storm that threatened to encase him in an icy tomb. So he ran as fast as his legs could carry him, causing the icy pellet blanket that already covered him to crack. His new boots gave him an added traction on the icy floor so that he was able to navigate his course without hesitation or fear of falling. About three meters from the opening of the ice bridge, he clutched his rib and spine spear in his right hand holding it in a vertical position above and behind his head while purposefully falling on his backside to slide the rest of the way home.

He landed safely at the bottom of the beast's lair with a dull thud punctuated by a sharp crack as his already coalesced icy pellet blanket disintegrated into many tiny icicles.

Having the wind knocked out of his lungs was a reasonable price to pay for his freedom from the ice storm. His heart raced with exhilaration for his quick escape. But he still wondered if the beast would return home shortly or if it would wander off in search of more congealed blood snacks.

He would not have to wait long for the answer.