The Beast

A lonely beast travels along the bleached white sands of the beach. He travels south from the soft hills and their peaks to the valley. In this valley, the beast finds a patch of bushes. The budding bushes are brown in color and shimmer in the sun. Their sweet aroma draws him to them and beckons him to come closer.

He lowers his head and gently nuzzles his snout through the branches. He gnaws at the bushes slightly, and pushes them aside. A dark, warm cavern sits hidden amidst the bushes. A sweet, watery liquid trickles from its tiny, concealed entrance. A heavy aroma overtakes his senses and he becomes light-headed. His tongue darts forth and partakes of the liquid that coats the edges of the entrance. He cannot help himself and he continues lapping at the viscous liquid until an unexpected event occurs.

The ground beneath him shakes as a nearby volcano erupts. The bushes sway and quiver as the tremors rock them back and forth. The beast hears the birds in the trees nearby screech and something howling in the distance. The rumbling of the ground causes the edges of the cavern to pulsate slightly. Fearing that he may be devoured by the pit, the beast decides to distance himself from it.