Time passed, and the monster grew.
With each meal, it took something away from the
other that it consumed. It became larger and changed, a little bit at a time, so gradually that the monster was barely aware of its own transformation. A new sense here, a new reflex there... within a short amount of time, the monster had turned from a small, pathetic creature that scurried away at the slightest noise to a beast that could hold its own - a beast that could defend itself. Soon, it was not enough to simply pick at the leftover scraps of other animals; the monster grew, yes, but its appetite also increased. The emptiness within ached harder than ever.
So the monster simply became the next logical step: a beast that could hunt.
It dashed through the night on four powerful limbs. A set of blood red eyes scanned the surroundings for signs of movement. Its ears were now sleek, sharp, and far keener than before. With impressive speed, it tore through the forest until... there, in the distance behind a set of trees!
Prey...
The
other immediately noticed its approach, but became far too startled to react in time. In its attempt to escape, the creature briefly tripped over its own legs. That moment was all the monster needed to dig its sharp claws into the creature's hide. It groaned and huffed hoarsely, struggling uselessly as the monster pinned it to the ground. Even in its final throes of life, the
other tried to fight back, rearing its head full of antlers at its attacker. But the monster had learned, through all its previous meals, the quickest way to deal with caught prey.
With a quick snap of its razor-lined jaws, the monster bit into creature's neck. A muffled snap, a few more twitches... then silence. With its prey downed, the monster had another meal.
More... more...!
The body meant nothing to the monster. There were beasts who could hunt, just as he could, and would feast on the flesh and blood of their kill until only bones remained. But the monster's meal came from something beyond that, something much more valuable. In death the prey would release the
warmth that the monster so desperately craved. Coated with the
other's final thoughts of pain and agony, the energy that flowed forth filled the monster with a temporary peace. For a moment, as it took in its new meal, it could feel somewhat whole, and not so painfully alone..
For a moment, bathed in tainted existence much like itself, it would feel...
at home.
And then in an instant, just like every other meal before, the warmth would be gone. The monster was left, once again, an incomplete and empty existence. Hapless, isolated, and unable to comprehend itself.
The monster let loose a howl that rang through the forest for miles around. A long, haunting cry that goes unanswered. Then, the monster moved on, leaving only the cold body of its kill in its wake.
So, on the tenth day, the monster learned of loneliness.