Chapter 5

“Why aren’t you commentating?” I heard a voice ask me from above me, snapping me out of a daydream.

I was laying on the grass and on my belly so I looked up over my shoulder to see who was talking to me. It was Streillaeth.

“What do you mean?” I replied with a question.

“You’ve been laying there for half an hour, but all you’ve been doing is point that thing at the Qhestralsquksqhadhaetses”, she said with a tinge of impatience. “Shouldn’t you be discussing facts or describing what the creature is doing?”

“That comes later”, I answered matter-of-factly. “I can do the voice over after I edit the video.”

Although, I only knew that because Chris told me. As a matter of fact, I spoke as I filmed that chupacabra video. But, she said I shouldn’t have bothered because of all the processing that comes after the filming which makes on-the-spot commentary unnecessary. In fact, none of my original monologue made it to the final cut so that was a lesson learned.

“Besides, it’s not like I know much about the creature”, I continued as I looked back into my smartphone, which I’ve been using to record the tall plant-like creature that hasn’t moved an inch since we started observing it. “Or, what it’s even doing right now.”

“If you had been listening earlier, then you would have known it is waiting for woodland creatures to prey on”, Streillaeth snarkily said. “It’s blending in with the fauna so it can ambush its unwitting victim.”

“If you’re going to tell me how to do my job, why don’t you just do it yourself?” I snapped back.

I heard a loud snarl, which caused me to look up again. It was Straeillaeth, bearing her sharp teeth as if she was about to pounce on me like a large hunter.

I turned to lay on my back to brace for the attack, but I wasn’t really sure if I could ward her off.

“Stop”, Goldy came between us to my relief.

He and the lion lady glanced at each other wordlessly, but they seem to have reached an understanding.

He then turned to me to say, “Continue… filming.”

However, I was also growing impatient with the task at hand so I sat up and told him, “Look, Goldy, I’m not sure what you expect from me filming that thing standing there for another half hour.”

“I already… explained to you…”

“I get that”, I cut him off. “But, we’re not getting interesting footage here. Nobody would watch a video of that thing standing still and blending in with the trees for an hour, and you won’t get the same attention you hoped it would bring to help this creature’s preservation.”

He pondered about what I said for a moment before asking me, “Then… what do you… propose?”

I looked at the direction of the Kuhe-something we’ve been observing before turning back to Goldy to answer him. “As a start, why don’t we go closer?”

Him, Streillaeth, and the long-limbed tank top man with the long name seemed hesitant as they looked at each other. When we spotted the Kuhe-something, they were concerned about keeping a safe distance to prevent another incident. So, they picked a spot atop a grassy hill with some distance between us and the creature.

“Also, the zoom feature in this device is pretty limited”, I continued, pertaining to my smartphone. “All I’m getting from here is a wide grainy view of the forest. I can take better angles and focus on the Kuhe-something if we go closer.”

“Just promise… you won’t get… too close… this time”, Goldy replied.

“I promise”, I said as I jumped up.

So, we went near the Kuhe-something. Goldy signaled to stop when there were about two lengths of a basketball court between us and the edge of the forest where the creature was.

“This is… close enough”, he said to me.

That was my signal to continue filming the creature.

I spent around ten minutes filming it from different angles. I was walking around the imaginary line based on the perimeter that Goldy imposed to achieve that. However, that still wasn’t enough. The thing barely moved the entire time.

“We still need more than this”, I said to him.

“Do tell”, he replied.

“Does it do anything else other than stand around?”

“Besides eating… no.”

“We should throw it some food so we can finally film it doing something. Even better if the food can run so the Kuhe-something can chase it. That would make for a great video.”

“You already did that earlier, why didn’t you film it happening?” Streillaeth sarcastically asked.

“What’s its favorite prey?” I asked Goldy, brushing off Streillaeth’s question. “Can we capture one and offer it as food?”

“That can be… arranged”, he replied. He then looked at the lion lady and the tank top man saying, “Go… find… a suitable… prey.”

We did not bring the necessary equipment, the lanky tank top man telepathically said to all of us. We will have to return to the ship to procure them.

“I do not… mind”, Goldy replied.

Alright, then, tank top replied before leaving with Streillaeth to do the task they were given.

“So, what should we do in the meantime?” I asked Goldy.

“Keep… rolling”, he said.

“Can’t we rest until they return? My arms are tired from holding up my phone for so long.”

“But… what if something… interesting… happens… while we are… waiting?”.

“Then, why don’t you take over for now?” I said as I handed him my phone.

I could see his point, but my arms really needed the rest. A smartphone is not really the best tool for long shoots. If I had a selfie stick or a tripod it might be easier, but I had neither.

Goldy hesitated for a moment, but he took the device from me.

“Show me… how this works”, he said.

So, I did. I taught him the basics, pointing him to the record and stop buttons, and showing how to zoom by swiping on the screen.

As soon as we finished, something came out of the woods. It was another one of those Kuhe-somethings. While it did not have eyes, it seemed to be looking at us, or at least was able to sense us.

I also noticed one of its vine-like appendages is mangled. If I didn’t know any better, I wouldn’t think it was the Kuhe-something that had almost eaten me earlier!

“I thought this thing was an ambush predator?” I nervously asked Goldy.

“It is”, he answered. “However… once it… locks… onto a prey… it will not… stop chasing… They are deemed… dangerous… That is why… they are… being hunted… to extinction.”

As soon as he finished his explanation, the Kuhe-something rushed towards us.

“Then you should have let it become extinct!” I shouted as I ran from where I stood, back uphill towards the ship.

Goldy didn’t follow. He ran towards a different direction, to the side.

I thought he was crazy for not heading back towards the ship, but the creature had ignored him as it went straight for me. Basically, it was only me that it recognized as its prey!

Even worse, not only was I struggling to run uphill, the creature seems to be faster out here in the meadows!

It didn’t take long for it to catch up to me. When I was almost at its reach, I changed directions towards my side. From there, I ran downhill diagonally towards the direction of Goldy.

“Do something!” I shouted to him as I approached.

“Do not... worry”, he said. “I am... rolling.”

He was filming me being chased by an alien monster.

“Not that!” I screamed as I passed him.

I looked back to see he was still filming the Kuhe-something. Meanwhile, the said creature was bearing its petal-shaped mouth towards my direction while its vine-like appendage hung in the air menacingly as it gave chase. I’d have thought that it would make a great shot if I wasn’t running for my life.

I ran towards the forest to try and lose my pursuer again. But, like before, it was able to keep up.

Goldy was even following us, still filming and being unhelpful. I didn’t have time to be frustrated about it, though, as I was too busy skipping over roots, rocks and fallen trees.

Eventually, I reached another cliff. I wasn’t sure if it was the same cliff as before, but I wasn’t interested in finding out as I jumped over it without a single thought.

Next thing I knew, I was back in that bright room with the pillbug lady greeting me, and Goldy enthusiastically saying, “We have some… fantastic… footage!”

And that is how we filmed the Kuhe-something.