Chapter 6

Despite Goldy’s excitement, we weren’t done.

I actually thought we were finished with our mission as well with how happy he was about the video he took. Unfortunately, when I watched what he had recorded, I couldn’t help but wince.

Credit where it’s due, he captured the Kuhe-something properly and up close when it was chasing me downhill. However, once he started running to follow the hunt, the video was mostly a blur as it violently shook up and down. Basically, the footage was useless.

I was going to stay quiet because I wanted to be done with it so they could send me back home, but the pillbug lady had to have the same observations and voice them out.

Now, I’m back outside with Goldy, Streillaeth, and tank top, moving to and fro, hiding behind some bushes as the three observed our surroundings with intent.

“Tell me again what we’re doing here?” I asked to break the silence.

“We just had a briefing about this before leaving the ship!” Streillaeth complained without looking away from the direction she was in charge of.

“I get that we’re lying in wait for a… That thing with the weird name, what was it again?”

“An Ecakscrid”, Goldy chimed in.

“Right, A Cock’s Kid”, I repeated “Why are we sitting around here for it again?”

“Our voices… may scare them… away”, Goldy commented. “Altiszellmolzkidolvodgreltingturianguttalornenqrasruhodsiqumakoo… explain once more… to the earthling.”

That was the first time I’ve heard him speak more than a few syllables without pausing. But, I was more surprised to hear him pronounce tank top’s name fluently.

"This was your idea in the first place", Streillaeth grumbled.

Tank top ignored her and went on with the explanations.

The Ekakscrid is one of the Qhestralsquksqhadhaetses' favorite prey, tank top told me telepathically. Not only that, but they are usually able to escape from its vine-like appendages.

"So, they're the perfect bait if we want to video the Kuhe-something on a hunt", I added. "That I get, but what I want to know is why it needs the four of us to hunt one."

"What… do you mean?" Goldy asked.

"For starters, weren't Streillaeth and tank top here the ones supposed to hunt the bait?"

"It’s difficult hunting Ekakscrids because they're hard to spot", Streillaeth answered. "We need as many eyes as we can use to find one."

"Okay, then what about me being targeted by a Kuhe-something? Wouldn’t I be safer inside the ship instead of being exposed out here in the open?"

"There is… no guarantee you… are safe there", Goldy replied.

The Qhestralsquksqhadhaetses is known to follow its prey into cities and inside buildings, tank top added. There is a chance it will tear through our ship just to get you.

"Basically, it makes more sense to risk you getting chased by the creature out here than to hide you and risk losing our way back home", Streillaeth finished the explanations.

"I see", I half-heartedly said to their answers.

I wanted to complain that they should just let the Kuhe-something go extinct if it is that dangerous, but the sound of rustling leaves caught our attention.

The four of us immediately scanned our surroundings.

"There", Goldy said with a hushed voice as he pointed towards his two o'clock.

"Where?" I asked

I don't see it, tank top added.

"By the bushes… over there… pecking on… the ground.

It took a few more similar exchanges until we were all able to spot the thing.

In the direction he pointed at, there was a dark brown two-legged creature that stood no taller than half a meter. Its cone-shaped head was lacking most facial features an animal would except for its nose that resembles an elephant's. It didn’t seem to have any hands in its fleshy tube-like body, but it had long bushy fur around its large round thighs and its scrawny lower leg was attached to webbed feet.

I was shocked. In my mind it was a chick-like creature because, you know, its name is A Cock’s Kid. But, it looked like a human male's uncircumcised member that grew a hundred times bigger and had legs attached.

Streillaeth wasted no time producing a gun from her side and shooting at the phallic creature. It wasn’t lethal as it was the type that shot a net.

However, her aim was off as the net went past the bushes behind the creature. The leaves getting ruffled startled the A Cock’s Kid.

"Sorry, I'm still unable to see it properly", she said.

Fortunately, it started running towards us so we didn't have to chase it. But, I was unfortunate enough to be in its path.

"Grab it!" Goldy shouted.

It was quick. I had to react fast. Like a goalkeeper in football, I lunged sideways with both hands reaching to prevent it from getting past me.

I managed to grab the critter around its body. It was small enough that I could hold it with one arm, but it was so strong and slippery that I felt the need to wrap myself around its body and pin it down with my weight.

Consequently, my face came close to its body and I couldn't help getting a whiff of its dank and rancid scent. If I had to describe it, it smelled like a really strong mix of rotting fish and vinegar.

I had to hold my breath as it squirmed trying to escape from me. I had to close my eyes and mouth as well because its body fluids, which I hope is only sweat, were getting to my face.

"Hurry with the net!" I shouted, which caused me to breathe in the creature's smell again, making me gag.

It felt like the three were enjoying watching the scene in front of them as it seemed like forever when they finally trapped it with a net.