《The Abyss That Stares》Chapter 9: The Forest
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Finally, the pressure on this one’s - GAH! STOP THINKING LIKE KIN-PREY!
The pressure on the brain finally stops, and processing speed returns to normal.
Frustrated.
Had thought main body was the superior design to all others… reluctant.
… Besides interferers, they still have superior design.
Not counting interferers, thought the main body was the predator. But… now realize mistake.
Main body can still be prey to others.
Displayed cowardice, fled from the predator. And all the fleeing has completely emptied the biomass in the main body’s stomach.
FRUSTRATED!
Biomass was meant to keep structures functional!
And tired.
But before main body can enter stasis, must observe surroundings.
Wave eye tentacles, inspect.
As originally thought.
BIG! TOO BIG!
And the ceiling is so high! Calculating…
Could exhaust all of biomass attempting to fly up to ceiling, and still the main body wouldn’t touch it. How!?
And the light source! So bright! Eye tentacles can’t observe directly without pain!
And that is only the ceiling. Can’t see walls, no matter which direction tentacles wave in.
Additionally, there are strange structures all around the main body. Can’t calculate how many. And structures are big too! Can wrap tentacles around, but the structures are tall! With even more miniature versions of the structures that extend outwards from it! With even smaller, different structures attached to them!
Shake.
Can’t comprehend. Is it possible home is… tiny?
But testing grounds were so big!
Vibrations in air.
Wave eye tentacle, look for source.
Recognize structure, feathers, wings, beak. Small.
Small prey is resting on one of the miniature structures, head tilted to the side as eye structures.
Mmm… Not too high. Tentacle can still reach.
STAB!
Prey starts, tentacle was too slow, begins to fly NO MUST CATCH STAB!
Prey stills. Relief. Prey almost escaped. Drag to main body.
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Eat.
New structure: Complete avian (Songbird) anatomy (Avian skeletal system, trichromatic ocular system, syrinx, organ system, hormone pro…).
Information floods brain.
Tired.
So… tired.
Strange… analyzing new… structures… doesn’t consume… biomass…
But… tired…
Instinct…
Consumes… Core… energy…
No shelter… but prey was… on structure...
Perhaps… climb structure…? Safe…?
Climb…
Remember… brain consumes… biomass… even in… stasis…
Remove...
Stasis.
…
…
Awake! Construct developed brain.
…
Strange. All previous structures have reverted back to main body.
Why?
…
Because not enough biomass?
Or because no brain?
Hmm… requires further testing.
Hungry.
Prey was too small to provide sufficient biomass. But before looking for more prey…
Analyze new information.
Two complete anatomies. Mutated canine (Hunting hound), and Avian (Songbird), as well as the partial bipedal skeletal structure.
Mmm… for now, ignore the bipedal structure. Not enough information to construct accurately.
Never realized before, but analyzing and developing structures consumes Core energy. Will require further testing to determine by how much.
Calculating…
Core energy is at 98%.
Add new routine. Calculate core energy when from stasis, and when developing structures.
Satisfied. Good routine to have.
Wiggle.
Now… What structures to develop?
… want to attempt to develop complete anatomy. Instinct says developing the anatomy first, and then changing it will have superior results, but…
Hungry.
Not enough biomass to conduct tests.
For now, climb down from the structure (tree, now know after analyzing avian anatomy).
Develop forelegs and hindlegs, claws, semi-complete canine skeleton (sans spine, ribcage, and skull), red and white muscle tissue system (superior to endurance muscle and pink muscle, respectively. Satisfaction!), altered digestive tract, sharpen tentacles, teeth on tentacles, armor, and refine all.
Core energy is at 90%.
Interesting, but hungry.
To help search for prey… hmm…
Develop auditory nervous system, canine ears, olfactory system, canine nose.
SENSES OVERLOADED!
PAAAAAAAAIIIIIIINNNNNN! DEVELOPED BRAIN IS NOT USED TO SENSES!
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PAAIIIINNNN! ENDURE THE PAIN! STRUCTURES ARE NECESSARY TO LOCATE PREY!
PAAIINN! IT IS LESSENING, BUT STILL! PAAIINN!
PAIN!
Pain!
Shake!
Relief.
Wiggle.
Pain is manageable now.
First… the noise. Not loud, but it is constant. Leaves rustle from formless force, constantly emitting noise. Preys communicate somewhere, adding to noise. Even main body’s own micromovements cause noise.
Strange. Even when this one developed the auditory nervous system before, it was not this overloading. Are ears the reason? Directing noise directly to the auditory system?
Feel the muscles in them twitching, constantly swiveling ears to pick up on new sources of noise. Good structure, even if causes pain.
And second, the olfactory system. Because this one didn’t develop the canine head, it is not as potent, but still…
Strange sense. Does not pick up on sound, or sight, but something… else.
Sniff. Sniff sniff.
Can determine how fresh, or stale, a scent is. Can determine what is prey, and what is not.
Information enters brain, and is filtered out based on whether or not is it is possible prey or danger.
… Have strange urge to mark territory. But did not develop urinary tract, so cannot. Know it is inefficient, altered digestive tract is superior design, but… frustrated!
MUST LET PREY KNOW THIS IS MINE! AND THAT IS MINE! AND THAT OVER THERE IS MINE AS WELL! ALL OF IT IS MIIIINNNEEE!
But…
Hungry.
So hungry.
Ears swivel. Detected prey noise, rustling in distance.
Sniff.
Potent.
Fresh.
Move.
Legs propel main body forwards, tentacles lay flat against main body, prepared to strike.
Approaching prey. Lower legs and main body to stay close to ground, minimize noise.
…
WHAT!? THAT IS COWARDICE! MUST ANNOUNCE PRESENCE TO PREY, SO IT CAN FIGHT!
Develop lungs, respiratory tract. HOWL!
…
Prey… flees? COWARDICE! STAY AND FIGHT!
…
But wait, prey ran because of the main body’s noise…
Perhaps… non-cowardice is idiocy?
…
NONSENSE! PREY IS JUST COWARD!
CHASE!
Legs propel main body forward, quickly catch up to prey. Smug, superior design.
Prey is actually rather slow.
…
Strange structures on prey’s back. Sharp, many of them.
Well, no matter. Send out tentacles, wrap pr-
PAAAAAIIIIINNN!
SHARP STRUCTURES ON BACK PIERCE THROUGH TENTACLES!?
Can’t attack!? COWARDICE! WHAT KIND OF PREY IS THIS!? NOT EVEN ARMOR!
Armor, this one can understand! Armor still lets prey attack, just inferior design if it cannot pierce. But to cause pain when attacking!?
FRUSTRATED!
Prey emits pleased noise.
HATRED!
Remove sharp structures from tentacles. Repair.
Wrap tentacles around sharp PAINN structures.
Constrict.
Yank!
All sharp structures removed at once.
Shrieeek!
Prey emits distressed noise.
Smug.
Wiggle.
Prey attempts to escape.
Cowardice to the end!?
Disgrace. Disgrace to all other prey!
Wrap.
Constrict!
Craaackkk!
Prey stills.
SATISFACTION!
Devour.
Smell three of the same prey, near this area.
Hatred.
KILL!
…
All other same prey killed and devoured.
New structure: Quills, Complete rodent (Porcupine) anatomy.
Satisfaction!
So they are porcupine!?
HATE MORE THAN ACID! WILL NOT REST UNTIL THIS ONE HAS KILLED ALL PORCUPINES!
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