Chapter 002 - A Chase!

♦ ♦ ♦

Having exited his meditative state, OxBee was now on his feet.‘I wonder what it is, that is headed towards me?’ OxBee thought.

Was it something friendly? Was it something dangerous?

Was OxBee destined to encounter a…….

OxBee did not know the answers to those questions, nor did he have the time to ponder them. For now he was looking in the direction where the rustling trees could be clearly seen moving, while the shaking from the heavy impacts of footsteps could be felt, albeit slightly.

‘I need to get away from here.’ was the thought that now occupied OxBee’s mind. But before a second had passed he already concluded that it was already too late to run away.

‘Hide within the tree.’, was the lighting-like response which OxBee perceived, as it permeated his conscious mind. And yet, it was a response which was surprisingly inaudible, with no indication of anyone around to offer a response.

In a jiffy OxBee scurried up the great ancient looking tree, which just a few moments ago he had been peacefully meditating under.

Even though ascending a tree was nothing more than child's play to him, OxBee had still utilized his blueish looking staff, a staff named Mathema, in aiding him to hurriedly ascend this ancient looking evergreen tree. With a firm grasp on Mathema, OxBee floated up into the ancient looking tree as if he were falling, falling head down slowly into the sky.

‘I definitely have to avoid been detected.’ OxBee thought, as he hid himself amongst the thick foliage of this ancient evergreen tree. Then, while maintaining his calm, OxBee looked onto the source of his present considerations.

“Boom boom, boom boom!” was the sound reverberating with the ancient forest, as a monstrous figure manoeuvred its way through the trees making itself clearly visible to OxBee’s now astonished gaze.

‘It seems to be a giant primate-like creature,’ OxBee said to himself, ‘truly impressive, this is definitely the first time that I have seen anything like this.’ OxBee thought, as he continued to observe the approaching beast.

It should be understood that OxBee, has young as he was, was well traveled and had seen many things. Things such as different types of faunas, exotic floras, along with some very distinct species of humans. So one could only imagine the qualities this creature had possessed in order to have made such an impression on OxBee.

Nevertheless, a primate-like creature such as this was a bit more than unexpected.

Looking from his vantage point, OxBee estimated the beast to be more than six meters (6m) tall. However, as amazing as seeing a creature of such huge stature was, what truly captivated OxBee’s attention, were what could only be considered as clothing.

Clothing? Why would a beast be wearing clothing?

A pair of boots, bloodish-red in appearance, which seemed rather sturdy yet comfortable and appeared to have been made out of some sort of thick hide. A shorts that stopped at its knee, fully grass-green in color, very sturdy yet light looking, and gave the impression to have been designed so as to not hinder its wearer’s movements.

Wrapped around the waist was its long, thick, yellow fur tail, along with a rather odd looking belt which was jet black in appearance. While hanging by a thread behind the back of this primate-like creature was a rather simple looking brownish-yellowish palm-leaf hat.

‘It’s wearing clothing.’ thought OxBee to himself with a hint of surprise as he continued to safely observe the creature from the ancient tree.

‘Maybe it escaped from a circus of some kind? Or maybe it is someone’s pet?’ OxBee wondered. But given his present predicament, OxBee was not foolish enough, to spend his time seeking the answers to such questions. This was especially so, due to an ability of his. An ability which allowed him to perceive that, presently, the creature felt aggressive.

With long golden looking fur covering its entire body, including its face, it was still apparent that this massive primate-like creature was robustly built. It had long powerful looking arms, connecting to what could be described as two round sphere on its broad shoulders.

OxBee continued to observe this giant primate-like creature, only to now be surprised by the facial features which this creature unexpectedly possessed.

What OxBee saw was a face, a face flushed mildly pink which seems to bear a striking resemblance to that of modern Earth humans, albeit partly covered over by long golden fur.

OxBee did not know if this was of any significance, but found the create to be very fascinating, in spite of his present situation.

“Boom boom, boom…..”, the sounds from the impact were now strikingly load as the creature neared. OxBee looked on as the primate-like creature continued past the giant ancient looking evergreen tree. The said tree he had hid himself in.

Unexpectedly, and even more so unwelcomely, the creature seemed to have slowed its previous brisk movements. In fact, for some inexplicable reason it seemed to be coming to an halt.

‘Did it notice me?’ OxBee thought, as this giant primate-like creature came to an halt and started to survey its surround.

Turning around with eyes perusing its environment, the creature’s gaze came affixed directly at the ancient looking evergreen tree.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

‘Darn it!’ said OxBee to himself in annoyance, as it was now apparent that the creature was certainly aware of the presence of something nearby, and by nearby the creature knew it was within the ancient looking evergreen tree.

While not as vigorous as when it was running, OxBee could still feel the impact from the creature’s footstep as it walked, with a human like motion, towards the ancient looking evergreen tree.

However OxBee did not pay much attention to the creatures motion, as he had already thought that the creature could have been trained to walk in such a manner.

Instead, what OxBee soon realize was that the face of the creature had clear signs of exhaustion and fatigue. ‘Maybe it was tired from all the running it had done earlier?’, OxBee pondered.

‘I suppose it’s possible,’ OxBee thought to himself, ‘I may just be able to outrun it.’ as if he was a bit uncertain in accomplishing this deed.

As the creature came ever closer, the urge to dart towards his village began to stir within OxBee. But then OxBee thought of something, ‘even if I did reach the village, wouldn’t I just be bringing danger along with me and placing everyone there at risk?’.

OxBee was right.

There were no guarantees that after arriving at his village, this creature would not then turn its sights onto someone else, someone less capable of evading such a dangerous predicament.

‘I can not allow that!’ OxBee thought adamantly to himself. ‘I will definitely have to lead it away from the village.’ he concluded.

‘But where should I lead it to?’. This was indeed a very important question, as OxBee could not just run about haphazardly in this ancient forest without direction or planning. 

Kneeling on a thick limb of the ancient tree, OxBee separated Mathema from the middle into two equal halves, which he then placed into its holster neatly worn and firmly attached onto his back. If one could observe where Mathema was separated into two, it would appear as if it was cut cleanly in half by a nano-precision laser. So smooth and precise was Mathema separated, and yet, there were no lasers to be found.

As OxBee pondered and observed, he came to realize something ‘Judging by the trajectory the creature had been running on, it appears to be in parallel with the coastline.’ he thought to himself.

This was significant, for it meant that if OxBee wanted to flee, he would only have one option.

Running south of the creature’s path would lead OxBee to the coast, and to what would then turn out to be a dead end. Running north would lead him further into the ancient forest and was definitely a no-no, as OxBee knew that far more dangerous creatures dwelled within those woods.

This only left two directions, the direction that the creature came from and the direction it was heading in. Even though it was not on a direct path with OxBee’s village, OxBee was still reluctant to take the risk of head into that direction. And so, only one direction remained, and that was the direction whence the creature came.

The creature had now arrive at the ancient evergreen tree. Parting the foliage of the great ancient looking evergreen tree, this primate-like creature not only saw, but looked OxBee squarely in the face. OxBee did not feel any apprehension nor fear, but somewhat strangely, what OxBee felt was a surge of curiosity that arose a mysterious and fascinating feeling instead.

However this experience was quickly disrupted, as not a moment later, the primate-like creature began to climb the great ancient looking tree. As it ascended, the primate-like creature proceeded to open its huge maw, which then uttered sounds, sounds unrecognizable to the no longer present OxBee.

OxBee bolted.

If OxBee had not reacted so fast, he could have observed something highly intriguing, something that could have possible changed his mind. But who amongst us would concern themselves with such things when one’s life and limbs may be in danger?

“Whoosh!” From out of this ancient looking evergreen tree appeared a relatively tiny looking figure, that is, when compared with this mammoth of a creature.

Appearing on the ground, OxBee immediately made his way in the direction from which the creature came, albeit slightly more northerly. While making his departure apparent to the creature, for it to give chase.

Realizing this, what can only be describe as a look of dread and panic appeared on the creature's face. How is it that this beast, this wild creature, was capable of such intelligent and strikingly accurate expression of human feelings & emotions? Or were these expressions merely due to the fact that dinner was now escaping?

No one could say for certain. However, anyone who saw this would without a doubt say, ‘this beast was no ordinary creature’. In a rush, the creature descended the tree, as it followed after OxBee.

A chase.

“Boom boom, boom boom!” OxBee did not look back, in fact there was no need. He could clearly hear the heavy impact of the creatures footsteps as it landed on the forest floor, and as such was able to discern its proximity.

“Just my luck, It’s enthusiastically chasing me.” OxBee murmured to himself, as he knew the creature was following real close behind him, and so was hoping that things would not become too dangerous.

While OxBee was no slouch, it was no easy task to outrun a creature of this size, which itself moved rather briskly. With every step it made covering several meters, and were several times those of OxBee’s steps.

Nevertheless, the turnover rate of OxBee’s strides were no joke. After all, even Earth’s ‘King of Sprints’ himself, Usain Bolt, would be rendered awestruck if he could witness OxBee’s amazing feat.

Were OxBee’s feet truly that amazing?

OxBee ran with amazing speed. “While I’ll rather not enter too deep within this ancient forest, I will still try and use the trees here to my advantage.” said OxBee softly to himself.

Actually, this was the reason why he had earlier headed slightly northerly the moment he bolted. As he had hope that the closeness of the forest trees would hinder the creature’s movements when giving chase.

And chased OxBee the creature did.

Within less than a minute they had already covered close to a thousand meters. How was it possible to run close to a thousand meters in less than one minutes time? Was this not a child, a child who had not yet gone through his puberty? As a matter of fact, was this child named OxBee even human?

Of course OxBee was human.

After all, humans were capable of even far greater, and more astounding deeds. And as a Qi practitioner, OxBee had started walking along the path to achieve such astounding deeds.

OxBee zigzag through this ever thickening forest of trees, with a nimbleness and agility worthy of any young expert who cultivated hirself.

However, to his amazement, OxBee came to realized that even with the ever thickening closeness of the forest trees, this primate-like creature was actually catching up to him.

‘What’s happening here?’ OxBee thought, ‘shouldn’t the closeness of the forest trees be slowing it down?’

It was perfectly logical for OxBee to assume this, after all, it was a huge creature. Then, should not a creature of that size find it difficult to manoeuvre through such an ever thickening forest?

It should have, however it did not.

For if OxBee had looked behind him, he would have seen a gigantic primate-like creature as it ran, swung from thick tree limbs, and used quite distinct movements. Movements that were very intelligent, dexterous and acrobatic to motion its way through the spaces between the closely grouped forest trees. Movements that any practitioner would readily describe as, bodily manoeuvres.

OxBee gritted his teeth, as he seemed to be momentarily struggling with making a decision. But as soon as he had gritted his teeth it was obvious that something had changed.