Gone wasn’t the best word to describe the human, but I guess it did apply to the human’s chance of waking up ever again. His body was a bloody mess now, the once vibrant green now dyed a crimson red as what remained of his mutilated body bled out. He was full of holes, clearly tunnels that my children had formed as they chewed their way through his flesh. Guts and entrails spilled out onto the forest floor, ruining the serene landscape. An entire arm was missing aside from the bones, and it looked as if most of my children had nearly doubled in size. Fortunately, he was unconscious, and even more so, a substantial part of his head had been removed before he woke up and attempted to retaliate.
Still, I was upset, finding the loss of my test subject highly disappointing. While I hadn't explicitly forbidden them from interacting with his body in my absence, I didn't anticipate they would attempt to consume the human I was studying. It's almost as if my cheeky babies were waiting for my departure. I could employ a rock or stick for physical tests, but he was the sole being with a sufficiently complex mind for me to explore my powers.
Unable to delve into the depths of my mental abilities, I would be forced to rely entirely on my capability of moving objects around. The escaped human was certain to divulge information about me to others, and so attempts to manipulate or deceive them with words would likely prove futile.
At least the sluggishness in my children indicated some tiredness, many stretching themselves out on top of or inside the corpse’s remains when they were finished. The air was now rancid with the smell of human innards, recently hatched eggs, and the natural scent of the forest, but my children were finally fed. Despite our omnivorous nature, meat had proven itself to be the best filler for the ravenous monsters.
Yet as I stood there contemplating the unexpected turn of events, new blips on my mental radar caught my attention. These were bigger, more unique, clearly different from the surrounding creatures. I recognized them. Humans.
Alert and wary, my formerly relaxed children began to screech as they sensed the presence of the intruders. Given the circumstance, it was safe to assume they could smell our intruders and were now screaming danger and….food? Strangely, there was an underlying note of anticipation, as if the intruding humans had been reduced to nothing more than a potential food source in their minds. If only transforming them into such sustenance were as straightforward as it sounded.
“You all must stay quiet while I am gone.” I warn, refocusing my mind on the approaching humans.
I counted six in total, all advancing directly toward us. Had I underestimated the distance between my location and the village? Or did they set out at dawn to search for their comrade?
Regardless, they had discovered our presence, and swift action was imperative. Should they be tracing our path, they'd close in on us in under a minute. It was necessary to confront them immediately, ensuring I addressed the situation before they reached us and discovered my vulnerable children. The need for a preemptive strike became clear as I realized the challenge of facing six humans simultaneously. I had beaten two with the act of surprise, but I couldn't take out 5 in a single strike. As the realization set in, the distant but approaching echoes of human voices in the forest signaled the impending confrontation. They drew closer and closer, their voices echoing through the forest as they cried out at the top of their lungs.
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"Frank!"
"Frank where are you!"
"Shout if you can hear us!"
There was no mistaking it now, these humans were the search party. Unfortunately for them, "Frank" was long dead. Time was of the essence; I needed to formulate a plan before their arrival.
How does one deal with multiple targets? The logical approach would be to divide and conquer, a near impossible task when I could only hold one off on my own. Even with Frank's sword now in hand, I could only envision the humans prolonging the encounter until reinforcements arrived. Swiftly, I surveyed the landscape for possible benefits and pinpointed strategic positions I could make use of. My thoughts raced through various scenarios, evaluating the optimal methods to capitalize on their weaknesses and make use of the surrounding forest.. The safety of my defenseless children depended on my ability to outsmart and outmaneuver the approaching threat.
I decided to use the natural landscape to my advantage, leveraging the uneven terrain to create obstacles that would stop the humans from taking me on all at once. Equipped with a stone in each of my three hands and the human's sword in the fourth, my departure from my children was hasty. Contemplating the implementation of diversionary tactics to deceive the pursuers and extend the time, I acknowledged the risk involved. With the safety of my children in jeopardy, passivity was not an option.
As the distance between us and the search party closed, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation that loomed ahead. Every second counted, and I was determined to face the challenge head-on, ensuring the safety of my family.
I took up a position just 50 feet shy of my children, hiding behind a tree just wide enough to conceal my entire figure from their view. A surreptitious glance exposed the structured arrangement of the opposition, four men at the forefront brandishing gleaming swords, their stances poised for confrontation. Among them was the human I attempted to kill, leading the motley assembly with a newfound composure. In the rear echelon stood two archers, bows taut and arrows nocked, their watchful eyes scanning the surroundings with a vigilance that spoke more of anticipation than a true mastery of the craft. All were armed and ready, each covered in the familiar dry and skin-like protection that made physical combat difficult. Their movements betrayed a certain hesitancy, the occasional fidgeting of fingers on bowstrings and sword hilts revealing a less-than-confident grip. This group, though united by their common purpose, seemed to lack coordination despite their leader.
Perhaps there was a chance of winning, and I would seize it before they did. My gaze lingered on the pair of rocks cradled in my right hands, their jagged surfaces promising a potential advantage against the two archers positioned at the rear. Considering their armaments, it was evidently wisest to neutralize them before dealing with anyone else.
Focusing my mind, I let the power flow from within, and the first rock levitated from my palm with an ethereal energy.
Now was the time to make my move.
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Mandibles
Mandibles are the paired jaws of some insects and other arthropods. They could be referred to as the "jaws" of many insects. Mandibles operate in a sideways fashion and are used for gripping, biting and cutting. Typically large and hardened, they are shaped like pinchers, with cutting surfaces on the inside portion as well as chewing or grinding surfaces. They are usually lined with teeth and move sideways like scissors. Mandible size, shape, and strength typically depend on the type of species.