章 38: Hungry

Once Titania heard the sound of running water as though the sweet melody of some love sick musician he dashed in any direction that it got louder in hopes of finding it soon. During his mad dash of water finding he glances up in the sky and sees that the sun is hung in midday with white clouds forming a halo around it as though to worship its radiance. He then returns his focus back at the goal at hand.

Eventually through the thick trees he sees glimpses of the blue rushing river, he ready his gun in hope of finding a wild animal drinking from the river. Once he finally gets a clear view of the river he makes a beeline straight for it.

Once he reached the bank of the river he gets down on his knees and starts cupping the running water into his mouth. He drank the river water, unaware of its nasty impurities and parasites that thrive in its running waters.

Once he was full of water he stopped at took in a couple breathes of air and looked around. He saw the river making a small winding clearing at it running through the forest and out of Titania's eyesight. He looked around and saw far up stream of the river was a brown furred bear wadding in the river, mouth open as though waiting for food to come into its mouth.

'Dinner,' He said to himself as he crept slowly up steam of the river, gun ready in his right hand. He crept to the bear close enough to get a good aim but enough space to give to run away if things with south.

He aimed the gun down the sights, closing one eye to improve his sight. The bear moved around lazily in hopes that it would find a fish to eat. Titania aims for the bears eye, a small weakness common in most animals of the land, air, and sea. Usually the eyes have a direct connection to the brain. So aim for the eye and if it is at the right angle, then brain dead. One shot, one kill, one bullet.

That was the prime concern at this moment, how many bullets he had. He doesn't know, he should have checked early. Would have been much smarter to check in front of the general when he gave him the gun. He felt its weight in his hands. It could carry 12, 9, or 24 bullets. It could be a point-blank bullet too, making it easier for him to kill the bear.

Now he crouches to minimize his size and holds to gun towards the bear. He felt the trigger with his index finger. He felt resistance on it, letting the user know that they have to be aware of every shot taken.

He pulls the trigger. A loud crack sounds from the gun, ringing his ears to his brain. Then the force of the shot makes his elbows buckle, sending the gun flying above his head but still in his grasps.

The bear lifts its head and stands on its hind legs, from its maw it lets out a primitive roar that rings throughout the forest like a bell announcing the changing of an hour. It shifts its body looking for some animal to make its appearance and start a brawl. Streams of blood rushed from the bear's face as it keeps surveying for enemies. Titania slowly crawls away in hoping to get out of sight of the bear. He missed.

He curses at himself as creates distance, he failed and he had one less bullet. One less chance to defend himself and one more chance to fail. He could continue to stay and shoot more at the bear but if he shot a second time the bear would find out where he was hiding.

His stomach pangs in hunger as he debates his options. He flees and keeps what he has on him but leaves with nothing but a wasted bullet. He could stay and kill the bear securing him food that would definitely last him throughout the test but he would risk not only bullets but also his life.

While he mulls it over he questions himself, why is he doing this? He is free to do whatever he wants. If he wanted to he could run away and do what he pleases on impulse. It could be possible, he is left alone and no one to check on him. If he leaves the research facility would chalk it up to failing the test and start anew, forgetting him and continuing with the project.

But if he leaves, what can he do? He has no money, no way of direction to a city or town. What if the research facility does continue with using him for research, not that he minds but the desire to be free is always present. How would he explain himself to society, that he emerged from the trees like a nymph of old tales and is here to help everyone?

He mulls over what to do with hunger keeping his mind present of the situation.