User blog comment:Ohmpahkan/Cycle of life/@comment-1011548-20110511171854

So I decided I should write a short 'Ecology' to coincide with what MAD monster is being covered during the week. I decided to kick things off in style by 'appreciating' (read: killing horribly) two Bulldromes in only 806 words! You get special credit if you can tell: - the area the chapter starts in. - The area the chapter finishes in. - What's different about the Daimyo Hermitaur.

The sun beat down from above, casting its warming light over the jungle coast. Golden sand sparkled as the turquoise waters of the bay lapped gently against it, whilst bare metres from this idyllic beach the first trees of the jungle grew, sparse and hardy in the poor soil. The wet, earthy smells of the forest mixed pleasantly with odour of the salty water, and in the distance the soft buzzing and chirping of insects could be heard. A thin strip of sand stretched out into the ocean, undisturbed by the water flowing peacefully around it, connecting a small island to the mainland. The beautiful tranquil of the paradise shattered. A high-pitched squeal of pain pierced the air, followed by several snorting grunts. On the narrow beach, two Bulldromes were fighting – over territory, mating rights, food or perhaps simply due to natural aggression. Each Bulldrome was roughly the shape of a wild boar, and had the attitude to match. Huge tusks spiralled out from the side of their mouths, just one capable of inflicting a terrible wound. The legs were short and stumpy, but each was topped with huge thigh muscles, giving the beasts impressive speed and strength. Although largely brown-furred, both had large tufts of white hair sprouting on their necks and upper shoulders to indicate age, and whilst unarmoured, their skin was as tough as old leather. Grunting, one Bulldrome swung its head into the other’s flank, then pulled up, drawing a thin line of blood. Irked, the second and slightly smaller one rammed its opponent slightly off-centre, catching one tusk either side of a front leg, pushing and shoving. Caught by surprise, the first tried to repeat the same tactic – swinging a tusk to gouge out a wound – but the angle was too great. Slowly but steadily, it was pushed back towards the water, the sand offering no purchase with which to resist. Sweat slickening its fur, muscles quivering with effort, the bleeding individual pushed – then too lost its grip on the sand. As it staggered forwards, its rival extricated itself from its tusks and pulled back, creating some distance between the pair. Even as the weaker second Bulldrome recovered, the other charged, ploughing head-long into the side of its opponent and goring it on its two tusks. There was a sickening yelp of pain, and it pulled back, the ends of its tusks vivid crimson. Blood dripped onto the sand, staining it, and the dominant male readied itself to finish off its opponent. Too late. A huge splash of water fanned out from the sea, striking well into the trees, followed by the head, neck and terrifying screech of a truly gigantic sea-monster. Its rounded, fin-topped triangular head opened, exposing rows of fangs – each of which sunk firmly into the flesh of the shocked Bulldrome. It was completely dwarfed – its body was only slightly longer than the width of the head of the great water-beast – and the orange-and-white fins protruding from the creature were several times larger still. With its catch firmly caught, the monster turned and with one flick of its body propelled itself effortlessly to the water. Once there, it dived beneath the surface, blood trailing softly through the water behind it. Too wounded to celebrate the victory and mark its new territory, the victor limped off into jungle, away from the deadly ocean, leaking blood as it went. It passed between shelves of rock, many trees, and before long found itself in a most agreeable clearing. Here it was reasonably sheltered by rocks, and any predator would have to pass along a narrow path through the trees to reach it. Even better were the small pool, in which gloriously coloured fish swam carelessly, and a large patch of mushrooms sprouting from the ground in the shade of a tree. Satisfied with its choice of resting place, the Bulldrome lay down to sleep and heal. It never woke up. Mere minutes after the Bulldrome fell asleep, a Daimyo Hermitaur appeared in the clearing. It had previously chanced upon the trail of blood leading away from the beach, and, suspecting an easy meal, it followed. The huge crab was surprisingly stealthy in the jungle and although its pinkish-red colour, adorned with white stripes was hardly ideal camouflage, it more than compensated with huge, scissor-like claws, each a flushed red, and the horned skull of a desert-dwelling Wyvern on its back. The inflamed four red legs made hardly a sound as it snuck up on the sleeping Bulldrome… then, when it was close enough, it closed a claw on the Bulldrome’s throat, killing it instantly. For the next few hours, it fed peacefully from the carcass, undisturbed in the quiet jungle. Then, hunger sated, it dug into the ground directly below where it stood, there to rest peacefully until the next meal.