Deadly Sniper Goat
I like this alot.
The creature flew through the air, high enough where the air was thinner, cooler, against reason. This day was a hot one, part of the reason that there had been no rainfall for quite some time. Many parts of the land were dry with drought, but there were still others where water flowed freely. The beast was one of the lucky ones, blessed with flight. When there were shortages, it simply spread its wings and flew to another area. And as it finally saw a watering hole, it dove towards the ground.
Large, leathery wings beat to stop the freefall and slow the beast down before it landed right at the water's shore. It was a large lake, cool and deep. It felt good when the beast dipped its beak in. A river fed into it, leading from a far away source, and numerous fish swam instinctively into the deep as the creature drank. It did not care, it was thirsty, not hungry.
A hissing from a nearby bush was all the warning the flying beast ever got. There was a blur of motion as a small, brown-feathered beast burst from the bush and landed on the flier. Hollow bones shattered immediately, and hungry teeth tore into the neck to finish the job. The hunter's compatriots stepped into place soon after, taking bits of flesh whenever the killer was too preoccupied to notice they were attempting it. Until it got its fill, it would viciously fight them away.
Off in the distance, in the lusher plains away from the water, huge beasts lumbered. Bleats and trumpeting calls filled the air as a heard of noisy herbivores settled down for the day, watched over by a few mono-horned beasts that had tagged along. Several of the small hunters darted along the edge of this herd, forcing the larger beasts to be on their guard lest one slip through their defenses and slay a babe.
A distant, deep roar gave the whole area pause, but when it did not occur again, life resumed.
In the waters, the fish started to come out of hiding and go about their business again. A large, brown one in particular had the run of the place, and had been the only one to not hide when the flier had come to drink. It rarely ever hid at all. As it floated near a pile of rocks, the fish concentrated. One rose a short distance before falling back into its position.
Large, leathery wings beat to stop the freefall and slow the beast down before it landed right at the water's shore. It was a large lake, cool and deep. It felt good when the beast dipped its beak in. A river fed into it, leading from a far away source, and numerous fish swam instinctively into the deep as the creature drank. It did not care, it was thirsty, not hungry.
A hissing from a nearby bush was all the warning the flying beast ever got. There was a blur of motion as a small, brown-feathered beast burst from the bush and landed on the flier. Hollow bones shattered immediately, and hungry teeth tore into the neck to finish the job. The hunter's compatriots stepped into place soon after, taking bits of flesh whenever the killer was too preoccupied to notice they were attempting it. Until it got its fill, it would viciously fight them away.
Off in the distance, in the lusher plains away from the water, huge beasts lumbered. Bleats and trumpeting calls filled the air as a heard of noisy herbivores settled down for the day, watched over by a few mono-horned beasts that had tagged along. Several of the small hunters darted along the edge of this herd, forcing the larger beasts to be on their guard lest one slip through their defenses and slay a babe.
A distant, deep roar gave the whole area pause, but when it did not occur again, life resumed.
In the waters, the fish started to come out of hiding and go about their business again. A large, brown one in particular had the run of the place, and had been the only one to not hide when the flier had come to drink. It rarely ever hid at all. As it floated near a pile of rocks, the fish concentrated. One rose a short distance before falling back into its position.
