Territory (3)
Whether beast or human, territory is an incredibly sensitive matter. For humans, on a broad scale, it's a country—their land. On a smaller one, it's their home. And of the three necessities—food, clothing, and shelter—none are unimportant, but shelter handles "safety" in daily life. Without a home, you're never safe from natural disasters or all sorts of accidents. So for humans or beasts alike, territory is essential for a secure life.
Even humans get wary or confrontational if a stranger invades their home—imagine how beasts react. That's why I didn't scout out the gorillas' territory on a whim.
'But the owl bear and mad dog seemed to have territory disputes too?'
I'd charged ahead boldly, but I had plenty of worries. First off, what happens to the territories of the now-vanished owl bear and mad dog? I'd pondered it countless times, but nothing obvious had shown up yet. Kangaroos were in the owl bear's cave, but they fled when they saw me. Now I could really feel it: other animals approaching to claim the vacant territories.
The saber-toothed tiger was a monster I'd barely repelled with Ppareumbo's help. Alone, I'd have died several times over.
'Something bold enough to muscle into that saber-toothed tiger's territory...'
It might have challenged the tiger while it was alive. Or maybe it had already become the overlord of this whole area.
'I've been marking my own territory steadily too.'
Not that I was serious about it. I just pissed anywhere. Still, I figured it counted as some kind of marking.
'This is the owl bear cave.'
Recalling yesterday, I reached the owl bear cave. I'd planned to use it as a base and roam from there.
"Kyuu! Kyu!"
Until Wonmo dashed inside first. I called after her frantically, but she was already in. Shaking my head, I followed into the cave.
"Kyuuuaak! Kyuaak!"
But she soon bolted back out. Her terrified expression said something was in there. I calmed her trembling form and peeked inside.
"Whoa."
I could see why Wonmo was scared. The things inside were no joke. The kangaroo I'd seen yesterday—and not just one, but a bunch hopping around. They seemed to have claimed this as their territory. My worst fears confirmed: a kangaroo pack replacing the owl bear.
'Kangaroos living in a place like this?'
Maybe prejudice, but back on Earth, kangaroos lived in Australia. As long as there was grass or trees to eat, sure... but it felt out of place. Pushing my feelings aside, I decided to back off quietly. No point fighting now—it'd just hurt me, and I had more to scout.
'To escape, I'll have to cross animal territories...'
That worried me too. I'd inevitably invade others'. Worst case, endless battles with the locals. That's why I needed more intel to avoid it.
'Wait. Speaking of...'
I turned back to the owl bear nest entrance. It was about Rice Kraone, the owner of the book I'd found here.
'How'd he live in an owl bear nest? Before the owl bear arrived?'
Olfather could tell me later. I glanced at the now-kangaroo cave one last time and moved on. Still no clue where the gorilla territory was. Basing it on upstream from the river might work, but even that was iffy.
'The river itself could be territory.'
Scouting for territory intel was the easy goal. Spot droppings, stop and check. With my excellent detection bear—not dog—Wonmo, it'd be simple.
"Sniff sniff. Sniff."
"Hehey. Wonmo, that's poop, poop."
Not that I wanted her hunting mushrooms. I hurried to stop her from eating any. I marked the path meticulously to avoid getting lost, then noticed the terrain shifting subtly.
'This isn't forest anymore—it's practically jungle.'
Leaves turned deeper green, moss everywhere. The forest floor had been rocky before, but now it was all tree roots. The air felt thicker too—especially the humidity. Dry moments ago, now muggy.
'No sense of spatial shift?'
Unlike crossing the river, no jarring change. Just suddenly in the jungle. I thought of turning back but decided on a bit more scouting.
"Whoa. Holy shit."
Soon after, I spotted a new species. Crawling forward from somewhere, it looked like a snail—massive snail. The shell alone dwarfed me. No need to mention the body.
'Like a fall-season snail?'
A man-sized snail crawling was horrifying. But puzzling too—wouldn't something eat it quick?
'Must have a reason.'
Best not poke it. Let it go its way. I passed the sloth-slow snail.
And soon understood how it survived.
Sssizzle—
"......"
The ground behind it: grass melted away. Even soil dissolving, smoke rising. Poison like the golden frog's, or acidic. Probably the whole body. Eating it would liquify you.
'...Gonna call it Acid Snail.'
Not spitting liquid like frogs, hopefully. I kept my distance just in case. Scouting the jungle yielded no more oddities, so I turned back.
'Gorillas not here?'
Deeper in, or wrong direction. Wonmo found nothing—total bust.
'Time... still plenty left.'
Gallery clock: only 2:30. Planned to scout till 5, so more time. But to be safe, no deeper into jungle—gorilla encounter would suck.
"Hm?"
Heading back, something odd: a tree with a deep central depression. Scratches normal in Four Seasons Forest battles, but this stood out.
'No way... a handprint?'
A clear palm print. Not human—too big. Some ape's? Not my expertise. What I knew: way bigger than mine, proportions off. Palm much larger relative to fingers, overall double my hand size.
'...Could be territory marking.'
My whole hand fit in it. If gorilla-made, better bail now. Lingering risked ambush.
'Any more traces?'
But I wanted firmer intel on the territory. Couldn't freak over one print. As I turned—
"Huh?"
Another mark brushed my fingertips. Next to the big palm, a smaller one. Tree thick; nearly missed it. But the shock: this one looked human.
Much smaller than the big one, but normally large. Not my size, though. Juvenile gorilla? Nah.
'Fingers too long.'
Fingers disproportionately long. Comparing marks showed it clear. Rice's, attacked by gorillas? Nah—felt friendly. Like bonding display.
I studied both, snapped photos. Gallery later.
'Pretty old traces... no clue.'
Survivor? Mutant? Ambiguous. Puzzled, I headed out of the jungle. No more lingering.
'Got thinking to do—back to shelter.'
Wanted more scouting, but changed plans. Found possible survivor traces—not Rice's, another's.
'How'd they leave handprints? With gorillas?'
Chewing the riddle, I returned to shelter. Tension melted away on arrival.
"Hm?"
But something off. Unplaceable unease. Familiar yet awkward. Things subtly shifted?
'Why's the laundry down? Did I secure it wrong?'
Laundry from the line scattered on ground. Barrel positions off, charcoal bin weird. Signs of visitors everywhere—alert up.
'Nobody inside?'
Peeked in cave: empty. Thought intruder. Rubbed my neck, disarmed, entered.
Stronger unease hit immediately. Not unease—a whole item gone.
"Huh?"
I'm organized; spotted it fast.
"What? Where's the Wall Valley Pill?"
Wall Valley Pill gone. Entire sack. Mostly for Ppareumbo, kept together. Vanished meant...
Only one possibility: intruder stole it. Thieves in the forest? Not weird—raccoon swiped some in last downpour. Got schooled by Ppareumbo, ended in Wonmo's belly.
"......"
Shocked by the news? Ppareumbo rocketed off my back at top non-combat speed. Stared blankly at the spot. Felt her despair and rage vividly.
Who stole the Wall Valley Pills? Touched nothing else.
'Footprints?'
Culprits always leave traces. Left fuming Ppareumbo, checked outside thoroughly. New footprints.
'Gallery it.'
Whoever—doomed with Ppareumbo this mad. First time seeing her like this.
*****
Same time. Somewhere in the jungle.
"Woohoo! Woohoo!"
"Uuuu! Woohoo!"
An impromptu gorilla feast was underway.