By the guppy
Date: 2 March 2000
prey
*striped as the form of fear
bars marked, camouflage on flesh and fur
eyes half-shut, perceptive yet of movement, details
claws, razor edges retracted, shredded bark, hewn limbs of tree and beast attesting to their power
teeth, daggers, honed, accurate and deadly, unveiled only to slice the jugular, or feast on the prey
shadowed by the sparse canopy of trees
blended to invisible by the grasslands
eyes half-shut, peering lazily between blades of sedges, the distance holds their attention
calm, patient
the distance
the prey
claws stabbing into the soil in cycles as muscles flex and relax
anticipating the event, the chase, the dance
saliva lubricating the weapons as the sweet memories of flesh flash into being
the distance
smoke swirling into the sky, tendrils intertwining and releasing in a dance of their own
a woven tapestry against the dimming sky of sunset, calm beauty pouring from the flames of panic beneath
the prey, scrambling in terror, kicking, bleating, crying
vain attempts to escape
the distance grows smaller
eyes widen, adjusting to the light
position renegotiated, exposure compensated for, vantage point optimized
studying the movements, the reactions, the stride, the weaknesses
pulse increasing
perfect victim identified
the strike...*
"hello? is anybody home in there? you're zoning on me, man."
"oh, sorry...um. that girl is really pretty."
"man, forget about her. there's a girl over there who's been staring at you for a long time now. i think she likes you. she's got that look...you know? like she's in another world or something."
"weird."
"wonder if she's waiting for you to go talk to her?"
the bartender sets down a drink "this is from that brunette at the table"
**the plan is all coming together
the victim, oblivious, ignorant
the the liquid saturated, poison dissolved, tasteless, perfect
one sip and the deed will be done
and then the celebration, tonight i will feast...**
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