[ IP ] Silent Hunters

The sound of the shuffling of gravel at the end of the cave echoed throughout it. It was mid day, far too dangerous a time for anything to be about. Slowly the hermit crept forward, the hand carved spear in his dirty, scarred hands. His eyes lit up behind his permanent grizzly expression as he saw the sillouett of a child at the end of the cave; the sight of another human being was amazing, but he knew to stay behind his cover. No matter what happened the creatures would never enter somewhere lightless. The child paused at the opening and turned around. 
 
 `` No!'' The man's grizzly voice strained past a whisper, but his warning came too late as the tenticles floated by, snagging, scalding, and tearing at the young flesh; leaving only the bones in a pile. He had never witnessed them attack directly, only ever heard the screams and seen the destruction left in the path of these creatures. The heart shattering truth of what humanity faced struck him. He looked into a small pool on the cave floor. A disheveled and broken shadow of who he once was lingered, staring back at him. The hermit stood up, his heart finally had no more hope, no urge to survive. He strode into the light and the end of his nightmare.
