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Loud noises assaulted the creature's ears.
Strange noises.
It had never heard anything like them before, and it had no words for them.
They were harsh and abrasive.
But the beast could adapt.
That was what it had evolved to do, after all.
There was a strange feeling in its body.
Was it injured?
No.
This was something else. Something new. Quieting the noise. Allowing it to focus.
Then the feeling faded, and in its place came something very familiar to the beast.
Hunger.
Its prey was close.
The creature slowly opened its eyes.
It was confused at what it saw.
Where was it?
Everything looked different. It was colder.
What had happened?
The trees were gone.
It was surrounded by something.
Cliffs?
No, these were far smaller.
Then what?
Tunnels?
Another tantalizing sniff of its prey's scent reached the beast’s nose. It decided it didn't care.
It looked as though there was a gap in whatever surrounded it.
And its prey was out there, close by.
It lumbered towards the exit, its steps shaking the hard yet smooth ground beneath it.
Another change.
But an unimportant one.
As long as it could hunt, all was well.
…
It lumbered through the tunnels of the strange cave it was trapped in, following the scent of prey.
Closer, now.
They both seemed to be moving towards each other.
But then the prey's scent shifted.
Fear.
It knew it was being hunted.
The creature could no longer take the easy path.
It lumbered towards the slant it could sense led upwards. The heat of the sun was already pounding on its scales, despite it barely moving upwards yet.
Light hurt its eyes.
But for just a glimpse of its prey…
It would be worth it.
It began moving along the jagged path.
…
The creature let out a growl as its prey escaped into the sunlight.
For now, it could not follow. The light was too harsh.
But its prey couldn't escape forever. The night would come soon.
And the beast would have its chance.