Lizofik's Monster

Pangadi stretched his mighty muscles as he rose from fitful slumber. With his energies fully restored he would resume the great hunt. His ambition had taken him a long way from home. He was now in a part of the planet totally uncharted by his clansmen. Yet the task did not daunt him. His pledge to the clan stood and fulfill it he must. He had no doubts whatsoever that he would succeed. Such was his confidence.

He surveyed the scene before him. The feeble sun had cast everything in an eerie light. To his eyes everything appeared odd and not a little grotesque. Nothing was like home. The trees were stunted, the leaves a sickly green, the grass thorny and unwelcoming, the entire landscape wrongly proportioned and disorienting. Even the creatures seemed blighted by disease or inbreeding. He found the region generally repulsive and would not stay any longer than he had to.

As the great hunter bent to pick up his heavy lance, he heard what sounded like a female voice. It appeared to be coming from the very stream he had drank from the previous night. With nary a sound, he moved stealthily through the dense undergrowth toward the source of the noise.

Pangadi crouched at the edge of the stream and slowly parted the tall grass before him. His eyes widened with amazement as he saw a young maiden washing herself in the waters. Her features were a little different from those of his clanswomen but she was undoubtedly beautiful. Of all the ugly things he had seen in that abominable place she was the one and only that pleased his eye.

The hunter watched the beauty dry herself and put on what looked to him like sack cloths. He was about to approach the fair maiden when he noticed a movement in the corner of his eye. To his horror, an enormous beast emerged from the forest and sat itself next to the lady. It was round and had the thick black hide of an olifant. It glared at the maiden with angry blood-shot eyes and bared razor-sharp teeth. She merely stood submissively with her head lowered as if waiting for a command.

The monster growled something to which the lady responded by nodding. Pangadi watched entranced but without comprehension as more instructions were issued in a tongue unknown to him. Eventually the beast lumbered back into the trees. The lady sat down as in despair. After a moment she picked up an old sack and began to fill it with drift wood.

Pangadi checked to see that the monster had really gone before stepping out into the open. The lady, upon seeing the tall hunter, dropped her sack in alarm and attempted to flee.

"All is well, fair lady!" Pangadi spoke in a soft tone. "I mean no harm".

He placed his lance upon the pebbles and sat himself down on a large log.

"I merely wish to talk."

The lady halted her steps and watched Pangadi warily. Pangadi attempted a smile. "Do you understand my language?" he enquired.

The lady nodded sheepishly and replied, "Some."

"My name is Pangadi. I am a hunter from the north. I come seeking Mako meat which is rare and priceless in my region."

The lady's countenance appeared to relax a little. "Mako? Ah, Makoo! Makoo at big valley!"

"Big Valley? Can you take me there?"

A sudden gloom descended upon the girl. "No! No take you there!"

"Why?"

"Much work." With that, she lifted up her sack and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Pangadi called out. "What is your name?"

Lizofik hesitated a moment before replying.

"That is a fair name, Lizofik. As fair as its owner. Let me help you with your burden." In one swift motion Pangadi had picked up his lance and leapt like an agile lipod over to the girl before she could react. "Which way is Big Valley?"

*****

Lizofik allowed the hunter to carry her sack of sticks which felt like feathers to him. She led him in silence to a cliff's edge after a short walk.

"Makoo in big valley."

Pangadi looked in the direction she had pointed.

"Must go now. Thank you."

Pangadi held on to the sack she was attempting to take from him.

"Are you in some trouble, fair Lizofik? Pray let me assist?"

"No. No trouble. Sack please."

Pangadi did not believe her words. "That monster is holding you captive, isn't it? It has enslaved you?"

"No. You no understand. Cannot talk."

"I can help you. I can kill the beast and release you."

"NO! No kill! No kill! You no understand!"

"You have nothing to fear! I will protect you! I ... I love you and will take good care of you!"

"Love?" There was a look of puzzlement in her eyes.

"Yes, I fell in love, sweet maiden, the moment I set eyes on you! You are more beautiful than anything I have seen in my life. Please place your trust in me. I will not betray it."

"I will take you back to my region" the hunter continued, "where you can live in freedom from fear. I will love and cherish you as long as I have breath within my breast. You will be happy there!"

As the girl stared at him in stunned silence, a loud crashing noise spun Pangadi round. He found himself looking into the hellish eyes of the black and towering monster that had caused so much grief to his beloved Lizofik.

"AAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGG!" the hunter let out a blood-curdling war cry as he tossed the sack aside and braced his lance for assault.

The monster's roar in return shook the trees in the forest and scattered creatures in all directions.

Lizofik screamed something that was all but drowned in the uproar.

*****

Hunter and beast fought tooth and nail. The monster bit and tore at Pangadi who managed to dodge most of the attacks but the ones that struck left him bloody and weakened. Yet thought of his precious Lizofik gave him spirit. A sudden thrust of his lance caught the Monster in the foot breaking the bone within. It stumbled and toppled over in an earth-shattering roar of agony. Pangadi leapt on the beast and stabbed it repeatedly. One jab penetrated the heart and silenced the monster's thrashing.

A tired Pangadi jumped off the carcass of his nemesis to seek his fair maiden. He found her cowering in some bushes, tearful but unhurt.

"It is all right now, dearest Lizofik. Your master is dead and you are free at last."

Lizofik hugged her deliverer in relief. They remained in exhausted embrace until the break of the morrow.

*****

"Remember night in forest?"

Pangadi looked up from his labours. A beaming and lovely Lizofik stood before him.

"Yes, dear. Why?"

It had been two bliss-filled years since that fateful night in the south. Lizofik had settled herself well in the hunter's village. The clan loved and accepted her with open arms. Her cheerful and caring nature made her many friends.

"Night we make love?"

"Yes." Pangadi laughed. "Who could ever forget that?"

"We have fruits."

"Fruits?" Pangadi replied, a little puzzled, as Lizofik placed a small bundle on his lap. "Oh wonderful! I am thirsty from this labour. Frapples?"

"No fruits for eating!" Lizofik smiled as Pangadi unwrapped the bundle and stared at two round black balls of fur.

"Fruits of love!"