Side-eye

Move towards the familiar sound of water, passed this way many times. Bushes around water are too bitter to eat but sometimes have smaller leaves that are okay. Cut out one bush and rip some leaves out. No, too bitter. Spit it out and continue towards the water sound. Can see the water path now so walk slower. Ground is softer and colder. Water is too loud and shaky so better follow water path a little further. Quieter and plainer now, this seems good enough. Face the water. No, wait, investigate around. Sound?

Look at the-way-I-came-from. Can see far into the water path, no front-eye followed. Water sound is strong. Nothing but water sound and some berry-eater’s sounds. If I turn more would be facing trees, and bushes-with-leaves-too-bitter. Trust that there is no sign of front-eye and face the water again, no front-eye below the water, not near at least. Stand as far from water as neck allows. Bow down, Focus on sound behind, focus sides. No front-eyes. Drink water. No, wait, sound? Front-eye? No, small berry-eater has moved next to me to drink water. Bow back down, focus behind, focus sides. No front-eyes. Drink water. Drink. Focus behind, focus sides. Drink. Berry-eater jumps and flaps away. Too sudden for a normal jump and too noisy of a flap, raise head from water. Focus be-

Sound behind, turn head to face the sound, front-eye! Front-eye! Looking at me? Looking at me. Knows I’m looking at it? Not yet, but is about to, harden my legs, Its not just passing by, not looking for water, run away from it! No, away’s direction is water path! Cannot run toward trees, front-eye is that way, must escape in the-way-I-came-from, or the-other-way. My face is turned in the-way-I-came-from, so rest of my body will turn faster that way, no, front-eye is closer to the-way-I-came-from than the-other-way, better go other-way, worth wasting time turning to the other-way? Front-eye knows that I’m looking at it, it moves closer! must decide!

I turn to the other-way, this will make front-eye chase me, so I begin running before turning, must escape, hear front-eye chasing behind, I must run! Water path on one side and trees and bushes on the other, must turn, better to run in trees. No, front-eye is too near and will reach me if I turn now, run, follow next to water path, I must run!

Look behind, front-eye is closer than it was before, will reach me soon if I continue, must go towards trees. Or into water? Spending too much time deciding, will reach me, I will die! Can hear front-eye breathing behind, I am tiring and water path is becoming bigger and plainer as I follow it, ground is becoming softer and my legs are hot. Front-eye very close, will reach me, I will die! I must run!

I am slow! Ground is too soft and legs are hot, no, no! front eye behind me! No! Jump and kick behind, hear loud sharp sound from front-eye, felt blunt and hairy in my back legs. I hit the front-eye! I must run! Will be chasing me again immediately, but have a chance to run to trees. I must run! Ground is soft but I manage to run away from water path.

Ground is harder, and I move faster, blur of trees, water sound fading and legs are hot. Front-eye? Focus behind, no sound. Look behind? No, keep running. Legs too hot and body feeling hotter. Front-eye? No sound. Stop, look behind. No front-eye. No front-eye? No. Does not follow anymore. Continue away from water path. Passed this way many times. Bushes are not as bitter around here.