My intrigue, I fear, has gotten the best of me once again. In all my explorations I have never come across a predator with such a clever use of camouflage mixed with Bioluminescence. As I gazed up from my campfire at the night sky, I was drawn to a particular star that seemed to hover just outside our camp's light. It beckoned me to get closer to investigate. I convinced a young boy who was helping with our travels to accompany me in my venture. We left camp once everyone settled into their tents. I regret to say, I may have fibbed a bit saying I thought I saw the glint of some potential treasure out in the forest. Regardless, we found ourselves in the dark wandering through with nothing, but a small torch and my journal. 

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It all happened within moments. The light drew near, slowly coming into focus as the thorax of a large creature; a sweet scent upon the air and the hum of wings. Suddenly the boy was transfixed standing still unaware of the giant flying beast moving in to claim him. I watched almost in a daze myself, though more in awe and less in the chemical that sapped his survival instinct. The claws designed to grip it’s prey like meat hooks on a farm, did just that and pierced his right shoulder with magnificent accuracy. 

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Seeing him whisked up into the air I swiftly snapped out of my daze and rushed toward the creature. Upon seeing the torch in my hand it released him with a hiss. I quickly grabbed the young man by the collar of his shirt and promptly threw him into the shelter of a large hollowed tree nearby. The creature flew back around toward me and the young boy bleeding within the tree. I screamed at it, luring it away from the boy. I raced through the woods towards camp, but in my haste I dropped the torch to the ground. The dry leaves caught ablaze within seconds. The creature left using it’s large multi layered wings to disappear amidst the smoke. I ran back to the boy as the woods around me began to burn too fiercely for me to control. 

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