Nighttime on the planet brought out all kinds of nocturnal creatures. Some of them aren’t worth mentioning, but there are two or three that Girry would likely use in future meals.

  Walking around on three legs, two in the front and one at the back, is a beast simply called Kuud. A herbivorous species with an elongated head with a series of molars. It eats decaying plant litter, fruits, and roots.

  Due to its diet, residents of the planet use its fat for cooking to add unique flavors to each meal. They avoid the meat, however, since it makes you infertile—

  Another species that Girry might use is called Engguen. A flightless bird no larger than a Raaby. The eggs it lays are half the size of the creature and, according to the residents, are perfect for rice dishes.

  It isn’t hard to spot an Engguen, or for that matter, hear it. For some reason, the creature evolved in such a way that it screams at the slightest sound. With no visible neck, it stands only five hundred millimeters tall—which means it’s under two feet.

  Anyway, its head is rather small with a shovel-like beak for digging, pink feathers, and short webbed feet. The meat of it is toxic to certain species and therefore banned from kitchens—

  Finally, we get to a creature that is used for its meat, a Golb. An amphibious creature that grows up to two meters tall and walks on two legs. Very docile and tasty. So docile, in fact, that it never attacks anything. It does sometimes stomp other animals to death with its giant hooves.

  Luckily, they’re rather skittish of fire and refuse to go near campsites and the sleeping Girry. This story would have been extra short otherwise—

  Unaware of the danger he was in, Girry woke up bright and early to the sounds of screaming wildlife. Apparently, both the flying and aquatic creatures kept fighting through the night. Feathers, teeth, and half-beaten animals moaned in pain on the black ocean sand.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Making some coffee, Girry watched as the animals left the area, leaving nothing behind on the sand except for an elderly amphibian. Cursing under his breath, he mumbled threats about filing complaints.

  He was an old, wrinkly, grey-haired aquatic bird with webbed feet, no wings, a plump body, and a head that was just the right size for its body. Waving in the breeze was a majestic beard that grew from beneath a flat beak with a hook.

  He glanced at Girry and narrowed his eyes. “What the hell are ya looking at!?” he barked.

  Girry shrugged, “Nothin…”

  “Wait a minute,” he adjusted his cracked glasses, “aren’t ya Doris?”

  “No… I’m Girry.” He said, frowning.

  “Ya sure?” he squinted. “ya look like that thieving snake. Stole me lucky sock, the bastard.”

  “Was it a gold-plated sock?”

  He froze. “How’d ya know?”

  “A Migy stole one of mine, the left one.”

  The old bird spat, “Damn Migys, when I catch tha thieving bugger, I’ll hang him by his toes.”

  Girry watched as the animal continued to curse and spit as he wandered down the beach, his beard flowing like silk and glowing in the sunlight.

  For a long while, Girry simply stood and stared into the distance as a cool breeze blew past rustling leaves. Warmth spread further as the sun slowly rose over the ocean. It truly was peaceful—

  That is, it was peaceful. Behind him, a Golb had accidentally squashed a unique insect that finds a mate by yodeling. Naturally, the insect watched the hoof come down and yodeled in terror. It was cut short, however, by a crunch and a thump.

  By this point, Girry had already turned around at the yodel and watched the follow-up splat. The Golb froze at the sound, lifted its foot, and saw the now flattened insect twitching. Then, it ate it. Loud crunchy chewing made Girry scrunch his nose.

  “Least it didn’ waste the food.”

  After a moment, it disappeared into the forest.

  Girry shrugged, then decided to eat some breakfast and finish his coffee. Eating his fill, he left some food for Billy, who was still fast asleep inside the spaceship.

  He then sat back and soaked in the morning sun as he digested his breakfast.

  Most of the screaming from the ocean had died down completely, leaving only the wind, a few animal sounds in the distance, and the crashing of waves. One new sound caught his attention, though, a high-pitched series of grunts. The sound came from the location of his trap.

  Expecting the feathered lizard-like creature from last night, he grabbed his net and headed for the trap.