Hazardous Expeditions - PA Quest

Hazardous Expeditions 

The sun beat down upon the soft yellow sand, water crashing up against the reef tide pool rocks. Splashes of water hitting the sand off the rocks, foot impressions left dented in the sand. A large black figure made its way through the soft sand leaving large imprints as it walked. White pupils scanned the sand in front of it looking for anything that provided movement and a meal, the large figure was a jet black carnotaurs who went by the name Haunt. He leaned down sniffing the sand trying to pick up the scent of anything. His large tail swayed behind him as he continued to walk down the coast. The behemoth was driven by hunger and this was his first time outside of the forested areas of the island, the beating heart bursting off his dark scales.

The heavy sound of waves crashed against the reefs knocking around all life that inhabited them, the water seeming a lot rougher than usual as the wind picked up. Haunt shook his head before carrying on after looking up and viewing his surroundings. A loud grumble rumbled from his side, the carno hadn’t eaten for days since prey was scarce recently which was odd. Small crabs made their way across the beach, some being snapped up by Haunt because they were only deemed a snack to the large carnivore. As he kept walking a tench filled the air that triggered Haunts nose. He Quickly picked up his pace leaving behind footprints that were then washed away by the tide on the sand. Around the bend of the reef area there was a large whale carcass that was flipped over in the middle of the water out In the reef area a little off the beach.

Haunt had spotted the rotting whale and ran towards the water that was surrounded by a large Coral reef. He stopped getting to the water's edge, hesitant to enter the coral reef area; it seemed that most large animals who entered didn’t return; the current in the reef was unforgiving. The large carno sat there weighing his options, the large whale carcass taunting him every second, the smell filling his nose. Birds swarmed the large hunk of meat occasionally landing to pick at it, haunts stomach grumbled the longer he waited. Slowly stepping into the water the urge to eat soon overtaking the large carnivore.

 The large carno was soon up to his midsection in the water , water splashing as he moved making sure his footing was stable upon the coral and reef rocks. The rocks were sharp on his feet as he looked down trying to see through the water. It was getting deeper and deeper the further in he went, his tail trailing behind him helping with balance. The cold soon began to set in but it wasn’t too harsh yet, keeping his head above the water was the main goal and getting to the carcass in one piece. The whale had seemed  to have gotten stuck on the large coral area , almost like it was trying to get out of the water but that wasn’t a thought in the large carnivore's head. As he had made his way further out into the reef.

Haunt was now forced into a swim he was far from shore by now, he gave a look back but decided to press on. He noticed an oil-like substance altering the water around the carcass , it was slick and green.  Almost making water feel thicker to swim Through as he found his legs starting to get tired, resting on small reef areas when he could for small amounts of time trying to keep a good pace for himself. Haunt shook his head, keeping the splashing water off his head as he swam almost to the carcass.  The oil-like substance was getting thicker as he got closer and closer , it was not a normal thing  and was odd.

Finally reaching the large reef area, Haunt began getting his footing back and wasn’t out in open water anymore. The large carno took a few minutes to catch his breath before standing up ready to enjoy his hard earned meal. The whale was massive and belly up its fins in the air, it almost looked as if it purposely beached itself in the reef to escape the water. “ Ah, finally a good meal” he growled to himself, letting out a toothy grin, his tail swaying behind him excitedly, also making sure he didn’t lose balance on the uneven reef rocks. The waves roughly slamming against the small reef island in the middle of the water, haunt needed to be careful this was not his element and it was for sure not natural for him.

Haunt began to dig into the large carcass ripping and tearing flesh , wolfing it down with every bite he took. Many tropeognathus landed also feasting on the large marine animal that was unlucky to escape its beached state, Haunt growled snapping at the many birds, many returning the favor before flying off. Haunt ripped open to get to the juicy insides of the whale, the tough skin making it hard for him but he made quick work of it. Green slim coated the whale but he paid no mind to it. The waters begin to get a little rough making the reef rocks harder to stand on pushing him around.

A small wave hit the bank of the reefed area the large carno had swam to, causing him to lose his footing and falling onto the sharp reef coral. Haunt let out a painful growl as the reef cut his back as he rolled around trying to find his footing again. Once he found his footing he decided he had enough of the uneven terrain that was no place for a carno, he did grab a piece of meat that had the thick green oil substance. Soon plunging back into the open water preparing for the tiresome swim back to land. As he made his swim back to the more stable reef area’s soon found his footing again as he shook off the water that drenched his black scales.

“ I want to know what this is, this whale seemed as if it wanted to escape the water” he mumbled to himself.

This was the first time for the adult carno, he had never experienced anything like it ever since he was a hatchling. Forced to grow up by himself he knew the ins and outs of the island but never had he seen this.

“ Whatever this stuff is , I want to study it,” he said, rolling over the whale meat , carefully inspecting it. What could kill a whale this size but without any attack? Or any signs of being hurt. Whatever it was he wanted to know. Carefully picking it up Haunt moved into the shadows of the forest leaving behind footprints on the sand that soon came to an end, Leaving as the reef settled the water became calm.

Little ways away a mental barrel lay on its side floating in the coral reefs water , It seemed to be crushed with the components inside spilling out into the water  along with into the small tide pool that connected to the ocean. It was a bright yellow and read on the side in large black lettering : "Radioactive handle with care”. It seemed dangerous and from it the green liquid oozed from the sides of the metal. It seemed to have an effect on the environment it touched. Beyond the barrel was green sickening  water filled  with dead wildlife that had floated up to the surface of the water . Littered with the crabs picking at the remains. A large amount of fish had also begun floating up in the water.

Haunt had made his way back to his cave, slapping the whale chunk on a rock before sitting down staring at it. “Something is off about this, I wonder how many others have found this stuff?” he said looking puzzled. The reef seemed calm like usual, nothing not normal. He didn’t recall smelling anything off about the air. He was stumped laying his large head on the ground, his pale eyes scanning over the piece of meat, annoyed he got up walking to the edge of his cave looking up at the now dark sky.

“What is going on lately? “ he whispered to himself, he had caught wind of the fires that had happened recently on the island, and now this? He sighed, breaking the silence before walking back into the cave swinging his large tail knocking the meat outside. The wet slab rolled down into the dirt before settling, insects soon swarmed it, drinking and eating the liquid. Haunt layed down getting comfortable before closing his eyes “ stupid hunk of meat” he grumbled lightly before passing out.

The reef lay calm as the water soon settled for the night , where the crushed metal barrel had been floating it seemed to have sunk down under the reef beds. Something was in the water and the reef could be deemed a dangerous place only time will tell.