Nothing Was Big Enough

[Scaramouche Fandango]

Asked for a story one winter's day; a horror story, about leeches and a kimeti buck, she rattled off this little nightmare.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft] "Once there was a kimeti, a handsome young buck," Half Truth began, licking her lips with great relish, "who prided himself on his strength. He was a strong fellow with great rippling muscles; his chest was broad and his back was strong. His legs were mighty, like oak trees, and his horns were tougher than stone. He was a kind fellow, much beloved by his tribe, for he would use his great strength in defense of the weak. True, he did boast sometimes that nothing was big enough to take him down- but he was never truly arrogant or rude, and he was always kind to others.

One day, during the height of the summer festival, the buck and his tribe traveled to meet with other kin. There were many kin of all shapes and sizes, and the festival was celebrating all their feats and accomplishments. There were dances, songs, storytelling... and of course, feats of strength. The buck's tribe was hoping he would win them all, and he didn't want to let them down. The first competition was a race. The buck ran and ran, his mighty hooves pounding the earth beneath his feet. His flanks heaved and shuddered as he gave it his all, and in the end, he was the swiftest of the gathered crowd. He smiled warmly as they crowned him with leaves, then gratefully gulped down water that was brought to him in a tortoise shell. He slept well that night, rested for the next day's competition. Nothing was big enough to bring him down.

The second day brought with it a wrestling match. Kin were paired up and first competed against their own kind. Then, the strongest kin from each kind- kiokote, kimeti, acha, zikwa, and totoma- then they all faced each other in a battle royale. It was a hard fight and came down to the kimeti buck and a massive totoma doe. She came at him with all she had, her great strength and mighty horns knocking the wind from his lungs, but he persevered and eventually got her pinned. He used her bulk against her, tripping her up and flipping her, until she could fight no more. He grinned at her, dazed, as they crowned him with leaves. The pair spoke long into the evening, and night found them secluded from the others, curled against each other, rested for the next day's competition. Nothing was big enough to bring him down.

The third day dawned, and with it came the sun glinting over water. The kin gathered near the mouth of a deep channel in the swamp. The third competition was a distance swim through deep water, and the buck knew he would win it easily. He splashed into the water with the other competitors. The muddy water churned beneath their flailing hooves, splashing and making it difficult to see. But he pulled ahead, the strong kimeti buck, and eventually left the group behind. He swam on and on and on, and as he looked back, he could see his competition dropping out behind him, hauling their exhausted bodies to shore. But this was a test of endurance, and so he beat on, pushing and pushing himself. He began to grow tired, and so he floated for a bit. He knew he was far enough ahead that he could rest just a little. He was so tired, and his legs burned so.

Under the water, as he stopped moving, a small creature saw its opportunity. Biting into his flesh, the leech hungrily sucked and sucked, its writhing motion calling others of its kind to the exhausted kimeti. He felt nothing, for leech bites are painless until it's too late, and he didn't realize he was getting sleepier and sleepier, until his head disappeared beneath the dark water.

The kin waited and waited for their hero to return, but soon the sun reached its zenith and there was no sign of him. Worried, the group set out down the channel, searching the length of the swimming course- but there was no sign of him. As his body lay in the depths, the leeches swarmed and fed. Nothing was big enough to take him down. But something- many somethings- had been small enough to do it."