The Crypto Zoologist
Chapter 1 of my new series.
A young crypto zoologist, and verminologist named Gabriel was walking through the forest of Yellowstone National Park. Gabriel is actually looking for bigfoot, which was a creature that has been sighted the day before. Like most crypto zoologists, Gabriel was setting up motion sensored cameras. The photos will prove the potential of bigfoot's existence if the photos come up clear enough at night or in the day. "There, I got one hundred square miles covered with cameras", Gabriel said proubly looking over the area he covered. Gabriel got back into his jeap figuring he can set more camera traps with the few more hours of daylight he had left. After spending four more hours setting up camera traps, the sun began to set ofer the mountains. Gabriel set up camp, and opened his lap top to monotor the pictures the cameras have been taking. Gabriel was surfing through many nice pictures the cameras took. Pictures of deer, mountain lions, bears, squirels, and other smaller creatures. But those are not the creatures he was searching for. A few minutes of sifting through pictures passed. Gabriel stumbled across something that intrigued him. He saw one picture with yellow serpentine eyes staring up close into the camera. The skin on it's forehead was very scally and reptilian in nature. "Interesting, I've never seen any creature like this in these parts", Gabriel thought to himself. He saved the picture on to his lap top to talk to a biologist at a ranger post in the morning. Gabriel put away his lap top to go to sleep in his jeep just in case a bear or mountain lion visits his camp, he is safe. Or so he thinks. The sound of the forest put him to rest. The crickets, wolves, and other animals made sounds pleasant to him as he fell asleep.
The falowing morning, Gabriel made his way back to the ranger post and shown the biologist the picture he took the past night. Completely intrigued and never seeing any picture of such a creature, or seeing a creature like this in person, she asked Gabriel for a print out. He gladly did so.
"Oh, and we didn't properly introduce ourselves. My name is Samantha", the biologist said.
"Gabriel", the young crypto zoologist replied.
"I'm generally not a fan of crypto zoologists. They're so-called scientists with hypothesises and no theories or facts. However, you're on to something Gabriel. What's your theory on the picture of the creature? Samantha asked.
"It looks reptilian, judging by it's eyes and the skin on it's face. I'd ruel out flaws in the picture because there are no blurs or anything that'd alter the quality of it. As I can tell, there seems to be spines or horns pretruding from it's head. It looks like it was staring into the camera, because it's face is so close I cannot see the rest of it's body and cannot determine the size of the crature eithe. At this point, I don't have a theory on it because it being reptilian is the only theory I can come up with", Gabriel said.
"A decent theory, after all there is no shame in saying you don't know. But how do you find out Gabriel?" Samantha asked.
"Only thing that can be done is go out and look for it, and hope it shows up on the cameras more clearly, or find it myself and take a picture of it personally", Gabriel replied. Both Gabriel and Samantha had a cup of coffee together, and Gabriel then took off to the forest, after the creature his camera spoted last night. Gabriel was driving back to his camp to pick up some snacks, he loudly sighed at the fact he couldn't tell Samantha what he really thought it was. With the horns, eyes, and skull structure he could swear it is a dragon. However, he knew Samantha would have laughed him right out of her office if he told her what he truely thought what the creature was. Dragons tend to fall more under verminology than crypto zoology. While Gabriel was also absolutely fascinated with dragons, hearing so much folklore, both ancient lore and modern lore, he was doubtful of it being a dragon. But sense he doesn't know what the creature is, and how dangerous it may be, the fact of not knowing what he is getting himself into unnerves him.
Gabriel got back to the camp, gathered a few things, and started patroling the surrounding areas looking for what it may be. As he was driving, he was observing some of the wildlife there. He pressed on foward driving for a few miles, then a loud thud was heard and his jeep rolled over upside down. Gabriel panicked and crawled out of the window as fast as he can carrying a large knife. A massive scally foot with massive claws on it's toes pressed on Gabriel hard. Gabriel tried to scream, but the air was litterally crushed out of his lungs. Gabriel passed out from the sheer pain as the last noises he heard was a slight growl and his rib cage seemingly cracking. Gabriel woke up at sunset, noticing a creature laying beside him. About twice his size, very reptilian like, layed a creature that looked just like a dragon. Chills began to run down his spine as he noticed his knife was gone, so he was defenseless. Another dragon, a smaller one walked up to him. The smaller one looked t him curiously as the larger one was still sleeping.
"My name is Alckor, may I ask your name human"? The smaller dragon asked. Gabriel was shocked to see such a creature can talk, let alone be so polite at the same time.
"My name is Gabriel", he replied. The larger dragon stirred from it's sleep at the sound of Gabriel's voice. Gabriel quickly jumped to his feet. To his suprise, his rib cage didn't hurt him at all.
"Alckor! Get away from the human!" The larger dragon yelled in anger. Gabriel reasoned that must be Alckor's mother judging by her powerful, yet feminine voice. Alckor did as he was told, but he seemed worried. As if he was worried his mother is going to harm Gabriel.
"Stay away from my son, human. Your kind has killed enough of mine already". The larger dragon said. Gabriel remained silent and nodded his head in aknolegement of the dragons's warning.
"Mom, please don't harm Gabriel", Alckor asked.
"Gabriel"? She said with a slightly confused look on her face.
"I gave him my name, and he gave me his", Alchor replied.
"Did you tell Gabriel anything else"? The larger dragon asked.
"No, I didn't", Alckor truthfully replied.
"Gabriel, what exactly are you doing around these parts"? The larger dragon asked.
"Looking for a creature called bigfoot. I'm a crypto zoologist", Gabriel said.
"HAAAAHAHAHAAAAA!" The dragon laughed. "Humans and their fantasies of finding big foot. They don't even know that they do not exist!" The dragon still laughing and mocking Gabriel's pointless efforts.
"However, secrecy is what kept me and those before me alive for so long Gabriel. But sense you did find us, you may at least learn my name as well. My name Meraza. I'm actually the one who stared into that camera, then when it took a photo that's when I know my secrecy has been blown", Meraza said.
Gabriel was still nervous at the next possible question she may ask. Suddenly, the dreaded question came up:
"Did you show anyone else the photo Gabriel"? Meraza asked.
"No, no one, except someone named Samantha. The biologist at the ranger station", Gabriel replied.
"Well, most scientists aren't ones to accept our existence. Had it been other people, I would have killed you instantly", Meraza said.
"Speaking of killing, why am I not dead"? Gabriel asked. Meraza lifted one eye browl and replied "If you want to die that can be arranged human. Painlessly? Or painfully? Swallowed whole? Maybe chewed to bits? Or maybe snap your neck before eating you?
"I'd prefer to live. I'm asking about my rib cage. I heard my ribs cracking when you pressed your foot on me, and a rib punctured a lung", Gabriel replied.
"Magic", Meraza replied.
Gabriel had a hard tim not insulting Meraza by laughing, sense he didn't believe in magic he believed what she said was untrue.
"I can tell you are in thought. I feel you don't believe me. You may be thinking all this is a dream I'm sure. But I'll be honest with you. All this is real, including magic. Now It's dark. You humans are rather small. I got a nice cozy cave for you. It's a little... wet... But it's warm. Watch for the stalagtites and stalagmites, they're quite sharp. Meraza said.
To his confusion, Gabriel was already in a cave. Suddenly Meraza picked Gabriel up and opened her mouth.
"Oh no! No no no"! Gabriel said as he began fighting, finally realizing what kind of cave Meraza was talking about. But his resistance was futile. He finally had to sucumb to the srength of the dragon and give in. Exausted and trying to catich his breath, Gabriel laid on her tongue for a minute. Finally, he regained a little strength anf fought some more kicking and punching the roof of Meraza's mouth.
"Let me out!", Gabriel demanded.
"No" Meraza replied.
"Pease! I don't want to be eaten!" Gabriel said as he continued punching and kicking her mouth.
"Eaten? Relax, you're more like a chew toy than food human. Go to sleep", Meraza said.
"I'm not sleeping till I am on the ground"! Gabriel said.
"So be it, you can sleep in my storage stomach!" Meraza said. Meraza swallowed Gabriel, and Gabriel struggled as the throat muscled pushed him deeper and deeper inside Meraza's throat. Finally Gabriel made it to Meraza's storage stomach. Gabriel now thinking this is the end, he'll be dead within hours if not minutes decided to close his eyes and rest, only waiting to rest forever. He dozed off in his dreams saying goodby to this world. "Remember Gabriel, you're in my storage stomach. I'll see you in the morning", Meraza said. Feeling a little more secure, Gabriel fell asleep hoping Meraza is true to her word.