Calamity’s mysterious murderer approaches its corpse, revealing a brown arachnid body. This creature, known as a field spider, repeatedly stabs the corpse while bearing its fangs. Using its sharp legs, it cuts Calamity loose, intending to dissolve and eat the corpse. Digestive fluids flow down the spider’s fangs as it bites down to dissolve Calamity. The expected juiciness of fresh flesh pours out yet doesn’t captivate the spider’s attention. Suddenly, an overwhelming force slams its head downward, decorating the dirt with dislodged eyes. The disoriented spider’s two remaining eyes look up, locking onto a mysterious silhouette looming above.

Crack! Feeling its back breaking under the pressure triggers the spider’s fight-or-flight response. Gathering its legs, the spider attempts to stand but is met with building resistance. The spider’s legs lift before flying toward whatever manner of limb held it down. It stabs repeatedly, drenching itself in murky blood, lessening the pressure with each consecutive stab. Beginning to rise, the spider is eager for revenge. Just as its body begins to reach full mass, a sharp sensation sends shivers through its nerves.

Sensing imminent danger, the spider attempts to escape. Breaking away from the monstrous grip, it hastily turns and tries to skitter away. An unknown force seizes its leg from behind, sending the spider sprawling on the spot. Spun around from the fall, the spider realises one of its legs was freshly torn. Its eyes twitch in disbelief at the sight of its bloodied prey, watching intently with countless, soulless eyes. Fearfully, the spider desperately scrambles across the ground, trying to escape its fate.

Frantically defending itself, the spider’s limbs are torn apart one by one. Left with only one leg, the spider desperately swings. Crunch… blood leaks from the severed leg. Pain shoots through the spider's body as repeated stomps steal away its life. Strands of muscles spiral above, casting a shadow that leaves the dying spider nothing but darkness. Slipping into an eternal slumber, the spider vaguely senses a wriggling within itself. Calamity’s flesh covers the spider’s deceased corpse inside and out, forming a still cocoon littered with slits that give way to emotionless eyes.

The moss-borne light illuminating the cavern of arrival begins to slumber, paving the way for darkness once again. With the last rays of light fading to memory, another lifeform begins to wake. Spider venom pools within a grotesque cocoon. Although harmful to most creatures, this venom is neutralised by Calamity’s natural-born resistances. Minutes later, the venom, along with the remaining mushy corpse, ceases to be. The pulsating cocoon falls still, its eyes sink into muscle, leaving only a small protrusion forming on the surface.

From within a crooked appendage slowly tears flesh, marking its birth with a drizzle of blood. Exploring the outside air, this thing carelessly slices away its host cocoon. With every chunk separated, more is revealed. From the cocoon emerges a quadruped. It hosts two skeletons— one internal, composed of bone, the other an outer coating of chitin. As Calamity strides forward, the restrictive parts break away, revealing grassy fur underneath. Venom drizzles down its mouth, and the rampaging spider-like limbs settle. Armed with new sensory, defensive, and offensive capabilities, Calamity sets off to find its next victim. 

Squeak, gnaw, squeak. A big rat happily chews on some of the surrounding tall grass. It goes for another bite but stops halfway. Lodged in its skull is a long spider leg covered in minuscule spikes. This was one of Calamity’s modified spider legs, grown solely as a killing tool. Judging the rat weaker than what it’s already consumed, Calamity leaves its lifeless body to decay. Thud! Calamity’s arachnid senses pick up a massive vibration in the distance.

Dashing forward while avoiding stalking spiders and scavenging rats, Calamity forces its legs to go faster. Creatures run when they sense something overpowering. It’s a common instinct. But Calamity wasn’t running away. Leaping forward, Calamity’s appendages pierce the tall grass, suspending its body midair. Empty eyes observe a creature they’ve never encountered before. This quadruped is massive, wielding wood-like protrusions from the head on a body covered by fur. This lone behemoth blissfully eats grass, unaware of the venom-drooling monster stealing glances from afar.

Peacefully munching on tall grass, this lone creature known as the berserker moose is a fine example of how his species operates. Despite having powerful muscles and durable antlers that could easily end life, its diet consists solely of nature’s bounties. His jaws slacken as he raises his head, staring far off in the distance. Unbeknownst to others, his skill ‘danger sense’ alerts him to a nearby threat. He stamps his hooves, attempting to scare the source of the sensed threat, his intimidating bellow encapsulating his full intent.

Sensing no sign of the threat withdrawing, the berserker moose slowly creeps forward. The slightest sway in the grass ahead shifts his once slow pace into a full-on charge. The mighty male drives his lowered head across the ground, launching a small monster through the air. With a sickening splat, it lands, bending the grass just ahead. The moose observes the scene momentarily before lowering his head in preparation for another charge. The thunder of his hooves startles the writhing monster, allowing it to throw itself aside just as the moose crashes through, kicking up a thick dust cloud. Guided by his danger sense, the moose sweeps the grasslands for the trespasser on his territory.

There exist many forms of pain one can experience. Within the scope of its limited time, Calamity has experienced one after another, overcoming each in turn. Yet this time, the pain differs; it cannot retaliate against this feeling. The torment of being flung without the power to fling drives it to a new conclusion. Helplessness, an overwhelming fear. Suddenly, it was inconceivable to step forward, to rip and tear as it had before. The behemoth’s gaze drew closer. Before it even had time to process, Calamity’s legs had already begun to flee.

There was only one thing on the fearful monster’s mind: how could it escape? Would the behemoth chase after it? Hopeful tension overtakes Calamity’s mind, every step taken, wishing not to hear another stamp in the distance. Just as such hope begins to blossom, the dreaded sound rings out. This foe couldn’t be bitten back like the big rat. Surely playing dead like with the field spider could work? All tension leaves its muscles, and Calamity falls, its motionless eyes locking on the moose. The behemoth’s pace slows from charge to trot. Stopping just before the lifeless monstrosity, the moose raises its foremost hoof. Immense pressure flows through Calamity. If this were an attack, what could it do in response?

The berserker moose observes the strange threat, seemingly lifeless yet still setting off his danger sense.  His hoof hovers above, but the intruder doesn’t even twitch. To squash it, or let it run free? To this individual, the answer is most obvious. Smashing his hoof down, the moose watches as the monster reanimates. It scrambles to escape, yet it was already too late. All that remains under the hoof is a corpse. Initially sceptical, he leans down, waiting to see if danger sense reactivates. Nothing. Satisfied, the berserker moose trots away in search of its next meal of luscious, tall grass.

Message from the Author (Me)

To begin, I’d like to thank you for reading! 
 To start, this edition is the ‘Final Draft’, as I’ve decided to learn how to edit better. I hope this higher-level edited version will also grace the internet someday.
This piece is part of a set of stories I’m writing to balance my main project, which I hope to share one day. Despite this, each of these stories can be read independently and isn’t necessary for the main piece, so don’t worry.
The reason I’m posting this one now, despite it not being first within its own Volume 0 like set, is that it’s the largest and first I wrote. It will consist of 10 chapters split into 20 episodes posted daily, with a two episode epilogue afterwards.
I’m open to criticism and will do my best to answer questions—so long as it doesn’t involve spoilers!
Finally, an most important message: I wish everyone a great day!