Chapter 7 Monster
"You know, being a monster is actually quite a hassle." Atop Guru Mountain, a strangely-shaped creature seemed to be talking to himself while facing a pine tree. The odd creature sat on a large pine tree branch, dangling his long, slender legs. At times, he rested his chin in his hands, his gaze fixed absently to the side. His pointed ears were perked high, as if fervently trying to listen to the whispers of the wind, and his large eye darted left and right as if searching for the sun’s colors.
"You must be wondering why I find being a monster so troublesome, right?" The peculiar creature said, brushing the errant snowflakes from his body with his tail as he continued his monologue to the pine tree. "I’m not like you, all busy preparing for the coming deep winter. My life is just boring me to death."
The tall pine tree, bathed in sunlight, stood exceptionally straight, completely ignoring the creature pouring out its woes upon it. However, the pine tree couldn’t be blamed for its indifference; after all, it wasn’t the creature’s only audience. "You crawled out of that tree hole, and it hopped out of that egg, but I don’t even know where I came from," the strange fellow said, shifting his gaze to a squirrel on a nearby branch.
The little squirrel, a large pinecone clutched in each paw, walked precariously along the branch. It looked like a tightrope-walking acrobat, struggling to maintain its balance in the narrow space.
"Let me help you." The monster stretched out the long hand that had been cupping his cheek and enthusiastically grabbed one of the pinecones. However, this helpful gesture did nothing to enhance the thrilling acrobatic display. Instead, it had the opposite effect; this sudden, clumsy move instantly shattered the poor squirrel’s hard-won coordination. The squirrel’s body tilted as it lost its balance, and in that instant, the other pinecone slipped from its tiny front paw. Then, with a CLACK, the escaped pinecone bounced once on the branch before sailing in a graceful parabola to greet the world below.
"I didn’t mean to..." Before the monster could offer a reasonable explanation for his actions, another calamity struck the poor squirrel. Perhaps the escaped pinecone had bounced too vigorously, causing the tall pine tree’s branches to feel an itch. Its entire trunk immediately shivered, and it slowly stretched as if waking from a nap. This stretch was comfortable for the pine tree, but for the squirrel, it was a disaster. The movement caused all the pinecones the pitiful squirrel had painstakingly gathered to tumble out of its tree hollow, one after another, cascading down to greet the earth.
Utter embarrassment was written all over the monster’s face. His large eye bulged wide, his mouth gaped open, and his two sharp canine teeth seemed to pop out from under his upper lip against his will. But he was a monster, after all. This awkward expression made the squirrel shiver all over before it scurried back into its tree hollow in a flash.
What... what have I done...? The monster covered his face with one hand and started muttering to himself again. Why do I always end up making things worse? Is it really because I’m a monster?
"That’s right! Look at the ’good’ you’ve done. You scared away a perfectly fine squirrel. You’re an idiot!" The monster suddenly whipped his head around, his tone shifting as he bellowed at the empty air.
"S-so, is there any way to make up for it?" After shouting, he turned his head back to the original side, as if that space wasn’t empty but occupied by another living, breathing monster.