A treasure-hunting we will go

Featuring: Digby Trent.

A chill ran up Digby’s spine making him shiver from head to toe. Dawn had risen once again but the soothing warmth of the sun had yet to reach the earth as evident by the dew still lingering fresh on the grass. On any other day, it would have been much too early to even consider getting up from bed, but today was no ordinary day and Digby’s excitement and nerves kept him wide awake.
It was true what they said, past the valley the air felt dry and cold in comparison. Though, spending the night within a neatly dug burrow provided all the warmth and comfort you could ask for. Digby was stretching his whole body reaching skyward with open palms. The sound of birds filled the air. Some songs Digby recognized but one or two where foreign to him. Now ready to begin his journey, the young Burroden returned to his burrow to fetch his pack sack. He removed his water container and drank what little remained. A river flowed nearby and Digby had made plans to refill there before setting out for the day.
First, he had to fill his burrow. As a member of the Burroden people, Digby respected the earth a great deal. Not only would it have been immoral to leave such a burrow out in the open, it could be dangerous for animals and other travelers if left wide open. He filled the hole quickly using his hands to scoop the earth he had moved the night prior. In a minute the burrow was filled as if the earth had never been touched.
Next, Digby placed his pack sack over his shoulder and made his way to the river’s edge. Placing the pack down, he grabbed the water container, opened it and knelt over the river lowering the container allowing the water to flow inside. Once it was filled, he took another sip before placing it back in his pack. He shook his arm to remove the water that had gotten on him when filling the container. Digby had never been thrilled when it came to bathing or simply getting wet.
With this out of the way, only one thing was left before his journey officially begins; breakfast. While he did bring food from home, he was more than curious to see what kind of delicacies awaited him outside the valley. Digby spotted a large stone near the river. He sunk his claws beneath it and flipped it over. A rather disappointing find he thought. A few earth worms were wriggling in the damp earth, mites crawled in search of cover and not a single Pill bug to be found. With a sigh, the young adventurer grabbed a handful of the worms and gobbled them up. “Just like the ones back home.” He though grabbing his pack sack and swinging it over his shoulder.
Digby was making his way Westward. This was the first time in his life he'd been outside his home in Torodon valley. He was surprised to see that not much had change since climbing down the border of Touscanor. But this did not discourage him. He knew there had to be untold wonders if he kept going further. Who knew what kind of treasures he would be able to discover? And this time, without anyone to stand in his way.
His goal was to reach a Human settlement somewhere just outside the valley. A three day trip from Stoneborough, which meant Digby was roughly halfway. Being so close his home of Stoneborough, many other Burrodonians were known to inhabit the village and surely, they would know a thing or two about the surrounding area. Once He obtained everything he could from the locals, his treasure hunting would truly begin.
Digby marched upright along a short path most likely used by both Burroden and Humans. To his left ran the very same river where he refilled his water, its tranquil sound of running water filling the air. To his right a dense forest was alive with the echoes of bird songs. The sun’s rays finally reached the earth and Digby felt much more comfortable under the warm light.
Before long, Digby’s ears perked up at a strange sound coming from the woods. A sound he had never heard before hidden among the chirping of birds. He turned his head in the direction of the noise, trying to find its source when something else caught his eye. An old fallen tree lay only about five meters from where he was standing. Digby’s eyes widened and a great big smile sprung across his face. As any Burrodonian can tell you, where there’s decaying wood, there’s an insect colony waiting to be picked!
Without so much as a second though, the excited youth pounced towards the log. Using both his hands and claws, he removed a layer of old bark revealing a cascade of insects underneath. Beetles, Pill Bugs, centipedes and many other unknown bugs to him wriggled wildly after being disturbed. Digby did not hesitate and simply grabbed whichever one was closest at hand only to stuff his face full of the critters. Needless to say, Digby had stumbled upon a genuine feast.
He paused for a moment when a brilliant idea came to him. Digby reached around into his pack for an empty pouch. With a mouthful, he grabbed whatever else he could and threw them into his bag. Moments past and his little pouch was nearly full when he wicked and foul odor roused him from his stupor. Digby swallowed loudly then wiped away the juices from his chin. Only a second later he had to cover his nose due to the pungent smell. He tied this bug pouch closed and placed it back within his pack sack. Digby, now holding his stomach, did all he could not to lose the feast in which he had just partaken.
Before he could return to the path and continue his journey, Digby heard the same sound that had brought his attention to this spot of the forest. A strange gurgling, wet sound. Much louder than it had been the first time. He had just enough time to look to his right to notice a monstrous creature lashing at him. He fell backwards next to his pack. The monster resembled some sort of plant with multiple vine-like appendages writhing wildly all around it. It’s head, resembled a blossoming purple flower. When it appeared to blossom, a red fleshy inside revealed itself, covered in mucus or slobber and a large tongue dripping where a flower's pistil would be. Its bottom was bulbous with dozens of smaller vines acting like snakes. Slowly making its way to Digby, it opened its mouth as wide as it could. From it, the strange gurgling sound could be heard and a wave of the foul stench flew over the fallen adventurer
Digby screamed not leaving the monster from his sight all while he fumbled to grab his pack. The atrocity threw its vine-like hands at him coiling around his waist. Digby let out a second scream and scrambled to set himself free. The horrid creature, now pulling Digby and mouth wide open, let whatever substance lay inside its petal-jaw drip down to the ground. Another gurgling noise echoed through the forest.
The young man, now wildly thrashing at his captor’s vines, dug his claws and ripped through the slender green appendages. The gurgling changed into an ear-piercing scream of pain. The monster recoiled and flailed back and forth. Without a moment’s hesitation, Digby speed away on all fours back to the path.
He didn’t stop until he was out of breath. There had to be one, maybe two kilometres between him and that floral abomination. Only after he had the time to catch his breath did he start to recollect just had had happened, his heart still pumping a million beats per second. He remembered seeing something similar in one of his father’s books. These strange corrupted plant monster-things. But he could not recall its name.
Digby new before setting off that adventures were often full of danger. “Let that be a lesson.” He thought. At that same moment, he glared at his hand and noticed it was covered in slimy translucent green substance which, no doubt, had been the monster’s blood or at least its equivalent. It stunk something fierce, though not nearly as revolting as the stench emanating from the monster’s mouth. Digby was loath to wash himself but he knew he couldn’t very well roam into the village as his current state. With a grimace, he entered the river and took a bath.
End