Terrifying Monster!

The definition of a monster is simple. Anything that is oppsing you. Especially in a potentially life-threatening way.

Take, for example, the little-known Noolom. It is a curious little fellow. Small, round torso. Low to the ground, on five legs that wrap around his body. Four eyes looking up at you. Teeth often bared, ready to attack at the first sign of trouble. Classically, the Noolom is a perfect example of a monster. It is a terrifying sight to behold, with the spit dripping from its aggressive mouth, its legs scuttling about as it moves quickly and silently.

Its dark hair covers its smooth body in a way that lends it to hiding in the dark. If you walk too close, it will leap out and snatch you away. Where does it take you? What does it do there? No one really knows for sure, as no one who has been taken has ever returned.

Yes, it is so easy to cast off the Noolom as a monster. From our perspective, it truly is.

However, let us take a moment to consider the Noolom as its own, sentient being. After all, do we not wish it would do the same for us?

The Noolom has been living here for thousands of years, if our fossil reading methods are to be believed. They live here in this mountainous region of a faraway planet; a planet we have only recently discovered.

Of course, we immediately sent out a science party. We must chart this world, and see what it has to offer. The atmostphere is decent, and we can survive there, as long as we sleep in specially modified chambers. During the day, we can live on the air itself, although it is quite cool and there is limited moisture.

So down to the planet we went. And when we first discovered this mountainous region, and the dreaded Noolom, we had found the apex predator of this planet, and we had to find a way to fight off this new monster.

And so we did. We fought hard against this new foe, killing any that we saw. It was tough going. As I said, they were quick and hard to see. But eventually, their numbers dwindled, and all the packs we found retreated further into the mountains. We did not give chase, however they would occasionally come out and find us, take us out, and drag us back to the mountains somewhere.

Well, colleagues, I am here to tell you what I have learned. I snuck into a Noolom's dwelling. And I observed them for over 30 hours, living off of stored food that I had brought.

So, what did I learn of these monsters? I learned that the most important thing to them is their bonds with one another. They all seemed high-strung until the last member of the pack returned for the night. They also cherish their food. It turns out that they eat this precious material that we had been mining from the foothills. We have been stealing their food.

I am sad to say that there was a bit of human leftover. But it was clear that they were not particularly interested. It looks as if they only eat human when they have no other food source. In other words, they eat us when we take their normal food. So any time a member of our party goes missing, it is our own fault.

What I have learned, colleagues, is that the Noolom is not a simple monster. It is a creature who cares about its pack and enjoys a good meal - much like a human. Who, then, is the real monster on this planet? The native creatures, living here for thousands of years, living off the land and enjoying the company of others? Or the invaders, who came into this foreign place, and began taking things which were not theirs, and killing anything in their way?

I will let you decide. In the meantime, I resign from this post. I will no longer take part in this abomination.