The Valley of Katari
The valley was full of choking jungle tangle.
Vines and creepers ran up trees they tried to strangle.
It was steaming hot and as still as an old grave.
There was not enough wind the smallest leaf to wave.
No monkey called and no bird sang its morning song.
The whole air was hostile, only death did belong.
The light was a dark green gloam that made things most dim.
A place the native tales said was ever so grim.
This was a legendary place, haunted by fright;
The Valley of Katari, where nothing was right.
The small jungle glade let in the filtered sunlight.
Colorful birds cried in alarm as they took flight.
Through the vine laden trees and dense packed jungle growth
Stepped a beautiful woman as she swore an oath.
Her golden locks were tucked under a jungle hat
And when she moved she resembled a lithesome cat.
Her kaki colored pants and shirt were stained with sweat.
As she looked around she was visibly upset.
Kneeling by the small brook she drank and washed her face.
She spied green apples hanging above the cleared space.
As she reached for an apple a voice shouted, “Stop!”
“If you touch that a painful death will make you drop!
That is the manzanilla de la muerta tree,
The little apple of death I can guarantee.”
Looking at him she saw a man like a bronzed god.
His muscles apparent through his clothing’s facade.
Dressed was he in green camouflage shirt and green pants.
He blended perfectly with the background and plants.
“I followed you because I knew you would get lost.
If not that dread apple’s poison your life would cost.”
“Well, you can go back to camp and leave with the rest.
I’m going to find my father, so Kirk, don’t protest.”
Said he, “Carlos and his men are hot on your trail.
If they catch you they’ll harm you and put you for sale.
Also, this is the Katari beast’s hunting ground,
And that crested dragon will eat you once you’re found.”
Said Bree, “Stop trying to frighten with fairy tales.
There’s no such things as dragons with feathers or scales.
My father came this way, his mark is on yon tree.
If you are afraid just depart and leave me be.”
As he started to reply they heard some gunfire.
Along with these sounds screams of terror rose higher.
The swift silence was worse and sounds of snapping bones.
Soon they heard the nearing sounds of terrified moans.
“Quick, climb this ancient tree as high as you can get.”
So saying, he pushed her up from the unknown threat.
A bandit suddenly stumbled into the glade
And looking upwards at them his rescue he bade.
He was bloody and missing his entire left arm
And blood still flowed from the stump from some kind of harm.
Before they could speak a giant nightmare appeared
And into its maw the screaming man disappeared.
It was on the man as fast as a speeding thought.
The six inch pointed teeth fastly brought him to naught.
The monster dragon was fully forty feet long.
It walked on its hind legs with forearms clawed and strong.
Grey and brown feathers covered its head and body.
With a red head crest horror it did embody.
Bree screamed and it gave back a loud answering roar
That shook the surroundings and the tree even more.
Here was Katari, the monster of myth made flesh.
The gore dripped from its mouth horrifyingly fresh.
It rose on its hindmost legs and tried to reach them,
But the tree was so tall it only reached the hem.
Safe in the forest giant far above the ground
The pair waited high above with nary a sound.
After two hours the patient beast left its guard
And stalked into the jungle gloam across the sward.
Bree started to climb down and Kirk said “Wait, just now!
The beast has set a neat trap for us, that I’ll vow.”
Climbing higher and looking, they could see a shade
That was not there before and they knew the beast stayed.
Evening came and then the darkling silent night.
The Stygian black was full of horrible fright.
They dared not say a word for fear the monster stay.
At last through the trees they saw the faint break of day.
The monster had stayed on watch throughout the long night,
Hoping for another meal when the time was right.
“We can’t stay in this tree for we will die of thirst.
I have an idea, but I need a long limb, first.”
Kirk found what he wanted by climbing much higher
And cut such a long limb as he did require.
He cut off the twigs and it was thirty feet long.
He fixed his knife with parachute cord nice and strong.
Climbing back down the tree he reached out with his spear
And stabbed the apples of death that were hanging near.
As he pulled his weapon back a bit of juice fell
And burned his arm bad, almost causing him to yell.
He had what he hoped was a way down from the tree
And prayed fervently that Bree and he might be free.
Kirk clambered down to the lower limbs and got set.
No sooner had he done so than the war was met.
Out of the jungle ran Katari like a train
And with a fast rush crossed the verdurous terrain.
There was no safe location for Kirk to retreat.
It was do or die when the monster he did meet.
As Katari opened its mouth to devour him
Kirk jammed his poison spear inside made from a limb.
The blade stuck fast and in twain the stout spear shattered.
The beast screamed a roar and pulled out the spear tattered.
Katari thrashed ‘round and dashed its head in the stream
And with a suddenness ran off with a wild scream.
Climbing down, Kirk picked up his bloody poisoned knife.
He washed it, shaking, having the fright of his life.
As they went out of the valley of Katari
A short distance they found the beast, dead they could see.
The feathered dragon of local legend was gone.
They hoped the beast did not have any fiercesome spawn.
She said, “I would make you a fine and faithful wife.”
Said he, “No more running off. It makes too much strife.”
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