Big Cat or Tall story?
Last week I went on a trip down memory lane to investigate a long-standing mystery- the Beast
of Bodmin Moor. For centuries, the legend of the Beast has circled the natives of the moor,
stories about a vicious predator that killed livestock with a single swoop. There were sightings
and attacks, witness accounts of something destroying their sheep and livelihoods; even after I
had left the moor behind me for twenty years. Today’s locals are adamant that these are not the
attacks of a native predator but are instead convinced that they are the actions of a cat. I knew it
was not a native, since the beast did not resemble a dog, pony, or boar. The local experts
identified the pawprints to be those of a puma and a short video was revealed showing big cats
roaming by. The beast had destroyed thousands of pounds worth of farmers’ livestock. Rabbits,
foxes, and birds started to act unusually and peculiarly. This only further proved the existence of
the beast. A hair sample was found and sent off for analysis but was never returned to prevent
panic within the locals. The farmers didn’t want to kill the beast but merely control it to stop it
from damaging their livelihoods.
As children, we were all told stories, fairy tales, myths, and legends. They are the subject of
fantasy, but this one hit close to home for me. By the roadside, the tenebrous movement
reminded me of the stories of the beast which intrigued me when I was young. I remember being
told about a remorseless creature who killed a flock of sheep. An investigation was carried out
but they didn’t have any evidence of an alien creature, concluding that native animals were
guilty. I was thrilled at first when I heard that a skull of a leopard had been found in the water
bodies, but I was disheartened to hear that it was all a ruse. My thought came to a sudden stop as
I saw what appeared to be a huge, dark feline-like creature crossing the road. I gazed, my eyes
grew wide. This thing in front of me had a malicious aura surrounding it, an aura so strong I can
feel it within the metallic shell of mine. Its muscles bulged as it crawled, yet its movement was
like the wind. What I had seen was an ultimate combination of a black, ruthless killing machine.
Its pupils shone as the headlights hit it, I avoided eye contact. My palms were as if was artificial,
cold, and unmovable. A chill went down my spine. I swallowed. It had pointy small ears, a short
coarse, charred coat, its tail was of another creature. I could hear my heart racing, sweat pouring
down my forehead to my cheeks. The thing vanished into the shrubs aside. I couldn't believe that
I had a close encounter with the embodiment of death.
Thus having this experience, the mystery still stands. I believe that some mysteries are not meant
to be solved, which is what gives this moor the mystery fairytale atmosphere. I sincerely hope
that the government would answer the locals. However, if no answer would be provided, the
beast will live on in their hearts. The locals are skeptical people, and they are probably telling the
truth about the beast. They will continue to believe the myth until proven otherwise. A large cat
could have escaped from the local zoo. The lighting was poor so I may have seen some other
animal. I might have imagined seeing the beast as it had been on my mind for the last few weeks.
Farmers are carrying guns and there might be a tragic incident in the future. So I guess this is
what the moor will remain as .. or is it?
