THE ARTIFACT

Log 7, ice heads. Looks like HQ got the situation cleared up; back to the planet. As peaceful as the marsh seems it is not without predators, the most common and vicious of them are the ice heads. Ice heads are the predatory cousins of the intelligent shroom heads. They possess many unique features that make them expert hunters. The first are large powerful arms that end in fused fingers that make a sharp claw, this is used for piercing prey as well as clinging onto the ground during snowstorms. The third eye is more developed and is closer to the back of the head providing a grand field of view. The most notable adaptation these creatures have made is the ability of live birth. Shroom heads lay soft fleshy eggs that take a few months to hatch, ice heads on the other hand possess a pseudo womb that keeps the egg warm as the baby develops and is then laid right before the baby hatches. While the ice heads are a predatory species, they still possess an impressive level of intelligence. Their intellect is not as advanced as their warm climate cousins, but it is enough to make them dangerous hunters. They know movement patterns of prey, prey breeding spots, some understanding of fauna farming, and most interestingly, they understand the concept of fear. As I was studying the species the droid noticed that one of them was following us. It did not see us as a threat but rather as an opportunity to get prey; it has yet to leave our side. Looks like the droid won’t be my only murderous partner.