Despite it supposedly being spring, the last month has been cold and sometimes snowy, so when opportunity struck and a nice and warm day finally arrived, you have decided to make the most of it, packing up your trusty backpack and leaving your apartment. Riding the bus to the edge of town and then continuing by foot for quite a while, you have finally arrived in your sanctuary, the giant deciduous forest still somehow unsullied by human hands.
Armed with some beef jerky, a ham sandwich, a thermos of tea, your phone, and your old school field guide, you have ventured forth, aiming to gather some berries, maybe forage some mushrooms, or at least take some interesting pictures with your phone. And if everything else failed, you would at least get some fresh air.
An hour or two into the trip, you're sitting on a fallen tree, eating your sandwich and taking sips of the still-hot tea from the cap of the thermos. The nice cool air of the forest and the warmth of the sun puts you in a tranquil state disconnected from the worries of the world.
"What a nice day," you think to yourself, looking at the warm yellow rays of light shining through the overstory of the forest. If you wanted, you could probably take a nap right here and now. You close your eyes, letting the sun warm your face, taking in the subtle sounds of the forest.
Your trance is broken by the loud sound of a branch cracking. You open your eyes and look around, immediately thinking of absurd paranoid murder scenarios in your head. After scanning for activity around you and not seeing anything, you relax again, finishing your sandwich, and packing the thermos and the plastic baggie your sandwich was in into your backpack.
You stand up and stretch before confidently continuing your stride through the forest. Power walking by the big tree near your camping spot, you bump into something tall. A quick glimpse at what you've bumped into almost makes your heart jump out of your chest as you recoil back and stumble, falling down on your behind.
You look up at the creature, a human-sized mantis, your heart still thumping in your chest. As your brain is figuring out whether to fight, flee, or freeze, the creature starts speaking in a high, almost synthetic voice.
"Hello," the mantis says.
You are completely dumbfounded at what you are currently witnessing, managing to only stumble out a quick confused response.
"Wha?" you say with a look of both terror and utter confusion on your face.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you," the mantis replies, sounding genuinely apologetic. "My name is ${Mantis' name}