The Halloween Crab

A not so scary story:  The first time I walked down the sandy path through the trees leading from the Harmony Hotel to the beach, it was fast approaching sunset.  We were visiting during green season, and the first small stretch of the trail was quite dim as we walked under a rich canopy of leaves.  Suddenly I became aware of a rustling in the forest floor, and I drew in a quick breath as I saw a few darting movements just at my feet.  As my eyes adjusted, I quickly realized I was witnessing dozens of beautiful Halloween crabs sprinting back to their burrows as we approached. I quickly became fascinated with these far from spooky, colorful creatures flashing their black and red body with purple claws, occasionally and remarkably finding their way up a tree trunk or onto a low branch, but most often peeking out just so from their front doors as they waited for us to pass.

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