Jax vs the Balloon Blob (Patreon)

Looks like my friend Jax has gotten himself trapped in a balloon blob.

Balloon blobs are jiggly living rubber balloons that often reside on beaches or in forests near large bodies of water. When spotting prey, they will either roll or float their way towards their desired target and attempt to latch onto them. This will either involve snatching over one of their limbs, rolling over them, or simply enveloping their target by glomping onto them in a giant rubber hug.

Once in contact with their target, the balloon will begin sucking them in, squeezing them tightly all over to prevent their escape. The prey can squirm and struggle, But it's useless against the balloon's elastic surface, simply stretching out with their struggles as their target is inevitably sucked inside. Once their catch is completely enveloped, the rubber will seal up behind them trapping the victim in a tight rubber chamber similar to that of an inflatable womb. Suspended and contained within the center of the balloon blob, the prey will likely attempt to escape, only to soon realize that there is no way out.

Should the victim continue to squirm, the balloon will retaliate by squeezing down on them, contracting the rubber womb to briefly hug and smother the occupant.

Regardless og how hard a victim tries, there's no escape from the inside, as balloon blobs have evolved over millions of years to contain their prey. The only way to escape is if someone free's them from the outside.

Balloon blobs have evolved from massive amoeba-like Jellyfish that absorb their prey through envelopment, but now they are relatively harmless, being more of an inconvenience than anything else. Fortunately, a victim can't be digested or run out of air while trapped inside. While no longer dangerous, balloon blobs retain their predatory instincts, which is why they still partake in the capturing of smaller prey, but just to tease and toy with them.

Approaching these creatures is not recommended, while harmless, there is no way to escape a balloon blob alone. Worst case scenario, you are enveloped and never found again, forever trapped within a living inflatable prison.