Twoo

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Lying helplessly on the ground, I count leaves as they flutter past my face. A searing pain shoots through every muscle in my body, paralysing me. My head is bruised from the fall and everywhere I look I see double. I catch glimpses of fuzzy and unclear animals as they walk past. Their movement is a blur and I cannot distinguish one species from another. The ground rumbles with the vibrations caused by thousands of footsteps. The noise is deafening as my ear is pressed to the ground, allowing the vibrations to pulse through my motionless body. As time passes, the noise lessens and fewer animals are scrambling past me in a hurried manner.

Nobody seems to care that I am here. Dying. So many have wandered past, but have been too wrapped up in their own problems to care about me. Days have passed and not one kind soul has helped. I don’t think anyone ever will. With no idea how long I have left, I wait here. I wait to die. I close my eyes and hope that my life will be taken in my sleep.

***

My eyes open. The air is dry on my mouth and stings my eyes. All I can hear is the soft whisper of the wind rustling through the singed trees. Everyone had gone and I am alone. Unsettled by the silence, I lie on the ground. I am in a lot less pain now and my vision is much more focused. From my position on the floor I can’t see much of my surroundings, but from the little I can make out I get the idea.

The ground is no longer full of luscious green grass, but instead is an ongoing stretch of cinders. For as far as I can see there is not a sign of life. Noticing small patches of glowing ash, I decide that I can’t have been here long. A day, perhaps two. I find this slightly comforting; perhaps I could catch up with the many herds of animals that appear to have evacuated. I wonder where they have gone. Presumably to search for better lands to graze on while our damaged home repairs itself. They all seemed to be in such an unnecessary hurry. It makes no sense to me, but I should probably hurry too as there is bound to be a valid reason.

Feeling quite dehydrated, I decide to first go to the water hole, to get a well needed drink, before I set off on what may prove to be a long and tiring journey.

Moving slowly and steadily, I push up on my front two feet. I’m quite shaky at first, but eventually manage to bring myself upright. The pain returns into my legs, so I use my trunk to support my withered limbs. I notice that my tusks are chipped and scraped, and that cracks run up and down them. The pads of my feet are red and raw, making it agony to walk. Once I have found my balance, I manage to take a few scrutinizing painful steps before I collapse, falling into a deep painless sleep.

***

I’m lying on the ground, but this time on my back. With a nudge of her trunk I’m up on all fours, if a little wobbly. I take a few steps but fall down again. It doesn’t matter though as my fall is cushioned by the soft green grass. For the first time I look at my surroundings. Long wisps of dry straw blanket fields and accompany the flower filled meadows over the gently sloping hills. We are near a clearing where a large lake is nested in the ground. Cool water fills the hole, in which many animals are splashing and swimming. A herd of zebras drink from the pool, refreshing themselves. On the other side, a family of elephants roll around in the dust which sticks to their tough wrinkled skin and protects them from the radiant sun. Further back a forest of trees provides shade for those who wish to be more secluded. Above me a sky homes thousands of birds and creatures of the air, that swoop and glide. They entwine with each other, some in formation and others flying freely.

This is my home.

My mother and father stand behind me, again they nudge me with their trunks to bring me to my feet. This time I get the hang of walking and manage to bound down to the lakeside. I test the water with the tip of my trunk but before I have the chance to evaluate the temperature, I am ushered away from the waters edge. Animals everywhere are raising their heads, alerting each other .

I wake up.

slowly opening my eyes, I notice a small figure approaching me. As it comes closer, I can see that it is a bird. A very small but very old owl. Despite its age, his feathers are still neatly kept, clean and tidy. On his face he has unusual markings around his eyes. They are circular deep brown rings that make him look much like he is wearing spectacles. His feathers are a mottled brown, with odd highlights all over. As he approaches me, he holds out his wing and bowes his head.

“A pleasure to meet you, the names Twoo.”