Page 7 of Unicorn Sacrifices

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  Laranki and Soreecilor were awakened by the fitful struggles of their son and, though extremely tired, the two maintained a silent vigil upon their son. When the lightning was severe, a chilling light would illuminate the cave, just long enough for them to see each other's eyes and to see the painful thoughts that each other held. ‘What would we do now? What could we do now?’

  An unsettling semi-silence, backed with rumblings and racing winds, was all the luxury they had at this moment but, even this amount of calm gave their son a chance to sleep, to be away from the cruel world into which he had been born and to allow him to regain his strength should they decide to try to find a shelter further up within the mountains.

  In the darkness, Laranki speculated about what was happening in the world outside, thinking, ‘I wonder how high the waters have risen? I wonder what has become of the Ark? How long will it be before the waters arrive at the mouth of this cave and begin to run down into this area, trapping us? Is it worth waking our son and forcing him onward, higher up the mountain? Is there a point that we could reach which would be beyond the height of the flood?

  There is nowhere that will safe, I know that. It would be so cruel and unfair to force my son to struggle on. The end would come when it is our time. It is best that Flack sleeps a while and is oblivious to his fate for as long as possible.’

  In a dim, surreal light, he became aware of Soreecilor looking upon him and, as he gazed back upon her face, he became aware that her face had begun to glow. Slowly, the glow was intensifying. He saw that she was looking back at him with the same look of perplexity upon her own face.

  Realising that the glow was not of her, but of some other source, Laranki watched, in awe, as light began to spread out and banish the darkness of their temporary dry retreat. No shadow was left to live in that place in which they rested, as the intensity of the light grew so much that it caused discomfort to their eyes, for so long had they lain in the dark.

  Realising that the source of the light was something from outside of the cave, Laranki thought, ‘Perhaps God had changed his mind, perhaps the world is to be given another chance? Perhaps, the sun has been sent to dry the Earth.’

  Slowly, standing up, with his muscles aching and complaining, Laranki ascended the slope toward the cave entrance. Giving Soreecilor a backward glance, he told her to remain there with Flack. He, alone, would go and see what it was that was causing this strange glow within the cave.

  Soreecilor had stood up, as had Flack, instinctively needing to be doing what his parents were doing. Laranki knew that his son had been awakened from his restless slumber by his own movements as he stood up, more than by the power of the light fighting to break into the back of his sleepy eyelids. Standing silently beside his mother, Laranki saw the innocent face of his son watching him as he turned and began walking away. And he had seen, as he turned, the look in Soreecilor’s eyes that told him that she was praying that he would return with words of hope, words that would mean that they could all be saved.

  Reaching the entrance of the cave, his eyes fighting the blinding light, Laranki was carefully walking around the huge boulder when his face was suddenly once more being lashed with the ferocity of the wind and rain, his lungs feeling as though his breath was being torn away from him. The brightness suddenly went away, allowing him to continue struggling in that dark and rain battered place and, seeing a hint of illumination from somewhere to his right he turned, catching a glimpse of the source of the light. It was small, brilliant, and it was moving gracefully across the sky. A huge, regretful sigh left Laranki as he realized that the light source was certainly not the sun. ‘It is nothing that will bring us deliverance from our peril.’

  Continuing to survey the dark skies around him, he saw that there were many orbs of light moving through the dark, lightning-illuminated sky, seemingly untouched by the raging winds for they seemed to float gracefully through the storm that ravaged the Earth. For a moment, the sight was reminding him of fireflies that he had often seen in the forests in which he had grown up and lived within for all his life, excluding the trek that he and Soreecilor had made to this place, this land, this almost alien world. He knew, however, that these balls of gracefully moving light were not fireflies. ‘They are bands of angels; and they are bands of angels with a very deadly mission.’

  Swimming into Laranki’s mind, there came a segment of the words that God had spoken to him. ‘And when the rain shall be four palm trees high, I shall send forth bands of angels. They shall scour the land and sea and shall bring forth death to any who should attempt to avoid my justice. For my word is the word of God, and shall not be pitted against the evil will of any mortal creature.’

  Staring at a single light that was not too distant from him, slowly moving away, and was probably the cause of the cave becoming illuminated he beheld, within it, a Chapter of Angels. And from within that light, there came a faint but rising sound. A sad and grim song was being sung in beautiful voice and, as he watched, the angels began to descend toward the new born rising sea.

  A small light was bobbing, franticly, upon the waves. Laranki could see that it was a small vessel, something similar to Noah’s Ark but so very much smaller and, as it was rocking upon those rain-lashed waves, the Chapter of Angels made a sudden turn, veering fast and heading toward the light. From amidst the angels, a huge bolt of lightning leapt, striking out at the lighted object in the water. In a violent flash, and an eruption of water, the light blinked out of existence as pieces of manmade objects, and men themselves, flew into the air, scattered upon the deadly waters. Slowly, majestically, the angels began to rise, still singing their wailing song as they slowly moved away; seeking out others who may try to avoid God’s justice.

  Staring into the dark, storm-lashed sky, Laranki became aware of many of these lights floating nearby in the dark skies, each of them going about the word of God, each of them deadly, and each group singing its mournful song. Looking back down upon the glassy floor that was once the desert, he saw a larger shape being silhouetted upon the rising waters. It was far away from many of the other lights that bobbed frantically upon the water. He knew that it must be the Ark as it carried the chosen ones, for a time, within its safety.

  Beginning to become fearful for his wife and his son, Laranki knew in his heart, at last, that there could be no escape from the word of God.

  ‘The end of all life has come, as ours must surely cease,’ he thought, surrendering to the destiny that he knew was his and that of his family.

  Suddenly, rising from the darkness below him, a light ascended. Sweeping upward in an arc, it came to rest a little way in front of him and slightly above him. Within the light Laranki could see the shape of a single angel. It was a thing of so much beauty but, for Laranki, it now brought to him a paralysing fear. The angel was looking directly at him for a moment and then, neither smiling nor looking sad, the angel began raising an arm and pointing a finger toward Laranki. With a blinding flash, there suddenly came a huge bolt of hot, scorching lightning, with Laranki just about leaping to the side, only receiving a slight flesh wound. An almighty noise was ringing in his ears as the very bones of his being shook.

  When Laranki chose to look up, he was rewarded to see that the angel was already moving away, moving down towards the lights that jostled frantically, fighting for their own survival upon the billowing waves of the water. So sure of his power and himself, was this deadly messenger of God, that he moved off, seeking out his next assignment, so sure of himself, so deadly… and without a backward glance toward the unicorn. Trying to steady his legs, whilst fighting the searing pain that ran along his flank, he knew that he must get back inside the cave and out of sight of any other angels. ‘I have no doubt that we will be sought out eventually,’ he thought, ‘but if we can hide for a while then we have more time to spend together.’

  With his legs steadying, he began turning around, ready to run back into the cave and away from this nightmare
but, instead or racing into the cave, he froze still as a sight of horror smacked him hard upon his senses. The huge boulder that had been before the entrance of the cave was no longer there.

  ‘Where has it gone?’ he asked himself, knowing that he had not felt or seen any fragments as the boulder had been blasted and then, he suddenly realised that the boulder had not been destroyed by the lightning bolt; instead it had received force and motion enough to send it rolling down into the cave.

  He knew that it must have rolled over the lip of the entrance of the cave and then, gathering momentum, it had rolled down the slope toward the end of the cave, toward the safe place where his wife and son were awaiting his return. With the rain continuing battering hard at his body, the wind continuing to tear at his body and whistling around him, he just stood there looking at the scene if front of him as if paralysed, and with the colossal noise of the recent lightning bolts destruction echoing within his head. He found that he was too scared to move, too scared to go in search of something that he did not want to find.

  Taking a deep breath, trying to shake both tiredness and fear from his limbs, he began moving toward the cave entrance and then, in a blinding haze, he began running down the slope into the cave, almost stumbling as he raced downward through the semi darkness. ‘But what am I racing downward toward? What will I find when I reach the end of the slope?’ he questioned himself with his fears.

  Suddenly, a piercing scream reached his ears, a scream of untold terror and, as he ran, calling out, “Soreecilor!” he stumbled, sending himself crashing to the floor as the scream continued echoing deadly about the walls around him. Struggling to his feet, he became aware of an ominous glowing coming from the end of the cave. Drawing himself to a halt, fearful that somehow an angel had come into the cave itself to carry out its deadly mission, he was unsure of what would be the right action to take. ‘Can I fight an Angel of the Lord?’ he asked himself but, knowing that he had no choice but to go forward, for his family’s sake and for his own sake, he would have to see what it was that lay at the end of the downward sloping cave. ‘Please, do not let there be an Angel of the Lord there, please let me have more time with my family, a time with my wife and a time with my son…’

  Moving slowly toward the light, he could see that neither his wife, nor his son, were to be seen, even in the shadows. Looking around, it was quickly obvious to Laranki that the only thing that was here was the source of the glow that he had detected; a pale blue light resting upon the far cave wall. At first, he thought that it might have been an angel, an angel waiting to complete one of its many deadly missions. However, there was no figure or form within this shape. It did not move, nor was it composed of the same colour that he had seen about the Chapters of Angels that went about their work in the skies outside the cave.

  His first thought had been that this had been the work of God, carried out by the angels and that he, himself, was all that remained alive of his family. But his family were not here, they were nowhere to be seen. ‘Could they have travelled up the slope while I had come down? Impossible, the cave is not wide enough for that… I would have heard then, I would have seen…’

  It became clear to him that their disappearance must be connected to this glowing, blue light; this strange, eerie blue light that almost filled the wall at the end of the cave, though it did not appear to be menacing in any way. Believing himself to be too late, because everything had happened too quickly, Laranki hated himself for not being able to defend and protect his family. ‘If only the angel had destroyed me, then the boulder would not have rolled from its anchorage, crashing down into the cave to take the life of my wife and son.’

  Walking in small circles, frustration and anger racing through him, his eyes were kept held in a clean, determined glare toward the pale blue light hanging at the far end of the cave. Then, it dawned upon him once again, that there were no bodies, no boulder, no ‘anything,’ to say that the giant stone had actually struck them. All that was here was the strange blue light, shimmering gently upon the wall, and casting that same shimmering upon his body. ‘There is nothing else in the cave. So, where are my wife and child?’

  Gazing even harder upon the soft blue light, he could now perceive that it was actually becoming smaller. The movement was slow but, nonetheless, he could see that the blue circle of light was definitely growing perceivably smaller. And, as he stared deeper into the glow, he began to distinguish a shape, a face. Moving his face closer toward the blue light, he began trying to better distinguish the face. ‘Am I about to see the face of God?’

  Focusing, and staring hard, Laranki became aware that it was not the face of God that was appearing but it was, in fact, slowly manipulating itself into Soreecilor’s face. Her face was etched in worry and she was obviously upset. He stared deeper.

  “Soreecilor,” he cried out, with his voice having a reaction upon the blue glowing shape. It was as if his voice had crashed into the centre of a pond, sending out shock waves to its extremities.

  ‘Like a stone falling into water and the ripples spreading out,’ he acknowledged.

  The rippling shock waves stopped and then, after a small delay, once more began to vibrate, although seeming somehow gentler this time. A realization came to him. ‘Soreecilor is not dead. She is trying to communicate with me! Somehow, she is within this mysterious, glowing shape... and if she were there, then Flack would be there also, and so that is where I must be.’

  Taking a deep breath, bolstering his nerve, Laranki began walking toward the glowing, blue shape, not daring to think of any adverse consequences to his action, needing to do what must be done in order to be reunited with his family. Stepping into the light, he gasped for breath as the light began engulfing and then absorbing him. Feeling nauseous, Laranki wondered if he should have done which he had.

 

  10 - Exodus V – The New World Lives With Death

  Feeling as though he had been jerked harshly backwards and then, as he sought to regain his balance, he felt as though he was suddenly thrown forward. Believing that he was falling into some deep, bottomless hole, he almost stumbled as he fought to keep his balance and then, there was another jerk, though smaller this time, yet still leaving him struggling to maintain his balance.

  ‘Sunshine?’ Suddenly, Laranki was standing in a brilliant sunshine. His eyes blinked and fluttered as he tried to adjust to the sunlight and his mind blinked and fluttered as he tried to imagine just where he was?

  He was standing in a small glade; all around him were trees brightly adorned with green foliage and filled with the sounds of birdsong. The beautiful, warm, and peaceful breeze of a forest was already invading his nostrils. With his eyes still adjusting to this sudden bright light, his mind pursued the worrying thoughts about what had happened to Soreecilor, Flack, and the boulder. A noise beside him made him turn and, as he did so, his mind tried to understand how the cave he had once been within could now be this vast open space in which he now stood.

  He believed, within himself, that he was now, in fact, dead, but did not know how it had happened. ‘Perhaps the angel has killed me after all. For, it makes no sense that I am suddenly free of the world where rain batters the land and Chapters of Angels roam the howling skies, destroying any living thing that sought to escape the wrath of God. This must be the Kingdom of Heaven?’

  And, as he turned his head further, a scene of horror opened up in front of him. ‘This cannot be the Kingdom of Heaven!’

  Soreecilor was shouting at him, calling him urgently, her face a mask of fear and terror, and Flack... Flack was lying upon the ground with the huge boulder partially upon him and it was obvious that no previous efforts by Soreecilor had been able to move its grave-some weight from upon the body of their son. Laranki realized that, somehow, the boulder had crashed into his wife and son and sent them hurling through the cave wall and into some other land.

  ‘But what of the glowing aura that was upon the cave wall? Where did that fit int
o the event?’ And now, now he had to forget those things. He had to try to forget them immediately, he realised, as Soreecilor’s voice screamed at him.

  “Help him,” she called, crying out, “Help our son.” Then a pause and then, quietly she cried, “He’s dying, our son is dying.”

  It took seconds for those words to sink into Laranki’s much confused mind and, within those seconds, Laranki asked himself a million questions of the way of the world.

  Running towards Soreecilor and, immediately upon reaching the boulder, he lent his muscles to the task of trying to push the boulder. With all of his strength gathered he heaved, and Soreecilor heaved, and yet the boulder remained motionless. Their combined strengths were not enough to move this deadly bulk from the body of their son. Amidst anguish filled tears, Laranki cursed; cursing and condemning the very life that was his existence. He cursed the humans for their evil ways, which had let to these events. And then, in his bitterest anger, he even dared to curse God.

  Looking at his wife, he saw her losing hope, he saw his wife stopping her useless pushing and then standing silent with her head bowed as, with tear-filled eyes, she gazed down upon her son, her dying son. Laranki remained staring at his wife, watching her as she stared, disbelieving, and not wanting to admit that what she could see was true.

  Ceasing his ineffective pushing against the boulder, Laranki stood with his wife, in a total helpless silence, and they stared and did not try to fight back tears as a billion questions raced through both their minds. Reaching down, he licked the face of the son that he was losing. A son that he would have done anything to protect but, in the end, there was nothing that he could do.

  His son’s head, neck, and forelegs, were all that he could see protruding from beneath the heavy boulder, and it only occurred to Laranki now that his son’s rear legs were most certainly broken, and surely some of his ribs. ‘For he is only young and his bones had not had time to harden yet, and now they never would,’ thought Laranki.

  Licking his sons face, he took in the smell of his child, the feel of his child, trying to take everything that he could, for there was nothing that he could give except his love. Flack’s young head came to flinch a little and took both his and his wife’s attention. Staring in silence, he watched Flack’s young eyes roll from his mother and to him and then back again. Laranki watched his son trying to smile at them, sending them his own love, and he tried to smile back at his son, the battle to stop his own tears now forgotten.

  Looking at his son’s face, staring into his beautiful eyes, he smiled back at his son, wishing that he could tell him that he was sorry for everything. Even sorry for having brought him into the world and making him go through the agonies that had been his young life.

  To Laranki, it seemed as though young Flack was trying to tell them not to worry, that it would all be over with very soon. His eyes seemed to plead for time and then, looking at his parents, whom he loved very much, his eyes seemed to say, ‘Don’t go away and leave me, yet. Don’t leave me on my own at this time. Please stay a little longer…’ and then he died.

 

  GENESIS

  11 - Genesis I – A Life for a Life

  Flack’s young body went limp, his brave, young head falling onto the cool grass, his eyes staring into nothing, for nothing they could see. From beside Laranki, came the sound of crying. It was Soreecilor, of course, and Laranki saw how useless he had been because he had not been able to save his only son’s life.

  With himself crying, and a feeling of uselessness washing over him, Laranki, in a sudden fit of anger, he smashed at the boulder with his horn, sending a sharp excruciating pain shooting through his head, almost stunning him. The boulder did not move and, with the pain still reverberating though him, Laranki knew that the intense, wrenching pain caused by the unmoving rock, had been caused by the breaking the tip of his horn. His blurry eyes fell upon the fragment falling to the ground.

  Through pain blurred eyes, he gazed upon his wife as she gently began to lick the face of their young son. Laranki moved closer to her and laid his neck across his wife’s neck, needing to feel her closeness, needing her warmth and her love, and crying for the loss of his son.

  Feeling her despair, and wanting to calm the sobs that wracked her inside, Laranki listened to Soreecilor’s crying, allowing them to draw a picture in his mind of all the nightmares that had happened to them Their futile struggle for life was just that; a futile struggle. These thoughts hurt and pained Laranki very much and, from his hurt was born a greater anger, and his anger stole words from his mind and Laranki cast this harsh song upon the ears of god. He stamped the ground and cursed, his eyes forever gazing upon the lifeless form of his son, his ears filled with the cries of his wife.

  His anger continued to rage and slowly it crept upon him that he could hear a voice; a great voice, a loud voice, a voice that came from everywhere and seemed to call his name. Within him, a small pocket of fear began to grow where the pounding anger had dwelt. The voice began booming louder and it seemed to Laranki that it appeared to come from every tree, from every plant, and from every stone, from everywhere around him.

  He realized the beauty of this land into which he had come, as if seeing it clearly for the first time. This land into which they had come to experience such deep sorrow was a beautiful land indeed. And then, as if for the first time, he recognized the gay sound of birds around him, their song piercing the trees, seeming to dance upon every branch and leaf within the trees. And this daylight he now stood within, and the beauty of the sun itself becoming magical, joined with the call of the birds, giving him the impression that this was a whole new beginning. Again, Laranki heard the voice call out his name.

  Looking around, as if waking from a dream, Laranki beheld, once again, the form of his wife and son. His dead son, lying beneath the boulder, and his wife looking hard, and with love, into that young face, trying to read any message that she could derive comfort from. She did not register the voice that called Laranki’s name, or simply chose to ignore it, as the voice grew evermore persistent in trying to gain his attention.

  “Laranki?” came this voice again, louder now, more deliberate.

  Ceasing all nervous movement, he listened for any other words that may follow.

  “Laranki, why do you curse me? For you have only lost one son whilst many have lost many sons, and many daughters. Some have lost all their sons and daughters, and all their mothers and fathers. You have lost but one,” spoke the voice.

  Laranki stood still, though his muscles shivered as if by a will of their own.

  “You, indeed, have been served grace. You were shown a way out of the destruction that I would pour upon the lands. Many were not.

  And still you curse me?

  You where given the choice to board the Ark. You refused. That was your own decision.

  Did you not resign yourself, in your wanderings through the mountains for safe shelter, that there would be none of your family surviving the wrath of the floods which I have sent?” questioned the voice.

  Flinching, Laranki saw that he was looking upon this truth that he had tried to keep hidden.

  “You, Laranki, were fortunate indeed. And still you ask for more. How could I give you more, for you have gained entrance to the Ark Kingdom? As Noah had a vessel of survival, there was also put aside a land of survival, a land populated with many of my life forms and now, to this number, I have given salvation and escape to a select number of my children. But, be warned, Laranki, for this land comes with its own problems and I have plans to make changes without using the rains, and these transformations will not be without bloodshed. Those who come here do not enter a paradise but, through violence and death, it will become a paradise and you have been fortunate to find passage to this domain.

  But, as like the Ark, only two of each beast may enter the Kingdom of the Ark. Your family numbered three. This is not allowed by the keepers of the kingdom. For they have duties, and my word must b
e obeyed.” God paused, and Laranki knew that the word of God was just and right. Laranki had many questions to ask, but the one that came from him was, “But, of we who are here, what shall become of us?”

  “Something shall become of you now. Then something shall become of you later,” replied the voice of God

  “What shall become of us now?” pleaded Laranki, his eyes looking amongst the trees to see, if by chance, God could be seen, but he could not.

  “That which will become of you soon, is that you and all other beasts within the Ark Kingdom shall become human,” stated God.

  “You mean that we are to be turned into Humans? We are to become that which we detest the most? We do not wish for this. We, as we are now, are contented to live in the form which we now hold,” argued Laranki.

  “The ‘becoming’s have already begun, for it was not by chance that you have entered into this world. It was pre-ordained for you and many other beasts, and also for many Humans,” said the voice of God.

  Laranki questioned God as to that which was going to happen to the Humans, if the beasts were to become Human.

  “They shall have a becoming, also. They shall become the beasts which will roam and flourish the Ark Kingdom,” replied God.

  “And why is this to be?" Laranki questioned.

  “This is to be because I created man. He is the perfect physical form. He can adapt and create far better than any other creature I have created for I have given him the power to fashion his surroundings. But I calculated wrong for his mind, and for that mistake I have had to wipe mankind from the face of the Earth, that is the price that I have paid. You have lost but one child, whereas I have had to lose all but a handful of my own children. And here, within the Ark Kingdom that I have created, the beasts shall inherit the superior bodies of the Human form.

  They shall take unto these Human bodies all of the good knowledge which they have collected as the beasts of the Earth, for I could not fault those beasts. And so they shall become the inheritors of the new mankind. And the Humans that were allowed to find passage into the Ark Kingdom are to become the beasts.

  They shall take their miserable minds into the bodies of the beasts. This shall be their punishment.

  And you, Laranki, shall be one of the new Humans. I know that you, for one, shall use your inheritance wisely. I give you a new world, abundant in fruit, vegetation, and life. The Ark Kingdom is truly your inheritance,” said God.

  Glancing around the edges of the surrounding forest, Laranki was still looking for an indication of the presence of God, but still unable to see any sign. His breathing began to slow, almost becoming non-existent, before he finally spoke.

  “But what of my son?” he asked.

  “You already have the knowledge that only two of each beast may inherit this land. What is it you wish for me to do? I cannot change the laws I have made,” stated God.

  “Take me,” said Laranki. “Take me, in place of my son. Give unto him the sweet breath of life. Give him the chance to breathe again. Restore him to a clean, healthy body,” pleaded Laranki, his voice choked.

  “This is expected of you, Laranki, for I know the true ways of your heart. I can grant this but what of you wife, Soreecilor?” asked God.

  “Grant me just a day with them both,” begged Laranki, “Just one day, and then I will come and join you.”

  “It is not much that you ask Laranki, and I agree to this. One day, and then you will join me here in my own paradise. Your soul is worth more to me than any Humans. I give you back your son,” said the voice of God.

  A sudden silence fell heavy upon Laranki’s shoulders and then, slowly, the noise of the animals in the forest began to rise in a crescendo of happiness.

  Standing silent in the midst of the sounds of distant and near creatures, Laranki knew that, for the moment, God had departed. Turning to look at his wife, he saw that she was looking directly back at him.

  “I heard all that was spoken,” she said. “I…”

  “Quiet, wife, it has been decided. We have a day together. Let us enjoy what we have been given.” Laranki’s voice was firm, but he knew it would not be good to dwell upon the agreement that he had made with God.

 

  12 - Genesis II – Rebirth

  Abruptly, both Laranki’s and Soreecilor’s attention were taken by a sudden movement as the huge boulder began to roll away from the body of young Flack and then, once the large rock had stopped moving, they saw before them the exposed form of their son. There was no longer any blood upon him and it appeared as though his whole body was completely restored to the way it had been before being crushed by the rock.

  Flack’s legs twitched, and he began to bleat; it was the cry of a newborn baby. There was a solitary bruise upon his flank were the bolder had crushed him and, seeing this, Laranki prayed that it would cause no pain to his son. Laranki and Soreecilor leant down to kiss the face of their son, to rejoice in the knowledge that, for one day, they were together again.

  In his son’s eyes, Laranki could see no recollection of all that had happened before this moment. It was as if this was his very first birth and he had never experienced the winds, rain and crushing rock that had been his heritage. This made Laranki extremely happy, for there would be no need to dwell upon the unfortunate events that had got them to this moment. Young Flack could start his life once again with no sadness to taint his memory.

  Laranki almost cried as young Flack struggled to his feet. His legs were wobbly and shaky as the day he was born; Flack was truly born again. The family rejoiced. There was an abundance of food to eat and so Laranki and wife slowly walked around the edges of the clearing, eating slowly while enjoying the attentions and actions of their son. After a time of nuzzling and coaxing his son, Flack began to walk a little faster and more steadily. Laranki, stepping away from his wife and son, to gaze upon them both, knew that his son was strong and well and that he would have a long and a wonderful life. A lump filled his throat, as he thought, ‘But I will not be here to witness your life, my son, and for that I will be eternally sad. I see you are strong and this will serve you well and, in all that you do, remember that, though I am not here, I love you with all of my heart.’ Smiling sadly, he knew that this scene of his son walking along beside his mother was one of the pictures that he would be carrying with him into eternity and, for that, he was eternally grateful. ‘It is a fine memory for me to carry with me.’

  The entire scene around him was one of beauty and it was a wonderful backdrop to the image of his wife and son. He could see no indication of any other beasts except for the songs of birds that had also inherited the Ark Kingdom. A butterfly fluttered up from a clump of flowers, landing upon Flack’s back for a moment and then, as it flew away he saw his son catch sight of it and try to give chase. The butterfly landed upon a flower and his son stood looking at the creature as it folded and unfolded its wings, making him flinch each time that it did so. Laughing at his son’s reactions, he was also saddened because of all the other incidents like this that he was going to miss being a part of.

  Turning toward Soreecilor, he saw that she stood silent and with her eyes upon him and not their son. Smiling slowly, he lowered his head a little and then, looking back at her, he said, “I love you, Soreecilor; my wife, my companion forever.”

  Watching, he saw her eyes filled with love as she whispered, “I love you too, Laranki, my husband and my companion for all time.”

  Suddenly, Flack came tottering on ungainly legs, licking his mother’s face and then moving to suckle milk.

  Turning his head to the area around him, absorbing the beauty and splendour of the land where they dwelt, he absorbed all that he could, eternally grateful that he was now free from the rains and winds. Closing his eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun upon him as he stood listening to the call-song of the birds playing about the branches in this pleasant, striking looking land, Laranki felt a little happier, with his mind slowly turning back to Noah. ‘How is the
Ark? For how long would Noah and his Ark have to battle those very rains that I and my family had been fortunate enough to escape? I wonder where that land is, and where is this land that we now live within?’ Knowing that God would have told him these things if he had a need to know, he placed these thoughts aside, determined to enjoy what time he now had with his wife and son, ignoring all that had happened to them that was strange.

  Returning his mind to what was happening around him as he heard the worried cry of Soreecilor as she cried out Flacks name he glanced around, quickly seeking what it was that had brought fear into the voice of his wife. However, there was no danger from predators. It was Flack who, with little success, was trying to stand upon his hind legs.

  “A day old,” said Laranki to himself, with pride, “and he is showing how strong he will grow.” Laughing at the antics of his son, he thought, ‘This will be a good memory for me to take with me.’

  Watching his run racing around the clearing, suddenly changing direction, Laranki was filled with pride at how strong his son was going to be. “That’s it, my son, use your energies. If you are to burn then I want you to burn the brightest! You are my son!” Laughing at this, Laranki heard Soreecilor was calling to him, telling him to ‘Stop encouraging Flack so much, because our son is going to hurt himself if he carries on running around the way he is.’

  Suddenly, his laughing was cut short when he detected a sudden shift in the light. It was getting dark. ‘This day had passed far too quickly.’

  Trying not to sound saddened and cause upset to his son, he called out, “Rest a while now, my son. The time has come for rest.”

  Moving over to his wife and son, he said, “Come, we must find food and a little shelter as the night draws near.”

  Feeling the sad and hurt eyes of his wife reaching out to him, knowing that she was about to speak but not wanting to hear words that would break his heart, he began to canter away. His wife and son began following him, with Flack bleating and running up to begin walking at his side. It was not long before Flack was nipping at his father’s rear hoofs. This time Soreecilor began laughing as did Laranki himself and Flack, believing he was doing something that made his parents very happy, continued all the more. Flack whinnied with joy, his voice sounding loud and strong.

  After they had eaten of a little fruit, they lay down to rest beneath a huge tree with large overhanging branches. Flack was restless for a little while but was the first to fall asleep, his energies depleted by his play through the day. The night slowly descended into darkness and through all that time Laranki and Soreecilor gazed silently into each other’s eyes. Eventually Soreecilor spoke.

  “He is so much like you. I recall...” Soreecilor paused. “I love you, Laranki,” she said.

  “And I, too, love you,” replied Laranki, in a voice which was clearly edged with pain.

  “Cannot God change this bargain? Can it not be that all of us might live a life together?” questioned Soreecilor.

  Through the glow of some strange new moon, Laranki could see a reflection upon Soreecilor’s tears which streamed, like a silent thunderstorm, down her cheeks.

  “Hush now, wife. The bargain has been made. My life for the life of my son. You must take good care of him. No, I know that you will take good care of him but, please, tell him of me. Tell him about his father...”

  “I will,” said Soreecilor. “You know I will.”

  With time feeling endless, he stared into Soreecilor’s eyes as she looked back into his, and there he beheld the proof of a love so strong. The night grew dark and silent until they could no longer see each other, only catching the faint glimpse of an outline silhouetted against the little light cast by a moon that was hidden behind slow moving clouds.

  Laranki could see the twinkling of stars in the gaps in the clouds and these reminded him of the Chapters of Angels that traversed the land that they had left. ‘I wonder if their work is done? Had they rid the Earth of the scourge of mankind?’

  And, in the silence of a love that need not be spoken, sleep came upon Laranki and Soreecilor... and, when morning came, Soreecilor looked around and saw that everything was as she expected it to be.

  The morning was here, the sweet scent of life was here, and Flack was here. Laranki was not.

 

 

  13 - Genesis III – Morning of Mourning

  Soreecilor began to cry and even though she tried to keep her grief to herself, her crying awakened her son from his slumber and he asked her a most difficult question.

  “Why cry, Mamma?” asked Flack, concerned about his mother’s sadness.

  And Soreecilor thought, ‘How can I tell my new born son of the way of the world and how those who had at first caused the death of her son had now caused the loss of my husband?’ Soreecilor began to cry. ‘How can I explain all that has happened, and why it has happened, to a new born?’

  Flack could feel how upset his mother was and so he crept nearer and snuggled up closer to her, knowing that this would not be the right time to ask about his father and where he had gone. ‘This is not the time.’

  Flack knew, instinctively, that if his father could have been with him then he would have. There was a reason for his father not being here and that reason brought sadness to his mother. He would wait until his mother told him about what had happened to his father, though his eyes peered around the clearing looking for any sign of him coming walking towards them.

  Beginning to lick young Flack’s face, she eventually stood up and began concentrating upon the bruised, damaged areas upon each side of his body. They did not cause her son pain, but it gave her a small distraction allowing her to fail at trying not to think of her beloved Laranki. It gave Soreecilor a purpose, something that she could focus upon to help take her mind away from her painful memories. ‘I must make new memories... memories that I can take back to my Laranki one day.’

  Upon this first morning of awakening to find Laranki gone, she had also realised the necessity to find somewhere safe to live, remembering the words that God had spoken. “All beasts shall become human.”

  She had given much thought as to which form this change would take and how it would come about but, in all her thinking, she could not perceive how this change was to occur but, because she knew that it would involved death and bloodshed she knew that she had to find good shelter for herself and her son. She knew that she had to get away from this area, because this place only brought bad memories into her mind.

  Flack, when first awakening to find his father gone, had remained quiet. Curled up by his sweet mother’s side, he had listened to, and felt, her silent tears. It had hurt him to feel the pain that his mother was in, but there was nothing that he knew of that could bring his mother comfort. He knew that his father had gone but, somehow, he knew that it was something that his mother would not want to talk about. Flack suffered that morning with his own tears. One day he would ask; one day, but not this day.

  “Come, Flack. We must seek food,” Soreecilor’s voice was weak and almost seemed to fracture as she spoke, but Flack responded immediately by standing up as quickly as possible upon his still ungainly legs. He began to wonder what the day would hold for him and his mother. Walking further out into the clearing, they gave the sun a chance to attract them both with its warmth and magic.

  The sun momentarily blinded Soreecilor, as it rained down through the scant branches which danced slowly above her head, but her eyes adjusted and she began to take in the breathtaking beauty of the land.

  Flack had many attempts at keeping his eyes open, but the brightness was something so very new to him that, for quite a time, he had to hobble along with his eyes only half open. Something in his mind tried to show him pictures of darkness and rain, or winds and blinding flashes of light, but he did not know what these pictures were and quickly forgot them as he concentrated on the form of his mother walking slightly ahead of him. After a little time, he tucked himself close into the side of his mother an
d this provided him with a little shade, giving him some comfort as his eyes looked around for any sign of his father. For all of the problems he was having with the brightness of the sun he was now deciding that he liked it very much and that it was better than those dark pictures that his mind had recently flashed at him. The sun’s warmth was making his feel good though it did not chase a deep sadness away.

  Suddenly, his mother stopped, staring solemnly at a large boulder that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. His mother’s quiet word of “Wait,” was instantly obeyed as she walked forward alone, gazing long and hard at this strange rock.

  Staring deep at the rock, as if it would play back a story to her, Soreecilor was disappointed that no story came forward and so, looking around at the nearby cliff face, she began searching for the ball of blue light that had given them entrance to this land. There was no longer any ball of light to be seen. There was no opening. The cliff face was as solid as the boulder that had stolen the life of her young son. ‘Yesterday,’ she thought to herself. ‘Is it only yesterday that I had both my husband and my son here with me?’

  Flack recognised the area, realising that this was the place in which he had first awakened. This was the place where he had first come into this beautiful world and it was the place in which he had first seen his father and mother.

  His attention was taken by the sight of his mother pawing at the ground close beside the boulder, moving away the loose dirt and preparing a small hole. Fascinated, Flack continued watching as first his mother dug the hole and then set about moving a small object into that hole before proceeding to fill the hole with the loose soil that she had scraped from it. She stood silently for a moment and then abruptly turned to walk back towards Flack.

  Upon reaching him, Flack could see that his mother’s eyes were filled with many glistening tears. He wondered if his mother was always going to be this way. ‘Will she always be having these moments of sadness where she will not speak to me, where she will not laugh at my playing or chase me through the grass?’ Flack wished that he knew of something that he could do to make his mother smile again.

  With his mother unhurriedly walking past him he slowly turned to follow her, after staring at the boulder for a moment and wondering about its significance to his mother. Wondering, ‘What is it that she has buried beside the rock?’

  Ungainly, he trotted along at her side as they set off to a place he did not know. Wanting to run and explore, he knew that it was not the thing that he should do at this time and so concentrated on remaining at his mother’s side, ignoring all of the strange sights and small creatures that he saw as they went upon their way. And, as their journey continued, he could feel strength and vigour seeping slowly into his muscles. ‘Soon I will be strong,’ he thought, adding, ‘As strong as my father.’ Sorrow swept in on him as he thought about his father, knowing that there was so much that he wanted to ask about him but perceptive enough to know that, for her own reasons, his mother did not want to speak of him and his sudden absence.

  Flack wondered if this is the way it would always be. ‘Perhaps my father travels away for a time and then returns. Perhaps he has always done this and it is something that I will become accustomed to. Maybe he will return to us this day.’ Something in the back of Flack’s mind told him that these were mistaken ideas, the knowledge coming from a place which also told him that his grasp of speech and his understanding of all things were far more advanced than they should normally be. ‘What would be normal?’ he asked himself, trying to imagine how it would be if he had little knowledge about the world around him. Continuing moving forward, he looked at the trees that he now walked amongst, already missing the full warmth of the sun because it was kept hidden from him by the dark canopy above. The land was beautiful that he walked upon and within, but this beauty did not alleviate his mother’s sadness.

  Moving amongst the forest trees, catching sight of sunlight beams striking through from above he began to chase them, ensuring he never wandered too far from his mother. The smell of damp soil and vegetation was thick in his nostrils and, occasionally, he would seek out the source of some of other unusual scents. On one occasion, his mother had scolded him for going too close to a patch of large, circular light-brown plants that had small red circles upon them, and he had quickly ran back to her side, remaining there for quite a time before daring to venture a little way away from her again as he went in search of other strange and exciting smells and sights. Sometimes, it seemed that when he played he brought a smile to his mothers face and, at other times, his playing only seemed to bring the sadness back upon her face.

  His mind would always begin to drift back to the day before and he played over his few memories of his father. His mouth watered as he thought of the large yellow fruit he had eaten the previous day. He remembered how his father had stood upon his hind legs, stretching his huge neck up into the branches, pulling at the branches until some of the fruit had come crashing to the ground. Smiling, he recalled how his father had smashed the fruit with his hoof, opening up a way to the delight that was inside and how he had eaten of it and how Flack had done the same. ‘And the taste, mmm, the taste was heaven.’

  Soreecilor had come to a halt and turned her head to face Flack and, still thinking of his father, Flack walked straight into her. Soreecilor never said anything, though Flack felt a little embarrassed, and instead she turned her head forward and dropped her neck toward the ground. At her feet, cool clear water was rushing past, bubbling merrily as it splashed its way over trees roots and stones. She began to drink and, after tottering ungainly forward, Flack did the same, his eyes peering ahead and seeing that this expanse of water was large and filled a large area out beyond the shade of the trees.

  And, though the day had been pitted with many joys created by the antics of her son, for Soreecilor it contained much loneliness from the memory of Laranki. Yet, in Flack, she found much consolation. He was as his father and, for that much, Soreecilor was grateful. Life would never be totally lonely, but there would always be someone she would sorely and desperately miss. After a little time spent drinking, his mother stepped out into the water, the ground clearly visible through the ripples of the shallow running water.

  Flack, himself, became conscious of a sound. It was a strange sound that came from the water; but not from any one part of it, but from all of it. It was a very pleasing sound and he realised that he had been hearing this sound for a little while now.

  Flack walked forward and joined his mother in the coolness of the water. He began to jump a little. He jumped as high as his new born legs would take him and, seeing that his mother smiled at him, he began to do it more and more. It was fun. Flack wanted to carry on doing this jumping and splashing for a very long time, especially as it brought happiness to the face of his mother, helping to remove the awful mask of sadness that seemed to cloak her this day.

  Now and again, something that long and thin and with eyes, would shoot past him in the water. Sometimes there were many. Flack tried to chase them. He could not catch them but he tried. This was so much fun that he felt he would like to stay here forever.

  His mother would begin to laugh and this made Flack feel that what he was doing as was good for her as it was for him. Encouraged, Flack continued running, jumping, and splashing around in the water as much as he could; loving to hear the sound of his mother’s laughter. He felt proud of himself because it was him that had taken some of the sadness away from her. He tried to leap his highest, to make his mother laugh her loudest, but he lost his footing and fell over into the water. Amidst much splashing, he struggled to his feet, shaking the water from him. Flack was still laughing at himself when he realised that his mother was no longer laughing. He looked at her as she ran toward him. ‘What had I done wrong? Something has happened?’

  And then he saw that he and his mother were no longer alone. In their playtime they had been surrounded by humans; humans that were carrying nets and ropes. He knew that his
mother knew exactly what they were and the fear creeping from her caused him to feel that very same fear. Hearing his mother call out his father’s name as she drew near to him, he could feel her terror and it scared him more, throwing dread over him as he saw that the humans were beginning to move in their direction. Shivering beneath the warmth of the sun, he tried to press himself in as close as he could against his mother’s side.

  “Laranki,” screamed his mother’s voice, but her voice quickly became lost amidst the jeers and shouting of the rapidly advancing humans.

  Flack was terrified and extremely confused. The water was splashing about him as the humans - with their shouts and cries - began to close in upon Flack and his mother. His mother was crying out as she held her ground, raising her forelegs to keep the humans at bay. Always manoeuvring her body so that she gave as much protection to Flack as she could, occasionally colliding with him as she landed awkwardly in the shallow water.

  His fear increasing rapidly, Flack tried to keep near his mother and yet not so close that she may accidentally crash into him as she jumped and kicked in the water, doing all she could to drive the humans away. His mind was racing for, amongst the shouts and water splashing, his mind told him that these animals were called humans and, somehow, he knew that they were evil, though he could not understand what he and his mother had done to cause them to attack them.

  In awe, watching his mother fight, forcing the humans back who were closest to her, Flack stared at her kicking and struggling, wishing that he was more than the child he was, wishing that he was as his father. The humans did not seem so strong and powerful on occasions, as they had to continually run back to avoid her flashing hoofs. She kept on with the struggle, even when tiredness began to take a hold upon her, and when the humans tried to move in upon her from different sides, trying to catch her off guard. Water continued erupting and splashing around him and, amidst the shouting, Flack was once again pushed by his mother with a blow that almost knocked him over as she began turning to face another human attacker.

  Flack’s mother fought with all of her might, trying to protect herself and, more importantly, her child, as she maintained her struggle even when the rope was finally flung around her neck, almost tying her to the ground as the humans put their strength and weight to the line.

  Stunned at this sight, Flack did not acknowledge his mother calling to him at first and only reacted at the second time she shouted. She was screaming at him to run away and hide, to get away from these humans and to hide in the forests.

  His mother continued fighting against the humans and the rope, while at the same time beginning to pull the humans away from Flack, moving them closer toward the shore.

  The humans were paying little or no attention to Flack. He did not warrant the effort that the humans were using upon his mother.

  Then, as she screamed once again for Flack to run, he instinctively obeyed and while everything around him was chaotic with shouting, yelling, and water splashing, he forced himself to move back toward the dryness of the land, moving toward the left and away from the humans fighting with his mother. He could hear the shouting and screaming continuing behind him and his heart raced as he awaited a dreadful rope to fall around his neck and arrest his progress. But the rope never landed upon him and he kept moving forward, forcing his unsteady legs to work better than they had ever done before. Suddenly, his feet were upon the dry ground and, fighting all of his instinct to stay with his mother, he did what his mother had been shouting at him to do. He ran away as best as he could. His legs wobbling and shaking with fear and with newness, he found that he was crying and almost choking on his anxiety.

  Reaching a patch of grass, he moved into it and then further across and into sparse bushes that led into the forest. Forcing his tired legs to run, he kept going forward, struggling slowly uphill, hoofs slipping on the occasional pieces of rock and stones that tried to throw his balance. His rear legs seemed determined not to function but his forelegs were determined to drag him along. He was now in shadow, moving amongst the tall, dark trees, while the shouting continued behind him somewhere. He was expecting to see his mother appear beside him at any moment for he believed that she had a plan and needed him to get away himself first and then she would break free and easily outrun the human animals.

  He knew that he could not run as fast as his mother and that was why she had told him to run while she herself was keeping the humans distracted. He would not let his mother down. He ran and he ran, ignoring all tiredness, and obeying the words of his mother.

  Occasionally, sunlight broke through the branches overhead, blinding him a little and almost causing him to crash into bushes or trees. Tiredness had left him now and he found that his legs seemed stronger now because they were doing what he wanted them to do.

  Eventually, there came a time when he could run no more and so he lay down upon the brown and yellow leaves that littered the floor beneath the trees. He knew that he was completely exhausted and beyond any more travel and so he lay there wondering what would happen now. ‘What will happen to my mother? How long would it take her to find me? Would she be able to find me? Have I hidden myself too well?’

  His whole body shook as he made a valiant effort to stand once again to see what had become of his mother. Gazing among the shrubs and branches his eyes went searching until the faint shouts of the humans took his attention far to his right. Moving slowly in that direction he only stopped when a large rock slab appeared before him, which he tentatively climbed upon, looking through gaps in the undergrowth for signs of the humans and his mother. Catching sight of movement, he looked upon a terrible scene that was spread before him.

  His mother was still battling the humans and Flack was shocked by this for he believed that his mother would be able to run away now. He had carried himself to a safe distance and so his mother should be able to break free now so that she could run and join him. ‘Why is she not running away so that she can come and find me?’

  With guilt overwhelming him because he had ran away, he was now wishing that he had stayed with his mother. But she had told him to run and so he had and, though he wanted to go back but to her, there was not the strength left in him to make that journey. His tiredness was absolute and so, with his eyes filling with tears, he could only stare at the scene below as it moved beyond the tree that lay before him.

  His mind was deeply troubled for there were some things that he could understand and there were things that he could not. He knew of his own fear and he could understand this because he was scared of this situation. He knew of his mother’s fear and could see that she feared being trapped by the humans but he could not understand why the humans would want to do this to them. ‘What trouble did we cause to them? We were no threat to them.’

  More ropes were being thrown by the humans and a number of them caught firmly upon his mother. He could see that her body was beginning to tire as she was not able to rear herself so high in the air. Fresh tears leaking into his eyes partially hid the truth that her energy was deserting her, for his jumps and kicks were becoming less frequent. Without any strength to give to the situation he began to openly cry, his mind reeling with images and hiding from him the sound of birdsong in the air around him. Suddenly, there came a large shout from below as the humans all called out together. Stretching his neck to better see what was happening, horror froze his tears as he saw that his mother was on her side, her legs pumping and kicking, trying to get herself back on her feet. Ropes around her legs had brought her crashing down and now the humans were swarming disgustingly around her.

  She was still kicking her legs as the humans came charging toward her, catching one with a mighty blow that sent him flying backward, landing in the water with a huge splash. This human remained there, his body gently rising up and down upon the water and, realising that he was seeing a dead creature in the water, Flack rejoiced, waiting for his mother to do the same to the rest of the evil monsters that attacked her.

/>   The other humans began backing away from his mother, wary of the danger that she still posed to them, and then, as one, they all charged upon her just as she was struggling to her feet. This time they were swinging things at her, heavy branches of wood came swooping through the air and landed painful blows upon his mother. Trying to ignore the blows that rained upon her, she fought bravely to stand up completely but a savage blow came swinging at her head and, hearing the horrific sound that came racing through the trees as the weapon struck his mother, Flack tried to get to his feet, feeling an urgent need to be with her. His eyes transfixed, he saw his mother seeming to stand completely still and then, falling onto her knees he saw the humans all run in swinging their weapons. A sudden retreating movement made by the humans, quickly followed by a large splash in the water, brought biting tears burning into Flack’s eyes. Knowing that his mother had fallen into the water because of the weapon used by one of the humans, he cringed as he saw the humans race back towards her, swinging their weapons in the air, screaming loudly at the top of their voices. This time, no human was kicked away by his mother.

  Flack stared in disbelief at the scene before, mostly grateful that his tears blurred his vision. He could not comprehend what was going on. ‘What had he and his mother done to deserve such an attack? What is our unknown crime?’

  Now that his mother was no longer visible to him and, with a terrible fear eating at his young heart, he realised that he had not heard his mother’s voice for some time now. Flacks heart was pounding and he felt as though his chest would explode, one of his forelegs was shaking involuntary and violently, beating out a nervous rhythm. Now that he was safely hidden and no longer fleeing from the humans, his once un-thought fears were taking over his mind and body.

  Craning his neck forward, trying to see what was happening in the struggle between the humans and his mother, he found that the sunlight that danced and sparkled upon the water made it difficult for him to see clearly what was exactly occurring down in the river. The frantic activity in the water began to cease, the sparkling from the water reduced and Flack was able to see that, slowly, the humans were beginning to move back away from the centre of activity. Letting out a horrified gasp, Flack saw what he feared he would see for there, lying still in the water, was his mother. The water around his mother seemed darker and she did not move, did not kick out at the humans, and she did not try to stand so that she could run away from them and join him.

  Tears continued welling as part of his mind tried to tell him what had happened while another part of his mind tried to deny what he could see. With the strength leaving his young legs, he almost collapsed back onto the stone slab, as he watched his mother being slowly dragged back toward the land. The humans were pulling her by using callous ropes around her legs and neck and he could see that her head hung limp, dragging along in the water.

  This picture froze itself in Flack’s mind, though he tried to draw images of her standing up and running away from the vile human creatures. And, as he watched he realised what had really been taking place; his mother was now lost to him. As his father was taken away from him, Flack now knew that his mother had been taken from him. From the recesses of his mind came forth the information that told him that his mother was dead, and now he found he understood the meaning of the word, just as he understood the word ‘hate’ when he thought about the barbaric humans.

  Flack continued to openly weep, knowing now that his mother had given her own life so that he may live. He wanted to go down there and fight these humans himself but he knew how pointless his effort would be. ‘If my mother, larger and more powerful than I, has been defeated by the humans, then what chance would I have? To go down there would defeat the purpose of what my mother has done. She has sacrificed her life that I may live and now I will honour that sacrifice, mother. I swear that the humans shall not catch me and that, one day, I will take my revenge upon them for what they have done to you!’

  Rage welled inside of him. So much rage that he felt that the mad beatings of his heart would explode and destroy both him and the wretched humans, destroying the forests around him. His mind surely wished that he could do this. His mother was gone and he knew that there was nothing that he could have done to save her, but there was one thing that he could still do for her; he could evade the humans. That had been his mothers last wish and he would carry this out, hoping that he would find the courage to survive alone and un-learned about the dangers of this land.

  Suddenly, he was aware that the humans were looking for something else and he knew what it was that they were looking for; they were looking for him. ‘Now that they have dealt with my mother and she is no longer a threat to them they will be coming to find the poor, defenceless baby unicorn that had ran away. Well, you will not find me.’

  Slowly lowering his head, he stopped when he could just see over the rock that rose in front of him. His eyes, unblinking, stared down at the moving humans below. He knew he must remain completely still unless they came too close to where he now hid. Watching the humans scouring the lower bushes looking for him, he saw the ragged clothes they wore and inhaled the air, taking in the scents of the humans so that he might avoid them better in the future. The humans did not seem to care too much about finding him. It had been his mother that they had been really after and now, as a new fear of himself being caught by the humans crept through his being, he wondered what it was that he and his mother had done that was so wrong.

  Lying in silence, watching, he was waiting though, for what, he did not know. Flack studied the human figures, watching the way that they walked, the way they swung their arms. He would remember them and, one day, when he was as big as his father, he would find them and he would do battle with them.

  Flack watched the humans as they walked and shouted between each other, their very voices filling him with hatred and saw, eventually, that they stopped looking for him. Finally, the humans began to move away as one group and he saw that, with them, they half carried and half dragged something within the nets that they had brought with them. Flack craned forward looking to see where his mother had been left. He would gather his strength and go down to her. He did not know what he would, or could, do but he had a desire to be beside her, to see her face…

  It was a long time before Flack was rid of the scent of the humans and when, finally their odour had been scattered a little to the winds, he struggled to his feet and made ready for his walk down the incline towards the river. He felt so alone. Tired, scared, terrified, and wanting so very much to have his mother and father back with him.

  Deliberately he made his way forward, at first, slow and unsure, and then quicker and more determined. Ignoring the weakness of his body and the strain on his young, unsure legs, he carried on. Denying the pains in his sides and the tears in his eyes, he continued moving down through the trees toward the stream. Down, down, down he raced toward the water's edge and, when he finally got there, there was nothing!

  There was no sign of his mother anywhere that he looked, and then it came to him that the bundle that the humans had dragged away with them must have contained his mother. ‘Why have they taken her away with them? Where had they taken her?’

  He knew that he had to find her. Whatever had happened to her it was important that he find out and, if she were still alive, he would do what he could to release her from her captors, his mind refusing to bring up arguments against these actions.

  He stood there on the water’s edge looking across to see, in his mind, a picture of his mother standing and laughing at his antics. The scene became blurred. He was crying once again. Through his tear-filled eyes, he strove hard to picture her standing there, he wanted to see her there, and smiling at him while telling him that everything would be all right. He desperately wanted to remember her smiling face filled with love.

  Flack felt as though he had spent an eternity feeling sad, though he could only recall living one day. He was sad about his father having left them, and s
ad now because his mother had left him. ‘Are sadness and misery the only things that I can expect to experience in my life?’

  He knew that she had not deliberately left him but nonetheless he was now alone. He did not like this feeling of being alone because he was young, he was in experienced in the ways of this world, and he knew that he could easily fall prey to more the humans.

  His mind seemed somehow filled with information that had come from neither of his parents and he knew that it was not through his own experience. There seemed to be many details in his head that seemed to have come from nowhere that he knew about or could identify. The knowledge of having this knowledge did not scare him and, in its own way, it helped to bring him a little calm in the wild wonderings of his mind.

  He knew of the dangerous humans, but he had no idea of what other dangers may dwell within the forests and valleys of this place and yet he felt as though that information would come to him when he needed it.

  His gaze rode across the sand and stones that lay beside the river and he saw upon the sand and stones there were wet patches making the sand damp and colouring the occasional stone red. A chill ran through his body for as much as he tried to hide from the truth, hoping that his mother was alive somewhere, he knew that it was not so.

  He now had evidence of why they had dragged her away. They had restrained her because she had fought back against them as she surely must have hurt these terrible and violent humans. Flack was glad that she had done this because of all the trouble that the humans had caused and then Flack wondered if, perhaps, it was not the human’s blood which lay upon the sand.

  Disbelieving of the possibility that his mother was dead, and determined to find her alive somewhere, he turned and began to follow in the direction that the humans had travelled.

 

 

  14 - Genesis IV – Companions Found

  Struggling to walk beneath the heat of the sun which still managed to get through the canopy above and warm the air that he breathed, he did his best to ignore his tiredness. The sun and endless walking had their draining affect upon him but he remained determined to continue upon his lonely journey. He walked and walked with tiredness ripping through his young muscles, and he continued to walk until the light began to fade and, during his travelling, he tried to make sense of all the things that had happened to him in such a short space of time. He tried to understand how he seemed to know certain things that neither his mother nor father had told him about. ‘How did I know that the ones who had attacked me and my mother were called humans? I know that they wore clothes, I knew that they were to be avoided, but where did this knowledge come from?’

  He tried to sort out the thoughts in his head, mainly concentrating on trying to determine if his mother was still alive or not. ‘How is it that I can understand that the death of my mother means that I will not see her again and yet here I am trying to find her?’

  He found that the over-abundant and confused thoughts swimming around his head were tiring him even more than the sun that burnt overhead. He was lost and had nowhere to go except to follow the trail of the humans. He could detect their smell in the air but, even more so, he could detect the smell of his mother. It was not as strong now as it had been when he had first set out upon the trail but there were enough scents to keep him following in the direction that the humans were travelling.

  When the light began to wane he began to feel more and more alone… so very lost... and so very lonely. The night pushed in on him making him sleepy and leaving him feeling very much all by himself and scared. There were strange noises echoing through the night and at times he heard high-pitched screams and long wails echoing through the invading darkness. He also heard chattering noises that he knew came from birds beginning to deliver their evening song.

  This was another question. ‘How do I know that these creatures are called birds?’

  Thinking back over every detail of his time with his parents, he knew that there were many things that he knew that his parents had not told him. ‘How could I know these things? Where does this knowledge come from?’

  The coldness of the night had begun to creep upon him during his trek. The warmth of the sun had suddenly vanished and now there was a chill in the air. With his mind confused with doubts and worries, he began to look around for a place of concealment where he could lay down and spend the night. The ground underfoot had grown damp and uncomfortable and, whenever possible, he avoided the long grass for it crept upon the length of his legs and the remaining wetness seemed to freeze his very muscles.

  He disliked being alone and it brought absolute misery crashing in on his every step because, with his every step he could only hear the sound of his own passage through the trees for there was sounds being made by his mother beside him. At times, as he struggled between the trees and undergrowth he felt as though the very plants and vegetation were trying to halt his progress.

  At times, in his confused state of mind, he was angry with his mother and father for leaving him. He did not want to blame them but he knew of no others that he knew that he could blame. He could blame the humans, but they were only dim images in his memory and he could not throw his anger at them and so he threw his anger towards the ones he loved; the ones who loved him the most. He dearly wanted to hear his father’s stern voice, disproving of his thoughts and scolding him, letting him know that he was not alone, but no voice came to him and his aloneness became more and more absolute.

  The tiredness within him was stronger now and he knew that he could carry on no longer. He was becoming scared of moving through the dark and had begun to see pictures of the humans in his head, images showing them waiting in concealment for him to come blindly wandering past. He could see himself being tangled in one of their nets and then the humans come swinging their weapons at him.

  His mind fought with the need to find his mother and he wanted to struggle on but his young body was too tired, too exhausted to continue. Another part of his mind told him how useless his searching was for he would not find what he wanted to believe he would find.

  Registering his surroundings he realised that he had moved to an area of damp grass, tucked himself in beside a large boulder with a tree hanging low overhead, and had set himself down for the night. For a while he lay there thinking of his mother, thinking of his father, thinking of all of his sadness, of all his loneliness… and then sleep rushed in upon him. It would not take ‘no’ for an answer and swirled around him dragging him down to a deep and troubled sleep.

  In his sleep, he saw pictures of his mother and father... they were close by but he could not reach them. No matter how hard he tried, cried, pleaded and struggled, he just could not reach them. There was always a huge bright light appearing between himself and his parents. The bright light did not appear to be evil but, for all the effort that he made to try to reach his parents it was a constant, always there and always stopping him.

  At the times that he did manage to gain a glimpse of his parent’s faces he saw that they were crying but he could hear no sounds from them in these dreams. His only reward for battling that strange light was merely a glimpse of his parent’s tears, with the tears themselves seeming to want to say something, a word of comfort perhaps, a message.

  The dreams continued haunting him all through his fitful slumber and, through all of those dreams he was never once able to reach his parents. They were beyond his reach. They were gone from him and he would never find a path to them in this land.

  Finally, gratefully, Flack awoke.

  He awoke in a sweat finely mixed with the dew of the previous night. He awoke to find himself very cold and very hungry and so, struggling to climb to his feet, he walked out from the concealment he had used the previous night, grateful that the humans had not discovered him whilst he had slept. That was something that he had not considered when he had laid down to sleep and he now realised he would have to be more careful in future and not trust to luck. ‘But what can I do? I
will need to sleep?’

  Stiffness was in his limbs and he found his whole body ached. His neck ached, his flanks ached and there were sharp pains running down the length of all of his legs. Stretching and tensing his limbs he began trying to chase the pains away. He knew he ached in a way that he would not have if he had slept between the warmth of his mother and father.

  The morning sky was dull and Flack was grateful not to have the sun fighting through the canopy above, making those sun rays that struck down through the branches and leaves above, making it difficult to determine what lay ahead in his path. Standing there, unmoving, he was wondering what should be his next course of action. The scented trail that he had followed the previous day was now gone. It would not be easy to find his mother unless she was close by and, if she were, then surely the humans would also be close by. He would have to be careful in his wanderings of the area. His ears listened intently for sounds that could suggest the presence of human voices but there was none. Somewhere distant he could hear birds singing in peeps and whistles while, occasionally nearby he heard the lone call of a bird.

  Apart from these sounds, there was no other life in the forest that he could detect other than the vegetation that ran in every direction. He would have to find food to arrest the pains that had began to swim within the pit of his stomach from the moment he awakened. ‘I think that the hunger pains are what actually woke me,’ he admitted to himself.

  It was something he would rather not waste time searching for but if he were to have the strength to go in search of his mother then it was something he would have to do.

  Moving out onto the edge of a small clearing, he stood looking among the trees that lined the area, searching for any movement of sound to alert him to danger.

  Suddenly, the sun burst from behind a far away mountain range that stood high beyond the tree line ahead of him. It was sharp and vibrant and, though he had to close his eyes, he could feel its warmth seeping through his body and giving him strength, reheating his body, chasing the coldness and aches of the previous night away.

  Remaining motionless, with his eyes closed but his ears searching for sounds, he allowed the sun’s rays to seep into him and recharge him, giving him newfound strength. He imagined that he could feel his muscles growing and expanding, building up a charge of energy that he would soon need to release.

  Aware of only birdsong around him, he dwelt in the peaceful serenity of the moment, trying to allow his fears to drift away from him for a little time. It was a new day, and he wondered what it would hold in store for him as he opened his eyes and prepared himself to go and search for something to eat and to search, carefully, for his mother.

  Walking forward in to the clearing, he could feel the heat drying up the damp that was upon his body. Continuing across the grass covered clearing, halting briefly to chew at the grass, his mind was telling him to go in search of the fruit that his father had provided for him. Knowing that this world was unknown to him he found that he was not as sacred as the previous day. He knew he was going to be discovering new things and, even though his present circumstances were bad, the thoughts of finding out new things excited him a little. ‘So long as I am careful and avoid humans I should begin to learn much that will help me in the time to come.’

  Walking across the clearing, heading for the tree line opposite him, he knew that he was going into a vast unknown and did not know what he would do, where he would go or who he would meet. For these reasons, there was nervousness within him, but also a feeling of purpose; even if he did not know yet what it was.

  Drifting and wandering amidst the trees, bushes, shrubs, and the occasional boulders, he eventually began to grow tired of the same scenery that provided him with no recognisable source of food. The land that he walked rose gently upwards in the direction that he chose to walk. At times when he stopped for a moment, searching the area with his eyes and ears to make sure that he could detect nothing that would cause him harm, he would look behind and see the tall trees marching back down the sloping ground that he traversed.

  For a time, climbing the slope made him tire easily but now he appeared sued to the way that he would have to pick his way over the ground avoiding tree roots and loose stones. Wherever possible, he would head towards a large clump of vegetation that appeared ahead of him, hoping for food and for the extra concealment that it would provide should he hear the sounds of the humans. He believed that he was heading in the direction that the humans had taken his mother but he could not be sure with any certainty and it was the distinct lack of human voices that made him feel that he had long lost the trail that they had taken.

  Eventually, he tried to remain at the same height upon the slope and began moving first to the right and then, when he found no indication of the humans in that direction, he made his way back towards the left. Always listening keenly and watching avidly, he searched for the slightest sign or scent of the humans but found none. It was as if they were no longer in the forests at all.

  Ignoring the hunger pains he continued his searching for the missing trail and only halted his seeking when he saw a group of trees a little way down from him and upon the branches of those trees he spied the large yellow fruit that his father had provided for him, in what seemed a far and distant past. With saliva juices running amok within his mouth, Flack raced down toward the trees and it was not until he got close to them that he realised that the fruit was far too high for him to reach. The trees bordered another clearing and, standing within the shade of the branches of one of the trees, he remained still with his head gazing up at the mouth-watering, out of reach, fruit. After a little while, he began walking around in agitated circles with his eyes remaining fixed upon the lowest piece of fruit, hoping that it would suddenly fall and present him with the mal that his mouth and stomach desired so much.

  Pains, in his stomach, were ringing out and signifying his craving, his need for the fruit, a much needed meal and, before him, a large piece of fruit was hanging teasingly but, although lower than the others upon the tree, was still tantalisingly beyond his reach. He became obsessed with the fruit, watching it intently while his mind kept informing him that, at a time that was right, the fruit would simply fall within his eager reach.

  He reared up, placing his front hoofs as high up the trunk of that tree that he could and, although he succeeded in keeping his balance, he still could not succeed in acquiring that fruit. It remained teasingly out of his grasp and he became annoyed. His stomach was crying out to him, making him feel dizzy with hunger pains. ‘I need that fruit. I want that meal.’

  Eventually he lay down, remaining staring up at the fruit and hoping that just one would fall from its secure place and put itself within his grasp. He waited, with his hunger tormenting him as much as the sight of the fruit.

  He waited and he waited until, unbelievably, one piece of fruit fell from the branches above him. In a dazed-like state, he clambered to his feet and made to walk toward the fallen fruit but then, as his stomach cheered in expectation, a most unbelievable occurrence washed before his eyes. Something, that was dark and furry, ran from behind him quickly snatching up the fruit and was gone before he could take another step. Flack stared disbelieving at the bushes that appeared to have leapt out and hidden the little creature from sight.

  Flack’s mouth began watering as he imagined the small creature tearing through that soft, moist fruit, feasting upon it and allowing the cool juices to run down its throat, sating those very cravings that Flack wanted to have satisfied. Resigning himself to having lost that particular piece of fruit he lay down to await the next one that fell, hoping that he would not have to wait for very long.

  His head cradled upon his forelegs, which were curled around to one side of his body, his eyes stared blankly ahead, waiting for the first sign of more of the unreachable food.

  His nostrils breathed lightly upon the fresh, moist green grass that lay around him. The smell was pleasant and he began recalling that this sho
rt green grass had been eaten by his mother when he had sought milk from her and so, stretching his neck a little, he opened his mouth and placed it around a small clump of the grass and pulled it, unresisting, from the soil. He chewed upon it. It was not dislikeable and tasted similar to the longer grass that he had chewed upon during is wandering. Flack found it uncomfortable to eat and swallow the grass in this position and so he stood up, continuing to eat the grass while trying not to think of the fruit. It did not hold the glorious flavour of the fruit but he hoped it would satisfy the hunger cravings that tormented him.

  And, as he continued to eat, Flack found that the grass did take away the initial hunger pains from his stomach, though his mouth still craved the wonderful flavour of the large yellow fruit above him.

  With his hunger quenched a little, he lay down upon the ground again to continue waiting. He tried not to think of the fruit above him, but the more he tried not to think of the fruit the more pictures of the fruit appeared in his mind. He began to wish that he had never known of the fruit, but he did know and the knowing of it tormented him very much.

  His mind once again recalled his few valuable memories of his mother and father... and he began to wonder if he would be able to get by without them, or at least get by until he was once again reunited with his mother and, perhaps, his father. He thought of his father’s name, Laranki. It was a proud and wonderful sounding name and he wished that could be his name. Then, suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by something crashing down upon his head. It shocked him and caused him to leap backwards a little his first thought telling him that humans were attacking but the thought was quickly dismissed as he saw lying upon the ground before him a large piece of the fruit that he, for so long, had been craving.

  Impulsively he leapt towards it, preparing to guard it against the intentions of the furry creature who had stolen the first piece that had fallen. Standing glaring at the bushes into which he had seen the little creature vanish and with his forelegs on either side of the precious fruit, he was making sure that the fruit was well protected. No movement came from the bushes and so, glancing around to check that the creature did not try to sneak up from another direction, he felt relief as his mouth continue watering and he prepared to help himself to the food.

  Raising a leg, he then brought his hoof crashing down upon the fruit, trying to smash the thick outer skin so that he could gain access to the pulpy insides. With his hoof hitting the fruit sharply he felt the surface give way and, preparing to deliver a harder blow, he was shocked when many of the fruit began falling down around him; with some even striking his neck and head as they fell to the ground. It was as if the fruit was falling from the sky and, as some of the fruit hit the ground they burst open, presenting him with the wonderful, juicy segments that adorned the insides.

  When it seemed to have stopped falling, he dared to gaze upwards into the tree above, apprehensive lest more fruit should start to fall upon him, and his eyes showed him that there was still plenty of the fruit in the tree.

  He eyes searched the branches looking for whatever had caused the fruit to fall but he saw nothing save the branches, leaves and the remaining fruit. Then, amidst the branches, a movement caught his eye. He stared. The movement moved to nearer toward the trunk of the tree. It was dark there but Flack was rewarded, and a little scared, to see a pair of eyes gazing down at him. They appeared to be welcoming eyes and Flack began hoping that he had found a friend.

  Staring back in silence at the eyes and feeling that there was no direct threat that he should be concerned about, he gently lowered his head and began to feast, slowly, upon the exposed insides of the fallen fruit. Unhurriedly and deliberately, he ate the fruit as his eyes strained upwards to view the contents of the branches, trying to gaze upon what may be a new found ally. He began gulping down the food, quickly moving on to another segment and devouring that as his hunger pains seemed to take over control of the will of his body. He continued to eat, satisfying his deepest hungers, but his interest began to wane as he stared high up into the darkness of the tree and trying, once again, to spy his new found ally.

  A rustle from nearby startled Flack and he jumped, nervously, turning around to gaze into the darkness of the bushes that seemed to have released the sound. All became quiet again. Gently, Flack sniffed the air for the tell tale sign of humans but he could find no scent of the dreaded creatures but he found the scent of something else instead, something that he did not recognise. He stood waiting, staring at the bushes ahead of him, his body tense and ready to run if anything threatening should appear. He was a nervous and hoping that, whatever was in the bushes, did not detect his fears.

  Another sound came which was similar though it seemed a little more distant and it sounded as though whatever made it was moving away. Flack began relaxing when, suddenly, something landed right beside him, making him turn around in fear and panic.

  There was a small creature standing before him, balancing upon its hind legs, and staring back at him. Something inside him told Flack that this creature was a squirrel and that it could fly a little. ‘Glide upon the wind,’ was the better way of explaining it to himself.

  For an instant, he began to question his own knowledge as to how he knew exactly what so many things were and, almost as quickly these thoughts flew from his mind as he continued to gaze upon his mysterious benefactor.

  Flack stared. His benefactor stared. Flack continued staring and then, after a few moments, his benefactor reached out with small hands and picked up a piece of fruit and tossed it gently to where Flack stood.

  Flack looked at the piece of juicy fruit, back toward his mysterious ally and then, not wishing to seem ungrateful, he bent his neck down so as to chew on the small piece of fruit.

  His little friend seemed happy that Flack had done this and Flack himself felt very happy. It appeared that he really did have a newfound friend. ‘I am not alone anymore.’

  Once Flack had finished chewing upon the juicy part of the fruit, his little friend moved forward and picked up the remaining core of the fruit and he too began to chew. Apparently, he only ate the very core of the fruit and Flack had done part of the work by removing the fleshy bulk.

  Flack realised this and felt very pleased that, in some way, he had re-paid the kindness shown him by the little squirrel, although he was sure that the squirrel could have done this for himself.

  The squirrel finished his assault upon the core of that piece of fruit and promptly threw another piece of fruit at Flack’s feet. Flack immediately responded by eating away all of the fruit that was in the way of the core. The squirrel, once again, finished off the core of the fruit.

  It continued this way through another six pieces of fruit and Flack could eat no more, and it seemed that his friend could not either. They finished their eating together, and Flack lay down upon the ground and was quite prepared to go to sleep but the squirrel would have none of this and began to push at Flack’s rump, forcing him to stand.

  Standing, Flack turned to face the squirrel who now sat staring at him, his long tail pointing straight into the air. The squirrel’s tail twitched and now pointed in a direction off to Flack’s left, seeming to be indicating that Flack should leave now.

  Flack, feeling a little bewildered and lost, was thinking, ‘Why am I being told to go?’ He had thought that he and the squirrel were friends of sorts but now it was obvious that the squirrel wanted Flack to leave. In dismay, Flack realised that he had been used by the squirrel as a means for him to easily get into the core of the fruit and, now that he was no longer needed, he was being told to leave.

  Sadly, Flack stood as straight as he could and began to walk away in the direction that the squirrel had indicated. Pausing for a moment, and about to turn to look back, he was interrupted by the squirrel pushing him on his right-side rear hoof. Abruptly, he bolted forward, feeling rejection sweeping over him and tears fighting to leak onto his eyes. He felt all the loneliness crashing in on him once again,
swamping him and causing him to release the sobs that were breaking out from his heart. Bushes and plants rushed by as he found a new strength within his legs, admitting to himself that the meal had served him well by giving him much needed energy.

  Eventually, when he was sure that he had left the squirrel far behind, he stopped. He walked along, dejectedly, his eyes casting his sorrowful filled vision to the floor. ‘I don’t care if the humans find me,’ he thought. ‘What is the point of me carrying on if I am to spend that time alone?’

  Suddenly, from before and above him there came a rustling sound as a brown streak raced down a tree trunk slightly to his left, racing across the ground to come to rest right in front of his path. Recognising it as the squirrel creature that he had just left behind, the one who had chased him away, Flack remained indignant after his initial surprise and walked around the squirrel. However, the squirrel would have none of this and he grabbed hold of one of Flack’s rear legs as he walked by, hanging onto him even though he could not prevent him walking away.

  Flack was confused. He could feel tears welling up inside of him again and he felt embarrassed by this.

  Reluctantly, he turned to face the squirrel who was now excitedly pointing in the same direction from which Flack had travelled and, looking to where the squirrel was indicating, he peered amongst the myriad of tree trunks that lay there.

  Flack could see nothing, though he slowly became aware of growling and snapping sounds from further down the trail. Taking his attention, the squirrel was now beckoning him over towards a large clump of vegetation that was almost as tall as he was. Walking cautiously towards the shrub, wondering what else the squirrel may be planning to ridicule him but not caring because for this moment he was not alone, he found that when he reached the left side of the bushes he was given a clear view of the area he had just left. He was shocked and startled to see movement between distant tree trunks that showed him two giant bears fighting and then, seeing that the ground around them was full of fruit, he knew that it must be what they were fighting over.

  Realising that it was fortunate that he was not down there now, he turned to thank the squirrel but, as he looked around, there was not one squirrel facing him but two and they both looked very pleased with themselves.

  Staring dumbly toward them, Flack was a little too shaken and surprised to speak. One of the squirrels advanced, obviously it was the one Flack had shared the fruit with because he seemed so friendly and the other squirrel, which Flack realised now was a female and was a little more on the timid side it seemed, remained standing where she was.

  Flack looked down at the nearing squirrel who, looking back up at Flack’s face, said, “Where are you heading, friend?”

  Flack was taken back now that he was actually being spoken to. The only spoken words he had ever heard directed at him before were the words spoken by his mother and father.

  “I’m going to look for my mother,” said Flack, startled by his own quick reply and then he became a little worried by the look upon the immediate squirrel’s face. This squirrel, the male, slowly turned his head and looked toward the female squirrel. The two squirrels seemed to share some kind of a secret and, because of the look upon the female squirrel’s face, Flack felt as though he had said something wrong.

  The male squirrel turned to look back at Flack, making him feel very uncomfortable beneath that gaze while feeling, perhaps, he ought to leave.

  “Where is your mother?” asked the female squirrel.

  “The humans have taken her with them,” replied Flack.

  “And your father?” questioned the male squirrel.

  “I do not know,” replied Flack, his speech slowing down as, in his mind he realised that he had never really asked himself, or his mother, that very question.

  “Did he vanish in the night?” asked the male squirrel, excitedly.

  “I awoke and he was gone,” Flack replied.

  “How old were you when this happened,” asked the male squirrel.

  “I spent one day with him and that first night was the last time that I ever saw him,” said Flack, hurt by the images that came into his mind.

  “How long ago was this?” asked the female squirrel, her voice sounding excited.

  “Two nights ago,” replied Flack.

  “My heaven,” gasped the female, adding, “And look at the size of you!”

  Flack stood still and said nothing, feeling as though he were being scrutinised and not enjoying the attention at all. The two squirrels, his newfound friends, appeared to know a lot about him that they had still not told him. Remaining standing still and a little uneasy, he felt a light breeze blow across him, rustling first within the nearby bushes and then sending a shiver running down his back.

  Flack felt a little uneasy about the questions that he had been asked and the reactions to his answers. Staring back at the squirrels, his gaze going slowly from one to the other, the two squirrels stood watching him for a few moments until, after a little while, the female began to advance until she stood beside the male. The two stared as one at Flack. The male spoke, asking, “May we be allowed to escort you to Essilon?”

  “Essilon?” questioned Flack, knowing that it was a word that he was not familiar with.

  “It is a safe place for all beasts,” added the female squirrel, her voice sounding keen and full of good intentions.

  “But I must go in search of my mother,” began Flack and then, seeing the look upon the two faces in front of him, he stopped.

  “It is best that you come with us. You will be safe and much shall be explained to you,” offered the male in reply to Flack’s unfinished statement.

  Within himself, Flack knew that he should go with them to Essilon. He felt that, once there, he would find out many things that for the moment seemed to be being held from him. “Will I find my mother there?” he asked the male squirrel.

  “You will find some answers there,” replied the male squirrel, adding, “All beasts are moving toward Essilon.”

  Flack thought for a moment, realising that, deep inside, he knew that he was not strong or cunning enough to do battle with the humans at this time. ‘Perhaps in Essilon, the place where the beasts are moving toward, I may be able to find some who would help me find my mother. If my mother breaks free of the humans then Essilon would be the place that she would go in search of me.’ For a moment, he felt good and happy that he may now have a purpose as well as friends, but another thought came flooding his mind, taking away his optimism. ‘How can I be sure that my mother is still alive?’

  Knowing that the two squirrels would be good company and that their intentions were good because they had provided him with food as well as getting him away from the area where the bears had met, fighting over the fruit, he knew that his mind was already made up.

  “I shall come with you,” he said as he stood patiently in the small silence of the two squirrels gazing up at him.

  “It is good that you will,” said the female happily and pleasantly, and then quickly adding, “My name is Chart.”

  “And my name is Brand,” said the male.

  “My name is...” began Flack.

  “Flack,” said the male squirrel, finishing Flack’s sentence for him.

  Flack was startled but, before he could ask another question, the male squirrel spoke again, saying, “Come, we must be on our way, for we must reach Essilon as quickly as possible.” Promptly turning, the squirrel ran for the nearest tree and in a flash of racing brown, Brand, was quickly up the tree trunk.

  Staring back down at Flack for a moment, the little squirrel rubbed a small acorn that it held and then, allowing the tree fruit to suddenly fall from his grasp, he turned, scuttled along the branch and began racing up the tree trunk itself; soon lost from sight high amidst its leaves and branches. Flack continued staring inquiringly at the point that he had lost sight of the little creature amongst the branches.

  “Oh, it is nothing to worry about,” volunteered Chart. ??
?He will check the path ahead of us for humans. It is best that they be avoided.”

  Flack knew that she spoke true and he tried hard not to think too much about his mother at the moment and so left his hopes nurtured in his heart until he could deal with them another time.

  They began walking, with the female squirrel, Chart, walking along beside him and, every so often, she would answer a shrill calling from far ahead and always, when this happened, she would turn and say, “All is clear where we are going.”

  The two of them continued walking along beside each other while the male squirrel, high in the trees ahead of them, continued calling his messages back to Chart. For a time, the walk was in silence as Flack spoke very little and only did so when he was spoken to by the female squirrel. His mind was a confusion of many things. There were so many answers that he wished to hear but for now he was glad to have company and a place to go. He wondered what Essilon was and why they were heading toward there, particularly.

  There was another shrill call from ahead of them, this time a little off to the right, and Chart informed him that the way ahead was still clear of any danger.

  At one time, while the three rested and ate some fruit freshly plundered from nearby trees, Flack saw his shadow upon the ground and saw that he now had the beginnings of a horn upon his head as, what was once a small stump, now appeared longer and was tapering to a keener point.

  ‘I hope that it will grow to be a horn that my father would be proud of.’ For a moment he felt saddened by this thought. He was sad that his father and mother were not here to see his new horn growing. Perhaps, as the squirrel had told him, Essilon would give him answers.

  ‘Perhaps, Essilon will even give me back my parents,’ he thought excitedly, bringing cheer to his heart. Happiness flowed through him as the three once again set off upon their journey and, this time, he was carrying with him a bountiful supply of strength and hope.

  He remained happy and contented until, with night time beginning to descend around them, Brand returned from his place ahead of them, calling for them to rest for the night. They found some adequate shelter amongst a large patch of bushes close to a clearing edge, which would hide Flack from most of the eyes of the night and, there, they settled down. The two squirrels snuggled up to Flack and, enjoying the pleasure of contact with another kindred creature, Flack fell into a deep, deep sleep not longer after the two squirrels had fallen asleep themselves.

  In the morning, they awoke to glorious sunshine, rested and ready to continue upon their journey to Essilon but were amazed by a startling discovery.

  The two squirrels began poking and prodding at Flack, encouraging him to stand up quickly. He responded as quickly as possible, looking around feeling nervous and worried and trying to see what had caused the squirrels to act so excitedly. Seeing nothing around him that gave him any cause to worry, he looked down at Chart and Brand and asked them the reason for their actions. ‘Perhaps they have detected that a bear or even humans are nearby.’

  Then, as he was looking down at the two of them he saw that, somehow, the squirrels seemed smaller than he remembered them. Then he understood what it was that they were trying to tell him. ‘I have grown larger.’ He realised that he must have grown quickly the previous nights but he had never noticed it before for it all seemed natural to him. Yet, by the reactions of the two squirrels, it was apparently a strange thing that he grew so rapidly.

  “See, see,” said Chart. “He is growing very fast, so very fast. He must surely be the one.”

  Brand remained very quiet, just looking back into Flack’s puzzled eyes. Standing still, looking down at the two squirrels, he was still very puzzled by the expressions of Chart, her awe at his rapid, almost magical, development. Inside, he felt that he was so much stronger than the previous day. Much stronger; so much stronger than that day, so long ago it now seemed, that he had first awakened, finding his mother and father gazing down at him. ‘But now they are gone.’ Unable to stop that thought entering his head, he felt grieved that his parents were not here to be the ones that witnessed how big and strong he was growing.

  Brand began to speak. Flack heard the words that he spoke, about `moving on to Essilon,` but the words seemed distant as he stood there and tried to understand what was happening to him. Something inside him told him that his growth was not natural and, arguing back with himself, he thought, ‘But it feels natural to me.’

  There was something unusual happening to him of that he was sure, ‘Unless young unicorns do grow at a very fast rate compared to squirrels.’ He was aware of the pains atop his head, along his flanks and down his legs and, feeling as though these must be a result of his growing, he thought, ‘They are simply growing pains that all young creatures must suffer through.’

  And then he began wishing that he would continue growing as fast as possible because, once he was fully grown, then he would have a chance to do battle with the humans. He blamed the humans for the loss of his mother and now, for the first time, he was beginning to consider the idea that the humans may have also been responsible for the disappearance of his father.

  The two squirrels turned and began walking away and, after a moment spent thinking Flack set off after them, his head to the ground as many thoughts ran through his mind and, when at last he caught up with them, he saw Brand running off toward a nearby tree, racing up into the branches above and setting off ahead of them on their chosen course. There came the rustling of leaves and branches as Brand moved away into the distance though Flack knew that he would never be that far ahead that his voice would not be able to reach back to them with any warnings of danger.

  Flack cantered along quite quickly now without putting a great deal of effort his actions. The faster that he ran the more natural it felt to him and then he thought, ‘It was not so long ago that my legs were weak and ungainly and it was such a struggle escaping from the humans by the river.’ Moving along quite quickly for a little time, he was now beginning to feel strength charging and surging through his body and the tiredness that had accompanied for so long on his wanderings began feeling like a lost and distant thing.

  Coming to a halt, he knew that it was unfair to the squirrel that tried to run along the ground beside him. Chart did not complain about his bursts of speed but he realised that it would serve them no purpose to race so far ahead that Brand’s warnings would be too late for them if he had already stumbled into some danger. Always, along their journey, Brand had kept himself way ahead of Flack and Chart as he carefully checked the way ahead and, Flack realised, ‘My fast pace may be forcing Brand to race hastily forward as he strove to keep ahead of us. I will have to confine my want to run to the pace I maintained yesterday as I do not wish for any harm to come to Brand because he rushes headlong into some danger.’

  They progressed rapidly and were steadily moving nearer to their destination, having only once stopped for food and once moving wide around an area instead of going through it. Brand could not detect anything totally negative about that area ahead of them but his insides told him that it was better that that whole area be avoided. And so they had all gone around that area, ears and senses keenly tuned for any sign of lurking danger. It took a long time to move around the area and, when they had, the three were pleased that the area was now left far behind them.

  The sun was high in the blue sky and as they continued their trek the three had few encounters with any other beasts. Brand, when returning to them on one occasion, had told Flack that they were making very good progress.

  Brand returned to his position high in the trees ahead of them and they continued onward for a while, unconcerned of danger and pleased about their progress when, suddenly they became aware of faint, unusual sounds. Flack and Chart immediately froze, assuming that Brand had done the same as they listened to faint cries which seemed to be of a definite human nature. The sounds appeared to come from behind them and slightly to the left.

  After a few moments Brand approached, scuttl
ing suddenly down a nearby tree, nearly scaring Flack and Chart to death.

  “Come, we must hurry,” said Brand, sounding hurried and a little out of breath. “They don’t appear to be very near to us but I don’t doubt that if there are one group of humans that way…” he said, pointing in the direction from which the voices travelled, “then the chances are that there could well be others.” He gestured all around him.

  “How far are we from Essilon?” asked Flack.

  “Not far now,” replied Chart and, almost straight away, Brand added, “I have seen the shape of Kodis in the sky ahead of us. You cannot see him from here beneath the trees but many times, as I moved through the trees, I had glimpses of him patrolling the sky as he watched for humans.”

  The small band moved quicker now and Brand did not venture too far ahead of them. Chart had, at Flack’s invitation, climbed upon his back and clung to his mane as they moved at a quicker pace, trying to put the humans as far behind them as possible. For as long as they could, they tried to run within the cover of the trees that were around them but, eventually, the trees began to thin out. There were clearings that were to cause great difficulty in that, to go around the clearings, under cover of the trees, would add too much time upon their journey. They had no choice but to race across these clearings hoping that they were not seen by any wandering human bands. Brand would always go across first to be sure that the other side was safe and then, if it were safe, Flack and Chart would follow across, moving as quickly and quietly as they could.

  They continued in this fashion for quite a time and they made greater progress because of racing across the clearings as fast as they could. Things were going well for a while and Flack felt confident and excited by the journey that he was upon.

  Soon, the light began to fade and, after Brand discovered a thick clump of bushes that would easily conceal Flack he decided that it would be best to settle down for the night rather than carry on and find no cover to protect them for the coming darkness. Flack moved through the bushes and into the heart of them and when he found a piece of ground that was clear enough to allow him to lie down, he did so. He was not tired and wanted to continue on their journey but he trusted to the wisdom, and decisions, of Brand and had, reluctantly, agreed to stop for the night.

  Chart and Brand requested Flack to remain as quiet and still as he could while the two of them went to locate some food for them all. It would be safer this way, even if Chart and Brand would have to make a number of journeys back and forth, to obtain a quantity of food that would be sufficient to satisfy the needs of the unicorn.

  Flack lay there in an eerie silence, watching slow moving clouds pass slowly overhead. There were only a few gaps in the branches above him that allowed him to see the sky, and he used these gaps to track the passage of the clouds and occupy his thoughts.

  He had no sooner lain upon the ground when he had begun to feel the pains in his body returning and, from feeling strong and energetic just a few moments earlier, he now felt weak and a little sick. He concentrated upon the clouds to take his mind away from his pains, some of which were growing stronger and incessant, and tried to lie in a waking sleep, letting everything pass him bye for the moment.

  Time passed slowly and painfully and then, a scurrying from his left resulted in the appearance of Brand who just as quickly vanished again after dropping a small fruit to the ground. As Flack stared at the fruit there came a rustling from his right, followed by the appearance of Chart, who also promptly dropped a piece of fruit, said “Hi,” and then vanished back into the bushes.

  This activity continued for a while and presently there was a mound of fruit lying upon the floor beside Flack. Brand had returned once again and this time stayed with Flack while they awaited the arrival of Chart. They waited a while for Chart and Flack noticed that Brand showed signs of nervousness. He knew that Brand was worried in case Chart had run into any humans, but he said nothing. Neither of them touched the gathered fruit and chose to wait in silence for the return of Chart.

  With the sounds of leaves being disturbed close by, they turned their heads and were confronted by the sudden appearance of Chart. She appeared breathless.

  “Humans,” she stated, trying to get her breath back, “They are in that direction but do not appear to be moving this way. They are settling down for the night.” Chart slumped to the ground and then, looking toward Brand, she said, “They scare me. I wish there were none of them here.”

  “Did you watch them for long?” enquired Brand.

  “I nearly ran into them,” stated Chart, “I was on the ground when I first heard them. I turned around and they were almost upon me. It was lucky that I was near a tree as I was able to hide behind the trunk and then climb in safety while out of sight of the humans.”

  “You must be more careful,” said Brand, with concern in his voice.

  “Don’t worry, I will,” Chart replied as she picked up a piece of fruit and bit into it.

  Brand sat down beside her and picked up something to eat. It was not a fruit that Flack had seen before and it was a lot smaller than any that he had ever eaten before. Brand had to break a hard outer casing to get to what was in the inside. Flack watched the satisfied look on Brand’s face as he chewed upon the food. Brand then leant forward and picked up one of the larger pieces of fruit and threw it toward Flack, saying, “These are not the nicest fruit but they were all that we could get for you. The others are too large for us to carry. They should do you well until morning when we can get other food while we are travelling.”

  Turning his head, Flack sniffed at the offered fruit and then picked it up in his mouth.

  “No need to worry with them about fruit stones in the centre. You should find that it is completely soft and you can eat all of it,” said Chart.

  Flack happily bit into the fruit and found the flavour to be quite good and, even before he had finished it, Chart and Brand had thrown more of these fruit close to him.

  In the quietness of night, under a moonlit sky, the three munched away on their food, with Flack making the most noise and feeling a little embarrassed about it. Chart and Brand chuckled at the noises he made and Flack tried to chew quieter, but found that he could not. It was a source of amusement that occupied a space of time until Flack, abruptly, fell asleep.

  Stuck in a dream of floating over the area in which he was hiding, Flack found himself peering down, searching the ground and bushes, looking for himself and, just as he found a place that would allow him to see the place where he hid with the two squirrels, he would suddenly be whisked away to another part of the sky. And, at this point, he would have to start his search all over again. The cycle repeated over, and over, until the morning came.

  Calling from overhead, birds roused Flack from his deep slumber and immediately he was aware of the terrible pains in his young body. He tried to remain perfectly still as the slightest movement triggered the pains once again, making them even more severe.

  A movement against his side caused him to turn his head, for which he received another jolt of pain and there, lying against him, were the two squirrels, fast asleep and dreaming whatever dreams squirrels dreamt about.

  Flack remained still, so as not to disturb them while allowing the warmth of the rising sun to slowly warm his body from the cold of the night. The birds sang and Flack remained still, listening to their sounds and enjoying the beautiful songs that they made.

  Upon a leaf, just in front of him, Flack saw a movement and looking closer, he saw something green with many legs. Instantly, he knew that it was a caterpillar and, instantly, he wondered how he knew. He watched the caterpillar and listened to the birds until a voice stirred him from his reverie.

  “Another sunny morning,” declared Brand, as he stretched his arms and legs.

  Flack had turned his head when he had heard the voice and noticed that the pain of movement was much receded. He looked at the little squirrel as it stretched its legs and pushed its back against Flack?
??s side.

  “Come on, sleepy,” said Brand, as he shook the still sleeping form of Chart.

  Stirring, Chart tried to roll away from the hand that was shaking her and destroying her slumber, but the arm was persistent. Succumbing to the persistence Chart slowly opened her eyes, her little hands rubbed against her eyes and she let out a long yawn, which froze her momentarily before she let out a long and peaceful sigh while continuing to stretch.

  “How are you?” said Brand, looking toward the unicorn.

  “I feel well,” replied Flack, not wishing to mention the pains that he had suffered.

  “We had best be on our way,” stated Brand, “I will look for food and water as we move ahead but first wait here while I check upon the humans that Chart came upon last night.”

  Getting to his feet, Flack was trying to hide the pains that he felt, though they were greatly diminished from the time when he had first awoken. Brand moved toward Chart and gave her a hug and then, placing his hands upon her shoulders, he looked into her eyes for a moment and then gently leant forward and kissed her upon the cheek. Flack looked away, feeling that it was wrong for him to stand and stare at the two of them.

  When Flack heard a rustling sound he turned and saw the figure of Brand vanishing amongst the leaves of the bushes that surrounded them.

  “He won’t be too long,” said Chart. “Brand is very quick when it comes to racing through the trees and he will be back soon, hopefully with good news.” Chart sat down upon the ground as, looking up toward Flack, she said, “You have grown much again, this last night.”

  Flack did not reply. He did not feel any bigger but the pains had been more severe this morning and so he naturally assumed that he must have grown and that was why he had the pains when he had first awoken.

  The wind rustled through the leaves around them and the sunlight, peaking through the gaps, lit up the ground around them, dancing like raindrops.

  The pains were easing a little more and Flack felt that he wanted to run; to run hard and to run fast. He felt as though he could run forever. ‘It is strange; waking with the pains and then a little while later feeling the way that I do now. I suppose that it is just something that I will just have to get used to.’

  Time went by and Chart stood up and made to move further into the bushes, showing Flack clearly how nervous and agitated she was. Staring silently, he did not want to say anything in case it heightened her fears.

  “Brand should have been back by now,” Chart said, turning around quickly and whispering toward Flack.

  Remaining silent, Flack had no idea of how long Brand should have been out searching the area, ‘But,’ he had to admit, ‘it has been a while since he had run off into the bushes.’

  “Wait here,” said Chart, as she ran into the bushes and, from the noises that Flack heard, she began to quickly climb high up into the tree but the noise of her passage was soon lost to him, leaving him standing in a silence of whispering leaves, moving gently in a breeze that he could not feel himself. After Chart had been gone for some time, Flack found that he was beginning to feel some of her agitation and nervousness as he listened intently to a silent forest that only echoes the occasional bird call. He realised that he was alone again. He had not known these two squirrels for very long but the absence of them both at the same time began to make Flack fearful, uncertain, and extremely lonely, but he could do nothing but await their return.

  Beginning to feel trapped while standing within the bushes, Flack was hoping that it would not be long before either Chart or Brand returned. His mind began to wonder if they would ever return. He had been left alone before and it could be happening all over again. He tried to dismiss these thoughts and think of the few precious ‘happy’ times that he had shared with his mother and father.

  The loneliness settled around him whilst the sun, pushing rays through the undergrowth around him, cast joyous sunbeams around the land.

  With no idea of the real passage of time, Flack stood there for what seemed like an eternity until, suddenly, from off to the right and a little behind him he heard the scurrying of something as it raced through the undergrowth, coming in his direction.

  Chart broke through the leaves and, panting heavily, said, “I can’t find him. I’ve searched quite a way and tried calling him. Oh, where can he be?” Chart sounded extremely fretful and Flack could not think of what to say to her.

  Chart walked around so that she stood in front of Flack and, looking up at him, she said, “I don’t know what we should do. We can’t stay here and it would be foolish to move in case Brand came back looking for us. Oh, what shall we do?”

  Feeling useless, Flack could offer no suggestions because he had no ideas that he could give to Chart. He could go running through the trees and bushes looking for Brand but doing that would surely attract the humans that they were trying so hard to avoid.

  Pacing up and down quickly in front of Flack, Chart then moved towards the area of bushes where she had appeared from and Flack could tell she was contemplating going back to search for Brand once again.

  Flack’s head was turned, studying her nervous movements when there was a frantic flurrying in the bushes ahead of him and, as he turned his head, Brand came charging through. Chart had also heard the noise and, as soon as she saw that it was Brand, she went racing toward him. Throwing her arms around him, nearly knocking him over backwards, Chart was clearly crying and relieved but Brand pushed her back a little, saying, “Shhhh,” quietly and forcefully. Chart immediately froze and, as she did so, Flack could hear sounds from somewhere close by.

  The sounds were easily identified as that of human voices and, as Flack listened, he could tell that they were drawing nearer. Involuntarily, he moved his position a little and both Chart and Brand looked up at him with a scornful look as his movements caused a rustling of the leaves that were close to him.

  Annoyed with his own stupidity, Flack remained completely still and listened intently for the sounds that emanated from not too far from where he stood, with a slight trembling in his legs. ‘The voices are coming nearer but they do not seem to be coming directly towards where the three of us are hiding.’ Flack caught the scent of the humans, beginning to picture them moving along on some deadly mission and he wished that they would just go away and take their evil desires with them.

  The voices grew louder and Flack felt as though the humans must surely be upon them and then, abruptly, it was obvious that the voices were moving away. The voices grew quiet, less distinct, and then were gone.

  “What happened?” questioned Chart in a harsh whisper.

  “I came across the humans and saw that they were moving towards this area. I could not get to you and be sure that I would not bring their attention to this place, you know the humans… if they had seen me come this way then they would surely have followed me as they played their sport,” said Brand.

  “I was worried. I kept calling for you,” said Chart.

  “I know. I heard you, but I could not answer. I was right above the place where the humans where and, if they had of heard me replying, I would only have put myself in danger and you too, if you had come in reply to my call,” Brand said, as he moved a little closer to Flack and sat down upon the ground.

  “I’m sorry,” said Chart.

  “It’s all right,” said Brand, “We had best stay here for a while until we are sure that they have left the area.”

  Moving closer to Brand, Chart sat beside Brand, putting her arm around him and pulling him closer toward her.

  Flack wanted to lie back down upon the ground but was scared in case his movements rustled the leaves around him and so he chose to remain standing.

  The sun carried on fighting through the gaps in the leaves above him and he stood there, silent, looking down at the two little creatures that were doing so much to help him. He hoped that they would reach the ‘Essilon’ place soon for it seemed that their worries about the humans would be left behind them and they w
ould no longer have to hide from human sight all of the time.

  ‘And, maybe, I will find my mother there in that place called Essilon. I do not know why but I believe that it is the place that I will find out many answers. We have to get there soon.’

 

 

  15 - Genesis V – Human Being Human

  “Stay here,” commanded Brand. “I will go and see if the humans have left the area. Do not leave here unless you must because you are in danger.”

  “We’ll stay here until you return, don’t worry,” replied Chart.

  Brand moved off into the bushes, slowly and carefully, without making a single noise. It was obvious that he was being particularly careful just in case the humans were still close by. Flack looked back down at Chart and she looked up at him.

  “You have certainly grown much since yesterday,” she said.

  Looking around at the nearby bushes, Flack was trying to find something that he could compare his height against but could find nothing.

  “Do you miss your mother?” Chart suddenly asked.

  Flack was taken aback by this and immediately his head was filled with pictures of his mother. At first he saw her face and then, shooting into his mind, there came images of her struggle with the humans in the water. Flack began to get agitated and his hatred for the humans came rushing back at him like an avalanche pulverising a mountainside.

  “Easy, Flack, easy,” said Chart, as Flack began to stamp his forelegs a little, causing noise that they did not need right now.

  Becoming aware that he had started stamping his hoofs and was causing unnecessary noise, he stopped immediately, though his breathing was heavy and fast.

  “I’m sorry,” said Chart and then, after a pause, “You must miss her terribly.”

  Looking away from Chart, Flack was trying to ignore the tears that were forming in his eyes. His head came filling with the same words, over, and over again, ‘The humans have killed her! She will not be coming back! The humans have killed her! She will not be coming back!’

  Stifling an agonising cry of realisation, Flack felt a truth coming running into his heart and mind; a truth that he had tried to ignore. ‘My mother will not be waiting for me at Essilon. My mother is gone from me; murdered by the disgusting and evil humans!’

  “Easy, Flack,” repeated Chart, “You’ll do us no good getting into this state.”

  Flack tried to hold still, trying to quell his rushing anger for he owed it to Chart to do as she had asked. ‘I have to calm down, after all it is both she and Brand who were doing their very best to guide me safely. It would be wrong of me to ignore their advice and jeopardise all three of our lives.’

  Flack fought to remain still, as he acknowledged that the only reason that he was succeeding was because all of his muscles were held tense, trying to hold back his anger.

  Walking closer to him, Chart laid a hand upon his leg just below the knee, and began to rub, trying to soothe and calm him. Feeling a dithering in his legs, Flack fought harder to restrain himself. Slowly winning this battle, he found his trembling eased and receded, though it was only pushed back behind a very fragile dam.

  “We’ll be on our way soon. You’ll be able to relax more then,” she said, her voice soothing and relaxing.

  From somewhere afar there was the sound of raised and excited human voices, causing him to turn his head immediately. The two listened intently, trying to determine if the sounds were moving towards them as Flack became fearful for their safety and guilty for having caused unnecessary noise.

  “We may have to move quickly,” Chart whispered, her eyes looking around and trying to determine which direction would be their best route to safety.

  Flack turned his head and, as he did so, he felt Chart leap up onto his back and grab hold of his mane. If they had to move quickly then they would race together. Stretching his neck forward and upward, Flack and gave it a small shake trying to clear his head and preparing himself for whatever was about to happen.

  “We’ll go that way,” said Chart, pulling Flack’s mane a little to the left. Flack noted the point that Chart indicated and waited, nervously, for the word from Chart that would send him running on his way. The sounds of the humans were still audible but they did not appear to be approaching the area ere the two hid and then, gradually, the sounds began diminishing.

  “Brand should be back soon,” said Chart, with a nervousness in her voice that Flack could easily detect. ‘I know that the last time Brand was away for too long Chart became extremely fearful then. Why am I so helpless to help these creatures when I am so much bigger and stronger them?’

  Flack could feel her agitation as she moved nervously upon his back and this agitation flowed into him, making him restless and he wished that she would suddenly scream for him to race forward. Calling for him to charge through the undergrowth and feel the release of the energy that was building up inside of him. No such command came and their silent vigil was suddenly interrupted by a crashing through the bushes on Flack’s right-hand side.

  Brand surged into view and, after glancing rapidly around for Chart and then spying her sitting atop of the unicorn, he let out a great sigh of relief.

  Chart immediately leapt down from the unicorn’s back and landed on the floor beside Brand.

  “Those humans seem to be looking for something,” said Brand, his voice breathless.

  “What do you mean?” asked Chart.

  “They’re not moving in any particular direction. They keep sweeping over the same ground. I wonder what it is that they are looking for,” Brand said, his mind turning over ideas in his head.

  Flack wondered if it was him that they were searching for. ‘Perhaps these were the humans that that had taken my mother! Perhaps they believe that there is another unicorn in this area.’ Flack felt nervous, and somewhat more worried by this thought. His attention was suddenly taken away from his thoughts as a large shout by the group of humans, louder than they had shouted before, came sweeping across them.

  “Sounds like they may have found what they were searching for,” said Brand, “I’m glad that it was not us.”

  “What should we do now?” asked Chart.

  “I think that it is safe to hide here for a little while longer and let them move on when they are ready to,” replied Brand, as he sat down upon the ground.

  Chart sat down beside him and Flack looked down at the little creatures. He wanted to move on, to run, to race, but he would wait, as the little squirrel suggested. ‘I know that it would be foolish to do anything other than what the squirrel’s think is right.’

  Only one more time did the sound of the humans reach them, and even then they could not be sure that it was the humans, it was a noise that was gone almost as soon as it had started.

  Eventually Brand stood up and said, “I’ll check once more and I will call you if the way is clear. It is best that we try to remain undercover as much as possible for there may be other bands of humans roaming around.” Brand leant towards Chart, giving her a hug and a quick kiss upon her cheek and then, in a sudden blur, he was gone, racing stealthily amongst the undergrowth.

  Flack prepared for another long wait and was surprised when Chart suddenly said, “That’s it, let’s go,” as she slowly moved into the undergrowth. Flack followed the little squirrel and soon they were in less dense foliage and it was far easier for him to pick his way amongst the bushes and trees as they made their way in the direction that Brand called to them from.

  Flack still wanted to run but could not and soon Chart climbed once more upon his back, giving herself a greater vantage point whilst staying as close to the unicorn as possible.

  Continuing to make progress for a great deal of the morning, Flack could feel that they were always heading in one particular direction, except once when Chart indicated where there was more cover to one side, and they moved in that direction, returning to their original course whenever Chart decided that there was adequate cover. Birds s
ung around the forest and the sun continued to beat down and although Flack was glad to be in the shade, hidden as much as possible from the eyes of humans, at the same time he had a desire to bask in the warmth of the sun, ‘I want to run free and wild! I want to never have to worry about the humans ever again. I want to reach Essilon.’

  Receiving another call from Brand, Chart altered the direction of their travel a little and they continued moving along their way. Another call came soon after and this brought another slight alteration to their direction. This process continued for a little while and it was obvious that Brand was ensuring that they went around either a natural obstacle or a group of humans.

  Suddenly, Chart pulled at Flack’s mane, and said, “Shhhh.”

  Coming to a halt, Flack was a little disturbed that Chart had so dramatically called to him to be quiet. He could feel her movements upon his back as she strained herself higher, looking for something; a sound or a sight, Flack could not be sure.

  Flack could hear no sounds from around them, save for the gentle breeze as it went rustling through the leaves nearby. After waiting for what appeared to be an eternity, Chart jumped down to the ground and raced to a nearby tree that she ascended with lightning speed and in silence. Flack remained where he was and made no movements or sounds that would attract any attention. ‘I will make sure that you do not worry about me making any unnecessary noise again.’

  He heard Chart calling out from high in the canopy above and, straining his own ears, he was listening for a reply but there was none. Chart called again and, again, there was no reply. Flack began to feel nervous, thinking, ‘Perhaps Brand is close to humans and that is why he cannot reply.’

  Chart called out again, and then once more, only this time her voice was tinged with fear. No replies answered her calls and when she ran, racing down the side of the tree trunk, she almost made Flack startle.

  “I cannot get a reply from Brand,” she said. “Perhaps he has moved too far ahead of us and cannot hear me. We’ll have to move quickly to catch up with him.” Chart jumped up onto Flack’s back, urging him immediately forward.

  Walking forward, he slowly increased his pace, expecting Chart to order him to slow down but she did not and so he continued cantering along whilst trying to remain as quiet as he could by choosing where he walked. It felt good for him to be using his muscles and he was enjoying the freedom that they had to be able to pump that little bit harder. The two progressed and, occasionally, Chart would emit a shrill call and then would wait for a reply from Brand. Chart received no replies in answer to her calls and Flack could feel the tenseness in her voice each time that she called out to Brand and, after a little while, Flack felt the tenseness building up within him as he forgot about the urge to run wild and began to feel the panic that was obviously crawling through Chart.

  Suddenly, Chart pulled upon his mane, bringing him to a complete halt and Flack was trying to steady his breathing so that he could listen out for whatever sound it was that had caused Chart to halt their progress.

  “Move that way, Flack,” said Chart in a hushed voice and Flack, turning his head a little, saw where she indicated and began to move slowly in that direction.

  Flack had heard no sound and did his very best to ensure that his walking did not cause any unnecessary noise. There was plenty of grass growing in this area and this helped disguise any progress that he made as there were no rustling leaves or crunching and snapping twigs under-hoof. Pulling upon his mane once again, Chart was requesting Flack to halt once more and, as Chart listened intently to the forest around them, so too did Flack. At first it was indistinct but, gradually, Flack was able to determine human sounds coming from not too far away. The humans were not shouting, merely communicating with each other in those dreadful sounds that Flack despised so much. He could feel Chart upon his back and could just determine that she was shivering. He knew that it was not cold that made her shiver.

  Flack knew that Chart was unsure of what to do next and Flack decided that they had to go toward the humans and see if they were the reason for the lack of communication from Brand. Chart tried to stop Flack as he began to move towards the place where they had heard the sounds coming from but it was useless. He was going to confront the humans and he would rely on his speed to get both him and Chart away from the area as quickly as possible should the need arise.

  Withholding her complaints, Chart allowed herself to be carried by him as Flack moved forward slowly and deliberately. The human voices were closer now and by the way that Chart was pulling hard upon his mane he knew that Chart was worried and scared about what he was doing. Trying to prepare his muscles and energy so that all of his speed and agility would be available at his command at the moment he required them, Flack continued forward, remaining as alert as he could for any trap being prepared by the humans.

  With the leaves and branches brushing past the two of them as they entered a slightly thicker area, they suddenly emerged from the forest and stood on the edge of a large clearing. Sunlight momentarily blinded Flack and, as his eyes were adjusting to the brightness, he caught a sight of movement at the opposite end of the clearing. Flack knew that the movements were made by humans as Chart emitted a low gasp, pulling even harder upon his mane.

  The humans, covered in dirt on both their bodies and ragged clothing, were all walking back into the clearing, talking to each other and then, as the shock of what he was seeing hit him, Flack saw that one of the humans was holding something that swayed at his side. Gasping, Flack’s mind went reeling as a picture of horror tried to invade his head. ‘What is that human carrying?’ Staring closer as the human hand, Flack’s mind showed him something that he was not expecting to see. ‘The human is holding Brand by his back legs!’ Brand’s body was dangling limply, looking as though there was no life within the little body as it slowly swung in the humans grasp.

  Jumping down from Flack’s back, Chart landed beside him with the sound of her tears filling the air as she had seen what Flack had also seen. She began trying to walk forward, to go to Brand, and then halting, her mind an obvious mixture of need and confusion. Flack could feel the agony that the little was going through. ‘In trying to get to Brand she could be killed herself. Brand may already be dead but what if he is not?’

  Chart’s movement caught the attention of the humans who, as one, came to a halt and simply stood staring at the unicorn and the little creature on the floor beside him.

  Glancing back toward Chart, he could see that she was stomping up and down very erratically. She kept racing forward a little and then stopping, raising herself on her hind legs, smelling the air for a scent of life. Flack hearing her crying could only watch her as she seemed to nibble at something in her front paws, as if she was eating something, but Flack knew that she was not, he knew that she was more distraught than she had ever been before.

  Flack had met this situation almost as an outsider looking in, for it seemed to him that this could not be real, but now, anger began to surge through his body as he realised that, ‘The evil humans have carried out another killing for whatever reason it is that they deem is reason enough!’

  Flack began to shake a little as the anger went rumbling through him and he tried to decide what would be the thing that he should do. ‘Should I simply take Chart and the two of them race away from here as fast they could?’

  Watching Chart, Flack flinched when, suddenly, she stopped still; totally unmoving except her head jerking very slightly as she strained her senses and sent them in the direction of the human band.

  A sound came from the direction of the humans and Flack was stunned to realise that it was Brand’s voice calling out to them. There was great pain in his voice and he was telling them that they were to leave him, to forget him; telling them that they had to reach Essilon no matter what the cost. “Chart… you must… get Flack… to Essilon…”

  Brand’s voice was weak and though the human’s could not understand what it was that he was sayin
g Flack could sense nervousness amongst the human’s. ‘Is it possible that the humans are a little afraid of us?’

  His attention was caught by the movement of one of the humans as he raised an arm and pointed in Flack’s direction and he was sure that it was the horn atop his head that was taking the humans attention. ‘Perhaps my horn is what they are afraid of?’

  There was much tension in the air as the two groups studied each other. Brand’s voice continued calling to them, though it was obvious that he was growing weaker. Looking down into Chart’s eyes, Flack saw in her eyes her love for Brand.

  Jolting, the two of them turned and glared across the clearing once again as a scream of pain came tearing from Brand’s lips. For no particular reason, the human that was carrying Brand had slapped him against his leg, trying to stun Brand. ‘Most probably because of the noises the human’s heard as Brand had called to us. They probably think that it will make us run away and they do not want that. The callous…’

  Chart froze as she emitted a loud gasp and, all about her, Flack could see and feel her helplessness. ‘I see in her the confusion that I too held when the dirty, brutal humans had taken my mother. How helpless I had been. How pathetic I was to have gone away and left her just because she told me so.’

  Another scream came from the clearing, followed by the shouts and cheers of the three humans who had possession of Brand and now regarded him as some worthless toy that would ‘give them a few laughs before the stupid thing broke.’

  Yet another scream came echoing across the clearing and, as it faded, there was a pleading from Brand of, “Flack you must leave and you must take Chart to safety. You two must reach Essilon.” Somewhere, deep inside Flack, something snapped. Something broke under the pressure of heartache, through anger, through despair, through a need to never be helpless again. Something now rode through Flack’s veins that seemed as proud as an eagle soaring through the air.

  Flack, too, gave a scream as, slowly and deliberately, he came to a decision and stepped further into the clearing, clearly showing the humans that he was not going to turn and flee. Making the humans happy because, ‘I know that they want the trophy of my horn and, for that, they will try to find a way to capture me.’

  The humans stopped, standing staring at him and Flack heard one of the humans talking, as he said, “What have we here then? Why, it’s a brave baby unicorn.”

  Flack understood every word and, particularly, he understood all of the sarcasm which went with the statement. ‘I do not know how it is that I can understand the human voices but I am pleased that I can as it may serve me well in the times ahead. Perhaps it is a talent of the unicorns that my mother never had time to explain to me before she was…’ Thinking this, Flack knew that, ‘Whatever the outcome is to be here in this clearing it will not deter me from getting to Essilon. A destiny draws me there. I know this now and nothing, particularly murdering humans, will stop me!’

  The human holding the squirrel stood where he was as the other two began to move toward Flack. Flack stood waiting, a calmness in him as he watched the movements of their bodies waiting for the moment that he would take action. The humans kept moving slowly out into the clearing and Flack knew that they were trying to make no sudden movements in case he should turn and flee from the clearing. ‘If you knew what I know,’ thought Flack, ‘then you would not worry about moving slowly.’

  There was blood upon the hands of the humans, clearly visible as they continued approaching and Flack could see that it was still wet as it glistened beneath the rays of the sun. Turning his head, Flack told Chart to remain where she was. “Do not interfere and be prepared to seek shelter back amongst the trees.”

  Chart was walking backwards and forwards trying to decide what would be the right thing to do and, as Flack turned back to face the humans, he heard Chart’s distraught voice as she fearfully cried out, “Oh, Brand!”

  Reacting to the pain in the voice of Chart, Flack screamed just two words. He knew that the humans would not understand them but he knew that the squirrels would. Screaming, “Father! Mother!” he charged toward the two nearest humans.

  The humans threw stones wildly at his sudden onrush, but they all missed their mark as he ran straight at the nearest human. The human held his hands before him to ward off the attack but the horn raced past those dirty hands and sunk deep into the human flesh. Screaming, the human tried to run backwards instinctively and then, breaking free of the unicorn, he stood and stared at the unicorn for a moment. Rearing onto his hind legs, Flack caused his hoofs to crash into the face of the human and the humans went crashing backwards onto the floor. The human lay on the ground with one hand on his face and the other clutching his bloodied stomach, his eyes rolling in pain and horror. Twisting, screaming and moaning upon the ground, the human glared up at Flack and then, as Flack was about to turn away from the human, he felt something hard and sharp hit the side of his neck. Shocked, he realised that the other human had thrown a stone and to give him a chance to see where the human was and avoid another stone, he bolted away to his right and went thundering toward the tree line of the clearing.

  Approaching the tree line at a great speed, Flack tried to slow his progress as he turned to the left and then began picking up speed once again as he went charging around the edge of the clearing with the occasional branches scratching along his right side.

  Turning his gaze to the left, saw the nearer of the two humans who was desperately seeking stones within the grass around him but, by the panicky way in which his hands rubbed their way through the grass, Flack knew that he had not located anything that the human regarded as a worthy weapon.

  Registering the fact that Flack was coming around in an arc and that his face was held upon him, the human stood up quickly and began to back away. Suddenly, the human turned and fled toward the nearest trees, his ragged cloths seeming to trail behind him. Emitting a scream, the human ran into the trees, tripping over and stumbling to the floor he then quickly got to his feet and began racing forward again and was soon quickly lost amongst the undergrowth.

  Forcing himself to come to a halt amidst a thundering torrent of hard hitting hoofs, Flack’s mind was a cloud of pure, bitter revenge intent on finding something to take out his frustrations of all the times that he had been so useless. Standing still in the middle of the clearing, he shook his head, trying to clear some of the anger that ran through his veins. ‘So many times I have been so useless and it is I that survived while others, who were close to me, had not.’ Still trying to calm his anger, Flack could not help but still want something to take out his revenge upon and then he recalled the third human, the one who had stayed behind when the others had advanced; the very one who had carried Brand by his back legs, the one who had tried to beat Brand unconscious for the noises that he made.

  Turning his head slowly to the right, he looked directly toward the third human who was froze in obvious fear, crouching low to the ground and trying to look as helpless as possible.

  Without removing his gaze from the human, Flack turned his body to face him, his neck held low with his bloody horn clearly held on display. Standing completely still, Flack could not stop the nervous tic that flowed across his body, making his front left hoof stamp the ground hard and fast.

  Seeing the movement of Flack’s leg, and reacting to it, the human, obviously believing himself to be in danger, began to slowly stand holding both his arms out wide, showing Flack his palms, making slow pushing down gestures. ‘Is he trying to get me to calm down?’ Flack asked himself, and then, ‘I am not full of anger, human. I just want… revenge!’

  In a blinding rage, Flack bolted forward, gathering speed, watching the human begin to back away and then suddenly turn and begin to race for the nearby tree line just as his companion did.

  With his arms flailing through the air, Flack could see that the human was racing faster and faster towards the trees and that he would get there in a few moments. Bolstering his speed, Flack
increased the pounding of his legs upon the ground and, just as the human entered the tree line, Flack felt his horn plunge into the back of the human and then, raising his head, he tried to ground to a halt, fearful that he could trip over a fallen branch or tree root.

  His resulting actions had the effect of launching the human from his horn and up into the air were, as Flack came to a standstill, the human fell across a low hanging branch and, after emitting a gasp, the human just hung limply.

  Glaring at the evil body ahead of him, Flack stared at the blood that trickled down the arms and legs and began to drip to the ground. The human made no sounds and, from the upside down face that faced toward him, Flack saw no movement from the eyes that were open wide and staring at nothing.

  Everything had happened so quickly and it was almost a blur and then, recollecting that he had left Chart alone at the other side of the clearing, he knew that he had to return to her. With the anger draining from him, he found that his whole body was beginning to shake as waves of tension flowed from his being. Without the humans to confront him, he began quickly calming down. Moving back out into the clearing, feeling the bright sun wash over him, he saw the shape of the first human lying in the grass a little way ahead of him and he began walking towards it.

  Stopping beside the evil shape, he closed his eyes and shook his head a little, trying to breathe long and slow. He was disturbed by a moaning coming from beside him and he looked down at the first human he had attacked, who was now lying face down on the grass with his hands pulling the grass as he dragged himself toward the cover of nearby trees.

  Feeling movement nearby, he turned his head and saw Chart racing across the clearing to where the body of Brand lay upon the grass, discarded by the last human who had fled towards the safety of the tree line, ‘The one who now hangs limply from a branch and who will never hurt another creature ever again.’

  Turning and beginning to run, Flack raced across the clearing, chasing Chart to the place where the human had simply dropped Brand. Flack arrived just as Chart bent down and placed her head beside Brand’s, her hand upon his chest.

  “Brand is alive,” she gasped, “But he is very weak.” Chart began to openly cry new tears, which Flack could tell were not the same kind of tears that she had been crying only moments before.

  Gasping as Brand opened his eyes, Chart pulled his head slowly toward her chest and held him there, saying, “Brand, Brand, oh, my darling Brand, I love you so much – I have from the minute you told me to pick a letter…. and I still got butterflies when you kissed me like the first time you did…”

  Seeing that even though he was in great pain, Brand looked a little embarrassed that Flack was seeing this, he began to speak slowly in another subject.

  “The humans had seen me… and started throwing stones at me… One that would have missed me… bounced back from a branch… and caught me on the side of the head… I fell from the tree... The next thing I knew was that I… I was upside down and was being beaten… with a stick. I eventually lost consciousness…”

  Chart was continuing to cry while, between sobs, she was thanking Flack. Flack felt embarrassed by what had been done. ‘What came over me? What did I do? Am I that kind of creature that I can easily take the life of another?’ Feeling disgusted by his actions he turned away and began slowly walking, leaving Chart and Brand alone for a minute whilst they prepared to get ready to start walking again. ‘I can only hope that Brand will be recovered soon enough that we can get him under cover of the forest. And, if any humans come back while we are still in the clearing…’

  He walked back towards the first human he had charged upon in the clearing. When he arrived there he was not surprised to find that the human was dead. Now that the human had rolled over onto his back, Flack could see that his face a mask of horror.

  “It suits you, human,” he whispered.

  Flack thought, ‘How much nicer life and living would be without the humans around to spoil everything.’

  Chart began calling him, breaking him from his thoughts that were filled with anger and hatred for the humans, and so he started walking away from the human and back towards where the two squirrels waiting.

  Brand was, by now, upon his feet. His once beautiful fur was now matted and choked with drying blood and, feeling a sadness sweeping over him, Flack ignored the injuries to his little friend as best he could.

  “I feel a little better now...” Brand said, acknowledging the worried look upon Flacks face and trying to walk a little.

  Chart tried to interrupt, “We cannot move yet…” obviously to voice her opinion to the fact that Brand was not fit to walk and that they should rest.

  Brand waved her quiet, shaking his head, and her argument ceased.

  “Young Flack,” Brand began, looking up at him as he approached, “We must proceed with our journey. If the human who fled into the trees gets back to his companions then there will be more of them looking for us. They will not take it lightly that some ‘wild beast’ has killed one of their own.”

  He paused to allow Flack the opportunity to speak against his decision, but Flack remained silent. He was placing himself in the hands of Brand entirely. ‘I trust all your actions, for I know that you will only do what is right and what must be done.’

  Eventually Brand continued, saying, “I know I shall slow us down a little but I shall do my very best to keep up a reasonable speed. If, however, I am not able to keep up with you... if I slow you down too much, I must insist that you, Chart, go on ahead with young Flack. You must ensure he reaches Essilon...”

  At this point, Chart tried to interrupt once more but again Brand waved aside her complaint. “No arguments,” he stated firmly, though his voice was weak.

  Chart was obviously hurt by Brand’s abruptness, but she also knew that what he said was just and right. “Flack has to get to Essilon, no matter the cost...” she whispered low.

  “Come,” said Brand, “The quicker we are away from this place, the better,” and then, making a brave effort of walking forward, Flack could see that every step that he took was carved out in a pitiful pain.

  Staring in admiration at the little male squirrel, he could see the determination in him as though he was badly hurt he still insisted on moving on. ‘I wonder what drives him on? Why is it so important that I get to Essilon? I thought that it was just a place where all the beasts were gathering, hidden away in safety from the evil humans.’

  Still watching Brand, he saw Chart stand close beside him, placing one arm around his waist, trying to be gentle and yet making sure that she would support his weight as much as possible when they began to move. Limping awkwardly and suppressing a moan of pain, Brand dragged another leg forward and began walking slowly across the clearing, heading towards where the tree line was closest to them so that they could get under cover as quickly as possible. Flack followed, immediately behind the two, watching them slowly shuffle across what would have been very easy terrain for them to cross. The dry blood on Brand’s fur ruined his one beautiful proud coat and, though he would hate it to be there, Flack knew that it was to remain because he was just too weak to deal with it at this time. In himself, he knew that he would be glad to reach this place, this sanctuary; more for the sake of Brand and Chart than himself.

  The journey proceeded without incident until eventually night time began to descend upon them. The sky, at the horizon, had become a sea of pale yellow that, as the eye looked higher, became darker until there seemed to be many whirlpools of colour that camouflaged them within the blackness of the star pitted sky.

  Their journey was now a painful excursion into near stillness, for Brand was suffering very much now. Walking patiently behind them, he kept himself moving at an agonising crawl in his effort to remain at the rear of the group, though his eyes would keep searching ahead as he sought out any danger that could surprise them. He wished he could lead but he had no idea of the directions he would have to take and, besides, he was bound to mis
s danger signs that the squirrels would see very easily. ‘No, it is better that we travel as a group and, should we come across any humans then it will be up to me to deal with them and trust that the squirrels can make good their escape.’

  Another difficulty Flack experienced in the walking was that he also intensely desired to run; to run wild and fleeting, to chase the swift breezes that had been sailing silently across him as they walked. He wished to do this running for, once again, he could feel the muscles in his body being pumped full of some violent energy which needed, demanded, to be released by some form of frenzied, physical action. But he remained patient. ‘There will be time enough. For now, I must be patient. The safety of Brand and Chart is the priority for us all now.’

  Presently, rest was called upon, but Flack was surprised that it was not Brand who called for the rest. It was Chart who had demanded a rest and Brand, too feeble and weak to argue against this decision, almost collapsed, grateful for the rest. Chart immediately began guiding him into some thick, nearby bushes. The bushes would be their shelter for the night for they were of a size that could easily conceal the shape of a unicorn from the eyes of nearby humans.

  The three huddled close together for warmth but, although Flack lay still upon the ground, his ears were searching the night for sounds that they did not want to hear. Now that the three had stopped, it was far easier to feel how cold it really was, and it was very cold indeed. Lying to one side, with Brand lying at the base of the unicorn’s neck, Flack knew he would try not to move his neck at all through the night in case it added to the pains that tortured Brand. Brand was placed there by Chart and then she herself had lain against Brand to offer him more warmth. Her hands slowly rubbed the body of the male squirrel and, occasionally, she would take a small clump of dry blood and pull it gently from the matted coat of Brand. Sometimes, Brand would wince in pain and Chart would have to stop but, after a little while Brand fell into a deep sleep and Chart began to lick her paws and rub them against his fur, slowly teasing the blood from his fur coat. Flack had slowly brought his head around behind Chart so that the two squirrels were almost engulfed within a full circle of heat.

  Flack could see that Chart was finding it very hard to sleep herself. She was forever staring into Brand’s face, looking at the cut upon his forehead made by the vile ‘stone-throwing’ humans. She repeatedly licked the wound and gently spoke to Brand in his sleep, telling him how much she loved him, how all would be well once they had rested, but fatigue eventually began to reach deep into her own body and she too fell into a deep sleep of her own.

  Flack lay listening to the steady breeze for quite some time, the breathing of his two companions and, occasionally, some faraway scream of some beasts that were awake at this time of night. On one occasion, a great owl had landed and, from its high vantage point, had spotted the three. Flack looked up as he heard its flapping wings seeking purchase on some high located branch. They had seen each other and studied each other silently, and then the owl vanished into the night with a great clap of enormous wings. Flack listened to its fading wing beats and then, quite suddenly, he too was asleep.

  Although Flack slept deeply, the cold chill of the night haunted his every breath, as if infesting his lungs and making them almost seem to freeze in some evil way. He had dreams; and his dreams became filled with scenes of cold, cruel horror. The dreams haunted him all through the dark of night and when, at last, the morning arrived he could recollect one part of his many dreams. It retained itself vividly within his first waking and it brought the chill of the night into his heart of morning.

  His dream was a misty scene of a battle between the humans and the animals that roamed this land. It was a grotesque, grizzly dream that showed the sneering humans standing over the many bodies of creatures that they had slaughtered. The human’s mouths ran with blood and their hands dripped blood.

  These scenes disturbed Flack as he saw the scenes as representing a slaughter of innocents. This disturbing picture was telling of a triumph by the humans and it was a triumph that scared Flacks sleeping heart to the core.

  Awakening and recalling the dream, he feared that it was a scene waiting to be played out. He felt that it would surely come to pass and that these pictures that he had witnessed within his dreams, of the dead and dying animals and the triumphant evil humans, was a picture of what was to come. Fear began to seep into his awakening consciousness and he lay silently pondering if he was witnessing a scene that would happen when he reached Essilon. ‘Was I amongst the dead beasts that I saw in my dreams?’

  He remained unmoving, feeling a cold sweat bringing a deeper chill to his whole body, feeling the pains along his flanks as they began to bite into his consciousness. Trying to ignore the pains and resist the need to change his posture, he fought to remain still for as long as he could as he did not wish to wake either Chart or, particularly Brand as he would need as much rest as possible before they began the days trek.

  The pains continued increasing in Flack and he found himself tensing his body as a way to try to combat the pain, wanting his concentration to be focused of those actions while trying to blot out the pain. Eventually, he knew that he would have to move his body a little because the pains were now so intense and were bringing tears into his eyes. Slowly raising his head as gently as he could, he began to peer around at the surroundings of their night shelter. The branches were alive with the sounds of fresh morning breezes parading slowly around the beautiful, multi-coloured leaves and he stared at the gently moving leaves for a moment before choosing one that he would concentrate upon. He watched the leaf near the end of a long slender branch as it fluttered in the wind for a little time before suddenly becoming still and unmoving. When it next began to flutter in the breeze, Flack tried to detect the breeze that made it dance but he could not feel it touching his body. ‘The breeze is so delicate…’

  The pains began to invade his thoughts once again and so, as a way of ignoring them, Flack kept his mind intent on listening out for the slightest human made sound that might make its way through the forest. After a little while of hearing nothing except the occasional birdsong in the distance his attention was taken by the movement of an insect upon a nearby leaf. It was a winged creature that would suddenly fly into the air and then on the same leaf before remaining motionless for a few moments and then it would suddenly leap into the air, appearing to fly in crazy erratic circles before landing back upon the same leaf. Trying to work out what the insect was doing entertained Flack’s mind for quite some time and he even forgot about the pains in his body eventually.

  His eyes remained trying to keep the insect in focus as it carried out its acrobatic flights and he became hypnotised by watching its antics, his dreams in the night had made him uneasy and he was still much disturbed by these visions in his dreams but, now that he was so intent on the insect, he could forget those dreams, and forget his pains, as he took residence within a small world that consisted only of a leaf and a single, solitary flying insect.

  With the insect becoming the only world he knew, he was a while coming to terms with the fact that a voice was intruding upon this special place where he could forget all of the terrible memories and pains that fought constantly for his attention. Acknowledging the presence of the voice, he began listening to the words and realised that he was not being addressed directly. The voice seemed to be just talking to someone else and he was listening on a private conversation and he tried to ignore the words. It was a moment or two before Flack realised that Chart was the one doing the speaking. He quickly tried to rush a word of acknowledgement but nothing came out. He never attempted to repeat that which he had tried to speak and simply looked down at the squirrel, not hearing the words she spoke, while his mind played back scenes from the recent days, starting with their first meeting only a few days before. How, in fact, the little male squirrel had saved his life by getting him away from the much loved fruit that had lain upon the floor beneath the trees where they had
first met. And how, shortly after he had moved away, the fallen fruit had been greedily attacked by two huge bears; bears who probably would have been very upset by the presence of the small unicorn. ‘It seems strange the way that the bears fought and yet, when all animals reach Essilon, the land was supposed to be a place of peace where all creatures would exist in harmony.’

  Chart was continuing to speak and Flack slowly allowed her words to register in his mind as he heard her say, “... and we always promised that whoever died first would have a burial surrounded by Chukka nuts. We always promised each other we would give the other at least five or seven if we could manage to get them because, as you know, the Chukka tree protects its nuts very well.”

  Chart paused for a breath and Flack realised that there had been an uncomfortable trembling in her voice.

  Chart continued speaking and, with his eyes fixed on her, Flack listened to her saying, “Normally, you can only get hold of the fallen ones... and you could search for days to find only one. That is why they are such a symbol to our people... and now Brand’s gone I’ll never have time to find him the fruit that I promised him.”

  Suddenly bursting into tears, Chart’s body was wracked in violent shaking as she knelt down and pulled Brand towards her, rocking him gently back and forth.

  Flack could only silently look on as his own silent tears began their journey of sadness from his own dark eyes. It seemed an eternity that he lay there, looking upon the small body and trying to find adequate words.

  Chart had been cleaning all of the dried blood from Brand’s forehead and hands. It was a task that she had carried out to try to keep herself occupied and to give her something meaningful to do. It was a task carried out with tenderness and with undying love.

  Flack stared at the body of Brand and refused to believe that the small body was now a shell, empty of life, stripped of imagination, torn away from the one he loved. Flack believed that any moment now, Brand would suddenly open his eyes and tell them that they had best be moving on towards Essilon but, from somewhere inside his heart, Flack knew that was not going to happen. ‘I wish that Brand would just awake and give us his instructions but… I know that he will not.’

  A gentle, but clear, sobbing took Flack’s attention. It was Chart and her louder cries of pain and sorrow drove home the fact that Brand was dead, slain by the humans for no reason at all. ‘His death did not benefit their survival in any way, so why did they do it?’

  Flack gently raised himself to his feet, allowing Chart to support Brand’s body. Chart never once seemed to notice Flack’s movement and continued rocking back and forth whilst she cradled the lover who was gone from her forever.

  Staring down numbly at the body of Brand, Flack knew he did not like this death event and the grief it caused for all concerned. He did not care about the death of the human who had caused Brand’s fatal wound but to see the death of one who was so dearly loved was far too distressing. Then Flack knew something else with a dread and a certainty. ‘My mother and father must also be dead. It will do me no good believing that they will be waiting for me in Essilon. They are gone! No! No! No!’ He had tried to deny this to himself many, many times but now he knew that he could no longer continue denying these facts.

  Tears pooled in his eyes, blurring his vision, before they started to run down his face. He made no sounds and just continued looking at the body of Brand while thinking of his mother and father. ‘Why? Why? Why?’

  Sounds from Chart took his attention and, looking at her, he could see her crying unashamedly, crying over the death of Brand. Feeling awkward, he could not think of anything to say and began to feel that he was directly responsible for what had happened to Brand. ‘If I had never met them then Brand would still have been alive.’

  He did not want to say anything, as rising from his memories a picture appeared of Brand and, in his mind's eye, he saw Brand floating through the sky, rising up to meet his own mother and father. This picture in his head hurt deeply and fresh tears began to crawl around the edges of his eyes, until they had robbed him of all clear vision and now there were no trees, no flowers, no sky, and no ground. Flack could only see a jumble of swirling, dripping colours masquerading as life. He continued standing there, awkwardly, waiting for Chart to say something, even if only to blame him for the loss of Brand’s life. The silence from no words was a heavy cloak draped around pain-filled shoulders.

  Chart, remained saying no words and continued crying, sitting beside the body of Brand and, after a little while, she drew his still form closer and upwards, trying to rest Brands head upon her shoulder. Continuing to look through teary eyes Flack could not help but gasp as he saw Brand’s arm hanging limply at his sides. ‘He is truly gone! Brand will never be coming back!’

  Chart continued to cry because that was all that she could at this time, slowly rocking back and forth she cradled the body of her beloved, her companion, and her best friend. Feeling more and more uncomfortable, Flack could only stand in silence and wait for whatever would be the end of this moment.

  A movement made by Chart caused Flack to watch her intently as she gently leant Brand back down to the ground and then, leaning over him, she gave him a gentle kiss upon his forehead. Chart then sat up, kneeling and facing Brand, and said, directing her words to Flack as well as the silent form of Brand. “We always promised that whoever died first would have a burial mound made entirely of Chukka nuts. We always promised each other we would give the other at least five or seven if we could manage to find them. You know the Chukka tree protects its nuts very well.” A pause for breath. “Normally you can only get hold of the fallen ones... and you could search for days to find only one. That is why they are such a symbol to our people... and now Brand’s gone I’ll never have time to find him the fruit that I promised him.” She burst into tears... and Flack could only stand there silently as his own silent tears began their journey of sadness from his own dark eyes.

  Chart continued speaking, her voice quieter, though Flack could still easily hear her. “I will miss you, Brand. We have journeyed so far together that it was always impossible for me to imagine a time when we would be apart. Know that you take a part of me with, a part that I want you to hold onto until we meet again. I miss you, my love, and I will miss for all the time that I remain in this world.

  I know that, somewhere, you can hear me. So listen to me Brand, I will never, ever, ever stop loving you and I will never have a greater love than the one I have for you.

  Goodbye, my best friend, my lover, my comforter. I will see you soon; I promise that you will not be alone for long. Goodbye, I love you; I will always love you, now and forever…”

  Chart began to cry, leaning forward and holding the silent body of her lover, rocking back and forwards while she caressed his head, rocking him as if to a peaceful sleep.

  Flack felt that the forest seemed quiet, far too quiet. His heart was beating deep and hard beats, which seemed to reverberate through his body. The singing of the birds in the trees had hushed and Flack did not like the total silence that seemed to surround him. At once, Flack thought about humans. ‘Maybe they were near?’ And then, from deep down inside of him, he heard a voice speak. It was a harsh, angry voice and it was a voice that he had never heard before. The voice said, ‘Let them come. Just let them come!’

  Suddenly, he heard Chart’s small voice speaking to him once again.

  “I will have to find at least one Chukka nut. You don’t mind do you?” she said, turning to face Flack and awaiting his answer.

  “No, of course not,” replied Flack, making sure that she heard his reply this time. “Where do we find this Chukka nut?” he asked her.

  “Oh, we could find it anywhere. All around us you’re bound to find at least one Chukka nut tree.” Her voice was strained as she sought to control the emotion within her. “They’re the ones with yellow looking, hairy leaves that have the spiny red flowers hidden deep amongst the yellows. The Chukka nuts are held deep
within the red flower. It isn’t possible to get to them.” Her voice began to slow down as she once again turned to gaze upon the body of her dear Brand.

  “They are protected by the yellow hairs, which are poisonous and the red flower itself has a fatal sting, triggered off by anything touching the yellow hairs. Birds do not even land in this tree. Only the insects can climb amongst the foliage...” Her voice trailed off.

  It was as if she neither heard nor cared what she spoke, she simply said it automatically. Her voice spoke but the mind, as the heart, was far more interested in something else; the loss of Brand.

  “You remain with Brand. How will I know the Chukka nut?” questioned Flack, annoyed with himself for having to be asking so many questions, feeling as though he was intruding upon her grief unnecessarily.

  “They’re very dark brown with small red spots along the seam,” she almost whispered this as she spoke and Flack was glad to have heard her the first time, he did not want to have asked her to repeat herself.

  “I won’t be long... I promise,” he said, but Chart never replied, though Flack was sure that she had heard him.

  He almost said to her, ‘don’t go away,’ but he managed to check himself and, instead of carrying on with the embarrassing talking, he turned and began walking away, searching out the colour of any yellow leafed tree, hoping that it would be one that would hold the Chukka nuts that he had promised to find.

  Feeling the relief of tension flooding from his body as he moved away to leave Chart to spend her grief alone. ‘I feel I am intruding. I should not be here. And Brand, I promise you this, I will get Chart safely to Essilon for you.’

  Seeing a hint of yellow through branches of nearby trees, he had made his way toward the trees but was disappointed when he reached them. The leaves were yellow but they were long and thin and he could see no red flowers.

  Searching the ground around the trees, peering hard into the longer grass and undergrowth, he keep searching for any signs of something round, brown, and with small red dots along a seam. Feeling despondent, he gave up his searching and then, choosing a direction he began walking that way, his eyes scanning the tree branches ahead of him

  The thought of returning to Chart without at least one of the nuts that were treasured so much by Chart and Brand, brought misery to his being. Looking at the ground ahead of him he saw nothing that offered him hope. Feeling sad, believing that he would not be able to find a Chukka nut, he picked another path ahead of him and began wandering slowly, watching the branches ahead of him and lancing at the ground close by him.

  ‘After all that Brand has done for me it is the least I can do for him. I must find a Chukka nut, I must! I cannot do the impossible! If I cannot find them then I cannot take them back!’

  Feeling agitated and anxious, he glanced back in the direction from which he had come, getting his bearing, and then began running forward, racing between the trees and always looking for the tell-tale signs of yellow leaves in the canopy overhead.

  Knowing that he should not wander too far away he could not help but expand his search and began sweeping to his left in an arc, trying to maintain a bearing of the approximate direction where Chart was awaiting his return.

  A sound came carried amongst the trees, urgent and emotional it was one as he stopped his running and listened to the area around him.

  ‘Humans?’ he wondered, immediately becoming fearful for Chart and, as he turned and prepared to head back, without the Chukka nut, he heard the sound again.

  A high pitch scream came from the direction from which he had travelled and it was Chart’s voice that he heard, recognising it clearly this time. He froze in a statuesque shock as one word screamed across his mind, ‘Humans!’

  Jerking his neck back, Flack stamped his forelegs and then, turning his body around, he bolted off in the direction of Chart’s scream. Trees, bushes, and shrubs flew past him and his mind, boiling in anger, suddenly informed him that he had lost his bearings. Coming to a halt so suddenly, it was as if he had run into an invisible barrier. Stomping his forelegs into the ground, feeling the need to be running urgently, he began looking around the close knit community of tree trunks that surrounded him, looking for anything that would confirm which way he should be heading. ‘There! That branch hanging low, almost ripped from the trunk of the tree, I passed that when I was searching!’ Knowing the direction that he should be heading in, he spurted forward, searching for the easiest route amongst the trees ahead of him.

  Crashing through the undergrowth, his mind could now ignore the worry of going in the wrong direction and so it began to seethe and boil with hatred for the humans once again.

  Solid brown giants lined his path and, when another call made itself heard above the sound of his thundering passage through the forest, he increased his speed, hoping that his running skills would be good enough to ensure that he could avoid any sudden obstacles that appeared in his path.

  A change in the light among the trees ahead of him told him that he was nearing the place where he had left Chart. The sun was quite easily able to penetrate a thin canopy that they had slept under.

  The trees trunks ahead of him seemed as if to suddenly stop and he knew that he was about to plunge into a more open area. Realising that he might go crashing into Chart, or even a human trap, he pounded his forelegs deep into the soil, driving them down as if they would anchor him, whilst pains shot through his body as it tried to react to the sudden decrease in speed while fighting against the momentum that he had built up in his mad dash to get here as quickly as possible. Soil and grass were thrown up from the ground as his speed began decreasing and then, bursting through into a small clearing, a maddening scene of horror erupted in his eyes. His body coming to a complete halt, his eyes went wide as he turned his head to the right, his mind struggling to acknowledge the horror in front of him.

  A human was bending over the now still and bloodied body of Chart. Flack could not understand it. ‘Why is all this happening? All these killings! What have Chart or Brand done to deserve any of this?’ he asked himself again, noticing that the human had not over reacted to his sudden arrival. ‘Is he remaining calm because he does not want to frighten me away, or is he so sure that I will not come any closer toward him?’

  Flack realised that the human was now looking straight back at him; the face was dull though the eyes glared briefly at Flack and then, abruptly, the human lost his startled look, turned away and continued upon his business.

  His business was trying to tie some kind of rope, or vine, around Chart’s hind legs.

  ‘Obviously, this human feels he has nothing to fear from this unicorn because his movements suggested that he does not care about me being here. Obviously, the human is wrong!’

  At first, Flack had just stood there stunned, with his anger rising fast throughout the muscles of his young body.

  The human turned again and, seeing the Flack still standing there, he picked up a small object and threw it toward Flack. It was not really aimed at him and, as it bounced beside him with very little force, Flack knew that the human was simply trying to scare him away. ‘Obviously, it had been designed to make me flee. Obviously, the human is wrong about what he thinks I will do!’

  Then, completely ignoring Flack’s presence, the human began to pull the vine tighter around Chart’s legs and, as he did so, Chart uttered a small, painful, moan.

  Somewhere in Flack, the rising anger burst from behind a timid dam and beginning to run forward whilst turning his body to the right, he charged toward the human.

  This time the human reacted to Flack, appearing startled by the noise and movement he turned his crouched body to face Flack.

  Flack, seeing the human was holding the limp and bloodied body of Chart in one hand, began turning away to the left, watching for the nearby trees as he peeled away from the human. ‘Chart is still alive! I cannot risk her further injury or suffering!’

  Slowly standing up, the human kept his body tu
rned toward Flack as he began to back away, moving himself closer toward the edge of the small clearing, hoping to get himself between the trees and make it extremely difficult for Flack to be able to threaten him.

  Now standing and facing the human, his muscles shaking and his breathing laboured, Flack saw a look in the human’s eyes suggesting that he did not understand why the unicorn was behaving in an aggressive manner.

  Flack was lost about what action to take. ‘I cannot leave Chart to the human, nor can I risk attacking the human and injuring Chart.’

  Glancing around the open area, he saw the body of Brand laying still, a few body lengths to the right of the human; his form an effortless witness to the gruesome scene occurring in front of him.

  A quick movement caught Flack’s eye as, from behind a bush, there came a shout and then a large stone rolled out to stop close to where the human now stood.

  Moving his gaze from the stone, he glared directly at the human, looking at the human’s tattered rags that adorned its evil body as it began slowly stooping toward the ground, preparing to retrieve the stone. A twisted dirty hand reached for the stone and Flack could see that a stone of that size could cause him a lot of pain and possible serious injury if he were to be struck by it. Not daring to flinch, he remained standing, breathing slowly while continuing staring at the human.

  ‘If I were to make a sudden charge toward the human then it may drop Chart and leave the area or,’ he thought bitterly, ‘the human might run into the trees and take Chart with him and I will never be able to try and get her away from the human!’

  Reaching out further to grasp the stone, the human was moving slowly and Flack knew that the human would soon be armed with his weapon. With his mind in flux, Flack did not know what action he could or should take.

  Then, as if an answer to a prayer, the human did something that came as a total surprise and which allowed Flack to take action; the human placed Chart’s body upon the ground. ‘That is a big mistake for you human,’ thought Flack, beginning to charge toward the human, his head low and his eyes keeping in mind exactly where the human had put Chart upon the ground. It was the chance to rescue Chart from the human that he had been hoping for.

  Tearing up the damp grass and soil at his feet, Flack rapidly increased his speed, ensuring that the human would not have time to reclaim his prize and attempt to flee into the denser part of the forest.

  The human decided to forsake picking up the stone as he saw the imminent threat from Flack, and he could not help but try to stand and stagger a little backwards, trying to increase the gap between the two on them.

  Whether it was anger or sorrow there was something that caused Flack to lose concentration, and he stumbled. He did not topple over completely but merely slewed to one side and bounced against the human in no more than a savage blow. The crash was enough to send the human careering backwards as Flack successfully managed to regain his balance. Turning around, and preparing to charge again, Flack was concerned that he had lost his bearing on were Chart lay in the grass.

  He paused for a moment and, in that moment, another human, the hidden one, suddenly ran from behind nearby bushes and made their way quickly toward the fallen human.

  Watching the scene, Flack saw that this new arrival was a female human and she appeared to be very concerned about the fallen human as she raced to his side and assisted him into a sitting position.

  Snorting loud and shaking his head, Flack hesitated in his attack. The humans had ceased all hostile actions for the moment and Flack was happy not to continue the attack because he did not want to race toward them knowing that Chart was lying somewhere on the ground nearby.

  Stomping his forelegs agitatedly upon the ground, he saw the human female’s sudden response as she quickly turned her head in his direction, obviously fearful that the unicorn was preparing to attack once again. Seeing Flack remaining where he was she turned back toward the human who, clutching his stomach and side, was pushing away from the ground and trying to stand up.

  The male human was in pain, emphasised heavily when he clutched at his shoulder and Flack could see the wince he gave as pain shot through his body. The female continued supporting the injured human, helping him get to his feet. The male human’s eyes never left Flack as he struggled to get his balance.

  ‘I can see the evil and hatred in your eyes, human,’ thought Flack, ‘and you should be glad that I stumbled in my attack. You have got off lightly. Now go, so that I may tend to Chart!’

  The female human steadied the male human and, once she was sure that he was able to hold himself upright, she began stooping forward, reaching toward her left, trying to pick something up from the ground.

  ‘No!’ Flack’s mind screamed as he realised that she was trying to get hold of the bound figure of Chart. Flack immediately began to stomp his forelegs upon the ground, making the human female stop in her action of reaching toward the ground. Glancing at Flack, she slowly withdrew her arm and, as she did so, Flack stopped pounding his forelegs. Seeing what was happening the human female suddenly pulled her arm back quickly, stood up and then turned, placing an arm around the human male, supporting him.

  Glancing over her shoulder as she began to lead the male human toward the protection of the nearby trees, Flack felt as though she seemed puzzled as to why a not yet fully grown beast could cause her so much harm. Flack could tell that she dared not risk another attack from what she regarded as a savage beast.

  Supporting her injured companion, the human female began to move quickly, almost dragging the human male with her.

  Continuing to watch, Flack was pleased to see the evil humans enter into a thicker area of forest and, purely because he did not trust them, he trotted over to the place where they had been swallowed up by the undergrowth. ‘I cannot assume that they are leaving just because I cannot see them.’

  Reaching the place where he had last seen the humans, Flack moved a little into thicker bushes, his muscles tensed, preparing him to run at the slightest sign of danger. His face pushed through the branches slowly, as raising his neck he peered into the quiet greenery around him. Everywhere was quiet. ‘Where have the humans gone?’

  CRACK!

  Hearing the sound of branches being broken, he turned his head towards the right, peering ahead through the leaves and flowering blossoms and there, moving among large tree trunks to his right, he caught a glimpse of the female human supporting the male human as they continued moving away from the area. Listening closely, he heard complaints of pain from what he believed to be the male. ‘Perhaps the human received broken bones when I collided with him,’ thought Flack, ‘I hope so, and I also hope that there are no other humans nearby. Maybe I should follow them to make sure… No, I must return to Chart quickly!’

  Moving backwards, Flack began to move back into the open clearing but something made him halt. ‘I cannot trust humans.’

  Noises came from the forest, noises that were not natural. It was not the sound of human voices and only lasted for a few moments. Feeling slightly apprehensive, Flack moved back into the bushes, trying to find the place where he had been seen the humans moving into the distance. After jostling backwards and forwards a little he eventually reclaimed his vantage point. It took a few moments but, once he saw the gully that ran through the trees ahead of him, he followed it to where he believed he last saw the humans. Then, there was a movement and, after staring hard, Flack was able to see a human figure. The human was sitting against a tree but because it was sitting facing in this direction, it was almost invisible against the darkness of the tree trunk it leant against. It was only because the human leant to the side that he saw his shape and, from what he was able to determine, it was likely to be the human male.

  ‘Where has the female human gone?’

  It was obvious that the humans were not continuing to leave the area and Flack had to ask himself, ‘What is there here to make them want to stay? Why did they not keep moving? Are they awaiting t
he arrival of more of their kind?’

  Knowing that he could not risk returning to Chart with the humans still in the area, Flack moved deeper into the bushes, fighting against thicker branches as he sought to get past them and move closer to the humans, hoping that his presence near to them would persuade the humans to continue upon their way. He was now hoping, deep down, that they were far from any other humans. He did not like to think that another, larger party of them were to be turning up again within a short while.

  Walking slowly down into the gully, he began to follow it as it wound itself between the trees, relentlessly heading toward where the human leant against the tree. Pausing, he felt the quietness of the forest, the silence of the birds, ‘But that is not strange. Many creatures go silent and hide when they know that there are humans in the area.’

  Seeing a movement against the distant tree trunk, Flack was sure that the human had seen him and so he began to walk slowly forward once again. ‘Where is the human female? Has she left the human male behind while she goes to get assistance in helping him walk?’

  Moving slowly forward again, Flack eyes were searching the tree near to the sitting human, looking for any sign of the human female. ‘Perhaps she is gathering wood to build a fire, for that is something that the humans do when they feel threatened or determined to remain in one place for a little while.’

  Stopping once again, Flack asked himself, ‘How is it that I know such things? How do I know what fire is and that it is a tool of the humans?’

  A scream rang out close by and, bolting forward as he turned his head to the left, following the sound, he saw the human female running down the side of the gully toward him, a large thick branch held extended in front of her. The wood caught a glancing blow on his left hind quarters, sending a shooting pain through him as his forward motion managed to deflect the branch.

  Grinding to a halt and turning as quickly as possible, ready to face the human female once again, he was wary of travelling any further along the gully in case it put him in reach of stones being thrown by the human male.

  Flack stopped in his tracks, staring at the scene before him. With surprised shock he saw that the female was no longer trying to race toward him. Instead, she was doubled over, her arms still slowly swinging backwards and forwards.

  The position of the human female was wrong somehow and, as Flack moved tentatively nearer, he saw that she was being held in that position by the thick wooden branch.

  ‘In charging down the gully toward me, and me deflecting the crude wooden spear, the human female has ran into the other side of the gully. Her own weight has impaled her upon the evil weapon that she had so crudely fashioned.’

  From the tattered, forward hanging rags, Flack could see a dark liquid beginning to drip from the material. The human female’s arms were now completely still.

  ‘I do not understand the humans?’ thought Flack, just as shouts erupted from behind him. Turning his head, Flack saw the male human scrambling down the gully a little way behind him. His was clutching an arm across his ribs as he made his way towards the human female.

  Noting that the human did not have a weapon in his hands and that it was unlikely that he would be able to use one, Flack began walking along the gully, heading back to where Chart was lying.

  Slowly passing the impaled female, Flack gave her a glance and was satisfied that she would not be extracting herself from the wood. ‘Your own actions have ensured that a number of other creatures will not have to fall prey to your evil ways.’

  Hearing the human scrambling along the gully, he increased his pace a little and, just as he was climbing form the gully and back into the bushes he glanced back, seeing that the human male now had the human female lying upon the ground and he was making strange, emotional sounds as he looked upon her face.

  ‘How can such a creature cry when it spends so much of its life bringing misery and death to others?’

  Moving through the bushes and into the clearing, Flack knew that the human would not try to come and seek revenge. ‘He is too injured to attempt to attack me and if there were other humans in the area then they would surely have come to his assistance by now.’

  Increasing his speed, he went quickly to where he believed Chart was lying in the grass. Getting nearer, he walked slowly, guiltily to where Chart lay. Looking down at her small form, he tried to ignore that her body was wet with blood. His large, dark eyes looked down into her face and he saw that her eyes responded. Moving across his features he saw her relax when she was sure that it was him and not one of the human’s returned.

  “Do not blame yourself, young Flack,” she said slowly, deliberately. There was a long pause, as if she was gathering all of the words that she wanted to say, before continuing with, “Please, lay me next to my Brand so that we two may be at peace together, lying side by side.” Chart became quiet again.

  Staring down, he wanted to remove the ropes that bound her legs but he did not wish to try to bite through them in case it should cause her any more pain. ‘What can I do? What have the human’s done?’

  “Please, lay me beside Brand, and then you must leave for Essilon. You must find it. You must be the one,” she pleaded and demanded of Flack.

  Flack wanted to interrupt her, to ask her what it was that both she and Brand had tried to tell him. ‘Why do I seem so special to these two that they have already laid down their lives for me, especially when they have not known me for a very short time? Why do they do this and still not bear any malice against me after all that has happened since our meeting?’

  His thoughts were interrupted as quietly, she continued. “Do not fear for me or Brand. We knew the risk of trying to move through this place with so many humans around. I can only say that I am sorry that we never got you to Essilon but you must still get there, Flack. You must!” Her last words sounded like a command and an urgent request.

  Chart paused and Flack considered asking her why it was so important that he got to Essilon, but he felt he had asked too much of Chart and Brand, already. ‘This is not the time. If Chart believes that she must tell me more then I know that she will.’

  “Please, lay me beside Brand, I want…” she paused, and Flack waited for her to continue, but she did not… nor would she again.

  Flacks mind was numb. She had closed her eyes when she had spoken Brand’s name and Flack had believed that she would still be telling him what to do, the things that need to be done.

  “Chart?” he whispered, but there was no reply. “Chart, can you hear me?” he asked again, with tears falling from his eyes.

  Her eyes did not open, nor her mouth to utter a reply. Flack stood there motionless, his eyes staring into her face, looking for the slightest response to his voice.

  “Chart, I am so, so sorry, I never wanted these things to happen. If I could have known that my being with you would end up like this then I would never have joined with you. I would have continued to try and find my way in the world on my own. Please forgive me, Chart. I hope that you are now with the one who loves you and that you will be together, forever, always. I am going to miss you… I am so, so sorry…”

  Flack could not speak anymore. His throat had gone dry and the lump that rested there seemed as though it were trying to prevent him from ever breathing again.

  His mind went blank as he continued staring at the little creature before him, with his eyes ignoring the blood of death upon her coat and showing him, instead, the way she was before all of this cruelty had happened.

  The numbness within him was great and he could conjure up no words that would give him comfort.

  A slight shift in the light brought him as if out from a trance and, concerned that the human may try to seek revenge he knew that he had to do what he needed to do as quickly as possible. ‘Otherwise, all that Chart and Brand have done will be in vain.’

  Gently, and with tears in his eyes, he picked up Chart using the ropes that so cruelly bound her. The taste of her blood was in
his mouth and he tried hard to ignore it.

  Walking a little way toward a large clump of grass where he knew that Brand had been lying, he located Brand’s body and then, as gently as he could, he lowered Chart to the ground beside him. Using his head, he nudged her gently until she was lying close beside him. ‘I wish I could place their arms around each other…’

  Standing back a little, because he felt as though he were intruding on something that he should not, he gazed down upon the little creatures. ‘I know with all my heart that you were the closest of lovers and when Brand left us I should have known that you would not be able to remain behind alone. What did you do, Chart? Were you found by the human male or did you deliberately attack him, trying to ensure that you were reunited with your Brand?’

  No tears fell from Flack’s eyes as he looked at the pair of lovers at rest. His mind began to simply try to absorb the enormity of what had happened, and he began wondering, ‘How can events be allowed to be played out this way?’

  Taking a deep breath, Flack felt useless. ‘For all of my attacks on the humans I was not able to protect these two beautiful creatures. How still they are, though it is no fault of their own that they had come to end this way. The fault is all my own. I wish I had never become joined to them… We should have remained apart and that way they would still be alive…’

  Bitter, angry tears welled in eyes that Flack thought would not be capable of producing any more tears.

  His mind began recalling the Chukka nuts that appeared so important to them. He thought of Chart’s request for her Brand. She had said, ‘I will have to find at least one Chukka nut. You don’t mind do you?’ Thinking of her words, Flack knew that there was something, though small, that he could do for the two lovers. ‘I will get you your Chukka nut! Chart, you will have your wish.’

  Pulling himself away from the presence of the two silenced squirrels, he turned and began to slowly walk away and then, realising what he was setting out to do, he increased his speed because he hated himself for having to leave them behind, leaving them lying there and prey to anything that came along.

  Colours caught Flacks attention and he ground to a halt, turning his head a little to the right. Red and yellow colours were abundant in a tree that was not so far away from him and so he raced toward the tree. Stopping close to one of the trees he could now see that there were a number of trees with the yellow leaves upon them. ‘Are they the ones are that I am searching for? And after searching so far in another direction I find that if I had only chosen this direction then I would have found them quickly?’

  Looking upwards, studying the branches and their contents, he became convinced that they were a match to the description of Chukka nuts that Chart had given to him. Stretching his neck toward the ground, he began to look amongst the long grass for any sign of a single Chukka nut, but his patience wore thin as he searched the ground and could find no sign of the fruit that we needed so much.

  Turning to look at the nearest tree that held the precious nut, Flack grew angry because there were so many nuts high in the tree and yet not one had fallen to the ground beneath any of the trees that he had searched. His mind snapped and, in a raging fury, he ran towards the nearest tree and then, reaching the tree, he turned to face away from it and began to kick out harshly with his hind legs, hoping that he was strong enough to be able to dislodge one of the precious nuts from its resting place.

  With his rear hoofs colliding with the solidness of the tree trunk, he felt the resulting shockwaves of pain shooting through his legs. Dull thuds rang out as his legs kicked back at the tree and he was rewarded when, after an anger driven barrage of kicks, two nuts fell from the safe confines of the mother-like tree. They landed with gentle thumps in the grass beside him.

  ‘I have not one but two Chukka nuts. I have one for Chart and Brand each!’ Ceasing his frenzied activity, he was about to walk and collect the Chukka nuts but then his mind suddenly decided against it. ‘In my heart I know that these two precious creatures, Chart and Brand, deserve more than just two Chukka nuts!’

  Beginning to assault the tree once again, Flack knew that this time he was not attacking it in anger; this time he was attacking it with desire and passion. ‘This is for the two of you!’ With a raging desire of passionate energy he set about striking the tree harder and harder, ignoring any pains that he felt in his legs as he thundered a slow, monotonous beat that he knew would be heard a long way off in the forest.

  Seeing more Chukka nuts beginning to fall, he ignored them as his mind concentrated on kicking the tree for as long as he could while, all the time, his anger helped him to ignore the pain that coursed through his body with every jarring kick he sent driving into the tree.

  His pounding echoed through the forest, and it went on and on, and on, until Flacks legs began to dither and he could kick no more. He almost stumbled on a few occasion when his hind legs tried to seek purchase upon the ground, prior to any kick and when, on one of his kicks one leg missed the tree he knew that he had done all he could for the time being.

  His body, caked in sweat, began shivering at the sudden cessation of his onslaught. And so, eventually, after an amount of time unknown to him, a time when the sun had flashed within his eyes a hundred times, he had finally stopped... and before him there were now more than just two solitary Chukka nuts.

  Happiness and sadness both welled within him as he gazed upon the prize that he had secured for the lovers Chart and Brand.

  After resting for a few moments, to quell his quivering nerves, he set upon the task of moving them, by mouth, to where the bodies of Chart and Brand lay.

  Gathering the Chukka nuts was not too difficult as he could carry them in his mouth but it was when he tried to gather a third and forth one that he began to struggle, as it was difficult to stop the first ones gathered from falling from his mouth. Satisfied that he had three, he began to lope back to where the bodies of Chart and Brand lay and, reaching them, he deposited the Chukka nuts beside them. After a brief glance at what looked to be peacefully sleeping creatures, he turned and ran back to the harvest that he had gathered.

  Reaching the area beneath the tree he saw that number of Chukka nuts had fallen close together, with some lying almost on top of others. Moving towards a small group, he extended his forelegs and neck, getting his mouth as close to the ground as possible and then, turning his head sideward to the ground, he found he could scoop a large number of the precious nuts easily into his mouth. Standing, he raced back to where the two squirrels lay, deposited the Chukka nuts and raced back to quickly gather more.

  His activity grew feverish and his mind eyes became a blur as he raced back and forth gathering what he could and, each time that he returned, he gently placed the Chukka nuts over the bodies of his dear, departed friends.

  Eventually, there came a time when he had to place them upon the faces of the two squirrels and then, after a few more journey’s, he was not longer able to see the bodies of Chart and Brand as they now lay beneath the mound of Chukka nuts that were such a powerful symbol to their kind.

  Eventually, on a return trip to the area where the Chukka nuts had fallen, he found he had to search for a while before he found one single Chukka nut. He could find no others.

  ‘It is done,’ he thought, ‘I now have the last of the Chukka nuts to take back to Chart and Brand. It seems strange because even though they are gone I feel as though they are not. Is that because their bodies lie back there that they feel as though they are still with me? Is that why I feel so lost to my mother and father? Is it because I never found them ever again?’

  Turning, he began walking slowly back to the mound of Chukka nuts that concealed Chart and Brand. His body was shivering violently, pains in his flanks and his rear legs made the walking more difficult.

  ‘If human’s find me now, then I doubt I would even have the strength to run away from them. I would not have the energy to attack them…’

 

 


  JOB

  16 - Job I – A Monument to Love

  Now that his work was completed, Flack looked down at the large mound of Chukka nuts that housed the bodies of the two lovers. He no longer felt sad when he looked to where the bodies of Chart and Brand lay because now, instead of seeing the bodies that were ravaged by the evil of humans, he now saw a monument to their undying friendship and love for one another.

  ‘Beneath and within this monument there lies at peace the bodies of the two lovers Chart and Brand; the two wonderful creatures that had done so much for me in so short a time, the two creatures that had lost their very lives because of me and their belief that I must reach Essilon for some purpose known only to them…’

  Flack stared down at his work. It had been a long and painstaking process but now he had finally finished the task that he had set out upon. Inside himself, he felt a little happier that he had given them both something that they had both wanted very much. And he was pleased that he had been able to provide them with more than just one single, solitary Chukka nut.

  He stood staring at the small monument but could not help but think, ‘Surely life is better than any monument to a memory of a life?’

  He was distracted from his thoughts by a sound in the forest. Suddenly, the heat of his body was being drawn from him as a bitterly cold wind begin to race amongst the trees, almost applying so much force to his side that he felt as though he was going to be blown to the side. However, he was able to stand firm and allow the chill wind to race around him and, as he glanced back toward the mound before him, he saw that not one Chukka nut was being dislodged by the power of the mighty wind that blew.

  The wind whipped through the air, whistling loud as it screamed between the nearby trees and their branches and it continued to build in its intensity and then, from the opposite of the mound, there came a tumbling ball of drift grass. It rolled across the clearing and came to rest beside the crudely constructed monument. Then another came, and another, and another. And twigs, and leaves, all blowing in the wind to come to rest on or beside the mound. Until, at last, the monument was completely covered by the grass and twigs, totally hidden and lost from sight. But still, the winds did not abate.

  Remaining standing still while the winds continued howling around him, Flack saw the grass and the leaves and the twigs come running from all directions, some racing close to his legs as they sought to make a home on the side or top of the greatly enlarged monument.

  The light had faded dramatically and Flack had to stare all the harder as he sought to see the growing monument. He could hear thunder, though distant, and lightening began to flash and rain could be heard to fall but none landed upon Flack or the monument. The sky cried, sharing his grief, and then suddenly, the monument began to burn. Flames erupted on the sides of the monument and, even thought the large shrine was very close to him, he could not feel the heat from the flames. No warmth came to touch his body as the only thing given out by the flames was the brilliance of the light it produced.

  Then, at the top of the burning monument, a hole appeared as the Chukka nuts collapsed, so it seemed, into the centre of the monument. The monument now looked like a giant flaming cone with the tip removed and a way exposed that led into the insides.

  Flack watched entranced, not fearing fear, not concerned for his own safety. He was simply entranced by what was happening before his very eyes.

  A beam of blue light began to come slowly from the top of the monument, from the hole that had recently appeared and it climbed up high into the sky. Slowly it travelled at first, then faster and faster until it was lost somewhere beyond the canopy and clouds overhead.

  The light was not blinding to look upon and so Flack gazed intently upon the swirling colours that he saw floating and twisting within the blue beam of light.

  Small spots of light began to spin and dance, moving closer together and then more points of light appeared within the blue beam and then the slowly swirling patterns began to change and Flack was certain that he could see the bodies of Chart and Brand within the light.

  He could see the shapes of the two squirrels and that they were holding hands as they slowly turned in circles, slowly travelling upwards within the beam of light. Their faces were turned towards each other and then, just when they were a little above his eye level, the two slowly spinning forms of the squirrels stopped their turning and they stopped their looking into each other’s eyes.

  Their faces turned towards him and he saw their mouths move but he could hear no sounds coming from them. He could see that the two were smiling as they moved their mouths silently once again.

  ‘Essilon?’ thought Flack, ‘Are they saying Essilon?’

  The forms of the two squirrels began smiling at him once more and then they slowly turned to face each other again as they began once more to turn in slow circles, rising higher and higher within the blue beam, moving upwards towards the tree tops and then the clouds.

  And their smiles brought a smile to Flack as he felt that the two were ultimately happy; happy to be with each other… sharing their love… forever together again.

  The brightness of the blue light increased in intensity and became so bright that Flack had no choice other than to close his eyes.