Nature's Twist

CHAPTER 4 : THE BIRTH OF THE SAVAGE

  A strange event occurred in the animal kingdom. Dick (Lion), Mimy (Tiger) and Bud (Cheetah) conspired to kill a kangaroo. Dale and other animals were very furious and they wondered why Dick, Mimy and Bud could have killed an innocent kangaroo. The other kangaroos in the animal kingdom were the most irritated and they carried the broken bones of this kangaroo to Dale. Dale promised them that he will take the necessary action. Dale called a meeting of all the animals in the kingdom, all the kangaroo came to the meeting but few other animals came because they were hungry and weak. In the meeting, Dale interrogated Dick, Mimy and Bud concerning the death of the kangaroo. These three animals denied killing the kangaroo and claimed that the kangaroo died of hunger. A small Kangaroo came out and said, “I was hiding under a tree when Dick, Mimy and Bud forcefully attacked the kangaroo, killed him and took him away. “The three animals were dumbfounded, they knew that the allegation against them was true. There was nothing they could say to elude themselves from the truth that they killed the animal. “Why did you kill the kangaroo? I don’t believe that little animal is lying that he saw you when you killed the kangaroo.” “The kangaroo stole the little food we had and we became so furious and killed him.” Dick replied Dale. “That’s a big lie, we kangaroos are not thieves.” All the kangaroos responded angrily. “If truly the kangaroo stole your food, why didn’t you report him to me, no animal in this kingdom must kill his fellow animal. Dick, Mimy and Bud will be punished for their action and they will be put in the prison.” All the kangaroos were very happy that Dick, Mimy and Bud will be incarcerated for killing one of them.

  Dale was confused of what to do, the rain ceased to fall and there was no food for anyone to eat. Dale and his fellow lions in his habitat had almost died. But recently some lions began eating some food which they shared among themselves. Dale was given part of this food and he was extremely happy to have eaten after a very long period of time. Dale asked Max where he had gotten the food he gave him. Max explained to Dale that the food was the meat of the Kangaroo that Dick, Mimy and Bud killed. ‘’What! It is forbidden for us to be eating animals like us.’’ Dale said shockingly and furiously. Max and other lions tried their best to convince Dale that there is no better option for them than to eat other animals but Dale remained unyielding, Insisting that it is totally ridiculous for them to be eating other animals like them. The other lions did not agree with Dale that it is not proper for them to eat other animals. These savage joined hands together with Cheetahs and Tigers to kill two antelopes. These two antelopes will provide an ample of food for all of them to eat, they thought. Dale had no better option than to eat the meat of these antelopes. Dale finally accepted in his mind that other animals will be the best source of food for them, he therefore decided with other Lions, cheetahs and Tigers that their main aim will be hunting for other animals, to kill and eat them. Dale ordered the release of Dick, Mimy and Bud from prison.

  The savage act of these animals continued and this raised an alarm among other animals that the Lions, Tigers and Cheetahs were using them as food. The savage animals could easily kill other animals because they are stronger, more fierce and bolder. Everyday, an animal fell a victim in the hand of these savage animals. Dale was unhappy that it had been known to other animals that they were killing them. He didn’t want his cruel act to be known to other animals. In his attempt to depict himself as being innocent, he arranged a meeting of all the animals to inform them that he will do something to stop this cruel act. Every animal in the kingdom came to the meeting and they felt irate for the malicious act of these savage animals. Dale informed them that he will make sure he got hold of the savages among them and deal seriously with them. All the animals were very happy with Dale, unknown to them that Dale is among the savage. After this meeting, Dale and other lions, tigers and cheetahs continued to be predators to all animals in the kingdom. The period during which the predators went out to hunt for their prey was mostly in the night when all animals are sleeping. All the animals couldn’t bear this abysmal situation and had no other option, than to seek protection in the night. They sought protection by sleeping in the isolated places which would be very difficult for their predators to locate. Soon, it became very difficult for these savage animals to hunt for their food.

  Even during the day, most animals hid in their isolated homes. Dale and his allies held a meeting on what to do to solve their problem, a new technique to catch their prey. Max suggested that Dale should call a meeting of all the animals to tell them that he had gotten the murderers in the animal kingdom that killed other animals and this will give them the best chance to get them and kill them. As Max suggested, Dale called the meeting of all the animals to tell them that the murderers in the animal kingdom had been arrested. All the animals trooped to the meeting like a school of fish swimming towards the bait. Dale made sure that all the animals had gathered and he began addressing them. When all the animals had paid intensive attention to him, other lions, tigers and cheetahs started to attack these animals. Everywhere immediately turned to a state of pandemonium with every prey running away from its predator. Pomana which is a very big elephant was the first to be attacked by about two lions and tigers but she struggled with them, she was seriously wounded but managed to escape from them. Likewise other big elephants managed to escape from them but the smaller elephants were killed by them. Other animals such as zebras, antelopes, kangaroos, deers, monkeys and other weaker animals were easily killed by the predators. Apart from the elephants, only the lucky ones managed to escape from the death trap. These animals were very surprised that Dale was among the murderers in the kingdom and they realized that the meeting was a trap for them. These animals scattered to different isolated places, where they would be more protected. Dale and his friends were very happy to get so much food to eat, it didn’t matter to them if the rain never came back as long as they got more animals to kill and eat. The animals felt despair for their lives, there was no food for them to eat and their lifespan was destined to be as short as determined by the predators.

  Pomana and other elephants held a meeting together on what to do to ensure their protection against the predators. “We must do something to stop these savage animals or else they will kill us all.” “They have killed about six elephants,” said another elephant sadly. “We should note that the ones which were killed among us are our children who are not yet as strong as us, instead of all of us running away when we come across the savage, we should be walking in groups with our young ones in the middle and when they attack us, we shall retaliate and by this we will be able to protect ourselves from these savage animals.” Pomana suggested. “Yes, that will be better, ” all the elephants agreed. All the elephants walked together in a group, ready to challenge any savage animal that attacked them. As usual the predators were looking for their preys everywhere. In their hunting expedition they came across the herd of elephants, not having a second thought, they attacked these elephants. The elephants who were prepared for the attack, fought back with all their strength, the savage animals were astounded that the elephants can react so violently. It was totally unbelievable, how the savage animals took to their heels, contrary to the normal phenomenon in the animal kingdom. The elephants continued to run after them but when the savage had ran beyond their reach, they stopped chasing after them. The elephants were extremely glad that they were able to protect themselves from the savage creatures. The lions, tigers and cheetahs were very sad and worried, especially Dale. He was the saddest that they were unable to stand up against their prey, therefore, there seemed to be no hope for them to get their food again.

  The big news spread in the whole kingdom that the elephants were able to stand against the savage creatures and every animal was very happy. The other animals thought among themselves that it might be possible for them to stand up against the savage just like the elephants. But one major question baffled these animals, “Is it possible for them to stand up against the s
avage like the elephants?” Firstly, the elephants are bigger than the savage animals, probably the largest animals on land and were a lot stronger than other animals. Therefore, the elephants have a greater advantage to stand against the savage. Despite their weakness, the animals had the hope that they will still be able to stand up against the savages. Among these animals were antelopes, Zebras, Giraffes which desired to put an end to the rule of the savage, other animals still hid themselves from the reach of the savage. The antelopes, zebras and Giraffes joined forces together to stand up against the savages. On a particular occasion, the heroic animals walked together in a group ready to challenge any savage that appeared to them at any time. As usual, the savage were hunting for their prey and setting their eyes on this innocent group of animals, they wasted no time to devour them. The courage summoned by these animals immediately vanished as they saw the savages running fiercely towards them. They all took to their heels running desperately. With great agility and incredible enthusiasm for food, the savages devoured most of these animals. The lucky ones escaped and vowed never to exhibit again, the stupidity of thinking of fighting against the savages.

  This terrible situation continued for so long, these strong animals continued to ravage the entire kingdom to hunt for the weaker animals. It had led to disunity among animals, every animal cared only for its life. Some animals who appeared to be more fierce looking, strong and aggressive joined these savage animals in their hunting expedition. These animals included Hyenas, Leopards and Foxes. Everything began to go wrong among these savage animals when Dale and other lions refused to share their food with the other savages. Due to the fact that the lions were the strongest among them, they usually killed more animals than their counterparts. The lions decided that they will hunt differently and not hunt in group again so that each of them can eat their food anyway they like and likewise the other savage animals choose to hunt differently. There was hardly a hiding place for the weaker animals, the savages, especially the lions sought them to any extent. The lions were too aggressive and cruel. They walked in prides to every part of the kingdom in search of other animals. The population of animals in the animal kingdom had been reduced to less than half, not only because of hunger but also the cruel acts of the savages. Despite their cruelty, the superior animals who fed on other animals began to die due to lack of food as they had devoured almost all the weaker animals.