#i think eat or be eaten is fine. it's like migrate adapt or die. i think it's fine and not the same as survival of the fittest | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

skylawulf · 4 years

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The Boy’s Voice of Nature

The young boy was born without a voice. He couldn't speak, he couldn't form sentences. When he tried he sounded like an animal. He was his parents' first child and they had no connection to him. His mother was distant, neglectful, and would abandon him at any time. There were years and years where she would disappear and come back only for a short time. His father was an abusive and angry drunk. His depression consuming him to the point of violence after a hunt went bad with a dire bear. His hunts suffered and so did the family. Mom did her best but just didn't have the mental capacity to handle dad and his bouts of violence. And one day she just disappeared and never came back.

Leaving him to dad, who had no idea how to raise a child (and didn't want to). Before disappearing, she left them a younger sister. She was the pride and joy of their dad and was the only reason dad did anything. She had toys, dresses, food, and attention. She was already set up to be married on her 16th birthday to a gentleman from town. He was a tailor and made fine clothing for people of all classes, the rich making up the difference to offer clothes to those who would have trouble affording a shirt, much less pants too. Her life was set and she was happy with it.

All the boy had was the fields, rivers, and forests. Many times, he was left outdoors to sleep and fend for himself. And this time wasn't much different. He dropped the ashes from the fireplace, covering the whole room in black soot. Angry with him, he was told to sleep and stay outside for a week. Learn to appreciate what they have and be less willing to make messes that will take days for his sister to clean. The thing was way too big and bulky for him to carry it, but he did what he was told. It was a nail sticking out of the doorway that ripped it, spilling the ashes and creating a dust cloud that filled the room.

And now he is stuck outside again and he goes walking into the forest. He has a small place he had created for himself when this happened and it did happen often. Out of a month, he probably only stayed in the house for a week or two at most, and not consecutively. He had found a small cave near a creek and whenever he was there, he learned a bit more to survive on and improved his little home. Maybe he won't go back this time? Wouldn't they be happier without him? As he walked up to his cave, he noticed it wasn't empty. A bear, coyote, raven, and bobcat sat in a small circle inside. Looking like they were having a conversation. Perhaps a meeting of some sort? But these creatures don't tend to get along normally.

The boy creeps up a tree near the cave and quietly sits to watch. Hoping they will leave in time and he'd get his home back. As he was climbing, he swears he could hear voices. Human voices, but there wasn't another around as far as he could see.

"So, the master plan against the humans will be ready soon." says the bobcat

"Yes, we just need the wait for the rest of the animals to gather. Some are coming from pretty far away to help," said the bear

The raven added, "From what I've seen, we are expecting a few packs of wolves, cougars, snakes, and something else that is pretty big but looks like a huge pig with tusks. All of them have answered the call and will be here in a few days."

The coyote circled a spot and laid down yawning, "So... wait for the others and attack. Is that it or do we have an actual plan?"

This is when the branch holding the boy starts to crack. The animals stop and look around for the sound, where it came from, and who is it? Next thing the boy knows the branch completely cracks through and he falls to the ground. Right in front of the cave and the animals. He stops and his growling said 'ow, that hurt..."

They all look at him, wide eyes and not moving. When the bear came to his senses first, he walked up toward the boy and growled, "Damn humans lost one of their pups. Look at him, barely worth a snack for Raven."

The boy fearing, he would be eaten, scrambled to get up and started to run away when the coyote cut him off and laughed.

"Running doesn't seem to work either, a snail could do better."

The boy skidded and tried to run in another direction when the bobcat cut him off, while the rest closed in. "Was he the one that killed our kind? The skins and furs in that cave smell sort of like him. We kill each other for the defense of ourselves, families and food, but never paraded their furs, skins, or skulls around."

The boy unsure what to do and scared for his life, he just gave up and slumped to the ground. No one to judge his speech or lack of speech, he growled an 'I give up, everything sucks at home and the only place I feel myself is in this damn forest. And it will be the end of me..."

He sighed and when nothing happened for what felt an eternity, he looked up and all the animals around him just stared at him. Looking around at every one of them, the raven landed on the bear's shoulder and cawed, "Son of a bitch! The human talks and not like the other dumb humans. And lives out here apparently, like you Bear."

Bear looked back at the cave, the hairless human, and it dawned on him that he wasn't using the furs to show off. But to keep the cold away. And there was no way this pup could have even killed any of them there, so he got them from another human. He was living out here like any of them but didn't seem to have a clue on how to survive.

"Human pup, you can understand us?" asked Bear.

The boy's eyes became wide as he looked up at Bear and the others. Shocked he could understand them, but to know his 'noises' were understood was even more shocking. No one had understood his speech before.

The boy growled back, "Yes? But why? Humans don't understand me and never have. To them, I'm mute, dumb, and not worth anything."

Raven responded, "We don't know why and I've never understood or talked to a human before."

The coyote flopped down on the ground, looking bored, "There were and are native humans here that could talk to us sometimes. Just in a different way. More of thought when talking to them and images. The human Pup talks like us. Sounds like us in growls."

Bobcat finally chimed in, "So, what do we do with him? He's not worth eating but is a human pup. We don't have time to sit here and 'save the pathetic human' when the master plan is only days away."

Suddenly all the animals were quiet, serious, and looking around at each other. Unsure what to say or do. Looking at the boy occasionally, looking unsure.

The boy, feeling pitied again got angry, "I can and have taken care of myself. I don't need you to pity me and... and... I'm tired of everyone treating me like this. Like I can't do anything, just because I can't talk. I'm not very strong or fast, I don't have teeth, claws, or wings, and I am just a kid, but it doesn't mean I can't live the best I can in the one place I feel comfortable and not judged by everyone for being little or mute. If I die tomorrow or in a year, I will still have a better life in this cave."

Bear looked him in the eyes as he spoke and years of wisdom taught him what it feels like to be pitied or judged. While Bear was big, he wasn't as big as the rest. And his fur light grey instead of brown or black like most around there. He was shunned by most bears because of his looks and how he was born. And now he was a leader. Not just a leader of bears but leading the attack on humans. Bringing together many species to work together to take back their lands. Humans were destructive, invasive, and cruel. Sure, nature has its own version of cruelty, but it was in their nature and basis for what they were. There was a balance to allow survival and odds are about the same as any other creature. Age, predator, disease, and weather that can cause a good life cut short or a horrible life last forever. But that was nature in its basis. Humans do things to show off, selfish in things and will kill for them. Destroying the environment for themselves, rather than migrating and spending just enough time in a place to not affect the area, allowing it to be used again in the future.

This boy could be a new kind of human. The kind of human that respects this place, its creatures, and the very basis of nature's chaos and balance. Perhaps our master plan can be modified. Travel as a group, find other humans like him, teach him all we know and what others can teach him. Teach him ways to survive, what he can survive on and with, and how to adapt. Not only do we destroy all the bad, but we also encourage the future of the good.

Bear sat down with a thud in front of the boy and looked him in the eyes. "We do not pity you; we just see you are so thin and, in some ways, fragile. We wish you better for a pup who can talk to us, all of us. Animals aren't all about destroying anything in their territory. If that was the case, you'd never see any of us, ever. We would be spread out and be ugly creatures. Close to most humans."

He paused to see if the boy understood and relaxed a bit. "I have an idea that could benefit all of us. However, I wish to see if everyone else here is in agreement."

He took a deep breath and looked at the other animals, "What would you think if we took the boy with us? As an equal, teach him of nature and its chaos. Teach him how to hunt in whatever way works for him. At the same time, find other humans like him to join us. Creating a new line of humans who respect us and nature. Can speak and communicate like you do or through you. Where we can all live a kind of harmony."

The others looked at each other and you could see them considering the possibility. Giving them time to think Bear continued, "Maybe now will the time for animals to become a kind of karmic god. Keep humans down to small packs, keep them traveling or migrating. At the same time, don't ruthlessly kill them to wipe them out, but to keep numbers down and a level of respect for nature. The balance of good, bad, and chaos must be respected and give an equal ability to live or die, but not by pure cruel and murderous intentions."

He looked at the boy and asked, "Would you want to do that? Would you want to be the human-animal that can bring this world back to its roots and nature? To give all an equal shot at life, but understand that the bad still exists in the world with the weather, famine, diseases, and the environment. However, doesn't have to become a fight for being on top to the point of mass destruction."

Coyote interrupting Bear with another yawn, "Whatever, packs can support each other in numbers, but don't need to be the size of a village and become permanent structures. They should migrate like the rest of us, respect the woods, waters, and air to not damage them for everyone else. If it's bad where you are at, move on. If the weather makes it hard in the mountains, go down to the plains or forests. Live off the land but don't strip it bare of plants, waters, or entire packs of animals. That is how these native people lived."

Raven agreed, "Yes, I think this is a good idea. And maybe get this boy some food and gain some strength to travel. It would be impossible to travel if you got sick and couldn't travel at all. So, let's work on our master plan, teach the boy, and turn this world into a place of harmony with humans as if they are just another kind of animal."

Bobcat stretched, "We have a few days before everyone arrives, let's stay here and listen to the boy's story so far, tell him our own, and bond as a pack of equal creatures, supporting each other through this crusade and creation of a new world. What do you say, boy? Would you join us?

The boy felt overwhelmed, but in a good way. Being wanted, being respected, and fate is left up to nature, rather than 2 people who had him, didn't want him, and went out of their way to be cruel to him and others. He wished them well, but at the same time, agrees with the animals. He wants to create a new world of better people; what better way than to have someone who can understand and speak with animals, but understand humans too?

The animals left him to think. Raven sat on top of a tree and kept an eye out for what was in the area. Bear went over to the river and caught some salmon, bobcat some rabbits, and coyote took care of the firewood. All coming together to support the boy and themselves. The boy started a fire to cook the meats for himself, knowing if it's raw, he could get sick being a human.

The rest of the animals arrived and after all, knew the master plan and destroyed the village the boy was from; a small army of various animals joined the boy and the crusade. Taking out entire populations of humans, the group carried their ideals all across the lands. Small bands of humans formed in human packs and migrated all over the place. Some lingering for an entire year while some moved every few months. They all became prophets, heroes, and mythologies for future generations when lands are being destroyed by overpopulation, selfishness, destruction, and cruelty. When creatures like these animals and a boy come together again. Teach the humility and respect for the lands that support them.

#shortstory #creativewriting

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