They reached Skull-land after two days trekking. They would have reached the previous night if they had wanted but they didn’t because they were scared that if they reach there at night anything could have happened to them. Not only were they going to take the wrong direction but as the case was, Skull-land inhabitants are mostly hunters and they see better than them at night. If they should be attacked then many of them will be killed.
The environment right from where they considered the boundary had a different look. There vegetation were not thick and healthy. There were short trees, brown grasses too. The land was dried, dusty and stony, because it’s well exposed to the sun. And apparently, rain doesn’t fall there so much as it does in Greenwood.
They get scared over every unusual thing they see in Skull-land. They walk in one group and were very observant. Even while they discuss, they controlled their voices. Some communicate in whispers. They couldn’t stop wondering why they haven’t seen any beast since they entered Skull-land. Not even the noise of different birds like they hear in Greenwood.
“They probably may leave so early to hunt in other communities” the king said.
“Possibly, but all of them?” The parrot asked.
“No. Maybe only those around here. And it could possibly be that those living here are not many”
“I don’t think they have rules here” the parrot having observed how disorganized everything is.
“How?”
“They do things anyhow, they eat any flesh spread blood and bones anywhere. They are all savages”
“What rules could be abide in a place like this? A place that’s more like the land of the dead. Their king must be like them. There’s nothing pleasant about this place not even the name that describes it instead. I hate this place”
“Who do you think would like a place like this?”
“They won’t have a market, farms and other things”
“why should they? Here I believe everyone for himself”
Smaller animals that sees them runs into hiding. Some runs into trees to watch them. Despite how small they look they don’t really fear, they only run because at first sight they thought it’s their predator coming, at times, they step aside to see better the kind of animals they are. Since they came into Skull-land, they see one at a different spot. All big rodents.
The zebra stopped somewhere to ease himself while the cart the gorilla was in pulled by two horses was ahead of him. The rest of the travelers were cautiously walking side by side of the cart. As they were not waiting for him he made haste so as to catch up with them before they go far. When he finished, in the verge of stepping back, he got his leg dropped on a sharp pointed piece of dried old bone and it hurt him badly he wailed for help. Some ran to his aid. It was wonderful seeing his leg pierced despite how hard his hoof is. He bled slowly. The squirrel started his work on him. He took out herbs from his old skin bag, selected the ones needed, squeezed them together and applied on the wound to reduce pains and bleeding. He didn’t do much. What he did was enough. They waited for the pain to subside before they take off. Gwen the arose, the movement was slow so that everyone would be carried along.
“Everything here differs from ours including the air and the sun. The sun here is almost like fire” the tallest animal said.
“Maybe it’s because you are closer to the sun” an elk said. He doesn’t feel the heat as much as the giant animals among them does because he was taking shield under their bodies. Some smaller animals sits on the back of the larger ones.
“What about the stones that hurt my legs? What do you have to say about them?”
“Mmmh maybe because your legs are too long and thin to carry the rest of your Body?”
“Wrong. Now, what about the insects that are disturbing my ears?”
“That’s usually because something smells dead”
“Are you saying I am dead?”
“If you had heard that from me you won’t be asking”
“It is okay” he waited for the elk to go further then he started coming behind. He felt that the more they walk together the more the elk provokes him.
“I think I am thirsty” the giraffe said to the zebra “It could be hunger or maybe. …. …. …”
“Spotty one are you tired?” The zebra asked.
“Not at all, I can’t be tired like that. I’m just uncomfortable in this environment”
He denied being tired but it was certain that he can’t move further without taking a rest. The king was listening to everything his subjects discuss while in the cart. But have not uttered a word to any. He only speak when he want to ask how long the journey still remains, direction to take, when tired and needs rest etc.
“See that tree has a cool shield, I can feel it from here. Who doubts me?” The giraffe said but unfortunately no one answered him because they all know his truck.
“You amble while I am pulled in a cart. Don’t wait for my orders to rest, you may not hear it from me till we reach” the gorilla said generally.
“Alright then, let’s rest for the sake of the exhausted ones”
They all embraced the idea. Many were tired but could not say it. Now it’s an opportunity for all. The tree was conducive as declared by the giraffe. He was the first to drop down like a falling palm tree. He did not care to clear his place like the rest does. Thought, it was in one broad tree they all took shield but their sitting was in groups. Four or more in each. They are, drank, chatted, napped and planned for the rest of the journey ahead.
“who knows their king? It’s important to know” the parrot asked.
“I heard it’s the lion. But I don’t know what he looks like” Bara said. That name 'lion' woke him up. He wasn’t sleeping deeply. He was half awake. And some of what they discussed was heard. He sat up, feeling as though the spirit of fear have resumed back in him.
“That heap of shit got us into this mess with his stinking fake news”
“With the best intention”
“Which is to sacrifice we all to those demons, isn’t it?”
“That’s the best anyone could do for the king. Showing determination no matter what it takes. We are not sure to see the prince there but we hope and believe it will end positively”
The giraffe is never happy that when he say what he thinks was the best to do they ignore or even castigate him. He turned his face away from the zebra to where the gorilla was crashing. They must not disturb him for it was known to them that he’s doing what he owe recent nights.
“How long do we still have to walk?”
“I don’t know the actual distance. I have not been to this place before”
“How then are you sure we will get to where we are going? By the way, where exactly are we heading to?”
“Their king’s palace”
“How do we get there when we don’t know anywhere here?”
“We will, there must be an easy means”
“How do you think it will be?”
“It’s either someone directs us to his palace, or we will follow someone going to the palace to report us or we will be arrested and taken there, simple!”
“You have sense…….. but, I ask, will I make it with this leg? It hurts so bad”
“No,” the giraffe cut in “That shouldn’t be the question. The question should be that, can I run without a leg when danger comes and everyone is running for their lives?”
“Without a leg you said?”
“Yessssss.. of course that is not a leg if it can’t walk or run. I suppose you call it a log. And carrying a useless log is also a burden”
“Control your slippery tongue. Besides that question was not for you”
“I’m trying to save your life, hopeless traveler” Their voice was not really high but I draw the attention of many. They stopped the argument. Giraffe shifted an inches to show that he’s withdrawn.
“Chimp, you know better about this place than any of us, have you been to this place before?”
“What would propel me to this place? I can’t come here, not even in my dreams”
“I had a friend from this place”
“A friend? From here?” Zebra asked with popped eyes.
“Yes. Is it a taboo?”
“Perhaps, but that’s not the case. Just doubtful. I mean how did you meet, how did you start conversations, what have you been talking about, in fact where do you meet?”
“He was banished, a falcon. Banished for being selfish which was by false accusation. He said here they hunt in groups and everyday each group is mandated to offer 40% of their catch to their king. So, one day, they caught plenty but they planned to take all to themselves and lie to the king that they caught nothing. The falcon was scared to accept that, if someone sees them and report the consequences will be great so in fear of what to face, he refused to cooperate with them. They too became afraid that he will expose them then they conspired against him and turned the whole thing against the falcon. The king got furious and ordered the falcon be thrown into a cage. The falcon, when learnt about it hurriedly fled for safety and that’s how he got here”
“He banished himself”
“For better?”
“Was that the best idea?”
“In this case it is. The king would have eaten him by now if he stayed”
“Eat him? Why? I’m lost, find me. Why would he do that?”
“Whoever commits is locked up as the king’s food waiting for the day the king decides to eat him”
“so that was what his group members feared to face?”
“yes, they have to”
“So where now is the falcon”
“I sent him away when insects alone could no longer sustain him. He would have hunted our birds and rodents if I did not do so”
“You did well. Their king must be very tyrant”