The gossips in Greenwoods got a new topic from those who returned from Skull-land to carry around. They heard the story and goes out to tell more than what they heard. Some, at the verge of making their story more sweet or concise ends up telling a different thing altogether. The story is never the same from any mouth. Not even from those returnee, they make it sound tough and terrible in order to gain praise. Some went as far as claiming to be the group’s savior.
The rhino was brought home in a very critical state and was undergoing a full-time treatment by the squirrel, their most competent herbalist and some assistants. He wasn’t responding to the treatment due to how severe the injuries were. Though he will definitely heal but it will take time.
The gorilla ensure that all he needed was provided. Since their return, he’s been so close to the rhino more than to anyone. Close? Yeah, apart from his queen whom he shares the same house with. And they spend time together only in the evening when he returns from places he went.
“What was the last thing you did to bring the large creature down?” from the crowned one to the rhino sitting next to his mat. The rhino sat on the mat, his back leaned on the wall to ease the pains he feels at some part of his body.
“What I……” he started but his voice wasn’t smooth. He cleared his throat, adjusted his posture with a groan and started over. “what I did to him is what I have planned to do since but never had the chance”
“And what was that? Did you stab him?”
“Exactly, with my natural spear. I pierced him on the throat very deep…” he sharpened his throat again to smoothen his words “I knew that he won’t survive it if that poison gets to touch his blood. Remember the substance the squirrel gave me? I blew it into his eyes and rubbed my palms on my tusk”
“You are not just brave but smart. What could we have done if you did not follow us? I never learned you were following us….”
“Yeah.. mmmh..” he lifted his bad leg to position it well with a prolonged groan that made him tight his teeth. Sweat streamed slowly down his body like a worm. It was unusual for a rhino to sweat no matter how hot they feel. Though, the room was hot but the sweat on the rhino’s body was far more than what the room could cause.
“I went to the palace to see you but I heard you went with some elders to Skull-land to search for your son. I came back and took two of my subordinates thinking we could catch up but we didn’t see your backs till we got there. We were well equipped not only with weapons, so there was nothing to worry about. We prepared for anything”
“It was very urgent. That i forgot to inform many about it. And, how were you able to trace our paths?”
“It’s easy. Those evil things helped us by apprehending us which we allowed them to”
“Same thing happened to us.. you really saved us”
The smile on the rhino’s face quickly changed into a frown of guilt and blames.
“Don’t….please don’t, your highness.. I owe you a sincere apology for not being able to rescue your son from their hostage”
“Ah!!! Don’t make me look like an ingrate. What more do you expect to do in such a situation? You did your best…..”
“Which was as good as nothing?”
“Which gave them the impression that we are equally dangerous and unpredictable. Don’t you know your victory got them scared? The lion has to be stubborn because that’s its nature. Unperturbed”
The king had a lot going on in his mind whenever he was left alone. In five seconds he had to attain to a thousand thoughts. This occupied him so much that he had occasionally lost himself and was compelled to be drawn back either with a continuous call or jab. Seeing his son in that terrible place, still alive gave him some kind of feelings that’s usually replaced with worries instead of Hope and joy. His worries about the situation was on how to get him out of there which there seemed to be no possible way. It was better not to have seen him than loosing him after seeing him.
Days have gone by. Still there was no idea to replace the agreement they had with the hairy one of skull-land. The days sometimes goes slow when he thinks about his son who will be returning to Greenwoods soon while at times the days goes too fast, when he remembered they haven’t arrived at any plan and without a better plan, the prince won’t survive.
Meetings were continuously called and places were relentlessly visited to seek for a way but all was helpless. As a matter of fact, animals were scared to bring any suggestion that would require them going to Skull-land. How could he have made such unamendable mistake by negotiating and promising to exchange seven lives to his son’s? What was he thinking? Did he intend to do that or it was due to fear or something related to that? It was apparent he needed to get his son back but he can’t possibly exchange a life for that. That will be seen as wickedness to the victims, which will eventually give his subjects a very bad impression about him. At some point, he dismisses those inconclusive thoughts but as long as his son was still there, the thought doesn’t wait too long to fight its way back into his head.
For this, he’d lost his appetite and peace. Sleep was scared of his eyes recently. There was nothing he could do well. He was weary but after all he kept swearing never to allow his son perish there. But what did he intend to do?
One evening, when the sun began to set, the youths massively surged into the palace with a stranger they caught. They waited to hear about him. It was the very time meeting was still going on. Their noise had no regard for the meeting the elders were having. It was inviting however.
“What’s your name, fox?” the gorilla demanded when he was finally out of the meeting hall with the elders to know what the noise was all about.
“I am an innocent fox” the fox said with a low voice of pain and fear.
“What I ask is your name”
“Fox”
“Fox” the gorilla repeated to ensure he heard him well. The name is uncommon. “So, fox where are you from? And what’s your mission here?”
“I’m from….” He coughed. Looking as innocent as he claimed. He started again “I a from a far away land. Dew-rocks”
That name was strange to each an everyone in the gathering. He’s a stranger actually but should they believe him? The gorilla turned to his subjects as if to find answers.
“So what’s your mission to our land?”
The fox could not answer more questions. The beating he received got him weak and aching. The elephant seeing that it will be a waste of time trying to hear everything about the fox. He whispered to the gorilla to give him rest and summon him later for further interrogations.
The fox was taken to a secured place to give him what he needed for recovery. After which they locked him up and allowed him sleep. He slept through out the night without disturbances, but the stone hut, where he’s locked was tightly guarded.
“I can’t wait to meet that devil” Elephant said. He was with his king, just two of them having a drink at night. His frequency to the palace this days has increased. Sometimes not because he had something relevant to discuss but to stay with the gorilla and see that he’s alright.
“I have never seen anyone as barbaric and greedy as he is” the king said squeezing his hands into a tight fist. As if to break something tough. Glaring steadily at the fire that was burning gently as if it was aware of the situation at hand. It gave them a dim light that only revealed their faces and made the rest of their bodies remain in shadows. Insects were few. Maybe because their season was over. However no one had the time to put them In mind.
“Did he agree keeping the prince till that day?”
“He said he will but I don’t trust him. But the worse will happen to him if he didn’t keep his part of the agreement”
“He will see us in another dimension. You don’t have to worry. You are not alone in this. We are with you. I have even started making some arrangements in case of emergency”
“What arrangement?”
“While you were not around I granted the prisoners freedom to participate in the training the youths were undergoing. Every youth is now a warrior. Also, the wood makers and the crafts makers are producing weapons as much as they can”
“Are you preparing for war?” king asked already getting irritated about the idea.
“If need be, your highness”
“I totally disagree with you on this. No, we can’t use violence in this. Those savages are greater than us, in strength and diversity”
Elephant drew closer, his head closely facing the big arms king, looking more mean now than ever.
“Believe in yourself your highness. Stop doubting your abilities. Doubt causes fear and fear leads to failure. Look, when you are afraid of someone or a situation you can’t stand him or succeed. You are not the type to fear. Gorillas don’t fear. Who will forget the incidence that brought leadership into your lineage? Which started from your great grand father. He killed a beast no one’s knows its name up to this day. The mighty beast was tormenting our entire community, killing and destroying things. Your father alone had the courage to lure him into the river. He was floating on bamboos and the beast thought he too can float as well not knowing that the bamboo was what’s holding your father. So when he jumped into the river he couldn’t swim. After so much struggle to get air he got weak and drowned. That was the end of it. so the throne was what they compensated him with. That’s how he got the name ‘the Beast slayer' and sometimes they call you that. That spirit did not die with him, your grand father was the leader of Greenwoods warriors not because his father was the king but because he was capable. Your own immediate father too was……”
“I know the story. My father told me”
“Good! So if your father never had done what he did would they have been peace in our community today? That’s if there’s still a single animal alive. You have to make him proud by saving the throne. You need to make sacrifices, take risk to keep the dynasty moving…..”
“I am ready to do anything.. but, how do I start? What will I do? You know this case is different. It’s more complicated. It can’t be tackled with the same method my ancient father used. We need to think of something different. If anyone knows what to do then let him or her step forward and tell us. There’s no time on our side”
“Yes. We don’t have to be tired. We need to push ahead relentlessly. We’ll call for a meeting tomorrow. Both elders and the youths……”
“Even the females” The gorilla added.
“Yes. In fact everyone. Attach a reward to it. Whoever brings the best suggestion on what to do will be rewarded. Just as you did the other time. Bara is now the leader of the youths. He’s happy with that. And many want to be like him…”
“But there can’t be two youth leaders”
“What about the warriors, since the former one died? And if it’s a female that wins, then we can find another better way to compensate her”
“Alright. We’ll see.” The king arose from his seat showing no willingness to proceed with the discussion.
“Yes…” he too stood up, knowing it was better to leave than to talk more. “I will send for the town crier as early as possible”
“smart”
“Goodnight, the beast slayer”
“You too” king smiled.