Nature Series - The Murderous Flames

The Murderous Flames

Flames soar high above the tops of the trees, leaving a perilous scene of destruction in their wake. They climb higher and higher, stretching upwards towards the clouds, tainting the pristine pearl-like white and dousing it with an atramentous black – an obsidian. Every morsel of terrain the flames engulf turns to ash, as they head for the skies – angry at the Gods for the misdemeanours of man. A nebulous dusk descends upon the wasteland below, coating the forest floor with dancing embers and fluttering vestiges of warm ash. The sunlight tries desperately to seep through the cinders, but with no avail, as it simply adds to the smouldering heat that radiates across the land, it's aglow cloaked by the synthetic twilight. An opalescent display of the brightest maroons, the fieriest cardinals and the most impending ebony light up the sky, as if a conversely salute to the luminous displays that paint the Northern skies. A glimpse alone was enough to make even the toughest assailant tremble in his boots – so abominable, yet so spectacular. It was as if Mother Nature herself had raised her armies, and battled against man; a ferocious fight that left no victor.

Animals swarmed in great masses, desperately trying to flee from the massacres that occurred before them. Their tired orbs watched as their homes dissipated, all that is left is the seared remnants of an aged tree that stood the test of time for many centuries, only to be destroyed in a matter of mere moments. The screams of animals caught in the blaze echo throughout the vast Badlands, a haunting chill settling deep into the souls of those who encounter it, despite the ferocious heat that encompasses the abhorrent scene. Men adorned in hefty orange suits and armed with lengthy, forceful hoses attempt to combat and control the conflagration, but it is forlorn, for the fire remains victorious against any who try to restrain its almighty power – not even the firefighters could conquer this ablaze. Terrified and quivering, koala bears cling to the tallest branches with all the force they can muster, but the flames rise higher, higher, higher – merciless.

Days pass, yet time stands still, astounded and frozen as the flames continue to climb and spread over the little that is left of the landscape. As the seasons change, the inferno diminishes, until all that remains is the charred forest bed, blackened and bruised after the beating, and the abundance of animals that call out in agony and torment, their skins scorched and their homes ravaged. Though the relief of the colder weather washes over the forest like antelope escaping its prey, the angst remains deep within its heart, as the consequent summer promises greater heat and lengthier eradication. Despite the wise and durable nature of the forest, it stands helpless in the face of human ignorance and will continue to be blighted and shattered until man's avarice and disregard ceases to exist.