The Adventures of Blue-Jin

Desert of the real

Ears roaring. Feathers ruffled. Eyes weeping. I watch the sand hiss as the wild wind whips it into the air. It's blisteringly hot. The angry sun beams down on the Earth and sucks it dry. I'm so thirsty. My team needs water, needs shade, but there is no escaping the large dessert wasteland, and nothing to quench the thirst of even an ant.

I'm perched on Mum's shoulder as she trudges through the hot sand, and climbs the large dunes. I look around to find a spot to pitch the command tent. My little body can't take this heat any more, and soon I will look like the shriveled up leaves that we pass, which lie in their graves. My wings feel like heavy weights, and my eyes sting from the salt.

"Squawk!" I say, approaching a flat surface that will protect us from the hustling winds.

Dad starts to set up base camp, but suddenly he is ambushed by a brolly-beast! We've fought these before in the rain. Dad has to be brave. The beast is a bigger than all of us. It squeaks and hisses at us when Dad attacks it, and it pushes back against us stronger than ever. Dad fights with his bare hands and grabs it by the neck and tries to push the wings up and out. But the brolly-beast has other ideas. It fights back and wont let Dad push its wings fully out to defeat it. All at once the monster's wings surround and swallow Dad whole!

"Stupid brolly!" muffles Dad from inside the beast.

He's alive!

Mum and I jump in, and while Mum pulls at the ginormous jaws of the brolly-beast, I scratch its eyes out with my talons. Dad escapes. Mum swiftly grabs the brolly-beast's neck and zips it up and out, finishing it off with a loud CLUNCK of the lock. It is defeated!

There is a cool shade over us now, and stillness to the world. I fly down from Mum's shoulder to the ground and patrol the perimeter.  Out here in the wilderness, anything can happen.

The sand trickles down the mountains with the breeze that picks up again, and my feathers stand on end. As we begin our preparations I become deep in thought.

How many other dangerous monsters are lurking out there in this desert? The brolly-beast was only the beginning. Will we complete our mission? Will we even survive?

Dad stays behind to watch and guard over camp. Mum tenderly kisses Dad goodbye, and we set out to look for the 'Kraken Fossils.' These fossils are a rare and delicate treat for my species.

As we move the sand licks our feet with saucy tongues and makes it unbearable to walk upon. Ouch. Hot, hot, hot. Tippy-toes, tippy-toes, I say hopping until I can no longer hop.

We've been wondering this desert for hours now. I need a rest, I say coming to a halt, and let out a final "squawk" to let mum know.

My feet pinch with sand inside my popped blisters, the taste of grit in my mouth is dry, and there is an endless itch in my feathers from the salty winds. It's driving me crazy. But still, we must push on.

"Are you ok Jin?" Mum whisks me up from the ground and sits me on her sweaty shoulder, the moisture irritating my feet even more.

"Its getting dark, Jin. We should think about heading back soon. Dad might be worried," says Mum.

This is true. Dad may need my help to fighting off any other monsters lurking about. I shiver another squawk out in agreement. My eyes are getting heavy.

I see many old ruins of castles that were once standing tall, and now nothing but the empty husks of war long since fought. Covering some of them is the dead weeds from the wasteland, which gives a green tinge.

In the corner of my eye I see a field of objects lying on the ground. The fossils! Some are partially covered by the warm blanket of sand than others. I flap my wings and fly off mums shoulder with a strong power reinvigorated by hope. Finally, what we have been looking for.

Wait. There are many shells and debris surrounding the fossils! I skid along the ground making sure to not touch the items, and wait for Mum to catch up. I notice Mum starts to touch the objects without thinking.

No Mum! We must be careful! It could be a trap! Stop! I say flapping my wings all about and squawking so loud my voice starts to scuff. Mum picks up a shell without consequence.

Oh. They don't hurt you, I realise. Mum puts many of them into her carry bag, oblivious to my earlier concerns. Ok, but we must remain fully alert, I say straightening myself up, anything can happen out here.

I scan our surroundings carefully. It's my job to keep Mum safe while she collects the fossils. I freeze in my tracks and my ears listen for any suspicious sounds. Nothing. Silence.

Where's Mum? My heart flitters and my world starts to spin. The Earth begins to rumble and my feet start to disappear into the sand, climbing is useless, but it doesn't stop me from persisting. I keep sinking. I'm falling. Falling fast.

I try to lock my beak on the sand, but it's hopeless too.  I slip further down into the sinkhole, and recoil in terror as a large shadow appears in front of me. I turn sharply to confront my foe. Its yellow eyes gleaming at me through the haze, and its metal armour showing, as the sand slowly reveals its grotesque form.

I've never seen this creature before. My eyes lock onto the beast, and my body prepares itself for a struggle. The creature makes the first move and swings its heavy hammer at me, and I slide through its many legs, dodging the impact of its sharp claws, this way and that. I spin around and watch from underneath its tummy. It can't see me now.

Ha! Ha! It has a blind spot.

I taunt the beast and beg it to attack it from under. However, my surprise assault is retaliated. The foe swipes its claws at my tail feathers, catching me just. I screech in pain, and I bite one of its legs, hard. It's so hard that my beak pierces its skeleton like skin and causes it to bleed.

All of its legs move at once and move fast. It's retreating. I hold on to its leg. I can't let the creature escape. I need to protect Mum. The world becomes a flurry. Sand is inhaled into my nostrils and explodes all around me. It's in my eyes. I'm blinded for a moment. I let go of the creature. I stand ruffled and gather myself for round two. I'm ready to tango. I'm ... ...

"Jin! There you are. Leave that poor crab alone. Come now, before you get hurt. I've got your yummy cuttlebone for your cage back home," says Mum hoisting me away from the aggressive crab.

Mum picks up the last of the cuttlefish and then makes her way back to Dad, who is in the cool shade of the umbrella. Mum cuddles me tight, and ensures to dust all the sand off my feathers and beak.

"Goodness me, you've had quite an adventure at the beach today. What have you been up to little bird?"

If only you knew, Mum.