The begining after the end

By Mariel Aguirre and Juan Pablo Diaz

There was once a world where everything stayed the same, there was no hunger no pain, nothing could be born nor die. This had been the way things worked since Krali, the god that created the world, planted a special alder tree that would protect all living creatures from harm. He did this so he could contemplate his fine creations for eternity and hid it far from everyone, on a secret place that only the gods knew. Animals didn't need to hunt for food, so they didn't have to attack or escape from each other and they lived peacefully and in perfect harmony. Krali would spend all his time watching over them while feeling fascinated about what he considered his masterpiece.

However, there was another god that didn't agree with his creation. Laru, a lesser god, came down to the world to see it personally and realized something: even if nothing could die, it couldn't feel less alive than how it was. The animals didn't make any move, sound or expressed any feelings; they were just cold shadows of what they once were.

"It's horrible, you need to do something."

"No! Everything is just as it has to be, there's no way I'm changing it."

"Do you even know how things are down there?

"Of course I know, everything is perfect"

There was no reasoning with Krali. Laru had to take action. He found a woodpecker on a nearby tree and decided it would be his pawn to make his plan work.

"Hey little guy, how are you?"

"Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter, I just need help with a little something?

"With what?"

"I just need you to fly to where I tell you"

"Why should I trust you?"

"Maybe because there's nothing going on here, I thought you might like a little excitement"

The woodpecker agreed to do what the god said and so, he followed his instructions. After long hours of flying to an unknown place, and without the opportunity to even rest, he finally saw something other than water. In the distance, he could see a small island, and in the island, a beautiful tree. He arrived, happy to be in a place where he could rest. Laru couldn't wait any longer, but decided to let him rest, knowing his plan was going to work better. After a few minutes, that seemed like hours for both of them, the plan continued.

"Are you ready?"

"I'm still not sure, but I'm already here. What do I do now?"

"I need you to peck this tree."

"You made come all this way only to do the same thing I do where I live, and without any reward?"

"This will be different, it will be better, I promise."

And so the woodpecker began his job. Nothing happened.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the sea, everything was happening. Each time the bird pecked the tree, something changed. First peck. A lion began chasing an antelope, until he finally ate it. Second peck. A snake ate a mouse. Third peck. Animals began making burrows to hide from others. Fourth. All species began to interact with each other, in a strange, yet amazing, way.

And just like that, the circle of life began.

The creator began panicking, while watching big animals eat smaller ones, and some even fighting for prey.

"What did you do?"

"What I was supposed to do."

"You ruined my masterpiece!"

"I didn't. Watch closely, there's finally true life in this planet."