Short Stories

Twenty-Six: Wild

 The green foliage lightly glided across my face, tickling me, while I crept through the lush green forest. I raised my hand and lightly scratched at my face before I grabbed the wooden spear in my hand again. The forest was unusually quiet today. No birds sang their songs and the bugs didn't chirp at all. There wasn't even a single peep from my brothers that always fought over who would drink from the lake first 20 yards away from my hut. This was definitely was too ominous. I had grabbed my wooden spear, dark and jagged from old age and many kills. I strained my ears to hear any slight of sound, but none came except for my light breathing and the padding of my feet against the soft earth. I looked up towards the canopy of the trees and saw several birds perched on the branch. Their bright feathers were ruffled and fluffed up. My sisters nervously picked at their feather, several of them falling down to the ground. They noticed me stopped picking. They stared back down at me; their beady black eyes warning me that something dangerous was up ahead. I nodded, my scratchy hair brushing against my neck. They nodded back and watched me disappear into the brush. I continued my search for the danger when I stepped on something. The thing clamped around my ankle and pulled my leg upwards. I lost my balance and landed on my backside, my spear falling down next to me and knocked away from me by my flailing arms. It was rough and thin, like a vine but a light brown. I tried to shake my leg out of it, but it made a strange clunking sound from something shiny and yellow, startling me. I tried to reach up with my arms, but it was too far away. I struggled with the thing strangling my foot, the clanging sound becomes more frantic and loud, reflecting my emotions. My stomach turned when it wouldn't release me. I pulled my leg towards me more fiercely. Then, I heard the shouts of some wild animals coming towards me. My heart beat loudly as I shook my leg even harder and tried to pull my leg towards me.

I let out a shriek as I saw something, or more accurately many things, walk out the bushes. They had on the colors of white and beige. They had something on their back that seemed to be held in place by a brown flat tendril. I stared at them scared. They stared at me surprised before one of them yelled something at them. "She's not a wild animal that'll attack you. Release her you idiots!" His voice was rough and angry.

They rushed towards me with pointy shiny things, and I howled in fear. My sisters up in the trees started shrieking loudly; their wings flapping about. The strangers looked up at the sound and slung something off their shoulder. They pointed it up at the sky and loud banging sounds came from it. I saw some birds fall down from the sky, dead. Their eyes stared at me. They shot until there were no more bangs left. I screeched in anger for my fallen sisters, and I lunged towards them, only to be pulled back by the object wrapped around my ankle. The men looked at me curiously. The leader of the group pushed forward a big burly man and yelled at him to do something. He carefully walked towards me, almost timid. I growled at him and reached for my spear, only to find it just out of reach. The men let out yells of surprise as my brothers came out from the brush behind me. They surrounded me, baring their teeth at the men. I let out a pained whimper for one of them to help me. My bigger brother saw something wrapped around my ankle. He let out a whine and quickly walked towards me. He unsheathed one of his claws and sliced at the bristly tendril. It quickly pulled back once he cut it, and I growled at him with thanks. He simply licked my face and nuzzled into me. His soft fur tickled my nose, and I sneezed. My other brother butted in on the nuzzling, wanting attention too. I giggled at him and cuddled him too. The men made what seemed like grunts of surprise. The leader stared at me with wonderment. He told something to his men. "They're not savages. Back off men." The words sounded harsh, but his voice was soft and gentle. I blinked at him with wonderment and let out a guttural purr. I walked away with my brother closely flanking by my sides. They didn't seem dangerous. I'll let them off the hook for now.

I whistled loud and clear, and the sounds of the forest came in at a barging speed. All the animals glad that the men were not so dangerous. I turned back and smiled at one of them, before glaring at them and making some motions that said 'no killing for fun, just for food' and walked away.

(A/N): So, I just recently downloaded Pinterest for some art ideas, BUT I also found so many writing prompts that are just too good to not write here. Expect to see some prompts from Pinterest soon.