Author Information
Hope
Written by:
Orlando Leal A00******
Rodrigo Lozano A01*****
Hope
This was a strange day, nothing looked right. The land where all the animals used to live was now scorched and there was no living thing visible in the approximate surroundings. Not even plants looked alive now, the whole environment was lifeless. Far away a baby Bear Cub came out of nowhere and tears were running down his face. He was walking all alone, with no place to go or settle down.
As the Cub was wandering through that desolate place he came upon a cave and thought he could use it as a shelter from the extreme heat. Upon entering he heard some whispers and got really scared and hid behind a rock. He spied on the voices and could recognize Coyote’s voice, but he couldn't listen to another animal. Coyote was speaking about being the strongest of all animals and how he reigns over them all. Later on, the baby Cub heard some whimpers, and got curious. He took a peek into the cave and saw bones, other animal´s bones, in the floor covered with blood. He then had a horrible sight, other animals were being kept prisoners, ready to be eaten by Coyote.
He was so scared he didn't have time to think and rushed out into the destroyed land. He kept running until the cave was out of sight. He was exhausted, so he laid down, but there wasn't any food or water. He was close to dying. His vision was blurring when he saw a Blue Jay flying gracefully towards him. This friendly bird gave him water and led him to shelter where he met another friend. The old and mighty Tiger.
The Tiger said, “You seem new to this world. Jay and I will spare some of our food. We are friends.”
“‘This world’? Was there another one before?” asked the Cub.
“Yes there was. One with lush forests and fields. One with blue skies and waters. It was perfect.” said the Tiger
“And what happened to it?”
“Greed. Greed happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“Coyote did not accept our ways. He was weak; he fell at the feet of Unupit and betrayed the Council. Thanks to him, we had to become strangers in order to survive. That was what destroyed all living things, and the world. Humans were the first to fall, they couldn’t cope with the conditions.”
“Is there nothing we can do to fix the world?”
“Hopeful, are we? The only thing we could do now is to go back to the old times. A new Council must be created..”
“I don’t think that’s the solution. The new Council would be doomed as well.”
“Why so?”
“I believe, with all my heart, that communication, support and forgiveness are the key to it all. Brothers and sisters must be there for each other always.”
“What are you saying?”
“Forcing others to do what you want is not the answer, everyone must help each other.”
“Even Coyote?”
“Even Coyote.”
“You may be onto something, child. Maybe you’re just what the world needs.”
Somewhere far away, a warm ray of sun parted the ominous clouds that covered most of the sky, and on the dry ground where it finally fell, a rosebud pushed it’s way out of the cracks.
Moral: Be there for your brothers and sisters. You never know when you’ll need them most.
