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The Wolf and the Stag
The Wolf and the Stag
17. 17 cities, 17 kingdoms, 17 kings, 17 million people. 17 days is what it took to be completely erased. The wolf had always been lonely by nature, maybe that’s what kept him alive. Going on by the common road, nowadays the only road there was, the wolf stopped and look at the old skeleton of the biggest of the 17 cities, the only one that remained.
The memories of a past that was now lost reminded him of a time of peace and a time of war, with a darkness that lasted for 17 days.He wasn't going to die, he was the son of the wind and the biggest of the wolves. He was strong. As he crossed the woods in search of food a sweet scent captivated him. A young stag with strong horns was crossing the same place he was.
After having the horn impaled on the side of his body the stag left him alone.
“Why won’t you just kill me?”
“Let’s just say this, it’s been a long time since that night ended, how often have you seen another living creature?”
“This isn’t the first time, but the others were very different from you.”
“What were they?”
“3 pigs, a beast, a lion, a tortoise and a hare, 5 monkeys, a bear, a panther, a snake, an old crane and you.”
“What made them so different from me?”
“The pigs keep to themselves, isolated from the world. The beast wishes company. The lion roams the terrains like he owns them, the tortoise and the hare travel together, slowly and steady. The 5 monkeys are always looking to serve. The bear doesn’t care about anything but to stay alive, the panther’s only objective is to protect the last one. The snake is mischievous and tried to fool me. The crane ran away the second he saw me. And you striked me with your horns.”
“You tried to attack me.”
“Did I?”
“I felt in danger, I don’t want to end like this.”
“Everything will end at some point. What if I told you I was just looking for some company? That I’m tired of always being alone?”
“I wouldn't believe you, it’s in your nature the desire to kill for food”
“After all that happened in those dark days, I’m not even sure myself what is in my nature anymore. Every other living creature that survived has tried to stay away from one another. They don’t understand we need each other”
“Need each other? But we are all so different, there is nothing in common between us”
“Need is the basis of all of this. You needed to survive, so you attacked me, I needed your help so I came close to you. Appearances are meaningless. Once you hear the voice of all the things, you will finally begin to live.”
“But if we leave behind all of our differences for a greater good, what will happen to us afterwards?”
“You can’t expect good or bad. They say that the past is forgotten, the future is uncertain but today is a gift, that’s why it's called present.”
The moral of the story is this:
It’s only when you leave your differences behind when you can truly create something new.
by:
Patricio Carrillo Tijerina
Teresa Arana Aristi
