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An Echo Across the Atlantic
“Tyson! I found one!” The rabbit lay calmly, oblivious to the terror that was about to ensue. Tyson rushed to my side. “I would have said that it was already dead, except for the fact that it keeps sneezing,” I exclaimed, short of breath. The moon cast ghostly shadows on the rabbit's den, making it’s snow-white fur glow against the rigid stone where it lay.
“Well?” asked Tyson. “Should we strike?”
“No, not yet,” I said. “Something isn’t right.” Just then the rabbit began to tremble and a semi pink figure exploded from the carcass. We both sprang back, only to trip over a rotting log. We heard a soft chuckle.
“You guys are imbeciles”. The figure said in between laughs.
We still lay on the snowy ground with throbbing, cold heads. My body pulsed with anger once I realized who it was.
“Jerry you are an absolute moron!” I yelled. Jerry was just one of the twelve other brothers that Tyson and I had.
Living in a family of fourteen is difficult for most younglings, although with the amount of hardships we all had been through, we all shared a vast love.
“You shoulda seen your legs,” said Jerry. “So much for ‘the most agile spices in the world.’ I was scared for you on that one!” he continued to laugh.
“Well?” asked Tyson. “Should we strike?”
“No, not yet,” I said. “Something isn’t right.” Just then the rabbit began to tremble and a semi pink figure exploded from the carcass. We both sprang back, only to trip over a rotting log. We heard a soft chuckle.
“You guys are imbeciles”. The figure said in between laughs.
We still lay on the snowy ground with throbbing, cold heads. My body pulsed with anger once I realized who it was.
“Jerry you are an absolute moron!” I yelled. Jerry was just one of the twelve other brothers that Tyson and I had.
Living in a family of fourteen is difficult for most younglings, although with the amount of hardships we all had been through, we all shared a vast love.
“You shoulda seen your legs,” said Jerry. “So much for ‘the most agile spices in the world.’ I was scared for you on that one!” he continued to laugh.
Although Jerry was just kidding when said that last remark, it had been a constant worry of mine for a while now. Being the oldest sibling, I had taken it upon myself to take care of my fourteen brothers. Especially after what happened just two years ago.
By now the moon hung low on the horizon. As we trotted home, empty-handed, I noticed the vastness of the plateau unlike ever before. The full moon, with some help from the near dawn, lit our way back to our ramshackle of a home. Even though tonight’s hunt would have been helpful, we had enough leftover caribou to comfortably last us at least to the end of September. When we got back, we were greeted by un-pleased faces.
“I take it you weren’t doing your job?” Momma said angrily.
“No! Momma we were just trying to h...,” she didn’t let me finish my explanation.
“Dre, you know that we are running low on food and word from the North is that an ice storm is coming our way.”
I understood her worries, but we’ve been landlocked for thousands of years for no apparent reason. It was known that in the past, our species could not only run on water but could travel long distances as well.
The next morning, I planned to run across the largest lake in Greenland. Lake Vostok is known as the proving ground for juveniles like myself. I am the fastest of my colony and maybe the fastest in Greenland. The morning seemed to be perfect that day. Haindo flys went about their business unhindered by the news of the predicted storm. The sun intermittently hid between distant, fluffy clouds in the early morning breeze. I began my departure, trying not to wake any of my brothers in the process.
By now the moon hung low on the horizon. As we trotted home, empty-handed, I noticed the vastness of the plateau unlike ever before. The full moon, with some help from the near dawn, lit our way back to our ramshackle of a home. Even though tonight’s hunt would have been helpful, we had enough leftover caribou to comfortably last us at least to the end of September. When we got back, we were greeted by un-pleased faces.
“I take it you weren’t doing your job?” Momma said angrily.
“No! Momma we were just trying to h...,” she didn’t let me finish my explanation.
“Dre, you know that we are running low on food and word from the North is that an ice storm is coming our way.”
I understood her worries, but we’ve been landlocked for thousands of years for no apparent reason. It was known that in the past, our species could not only run on water but could travel long distances as well.
The next morning, I planned to run across the largest lake in Greenland. Lake Vostok is known as the proving ground for juveniles like myself. I am the fastest of my colony and maybe the fastest in Greenland. The morning seemed to be perfect that day. Haindo flys went about their business unhindered by the news of the predicted storm. The sun intermittently hid between distant, fluffy clouds in the early morning breeze. I began my departure, trying not to wake any of my brothers in the process.
Although Jerry was just kidding when said that last remark, it had been a constant worry of mine for a while now. Being the oldest sibling, I had taken it upon myself to take care of my fourteen brothers. Especially after what happened just two years ago.
By now the moon hung low on the horizon. As we trotted home, empty-handed, I noticed the vastness of the plateau unlike ever before. The full moon, with some help from the near dawn, lit our way back to our ramshackle of a home. Even though tonight’s hunt would have been helpful, we had enough leftover caribou to comfortably last us at least to the end of September. When we got back, we were greeted by un-pleased faces.
“I take it you weren’t doing your job?” Momma said angrily.
“No! Momma we were just trying to h...,” she didn’t let me finish my explanation.
“Dre, you know that we are running low on food and word from the North is that an ice storm is coming our way.”
I understood her worries, but we’ve been landlocked for thousands of years for no apparent reason. It was known that in the past, our species could not only run on water but could travel long distances as well.
The next morning, I planned to run across the largest lake in Greenland. Lake Vostok is known as the proving ground for juveniles like myself. I am the fastest of my colony and maybe the fastest in Greenland. The morning seemed to be perfect that day. Haindo flys went about their business unhindered by the news of the predicted storm. The sun intermittently hid between distant, fluffy clouds in the early morning breeze. I began my departure, trying not to wake any of my brothers in the process.
By now the moon hung low on the horizon. As we trotted home, empty-handed, I noticed the vastness of the plateau unlike ever before. The full moon, with some help from the near dawn, lit our way back to our ramshackle of a home. Even though tonight’s hunt would have been helpful, we had enough leftover caribou to comfortably last us at least to the end of September. When we got back, we were greeted by un-pleased faces.
“I take it you weren’t doing your job?” Momma said angrily.
“No! Momma we were just trying to h...,” she didn’t let me finish my explanation.
“Dre, you know that we are running low on food and word from the North is that an ice storm is coming our way.”
I understood her worries, but we’ve been landlocked for thousands of years for no apparent reason. It was known that in the past, our species could not only run on water but could travel long distances as well.
The next morning, I planned to run across the largest lake in Greenland. Lake Vostok is known as the proving ground for juveniles like myself. I am the fastest of my colony and maybe the fastest in Greenland. The morning seemed to be perfect that day. Haindo flys went about their business unhindered by the news of the predicted storm. The sun intermittently hid between distant, fluffy clouds in the early morning breeze. I began my departure, trying not to wake any of my brothers in the process.
The lake was nearly fifty-thousand strides away, but it felt refreshing to frolic once again. It had shrunk in volume over the summer, although it did not take away from its monstrous size. At that moment, my ego decided to take control and send me hurtling nearly one-hundred strides per minute straight for the water. I only made it to the halfway mark when I made the first mistake. Pumped up on adrenaline and sheer horror, I decided to leap in victory. It started with a smack and a skid, then a bone thrashing skip, until I slowed down enough to breach the water's surface. I came to the top with blurred vision and a chest full of brisk water. I floated there, unable to move, to think. Our bodies were made to run, not to fall. I left that lake with nothing left in my soul but disappointment and fear. If I couldn’t run across a simple lake then how was I supposed to be the fastest in the colony.
That night I went to sleep feeling shameful and worried about the days to come. Although most nights I felt both these emotions, something tonight triggered a worry deep, deep down.
The next morning I woke to a howl of what sounded like the Barn owls father and I used to capture in the abandoned polar bear den. I shivered at the thought. Just like it came, the howling had subsided, leaving only a bitter cold that pinched at my barren legs. I stepped outside of my empty dwelling to see what was going on.
The light hurt my solemn, bulbous eyes when I looked out onto the plain. It took a moment, but after a long enough stare to make my eyes tear, I realized what had just happened. Snow covered my ankles and the pale sky was filled with crystals of ice. Footsteps led west in the direction of the central colony. Since all my brothers were gone, I suspected that was where they would be. I ran as fast as I could, hoping to warm up. In a matter of seconds, a large group huddled closely came into view. The fog and continuous snowfall made it difficult to see, but I managed not to blink while continuing to sprint.
That night I went to sleep feeling shameful and worried about the days to come. Although most nights I felt both these emotions, something tonight triggered a worry deep, deep down.
The next morning I woke to a howl of what sounded like the Barn owls father and I used to capture in the abandoned polar bear den. I shivered at the thought. Just like it came, the howling had subsided, leaving only a bitter cold that pinched at my barren legs. I stepped outside of my empty dwelling to see what was going on.
The light hurt my solemn, bulbous eyes when I looked out onto the plain. It took a moment, but after a long enough stare to make my eyes tear, I realized what had just happened. Snow covered my ankles and the pale sky was filled with crystals of ice. Footsteps led west in the direction of the central colony. Since all my brothers were gone, I suspected that was where they would be. I ran as fast as I could, hoping to warm up. In a matter of seconds, a large group huddled closely came into view. The fog and continuous snowfall made it difficult to see, but I managed not to blink while continuing to sprint.
“Dre!” A scattered harmony of voices called out. I saw my youngest brother, Bob jumping up and down, trying to capture my attention. "Sorry we didn’t wake you, we all just left in such a hurry,” he said shyly. As I joined them, I noticed that my mom was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Momma?” I asked indirectly. I only received a group of sorrow faces in return.“Where is she?” I asked in a more severe tone. No response. “MOMMA!” I yelled in a voice I had never heard before.
“Don’t make a scene” Tyson said in a monotone voice.
“Where is she then?!” I demanded.
“I think she’s going to be okay,” Mike, the oldest, said. “We found her covered in snow just outside our home.” “We thought she was gone,” he said more sadly.
“Well is she?” I hesitantly asked.
“No, not right now. The doctor says she is just really sick,” he carefully said.
I started to gain feeling in my legs once again, realizing that I had lost complete sensation throughout my entity. I learned that the reason the group had gathered was that many others had fallen sick due to last night's inconceivable temperature transformation. Some other adults explained how it had killed all of the vegetation. Some of the hunters presented a frozen rabbit and buffalo horn, indicating that many species of animals did not make it through the night. When news of the same outcomes in the North spread, an outburst of dreadful cries polluted the crowd.
“Where’s Momma?” I asked indirectly. I only received a group of sorrow faces in return.“Where is she?” I asked in a more severe tone. No response. “MOMMA!” I yelled in a voice I had never heard before.
“Don’t make a scene” Tyson said in a monotone voice.
“Where is she then?!” I demanded.
“I think she’s going to be okay,” Mike, the oldest, said. “We found her covered in snow just outside our home.” “We thought she was gone,” he said more sadly.
“Well is she?” I hesitantly asked.
“No, not right now. The doctor says she is just really sick,” he carefully said.
I started to gain feeling in my legs once again, realizing that I had lost complete sensation throughout my entity. I learned that the reason the group had gathered was that many others had fallen sick due to last night's inconceivable temperature transformation. Some other adults explained how it had killed all of the vegetation. Some of the hunters presented a frozen rabbit and buffalo horn, indicating that many species of animals did not make it through the night. When news of the same outcomes in the North spread, an outburst of dreadful cries polluted the crowd.
“Dre!” A scattered harmony of voices called out. I saw my youngest brother, Bob jumping up and down, trying to capture my attention. "Sorry we didn’t wake you, we all just left in such a hurry,” he said shyly. As I joined them, I noticed that my mom was nowhere to be seen.
“Where’s Momma?” I asked indirectly. I only received a group of sorrow faces in return.“Where is she?” I asked in a more severe tone. No response. “MOMMA!” I yelled in a voice I had never heard before.
“Don’t make a scene” Tyson said in a monotone voice.
“Where is she then?!” I demanded.
“I think she’s going to be okay,” Mike, the oldest, said. “We found her covered in snow just outside our home.” “We thought she was gone,” he said more sadly.
“Well is she?” I hesitantly asked.
“No, not right now. The doctor says she is just really sick,” he carefully said.
I started to gain feeling in my legs once again, realizing that I had lost complete sensation throughout my entity. I learned that the reason the group had gathered was that many others had fallen sick due to last night's inconceivable temperature transformation. Some other adults explained how it had killed all of the vegetation. Some of the hunters presented a frozen rabbit and buffalo horn, indicating that many species of animals did not make it through the night. When news of the same outcomes in the North spread, an outburst of dreadful cries polluted the crowd.
“Where’s Momma?” I asked indirectly. I only received a group of sorrow faces in return.“Where is she?” I asked in a more severe tone. No response. “MOMMA!” I yelled in a voice I had never heard before.
“Don’t make a scene” Tyson said in a monotone voice.
“Where is she then?!” I demanded.
“I think she’s going to be okay,” Mike, the oldest, said. “We found her covered in snow just outside our home.” “We thought she was gone,” he said more sadly.
“Well is she?” I hesitantly asked.
“No, not right now. The doctor says she is just really sick,” he carefully said.
I started to gain feeling in my legs once again, realizing that I had lost complete sensation throughout my entity. I learned that the reason the group had gathered was that many others had fallen sick due to last night's inconceivable temperature transformation. Some other adults explained how it had killed all of the vegetation. Some of the hunters presented a frozen rabbit and buffalo horn, indicating that many species of animals did not make it through the night. When news of the same outcomes in the North spread, an outburst of dreadful cries polluted the crowd.
All the sick or injured were required to stay in a makeshift dwelling that was made from debris swept into the valley. I didn’t bother to visit mother, too scared to accept the reality. I lay in my nest that night, unable to shut my lids. I stepped outside, not thinking that I woke anybody on my way out. I ran into the cold air as fast as I could. I felt useless. All I have ever done, everyone I had ever met, it was all useless. All who knew me thought that I was selfish and egotistical, but it was all just a coverup for the death of my father, the one who cared for me even after I lost my wings to the polar bear. I let out a sob.
“That stupid creature,” I yelled as I continued my run. My father sacrificed his own thriving life to save a juvenile who only just learned how to speak. I angrily reflected on when I sold my life to the mafia and my brothers risked their lives to bail me out. I felt only to be a burden on everyone’s shoulders. I kept running, continuing south to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. After I arrived, rage still blinded my eyes. I could barely take in air into my frostbitten lungs. The snowy plateau faded into a rocky beach, bald of the white scenery.
“HEY!” Said a voice, gasping for air.
I jumped, startled at such a sudden noise. Behind me stood none other than Tyson himself. “What are you doing,” I said.
“What are you doing!” He said even louder.
“It doesn’t matter to you.”
“Yes, it does! I followed you because, because...” he caught his breath. “I guess I’m just worried about you. You didn’t take Momma being sick very well.”
“That stupid creature,” I yelled as I continued my run. My father sacrificed his own thriving life to save a juvenile who only just learned how to speak. I angrily reflected on when I sold my life to the mafia and my brothers risked their lives to bail me out. I felt only to be a burden on everyone’s shoulders. I kept running, continuing south to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. After I arrived, rage still blinded my eyes. I could barely take in air into my frostbitten lungs. The snowy plateau faded into a rocky beach, bald of the white scenery.
“HEY!” Said a voice, gasping for air.
I jumped, startled at such a sudden noise. Behind me stood none other than Tyson himself. “What are you doing,” I said.
“What are you doing!” He said even louder.
“It doesn’t matter to you.”
“Yes, it does! I followed you because, because...” he caught his breath. “I guess I’m just worried about you. You didn’t take Momma being sick very well.”