A branch snapped above me. I opened my eyes to find that a soothing green aura was all around me. With my hands clasped together in my lap and my legs stretched out on the thick branch, I yawned and cast my sleepy gaze upward. Yep, it's true - the middle of a tree on the outskirts of the Viridi jungle is the best place to escape your life and live without a care in the world. At least for a few hours . . .
I gently swung my scaly legs over the branch again, letting my thick tail hang off the other side. Cautiously looking over my knees so as to not go plummeting 30 feet below, I checked to see if I had any visitors. Nothing. I was alone. I drew in a long intake of breath and let it out gradually. I despised being up so high. Which is ironic, because the Viridi people are by nature tree dwellers. Yet, it was the only place where no one would find me. Not that anyone would ever care to find me.
Another branch snapped to my left. I whipped my head in the direction of the sound. Even though the tops of the trees shaded me from the afternoon sun's bright rays of light, it didn't help me a lick when trying to find the cause of the breaking branch. Of course, there were the general plethora of creatures that lived in the jungle and made noises and did natural things of the sort. I just didn't want to take a chance.
I gave up trying to find who-knows-what and decided to climb down from the broad tree. Taking my sweet time, I descended finding one branch to step onto at a time, and wondered why I felt the need to go back to the village. "They don't need me," I scornfully mumbled to myself. "They think I'm worthless."
I jumped down to the jungle floor from the final branch, and I stood up shaky. You would think being born a Viridi and living in the trees would cause me to be immune to fear of heights. Maybe I wasn't scared at one point. I have my reasons, though.
It was all because of him.
A breeze caused the leaves above me to sing and sway. The jungle made its own music. For the first time in months, I turned the corners of my cheeks up towards the tree tops. Relief swept over me. Smiling was not something that came naturally to me anymore. Actually, now that I think of it, it wasn't something that came natural to ANY of my people. We're all serious. What you might call "fun" for us is using a bow and arrow and killing something . . . or someone. Enjoyment may also consist of sitting inside one of our tree huts all day, reading and writing about the philosophies and history of the great Viridi leaders before us.
Passing through the gate of the village, I also passed several of my people. They looked at me with scorn and apathy reflected off of their piercing eyes. They had recognized me. I tried to keep my head down as much as possible. I trudged back to my own tree hut that I had made for myself.
I walked through the bamboo door. The mess on the floor disgusted me. It had migrated over to my pathetic little bed and desk. "Tarka, get a grip," I scolded myself. I couldn't live like a slob forever. Even though I was a bit of a rebel, the deepest Viridi in me drove me to be a clean person. Most of the time.
Not since a few months ago.
The memory of that night fizzled in my brain like magma ready to burst through and destroy everyone. That is what I really wanted to do with my life: if I could, I would have my revenge. I will not rest or be content with life until it is done.
I went about with my usual evening activities which consisted of making myself a measly meal and eventually cleaned my one-room house. Alone.
I wouldn't be alone if it hadn't been for that slithering snake.
I changed into a large loose-fitting shirt and curled up in a ball on my cot. Like every night, I would let the burning tears come flowing with stifling sobs. Why?
In minutes, I would drift off, only to relive sweet memories that would never come again.
No comments:
Post a Comment