It was the day after the feast. I was sitting under my favorite tree still thinking of the feast I had and how I thought it was strange that I had more food than the others, which now I had given me problems with Jomo because he was jealous.
Jomo is not somebody you want to have problems with. He is strong, scary, moody and very dominant. I look up to him, but he can be a very difficult sometimes. I mostly stay out of his way. He speaks very little, which I guess is good because whenever he does, his words are more impacting on the others. Several suns ago we had a brief conversation and I really felt like he was at last considering me part of the group.
I was looking at a bird that was standing on top of the invisible wall. I could still not completely understand how that worked. I knew where the wall was, I understood that it was there, but how the humans could make a wall of air was baffling. I heard Jomo's stride coming towards me, but I did not move. He was not menacing. For a while, he stood there beside me, looking in the same direction as me. Then, in a low voice he said:
-They stand behind that invisible wall and stare at us. It used to drive me mad. They took me from the forest, MY forest, while I was down sick. They put needles in me until I could stand again on my own, and then left me here to be stared at. There were times I wanted to see how tall it goes and try to escape, but M'Linzi told me it would not end well for me and she is right. They would use their thunder sticks on me, like they used on my father. One day I will get revenge... One day, I will crush one of them with just one hand.
For a moment I didn't know what he was talking about. Then I saw a little human cub under the bird I was watching, staring directly at him. He was so deep in his stare, looking at the giant Jomo, that I don't think he even noticed me. That's how I felt every time Jomo was visible to the starers. I was not as impressive as him, and I knew it, but it still bothered me. One day I would be the biggest one behind the invisible wall, and that gave me hope.
My thoughts were interrupted by a menacing puff in Jomo's breath. I looked at him. His expression had turned menacing towards the human cub.
-He is just a cub, Jomo. He is not a threat. - I said to him, a little fearful for speaking to him like that.
Jomo turned to me. -They are all a threat. That cub will grow into a human, and humans hunt us down. You wouldn't know, you were born behind an invisible wall. You will never understand.
He turned away. -How was it?- I asked. -How is life in the forest?
-There is no explaining if you have never been there. You will never understand. And you will never BE there, so there is no use for you to know.
It saddened me. That was a hand or two suns before that day, the day after the feast. I was still thinking over what he had said, and what I could do to gain his trust again after getting more food at the feast. It wasn't my fault. The humans had given me more, and that was that. They had chanted my name a lot and shot many lights towards me, and even if that annoyed me and everyone else, Jomo did not talk to me anymore, giving me mean looks. I still don't know why I suddenly had more attention than him, but it had only lasted a sun, so he shouldn't feel that way. Still, it felt good for me to get appreciated.
I was still thinking about that when I was distracted by cries of humans from the other side of the invisible wall. I looked over and the starers were not looking towards us. They were trying to look straight down. I was confused for a moment, but then I saw him. A young human cub had fallen from under the invisible wall.
I immediately thought of the look in Jomo that other day. I thought of Elle, Mondika and Gladys, the cubs in our group, and how their mothers protected them when Jomo was in a bad mood. I ran towards the cub.
I felt him with my hand. He was hurt.
-Jomo! Stay away! - I cried. -He is just a cub, and I will not let you touch him!
I heard the human feeders call out to us. All the others, the mothers, Chewie, Mara and Samantha, ran to the open door. I did not see Jomo follow them, I grabbed the cub by the foot and moved him to a corner.
-Jomo! I will not go to the door until I see you! He has done nothing wrong and I will fight you if I have to! Please! Just go with the feeders!
I could hear him move in the bushes and trees. I moved the cub several times until I could see him. He was staring furiously at me and the cub.
-Jomo, please... - I started. Then I heard him scream:
-Harambe!
Thunder.
Suddenly, I was alone. I could not see any walls, just tall trees in every direction. I walked towards the sun I could see slightly behind the trees. I suddenly realized I would've found a wall or something by the many steps I had already taken. I started running. No invisible walls. Just trees and more trees and the light from the sun felt warmer in my face. Wind felt fresher than ever before. The sun was closer by every strode I gave. This must be the forest.
I am free.
Jomo is not somebody you want to have problems with. He is strong, scary, moody and very dominant. I look up to him, but he can be a very difficult sometimes. I mostly stay out of his way. He speaks very little, which I guess is good because whenever he does, his words are more impacting on the others. Several suns ago we had a brief conversation and I really felt like he was at last considering me part of the group.
I was looking at a bird that was standing on top of the invisible wall. I could still not completely understand how that worked. I knew where the wall was, I understood that it was there, but how the humans could make a wall of air was baffling. I heard Jomo's stride coming towards me, but I did not move. He was not menacing. For a while, he stood there beside me, looking in the same direction as me. Then, in a low voice he said:
-They stand behind that invisible wall and stare at us. It used to drive me mad. They took me from the forest, MY forest, while I was down sick. They put needles in me until I could stand again on my own, and then left me here to be stared at. There were times I wanted to see how tall it goes and try to escape, but M'Linzi told me it would not end well for me and she is right. They would use their thunder sticks on me, like they used on my father. One day I will get revenge... One day, I will crush one of them with just one hand.
For a moment I didn't know what he was talking about. Then I saw a little human cub under the bird I was watching, staring directly at him. He was so deep in his stare, looking at the giant Jomo, that I don't think he even noticed me. That's how I felt every time Jomo was visible to the starers. I was not as impressive as him, and I knew it, but it still bothered me. One day I would be the biggest one behind the invisible wall, and that gave me hope.
My thoughts were interrupted by a menacing puff in Jomo's breath. I looked at him. His expression had turned menacing towards the human cub.
-He is just a cub, Jomo. He is not a threat. - I said to him, a little fearful for speaking to him like that.
Jomo turned to me. -They are all a threat. That cub will grow into a human, and humans hunt us down. You wouldn't know, you were born behind an invisible wall. You will never understand.
He turned away. -How was it?- I asked. -How is life in the forest?
-There is no explaining if you have never been there. You will never understand. And you will never BE there, so there is no use for you to know.
It saddened me. That was a hand or two suns before that day, the day after the feast. I was still thinking over what he had said, and what I could do to gain his trust again after getting more food at the feast. It wasn't my fault. The humans had given me more, and that was that. They had chanted my name a lot and shot many lights towards me, and even if that annoyed me and everyone else, Jomo did not talk to me anymore, giving me mean looks. I still don't know why I suddenly had more attention than him, but it had only lasted a sun, so he shouldn't feel that way. Still, it felt good for me to get appreciated.
I was still thinking about that when I was distracted by cries of humans from the other side of the invisible wall. I looked over and the starers were not looking towards us. They were trying to look straight down. I was confused for a moment, but then I saw him. A young human cub had fallen from under the invisible wall.
I immediately thought of the look in Jomo that other day. I thought of Elle, Mondika and Gladys, the cubs in our group, and how their mothers protected them when Jomo was in a bad mood. I ran towards the cub.
I felt him with my hand. He was hurt.
-Jomo! Stay away! - I cried. -He is just a cub, and I will not let you touch him!
I heard the human feeders call out to us. All the others, the mothers, Chewie, Mara and Samantha, ran to the open door. I did not see Jomo follow them, I grabbed the cub by the foot and moved him to a corner.
-Jomo! I will not go to the door until I see you! He has done nothing wrong and I will fight you if I have to! Please! Just go with the feeders!
I could hear him move in the bushes and trees. I moved the cub several times until I could see him. He was staring furiously at me and the cub.
-Jomo, please... - I started. Then I heard him scream:
-Harambe!
Thunder.
Suddenly, I was alone. I could not see any walls, just tall trees in every direction. I walked towards the sun I could see slightly behind the trees. I suddenly realized I would've found a wall or something by the many steps I had already taken. I started running. No invisible walls. Just trees and more trees and the light from the sun felt warmer in my face. Wind felt fresher than ever before. The sun was closer by every strode I gave. This must be the forest.
I am free.