Chapter 2 Festival Fires

A rhino, thick skinned and heavily worn, comes barreling into the center of the party where DJ’s perform atop a desert rock, large enough to fit an entire band. Animals from all around have come to live in the unitized village, block the incoming rhino from obtaining the microphone any faster.

The crowd in an uproar, yelling at the rhino to get off the stage. That wasn’t enough to scare him though. He, though tough looking, seemed to be far more worried about something else.

“What do you think you are doing?”

“Get off the stage.”

Many still screamed through the distraction of the festival music.

“Hey, guards! Come get this civilian off the stage!”

The rhino vigorously reaching for the microphone. His big rock like hands tosses it from side to side, making him scramble to prevent it from hitting the ground. After a few failed attempts of grabbing the mic, and flinging guards off his shoulders, the rhino finally finishes his quest, only to start another.

Panicking even more. He tries to pick his brain to find words that form a correlating sentence to excuse his interruption. Out of breath, he is finally able to utter his warning. Putting everyone else in a panic.

“The orange wisp, it BrEathes on our turf yet again!” The rhino panting into the microphone.

The crowd scatters, running into each other. Not even taking into consideration… they aren’t sure where this “chaos” is located. You can hear several faint screams from within then load uproar, caused, not by the Dj’s on stage, but a simple fan warning the others of the miscues fire.

“We’re all going to die!”

“We’ve lost… EVERYTHING!”

“The unity has been tampered!”

“Everyone, please just calm down! Let us decide what’s happening. We are the emergency responder after all, not you.” The angry hippopotamus states, hoping everyone would calm down. Hysteria, however, got the best of the over reacting crowd. The emergency responder got up on the stage, glared at the rhino, and pulls the microphone from his brisk hands. Continuing to tell the crowd to calm down. Eventually, the fans did, and by doing so, they found the fire, along with the charred remains of plants and homes.

The forest frontier had been hit with the uninvited guest, as it danced around destructively.The once thriving terraform is now looked at nothing more as a desolate area that won’t bring life anytime soon. Trees looked rotted and dead like they had been there for years, the ground was covered with ash, ruining the grounds properties for growth. Smoke had covered the great united city and slowly settled, creating a haze.

Unsure of what happened, everyone just stood like jade statues. Some were frozen to be worshiped, some were frozen as an elitist, others were frozen as if they were one. All frozen as time was stopped. Gates weren’t finished, fleeing wasn’t an option, the civility was dispirited.

Thawing, the crowd stops in sorrow, with a tight feeling a great loss heavy in their chests. “The damage should heal over time. But--” One of the responders broke the silence, still moving debris. The civilians gather around weeping over their loss. “There happened to two casualties, unfortunately.” Take her straw woven hat marking her as a rescue; the rest followed with obedience.

They all stare at the remaining burnt trunks, that glow of charcoal dust, and the smell of a festival fire. The tree tops were completely gone, no trace left in the ashes the ground was now made of. Lastly, homes and dens didn’t have a place within that claimant anymore. Life within this sector would no longer flourish, not like it used to.   

Off in the distance, were bushes still stand, sets a young animal who appears to be a kit. Hiding behind a few rows of leaves and branches, watching the adults and other children mourn uncertain of everything that place. The kit was sure something terrible happened, with the horrid looks the adults gave while staring at the reminisces of a den.

“M-mother? Father?” Not only was the smoke causing his eyes to tear, but his eyes began to tear up once he saw who’s den it was. Intrusive thoughts held tight in his mind that his parents didn’t make it out in time from the thick fires wall; they didn’t join in the celebration.

The Night’s tranquility came to an end

Chapter 1: Childhood

In a land; orderly pieced together, allowing a section for each biological terraform to live peacefully amongst the different climates, a group of young animals gather; setting up decorations, for the upcoming festivities in the young night as it ages, honoring the ancestors that made the unity between all species possible, amongst the fast growing civilization occupying the mass they all know and love today.

A lion cub- exhausted from his hard work that took place in the schoolyard, excited to see he is “almost” finished making the decorations handed to him. Paper, glue, and thinly wound string attracted to his paws; he holds his project by the thread used to hang the ornament to show off his accomplishment.

“I’m finally done! I can’t wait to start hanging these, this is my favorite time of the school year!”

“You are just excited because you don’t have to do this tedious work anymore.” an angered high pitched voice calls out from a red, orange tinted squirrel. Looking at her fur, you could tell she wasn’t a very handy person.

The lion cub looks over at her only in petty. He laughed at her.

“And you are only jealous because I only made a mess of my hands”

The room, well, open field full of children only knew of one manner in which to act. Laughter shattered through the wide open, putting Kelcy (the squirrel) in a hidden bent posture, hoping that would prevent everyone from looking at her, though it didn’t help.

“Hey now kids, let’s not spoil each others day with unnecessary remarks. Today is a special day and should be lived like the rest. You know we don’t pick on others, so don’t start today, Thank you!” Miss Walters, a Gazelle trying to lift the gloomy aroma from the field.

Both the lion cub and Kelcy apologize to the teacher by putting their paws together “Sorry” came from beneath the breath of the two young animals, politely bowing to Miss Walters and the rest of the class.     

“It won’t happen again, Miss Walters.” Kelcy reassuring the teacher. Under her breath, she manages to slip out “At least not when you are around.” without the adult figure hearing.  

All the students rounded up with their finished; not all nice and neat, but young crafted projects, the floating orb. Volunteers began to show up, knowing the students were given a strict deadline -- 2:30 PM, for the cities decorations; to help Miss Walters keep the young animals tame, while they hang “stars” on the vintage beams of businesses, and open marketplaces.

“Alright kids, you are all dismissed!” She nearly shrieked with excitement. “Hope to see you all at the festival tonight, and remember- it only takes ONE person… to make a difference.” Miss Walters was talking about the cause that made this celebration possible among the amalgamate.

A kit sluggishly makes his way back to his den after overshadowing the fun that took place in the field, where others helped each other creating and decorating the city. The rest of the kids either went home, or roamed back to the school, laughing, playing, and just having a great time.

The kit’s site picks up an older looking fox outside, working on what seemed to be a broken shutter, attached to a home made of sticks and mud, the door was round, and so was the window located on the right of the home.

“What’s wrong son?” Marvin; the kits dad asked, seeing the distant look on his son’s face. He was heartbroken to see a talented mind suffer, with not much to sustain it. Marvin felt responsible; only able to watch, and nothing more than a pill to help ease the pain. “I’m sorry there isn’t much I can do to help. I want to, you know I do, and I’m trying my best, I’m just not sure how to.”

Sylar looked at his father while tears began to form. Slowly, he walks toward his room. Thoughts ravage his mind; “No one wants you around”, “It’s all in your head”, “You have OCD? That must mean you are crazy.” The intrusive thoughts only strength each time he tried to fight them.

A wooden thud pierces through the air, caused by a furry paw. “Sylar-- do you mind if we talk outside?” Gingerly the kit accepts, questioning why his father would be calling him outside to talk. They begin climbing a marula tree just outside the doorway to their den; his father wanted him to be closer to the stars while they talked.

“Do you know what’s special about today?” Marvin asked, gazing into the shadows the stars created in the young, night's sky.

“N-no, I don’t. I know it holds deeply in the heart of our civility, but that’s about it. I don’t understand how such a big deal could be made over something as such.” Sylar looks down with disappointment strong in his sight.

“A city, filled with life, from any imaginable, terraform, fit for each animal; gathering around the night’s setting, ominous stars, fire built for festivities to break loose amongst the great unity; dancing a ritual, to honor those whom made this colony, and now we celebrate the memorable day, our ancestors created for us; a city of all species. Son, I promise you, once you reach far enough to obtain your star; the star that shines the brightest and glows the greatest, things will get easier, just follow your dreams.”

“How do I know which is mine?” Sylar looked up into the luminescent sky at the brightly shining stars.

“No son, you won’t find your stars up there. You can find it, awaiting your arrival; your star lives within you!” Marvin said with a bit of a smirk in his tone.

“I still don’t fully understand? What do you mean it’s inside me?”

a

“You may still be a bit too young to fully grasp what I am saying. But trust me… the older you get the more you will understand, and the more you will learn. Eventually, you will understand what this night was all about.”

“But- what if someone gets to my “star” before me?” Sylar was a bit concerned. Though he doesn't understand what his dad means, he still worries over of. Sylar’s ponders for a bit with a stern look in his eyes, while he waits for his dad to come up with an explanation. “Could- could someone have already taken my “star”.”?

“No, no, only you have the power to obtain the aroma filled speckles.”

“Stars? I thought there was only one?”

“There are many lesser stars you will need to reach before getting your final one. Think of it like a tree. Ever wonder what happens to a tree if the main stem dies? This can happen with the trunk of a tree and even branches. You see several trees where the trunk or branches slip off in a few different directions. This is because sadly the main stem wasn't strong enough to withstand that battles of life but, no need to worry because two new stems will compete to see if either or maybe even both with survive. Even trees reach out to their stars, though, theirs. You can see all the different paths the take. Ours, however, we can’t, so make the most of the paths you choose!”

Not sure how else to explain the star situation to his six year old son.Marvinn continues on with his motivational speech, hoping it will help his son in the future. He very well could just say that stars are his goals in life, but it will be more meaningful if Sylar found out on his own.

“My dad- he told me, just like now; I was in the same position you are now. He told me something I'd never forget till this day. He told me that when I get down enough that I think harming myself would make all the pain disappear, make everything instantly better, and forget the past. That I wouldn't be here if I wasn't meant to be here. And now I see it. I am here to help guide my son. I truly hope this talk helped you sylar. I know it won't be easy for you to see clearly now. But hopefully once you are older you can piece together this conversation and always keep it in mind.”

“Okay dad, can I go to the festival now?”

Little was anyone pying attention. A little friend stopped by the forest district while everyone was out having a blast. It joined them in their ritualistic dance, though barely celebrating alongside them. It danced with a lively orange- red glow, consuming homes and housing additions as it recklessly moves.