Member
Registered: 09-30-07
|
I hope some of you out there will find a little comfort in the words of this little story about Flower. Its the only way I could think to deal with my own sorrow.
***********************
The burrow was cool and damp as Flower, leader of the 40 strong band of meerkats known as the Whiskers, pushed her way into the darkness. Moments before, a dreaded Cape Cobra had slipped inside before her and now, all she could think about was saving her pups. Only a few weeks old, they lay defenseless in one of the chambers, sleeping peacefully, with their babysitters Spud and Sophie, unaware of the horror moving towards them. Outside, at the burrow's entrance, her family was doing its best to drive the monster out by mobbing and threatening spit calls, but with little success. A true leader leads by example - her mother had taught her that - so she would find the snake and kill it.
Now thoughts, like words, especially heartfelt ones, are never lost and Flower's thoughts were caught by the wind that lifted them high above her desert home, across oceans and mountain ranges, up into the heavens - higher still - until they reached a place known as the Rainbow Bridge. Home to all animals, wild and tame, it is a wonderous, beautiful place where everyone lives in peace and harmony, waiting patiently to be joined by others of their families or by humans who have loved them.
Francis, or Brown Robe, as the creatures affectionately called him, was a caretaker there and as always he was busy working in one of the many gardens, when he heard Flower's thoughts.
He had met meerkats before. Highly social, extremely curious, they made their homes in the desert regions of Africa - particularly the Kalahari Desert. Just 12 inches high, they held a special place in his heart. But this one, he knew, was Very Special - not just to her own kind, but to millions of humans. Wise leader, devoted mother, courageous general, she represented everything good in her species and more. He would go to her.
When he found the little meerkat, she was deep in the burrow and the snake was dangerously close by. "Flower," he spoke her name gently so as not to frighten her. She stared into the darkness, hearing only the voice in her head. "Listen to me, you must go back. Now! You will die if you don't."
"I can't," the brave part of her answered back. "I have to save my children."
"You will suffer terribly," Francis said. "Don't you see your death will be such a tragedy?"
Flower's eyes were large and full of fear, but again the brave part of her answered firmly. I MUST save my family."
In his heart, Francis knew Flower would never relent. It wasn't in her nature to abandon her pups and save herself. This is who she was. This is what made her so special and loved by many, including himself and others at The Bridge.
Francis shook his head. He did not want to do this. Finally he spoke. "Your children will be saved, Flower. Now go, fulfill your destiny." With her sense of urgency restored, Flower pushed forward.
Moments later, she stumbled back out of the burrow into the sunlight. From her horribly disfigured face, Francis knew the snake had found its mark. He watched her family rush to comfort her. Zaphod, her loyal partner, looked stunned and stricken, while Axel, the newly rescued pup abandoned by their enemy,the Zappa, stood apart - helpless and alone.
Each time an animal dies, whether it be wild or tame, somewhere - tears are shed. For centuries, Francis and the other caretakers had gathered those tears, making them into stars which they scattered upon the night sky. He knew Flower's star was going to be the brightest yet, pushing itself before all others to show first at sunset and being the last to leave the heavens at dawn. The Whiskers would never forget which one was hers.
The desert was still and strangely hushed. Not even a small breeze came by to stir the tall, dry grass or ruffle the hills of brown sand. As temperatures climbed, little puffs of heat shimmered in the air, while the sun burned in the blue sky.
Francis knelt beside Flower, who had somehow managed to drag herself a little ways away from her family to the entrance of a nearby bolt hole. His sorrow deepened even more when he heard her powerful heart, beating fierce and strong, desperately trying to fight the cobra's poison now ravaging every part of her body. She wanted so badly to live and was waging her last, best battle.
"Flower, let me help you," Francis spoke. "I will take you to the Rainbow Bridge. I will take you Home." Her sad, pain-ridden eyes burned into his own. "I am home," the part of her that was brave, told him. "Look and you will see my family closeby." Not wanting to add to her distress, he tried a different approach. "Flower, we all have to stop running sometime." Again, those eyes locked into his own and again, the part of her that was brave, answered. "I know, but not yet. There is much I have to do. I need to raise my babies and little Axel; heal wounds that were made when I divided the family. Then, I must find a better home for all of us with better foraging grounds."
"But you are suffering terribly and are in great distress," Francis choked. Again, those eyes, searching his own, as she replied. "I know, but I've suffered much in my life before this too. Starvation, loss of our home, my babies dying, predators - life in this desert is hard. But nothing - nothing can compare to the pain of losing my family."
Flower fought back the terrible urge to close her eyes and rest. Axel, who had come to sit beside her, watched her - uncertain what to do and very frightened. She wanted to comfort him - at least say his name - but she couldn't.
Her devotion moved Francis even deeper in his grief, but he couldn't undo what had been done. All he could do was ease her mind and help her understand that there was one more sacrifice that needed to be made - one more thing she, Flower must do. "I have someone with me who may be able to help you better than I," he said. "He is here with me, as are others who have known and loved you."
As Flower drifted back and forth between worlds of dreams and reality, she thought to herself, why does Death have to be so hard - so final? Why must there be such loss? Such suffering?
This was to have been the start of her greatest reign.
"The stronger the Spirit, the greater the suffering," a soft voice replied. Wait! She knew that voice - had missed it for so long. It was kind, dear Shakespeare, her son, lying close beside her in the warm sand. She could see her daughter Tosca and Carlos were also near, as were her pups Len, Squiggy and Blossom. A peculiar kind of happiness washed over her then, erasing all the pain. Suddenly she understood the thing she must do - the ultimate, selfless sacrifice that Life demanded of all. She needed to go on now without the Whiskers and they, without her - so they could live and be strong once more.
Summoning her last tiny bit of energy, she took the paw Shakespeare offered her. Feeling strange and light, she took one last look around her. For 7 years this desert had been her home. Her fur had smelled of its grasses and the warm sun and her paws had dug in its sands for tasty beetles. She had had many children here. She had defeated many enemies. She took in the scent of growing things and life living beneath the sand. She watch the clouds chasing each other in the blue, blue sky. Then she looked at the faces of her family - trying to memorize each and every one.
"What will happen to them?" she asked.
"They will go on," Shakespeare assured her." They will never be as strong as when you led them, but the Whiskers will remain. Maybe one day you will come to them again - it happens you know - different but the same. Each of them has something of you inside them - your heart, your magnificent spirit, your wisom, your courage." Shakespeare smiled at her. "They will not forget you, Flower, or the wonderful legacy you're leaving them. I promise. In time, all the desert will sing your song and tell your story. Your children will see to it."
|
How did you do this 
This is great-and touching-it reminds us of what we lost..and what she did for the pups was well expressed. 
It almost made me not cry, ironicly. 
I have a speech and song in this forum... the speech is in From my heart to yours...and the Queen's. I forget where my song is