Jack (Part Six)

Then he realized why the two-legged animals had left in such a hurry. Why the mountain had turned so silent. Now he even understood why the bird had been so startled and petrified enough to have dropped him.

A terrible roar rang in the newborn’s ears, and his eyes opened in pure terror. Hurdling towards him was a creature larger even than the golden lizard and Mom. It didn’t seem to be as big as the thing that had scared the bird, but it was the same sort of creature. It was covered in brown and black striped fur. It seemed to have no control over its long and naked tail, which whipped back and forth dangerously with every step. Around its head was a mane of shaggy fur. Its mouth seemed to take up most of its face, and, as it bounded closer and closer, the newborn could see rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth.

The newborn knew he needed to run, he needed to hide. He needed to disappear into the fog just as every other creature had done. But his legs and wings simply would not move. The ground below him was vibrating under the weight of the huge cat sprinting towards him now, but the newborn simply could not move. Fear had paralyzed him so that all he could do was stare as the animal dashed through the dense fog.

When the animal was only a few steps away, the newborn shut his eyes tightly in anticipation. The sudden weight of the creature’s foot landed on his right wing, a claw digging through the delicate limb. The cat continued on its way, never noticing the small lizard. Crying out in pain as the claw tore through his wing, the newborn’s eyes opened, barely realizing he had escaped sure death. He wasn’t even entirely aware of the pathetic mewling he was uttering. Through the pain and tears, he attempted to gingerly move the torn wing and found that it simply wasn’t possible. Dreading what he would find, he curled his head around to examine it only to see that it was barely hanging on to the rest of his body. Horror and grief welled up inside his stomach. He would never be able to fly. He was confined to the ground. The thrill of the wind whipping past his face high above the trees would never be his to experience.

There really was no possible way to ever go home. To ever see Mom. More tears spilled over at the thought of Mom, her image swimming in his mind’s eye. Terror coursed through his entire body. He didn’t know what to do. All hope abandoned him as he realized just how lost he was. How lost and tired. How tired and crippled.

Next part will be posted tomorrow.