Return to Nature - Story VII

quadraptor's picture
Return to Nature Index

The next day comes and goes slowly for you. You are eager to find out what your deer has planned for your next trip to their world.

You finally finish up your daily routines and lay back into your favorite chair. You close your eyes and hear the wind outside blow upon your house. When you open your eyes, you are sitting on a park bench.

You look around, finding yourself somewhere you never expected to be. You are at a man-made park, that overlooks a great ocean. You approach the water, hearing it lap up onto the concrete that separates the water from the land. You look off into the distance and see a great city, one you have never seen before. Skyscrapers climb and reach the clouds, and you can faintly hear the hustle and bustle of the city. You notice that no other humans are around you, yet you hear the sounds of squirrels and birds coming from the nearby park.

You then spot your deer, who is approaching from within the park. They greet you and look off at the city in the distance. "So, what do you think?", they ask.

"Well, I'm not familiar with this place, but it looks nice, I suppose.", you reply. The deer looks to you. "Nice? You do understand that none of this is natural, right?", they ask. "Well, yeah, but...", you begin to say, but looking back at the city, it does seem to sink in.

"Do you know what was there before the humans came and paved over it?", your deer asks. You shake your head. The stag looks back to the city, "There was a great place that once was there - a great marshland, and it was home to an old tribe of deer who protected the land and cleansed both the water and the air.", they say.

You don't know how to reply, so your deer keeps speaking, "Since then, the tribe vanished, and this happened. What once was a place of restoration has become a place of pollution. This land was once quiet, peaceful, and one of the most desirable places for any animal to come visit. Now it is nothing more but an old memory, and in its place is a land of noise and chaos."

Your deer then looks at you sternly, "What have we done to deserve such a disgrace?", they question you.

"I...I didn't...", you try to say, but the words won't come. You feel completely ashamed, even if you had no hand in creating the place you see before you. "I'm so sorry...", you manage to say. Your deer's ears perk up, "That's all I wanted to hear.", they say, and turning, they walk into the park. You watch them continue, then turn back and say, "Are you coming?"

You nod and leave the waterfront, entering into the park with your deer. There, the sounds of the city seem to fade, and you hear more of the birds singing and squirrels chattering. Your deer finally rests under a tree there, and you join them.

The two of you are quiet for the next few moments, and then your deer says, "I will admit, this place is lovely." You nod in agreement. "I guess there are some humans out there who aren't like those that build and pollute. It's just...frustrating...", they say, "Nature has turned her back to this land."

"It's what humans do.", you reply, "They are the only creatures on Earth that change the world around them to fit their needs." Your deer agrees, "And in the process they destroy the world for the other animals that live there."

You sigh, "Sad but true.", you say. You close your eyes, resting your head on the tree. Your deer watches you, as slowly your head slumps and comes to a rest on their shoulder. Your deer smiles, "Don't worry about it. I may be frustrated at those humans, but not with you. You are learning more and more about our world each day, and for that I am truly thankful. Now, go to sleep, and we will continue this next time."

You open your eyes, finding the softness of your deer's body has been replaced with a pillow that was laying in your chair. You let out a little sigh. "What can I do to stop the world from becoming like that city?", you ask yourself.
ocean's picture

Yay! Glad you continued.

Yay! Glad you continued. ^^
Looks good so far. :3
quadraptor's picture

Went ahead and finished this

Went ahead and finished this one.
Ephra's picture

Thanks for continuing to

Thanks for continuing to write these, I'm still enjoying them Laughing out loud
Laruna's picture

I really liked this one, as

I really liked this one, as you know... Smiling <3
eyestrain's picture

I understand your feelings in

I understand your feelings in writing this chapter, but I can't hope but help further in the story we will have a chance to look at our world with wider eyes and broader perspective. There is so much more to us than pollution and destruction.

I don't strive to be the best, but instead I strive to do my best, and always give it my all every time.
-faunet