Fragile Balance - Story by NG 541
In the quaint village of Eldor, nestled between rolling hills and dense forests, a group of children found joy in playing outside their homes every day. One sunny afternoon, as laughter echoed through the air, their innocent revelry took an unexpected turn. Among the bushes at the edge of their play area, a sinuous figure moved silently — an elegant serpent with scales shimmering like emeralds.
In awe, the children watched the snake’s graceful movements, and their excitement overflowed as they ran to share the discovery with their parents. The news spread like wildfire, reaching the elders of Eldor. Concerned for the safety of their community, a group of men ventured to the site where the children had spotted the serpent.
For hours, the villagers combed through the underbrush, their determination unwavering. Finally, they located the majestic snake, its vibrant colors blending with the earthy hues of the forest floor. Instead of reacting with fear or hostility, the villagers took a moment to observe the creature in its natural habitat.
However, the harmony was short-lived. Fear overcame reason, and with a sense of misplaced urgency, the men resorted to violence. Their sticks descended upon the serpent, ending its life prematurely. Yet, the serpent’s eyes held a glimmer of life, a testament to the resilience of nature.
Undeterred, the villagers pressed on, searching for the serpent’s lair. Deep within the thicket, they uncovered a mound of soil, pockmarked with holes — a sanctuary that housed not just the serpent, but a nest of eggs and smaller snakes. The men, driven by ignorance and fear, mercilessly crushed the unhatched life within.
As the village echoed with the cruel sounds of destruction, the surviving serpent, the matriarch of the now-decimated family, lay dying. With her last breath, she reflected on her existence. Her eyes, filled with sorrow and darkness, questioned the very essence of humanity. She pondered the purpose of creating a home on this earth and bringing forth life, only to witness it extinguished by the very beings who claimed dominion over all.
“Is our life not life?” she whispered, venomous words dripping from her fangs. “Are we mere toys for these humans? Must we seek other means to protest?”
she whispered words that lingered in the air, haunting the conscience of the villagers. “You crush us, not just with sticks, but with the weight of your indifference. Is your existence only validated by our destruction?”
She gazed at the lifeless bodies of her kin, now scattered like forgotten memories. “In our slithering existence, we harm none, yet your kind, blessed with reason, chooses a path of relentless harm. Do you measure your worth by the trophies of a conquered world?”
The dying serpent’s eyes, once vibrant with the secrets of the forest, now held a fading spark of defiance. “Poison courses through my veins, but what of the venom that festers within your hearts? Your poisons are not concocted in nature’s laboratory; they brew in the cauldron of your own desires.”
As she drew her last breath, the serpent’s final words hung heavy in the air, a mournful plea for understanding. “Reflect on the legacy you leave behind. The echo of our demise reverberates not just through the forest but through the corridors of your humanity. Are you the guardians or the harbingers of the world you claim as your own?”
And in that moment, as her life seeped away, she left behind a poignant silence that hung in the air — a silence that begged the villagers to contemplate the consequences of their actions and the delicate balance between humanity and the natural world.
story by NG 541
source Medium
https://medium.com/@ng541
https://medium.com/@ng541/fragile-balance-e135f790a1ea
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