the gardians last hope

The Guardian’s Last Hope

By Haley Eason

July, 2012

The scorching sun sends shimmering rays of golden light down on the trees, dappling the land. Slowly a creature, a cat steps out from the green undergrowth two tiny cubs still wary of the world around them tussle behind their mother blissfully unaware. But in the shadows a real monster prim and ready, waits. The mother settles down on a stone from a long forgotten temple that is submerged in a pool of pristine water clean and pure.  The cubs stand at the bank pawing the cool water.  High above the monster hidden by a shimmering canopy of lush green it takes aim at its prey and locks on. Suddenly a bang fallowed by a snap, the monster had failed to get its prey as it falls from its hiding place. When the mother heard the noise it grabbed the cub nearest to her and with a muffled roar signals the other cub to fallow her out of the area. But sadly when the mother turns around her eyes full of fear and anger she finds that the often happy face of her other cub no longer looks to her for guidance, but instead it is floating in the pool that it had played in, its eyes glazed over. Staring at nothing…

This is the sad reality of poaching. But sadly not only tigers are on the poacher’s mind there are other animals as well. Such as rhinos, elephants, wolves, and whales. And they don’t just kill animals some of them sell animals illegally on the black market. But most go and take one part of the animal and leave the rest where they killed the animal. Almost never do they take the meat. How could anyone not have a soul for the animals they are killing. Would you be able to pick 1 of your children and have to leave the other probably never to see him/her again. Impossible choice, right!? Well this is what it’s like for the animals those poachers poach. My goal is not only to save tigers but stop poaching all together. Do you know what happens after a poacher has finished his hunt? Well, I have already told you that. Let’s move on to cultural impact.

The mother has her last cub struggling in her jaws. Sadly she morns over her lost cub but unable to cry over what she has lost, she pushes on. She pushes over logs and rivers and even a marsh. Soon she sees an orange light flickering in the distance sending light dancing over the moss covered trees. Decides it would be best to turn now but she hears a crack behind her and she darts forward too spooked to stop. By the time she feels safe she is close enough to the lights that she can make out the heads of the monsters. Like it was fate one spots her and slowly walks closer. The others scare and run for the grasslands where they make their home. Only on impulse she slinks into the nearby bramble and seems to just melt into the landscape. So by the  time it gets to the place where she was standing it only looks in curiosity its eyes full of wisdom, it turns to go find its friends. The tigress had never seen one of these beasts be so caring. She wonders whether it was just unafraid or if there was something more behind its odd actions. It had respected the land because when it saw that the flames where still burning it covered it with dirt and took its time. She noticed it had no weapons so she wondered whether she could somehow thank it for its kindness. She set down her cub and gave it a good stare to tell it to hide. Then she walked out knowing that if she took her cub she may risk it being attacked.  She walked over to the creature and made it take its time to spot her when it did it only smiled and took its things and left.

Culture is the theme in this part of the story. In Chinese legend the tiger brings many things, good luck, fortune, good health, it also lightens your problems and eliminates disaster. In other cultures it brings rain and if it is dead it brings destruction. But also it is a symbol of strength, courage and power. It is also known as the guardian of the forest.

After her run in with the odd human the mother go back retrieves her cub and moves on. This time to stay hidden in the shadows of the forest, unable to be seen by any wondering eyes.