Um...no. I don’t understand why or for what reason I wrote this. It just came spilling out of my pencil and onto the page. And then for some strange desiring need, I typed it up to share it with you! Enjoy!

PNEK MEKS

Rushing forward, dodging life, ducking and rolling, pacing strife. Do you know our pain? Do you know our joy? Have you ever understood why we do what we do? Can humans experience the same? One can only guess at what you humans think. Of what you consider happiness and joy. What you consider hardship and disgrace. Lets us show you ours.

War is pointless. Humans fighting amongst themselves in pointless quarrels. Quarrels that begin over a piece of land, where they fight and destroy each other, staining that land with blood. In the end, there is nothing left of that land but blood stained dirt, bodies, and the smell of death. They destroy everything to gain nothing. Why?

We do not fight for such reasons. We do not quarrel for pointless dirt and trees. We rarely fight at all. But when we do, it is for something more. It is for rank, title, honor, and pride. We fight to place ourselves where we believe we belong. When we know we don’t belong there, we don’t fight. This is what our race holds important.

The landscape was silent in the fading hours of darkness. The trees swayed in the soft whips of wind as the sun began to show its face above the horizon. All was shrouded in mists and fogs that soon died away, the suns rays burning them up. Alone stood a single creature staring into the rising light. Its eyes peered over a long nose covered in graying black fur; pointed ears twitched awaiting sounds, as its fluffed tail flicked against the dirt it sat upon. Its nostrils flared as it breathed in the dawn smells of dew and wet mud, its ears catching the first sounds of a squirrel coming to life in the trees leaves. The creature picked itself up and slowly trotted from its place, large paws leaving deep prints in the muddy earth. As he moved he tilted back his head sounding up a call that started quiet but rang out across the open plains, only fading once he brought his head back down. Calls echoed in return to the creatures and he began to gallop. It was time, time to face the test.

The creature slowed as he came close to the small group of creatures like him, their bodies moving in certain postures as they spoke to each other. Each one became still though as he began to move through their ranks. His posture was strong and sturdy, his head held high, and tail horizontal to the ground, its feather like appearance fanning slightly in the faint wind. Those around him squatted low, not daring to raise their head above his, tails tucked neatly away beneath their bodies. One, however, dared to stand tall, though his tail drooped slightly; he held his head high, his brown fur ruffling in the wind. He glared in defiance to the black creature who returned his glare. This was a challenge, and the two accepted it in utter silence.

Before the brown creature knew what happened though, he was at a disadvantage. The black creature wasted no time in attacking head on, jaws bared in pride, as claws dug into the others brown fur; blood leaking from the body and tainting the muddy nails red. A howl of pain erupted from the creature, but he couldn’t allow himself to fall from one blow. He swung his head around and crushed jaws into the black creatures flesh. Muscle and fur filled his mouth and the smell of blood rushed over his senses driving him mad. Black released a yelp of pain and furry as he wrenched his wounded neck away from Brown. He turned and panted slightly, glaring in anger at the youth that had made this challenge. Brown took Black’s moment of rest as an advantage and struck forward. His claws raked across the older Black’s muzzle, blood leaking over the graying snout.

The others starred in wonderment as the two circled and continued their attack. None moved to help them; this was a fight they had to win on their own. This was a fight for dominance. Black began to falter as he was again struck across the snout. Unable to keep himself standing, he collapsed to the ground in staggered breathing, unable to get air without coughing blood.

Brown stood tall before Black and made the final blow. He struck forward swiftly, snatching Black’s soft and vulnerable throat in his jaws. Sinking in his brutal teeth, he ripped his head as the soft plumage tore from the creature. Black’s final cry was a gurgled cough of death. His eyes rolling back into his head as his body lay lifeless, blood still seeping from the wounds he had suffered in this battle. Brown dropped the chunk of flesh in his mouth, holding his head high and tail horizontal to the ground. Throwing his head back he hollered a call of dominance into the sky. The call was answered by those around him, signifying him as what he had stepped up to become. Ranked above the others in dominance of the pack. He had become Alpha, and would fight to keep his title, honor, and pride.

Fighting, death, honor, pride. Rank and title above all others before you. Do you know this? Can you say you have? Perhaps, and maybe not. You know pain though. Do you? Have you ever felt pain? Have you really felt pain? Pain can drive you on, or break you. Pain makes you continue to free yourself. Can you take the pain in order to live? Do you lie down and die?

We endure pain not for our own lives, but for the lives of others. We do not inflict pain on ourselves to gain something, but to give something to someone else. Do humans do this? We do not know. This is the way of our race.

Chains rustled silently in the underbrush of the tall oak trees. Birds chattered madly watching the scene below them. A red creature, small, slim, and dawned with a luxurious tail, struggled madly against the metal creature that clamped its tight jaws around her fragile leg. The creature yipped and snapped at the monsters slim, snake like body, only to have her pointed teeth chip against it. She wrenched and pulled, tugging with strength and might. She had to escape. She had to.

She collapsed and lay still on the ground, the foliage tickling her ears, but she could not feel it. All she could feel was the nagging pain in her leg and the annoying feeling of metal that still hurt her teeth. She lay still, panting and breathing hard. Everything annoyed her. The way the sun glinted, the wind moved, the birds chirped. Things she once enjoyed became torture before her as they increased the throbbing pain. After a few moments rest, she got up and attacked the metal snake again. Her teeth chipped as the linked body rattled in annoyance from her persistence. Again she collapsed to the ground. Unable to break free, she passed out.

Several hours might have passed by or only a few meager minutes. She did not know, but she was awoken by the ravings of a finch that stood before her, its fragile little body twittering in fear and terror. She stared at it and simply wished she had the energy to kill it. Then she heard rustling from far off, and the bird became more frantic. Other feathered beasts echoed the finch’s call as the forest erupted with terror. The rustling was coming closer and the birds closest to it fell silent. She had to break free.

She pulled herself up with what strength she had left and sunk her jaws into the flesh of her own leg. Molten heat rushed through her body as pain engulfed her, making her head spin and twirl. She released herself as blood slowly began to flow, the rustling getting closer. She couldn’t let it end. She had to break free. She crushed her jaws into the wounded appendage again, another shot of searing pain engulfing her body. Her ears laid back in disgust as she heard and felt bone splinter in her teeth. She collapsed again, panting heavily, one more time.

As the rustling drew close and the birds around her fell silent, she sunk her jaws once more, tearing her self from the monster’s grip, but not without leaving something behind. She struggled and escaped into the foliage as the noise maker entered the clearing and made a noise of disgust in finding his trap empty.

She drug herself for a near mile before collapsing at the base of an ancient tree, a hollow was dug beneath its huge roots. She panted heavily as she collapsed, blood staining her tail and the stump that was once her leg. Yips and whines engulfed her ears as she was surrounded by small creatures much like her, each one barring itself in her warm fur. She had escaped, she had made it back, and she would suffer to keep them alive.

Suffering through pain, enduring, and surviving for another, would you do this? Would you fight that hard and suffer that kind of pain for someone else? We do not know. It depends on love. Love, a small word that can say so much. Four letters that hold a feeling so large it’s disgusting to think about it. You humans throw it about so aimlessly, never really wondering what it means. It can make some happy. Happiness, do you know that? Do you know joy?

We know joy, but very few thing’s bring it too us. A great joy is the opening of eyes and first steps. Have you known this joy? Are humans overjoyed by these things? We are.

The mighty plains of the sierra are fierce and wild. Their heat infiltrates the very being of all creatures that trod on them. The few meager trees that hold the weight of the heat in their very branches stand strong, growing forward. A herd of striped, hoofed creatures seemed to be gathering as the sounds of pain echoed into the sun parched plains. With each cry the female they surrounded fought with something that none could see. Shrieking in pain, she pushed on as the being began to appear. Time elapsed and the herd moved quietly about her, waiting as she struggled on, tiring with each push. Soon, the creature she had fought with was a bloody lump on the dusty floor of the plains.

She breathed hard and collapsed next to her creature that she had made, cleaning away the blood that hid its beautiful coat and hooves. The little beast nuzzled close to its creator, gently breathing in the dry air around it, bewildered by sights and sounds. She nuzzled close to her creation and quietly drifted to peace as the sun slid from the sky.

As soon as the sun drew up in the hours of dawn, she roused and woke quickly. She quickly got to her feet, leaving her little creation confused from loosing its comfort, giving a slight whine. Creator watched Creation as he struggled to do what she had done, moving wobbly legs under himself to stand above the dusty ground. Creator watched and waited, coaxing Creation on with a soft whinny. Soon Creation found himself standing on his four knobby kneed legs and began to walk towards his creator.

The two began at a walk, then moved to a slow trot, and eventually moved up to a full gallop. Creator always a step ahead as Creation strived to keep up. Creator was overjoyed, but she had one more test for her creation.

She stopped abruptly in front of him, causing her little creature to collapse to the ground again. Maybe this seemed cruel, but it was necessary. Creator did not stand there, she continued on. Creation whined again as he struggled to regain his stance, struggling with his wobbly legs. Creation would not be left behind, and he pulled himself up again and trotted forward, easily catching up with his Creator. She whinnied and gently nudged him. He stumbled slightly but did not topple over. She was delighted with this and began a trot heading back towards the herd, Creation beside her, his head held high in pride.

This is a great joy. A joy only few experience in their lifetimes. You humans have experienced this, right? We know you must feel grand joy for your young. Perhaps, this is something we share. Do you also share in tradition?

There are many different kinds of traditions in our world. How many are in yours? Our traditions date back to thousands of years ago, back to the very beginning of our very race. Traditions carried on through the generations, no matter what the cost.

The water was cool, but slowly warming as the suns rays continued to pound upon its surface. The creature drifting beneath its mirroring reflection was silent and solemn. His fins flicked gently, keeping his slimy scaled body drifting in the same place. His eyes peered around the gloomy muck of his watery world, gazing in uncaring boredom at his brethren who drifted in their own way. Suddenly, something in side drained away. His boredom left him. It was a feeling, a strong one. Return, return to where you began.

He began to move his body in a glide, his fins and tail moving him gently through the waters presence. His brethren seemed to have been awakened by the same feeling. Soon he was amongst a crowd of his rivals and friends, pushing their way back up stream. The all moved in a crowd back towards where they began.

Their journey was long and tiring. Trials along the way took many of his brethren from him. Dainty lines, shiny metal fish, and wiggling pink creatures enticed them at every turn. So many fell pray, but they still strove on. Swimming against the current that threatened to pull them back, they pushed forward. The call slowly increasing the farther they went. Return, return to where you began.

Other trials faced them as they same, his fins aching and his body tiring as he strove to keep up. The waters pull became stronger as they faced white waters that fell from above them. He drifted, strength in his fins keeping him at the base of the rushing falls, as he wondered what to do. Around him, he watched as his brethren put much force into their bodies and leapt from their protective haven, horizontal jumps that drove them into the falling rapids. Again and again they repeated this, striving to move on. Soon, he too began this seemingly fruitless attempt. Gaining speed he broke through the surface of the liquid that was his home, the air chilled his scales as he fell into the falling water. Again he repeated this, striving upward. This seemed so pointless, and yet, he was slowly reaching the top. He could feel it; the call was just at the top of this wall. He would make it.

He felt jaws latch around his body during his last jump, flipping his slimy tail madly to try and free himself. His body slowed however, as the teeth dug deeper into him, unable to gasp the breath of water he so desired. He gave one final struggle as he herd the calls slowly begin to fade. Return…re…began. His world faded into blackness.

Not all traditions are completed. Sometimes the trials are too much. Sometimes we just aren’t up to the challenge. Sometimes we die just before the end. But, our traditions do not fade because one could not make it. Is this true in human society? Do your traditions die with one? Perhaps you don’t continue, because you do not wish to take the chance.

A chance is something dangerous. Taking the leap of faith is sometimes frightening, but for many it is necessary. Though, sometimes, you need a slight push.

The wind whipped quietly through the strong branches of the birch whose leaves rattled slightly. Concealed here was a small nest made of twigs, string, and feathers. Mud was crafted into it in order to hold the nest sturdy. Its current occupant was a young child, brown feathers covering her body with bright red ones upon her breast. Her head bobbed from side to side, a bit of a chirp echoing. She was sitting and awaiting the return of her parent, her protector, beside her was her nest mate, her sibling. They were both waiting, hungry chirps echoing as they did.

She had grown in this nest, born a hatchling, growing to a nestling, and fast approaching a fledgling. She spread her tiny wings, almost fully endowed with the feathers necessary for flight. She chirped wildly as her protector returned, bearing with it a squiggly brown creature in its yellow beak. Opening her mouth wide in acceptance, the squiggly creature was forced down her gapping mouth, delighting in the full stomach she received from it. Her protector flew off again and she settled down to wait.

The sun faded and her little eyes closed. The stars playing out in her sleep, and she to never truly know their wonder. The days passed in this manner. Her protector bringing food, she eating it, and then sleeping away the darkness. Time was blissful and simple. Soon, though, her last feathers grew in, and the day came, when her protector returned with no food.

She was confused as Protector gently began to nudge her towards the edge of the nest. She chirped in fear, fluttering her little wings and trying desperately to get back to the center. She didn’t want this, what was her protector doing. However, as she struggled something inside her seemed fascinated. It called to her, have faith. She turned slightly and giving in to the nudging of Protector, allowed herself to be pushed out of the nest.

She plummeted from the high tree, falling quickly towards the ground. She was scared stiff; as she flapped her wings in a futile attempt to save herself. At the last minute, before she hit the ground, claws dug around her and she dropped gently into the nest once more.

Dazed she looked at her Protector as he slowly began nudging her towards the edge. What was she supposed to do? What if Protector didn’t catch her this time? She was shoved from the nest, but began beating her wings instantly. This slowed her decent and she soon found that she was hovering in the air. Adjusting her awkward movements, she slowly began to raise higher upward and found herself back in the nest gasping for air. She had taken a leap, believing in her Protector, and had truly enjoyed what she had found, flight.

Chance, it is a strange creature. But faith helps us to take chances. You have taken chances, have you not? They are beautiful things.

We have shown you to fight for pride and title, to endure pain for love. We have taught you a great joy and a tradition that has survived time. We have shown you chance. We have shown you these things, so that you may learn from us. Humans will one day appreciate our findings, but until then, we strive on.