“Every creature was designed to serve a purpose. Learn from animals for they are there to teach you the way of life. ― Suzy Kassem
The torch inside of the small cave omitted little light beyond its location near the cave’s entrance. The ceiling was high. At the back wall a ventilation hole existed providing a link to the soundless darkness of the outside world. The crude window was at least ten meters above the floor of the cave. Outside the cave the sky appeared to be black as if darkness had engulfed itself. Aside from Kyle’s rapid breathing and the constant trickle of water the cave was silent. In this setting Kyle regained consciousness. He was understandably disoriented and terrified alone in this haunting darkness. He strained to focus on the torch giving him some sense of sight. He had a large tender bump on his head. He could barely make out the flame of the torch, something obscured his vision. He strained to see the flame more clearly to no avail. He did however see two small red eyes peering at him as he became cognizant of an extra weight on his chest.
“Don’t you guys ever stop!” the words startled Kyle as they echoed in the cave. Whatever was perched on him dug its tiny claws into his chest as the desperate plea streamed from the child’s mouth. Kyle instinctively swatted the creature aside. He heard it land with a soft thud. Immediately he heard the sound of tiny claws scamper across the cave’s stone floor. Kyle sat up. He was dizzy from the bump on his head and from exhaustion. He felt a sharp bite on the side of his hand that held him upright. The creature made another attack. This time Kyle did not attempt to fend off the assault. He quickly grabbed hold of the small animal. The weight of the varmint reminded him of his grandmother’s Yorkshire Terrier. The creature squirmed, wriggled and moved its claws aggressively. Its movements were so relentless that Kyle had to do his best to maintain his grip ahold of the creature. Arching its back to momentarily relieve Kyle’s grip on it, the creature was able to roll away from Kyle’s hand. Kyle heard the creature scamper across the floor and disappear under a bundle of damp wild grass. Kyle breathed deeply maintaining his sight on the lump of grass. He didn’t have time to view the creature during the skirmish. He was confident however that whatever the creature was it wasn’t much bigger than Murphy, his grandmother’s miniature Yorkie. “Look, if you come at me again I’m going to have to break your neck,” he exhaled deeply. “I don’t want to hurt you, but I have had it with all of you freaks.”
“He, he, he, he, he.”
Kyle was startled by the reply, “Oh you think it’s funny? I can beat up anyone at school even the fifth graders. A little Yorkie like you won’t be a problem.
“He, he, he, he, he,” came the taunting return. Kyle leaned toward the creature, peering with more determination. Once again, he heard the scampering feet chase across the floor. He spotted the dark object leap in his direction. Kyle caught hold of the creature just before it could dig its claws into his face. He firmly held the creature around its chest as he moved closer to the torch to inspect what he was dealing with. The creature appeared to be some ancestor of rodent. It mimicked a choking noise as it wriggled helplessly in Kyle’s firm grip. It was covered in long oily black hair. It had a rounded nose rather than than the pointed nose of a rat. Its ears were rounded as well except for a piece that was missing from its right ear, an indication that this battle was not its first. Its eyes in the torch light were black with brown surrounding hair. Dried mucus around the eyes suggested that the creature had not coexisted in a healthy environment for some time, yet its belly was not emaciated. The creature continued to squirm in an attempt to free itself from Kyle’s grip. “I said not to mess with me,” Kyle tightened his grip placing the force of his thumbs on the creature’s ribcage. The creature squirmed vigorously baring its sharp yellow teeth while attempting futilely to scratch Kyle’s wrist in order to force him to relax his grip. Kyle considered spiking the creature on the floor. The pathetic appearance of the creature prevented him from doing so. The action, Kyle considered, would be cruel and he was not merciless.
Kyle’s own desperate condition influenced his decision as well. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he explained in an angry tone, “but I also don’t want you to scratch my eyes out,” he said softening his hostility. The creature finally tired. It obviously was not a predator high on the food chain of the animals that occupied this strange land. It was accustomed to constantly defending itself in order to survive. This new strange creature that Kyle held in his grip, however scrappy seemed harmless enough.
The confrontation was new and confusing to the small creature whose constance vigilance against threats were a way of life in the caverns. Kyle stared at it for a moment. He contemplated. “I am going to release you one more time. If you attack me I’m going to have to send you flying against the wall. Do you understand?” The creature gave no response. Kyle walked over to the area where the damp grass was located. He lowered the creature to the ground and released it. The creature slowly stepped away from Kyle. It turned once it determined it was free from danger. It arched its back while the hair on its neck raised as it regarded the boy who had just released it. In another instant it may have pounced back at Kyle. The reaction of the creature was contrary to its instinct however. It regarded the boy as it placed its tiny front legs underneath its body while coming to a rest. The child and the creature did not take their eyes off from each other. Kyle sighed deeply. “I guess you don’t talk, so you can’t tell me where we are or how I can get out of here?” The creature cocked its head in response to this new curious tone from its cellmate. Kyle’s witticism was revealed as he spoke to the creature, “Listen Hairy, I have had a really bad night. The toughest night of my life,” Kyle explained. “I Just want to go home,” he paused as the creature regarded him. “I guess you’re not going to be able to help me with that are you?”
Kyle sat along the wall where the torch burnt. He stared at the opening to the outside on the opposite wall. He thought that he could get a running start and perhaps leap to grip the edge of the opening, but he knew the ledge was too high up to do so. He looked at the pile of grass where the little creature laid, his feet still underneath him. Kyle began to shiver from the cold air in the damp cavern. His head ached and his body was sore from being thrown around by the fierce creatures that had seized him. He leaned over his knees resting his lower back against the wall. He grabbed the back of his shoulders with his hands in an attempt to stay warm. His bare feet were cold. He regarded the large clump of hay that the small creature rested on. “Okay Hairy, I’m going to bring that pile of hay over here where it is warmer. I don’t want you freaking out on me again. Do you understand?” Kyle knew that the creature didn’t understand him, but he thought that the forceful, yet considerate announcement might ease the little creature’s temper. Kyle rose from where he sat as he slowly advanced to the pile of hay. Hairy likewise rose and moved away as Kyle approached. Kyle grabbed an armful of the wild grass and brought it to the wall near the torch. He returned and hauled the remaining hay to its new location. Hairy growled but he remained still. Kyle rested on top of the pile of hay as he covered his feet with the drier hay. He felt much warmer. He looked at Hairy laying on the edge of the shadow, he was trembling. “You can’t expect me to freeze to death, now can you? After all you have hair and all I have is a t-shirt and shorts,” Kyle explained. The creature tilted his head as he trembled. Kyle stared at him for a while. The small creature looked pitiful. Kyle rose again as some of the pressed hay stuck to his shirt and legs. He slowly approached Hairy. Kyle bent down as the creature curled its body in fear. Kyle picked up the little guy and returned to the pile of grass. He held the creature in one arm as he buried his feet with the hay. He placed Hairy on his lap. The creature’s heart raced as Kyle’s had when the bats swooped down to steal him away, just as Kyle’s heart had when he saw the Pantars for the first time racing towards him on their steeds. He quietly hummed a familiar tune as he gently stroked Hairy’s back. There the child and the little creature fell to sleep as one.
Kyle had no sense of how long he had slept. The torch on the wall was still burning. Hairy rested his chin on Kyle’s thigh. Kyle lifted the creature as he stood up to stretch. His head still throbbed from his beating. Hairy sat looking anxious at Kyle. Kyle surveyed the cavern which was barren aside from the pile of grass. He spotted a round pebble in the lighted corner near the wall where the torch burnt. He sat down and grabbed a small handful of hay. He started to roll the strips of grass around the pebble forming a tiny ball. He then wrapped longer strands of the wild grass around the object weaving them tightly so that they remained together. After a while Kyle had formed the facsimile of a small ball. Hairy had watched him intently with his project. Kyle looked at the little creature as he held the ball between his thumb and index finger. “Hey Hairy, let’s see if you can fetch the ball.” Kyle threw the ball a short distance, “Fetch it Hairy.” The creature cocked its head as he regarded Kyle. Kyle sighed as he returned the creature’s blank stare. The boy got up and skipped to the ball in an attempt to demonstrate his intention for play. He swatted the ball gently a short distance along the stone floor. The boy picked the ball up as he knelt on the floor. He playfully juggled the ball between his fingers. He held the ball in front of him as he shook his head imitating the antics of what he supposed a dog would do. Hairy continued to study him. Kyle threw the ball further this time. “Go get it boy,” he expressed not expecting a response. This time however Hairy sprang to his feet and chased after the object. He clenched the makeshift ball in his tiny jaw and raced excitedly around the cavern. As he approached Kyle, seated with his back resting against the wall, Hairy leapt over his legs and continued racing around the cavern. The creature made two more trips around the cavern before he stopped before Kyle and dropped the soggy ball in front of him. Kyle laughed amused and pleased with this accomplishment. “That a boy Hairy.” He picked up the ball and threw it again. Hairy turned to retrieve the object again before he suddenly stopped. He looked to the large boulder in the opening of the cave. He scampered to the pile of grass burying himself from sight just before the large rock moved and the two ferocious pantars emerged in the cave. They sternly approached Kyle with their spears. The sharpened ironed spearheads ushered him to move. Kyle raised his hands in front of him, “Okay fellas, I know the routine. I’m coming along peacefully.”