CHAPTER I
It was a serene night when we met.
True, I am afraid of darkness and hated to be alone; even so, I came to the forest. Bringing myself and my lamp, I began to trudge to the hidden woods. There were no reasons why I wander. I am still finding it out.
Sometime in the morning, I'd see birds fly above the woods. I remember looking at them when I was born. In the center of a clearing, the snow engulfs me. Many flying creatures were traveling through the air. They seemed so free. I didn't know what they were, so I called them. "Hey!"
One of them had noticed me. It talked to its fellow as they all agreed. "What is it, little Lamb?" I was petrified of what he called me. So I hoofed to them and impulsively they fleeted back.
"What did you just call me?" I was so confused. What is a lamb? So I asked them what was going through my head: "What is a lamb?" I sat at the soft snow as to hope for an answer and for them to calm down too. I rested my palms over the white ground then tilted my head to the side.
Before they answered, they gave a small chortle. "You. You are a lamb!" Said the leader of the group with full of clarity. "A young sheep. That's right, you're still a child that's why you don't know anything!" Tweet, tweet, tweet. They all laughed at me.
"Then why don't you teach me, umm…" Curiously, I looked closer to them. "… Flying things?" I said without notice.
The head of the bunch twitched in an annoying way. It jumps and jumps towards me then flew over my nose. "We are not things, terrestrial creature." It seems that he was mad from the tone of his voice. He turned to his group and called out, "Come everyone!" He shouted with glee. "We shall left this poor living here." They chuckled in unison. Once again, the leader turned to me but with a look of disgrace. "We should not let it know great things as it may exceed us. Come!" And with that, the flock of birds flew away, leaving me alone in the winter.
Why do they somewhat irritate me? How that bird made me frown and clench my fists confuses me? Then the day came. I learned I was feeling belittled and annoyed. But in contrast, I feel good for them. Now, I've known who I am, honestly.
I am a lamb.
At some night, I came to the forest. It was almost magical. There were flashy green sparks everywhere in the dark woods. They were shimmering as if they were the only thing that exists in this gloom. But that's not the only thing…
There, I heard a shrill and creaking noise everywhere I go. I thought the green lights were the only thing that could be sensed here. There is also something for the ears. As I stroll around, the noise continuously screamed until it doesn't feel pleasant anymore. It is until I got to an old big tree in the middle of the woods, I saw an insect that had long legs and wings and is a bit bigger than a normal bug. It looked like it was hugging the dense log forever. The thing didn't scared me though; in fact, I approached it with curiosity.
"What are you, little thing?" I asked as I leaned closer to it while being much decent as possible. The thing did not shift nor move away. It does its stupid and irritating chirp again while its wings goes up and ceaselessly opens. The dark insect finally opened up to me.
"I am a cricket. I use to protect homes from bad luck when I was younger." It then chirps again. This time, it wasn't as infuriating as earlier. "I used to sing for reminiscence and recollection of fond memories." Suddenly, with my own eyes, I saw how its eyes change from emptiness to a soft serendipity.
"I shall return to my home, where I should bring my luck." The little cricket then flashed me a smile. I didn't gave the same gesture but cocked my head to the side in some sort of haze written on my face. "Thank you for giving me the chance and opportunity to once again remember who I am, dear friend." There is still a wondering look on me that the cricket doesn't seem to see. Excited, the black insect started to flew off while waving me a swift goodbye. This moment, I gave the same action. I waved and smiled too. It was a small chat but I learned something very important from him.
It is good to know and remember who you are.
In my case, I don't know. I did not know what my purpose was or is. I am a lost lamb in the forest. I was born from a tundra and I had no parents there raising me. I lived alone, studied alone and did things alone. At first, it seems to me that it's unhappy to be lonely but I quite got used to it. There are times when I think that I should be with my parents or with someone new now.
I am so alone. I thought to myself with sorrow and gloom. And my life will forever be like this: all alone. I lay down over the dirt and rest my back at the large trunk where the cricket formerly resides. That cricket… it called me 'dear friend'. What is friend? Closing my eyes, I mum a single wish: "I wish there is someone by my side."