Chapter 2: Arbor and the last giant swimming turtle
(Meanwhile ...)
The young cubs, the fawns and the pup, having left the meeting of the adults in the clearing, went further into the majestic forest, which stretched like a tapestry of emeralds in all directions. The trees, with their intertwined branches and dense canopies, formed a green canopy that filtered the sunlight, painting a mosaic of dancing shadows on the ground covered with dry leaves and soft moss. The group moved cautiously through the forest, his steps silenced by the rustling of the foliage (well, mostly of the fawns). The winding paths made their way through the undergrowth, inviting travelers to enter a world full of mystery... something that began to worry Amira.
"This place is a little dark…" she commented.
"Are you sure it's this way?" Ono asked, "I don't see anything surprising."
Bambi and Hanna, who were leading them, stopped in their tracks.
"Here!" exclaimed the male fawn, pointing straight ahead.
The rest looked ahead and saw what they did not expect: two butterflies, one golden-yellow and another light blue with some green spots, were perched on the trunk of an old tree.
"Wow... how pretty," Maya and Amira commented, approaching along with Hanna.
"Do those butterflies have something special?" Simba asked.
"Well, they are a very rare variety of butterflies," Ono deduced, "You hardly see them."
"Yes, this place is also somewhat... uninhabitable, but they stand out with their colors," said Nabil.
"And I can't see the colors," Sam said, wiggling his nose, "But I smell something interesting... something out of the ordinary... almost magical."
"Yes, those butterflies are the guides," commented Bambi, "But we don't know how to get in: Dad always leads the way, but now…"
No one present knew what to do either, Simba felt so impatient to know how to get to the heart of the forest that he felt a small sensation of warmth in his chest.
"Do not see or hear with your senses; use your heart, open it to your imagination ..."
"What?" he wondered, thinking about who that voice was. He looked from side to side, but his friends were still wondering how to get there.
"Okay, here I go…" he thought as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Inside, the lion cub's heart beat calmly, while, in his mind, he tried to visualize those butterflies, beyond what they really seemed like. At the same time, the two butterflies had taken flight and were fluttering around the group, who had remained silent upon seeing that strange behavior.
Finally, both butterflies landed again on that old tree and released a mysterious light that made everyone else close their eyes. When everyone opened them, the cubs, the egret and the little dog gasped at what was in front of them.
"Hapana !" Ono exclaimed.
There was fog, which quickly dissipated as the group entered the place. When you get there... it is almost impossible not to be hypnotized by the glow of the great lake that occupies the center of this magical land. The crystal-clear waters, fed by three meandering rivers that flow from the deepest corners of the forest, reflected the sunlight dazzlingly, creating a spectacle of dancing colors that not even the best human artists could paint.
"Did you open it?" Bambi asked Simba, "I saw you closing your eyes."
"Um... I think so," the cub responded, "But I still don't know how."
Along the shore of the lake, the fine and soft sand spread in a golden carpet, while the waves gently kiss the shore, whispering melodies are heard that invite anyone to venture into this world of wonders to feel the caress of nature in every step.
However, the real gem of this place was on a small island in the center of the lake. A series of stones, like silent guardians, formed a natural bridge that invites the brave to cross from one jump to another. While, in the heart of the island, majestic and ancient, stands a large tree. Its crown, leafy and generous, seemed to touch the sky and its branches intertwined forming whimsical figures in the air. Under its shadow, a mysterious glow bathes the ground, creating a halo of mysticism that seemed to have a life of its own.
"Wooooaaaaah !" The guests exclaimed when they saw that place, where it seemed that magic intertwined with nature.
"Follow us!" Hanna shouted at them, waking them up from their sleep because, as I said, one would be hypnotized by the scenery. She and Bambi were on the first stone of the bridge.
"Be careful when jumping," Ono indicated, helping the cubs pass, "Remember, all four paws on the stone."
Thus, from stone to stone, the group approached the large tree on the island in the center of the lake. But, when they were at the last stretch of stones, they noticed something strange: normally there was a single large stone at the end, big enough to help travelers rest... only this time there were two... When did the other one arrives? Anyway, their group was a little big, so Maya, Sam and Simba sat on that strange rock while Bambi, Hanna, Amira and Nabil sat on the other.
"What a strange tree," Ono inquired.
"Arbor!" Bambi then shouted, "Look, we brought friends!"
The newcomers did not know who he had spoken to until, to their surprise, the tree began to move as a face appeared on it. However, even though the young visitors felt scared at first, something in the environment whispered to them not to be afraid.
"Wow, wow... the new generation" exclaimed the tree in a jovial tone, "Don't worry children, the kings of the Pride lands already knew me when they were your age."
"Oh really?" Ono asked, "Did you know the king when you were a cub?
"Of course, Ono."
"Hapana! Do you know my name?"
"No wonder, I know all of you," then, he turned to all the little ones, "Simba, Amira, Nabil, Maya and Sam. And those who could not join us today are Salma, Dalia, Milo and Haki, am I right?"
"But how...?" Simba asked.
"Trees and the rest of nature are connected, I receive all kinds of news because, as you know, there is earth everywhere... And I have also heard a recent conversation... Sam, please come closer"
The cub hesitated for a moment because a part of him thought he would hurt him for... well, for being a dog. However, once he was closer, that thought was completely erased when Arbor dropped a pair of leaves in his eyes. After a few seconds, the leaves fell off naturally.
"How do you feel?" asked the big tree.
"I can… I can see colors!" exclaimed the little dog, looking around, "The green leaves, the blue water, and my friends... Thank you very much, Mr. Arbor!"
"Don't worry, Sam, take it easy," Ono, who already had experience in this, reassured him, "You'll have time to see everything you want. Incredible... I had to take a long time at the tree of life..."
"The tree of life is another of my brothers," Arbor clarified, "It is one of the most powerful, but with the defect that it cannot speak or move, although it can communicate with whoever enters its heart... Well, young people of the next generation, I would ask you to please get off of there, Ismena has traveled to many places and needs to rest a little."
"Ismena?" Simba asked.
"Simba!" Ono suddenly exclaimed, "Look below!"
As soon as he said 'under', he showed himself emerging from the water, a long, reptilian head, revealing a sea creature. That made sense: it wasn't some strange rock! It was a shell! From the shock, Simba, Amira and Maya slipped.
"Excuse me…" said the turtle, submerging again. The next second, he reappeared placing his shell under the three cubs, "I didn't know someone was resting on my shell…why didn't you wake me up, Arbor?"
"My lady Ismena," Arbor apologized, "You werw resting so peacefully that I didn't want to wake you up"
"Hapana! A giant turtle!" Ono exclaimed, "I remember Kongwe told me about them once, but I never thought I'd ever see one!"
Then, Ismena helped Simba and Maya down to the other rock.
"Do you know my distant great-niece, Kongwe?"
"You know each other?!"
"All reptiles are related in the great Circle of Life" explained Ismena, "In reality, we don't know if we have relatives who relate us, we are something like old friends"
"Wow, you must be very... very old friends," Bambi commented, laughing, "How old are you, Mrs. Ismena?
"My dears, one of the oldest rules in this world is never to ask a lady her age."
Everyone laughed at that comment. Then Nabil asked:
"At least, can you give us an idea?"
Ismena murmured, but then said:
"Well, let's say that I was already old when Arbor was barely taller than you."
"Are you as old as the lake?" Amira asked.
"We can say that, yes..."
"Woah , are you from the beginning of everything?" Maya asked.
"No, let's not exaggerate," Ismena corrected, "Life in this world began much earlier than this lake, this forest or the pride lands"
"How did life begin? "Do you know, Ono?" Simba asked out of curiosity.
"I'm sorry, but that question is beyond my knowledge," Ono responded.
"It's true," Ismena responded jovially, "You are from a still a young generation. But if you want me to tell you how it all started, come with me to the edge of the lake, so you won't have to sit on the uncomfortable rocks"