The Parliament of Mamas huddled closely together to speak; as they always did. Occasionally they would, each in turn, raise a head to peer at Loganoh.
The sun had set in the time Loganoh had been waiting. It was impossible for him to hear the Mamas’ whispers. The droning of the herd numbed his ears. It gave an oddly quiet quality to the evening here in the herd core.
The safest part of the herd was always the herd core and that is why the Parliament of Mamas always met there. In the herd core, you were certain to hear of a predator before seeing it. At the herd rim, you didn't see or hear the predator until it was too late.
Two Knoghts flanked Loganoh. He recognized them as members of the Roughnecks.
"What's going on?" asked Loganoh.
"You're standing before the Parliament of Mamas." said the Knoght.
"I know that, but why?"
"I don't know. I thought you did."
"They didn't tell me anything."
"Well, what did you do?"
"Do? Do what? My herdlet Mama just brought me here. She didn't say anything. I didn't do anything."
"Well, you must have done something."
"Why's that?" Loganoh sneared.
"Because you're standing before the Parliament of Mamas."
Loganoh started to worry. He longed to see a friendly face. "Hey. Do you know Washoh. He's from my herdlet. He's in the Roughnecks."
"Not anymore." replied the Knoght.
"What?"
"Washoh was eaten in that last fox attack." The Knoght noticed Loganoh's disappointment. "He was a good Knoght. Very brave. He was always the first to head off the predators. Very brave indeed."
His mind drifted back to the day Washoh was dubbed a Knoght. Strange. That was the day Cricetida, Washoh’s mother, cried so bitterly. It wasn't long after that when she disappeared and Miriao became his herdlet mama. No one knew what became of Cricetida, but she was probably dead. There were not too many other options. A missing lemming was a dead lemming. It was probably better this way. If Cricetida cried when Washoh became a Knoght, her heart would have broken to hear he was now dead.
Three of the mamas stepped out of the group and toward Loganoh. Miriao was one of them. Muroidea, who the oldest mama known, was the second. The third was a mama Loganoh did not know by name.
"The Parliament of Mamas will now render a verdict." announced Muroidea.
"Verdict?" yelped Loganoh.
"In the trial of Loganoh of Mirao's herdlet..."
"Trial?" He shouted.
"The accused will remain silent.”
"But I haven't said anything at all yet!"
"Nor will you. This is a trial not a debate!"
“But I haven’t done…”
“Knoghts! Bite him!”
Loganoh nearly jumped his height when his saw the Knoght on his left charge him. He evaded the Knoght’s teeth. The Knoght that stood at his right, however, bit him squarely in the haunches.
“Yaa!” Loganoh squealed. He cowered low to the ground. Two more Knoghts approached and surrounded him. They waited for Muroidea’s next command. Her face was locked on Loganoh, tempting him to make another sound. He would have continued to protest had he not looked at the third mama. She gave Loganoh soft eyes. She blinked slowly and tilted her head. There was something in her look that made Loganoh think that things would be all right.
“In the trial of Loganoh of Mirao's herdlet, the accused has been found guilty of Herd Crime.” stated Muroidea.
Herd Crime, thought Loganoh. He had never heard the word before in his entire life.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Metropolis - Chapter 11
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It's been a while...
I've got a new job, which means I have less time for everything.
My wife and I are expecting. And that means I'll have even less time for this.
But I enjoy this too much, so I'll probably just cut back on video games.
Enjoy the latest exciting chapter!!!!!!!
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
It's been a while...
I've got a new job, which means I have less time for everything.
My wife and I are expecting. And that means I'll have even less time for this.
But I enjoy this too much, so I'll probably just cut back on video games.
Enjoy the latest exciting chapter!!!!!!!
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Metropolis - Chapter 10
Click image to enlarge.
Download and collect the "FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
This is the first time I've had to draw Eg in a 3/4 profile.
I now realize I've made his nose too small.
...drawing is hard...
Learning, learning, learning all the time.
Enjoy.
Download and collect the "FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
This is the first time I've had to draw Eg in a 3/4 profile.
I now realize I've made his nose too small.
...drawing is hard...
Learning, learning, learning all the time.
Enjoy.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Things to Come – Part 9 – Reecoh’s Roughnecks
This is a story of Loganoh’s youth… which, in actuality, was only a few months ago.
The entire herdlet had gathered. The Parliament of Mamas had come for a special ceremony. They were here to bestow the title of Knoght to one of Loganoh’s herdlet. Washoh was chosen to join a band of Knoghts known as Reecoh’s Roughnecks. To be dubbed a Knoght was an honour, especially since the Roughnecks were a band of some renown.
The Roughnecks needed a new member as Reecoh had fallen prey to an owl. Truth be told; the band wasn’t named after the recently departed Reecoh. He just happened to share the same name. Currently, the captain of the Roughnecks was a lemming named Xandroh. The name of the band never changed with the name of a new captain. That would be far too confusing as captains changed in almost perfect step with each predator that the herd encountered. Xandroh was famous because he once survived an attack on the herd by a young fox. It was a claim that very few lemmings could make, and not for very long.
The Knoghts had a tough job. They were the herd rim guard. They rushed toward the foxes and stouts while other lemmings ran away. They also kept the herd safe from itself. Whatever that meant… But being a Knoght did have its rewards. Knoghts received more food. Even in times when food was scarce, the Knoghts were always fed if not fed well.
To be a Knoght was source of pride not only for the lemming but for the herdlet that mothered him. Loganoh looked around. His herdmates were filled with joy and awe, except one. Cricetida, Washoh’s mother, was stifling despondent tears. Everyone congratulated her, in a rushed manner, on her son’s achievement and politely ignored the weeping. This was truly perplexing to Loganoh because Cricetida was a herdlet Mama, and therefore, with the Parliament of Mamas. Why was she crying, thought Loganoh, didn’t the Mamas choose to dub Washoh? Was anyone else questioning this? It did not seem so.
The ceremony ended in the usual manner. Washoh was given food to have his first meal as a Knoght. Loganoh’s stomach jumped at the sight of the food. He hadn’t yet eaten that day. It was a meager amount of food, but it was all for Washoh, and that didn’t seem fair. Especially considering that Washoh was still a very healthy weight. But that was probably why he was chosen to become a Knoght. All the Knoghts were the biggest of the lemmings, and usually bullies to boot. Loganoh’s mood soured.
“But what good does all that food do them?” Loganoh whispered to his mother. He was no longer able to contain his discontent. “How does being fat make them better Knoghts? It certainly doesn’t make them faster.”
His mother tried to hush him. He didn’t want to make a scene at the ceremony, but the situation seemed cruel. So many lemmings were going without, but not the Knoghts. Never the Knoghts!
“No.” he resisted. “How does fattening the rim guard serve to protect the rest of the herd?”
“Enough Loganoh!” His mother snapped at his ears. “How many times would you have been eaten if the Knoghts weren’t here to fend off the claws, beaks and teeth? The things you say! Did I raise you to be so rude? What if someone had heard you?” And with that she marched Loganoh away from the celebration.
Loganoh didn’t mind. He was in no mood to watch Washoh eat.
No one noticed Loganoh leave. No one noticed his outburst, except Cricetida. No one noticed that she had started to cry more bitterly.
The entire herdlet had gathered. The Parliament of Mamas had come for a special ceremony. They were here to bestow the title of Knoght to one of Loganoh’s herdlet. Washoh was chosen to join a band of Knoghts known as Reecoh’s Roughnecks. To be dubbed a Knoght was an honour, especially since the Roughnecks were a band of some renown.
The Roughnecks needed a new member as Reecoh had fallen prey to an owl. Truth be told; the band wasn’t named after the recently departed Reecoh. He just happened to share the same name. Currently, the captain of the Roughnecks was a lemming named Xandroh. The name of the band never changed with the name of a new captain. That would be far too confusing as captains changed in almost perfect step with each predator that the herd encountered. Xandroh was famous because he once survived an attack on the herd by a young fox. It was a claim that very few lemmings could make, and not for very long.
The Knoghts had a tough job. They were the herd rim guard. They rushed toward the foxes and stouts while other lemmings ran away. They also kept the herd safe from itself. Whatever that meant… But being a Knoght did have its rewards. Knoghts received more food. Even in times when food was scarce, the Knoghts were always fed if not fed well.
To be a Knoght was source of pride not only for the lemming but for the herdlet that mothered him. Loganoh looked around. His herdmates were filled with joy and awe, except one. Cricetida, Washoh’s mother, was stifling despondent tears. Everyone congratulated her, in a rushed manner, on her son’s achievement and politely ignored the weeping. This was truly perplexing to Loganoh because Cricetida was a herdlet Mama, and therefore, with the Parliament of Mamas. Why was she crying, thought Loganoh, didn’t the Mamas choose to dub Washoh? Was anyone else questioning this? It did not seem so.
The ceremony ended in the usual manner. Washoh was given food to have his first meal as a Knoght. Loganoh’s stomach jumped at the sight of the food. He hadn’t yet eaten that day. It was a meager amount of food, but it was all for Washoh, and that didn’t seem fair. Especially considering that Washoh was still a very healthy weight. But that was probably why he was chosen to become a Knoght. All the Knoghts were the biggest of the lemmings, and usually bullies to boot. Loganoh’s mood soured.
“But what good does all that food do them?” Loganoh whispered to his mother. He was no longer able to contain his discontent. “How does being fat make them better Knoghts? It certainly doesn’t make them faster.”
His mother tried to hush him. He didn’t want to make a scene at the ceremony, but the situation seemed cruel. So many lemmings were going without, but not the Knoghts. Never the Knoghts!
“No.” he resisted. “How does fattening the rim guard serve to protect the rest of the herd?”
“Enough Loganoh!” His mother snapped at his ears. “How many times would you have been eaten if the Knoghts weren’t here to fend off the claws, beaks and teeth? The things you say! Did I raise you to be so rude? What if someone had heard you?” And with that she marched Loganoh away from the celebration.
Loganoh didn’t mind. He was in no mood to watch Washoh eat.
No one noticed Loganoh leave. No one noticed his outburst, except Cricetida. No one noticed that she had started to cry more bitterly.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Metropolis - Chapter 09
Click image to enlarge.
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
I meant to post this chapter much earlier.
This link may break as I had a problem during upload.
If it doesn't work, check again the next day and I should have it fixed.
In this chapter you get 2 (count them 2) 2-page spreads.
This is my first chapter using my new Wacom Bamboo.
It has made certain elements of production easier, but I've had to learn to draw all over again.
The characters didn't come out exactly the way I wanted them too... Except for Ge. He always seems to come out good.
I'll keep practicing.
PS: Every time I look at the Kangarocks, I smile.
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
I meant to post this chapter much earlier.
This link may break as I had a problem during upload.
If it doesn't work, check again the next day and I should have it fixed.
In this chapter you get 2 (count them 2) 2-page spreads.
This is my first chapter using my new Wacom Bamboo.
It has made certain elements of production easier, but I've had to learn to draw all over again.
The characters didn't come out exactly the way I wanted them too... Except for Ge. He always seems to come out good.
I'll keep practicing.
PS: Every time I look at the Kangarocks, I smile.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Metropolis - Chapter 08
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Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
Another fantastically detailed background. Don't you think?
The contents of Eg's closet makes me laugh.
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
Another fantastically detailed background. Don't you think?
The contents of Eg's closet makes me laugh.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Metropolis - Chapter 07
Click image to enlarge.
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
As you can see, I'm starting to spend some time on my backgrounds with this issue.
Enjoy
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
As you can see, I'm starting to spend some time on my backgrounds with this issue.
Enjoy
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Metropolis - Chapter 06
Click to image to enlarge.
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
I'm posting a little more frequently to play catch up.
This was my first episode where I created the comic on a larger scale then reduced the artwork in size.
It took a surprising amount to time to draw.
My hand ached.
Artist friends (real artists) were telling me I'm hold the pencil too tight.
Imagine that.
Download and collect the
"FOLD YOUR OWN COMIC" version.
I'm posting a little more frequently to play catch up.
This was my first episode where I created the comic on a larger scale then reduced the artwork in size.
It took a surprising amount to time to draw.
My hand ached.
Artist friends (real artists) were telling me I'm hold the pencil too tight.
Imagine that.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Things to Come – Part 8 – The Furious Mr. Fox
Loganoh suddenly realized that Arvico was no longer at his haunches. He could no longer tell if he was running outward or herd-ward. Lemmings were running wildly in all directions. But he kept running, despite his overwhelming fear that he might be heading straight toward another fox.
Arvico, however, knew exactly where a fox was. She was so close to the fox that it seemed to fill the entire horizon. A giant paw smacked the earth in front of her. The fox was playing with the lemmings. It would grab a lemming in its tooth-full mouth and toss it into the air. Some of these lemmings survived and continued to run dazed, confused and possibly bleeding. Other more unfortunate lemmings would die instantly in the fox’s mouth as it shook them furiously. It was one of the latter that landed almost on top of Arvico.
The poor lemming; Arvico didn’t know him. That was not uncommon in a herd of hundreds. The bloody and broken body of the lemming was nearly segmented by the fox’s teeth. She looked up at the fox. It pranced about, almost playfully, as it continued to kill and main lemmings.
Suddenly, a flurry of grey and white feathers appeared, followed by a horrible smell. A gull landed nearly on top of the fox’s head. The fox leapt backwards startled by the smelly bird’s noisy arrival.
“Being you eating me! Being you eating me!” screeched the gull.
The fox bobbed its head and paced a half circle around the gull. It tried to approach the fox, but the bird’s short legs could not match the fox’s for speed on the ground. The gull continued to scream with its wings spread and raised. In light of the strange behaviour, the fox decided to err on the side of caution and walked off.
“Ech! Feh! Being you doing what? Being you going?” The gull seemed shocked and confused. “Being you coward! Being you not fox smart! Ech! Being you rabbit scared! Being you fish stupid! Feh! Feh!”
Arvico instantly recognized the gull.
“Hey! I know you. I remember your smell. How did you do that? How did you scare off the fox? Maybe it was your smell? Thanks for getting rid of the fox. I’ve met other gulls and birds, not many though. They don’t smell bad like you. Have you done that to foxes before? You’d think that smell would come off with all the time you gulls spend in the water.” she said.
The gull stared at Arvico motionless. It should be understood that gulls are seldom motionless; it is against their nature. So the fact that Arvico was able to capture the bird’s concentration thusly should speak to its extraordinary state of bitterness and confusion.
“Am liking you not, little rat.” it hissed.
“Well that’s just rude.” she replied.
The gull walked away shaking its head. It was so vexed, he forgot that he knew how to fly.
Things had settled with Loganoh as well. He stopped running, though many others had not. He had not seen a fox. Had they gone?
“Loganoh!”
He turned startled, but quickly realized there was nothing to fear. A fox wouldn’t call his name. It was Miriao, his Herdlet Mama. She came running to him.
“Loganoh. Come speak with me.” she said.
“Yes Ma’am”
“I want you to come with me. Do you know why?”
Loganoh shook his head.
“Speak when you’re spoken to, pup.”
“No, Ma’am. I don’t know why.” He blurted out the words louder than intended.
“We need to talk about that conversation you had with your sister. About the Great Run. Follow me. Keep close.”
“But we weren’t talking about that, Ma’am. I hardly know anything about those rumors.” He said defensively.
“That may be the case,” said Miriao. “But the Parliament of Mamas will want to hear what you do know.”
Arvico, however, knew exactly where a fox was. She was so close to the fox that it seemed to fill the entire horizon. A giant paw smacked the earth in front of her. The fox was playing with the lemmings. It would grab a lemming in its tooth-full mouth and toss it into the air. Some of these lemmings survived and continued to run dazed, confused and possibly bleeding. Other more unfortunate lemmings would die instantly in the fox’s mouth as it shook them furiously. It was one of the latter that landed almost on top of Arvico.
The poor lemming; Arvico didn’t know him. That was not uncommon in a herd of hundreds. The bloody and broken body of the lemming was nearly segmented by the fox’s teeth. She looked up at the fox. It pranced about, almost playfully, as it continued to kill and main lemmings.
Suddenly, a flurry of grey and white feathers appeared, followed by a horrible smell. A gull landed nearly on top of the fox’s head. The fox leapt backwards startled by the smelly bird’s noisy arrival.
“Being you eating me! Being you eating me!” screeched the gull.
The fox bobbed its head and paced a half circle around the gull. It tried to approach the fox, but the bird’s short legs could not match the fox’s for speed on the ground. The gull continued to scream with its wings spread and raised. In light of the strange behaviour, the fox decided to err on the side of caution and walked off.
“Ech! Feh! Being you doing what? Being you going?” The gull seemed shocked and confused. “Being you coward! Being you not fox smart! Ech! Being you rabbit scared! Being you fish stupid! Feh! Feh!”
Arvico instantly recognized the gull.
“Hey! I know you. I remember your smell. How did you do that? How did you scare off the fox? Maybe it was your smell? Thanks for getting rid of the fox. I’ve met other gulls and birds, not many though. They don’t smell bad like you. Have you done that to foxes before? You’d think that smell would come off with all the time you gulls spend in the water.” she said.
The gull stared at Arvico motionless. It should be understood that gulls are seldom motionless; it is against their nature. So the fact that Arvico was able to capture the bird’s concentration thusly should speak to its extraordinary state of bitterness and confusion.
“Am liking you not, little rat.” it hissed.
“Well that’s just rude.” she replied.
The gull walked away shaking its head. It was so vexed, he forgot that he knew how to fly.
Things had settled with Loganoh as well. He stopped running, though many others had not. He had not seen a fox. Had they gone?
“Loganoh!”
He turned startled, but quickly realized there was nothing to fear. A fox wouldn’t call his name. It was Miriao, his Herdlet Mama. She came running to him.
“Loganoh. Come speak with me.” she said.
“Yes Ma’am”
“I want you to come with me. Do you know why?”
Loganoh shook his head.
“Speak when you’re spoken to, pup.”
“No, Ma’am. I don’t know why.” He blurted out the words louder than intended.
“We need to talk about that conversation you had with your sister. About the Great Run. Follow me. Keep close.”
“But we weren’t talking about that, Ma’am. I hardly know anything about those rumors.” He said defensively.
“That may be the case,” said Miriao. “But the Parliament of Mamas will want to hear what you do know.”
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Oops!
This is embarrassing.
My wife discovered that I called my main character in "Things to Come" by a different name.
I've corrected it.
This should make things less confusing.
Thanks Sue.
My wife discovered that I called my main character in "Things to Come" by a different name.
I've corrected it.
This should make things less confusing.
Thanks Sue.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Things to Come – Part 7 – Around the World in 365 Days - (Happy Birthday Sue!)
Loganoh looked at the sun and noted its position. Then he remembered the position of the moon and the Bright Star last night. He looked at his little sister.
“Arvico. You were born today.”
She huffed. “No, I wasn’t. What a silly thing to say. I was born a long time ago.”
“No. That’s not what I mean.” Loganoh twitched his whiskers and tried to formulate his thoughts. The problem is that Lemmings have no concept of a “year”. When your life span is barely 20 months, you don’t bother counting years.
“What I mean is that you were born on a day like this one, many days ago.”
Arvico squinted at him. “You mean, a sunny day?”
“No, not a sunny day. It might have been a sunny day, that’s not what I’m trying to say.” Loganoh sighed.
“Why do you always breathe like that when you talk to me?” asked Arvico. “It’s rude.”
“It’s just something I noticed. When you look at the sun and moon every day, you realize that their positions repeat. This means that the days repeat. I’ve tried to count them, but the number gets to too high and I forget. It’s hard to count days when they only happen one at a time.”
Arvico giggled. “You count days? That’d be like… counting the herd!”
Loganoh had thought exactly that and pondered it often. “Kind of, but not really. Lemmings are born and die every day, so the number keeps changing. But with days, I suspect that their number is always the same. I think.”
“Our…” Arvico’s hold on the concept of tenuous. “Our days are numbered?”
“What are you two talking about?” Loganoh and Arvico looked over and saw Miriao. She was their Herdlet Mama. “What do you know about the Great Run?”
Loganoh froze. The Great Run had always been a herd rumor, and not a very serious one at that. But ever since his starvation induced nightmare, the thought of the Great Run terrified Loganoh.
“We weren’t talking about that, Ma’am.” Arvico said. “Loganoh was just trying to tell me that there are only so many days and that they repeat. Isn’t that fanciful, Ma’am?”
Miriao sighed with relief and then smiled at the young lemmings. “Well now, do you know that they don’t?”
“But it can’t be, Ma’am. It’s silliness. Just like the talk of the Great Run. That’s not a real thing either. Is it, Ma’am?”
Miriao turned abruptly. “You pups go and play.”
Loganoh sensed something in Miriao’s dismissal. “Ma’am? May I speak to you, please?”
“Fox!” the scream pierced the herd. The cry was made by a Knoght; one of the herd rim guards. Other shouts of “Fox” were passed along through the wide herd. When a Knoght shouts a warning, you had best start running in the other direction. Arvico and Loganoh bolted off together. They were still both fairly fit despite the scarcity of food. Running past slower and weaker lemming was like trying to get through maze. Then another shout from a Knoght was heard: “Foxes”! It was every lemming’s duty to pass along the warnings from the herd rim, but panic was now spreading faster.
“Loganoh, what do we do?” Arvico asked anxiously.
“Just keep running! Don’t look back! Stay at my haunches and just keeping running!”
“Arvico. You were born today.”
She huffed. “No, I wasn’t. What a silly thing to say. I was born a long time ago.”
“No. That’s not what I mean.” Loganoh twitched his whiskers and tried to formulate his thoughts. The problem is that Lemmings have no concept of a “year”. When your life span is barely 20 months, you don’t bother counting years.
“What I mean is that you were born on a day like this one, many days ago.”
Arvico squinted at him. “You mean, a sunny day?”
“No, not a sunny day. It might have been a sunny day, that’s not what I’m trying to say.” Loganoh sighed.
“Why do you always breathe like that when you talk to me?” asked Arvico. “It’s rude.”
“It’s just something I noticed. When you look at the sun and moon every day, you realize that their positions repeat. This means that the days repeat. I’ve tried to count them, but the number gets to too high and I forget. It’s hard to count days when they only happen one at a time.”
Arvico giggled. “You count days? That’d be like… counting the herd!”
Loganoh had thought exactly that and pondered it often. “Kind of, but not really. Lemmings are born and die every day, so the number keeps changing. But with days, I suspect that their number is always the same. I think.”
“Our…” Arvico’s hold on the concept of tenuous. “Our days are numbered?”
“What are you two talking about?” Loganoh and Arvico looked over and saw Miriao. She was their Herdlet Mama. “What do you know about the Great Run?”
Loganoh froze. The Great Run had always been a herd rumor, and not a very serious one at that. But ever since his starvation induced nightmare, the thought of the Great Run terrified Loganoh.
“We weren’t talking about that, Ma’am.” Arvico said. “Loganoh was just trying to tell me that there are only so many days and that they repeat. Isn’t that fanciful, Ma’am?”
Miriao sighed with relief and then smiled at the young lemmings. “Well now, do you know that they don’t?”
“But it can’t be, Ma’am. It’s silliness. Just like the talk of the Great Run. That’s not a real thing either. Is it, Ma’am?”
Miriao turned abruptly. “You pups go and play.”
Loganoh sensed something in Miriao’s dismissal. “Ma’am? May I speak to you, please?”
“Fox!” the scream pierced the herd. The cry was made by a Knoght; one of the herd rim guards. Other shouts of “Fox” were passed along through the wide herd. When a Knoght shouts a warning, you had best start running in the other direction. Arvico and Loganoh bolted off together. They were still both fairly fit despite the scarcity of food. Running past slower and weaker lemming was like trying to get through maze. Then another shout from a Knoght was heard: “Foxes”! It was every lemming’s duty to pass along the warnings from the herd rim, but panic was now spreading faster.
“Loganoh, what do we do?” Arvico asked anxiously.
“Just keep running! Don’t look back! Stay at my haunches and just keeping running!”
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Things to Come – Part 6 - A Midsummer Day's Nightmare
Loganoh had not eaten in days. As a result, he spent most of his time sleeping. Today he decided to leave the safety of herdlet and venture back to his favourite spot at the cliffs. This would be the first time since the day he saw the Hwicks throwing lemmings into the ocean.
He hadn’t told anyone about that day. Who would believe him? Why would the Hwicks do it? What purpose would it serve? Why would a lemming watch such a thing? This last question was the one he feared being asked the most. No sane lemming would do such a thing. A sane lemming’s first instinct would be to run away from danger, not to observe it. What kind of a lemming would watch his herdmates be tossed into the sea by those lumbering two-legged Hwicks?
“They’d call me a deviant. They’d be right.” He turned his head side to side to see if anyone heard him. No one was there of course. Loganoh was alone. Lately he feared that he was indeed some sort of deviant. To his mind, his fondness for being alone and his ability to watch gruesome death were proof of it.
Despite his troubled thoughts, the exertion of the walk proved to be too much and Loganoh fell asleep almost instantly upon arriving at the cliffs.
He had nightmare.
It was dark. He could hear a rolling sound, deep like thunder, but much closer. He realized that he was moving. The source of the sound was forcing him forward. The darkness was actually the crush of lemmings all around him. There were so many of them and all running in the same direction. Plainly, it was not just his herdlet but the entire herd. What could make the entire herd run so? He could not see past the lemmings that surrounded him. Where could they possibly be heading?
“What’s going on?” he yelled to the lemming next to him. “What happened?”
The other lemming moved his mouth and made sounds, but he could not hear the words over the hundreds of running lemming feet. Loganoh noticed the expression on the lemmings face. The mouth was smiling, but the eyes were empty. The face scared Loganoh. He noticed that the other lemmings around him all shared the same euphoric yet vacuous expression.
The run had brought them to a crest of a hill and for the first time Loganoh could see what lay before them. He was right; it was the entire herd. They covered the earth in front of him. He looked ahead and saw that they were heading for the cliffs. Loganoh choked on his breath as he saw the first lemmings run right off the edge of the cliff without any hesitation.
Loganoh’s legs gave out but the throng kept moving him forward. He tried to dig his paws into the ground but he ended up being pushed into a roll by the other lemmings. He tried desperately to turn around, hoping to climb over the lemmings behind him. It was no use. He couldn’t do anything to slow his pace let alone stop.
He tried to yell a warning, but he couldn’t hear his own voice. All he could hear were the hundreds of lemming paws running on the ground and the growing sound of the sea. Suddenly the ground beneath his feet disappeared. He looked down at his paws and all he could see were lemmings in free fall and the sea far below.
He hadn’t told anyone about that day. Who would believe him? Why would the Hwicks do it? What purpose would it serve? Why would a lemming watch such a thing? This last question was the one he feared being asked the most. No sane lemming would do such a thing. A sane lemming’s first instinct would be to run away from danger, not to observe it. What kind of a lemming would watch his herdmates be tossed into the sea by those lumbering two-legged Hwicks?
“They’d call me a deviant. They’d be right.” He turned his head side to side to see if anyone heard him. No one was there of course. Loganoh was alone. Lately he feared that he was indeed some sort of deviant. To his mind, his fondness for being alone and his ability to watch gruesome death were proof of it.
Despite his troubled thoughts, the exertion of the walk proved to be too much and Loganoh fell asleep almost instantly upon arriving at the cliffs.
He had nightmare.
It was dark. He could hear a rolling sound, deep like thunder, but much closer. He realized that he was moving. The source of the sound was forcing him forward. The darkness was actually the crush of lemmings all around him. There were so many of them and all running in the same direction. Plainly, it was not just his herdlet but the entire herd. What could make the entire herd run so? He could not see past the lemmings that surrounded him. Where could they possibly be heading?
“What’s going on?” he yelled to the lemming next to him. “What happened?”
The other lemming moved his mouth and made sounds, but he could not hear the words over the hundreds of running lemming feet. Loganoh noticed the expression on the lemmings face. The mouth was smiling, but the eyes were empty. The face scared Loganoh. He noticed that the other lemmings around him all shared the same euphoric yet vacuous expression.
The run had brought them to a crest of a hill and for the first time Loganoh could see what lay before them. He was right; it was the entire herd. They covered the earth in front of him. He looked ahead and saw that they were heading for the cliffs. Loganoh choked on his breath as he saw the first lemmings run right off the edge of the cliff without any hesitation.
Loganoh’s legs gave out but the throng kept moving him forward. He tried to dig his paws into the ground but he ended up being pushed into a roll by the other lemmings. He tried desperately to turn around, hoping to climb over the lemmings behind him. It was no use. He couldn’t do anything to slow his pace let alone stop.
He tried to yell a warning, but he couldn’t hear his own voice. All he could hear were the hundreds of lemming paws running on the ground and the growing sound of the sea. Suddenly the ground beneath his feet disappeared. He looked down at his paws and all he could see were lemmings in free fall and the sea far below.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
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