The group of carts drawn by horses and carrying prisoners in cages resumed their journey. Of the five carts there were, now only three carts left and there were about a total of fifteen cages in them. In the cage there are various mammals such as pigs, rats, small sheep, hedgehogs, beavers and of course a fox and a cat.
"Hey, I don't know what to do. However, I know I better apologize to you. I shouldn't force you to do something you never feel like you've done. " Said Ragna quietly who was still sitting with his back to Zwei.
"I don't know why you're so emotional?" Asked the cat.
"What??!!" Exclaimed Ragna, who immediately turned to Zwei. "Don't you have any feelings when you see something like that? Aren't you concerned? He may have a family, maybe he is a father or a child. He doesn't deserve to die in such a cruel way! " Continue the red fox.
Zwei looked at him deeply, the look beckoned both concern and confusion. It was as if the cat was very knowledgeable and also wise, but at the same time he look confuse. Zwei then spoke softly as he approached Ragna.
"Is it wrong for predators to prey on other animals? Is it cruel for a lion to pounce on a deer and eat it? Do you feel sorry for the poultry family that was torn to pieces by weasels? A deer has a family to which he will come home, so does a lion. If it fails to catch the deer, the lion will starve and die, perhaps he will take its hungry cub and die together. However, if successful, the deer will die and his family will mourn over his death. Which one will you save? "
Ragna looked shaky and confused at such a frontal question. He muttered and bared his teeth as if to answer, but the red fox gave up on it.
"Natural law cannot be changed, we have to let things happen naturally. We as humans must not destroy the existing natural order. Even though animals may have feelings, they don't have minds. Their instincts make all that happen, so we have to tolerate it and let the food chain run as it should. "Zwei said and stunned Ragna.
"What are you talking about? We are animals, a creature called human being extinct hundreds of years ago! " Exclaimed Ragna and this time Zwei was the one who stunned.
"Human, I ... animal ..., I am a cat, I ..." muttered Zwei while looking at his right front leg that was slightly raised. "Did I say 'Human'? did I say that? … Ughhh… .. "Said the cat while curling up and holding his head.
"I don't know what you want to say. But your words are wrong! We animals are not only possible, but we do have feelings. We are able to think and have reason. We know which is good and which is bad. That's why processed meat is created, we don't have to eat each other. We do not have to feel the pain of the body being torn and slashed by sharp fangs. " Exclaimed Ragna.
"Then as the mink said, what about the insects? They are also animals. " Asked Zwei who was still holding his head.
"They don't scream, they are like vines. Live but have no soul! " Ragna replied.
"WRONG !!!" Snapped Zwei who looked at the red fox sharply and made Ragna speechless. Her eyes were very piercing to the soul and even though a little, Ragna could see the iris of the cat's eyes that began to change color slowly. But the cat immediately closed his eyes and got up and back away from him. When he opened her eyes, the irises returned to their original color.
"They are also alive, they can feel hungry, they can feel cold and hot. Have the turmoil to find a soul mate and reproduce. They can also feel angry, feel scared and alert or feel happy. If what you said before is true. Then they are also feeling animals. " Said the cat.
"How do you know all this, Zwei?"
The cat looked down unable to answer the red fox question in front of him. He himself did not know how he knew. There is in him that very well knows the life of animals, but he himself is an animal.
"Then are we not allowed to fight for our lives, also the lives of those we care about because of the natural law you say? Try to look around you. " Ragna said softly as he stepped aside and let Zwei see the other animals that were shivering in fear. Many of them were caught with their respective families. They hugged each other, weeping over their fate which might end up in another animal's stomach. Eroded and digested by stomach acid or a deadly poison that can melt any hard bones.
"Yes, of course you can. It is the right of all living beings to defend their life, as well as all their loved ones. " Zwei answered with a smile. A smile that looked pathetic, as if he had a million pains in his golden yellow eyes.
The reddish evening sun shone their way. It gave them a feeling of warmth and doubt that they could never understand. The light will soon dim, but there is no denying the beauty it displays. The mouse mother hugs her three children, rubbing their backs with her small tongue. The hedgehogs curled up and sobbed, near the mink sat silently, unmoved silently.
The mouse mother starts singing, her voice is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Maybe it can be a valuable accompaniment when passing late afternoon.
"
Trying to take one or two steps.
Towards the dream that we are aiming for.
Even if we have to crawl, we must keep going.
Running without stopping.
Towards dreams, Towards what we dream of
Fly
Fly
Is this the end of our journey?
Is this the end of star-filled dreams?
Is this the end of the stretching blue sea?
Oh, look at me.
Watch over me as I try to pass this way.
Look at me as I try to ride these waves,
Let us go,
Towards the end of an uncertain world.
"
Everyone seemed solemnly hearing the chant, even the horses did not make the slightest sound but only the clatter of their feet as they took their steps. Night finally came and the moon appeared to replace the sun. Stars appeared sparkling in the sky, illuminating the groups ascending and descending the valley. The horses didn't intend to rest. The sooner they reach Gadrit the better. Nobody knows what will happen on the way.