The Secret Jungle
The water surged over his frail body, nearly forcing him back beneath its weight. Thyron had successfully crossed the expanse of the open pool. He hoisted himself onto the glowing stone slab, reclining on his elbows as he attempted to regain his breath. As he struggled to recuperate, Thyron gazed at the cascading water. The water crashed violently against the ground around him, sending sprays of droplets flying. They hit his skin like icy needles, stinging with each impact. But Thyron was too worn out to notice; he had just completed an aquathlon. His tired body craved rest and nourishment. He assumed he would find neither. Strange creatures lurked nearby, and unfamiliar fruits, larger than his own body, surrounded him. Both seemed to thrive in overwhelming quantities. It couldn't possibly be natural or safe. His stomach was knotted and throbbed from the emptiness within. He contemplated taking a chance, but ultimately chose not to. "It's just too risky," he reflected.
Thyron gazed upwards at the gaping crack in the ceiling and understood the source of the darkness. Night had fallen. The moon hung overhead, casting its radiant glow below. It was understandable. As he and his friends ventured out to play, there was just an hour left until dusk. His internal clock was perfectly in sync. If only he could persuade his eyes to align with it. They didn't trust him, seeing only what they wished to see. Lying cold and drenched on the flat surface, he heard a disturbance at the water's edge. A splash echoed, and a large fin broke the surface. Overcome with fear, Thyron couldn't bring himself to investigate. He instinctively scooted further back, away from the water. From the depths of the water, a massive creature surfaced. He was sure of that, but he had no idea what kind it was. A joyful, resounding bellow resonated from the beast, reminiscent of a whale. Thyron pondered this; he had encountered King Shani once and recalled the sounds of whales from their meeting. After a celebration at Zarda's kingdom, Shani had shared tales about them with all the youngsters. He instructed his students on the various meanings behind each whale sound, explaining that different whales interpret them in unique ways. Unfortunately, he confessed, he was gradually losing his grasp on many of these interpretations. He attributed this loss to his existence in a human body, noting that his inherent animal instincts were slowly diminishing. The noise echoed once more. Thyron no longer felt frightened; instead, a sense of comfort enveloped him. A louder sound accompanied by a splash of water in the air reassured him that his instincts were correct. He crawled closer for a better view.
"Yep, that's definitely a whale. Hello," said Thyron.
The whale responded with a deep bellow, reminiscent of a soft and gentle orchestra—neither too harsh nor overly light, but rather a soothing harmony. It felt like a tranquil lullaby. Thyron chuckled at his own earlier panic. He recalled the moment he had freaked out in the water, realizing it was the whale that had brushed against his leg, though he wasn't entirely sure. In that moment, taking precautionary measures seemed like the wisest choice. I suppose if you truly wanted to eat me, you would have taken the opportunity while you were passing by. I'm thankful that you chose not to," Thyron remarked. He reached out to stroke the side of the whale's face. The creature closed its eyes, and its mouth pulled back into what looked like a gentle smile.
"What's your name, big beast?" Thyron inquired.
"Mine is Thyron. I'm a warthog—well, at least a half-breed. No one I live with is fully one thing anymore: we're all oddities in nature. I guess that's fine, though. It seems that being a freak is the norm around here." Said the tiny warthog.
"By the way, what is this place?" He asked.
He let out a deep sigh, aware of the whale's presence but unable to comprehend its thoughts, and realizing that the whale wouldn't understand him either. The gentle giant seemed to feel his melancholy. It let out another powerful call before submerging once more. Thyron hoisted himself over the ledge above the water, longing to catch a glimpse of his new companion. Unfortunately, all he could see was his own reflection mirrored on the surface and the brilliant moon hanging overhead. Then, out of nowhere, a mysterious voice echoed down.
"Thyron, I am the creator of all things, the one who calls out to you. I have come to reach you during your time of distress. You have stumbled upon a hidden realm known as Jungle-topia, a place below. There is no need to worry or fear, for assistance is on its way. You will find that life down there is somewhat unusual, with creatures and fruits larger than what you are accustomed to. I have a unique gift for you, meant for your ears alone until the right moment arrives for you to share it with others, like your father. I see you've made a friend—Horris, the friendly humpback whale, who got caught in this place when the floodwaters receded. It appears that life has thrived and flourished abundantly here. Feel free to forage; I can even hear your stomach grumbling from up above! The large fruits are safe to eat, so do not fear, dear one. As you navigate this realm, I will keep you safe, though a test of your strength awaits you. There are challenges present, but nothing you cannot learn to adapt to. I'll soon return Horris to you, along with a delightful surprise. Until we meet again, farewell." said Elohim.
The soothing voice faded into silence. Horris came back, just as Elohim had foretold. The whale grinned at Thyron, then released another burst of water from its blowhole. Although Thyron was fully aware that conversing with a whale that couldn't respond was futile, he felt he had no one else to confide in.
This was different from interacting with the hybrids. "Good to see you again," he said to the whale.
To Thyron's surprise, the whale replied, "It's nice to see you as well," said Horis.
Thyron was stunned. He could hardly comprehend what he was hearing. "You can speak?" he questioned in disbelief.
"Not typically, but the master allowed me to speak with you. I believe you're the only one who can hear or talk to me, and I don't mind that at all. It's nice to have at least one friend. It's been incredibly lonely down here. I'm all that's left of myself. I got separated from my family pod when the big storm hit, and somehow, here I am. At least I'm still alive. Did you arrive with the floods as well?" Horris inquired.
Thyron shook his head with a heavy heart, tears brimming in his eyes as vivid memories of his tragic recent events overwhelmed him. "No, I came down from above while I was playing a silly game with my sister and friends. Now, I'm utterly lost and far from home. And to make matters worse, I'm absolutely starving," he added, his stomach rumbling in agreement.
The whale felt deep sympathy for the small creature. He recalled some valuable knowledge he had gained while beneath the surface. Horris tilted his head towards the waterfall.
"I've heard that the mangos over there, just past the falls, are exquisite," he said. "But be careful—they're larger than you can handle in one bite. When the sun shines back on the jungle, and it certainly will, you must give them a try." Horris responded.
Thyron remembered the creator assuring him that the fruit was safe, and he was thrilled that Horris knew which ones were suitable to eat.
"You'd better look for shelter for the night," Horris advised. "It's far too dark and perilous to be wandering around at this hour. There's an old wooden hut up in the fruit trees; it was washed down here by the floods. It's the best shelter you can find, at least for your kind. Much better than sleeping out in the open, especially since you wouldn't want Artimus to discover you again. He can be quite a nasty and irritable creature at times. "Said Horris.
Thyron was captivated; the scorpion had a name and was quite famous. This unpleasant creature evidently had a notorious reputation throughout jungle-topia. Thyron repeated the name several times, finding it pleasing to say—jungle-topia was a phrase that flowed easily from his lips. As the night went on, the young warthog sensed his own restlessness. It appeared he wasn't the only one feeling drowsy; Horris was also becoming increasingly tired by the minute.
Before Thyron set off in search of shelter, he posed a serious question to Horris. "How do whales sleep underwater? Won't you sink when you close your eyes?"
Horris couldn't help but find the question amusing. "Not at all, Thyron! We whales are actually quite buoyant, believe it or not. I know I may seem heavy—which I am—but I assure you, I float quite nicely while sleeping beneath the waves. Well, sweet dreams, my friend. I hope to see you tomorrow," he said with a cheerful grin.
Thyron smiled, pleased with the answer. "Goodnight, my friend," he replied.
Purk turned around to look at the opening and shouted up to Zarda, "It's all clear! You can come down now; it's safe."
The tributes, Roz and Haze, wasted no time in joining their king. They carefully made their way down the slick slide, while Purk watched as they safely joined him. Turning his attention back to the jungle, he could hear the preparations for the blast echoing in the background as he scanned his surroundings. Observing the work being done high above, Purk became acutely aware of how fragile the earth's crust was. The light from his staff illuminated the area near the crack in the ceiling, revealing that the layer was eroding. If they detonated the hole, it could potentially collapse the entire roof. Without hesitation, Purk shouted back up to them, realizing the urgency of the situation.
"Don't detonate the explosives!" he yelled, but his warning was drowned out by a deafening blast. It was too late; they had completed the job before he could finish his plea. The resounding boom and the thunderous crash of tumbling rocks reverberated through the area. Purk and his tributes had to find shelter quickly from the unexpected rain of debris.
They sprinted with all their strength and leapt into the shadowy water. Purk kept his wand tightly grasped in his hand, closing his eyes as he submerged. Chilled water enveloped them, cascading over their heads and bodies as they dove deeper. As Purk opened his eyes, his wand illuminated the underworld with a brilliance that revealed every detail around him. Floating beside him were Roz and Haze, both equally bewildered and alarmed. It soon dawned on Purk that they were not alone; he found himself gazing into the enormous face of Horris, the humpback whale, surrounded by an array of strange aquatic creatures. He flinched in terror, nearly dropping his wand. Gripping it more firmly, he glanced upward and noticed falling rocks shattering the surface above. Fortunately, the water cushioned their descent. He couldn't help but ponder how long they would remain submerged underwater. They couldn't breathe so easily as they could above the liquid world. He had no reason to complain. The aquatic landscape was breathtaking. Shades of aquamarine blended with the lush green tones of kelp, while vibrant purples and yellows adorned the coral rocks below. Schools of fish glided past, leaving trails of tiny air bubbles in their wake. Delicate sea creatures, resembling enchanting seahorse fairies, swam closer to investigate. They shimmered like pearls, their large round eyes a hue of yellowish green reminiscent of fresh grass. Their tiny hands and feet were webbed, allowing for graceful movements around the three newcomers. Once they completed their curious observations of Purk and his companions, they darted away behind towering strands of sea kelp.
Below him, Purk noticed a darkness—a deep blackish-violet chasm that appeared to extend into the unknown. His eyes flitted between the above surface and the void ahead. As soon as he saw nothing else descending, he began to kick his legs with fervor, pushing himself upward. His companions quickly joined him, breaking the surface to gasp for air. Horris, still disoriented from his sudden awakening, looked on in shock; he had just drifted into a peaceful sleep, only to be jolted awake by three diving warthogs.
"What just occurred?" he wondered to himself.
In this hidden spot, anything was possible. He recognized that the animals who leaped in were like Thyron. Horris felt joy at seeing aid come for the little warthog, yet he was saddened by the thought that his new companion might soon leave him all alone once more. Off in the trees tucked away, was the little warthog sleeping snug inside the hut. Thyron had been so tired. He didn't wake up from the noisy blast. He was safe, hidden away inside, high up in the fruit trees. Thyron felt the rumble, but thought he was only dreaming. So, he slept on, throughout the entire night.