Adventure #30: Wildlife

"The first problem of living is to minimize friction with the crowds that surround you on all sides."     ~ Isaac Asimov

He lived two trees down from the busiest pond in the forest. But it didn't have to be this overrun. Apparently, the rivers, springs, and ponds nearer to the invading animals' homes were somehow not satisfactory. They just wouldn't stay home. They came from miles around - traveling for hours and waiting for twice that long in lines to get a sip from this pond.

He did not understand why this pond was so busy. What was it about this pond that attracted this crowd? If he'd known his house would regularly be overtaken, he would have given a second thought to moving in two trees down from it.

Today, just within his sight, there were three deer, a hedgehog couple, and a mountain lion. A mountain lion! What was a mountain lion doing here? She was fraternizing with her prey. How could the mountain lion look the others in the eye, knowing she'd be eating some of them within the week?

"Why are you all standing outside my front door???" he yelled. Several startled animals turned to look at him but most remained ignorant, in their own little worlds. Without a response, he turned his back, stomping inside, determined to avoid being outside at this time of day.

The next day he broke that agreement with himself. He was spending time with one of his friends. Their activities led them back to his house. On the way, not only did they encounter the hordes of animals vying for the coveted pond water but the weather chose to disagree with them. The rain was ferocious as the two friends continued to battle the fans wildlife. Facing a still new environment, rain, and crowds, the two friends finally arrived soaked and irritated after having been lost - just as his roommate was leaving to join the masses. His resolve was renewed to never face these circumstances again.

The following day another friend approached him. "Let's spend some time at the Great Tree and then enjoy some of these amazing berries I found that the bush next to the Great Tree," his friend suggested.

"But what about the crowd around the pond?" he asked.

"If we leave now, we'll be back before the concourses arrive."

Skeptically, he went with his friend anyway. Their afternoon was a pleasant one, well worth the trip. Until their return. Though not as difficult as the rain experience, it still took three times as long on the return trip because of traffic wildlife.

"Tomorrow, I stay home," he told himself, once again.

Then his sister called. "I need your help gathering some roots. Will you come help me?"

"As long as it's right now. There's a lull in the congregation of cars animals. I'll be there in five minutes."

The plan was going accordingly until one rabbit passed. Then three bear cubs. Then a herd of moose. And a flock of robins flew overhead. He began to rush the gathering process.

"Where's the fire, brother?"

"We need to beat the rush. The animals are coming."

But as they ended the errand and headed for home, they saw those same animals passing them again in the opposite direction. He began to wonder what had happened. They fought through some large groups and pushed on through lesser numbers but all were headed away from the pond. After dropping off his sister, his journey home was surprisingly smooth for the time of day.

"Where is every-" And then he saw it. The stadium pond had dried up. It was over - the animals weren't coming back. His smile grew and grew, until he realized after the winter snows came and the sun melted the flurries on the mountain, the animals would be back for the football water.