The Last Forest
A lime crystal stone traveled through the air in the green humid forest, straight towards the victim’s face.
On impact, the pain rose to the brain and then alerted the rest of the body to the threatening shockwave heading its way.
“You want to burn my face, Chana?” Napu complained.
“No, look up.” Chana replied, but Napu continued to scrap the fertile plants with knife, near the large Laku tree.
This is the third time Chana tried to warn Napu. He had been noticing above the tree, a sleeping tree dragon called Ngaphe snoring unaware. But Napu failed to understand the danger lurking above him.
“Napu, Napu.” Chana whispered, then threw one more crystal stone.
The crystal ricochet from a tree landing with a hard bump on Napu’s shoulders. “Aah, what’s wrong with you?”
Chan crossed his mouth with finger. “ Shhh, don’t shout loud.”
“What, why?” Napu clueless spoke too loudly. Then skins of the Laku tree began to fall down from where the tree dragon was, near Napu.
Chana warned him one more time. “look, look up.”
Napu stepped back slightly, covered his eyes from the morning light that lit the skies. “Look what?”
Chana carefully trotted the few paces to him and pointed once more, “Up the tree.”
“The tree, this one?” Napu replied.
Chana took from his leather pouch one last crystal stone, rubbed it against his palm. It lit suddenly. “I hope this works.”
He swung his arm, then threw the stone straight up the tree.
The ground shook with the leaves of the giant tree sprinkling all around the Napu. The cracking sounds of the creature climbing down sent shivers down Napu’s spine. He froze. At that moment the tree dragon opened her glowing green eyes. Her grinning teeth rattled as she made a “Grrrrr” sound. Chana could not help Napu.