August 2003 Challenge: Hercules and Iolaus encounter a giant talking turtle in 500 words or less
A long, long time ago, on a far away land, Manoi, the turtle, laid nine eggs on the seashore. The turtle was a good mother, she took good care of the eggs, but one dark night the mighty god of oceans got angry at the world, and decided to destroy the Earth. The sea broke out and flooded the shores for as long as it could. The eggs were smashed on the rocks one by one.
By morning the sea calmed down and the turtle mother sorrowfully watched the empty shells floating on the shallow water. She was wise; she knew there was no point in raging against a god, so she slowly walked back to the wreck of her nest. It was a mess of seaweed, sand, small rocks and pebbles. She closed her eyes, and mourned the loss of her children, when suddenly she heard a small crack, then another and another. The wreck at her feet moved and a tiny green head appeared with huge, dark eyes. Manoi smiled down at her only son, and she told him: ”Go, love. Leave the place where your unborn brothers died because of the anger of a god. Go and find better folks, better lands where innocent are safe and protected, where you can live in peace. You’ll find it son, I know you will.”
Taran, the little turtle started his journey. He walked and walked, time passed. During the long road he met many wondrous creature, wild and meek, with wings and with paws, and finally he got to the land of humans. The humans were the most various bunches of animals Taran had ever met on the long road. They lived in two groups. There were those who ruled, and those who were ruled. He first went to the rulers: „”Greetings. I’m Taran. Would you give me place here to live in peace?” The rulers were too arrogant and selfish to answer the turtle; maybe they didn’t even hear him. He went to those who were ruled: „”Greetings. My name is Taran. Can I live with you in peace?” But the ruled people were too afraid to answer. Taran continued his journey, and as nobody answered him, he slowly stopped talking.
The years went by, turned into centuries and millennia. Taran got older, walked slower on his lonely way. He felt his long journey would end soon, and he decided to rest in the deep forest he just passed by. He walked in, and as he headed for a nearby cave, he stepped into a hidden trap with sharp steel blades. He lost his balance and felt maddening pain in his leg. He desperately tried to escape, but only got the blades embedded deeper in his hard skin. At last he gave up trying to free himself, and dropped down bleeding. He didn’t know for how long he lay there when he heard approaching voices.
“C’mon Herc, you didn’t see her eyes! She was practically begged me with her eyes to kiss her!” one voice said.
“Sure she did Iolaus, that’s why she smacked you so hard that you almost lost your tooth…” answered a deeper.
Now the first voice spoke again: ”It wasn’t from the smack, earlier I accidentally bit on a bone in the stew… You know… Hey, what’s this?”
“It’s a turtle Iolaus. A huge turtle. A trapped one.”
“I can see that, thank you! Well, don’t just stand there, help me free him from these damn blades! Such a cruel trap, causes too much unnecessary pain to animals. A real hunter would never use a thing like this! Poor thing, it’s dying.”
Taran felt his leg released from the blade cage, and his wound was washed with cool, clean water. He squinted his dark eyes as he looked at the human with curly, blond hair and candid blue eyes kneeling next to him, and the other who was tall and had long brown hair. He tried to decide which group they belonged to: the rulers or the ruled ones, but he couldn’t figure it out.
He opened his mouth and tried to talk, but the millennia had rusted his throat, so he could only whisper, ”Greetings. I’m Taran. Will you let me rest in peace here?”
Iolaus’ blue eyes widened with shock as he looked up at his partner. ”Did you here that, Herc? Did it really speak?”
Hercules knelt down too, and put his hand on Taran’s head. “Yeah, I heard it,” he answered quietly.
Iolaus turned back to the turtle and swallowed. He looked into the wrinkled, old face, the wise, knowing eyes, and said: “Greetings Taran. The forest is yours, too. You can rest in peace here, I’ll make sure nobody bothers you.”
Taran was surprised that he was heard and he was answered. These men were special, not rulers and not ruled. He believed them, and he smiled. He slowly closed his eyes and he heard again the echoes of Manoi’s voice: ”Go love. Leave the place where your unborn brothers died because of the anger of a god. Go and find better folks, better lands where innocent are safe and protected, where you can live in peace. You’ll find it son, I know you will.”
It had been a long journey, much longer than he’d intended it to be, but he had finally arrived…he’d found better folks…and a better place.
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