My Forest My Habitat My Life

[Carissa]

Idea by: AG (my friend's sister's initial)
Written By: Carissa

Summary: It tells a story that happens normally in rainforest until one day, they all join in one community to protect their habitat from humans.

Note: The idea is based on my friend's sister. She asked me to help her working on her writing homework. She wanted a story who was not related to teen life (like most of her friends wrote) and wanted something different. My friend's sister was an animal lover, so she thought that she would write something about animals or called as fable. She gave me the basic idea of the story and I wrote it. So, TA-DAA, the story is what you're reading now!

* * *

There was once a rainforest which had a very unique ecosystem and life. Likely an ordinary rainforest, many kind of trees lived there – from the big to the small. They used their branches and leaves to cover the rainforest. Those trees lived in peace, without any problems with humans who normally liked to cut their off, but it was also caused by the location of the rainforest itself, which was far from the big cities.

That forest was also crowded with some animals’ population completing the habitat. They also didn’t like to bother each other.

They really lived in peace and there were almost no fighting among them, although there were some little problems which was too exaggerated, but luckily, those were solved quickly. The animals respected each other. They didn’t mind the differences among them and also didn’t mind their different species. In fact, they liked to have conversations and associate with each other, including the trees.

That was the situation in the rainforest which was likely the paradise for animals and plants. In fact, other natures just like the wind, the cloud, the sun, the moon, and the stars liked to join in the rainforest’s life.

In that rainforest, there was a giant oak tree which gave chills to the forest. Some said that the oak tree was the biggest and the oldest tree ever lived there, included with his uncountable branches. The oak tree confessed that he was the king of trees in the forest. That was why the animals and the trees respected him just like he was a god and called him “The Mighty Oak Tree”. But unfortunately, The Mighty Oak Tree was mean, arrogant, and selfish. He didn’t want to co-operate with each other, but although that, he kept to be the number one in the forest.

It wasn’t until one day; Mrs. Raven perched on one of The Mighty Oak Tree’s branches.

Mrs. Raven rubbed her black feather and asked. “Good day, Mr. Mighty Oak Tree, may I make my nest on one of your branches? This is almost mating season and I have to prepare the nest for my children.”

“Nesting on my branch? No! All of this time, I’ve never permitted any of single bird nesting on my branch, even on my tiniest one. Never! Think that there are still a lot of trees you can make as your nest.” Arrogantly, the Mighty Oak tree answered.

Other trees who heard the conversation tried to support Mrs. Raven. “Hey, Mighty Oak Tree, why don’t you just give her a place to nest? Besides, you still have a lot of your branches available, meanwhile ours are already fulled with nests.”

“You are all selfish! Don’t you guys know that I’m the king of the trees around here? My tiniest branches are very valuable for me. Oh, come on, just quiet! I want to rest.” The Mighty Oak Tree said.

Suddenly, a woodpecker that was pecking the Oak Tree’s trunk joined the conversation. “Hey you foolish tree, don’t you know that I’ve been nesting in your trunk for a long time?” she asked.

The Mighty Oak Tree was shocked and quickly shook his trunk until his leaves fall to the ground. He meant to banish the woodpecker who challenged him.

“Well, alright, alright! I know what you mean, arrogant tree. From now on I will find a new nest.” the woodpecker flew away as she was insulting him.

Lots of the population didn’t like the Mighty Oak Tree’s bad personality. Not less of them liked to insult him. “That’s what you call with ‘King’ of the trees?” they said.

But remember that there were some populations in the rainforest that still respected him as well as he was a king, although they disagreed with the idea of his personality. Not less of them liked to give him an advice that as a tree that had good appearance and skill must be wise and fair. Therefore, he would deserve to be called as “The Real King”.

Lion was the king of animals in the forest. Although he controlled the rainforest with his roar just like the Mighty Oak tree did, he wasn’t unlike that mean giant tree. The Lion was humble and in fact, he joined with others to give the Mighty Oak Tree some advices to improve his personality…but…no results.

* * *

Well, let’s leave that problems and discuss about other life in the rainforest. Another population which lived in the rainforest was a colony of ants. That sunny afternoon, they were looking for food for winter, because, once the sun set, they couldn’t get out of their underground nest.

The sun was so impressed with their hardwork and greeted. “Good afternoon, ants, what are you doing down there?” he asked.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Sun, we’re looking for food reserved for the rainy season, because once it comes, we no longer can’t get it. We have to prepare it from now.” the leader of the colony, or maybe called as Colonel Ant, answered.

“Hhmm, I wonder what it feels like living on Earth down there. You all have activities and meanwhile mine is only rotating twenty-four hours in the same place and watching you all working.” the sun replied.

“Well, Mr. Sun, if I were you, I would be very grateful. You have the highest position in our solar system. I mean, you give us living with your bright and shiny light. Your size is trillions bigger than ours. Even the Earth, the planet we’re staying in, was much smaller than you are and remember that you’re the one of the stars in our galaxy. Meanwhile, we, colony of ants, have to work everyday in this hot, sunny day.” Colonel Ant replied.

“Perhaps, you need some help, Colonel Ant?” suddenly, the wind interfered them in their conversation.

“What do you mean with ‘some help’?” Colonel Ant asked.

“Well, you said that your colony had to work in this hot, sunny day. Maybe I can fresh you with my blowing.” the wind said as he began to blow, and for a moment, the air began to fresh again and the colony, “I hope you continue your work well.”

“Wait! I also want to help!” suddenly, a thick, white cloud appeared and covered the sun. In a moment, the day was no longer sunny again, “Oh, sorry, Mr. Sun.”

“That’s okay, I also need some rest.” The Sun smiled as the cloud covered him up. Then, the ants continued working and now, they worked cheerfully and they didn’t have to worry again about the weather. The nature around had helped them lighten their work.

* * *

Well, those stories aren’t enough yet to describe the rainforest. There’s another one and it’s about the argument between Parrot and the Teak. Actually it was just a simple problem, but it was too exaggerated. They were actually arguing about their voices. The Teak had the loudest voice and he also spoke very fast. She felt that nobody in the Forest could beat her voice.

It was all begun when he heard the news that the Parrot, who also had the loudest voice and spoke very fast. The Teak was known as a talkative tree. She always pretended to know about everything.

The news about the Parrot was heard when she was gossiping with the Rattan who was calm and quiet. The Rattan was known as a “nerd”, because his rattan was less, but he was actually an open person. The Rattan seemed to be bored hearing fake news or gossips from the Teak. He knew that he had to respond everything the Teak told him, which was mostly not right. Meanwhile, the Rattan himself always refused to respond.

“You know what, Rattan? That actually the King Lion and Queen Lioness don’t get married. But how could they possibly have cubs?” The Teak asked one day.

“I don’t know.” The Rattan responded shortly.

“What do you think?” The Teak caught the response of the Rattan, but however, didn’t work. The Teak then changed the topic. “But you obviously know something that I have the fastest speed in talking and loudest voice in this rainforest, don’t you? No one can beat me.”

“Oh well, don’t you know something that the Parrot also has the fastest speed in talking and loudest voice in this rainforest, do you?” This time, The Rattan responded, “He can sing well, and you can’t. What do you think?”

Then, The Teak began to feel curious about that Parrot guy who competed her in voice and talking speed. To know the truth, The Teak decided to challenge him, and the Parrot came to her at once.

“Hey, what’s up, Miss Teak?” the Parrot seemed to be so relax.

“I heard you have the loudest voice and fastest talking speed, right, Mr. Parrot?” the Teak asked.

“Well, that’s what they say.”

“If that’s right, Mr. Parrot, I’m asking you for a challenge.”

“What challenge, Miss Teak?”

“I’ve been wanting to beat you in this case, to know who has better skill in our voice.”

“Wow, that’s great. Now, I have a friend who has same skill with me!” the Parrot confidently said.

“Hey, I’m challenging you, Mr. Parrot, not to befriend with you. So, what do you think? Do you accept my offer?”

“Well, I can’t refuse, Miss Teak.” the Parrot squeaked, “I accept it.”

Without wasting more times, they decided to do the challenge for the loudest voice and speed in talking. They invited all the animals and plants in the rainforest to gather around as witnesses. They decided to read the declaration of King Lion in his coronation. This declaration was very long and they both had to read it loud, fast, and without taking a breath.

“I declare myself to be the king of the forest…” the competition began. All of the animals and plants were so serious watching them and paying attention if just one of them took a breath.

But when they were in the middle of the declaration, the Teak suddenly took a breath. “The Teak takes a breath! So the winner goes to the Parrot!” the Tiger, who was the commentator, announced.

Finally, the Teak gave up and confessed that the Parrot beat her in this competition.

* * *

Those are the stories of each life that happened in the rainforest, but it wasn’t until one day, the day when all of populations all united for protecting their endangered habitat. It was a calm day, but it wasn’t until they heard strange noise from the distance. It was kind like a machine noise. They were curious enough so that they decided to find out where it was.

Finally, they discovered what was behind those noises and very surprised to see many people gathered around a giant machine that was cutting the trees off. Those people were obviously entrepreneurs who determined to turn the rainforest into a big chemical industry.

Knowing that the populations were now in danger, they all decided to make a secret plan involving all of the animals and plants in the rainforest. They planned a “war” strategy against the humans to survive for living.

And there went the mission…with the “armies” of the rainforest were now ready in their positions. When they saw one of the forest destroyers was turning on his saw machine to start cutting the trees’ logs down, the Parrot with his loud voice shouted.

“ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

After that, the animals were ready to act. They started to attack with their own skills. The elephants blew their trumpets and used their trunks as weapons, the tigers roar, and not to mention little squirrels were standing by on the tree branches, throwing oaks to those destroyers.

The humans didn’t give up. In fact, one of them was loading his rifle and prepared to shoot. But before he pulled his trigger, the King Lion immediately attacked him.

Not to mention the plants. When the destroyers were trying to hide from the animals under them, those trees quickly shook their branches to hit those uncivilized humans.

In the beginning, the Mighty Oak Tree refused to help the others getting rid of the destroyers. But when the Teak begged to him to give some help, he finally made his decision. The Mighty Oak Tree dropped the rocks on his branches and hit the destroyers using them.

“This rainforest is haunted!!!!!!” one of the humans yelled.

After the “Great War” in history of the rainforest for defending their habitat, all animals and plants won as those humans decided to leave. All populations shouted in happiness.

“We are the Champion! We are the Champion!!” suddenly, the Parrot sang one of Queen’s songs for celebrating their victory. Amazingly, the Teak who couldn’t sing joined along the Parrot and others followed until all of the animals and plants in the rainforest celebrated for their victory. All joined in the celebration, including the King Lion with his roar, the Rattan, and the Mighty Oak Tree, not to mention the colony of ants.

Now, they all knew how precious their habitat was, until the local governor decided to make a legal law to protect the rainforest from any kind of irresponsible people. All the populations in the forest lived happily ever after until at this time…

THE END