the wise binturong / three animals

08/13/24 11:35pm

All at once, the animals of the yard awoke. A screech ran out through the air, and between the rays of mid-morning sun a small pair of wings shone through. They grew larger and larger as the bird that carried them touched down onto the dusty ground. He paced around for quite a while, before finally settling on a tree branch overlooking the animals that gathered before him. A measly opposum was the first to speak, trembling with every word escaping her mouth. “Please do tell, what is it Luke?” Beside the opposum, a mangy tomcat popped out from underneath the shade that his place of rest had offered, and he too spoke up at once. “This better be important Luke, I was having the most wonderful dream about this mouse and was it oh so plump and jui-” The tomcat finally gazed upward at the kestrel that stood perched before them both, and upon it’s face was the most puzzling expression. One of glee, perhaps amusement? Or maybe pity, he simply couldn’t tell. Luke the kestrel finally began speaking, “Well, it’s about time you two learn to respect the gifts that the sunrise bestows upon us!” He added, “Oh, and as for that dream, Max? You should be lucky that I decided to wake you up, or you would’ve missed out on this grand opportunity I am soon to bless you with.” The opposum finally managed to shake the fear out of it’s skin, realizing that Luke had just been playing a cruel game with them. “Oh Jin, don’t look so frightened”, he remarked with a graceful superiority, “’Twas a lesson learned, nothing more. Besides, I’m getting tired of having to wait around for you and Max all morning. Playing with the pebbles in the dirt can only entertain one for so long.” Jin hesitated, but gave up on trying to reason with him. Luke hitched a ride on Max, and they were off. Luke gave directions, and nobody dare ask any further questions. Unlike his companion the opossum, it was not a matter of being scared for Max. He was just too intrigued to jeapordize the mission for himself and for Jin.

Once they were on the right track, Luke started, “There was this very kind fellow whom I had the pleasure of corresponding with for quite a while. We would talk about life, the weather, and the sorts of things you talk about with only the bestest of friends. After a while, he moved exhibits and I had no way of reaching him anymore.”

“Oh wow, you never mentioned he was locked up in one of those filthy zoo cages… what a dreadful predicament, I can’t believe you even went in there in the first place!” Jin exclaimed. Max sleepily spoke for the first time since leaving the yard, “Oh please, humans aren’t all bad. I mean just look at me, I was a lowly housecat for four stinking years and look at me now. Not half bad, eh?” Jin gazed down in indignation. She found it easiest if her mouth stayed shut during quarrels like these.

She was not to be bothered by this for much too longer anyhow, as before them the bushes began to shake with a great intensity. Luke raised his hackles in anticipation of any lurking beast that may threaten to stop their grand journey. Almost as soon as it had started, the brush before them ceased to move any longer. A sigh of relief was shared between them all, but alas it was too good to be true. Just as the three thought they were in the clear, a large coyote thrust its way out of the shelter of the thick branches. Muscles rippled beneath it’s matted torn fur, glimpses of the scars which bore memories of past altercations on full display. All was at a standstill, until the coyote broke the mysterious demeanor it had held mere moments before. Relaxing his legs, he slumped down alongside a tree trunk situated in the center of the path. “Well, I’m pretty sure you all know how this sort of thing goes--” Luke cut him off, and began in annoyance, “We are here on personal business. We bring with us no items of value. Please, let us be and we will not be a bother.” The coyote looked on in disbelief, “Well, if you’d any respect for either of us here’s time, you would’a let me finish, see. I just want you to tell me if you’ve seen a real pretty lookin’ bitch ‘round these parts. I normally wouldn’t be so desperate as to ask city folk like you, but times are tougher than ever these days it seems.” The travelers looked at each other, and then back at the coyote. “I’m terribly sorry, but we are only moving through here. None of us know this place well enough to know where she is.” Luke stood his ground, and Jin glanced off to the side in embarassment. After much more bargaining, the coyote eventually let them go on their merry way.

The trio moved past the wooded area where they were unexpectedly stopped in their tracks, and spirits were high. So high, in fact, that they nearly forgot where the zoo was entirely! After a handful of wrong turns and directions given from less-than-reputable pigeons, they arrived at the front gate. It was easy enough to squeeze by the security guards, and most of the visitors didn’t bat an eye. Finally, they had made it. “Alright, you two stay here and I’ll go looking for my friend.” Luke took off at once, without waiting for confirmation from Max or Jin. It seemed to have taken forever for Luke to come back and report his findings, so much so that the two grew nervous and nearly decided to abandon the mission altogether.

However, just as the sun was beginning to set, Luke descended from above and landed squarely in front of Jin and Max. “Well, it wasn’t a total lost cause, but-” Luke suddenly realized the bewildered look which both Jin and Max’s face had taken upon. Eyes wide as plates, mouth agape. This was totally out of character! (For Max, at least.) The sillouhette of the small kestrel was soon swallowed by a shadow much bigger than his own. Turning around, Luke came face to face with a formidable creature. Long white whiskers complimented an aging face and thick black fur coating the animal from paws to tail. “Well, I see we meet again Luke.” The tension in the air fizzled away as they all realized at once that this is who they had been looking for this whole time. “Do my eyes deceive me? Is my friend Ries the wise binturong really this geriatric who stands before me?” Ries’ attitude shifted from attentive to a more playful one. “Oh please, do not bore me with silly jabs. Besides, show some proper manners. You have brought guests here with you after all.” Luke tapped his talons first in frustration but then of impatience. “How could my eyes have evaded you? I spent so long looking for your unmistakeable jet-black pelt I had nearly gone insane.” Ries took a seat, and relayed the story of which you are about to hear.

A week prior, Ries had coordinated with Luke’s wife to surprise him, after hearing how upset he had gotten from missing his dear old friend for so long. So the wise old binturong took it upon himself to make the trek to the yard that Luke fancied his home, on the very day that Luke was supposed to meet up with him. “So you see,” Ries explained, “I had been following you the whole way, from the yard all the way to the zoo.” Jin looked on in amazement. “So you’ve been observing us this whole time?” She sheepishly continued, “Being as wise as you are, what do you think of us?” The binturong stopped for a second to think, and then he began. “For starters, I must say, Luke has some of the best friends I’ve had the pleasure of knowing—erm—meeting. The way you all work together is astounding. But nobody is without flaws. First, Luke. Even as early as the yard you were commandeering and failed to recognize when your friends were uncomfortable with the descisions you made. When the coyote stopped to ask for help, you jumped to conclusions instead of listening to him first which was mighty rude if I do say so myself. And Jin; You are much too scared and do not speak for yourself even if you could help others by doing so. How are you meant to believe in your friends if you cannot believe in yourself? And finally, Max. You care too little. It would not hurt to help your friends and show enthusiasm to boost morale when needed. But I complain too much. You are still a wonderful group of animals.” All three of them looked downwards not in dissaproval of themselves, but out of respect for the wise binturong and the wisdom he had imparted on them all. “Well I can’t say I wouldn’t put it past you to do something like this. I’m positive all of us will be sure to remember this day going forwards,” Luke remarked. The opposum, tomcat, and kestrel all exchanged conversations with Ries and eventually bid farewell. A lesson was learned by all, and the bonds of friendship were strengthened even further.

The End.

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