They left Skull-land as early as possible. Many were found missing including the chimpanzee and the zebra. Not even their corpse were seen. Where could they have died? Was it not better for those whose corpse were seen and buried? Even as it was in a foreign land. They felt so bad especially for Bara who voluntarily has been contributing efficiently with all his mind on bringing the whole catastrophes to the end.
Reaching Greenwoods with all they transported from Skull-land, like treasures, fruits, herbs, vegetables, flowers and more. They were singing songs of victory and jubilating, then they met the greatest shock of their lives. It was not noticed until they got to the palace which was in the morning of the following day. The journey took them a longer time because of the things they carried. And victims among them couldn’t walk fast due to their injuries.
What does a warrior expect when he returns home from a battle victorious if not to meet his family, friends and relatives who would celebrate his victory? But in their case it was not so. All they could see was carcass scattered all over the environment. Mostly in the palace and the quarters built for warriors. Those were the biggest places they could gather in other so stay together. Those supposed to be grieving for their relatives that died in the battle were instead the reason for their grievance. Celebration turned mourning.
Everyone went looking for his family’s corpse. The worse of it is that some were not seen, and were mostly of the prominent and nobbles. Probably they were attacked. But by who? And why? Could it be another neighboring community that’s coming against them? After what they have been through? What exactly happened? There’s not one creature left to answer their questions. It was certain that some were taken away either dead or alive. But why must it be the respected natives that were missing? The queen, the zebra’s wife, the giraffe’s family, the elephant’s family, the parrot’s family and many more. How could they go about looking for their missing families?
In as much as there were relatives to search for they don’t have to leave those dead bodies on land till night. Otherwise, none would be able to stay in Greenwoods. They hurried to bury all the corpse they managed to see. After the tedious task of burying the dead they decided to rest and regain their strength before going to search for the missing ones. However, that will be the next day.
Early the next day they sent the interior members of the community, mostly the youth to go round the community and bring back reports of whatever the see. It was after an hour before a tiny sharp bird came flying above which they believed came to survey the land to see if the calamities have subsided. Seeing animals he recognized he flew down to meet them. He was happy that the king and some of those that went to the battle came back alive. It was not really a surprise to see that the bird survived the massacre, because birds have wings to fly and are Keen at noticing danger. So he probably had fled when the whole thing started unlike those that walks on land.
Now there is someone to answer some of their questions. At least they will hear something reasonable an from that they will know where and how to start.
“Where’s the queen?”
“Where’s my wife?”
“Where’s my family?”
“Where are my children?”
“Who invaded our land?”
“Where did they come from?”
“Why did they do this to us?”
Many questions were asked simultaneously. Everyone asking after what seemed most important to him.
“Calm down please” the bird pleaded, the questions were making him look confuse not knowing which to answer first. He was nervous as well meanwhile there’s nothing he could say that will be interesting. How was he going to start?
“We don’t have to. Tell us what we need to know. Where’s my wife’s body?” the king asked impatiently. Tears threatens to stream out which made it difficult for the bird to speak. Besides he doesn’t know much. His answers may not be satisfying. It’s well known that calamities has befallen them there no reason for the questions.
“The killers came from Skull-land last two nights. They killed whatever they found that has life. I reckon they took some bodies along maybe dead or alive for I wasn’t around. I fled earlier. I don’t think anyone survived the crisis unless if some birds were lucky to notice it on time because their attack was too sudden”
“is there any place you think anyone can take refuge?” someone asked.
“There will be, surely. But I don’t know any”
The king stepped aside to think leaving the bird to answer questions that his subordinates were waiting impatiently to ask since other questions were substituted for the king’s.
“Excuse me. Where was the last place you see the queen before the incidence happened?” the gorilla asked trying to get traces to what happened or maybe from the bird’s response he will know what to do.
“Mmmh I could remember when I went to the palace to see friends she was in her chamber with friends chatting and that was over an hour or two before the incidence”
“Where did they attack first? The palace or the quarters?”
“I was asleep when the noise came, the noise woke me as a matter of fact. It could be that it was after attacking the palace they came for us or maybe they finished with the quarters then to…..”
“we found more bodies in the quarters. I think they were first attacked that’s why many were killed there”
“Are you insinuating that some fled”
“Or maybe taken”
“It could true. I wasn’t here to see for my self. As for the quarters it’s suppose to have more corpse for it was more accommodating”
“I still have this feelings that some are hiding somewhere” the parrot said.
“Me too”. The elephant succumbed. “Why don’t we rush into the woods now and check?”
“Wisdom! We ought to, since we did not tell the youths to do so they will not exceed orders”
The deer returned from what they were sent to do. They returned to the palace with animals they found.
“Who saw my wife?”
“Who knows what happened to them”
Questions began to repeat again. Each animal with a different question. The initial countenance of the deer and the discovered refugees erased immediately into a frown. Their answer was going to be no so there is nothing good about it.
“We were at home when all these happen”
“We came home to take something”
“There was not enough space in the quarters and the palace to lay my head so went home earlier that evening”
“Some of us don’t even know what happened. We didn’t see anything. We just saw corpse everywhere when we returned in the morning”
They continued saying all they know in response to double questions they were facing. That was almost like interrogation.
“Your highness, that’s the more reason we must embark on this search. It’s better we do it now”
They decided each one of them will go to his house and search all the places they can so if they don’t see their relatives they should return to the palace, then they will go together wherever it is they feel like.
“In as much as this has happened my heart still didn’t beat negatively, I don’t know why?” the chief priest said. He speaks once in a long time.
“But it has happened already. We are just hoping to find their corpse and burry them. Can we endanger our lives going to foreign lands to rescue relatives again? We can’t. How many are left in our community to even think of that?” the gorilla said. He was with The tortoise , the prince and few of those who have no where to go. But not long they all left. To take a view of the quarters once more. The Chief priest went with them. But servants were left.