A. L. Kaplan

Tag: hatchling

  • Cheloniidae’s Revenge

    “Observe only. Don’t interfere.”

    Those words rung in my head as another baby sea turtle lost its race to the ocean. I bit back the bile in my throat. Waves of seagulls had descended this peaceful beach at dawn, feasting on newly hatched turtles. If it weren’t for the professor and my fellow students behind me, I would have scooped up hatchlings until my arms were full.

    Instead I stood frozen in place. My eyes burned with unshed tears. Poachers we were allowed to stop, but these squawking demons were off limits. One single baby flopped toward the crashing waves. Hope rose in my heart only to be dashed as it was snatched into the air inches from the water. Not a single turtle had made it to the water.

    My eyes clouded over and it felt as though fire burned through my veins. This had to stop. It had to end. Energy twisted inside me, then surged through my bare feet into the sand.

    The gull’s frenzied pitch changed tone within seconds. What had been a turtle massacre changed to a seagull stampede. The flock swooped away from the beach. Their voices seemed to cry out in unison: “Flee! Flee! Flee!”

    Behind me I heard panicked exclamations from the others. I didn’t need to look to know what chased the gulls, but I turned anyway. A smile split my face as a giant flying sea turtle snapped up seagulls in midair. This circle of life was biting back.

  • Winter’s Night

    “Go ahead. I know you’ve hungered after my flesh your whole life.”

    The old wolf sat only inches from Buffalo’s throat, but only licked the festering wound on her hip. With one golden eye and the other silvery blue, she studied his face. A jagged white stripe decorated his brow.

    “You’re old and stringy now, too tough for my teeth. A calf would be easier to chew.”

    Buffalo stifled a laugh. “There’ll be none until spring. You’ll have to make do with me. I’m too tired to fight anymore, easy game. One of us at least should live.”

    “Well it won’t be me. I no longer have the strength to bite your shaggy hide. Even my pack has left me for dead.”

    “Perhaps Bear will put us both out of our misery.”

    “Bear sleeps. Even Crow hides from this blustery snow, warm in his roost.”

    “Then let me die in peace.”

    “Humph. Peace. You think I don’t wish for such a thing. I’m cold and tired. Death claws both our hides.”

    “Rest with me. Perhaps some good will come of this end.”

    Wolf curled up against Buffalo and closed her eyes. Content, their spirits leaped for the sky together. Snow soon hid their bodies.

    ***

    “What odd looking hatchlings we have this spring,” said Mother Hawk.

    Father Hawk studied the two chicks. One had a strange white stripe across his face; the other had one silvery blue eye. They snuggled against each other as if winter clawed at them.