The final conclusion and epilogue will be posted in the next few days!
That afternoon, the sounds circulating Animalia were not the cheeping of the cricket, the groaning of the elephant or the shriek of the jay, but the dying cries of a fallen leader. Leonardes had been looking in vain for Filo, but could not find him and when he even came close to a family of rabbits, they hid before he had a chance to explain himself. Despite the throbbing pain of the platypus venom, he made no more screams so as not to draw attention to himself. He hopelessly lay on the grass , just praying to die in peace.
Yet,
in the grass, just metres away, sat the target of his search. Filo had heard him
coming but whilst his clan hid, he was curious of what was happening. He wondered just why he was so weak and it looked like he was dying. Whilst
many would rejoice, deep down, Filo was sad. Though he clearly had his flaws, He
had always admired Leonardes’ caring nature towards the smaller animals and how
he always looked out for them. Indeed, he made sure the rabbit’s predators were
only killing out of hunger and they should otherwise be left alone. Leonardes
had a vow to never hurt smaller animals of his own species and he never stopped in his attempt to
always help out and ensure they were safe. Whether it was because they could
never intimidate him and weren’t a fellow predator or prey was debateable, but
Filo was distraught to see such a great ruler go down, yet just didn’t have the
courage to step forward, what could he do? Why would the king have time for
him? He was a small, weak mammal, he had no power. He would never change anything.
But Filo's and the kings hopes of a peaceful death were all but obliterated when he
heard a shrill shriek from above, the unmistakeable mocking call of Eglé.
This
sight delighted the bird of prey, he had been waiting all his life to have the
last laugh at Leonardes, and he swooped down. ‘So the king of the land, the all
mighty power of the lion, the proudest, noblest king falls while Eglé still
stands. I must know who got you, was it a bird? Was it one of Alguerve’s or was
it a petty poison dart frog who you weren’t careful with?’
Leonardes
used all his remaining energy ‘I didn’t fall to one of your filthy fighters
that I know’.
‘Ah,
Leo, still in denial as ever I see.' He said, pecking provocatively all over the fallen lion, Leonardes was determined not to give in and held in his cries. 'When will you accept that we birds are the
rightful rulers of Animalia? I wish we could’ve sorted out our differences but
you were always a failure to this land, and just so you will always know who
boss. I’ll make this quicker for you.’
Eglé
jumped and landed on Leonardes’ neck, digging his talons in deep. The king could hold it no longer and screamed out in pain. Eglé used his talons to move Leonardes’ head towards him, so
he truly was the last sight he saw. He grinned as the struggling king
started to go still.
‘Long…live…the
king’
And
that was when Filo struck, he used the only defence that a rabbit could; his
agile feet, jumping out of the grass, he flew through the air and landed
straight on Eglé’s face, temporarily blinding him and knocking him off
Leonardes.
He
clutched onto Eglé’s head, the two of
them wrestled. He knew he couldn’t stay like this. Eglé stumbled around blindly, protesting angrily, still not quite sure what happened. He flapped his wings to attempt to take off, but he couldn't without his optimal vision
Filo
held on with all his strength, he had not necessarily thought this through and the odds were against him. Once he loses his vantage point, Eglé 's knife like talons and beak would kill him in a second or he could drop him from a great height. He frantically thought of what to do next, he had to get
there first and get him where he’s weak. He let go of the eyes, fell and clutched hold of Egle’s neck and bit into it.
Eglé
screeched with pain, his wings stopped flapping and he moved slower, Filo dug deeper, it hurt his undeveloped teeth just as
much but he held on. Eventually, a deep wound formed, he moved slower and drew his wings back. At this point, Filo let go and bounded down, Eglé attempted to
attack but Filo’s wound had gone too deep and was fatal. He stumbled hopelessly and soon ‘weak…foolish….imbecile’, until heis windpipe gave in, his face went still and collapsed in a heap on then floor. For the first time ever in Animalia, a rabbit had just killed an
eagle.
Filo
stood there a while, unable to believe what he’d just done, then quickly
remembered just why he did it and ran over to Leonardes. Thankfully, Eglé’s
wound wasn’t enough to finish him off completely, but it was clearly just
moments before it came.
He
murmured with all the remaining effort he had in him: ‘Are you…Filo?’, Filo
nodded. ‘That was…very brave of you, I…am…truly honoured...Thank You’,
Leonardes coughed ‘Young rabbit, I am sorry I have let you and all your kingdom
down, but could you spare me….one more favour before I die’, Filo nodded
vigourously, ‘earlier I killed one of the…platypus…whom I believe….saw you too.
Go to their island across the river from here….and tell them…that I give them
rights to be the rulers of…Animalia’.
Filo
was shocked; it was within the king’s rights to give anyone the throne once he
died. But the king had made it clear was
always going to be Leonardes’ son that takes the throne. Never did he imagine
that the king would be offering to someone who wasn’t a lion. But he was more shocked to hear about how he killed the creature. Filo was flustered but he honoured the king to the end and took a bow, something which the king had always liked. Leonardes managed a smile and then went
still immediately. That smile was different to his usual smiles though, it was
supportive and reassuring.
Filo
stood in the clearing, around him laid the dead bodies of two of the most
fearsome predators in the kingdom. And he, a small rabbit, had the whole fate
of Animalia in his hands.
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