kh_drabble | Challenge 161 (Reply)

Challenge: [161] Perfectly beautiful
Title: Paradox
Word count: 437
Rating: PG (depressing themes)

Summary: The simple innocence of things we so often depend on as children are, while we grow older, put to the test of reality.

There is a point in some of our lives where the innocent veil of childhood is forcefully ripped away by the brute strength of the raw truths of life. For most it is a much less violent process, but for those few who are so unfortunate the concluding revelations can change their point of view on life forever, no matter how small the circumstance.

Kairi stepped briskly through the island forest, humming softly to herself, feeling rather pleased with life in general. A small, pleading sound nearby made her pause. It was a pathetic little noise that reminded her of the pained cries of an injured squirrel or raccoon. Concerned (yet equally curious), the young girl began to rummage through the undergrowth, finally narrowing the source down to a very dense bush. As she neared, the cry faltered, then began again with renewed vigor. Not without difficulty, she parted the twigs and brambles protecting the interior of the miniature fortress and peered inside, gasping with delight. Three fairly newborn chicks huddled together in an intricately woven nest. Giggling, she noticed a bit of thread that had gone missing many weeks before from an outdoor craft she had been making. It was now skillfully braided in with the feathers and twigs that made up the support for the little shelter. Kairi didn't dare touch anything, for fear of the mother bird being frightened off, so she contented herself with watching them peep frantically for their next meal. When she did eventually leave, it was with joy, and thankfulness for this small blessing.

A few days later, Kairi returned, skipping immediately to the bush where she had first discovered the nest. When she approached this time, however, the telltale sounds of the chicks' hungry cries could not be heard. After struggling through the bush once again, she peered down into its heart at the little nest. It was devoid of all but a few broken eggshells. She dropped to her knees and quietly searched through the humus and the shadows for what she desperately did not want to see. She didn't find what she was looking for, and sat on her heels, trying hard to think optimistically. That's when she stood up and heard the tiny crunch of delicate bone as she took a step back. Shocked, she spun around and realized that what she had overlooked before was actually the remains of an owl's snack. She did not cry; No tears were shed over the loss of new life. However...

...Kairi did leave the forest that day with one final lingering thought: Life is delicate, and deceptively beautiful.