The Creatures that History Forgot

by Ashley Douglass

we never saw the doctor so maybe you won’t have the pay.” Terry interjected.

  “This is about more than just money. I thought Rita was hurt.” their mother continued.

  “Well, all you do is sleep, when you get home, and most of the time you are not even there.” Erika pointed out.

  “I am tired,” their mother answered simply.

  “Well maybe Rita just wanted some attention. I mean she is only three.” Terry explained.

  “Don’t you think I want to send time with you?” their mother asked.

  “We know you love us but Rita does not understand why you have to go yet.” Terry said quickly before her angry added to the argument.

  “I have to go to work Rita and you are just going to have to accept that.” their mother said in a gentler tone.

  “I am sorry. I just wanted another lollipop.” Rita stated when I heard the doors being opened.

  “I love you honey but don’t you ever lie to me again. Do you hear me?” their mother said as the doors slammed shut.

  “Yes Mommy, I won’t do it again” Rita muttered.

  “Now put on your seatbelts so we can leave,” their mother said as multiple clicks sounded just before the car pulled off.

  I was going back to the kids’ house then I could return home with my mother’s cure. I did it. I succeeded with my mission. In a day or two I would be back home and everything would be like it should be. My mother’s health would be restored and there would be peace among my people. Soon all of this would simply be a faint memory, a nightmare that will quickly be forgotten as soon as consciousness returns and the true nature of reality is realized.

  The Aftermath of Spring Showers

  I held the plastic bottle tightly in my forepaws as the car came to a stop. The doors were opened as the humans rushed out. I waited a few minutes until all was silent then I freed myself from the trunk. I crept out of the car then hurried to the garage across the yard. I quickly opened the door then rushed inside. I closed the door behind me then sat on my bed to looking over my precious bottle as the light entered through the window causing it to glow a molten orange.

  I did it my people were saved I thought when the door opened. He kids entered as I raised my bottle holding my people’s salvation high over my head.

  “You got it. I was afraid after Rita stopped limping and blew our cover that you would have run out of time.” Terry began as excitement urged my feet into motion.

  “No, I did it. Everything good now,” I said happily when I began to fall forward without my tail to steady myself.

  “That is great,” Terry agreed when Rita came to my aid holding my forepaws.

  “My mother live and no war.” I continued when Rita laughed stomping her feet as she spun me in a circle. Usually spinning on my hind legs without the aid of my tail would worry me but to my own surprise I created an odd sound that seemed to summarize my joy. My long canines left each other’s company as my vocal cords sang with a meaningless vibration that transcended words.

  Erika’s lips pulled up denting her round cheeks as she watched Rita and me dance about the garage. Terry’s eyes shown with boundless joy, as they traced our movements across the floor.

  We slowed when our joyous calamity left us gasping. Rita released my forepaws as I allowed myself to fall onto my dog bed. The soft form molding enveloped me in the familiar scent of a beloved dog who I believed was named Snickers, which suddenly seemed appropriate for I could not stop laughing. I sat up after the feeling of breathlessness passed.

  “Thank you, you help greatly.” I said as I pulled off my shoes then wiggled my long toes pleased.

  “You are our friend and we want to help you in any way we can.” Terry explained as I pulled down my loose fitting pants, I believe they were called, to reveal my fur covered legs then I quickly untied my tail from my ankle.

  “Yeah, that is what friends do.” Erika agreed as I pulled the thick hooded shirt over my head then peeled off the fabric clinging to my fingers.

  “You accepted me as friend, thank you” I said then yanked the tight fitting covering off my head as the irritating wool dragged across my relatively hairless black skinned face.

  “You are welcome Fluffy,” Rita said handing me the bottle containing my mother’s cure.

  “Thank you I leave now,” I said stuffing my mother’s cure into my pack then walked to the door. Erika watched me with dewy eyes as I opened the door.

  “No, but I don’t want you to go.” Rita yelled as she stomped the ground with her foot.

  “I need return to my people,” I explained as Rita shook her head wildly.

  “No, you can’t leave,” Rita stated firmly with her little fists balled at her side

  “I leave, I must,” I said when Rita’s face scrunched up forming deep folds of smooth skin as she began to yell. She sat on the floor as she thrashed her limbs about in a frenzy of futile movements as if to punish the garage floor.

  “Don’t worry Rita Kyzudo is going to come and visit.” Erika said in a soothing voice as Rita looked to her with damp cheeks and glossy eyes.

  “But I want Fluffy to stay.” Rita said firmly as Erika patted her on the back.

  “But she has to leave,” Erika said as I looked to Rita.

  “Yes but I visit.” I said when Terry walked over to me.

  “So what we just take your word that you will return.” Terry inquired his voice filled with emotion.

  “What?” I asked confused by his tone for Terry is usually the reasonable one.

  “How do we know if we will ever see you again? How do we know you won’t forget about us?” Terry questioned as I searched his pained expression.

  “I return,” I stated simply.

  “How do we know you will even live long enough to visit us? You can’t promise to us that you will return because you don’t know the future. You may die tomorrow then we will never see you again.” Terry continued when I realized that he was afraid of losing me like he lost his Grand Pappy.

  “I must leave, my people need cure.” I explained as water gather in the corners of his eyes.

  “Don’t you think we need you, someone to love us and care for us when everyone else is gone?” Terry said as I turned away unable to look into his saddened eyes.

  “War come and my mother die. Must go,” I said walking out the door knowing time was ticking. The great heavens were overcast with dark masses that drenched the ground.

  “People live and they die. What is the point of forming relationships if all of them must come to an end? Why do we live when our lives serve no purpose?” Terry asked as I growled angrily.

  “Many killed in war must stop.” I yelled as I made my way to the corn.

  “They are going to die anyway. Everyone does eventually.” Terry yelled as I walked across the soggy grass as the heavens leaked drops of moisture like Terry’s eyes.

  “I not allow to die. I leave,” I said firmly.

  “You can’t save them because they are beyond saving. All of them will eventually die. You can’t change their ultimate fate.”

  “I will try.” I said when the dripping masses held back the torrent of water as if stunned into inactivity.

  “There is no point it won’t change anything,” Terry said when I noticed a sprout that his Grand Pappy once planted in the fertile soil that he use to restlessly tend to. He was the cause of its existence. He was the reason that seed flourished when conditions were unfavorable. We affect our surrounding and those around us with our lives and when we die our changes continue to alter the world in which we once lived. We affect the world with the small changes of our lives to satisfy the needs of our love ones. We live in hopes of creating a better world.

  “Our lives our way to recreate world for others.” I stated as Terry stared at me blankly.

  “Grand Pappy changed the world?” he asked wondrously.

  “He in your memories and in his garden so effect still there. Affect always be there to shape future because he lived.
” I explained as he nodded.

  “Thank you Kyzudo,” he said then rushed over to kneel beside me.

  “I will return if not still alive in minds,” I said as Terry wrapped his arms around my neck.

  “We will be waiting for you to return,” Terry muttered as I nodded. He released me when Rita grabbed my med section then began shaking me lightly.

  “I love you Fluffy,” Rita exclaimed when Erika held me with closed eyes as wet tracks flowed down her cheeks.

  “I miss you all and I return soon.” I said when they released me.

  “Farewell Princess Kyzudo,” Erika said as I slipped into the corn patch.

  “Bye bye Fluffy,” Rita called as I headed to the fence.

  “Thank you Kyzudo thank you,” Terry softly uttered as I climbed up the shaky fence. I looked back when I reached the top. I could just see them over the corn.

  “Good bye friends,” I whispered before I leaped down to the sidewalk then followed it home. I ran swiftly knowing that as long as I lived I have the power to change my world for the better, that I have the power recreate my fragile society. As long as I live, the hope of creating a better world would guide my actions that would in turn shape the world around me. As long as I live, I would have the power to change the nature of the world to my liking. As long as I live, the impossible can only be defined as what the current world will not allow, a description of the limitations that we form to excuse our inactivity.

  The Arrival of Change

  I ran down the tunnel knowing each step brought me closer to saving my people and my mother. My feet lightly pushed me forward as my long tail