The Journey of Hope

We walk the endless miles of the ever growing desert

Our homeland of a thousand generations lay in dust behind us

The countless dreams and graves of our ancestors a distant fading memory

But we walk the vast grim wasteland in hope

For even we have heard the legends of the fertile river valley just over the next dune

After years of the death of my people I once again take the lead

For I sense the end to our harrowing journey

Using the last of my might I divine our future home and point the way

We come upon fertile soil and lush vegetation surrounding a powerful and clear river

We are home and it is everything we dreamed

But one last obstacle lays before us

Our new home is not empty

We are silently greeted by a fierce warrior people

The one who leads them the most fierce of all

He is like I, but strong where I am weak

We are not warriors

We have no hope, no chance... but one

I walk forward to meet this one like I

My people tremble behind me, all their hopes lay on my shoulders

I stand face to face, eye to eye with this powerful silent one

I am weak, I am afraid but I step forward, fall to my knees and offer my throat

My last hope, our last hope

My people shriek in terror as the fierce one leaps upon me and closes his jaws around my offering biting down firmly

I await the expected pain and death but only a single drop of blood is shed from my throat

I look up into the eyes of the great warrior

Only then do I see the desperation in his eyes fading into relief

My people cheer as I take the offered hand and am pulled into his embrace

Clinging to my new ally tightly I sob into his white fur

I have not failed, we have not failed

We are home

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Sometimes we are at our bravest and strongest when we are at our weakest and most desperate hour...