Fallen Warrior

Naomi Schultz was an almost-14-year-old who loved animals and birds of all kinds.

She was always seen feeding strays or hanging bird feeders around her neighborhood, Raven Bay. Raven bay was a small locality in the heart of the town. Naomi had moved there when she was eight. It had all amenities and the folks were kind-hearted and welcoming, but there was one problem. The society in which she lived did not allow pets. And each day on her way home from school, the big sign near the front gate saying "No Pets Allowed" stared back tauntingly at her.

Naomi had asked her parents several times to move to another apartment, but all her efforts were in vain. Her mother, Sonia, told her each time that their neighborhood was in the heart of town which meant that they were near to all the important places like the grocery store, the mall, the gym, the Doctor's and the bookstore. This just added to Noami's normal teenager problems, what with (seemingly) unsupportive parents and not-so-loyal friends.

So Naomi had found solace in the only other place that allowed her to be near animals: Raven Bay Zoo.

She volunteered at the zoo every weekend and on vacation. The zoo wasn't a big one and didn't have exotic and tropical animals but here it was like heaven. And it wasn't just Naomi who loved animals,the animals loved her back too.No one could explain it, but any animal ,big or small would take just one look at her and wag its tail in appreciation and admiration. It would let Naomi pet it and feed it, even though it wouldn't allow anyone to come within five feet of it. Anyone who watched her with animals was always enthralled. Some claimed it was a magical experience. But Naomi was always modest and kind towards others. But this unique talent was not appreciated by everyone. Some were jealous of her, some wary. Soon some ridiculous stories rumors had spread about her. Some said she was a witch. Others said that she had been cursed. Naomi learned not to be affected and take those stories seriously. But it hurt. Hurt to know that doing something that was so special to her and bought happiness to so many around her was being used against her. But she bore it patiently. She never blamed anyone. She went about her work, smiling and happy and carefree. No one would have believed what was to happen to this sweet, innocent girl that would change her fate.

And so Naomi was some-what happy in Raven Bay and did not think that anything would change. Little did she know how very wrong she was.......

A few days later, as she arrived for volunteering at the zoo, a cold feeling, almost like a warning, overtook her. The ravens in the aviary were cawing loudly, which according to her Nani was a bad omen, especially on a Saturday (She herself didn't believe such superstitions, but she agreed that the day had a gloominess about it.). She fed the animals as usual and tired from all the work went to the office to ask for a break. Her good friend Aru, who also volunteered at times, was there. Aru was a quiet girl, never really talked much. But once you got it to know her, she was actually fun and really kind to a fault.

"Hey."

"Hi, Naomi. Come for a break?"

"Yeah. Working with animals is fun but tiring. Especially with the fighting tigresses."

"I hear ya. They still haven't found a solution for that yet. Budget problems or something."

"Okay. Let me know if you need anything. I'm taking my break now."

As she left the building, humming Fall Out Boy under her breath, a sharp high-pitched ringing broke her out her reverie. Recognizing it immediately as the fire alarm, Naomi ran as fast as she could towards the zoo. As millions of thoughts raced in her head, the one that really mattered etched in her mind :

The animals. I have to save them. They're my only solace. I can't lose them too. Please. Not my animals. Please.

******

She didn't remember much after hearing the alarm. She didn't remember running back to the zoo. She didn't remember rushing past the shouting firemen towards the reserves. All she could remember were the screams. The burning trees. The smoke. The ash. The raging fire, rising above everything and destroying everything that mattered to her, her solace.

******

"She's starting to wake up."

A murmur of hushed whispers broke out.

Naomi stirred. She tried to open her eyes but it was as if they were sewn together.

"Don't do that, my dear. ", the voice said again.

"Where am I ?", Naomi asked, feeling a bit helpless.

"In the ER, sweetie."

"But...the animals..the fire..wh-what happened?"

"You saved them all. Every single one of the animals is fine."

"I..I really did all that?"

"Yes, dear"

A sudden thought struck her.

"Ma'am?"

"Yes?"

"What day is it?"

"Monday."

"You mean I've been here for 2 days?"

"No. You've been here for two months."

*********

When she awoke again, Naomi was feeling a bit stronger. She could open her eyes.

As the days passed, Naomi got better. She would still have some scars, but the nurses told her they were battle scars, fit for the warrior that she was.

A few months later, Naomi was released from the hospital. Her parents and many of the locals had come to great her. It was a joyous occasion and it seemed that the crowd was trying to tell the world that their hero was back.

Hidden away from all the commotion, the Head Doctor and the nurse were communicating in low voices.

"She deserves to know, doctor."

"No, she must never come to know. It would be too traumatic for the girl."

"But she is strong, sir."

"No. No one is strong enough to accept that."

In the Raven Bay cemetery, the next day there was a hushed-up funeral for the fallen warrior, Aru Shah. The tombstone said:

Here lies A.S,

A brave friend and sister, who gave her life to a friend

Who she believed deserved better than life had treated

them......

She will be deeply missed.