(A fictional story by Zachary. The assignment was to write a story about an animal that helped a man.)
Janyang swept across the plains of North America, the foothills of the Rockies on his left, and the endless plains stretching far to his right, stretching out of sight. With his spear pointed forward, he slowed when he heard a herd of pigs approaching. The herd turned away when they saw him, but one of the curious younger ones continued on, and brushed against Janyang’s legs, before trotting back toward it’s herd. However, the young rogue had human scent on him now, and when he came to the other pigs, they snarled and kicked him away. Janyang had crept along behind the rogue, and now he intervened, protecting the poor little pig with his spear. The other pigs paused, and, after a moment’s hesitation, trotted away. As it was getting near dinner, he decided not to give chase, and turned toward the hills. He walked in that direction for a while, his tribe’s camp being under and around a rocky outcropping. Lost in thought about the strange pig’s behavior, he did not hear the threatening rattle of the coiled rattlesnake lying on the ground. He was only aware of it’s presence when it had jumped and was rearing up at him. He stopped and stared, terrified, at the snake about to bite him. He knew it was already over. He shouted, but to no avail. It was now a foot from his bare leg, when suddenly it had fallen to the ground, and was writhing in agony. Janyang looked and saw that the rogue pig had bitten it and killed it without fear. Janyang realized that it had a resistance to snake venom. From then on, Janyang and Mathnea (which means ‘deserter’) would always be together, Mathmea protecting Janyang while Janyang hunted and fed him. It was an advantageous relationship for both of them.
The End.
