The very first time I opened my eyes I saw the flickering of flames upon dead wood and heard the booming of the skies.

Truthfully I was scared like any newborn baby, crying upon birth. But something inside me gushed out and forced me to calm down. Is it courage or some other power at work?

The situation I was in was assessed quickly by my newly born consciousness

The place was upon a tree and as inconceivable as it may be, I was a flame. Reality was there and all I can do is to accept it. Rather than dream of what I am not it is better to stay focused on the present.

A flash of light followed by a heavy rumbling sound frightened me.

The frightened I forced myself to burn brighter and stronger, afraid that I would be snuffed out by that phenomenon.

‘Lightning and Thunder’ Two names popped in my mind.

Where the heck did I get this knowledge?

Another lightning and thunder forced me out of my reverie.

I saw the sky full of ominous dark clouds and I felt a sense of danger with it.

All around me was a desolate rugged plain. And I was attached to the lone withered tree which looks like have been split at the center by something.

In here all I can do is to burn, flicker and sway. Can’t move and can’t speak. My thoughts are the only things that accompany me in this lonely plight.

I suddenly caught a movement near the withered tree. On the ground a pointed head appeared it then shown its fork like tongue as if sensing the surroundings.

Its head then stared unto my body. The golden pupils eerily focused on me for a few second.

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I got chills clearly showing that this animal is a vicious and coldblooded predator. After a few seconds, sensing that there is no threat, it burrowed out of the hole and I completely saw its body.

Four small paddle-like limbs, long white scaled body, short tail, transparent scales as eyelids and it moves by slithering instead of using its limbs.

I conclude from who-knows-where-it-came-from knowledge that this creature is a kind of snake.

I just stared at it as it slithered all over the place then I noticed something.

It was night and the moon hung above the sky uncovered by the dark clouds and it was full.

A shadow loomed on the ground as another thunder and lightning occurred.

I glance up and as the lightning flashed I saw a silhouette on the dark moonlit skies.

Then a shrill shriek resounded all over the rugged plain.

The white snake was alarmed and it attempted to go back to its burrow but it was too slow

The gigantic bird swooped down and caught the golden eyed snake and I clearly saw its figure.

The bird was covered with multicoloured feathers that ranged from blue, red, yellow and green. The talons were intimidating to look at because of its menacing sharpness. As for its wingspan, it was a whooping 3 feet in length.

The bird flew away as fast as it came. Just like the testament of life called birth and death.

My first encounter of life and it showed me the nature of predator and prey.

The silhouette of the humungous bird was continuously flying toward distant land and all I can now see is a huge dot on the horizon. A few seconds later the darkness fully engulfed the bird of prey.

Then the heavy down pour came. The sky looked liked it shed tears for the sake of the world. Its sobs were replaced by thunder and its tears nourished the land.

As for me, I lay there dying.

There was no pain only the slight feeling of cold.

I think it is laughable, a fire feeling cold. But I don’t have the mood to laugh on this situation.

Even if there is no pain I still felt the dread of being slowly extinguished.

A hundred curses filled my thoughts. How cruel was fate for killing me the moment I was born.

I noticed that my plight was the same as the bird and snake I saw earlier. Just now the predator is fate while the prey is me.

What did I ever do wrong?

Don’t I deserve to live?

If there is a god out there please tell me why? Please I beg you.

I just stayed there burning, in the tree cursing my fate, no voice of god, only thunder and rain.

Finally the last trace of ember was extinguished by the unceasing downpour.

All of my questions left unanswered and all of my pleas left unheard.