THE NEW WORLD

CHAPTER ONE:MONKEYS AND BIRDS

The first thing I can remember is falling. I fall and fall for many minutes, almost as if everything happens in slow motion. I do not know how high I must have fell but it felt like I had been on top of a mountain. Finally when I hit the ground I see a blur of green and blue. My body aches for a minute before I feel nothing. One hand extended towards the sky, reaching out. Muffled yells and screams echo in my ears. Then the image fades and I am left in complete confusion and darkness.

Suddenly I snap awake. Looking around, it is still dark outside, the moon shines brightly amid the many stars. I shiver as a chill runs down my spine. It is a cold night. I begin to raise from my familiar bed made of fur layered under me. Slight tapping can be heard as rain lightly falls onto the canopy's roof. Wooden branches gently stab at my feet as I make my way to the narrow opening some would describe as a front door. To my left I past by Hisa sleeping peacefully, thick orange fur covers her arms, face and legs making a good blanket of heat for her and Sol. Sol is Hisa's youngest daughter, only 2 years of age and therefore attached to her mother's side at all times of the day. Young children stay with their mothers here until they reach ten years of age, at this age they are considered independent and are free to do as they please. Hisa's a brave protecter of her family, I thank the universe everyday for the kindness and protection she has gifted me over the years.

I slide out of the canopy, my wings or what is left of them slightly snag on protruding twigs from the narrow archway. Hair also gets stuck and snaps off as I finally make my way out. Stepping onto the thick, wet brunch beneath me. I hold onto the archway for support with one hand, while the other reaches out towards he sky enjoying the sensation of rain dripping down onto my face and hand, running from my hand to the base of my elbow and below.

I take deep breaths in throw my nose, a swift of damp leaves and dirt hits my senses. I decide to head towards the wooden platform ahead of me, careful not to fall down as I jump between wet slippery branches. Finally reaching the platform I use the rain water collected in woven buckets to clean the dirt from my face, arms, legs and feet. Using my fingers to comb water through my disheveled brown hair unable to get rid of all the knots formed from years of neglect. Giving up I grab a young steam from the tree which holds up the small platform, I use this to tie my messy hair behind my head.

I embrace the cold as a gust of wind passes by, the rain drops slowing down. The thin layer of hair covering my arms and legs do not help much to reserve my body heat. I imagine my old feathered wings could have helped to protect me against the weather however all that remains of the are four small stumps of dirty brown feather's protruding from my back. Broken and weak just like the person they belong to. My current primate family have theorised that I must have belonged to a family of birds many years ago. However many members of the community still gaze in wonder at them, having never seen wings quite like mine from their fellow bird allies. Once they had oftener me to these birds in hopes of returning me to my family however, the birds did not claim me as theirs and it was decided that I would be safer amongst the trees. With primates who could teach me how to survive by climbing instead of flying since my wings were rendered useless now.

Sometimes I longed to remember my past, to try and figure out who I was and who my family was. But considering they never came looking for me left me feeling as though this may had been for the best. At least in the trees I belong to a community of apes that respects and protects me as if I was one of them all along.

A sound of twigs snapping surprises me, sending me straight back to reality. Alert I quickly turn towards the sound only to spot a lanky, cheeky lad a few years younger than me with black fur and grey eyes that peaked at my own green eyes before he smiled.

"What are you doing up so late?" Simon questioned me quietly, his hand like feet gripped hold of the breaches beneath him as he climbed over to the small platform I sat on with ease. Taking a seat not too far away from me on the platform.