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They came closer to us now. The creatures would come at dusk and
scare off my friends and continue to destroy the forest below us. My
sister and I devised a plan. And no matter what I had to say her
execution of the plan was to leave me back in the safer zone of the
forest while she would go out and defend me. I could never let that
happen. But my siter like me was stubborn and her only intention and
sole existence was to keep me safe.

Suddenly, the thuds became excruciatingly louder and overwhelmed me.
They are coming. They are on their way now. Lights flashed in a distance
and boiling fire followed their silhouette whilst they stomped their way
towards my home. What was happening? I did nothing to them. We did
nothing to them. Why were they doing this to us? My sister bolted up
alarmed. She gazed at me one last time with grave fear and warning in
her eyes and ran out to the open where she fought for me. Every
muscle in my body wanted to follow her lead but I was suddenly
paralyzed. My body shook towards the ground and fastened itself
towards the earth. I wailed in sadness as time passed. Finally, when the
thuds stopped. I crept out into the open, my ears flashing upward but
there was no trace of her or the beasts either. I wept for her in agony
and searched every inch of the jungle for her but the forest felt emptier
now.

At dawn I would wait for her every day to greet me and come back to
me but she was never there. My sister would often tell me that we were
the last of our kind but I never understood what that meant until now.
Even though she is no longer with me I will live for her and my family and
do whatever it takes to find them again. She’s out there. I just know it.
And one day we will meet and I will avenge her. They are all out there. I
just know it. I clung to her favorite snack and awaited her return at our
spot while sprinkles of flowers rained down on my head.

-Kimaya Wijesuriya