Chapter 1:
Finding Home
In the middle of nowhere, far away from your home country, there is a beautiful island. It has lush green forests, peaceful surroundings and, the highlight of the island, a beautiful beach. On this beach lived, by himself, a little Trollan wizard called Orko. He was the only one there since there were no other people living on this island - except for animals like jaguars, toucans and sloths.
Orko loved his life outside in the open, and he couldn’t ask for anything more. Every day, he would float across the beach, admiring what the day brought. He would lie on the sand and watch seagulls circle overhead, or clouds float like giant fluffy carpets over the beach, casting gargantuan shadows over his environment. He slept in a comfy bed of palm leaves in a large cave just near the beach - he couldn’t ask for a better bed. When it was nap time or bedtime, he would snuggle into the leaves and close his eyes. For it was a place where he was free to dream.
He would climb up onto rocks on the cliffs above the beach and let the wind blow his soft, velvety cloak. He would sometimes let the waves splash him if he floated near to the edge of the cliff. The sea was the most important part of Orko’s life there. He would ‘dive’ from rocks and into the deep, inviting water, where he would swim with dolphins and turtles with large shells, look at the ocean’s bed and relax on the top of the water. His ancestors have embraced the ocean for as long as they could remember, and Orko held onto the tradition in his own smooth blue hands. He was in harmony with the ocean. He believed in it and all the creatures that lived there. When he wanted to get dry he would lie in the sand and bask in the warm sun. It was a beautiful day.
However, there was one thing missing from Orko’s life - someone he could share his findings with, his discoveries and happiness. Whenever he felt lonely, he would draw himself on the sand, alongside another Trollan who would be his friend for life. A female Trollan, perhaps, since he was the only Trollan everyone knew.
At night, he lay awake, looking up at the ceiling of the cave, feeling really lonely and empty inside. That particular night, he got out of his cave and went onto the sand to draw himself and the Trollan he desired to be with. When he stared at the Trollan drawn on the sand, he sighed and lay down beside it, feeling like he was the only person who ever existed on Earth.
Suddenly, he heard what sounded like a baby crying. Curiously, he decided to follow the noise. In the distance, he could see a Moses basket washed up on the beach. “Hmmmm…what’s inside?” he asked. He decided to go towards the basket and look in to see. At first he felt very nervous about the crying thing hidden under the blanket, but upon uncovering the blanket, he saw not a Trollan, but something he could not believe.
It was a baby lioness cub, with soft golden fur and little paddy paws. The lioness stopped crying and looked up at the wizard, who stared at her with his mustard yellow eyes. Orko picked up the baby gently and began to cradle her in his arms. At once, the baby began to smile again and snuggle into his chest. Orko felt really warm and at peace with his new friend. “You’re so soft and pretty…” he smiled under his shadowed face. “But what can I name you?” He thought for a moment. Then he had it. “Furaha! It’s a Trollan name for ‘beach child’. Well, I think you’re going to like having me to protect you since you’re washed up on this beach.”
Suddenly, the baby began crying again. Furaha was hungry. “Aaaaaawwww, is baby feeling famished? I know, you can’t eat solid foods yet. Here, let’s find you a shell.” Orko took Furaha all the way to a large pink conch shell which was cleaned out and stuck in the sand. Orko put Furaha onto the ground and brought the shell closer to him. He opened up his sleeve and produced a waterfall of fresh milk from it. It poured like tea from a teapot straight into the shell, then Orko picked up Furaha and said shell. “Go ahead,” he said softly as the baby stopped crying, “Drink up.” Furaha didn’t hesitate. Instantly and slowly she drank the milk bit by bit. “Aaaaawww…” sighed Orko. His heart got warmer and warmer with each sip Furaha took.
At last, feeling full, Furaha yawned and snuggled into Orko’s arms once again. Orko himself felt tired too. The sun was rising in the distance as Orko said to the young cub: “Let’s get you into my cave. I expect you’re tired after your long journey.” Orko took the baby into his cave and settled with her in his arms on his soft, leafy bed. Orko used his magic to conjure up a snuggly blanket big enough for the two of them, and soon both of them were fast asleep deep into the morning, exhausted from their eventful night. Orko had found a friend, and the baby had found someone who could take care of her - a new brother, just for her.
Chapter 2:
Rockpools
Three days later, Furaha had steadily grown adjusted to life with Orko. He took Furaha out of the cave one morning to look at the rockpools near the water. Orko took Furaha to the hugest rockpool, which was his favourite out of all the rockpools he encountered before adopting Furaha. “Look, Furaha,” whispered Orko, pointing to an orange star shape in the water. “That’s a little starfish.” A big starfish, you mean, thought Furaha as she watched it slime across the depths of the pool.
Orko looked at the tallest, hugest rock nearby. “I don’t want to let you climb up there,” warned Orko, “It’s really too high up. Tell you what, I think I’ll play a game with you.” He placed Furaha onto the sand, the rocks surrounding it huge and smooth, and then he floated off behind the rocks. Furaha saw a hermit crab scuttle past her, and swiped at it, causing it to tuttle off. Suddenly, she heard Orko call out in a cheeky way: “Oh Fura-haaaa! Come and find me!” Furaha looked around, and felt a giggle coming on. Orko’s hand poked out from behind the rock, and he said, “Yoohoo!” Furaha first started to giggle quietly. Then Orko peered out from behind each and every rock, calling out peekaboo style phrases to Furaha, who laughed until she couldn’t take any more.
Suddenly, she looked up. In the light of the sun, seagulls scattered in all directions as Orko sat on the tall rock he forbade Furaha from climbing earlier and called down, “I am king of the seagulls! Just you wait until I show you how I can fly!” At once, Orko leapt off the rocks and began circling around baby Furaha, who clapped her paws in glee. Orko began squawking like a seagull as he circled, then he swooped down and grabbed his baby sister. Both of them flew across the beach, Furaha squealing in delight as Orko floated over the entire beach. He threw Furaha up into the sky and caught her again when she fell back down.
Orko couldn’t ‘bare the weight of Furaha’ anymore and fell onto the sand, straight onto his back. Both of them were laughing and squealing in delight as Furaha hugged Orko and gave him a cute little kiss. For the first time ever, Orko felt…loved. “Furaha, I love you so much.” he sighed, and hugged his baby sister softly.
Wandering along the beach, Furaha couldn’t be happier with Orko carrying her on his shoulders as they explored the whole beach together. They had wandered towards a giant archway formed by the forces of nature between two cliffs. “Ooooh,” gasped Orko, “Look at that.” Furaha was amazed! She had never seen anything like that before. Neither had Orko…okay, he had seen it before, but that was a different story.
“Okay, Furaha, hold on tight.” giggled Orko cheekily. He floated very quickly past the arch. Furaha began screaming in joy as Orko screeched to a halt. The two laughed and laughed. “Again?!” teased Orko, and once Furaha nodded, he did it again. “Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!” he cried. Furaha laughed loudly as he went under the archway and emerged, laughing along with her.
Minutes later, Furaha and Orko were lying together on the sand, looking up at the beautiful sky. They were back at the beach near Orko’s cave, where it was safe. “Aaaaaahhhhh…” sighed Orko. “Of all the fun I had, I’m glad I could share it with you. You know, it’s a pity there are no other Trollans on this beach. I’m lucky to have only you by my side.” Orko picked up Furaha and hugged her gently. Furaha felt warm and very grateful. “I think we’ve had enough fun for today. Let’s stop now and rest.”
Furaha and Orko snuggled together on the sand and fell fast asleep, knowing there’ll be better days waiting for them in the future.
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