Search for the Abada Part 1

Part 1: Igniting the Journey

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All of his life, Ibrahim's parents tried to convince him their world was not a magical land with enchanted creatures and mystical secrets. Ibrahim simply would not be convinced, however, even now in his early twenties. Their world was not like the other 9 planets of the solar system, not even the least similar. Anyone who had grown up on one of those worlds would disagree with Ibrahim's parents instantly--Kronos had to be a magical land. The landscape was beyond comparison. Each blade of grass, each flower, each bird looked like it had been hand painted by some renowned artist with too much time on his hands. More vibrant than any of the other planet's surfaces, Kronos was the only place were art grew from the planet's core.  If hand painted landscapes could manifest from invisible hands, anything was possible--even the legends of the mysterious creature said to hide in the forest.

According to legend there were only a few things that distinguished the rare and immortal Abada from the common Okapi that grazed in the plains. The Abada was smaller, like a calf that never grows, and had a long skinny tail with furry white plumage.  The Abada also had horns, tall twisting horns that glittered like crystals in the sun. What was truly special about these elusive creatures was their healing ability. It was said that the horn of an Abada could cure any illness, even old age. Naturally, the sport of hunting Abada had been popular, long ago when it was sensible to believe in such creatures, but in Ibrahim's time, such belief was meant only for children.

Okapi calf

Of course, the combination of Ibrahim's over active imagination and dying mother would only lead Ibrahim to other conclusions. He knew the Abada existed and he was determined to find one. He had read every book there was on the animal and if anyone could find one, he was certain it was himself. He was also certain that if he revealed his intentions to anyone they would think him crazy, possibly have him committed to a rehabilitation center, and scold him for leaving his mother to her deathbed. 

So when darkness fell, Ibrahim gathered his things, tiptoed past his parents room, rushed outside, and gently closed the door behind him, secretly escaping into the night. The night air was warm and sweet with the scent of the night flowers. Only a few of the golden flowers could be found in the city, but just past the city's edge, where the plains met civilization, there were thousands of the small flowers glowing like fireflies. Ibrahim was thankful for their light as he wandered through the tall grass letting his eyes adjust. Above him, were Kronos' two moons, dim but great in size.

It had been a long time since he was a boy running and playing in these fields, but he remembered a trail east of the plains which cut through a forest. No one had ever used that trail to enter the forest, or so his parents claimed. The tall pine-like trees with red berries were not ominous or menacing neither was the path run-down. Yet, it was true that Ibrahim had never seen anyone take it, nor had he spoken with anyone who admitted to entering the woods. Once, when Ibrahim would not drop the topic, his mother said the path led to one of the king's palaces and therefore they were not supposed to venturw there.

If Abada's existed, surely they were hiding somewhere no one ever went, so logically, that path was the first place Ibrahim would look. Today, he was going to find out what was beyond that path.

Continue to Part 2