Jack and the Great Cliff

Jack and the Great Cliff

By

D.E. Quirino

PUBLISHED BY:

D.E. Quirino on Smashwords

Jack and the Great Cliff

Copyright © 2011 by D.E. Quirino

I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

The sun barely hung in the horizon and with enough glow to warm the bearberry just springing to life. The colors of pink and white lost in the vast bold evergreen willows and heaths. And everywhere else tucked here and there the tall grasses were boldly joining in welcoming the suns warmth.

Pushing aside the vegetation Jack looked out into the horizon. It was a glorious day and concentrating on his job was rather difficult. With a minor annoyance from the black flies he waved them aside as he continued to part the grass. But he could not go on as the sun’s golden light reflected in his eyes.

Not only did it illuminate the land but his imagination. Still as he looked into the horizon he pondered. A strange animal he appeared to be as he stared for animals do not wonder about the sun, or anything that they know nothing about; especially lemmings.

Jack sighed, looked down at his bag and remembered his task. His task was not difficult or unpleasant; in fact he loved what he did. Jack just felt that he must have another purpose in life. But at the moment he had no idea what it could be.

He decided that he had better concentrate on his job. He was searching for something. He searched through the tall grass that glistened in the light.

He was delighted in taking in the aromas that were carried by the steady breezes. Spreading the tall grass apart, he then let his tiny moist nose drop to the ground to scour it ever so closely. He was in fact certain he would find exactly what he was searching for. It grew close to the ground and its pleasant aroma tickled his senses.

Clover, Jack said with excitement as he quickly scooped it into his paws. It was just enough to stuff his little collecting bag full. Jack smiled at himself and patted the bag on one side. He looked around where the patch of clover had been just in case he missed any of it.

Jack proudly looked at his bag of woven grass. He stuck his nose inside the bag and took a deep whiff. He then set it on a large stone nearby. He seemed quite satisfied with its contents and could not help but to smile. For now he was done for the day, Jack’s main job was to gather his favorite food; clover that grew all over the northern fields. But he felt this couldn’t possibly be his main purpose in life.

When he was done foraging he could do whatever he pleased. So, Jack sat next to his bag, contemplating on what to do for the rest of the day. And then he decided to look inside the bag once more and take another huge whiff. With the way he carried on one would have thought he carried the world in that woven bag.

Jack sighed and looked out onto the terrain. Large moss rocks dotted the land providing an anchor for the heath to crawl upon. The myriad of green hues was vast throughout the never- ending landscape. Jack was so thankful that the world was renewing itself quite rapidly and splendidly.

The wind whistling through the tall grass was always a joy to hear. It meant that summer was definitely on its way. Spring was seeing its last days and as usual would not leave quietly. Everything seemed to shimmer and sway as if enjoying the warmth provided by the sun. The world had color again and Jack was glad it did.

The remnants of winter were finally gone. Of course it took just about all of spring to finally rid the land of it. Jack was not entirely against winter but enjoyed the summer months so much more. He had a little more freedom in the summer time to go where ever he pleased, as long as he stayed within the northern lands for it was dangerous beyond. Over the winter the frozen land made it difficult to venture too far from the burrow and the constant darkness hid many dangers.

Sure they could explore the harsh winter terrain because lemmings do not hibernate. Lemmings of the northern clan prefer to gather as much of their favorite food as possible and ride the winter inside their warm burrow, far, far, below the ground. Jack thought the lemmings of the northern clan were brilliant for storing clover and grass. No lemming wanted to scrape through snow and ice for lifeless vegetation. They only had to make it through winter with what they gathered; it was no impossible feat. They had managed to live like this before Jack, before his father, and before his father’s father.

Jack was content at the moment for he took pride in his job as a top forager for the clan. He had a knack for finding clover. He could locate it with his eyes closed as he quite fancied himself doing. Lemmings, he thought, are very special creatures and he was blessed to be in the greatest clan of all. Going out and doing his job as early as possible was his goal. It meant finishing early and having the rest of the day for him.

The other foragers preferred to go out later in the morning; they were in no hurry because they had all of summer to collect enough food for the winter. Gathering and frolicking in the sun was how most lemmings spent their days.

Jack was so grateful that he belonged to the northern clan. They lived so far north that predators were almost unheard of. Because of their ingenious way of storing, no one had to be out foraging in the winter months, so gradually the predators went south where their prey could be easily obtained. Jack loved the burrow and how it constantly remained warm and inviting. In fact he believed the lemmings of the northern clan lived in an almost perfect society.

‘Almost perfect’ thought Jack. Jack frowned at the thought. He would have said perfect but there was something in the back of his mind that prevented him from saying such. Jack didn’t want to delve much into the matter so with his teeth he clenched his little make- shift bag and headed for the burrow.

Jack was a bit pudgy but not as round as other less-gifted lemmings whose only job was to stay around the burrow and warn of any predators. To Jack this was an indication that they lacked the skill in the art of foraging because predators were unheard of. What were they guarding against? Birds hardly fly in the skies above the burrow. No matter, he thought, he and the other foragers could gather enough for the clan.

Jack knew he was done and of course now he had time to start exploring. In his mind Jack wished he could explore outside the northern lands, but the elders prohibited it.

The elders were the lemmings that governed the clan. Jack and the other lemmings were not allowed to go beyond the northern land territories. It wasn’t to keep them confined, it was for their protection. Predators existed outside the borders. Jack’s clan had managed to live successfully in peace without the threat of any outsiders. And it was all because of the elders. The elders kept the peace amongst the lemmings. Jack shuddered at the thought of not having the elders around. He could picture unrelenting predators pouring into the northern lands.

Jack wondered how the elders were able to keep everything in the perfect state that it is. Maybe they were just lucky to live so far north or maybe that was the elder’s purpose. At least they had a purpose and Jack once again did not want to think about the elders. He thought that foraging alone was beginning to get to him, and next time he would bring a companion along to keep him company and his mind from wondering.

Jack was unusual in that aspect. He foraged alone while most of the other lemmings foraged in large groups. Lemmings do everything as one. Many thought it strange that Jack was so independent. Truthfully Jack did feel independent but he would never leave the burrow. He loved his life in the northern clan very much so and would never leave even if he could explore beyond the borders.

Since Jack was done gathering he decided to start his exploration of the northern lands after he dropped off his load. As Jack scurried home with the bag full of clover hanging from his mouth, something caught the corner of his eye. It was movement in the hillocks nearby.

He thought surely he was the only one out this early, not one lemming ever came out as early as he. He cracked a smile thinking someone else caught on to his idea of early foraging and possibly outdo Jack in the process. Lemmings were not very competitive but they were all competitive for the elder’s attention only. They were always grouped together and if one wanted to stand out it needed to go above and beyond.

The only reason one would be so competitive was to hopefully gain early entrance into the Great Prairie. That was always their goal in life. If one was granted permission, then their final days with the clan were spent in frivolity which resulted in poor job duties. So, it was their right, the lucky lemming had worked incredibly hard to gain entrance.

To reach the Great Prairie meant that one would leave the northern lands for good and never to return. The Great Prairie was always warm and definitely no more winter. It would always be truly warm with short nights. Clover grew in abundance along with the grasses they enjoyed so much. Predators although hardly seen in the northern lands, certainly did not exist in the Great Prairie. But the thing that all lemmings look forward to is reuniting with loved ones. Jack would see his father again, and his grandfather that he never knew.

Jack wondered who could be out and about so early. He decided to approach the lemming. He thought he would sneak up on the fellow and hopefully give him a start. Jack was so smug he thought his idea was brilliant. He gently set his bag down and dropped low to the ground. He wondered if it was Fritz, Fritz was always trying to outdo him. The two constantly competed for the position as top forager. He quietly giggled, he was almost certain that it was Fritz. He thought ‘poor fool, is he in for a surprise’.

The tall grass prevented Jack from seeing clearly what he was approaching. When he was nearly on top of his quarry, pushing aside the grass and sending a flurry of flies into the air he froze in place.

Looking right at him was a creature from the stories of his memories. They were not meant to entertain but to strike fear in the heart of a young lemming. The thing he saw was absolutely hideous; it looked at Jack with a crazed look in its eyes. Jack just knew that it was ready to pounce and devour every bit of fur and bone. Jack could do no more than to await his fate; he was so blind to think that his clan was threat free. But right in front of him was the evidence to his ultimate and untimely end.

Jack closed his eyes and hoped that it would end soon and painlessly. He began to wonder why nothing was happening. He squeezed his eyes all the more tighter and waited. Nothing happened. He opened one eye and looked at the immense creature before him. But it cocked its head in wonder; Jack also wondered what it was. He finally opened both eyes and looked directly in the eyes of the creature. It took Jack a moment to realize that what he was looking at was a great big bird.

Are you not going to eat me? Jack asked cowering.

I don’t think so. I don’t eat rodents you see, the bird replied nonchalantly. He continued to stare Jack down, and kept cocking his head left and right as if he had never seen a lemming. Besides the buzzing of the black flies, Jacks heart thudding against his chest was definitely clear.

The bird stared a few more moments then agitated by the flies lost interest in Jack.

Are you not going to eat me? Jack asked uncomfortable now instead of frightened.

The