The Flames Down Under

Welcome back reader.

Since I last checked in with you, I took my time to explore this world and the various landscapes, organisms, and phenomena that come with it. I flew far and wide, across oceans and valleys, over mountains and through passes. This planet, this Earth is truly beautiful. However, it was during these travels that I encountered something rather… disheartening.

As I soared through the clouds, the air started to feel heavy. The white wisps of vapor I was surrounded by started to melt into an ugly grey color, until the last traces of white were completely masked by plumes of charcoal smoke. At first I thought it to by my own senses deceiving me. The sun was starting to disappear, after all. Perhaps it was simply a trick the darkness of night was playing on me. Unsettled, I dove to free myself of the cloak of smoke filling the atmosphere. But, as I lost altitude and broke free of the smoke screen, I saw a sight I would never forget.

Below me floated a land mass these humans refer to as “continents”. What set it apart however, were the orange glowing flames engulfing the landscape. Everywhere I looked, I was met with the same raging inferno, jumping from bush to bush, tree to tree. Screams, both human and animal, filled the air as they fled their homes from the onslaught of heat surrounding them. The stench of burning flesh started to rise as those unfortunate enough to be caught by the flames burned in agony. Valiant human warriors, the ones called “firefighters”, arrived to combat the flames, but for the most part their efforts were to no avail. The most they could do was to add to the rescue efforts underway, saving every living being possible from a fiery end. Now, I am not a stranger to death and destruction; in fact, I would consider myself somewhat of a veteran when they come to question. But even my familiarity with such anguish could not stop me from being deeply disturbed by what I saw. Such pain and loss. I can still feel it myself.

The days following my encounter with this land of fire, I began to do my own research on the situation. Through observation and eavesdropping of human interactions and television system programming, I learned that this land was known as Australia, a land of wilderness and beauty unparalleled, with the fires being a product of strong wind currents, intense heats and crippling droughts. In the face of this tragedy however, I saw resilience that reminded me of my own purpose here on this planet; I saw this world’s ability to come together in times of need – something mines is seemingly incapable of. Nations, individuals, and organizations of all sorts, from all over this globe poured emotions, resources, funds, and prayers into relief efforts towards the people of Australia, in efforts to help them recover from their ordeals. Being from the environment I was raised in, this left my speechless. How was it that these humans, all part of their own clans, were able to put their differences aside with no question, and willingly aid their kind with no return of their own? It seems I am on the right planet after all. There is much my kind can learn from these small, yet powerful, beings.