The Great Lynx

Eloise Combs

Age 8

The Great Lynx

Chapter 1: The World

A lynx named Fireflight sat on a rock and listened to the Wise Baboon tell a story:

A long time ago there was a Great Lynx that created the world. She had a son whose kittens went on to become all the lynxes in all the forests in the whole world. (What a strange thing to have a son who then had all the babies!) Over the years, the Great Lynx’s descendents fought and quarreled with each other, severing their connection to the Great Lynx. These estranged Lynxes lived in fear of the fiery-eyed Basilisk, who was the mortal enemy of the Great Lynx. Only the special few whose hearts beat at the same rhythm of the Great Lynx herself need not fear the serpentine King of Beasts. When the Great Lynx was at a ripe old age, she retreated into the temple that she and the other lynxes had built for each other. It had an arch made out of emeralds, which glinted in the sun. In the place where she died, her blood was absorbed into the walls of pyrite, marble, and amber. Her magical blood nourished a liverwort plant that still grows there to this day and gives powers to descendents of the Great Lynx.

As the Old Baboon finished, a wombat named Eniachia said, “If the liverwort plant gives powers to only the kin of the Great Lynx, how do we find out who is the kin of the Great Lynx? How do we ever find out? It even might be Fireflight here.” Everyone looked at each other thinking the same thing.

“Now everyone, the story is finished. Now go home. Stop staring at me like that,” said the Wise Baboon.

Chapter 2: The Flood

Fireflight thought about the Wise Baboon’s story as she walked home. She settled down and started reading a book called The Story of the Mad Lynx.

Mad Lynx went to the mall and broke everything in his path . . .

She read on . . .

Then, the minister of the mall walked right in front of him. “Mister,” the minister said, “you have caused trouble in this mall, you have to go . . .”

And so on. Then, she got bored and slammed the book shut. She kept thinking about the story that the Old Baboon told them and decided to ask him about it. Then, she realized that she didn’t know where the Old Baboon lived. But lucky her, she knew who to ask. She walked to her friend Xinkia’s house where the bark was smooth and polished, the leaves were soft as fluff, and the moss too was even softer than fluff. When Fireflight rang the doorbell, and Xinkia answered, she said, “Hello Fireflight, I’m surprised to see you here. What do you need?”

Fireflight answered, “Hello Xinkia, I’m looking for a way to Old Baboon’s house.”

“His house? Really? But OK, I’ll tell you the way. So you know where Eniachia lives? Walk north until you see a giant rock shaped like a leaf. That is his home.”

Fireflight said, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” said Xinkia.

So Fireflight used Xinkia’s directions to get there. And when she did, she knocked on the piece of wood that she thought was the door. Then, she heard footsteps. Old Baboon was coming. When he opened the door he grunted. “Why are you here? Go away.” And he slammed the door. Disappointed, Fireflight slouched back to her home thinking: Why is he like that? He’s never mean.

Then, it started to rain.

Chapter 3: Night

Fireflight heard water rushing outside, so she went to investigate. When she did, she had to clasp her mouth mid-scream. Water was outside. A flood. She had to warn everyone, so she shouted as loud as she could . . . “WAKE UP FLOOD OUTSIDE!!!!!!!!!” Her warning worked! Animals woke up and saw the flood outside and kept shouting farther out. “WAKE UP FLOOD OUTSIDE!”

* * *

After a few hours, all the animals were together. They swam together to find a place that the flood did not reach. After it seemed like forever, they found a place where they could get dry. Outside the rainforest, outside their home, outside everything they loved and knew. “Well . . .” said a frightened cub in a shaky voice, “I want to get out of here before a chimera comes.” Everyone laughed because those weren’t real.

Then, a saiga named Iris said, “One of us should go to the temple and ask the Great Lynx for help.”

“But,” said an armadillo named Coccolithophore, “shouldn’t a lynx go because the Great Lynx gives powers only to her kin? And by all we know, one of the lynx might be her kin.”

That cast a pall through the crowd as they remembered Fireflight’s Aunt Atmosphere, who died in a meteor shower. Then, Fireflight had an idea. She got up and wrote to a friend of hers who knew a lot of things.

Dear Nebula, A flood just drove us out of our home, the rainforest. Can you help us? Love from your rainforest friend, Fireflight Once Fireflight finished her letter she sent it away with the fastest messenger bird and went to sleep.

* * *

When Fireflight woke up she found Nebula’s response.

Dear Fireflight, I hope you and your family, and friends survive the storm/flood. There is nothing I can do for you. Just help everyone get through the storm. Love from, Nebula Well that did no use, thought Fireflight. She was hiding something, that was for sure. Well today is the day that they were to select who was going to the temple. Fireflight, in her neatest handwriting, wrote the name of the lynx she thought should go try and save their home:

Sunrise

She folded the leaf with her choice as nicely as she could and sighed, hoping that everyone else would pick Sunrise too . . .

* * *

After everyone submitted their vote, the announcer called the name . . . “FIREFLIGHT!”

Fireflight couldn’t believe that out of the five lynx, it was she who was chosen. She had to set out today for the temple to ask for help from the Great Lynx. As she walked out of the camp, she briefly looked at the rest of the animals. Even though she was afraid, even though she hadn’t wanted to go, even though she was the youngest of all the lynx, she told herself none

of that mattered. The only thing that mattered were the other animals, who were all counting on her. And she set out on the journey.

Chapter 4: The Journey’s Star

So Fireflight had started her journey. When she came to the nearby sea, she said, “Great. I out of all the world, I have to cross this sea.” She had heard about animal-eating sharks, and the story scared her. But she remembered the other animals counting on her, so she started swimming. The current was strong, but Fireflight was stronger. She pushed the current behind. Then, she saw something move. Something dark, something sharp, cutting through the water. A shadow? No. A whale? No. It was . . . a shark!!! And there was something strange about its eyes that reminded her of somthing but what? Fireflight swam as fast as her young legs could carry her. But the shark was faster. Then, a pod of dolphins came by and surrounded her, protecting her from the shark. The angry shark looked left and right, trying to find a way to the petrified lynx, but the dolphins kept her safe. Frustrated, the shark turned and swam away. Phew, Fireflight thought, that was too close. She tried to thank the dolphins, but all that came out were bubbles. The dolphins squeaked and chirped as if they understood, wishing her well on her journey.

* * *

And she had crossed the sea. She laid in the sunshine and fell asleep. Then, when she woke up, she found a letter next to her.

Dear Fireflight, I miss you back home. The water hasn’t gone down yet. I hope you are well. And thank you for choosing me although I didn’t want to go. — Sunrise Fireflight looked at the letter astonished. Who knew she put Sunrise’s name in there? She knew that the only one she told and promised to keep secret was Fuji (another lynx). Maybe she told him, just maybe.

Chapter 5: More Letters!!!

Fireflight was still thinking about Sunrise’s letter. Then, she heard a loud sound coming. And she saw . . . ten birds coming with letters! When the first bird landed, she read the letter.

Dear Fireflight, Things are not going too well at home. Mothers are frantic. From: Juniperberry And she read on . . .

Dear Fireflight, I hope your journey is going well because it’s not going well here. You might already know that—everyone is worried for you. Animals aren’t in line because you are not here. I hope you’re close. Love, Fuji And on . . .

Dear Fireflight, Where are you? I’m lost without you. Give me advice now! I don’t know what to do. Help me! I can’t keep Juniperberry in line. There’s nothing I can do. Everyone’s frantic!!! I can’t go on, I just can’t. Just send me a letter with my questions answered!! Just help me. Love from the rainforest border, Mother

Wow, animals really aren’t in line, thought Fireflight. And all because of me. So she kept reading . . .

Dear Fireflight, I hope this got to you because the good birds were all taken up. I am good if you want to know. I’m sure people told you the animals aren’t in line. But sorry if that annoyed you. From, Tenfit

Dear Fireflight, I’m not so sure you can read this, but if you can, do it. I’m writing this now because you might not be able to read that. Now you already know the news, so I just want you to know that was OK. Love, Grandmother

Dear Fireflight, Here’s the news for today: 11/30/1959 Rainforest News A flood drove us out of our home, and we had to flee. We picked a lynx to go on the journey to the temple and give us advice. Fireflight got the most votes, and she is on the journey right now. We miss her laughter and hope she comes back with good advice. — Rainforest reporter

Yeah we do miss you. Love your news friend, Coco

Dear Fireflight, For me everything’s going well. But the others are frantic. Just some news. — Kinkajou

Dear Fireflight, I’m still learning cursive, so this is different for me. I’m fine of course, and I guess you are too. It is still completely different for me, and I hope you are fine. Love, Batwing

Well things are more different for them than me I guess, Fireflight thought.

Dear Fireflight, It’s me, Moonbow, your little sister. I asked Mother to write this. I hope you are good. Love, Moonbow

Dear Fireflight I hope you are well. I’m just checking on you. —Sevenleaves

Thank goodness all those letters were over, thought Fireflight. I should write to the whole town. And she did. She wrote:

Dear rainforest friends, I’m fine. Thank you so much for your trust in me; it’s what keeps me going. I heard you’re all frantic. Please tell my mother to trust in herself, and she will get things going. OK, that’s all for now, I’ve got to get to the temple. I miss you all and can’t wait to come home! Love from my journey, Fireflight

Now that was the perfect letter for her town, so she sent it off with a messenger bird. Then, she started her journey once again. Then, she saw threetoed footprints! Looking up, past the glorious plummage, she was met by mysterious, ancient eyes that were the color of the sky. She heard a gravelly voice say: “Dost thou seek the temple?”

Fireflight nodded, terrified.

“I shall help you.” Then, the giant bird grasped her gently in her enormous talons, lifted her giant wings, and they flew to the sky.

Chapter 6: The Temple

“Whew, thank you so much! I wouldn’t survive without you! What is your name?” Fireflight asked.

“That is my secret. Now you shall hop inside like those down-underoos.”

“OK, I’ll hop in like those—what did you call them?” Then, Fireflight pranced in and saw . . . flaming red eyes! Then, Fireflight searched her brain for memories. Then it hit her. It was a basilisk, King of Beasts. But wasn’t doing what it was supposed to be doing. Then, it hit her again as she remembered a story from long ago: The Great Lynx and the Basilisk.

A long time ago . . .

The Great Lynx encountered a creature with flaming red eyes that had said, “You have been the hero for a long time. I think it is time for you to step down.” Then, his eyes glowed red. Then, the Basilisk said, “Why aren’t you dying! You’re supposed to die!”

“Oh,” said the Great Lynx. “I can withstand your stare, and my kin are able to too.”

And the basilisk was gone.

But something happened to Fireflight . . . she seized up and everything was black.

Chapter 7: The Great Lynx

After a few hours, Fireflight opened her eyes again. Then, she saw yellow eyes gazing down at her. She didn’t need to ask to know who she was . . . the Great Lynx. And the Great Lynx said in a raspy voice, “Hello Fireflight, you need to know what I’m to tell you. I’ll send you back to the temple after I tell you this story:

“Once I had met this lynx who had pleaded for help from me like you. But instead, he was asking for me to help me with a meteor shower. But I have no power over nature, so I couldn’t help him even though I made nature. He wasn’t my descendant, so he couldn’t get that power. But you, Fireflight, could have that power because you are my descendant, so you will have it. After you defeat the basilisk, you are to touch the liverwort plant to get them.”

And she was back in an instant, facing the basilisk once more. And then she saw a torn-out tooth on the floor and knew what to do. Fireflight seized the fang, and before the basilisk knew what she was doing, Fireflight attacked the basilisk’s heart and it laid on the floor . . . dead. She touched the liverwort plant, and she saw a flash of light, and then she was home with her new powers. All her friends were now shouting, “Fireflight, Fireflight, Firefight!!!” And she really knew she was home.

The End