Imagine, just for a moment, a cold, peaceful evening. The wind is blowing, and you can hear leaves rustling in the distance. You listen a bit closer, and you hear what sounds like water flowing along, undisturbed by time. You take a minute to breathe in the fresh air, and feel tension leave you almost immediately.

You feel thirsty, so you decide to wander around, looking for that water. After some searching, you find it. It's beautiful, and pristine. It's like something out of a dream. You crouch next to the stream, cup some water into your hands, and drink. It's cold and refreshing. You smile.

After having your fill of water, you sit for a moment, and enjoy the evening a bit more. You playfully pull a few blades of grass from the bank of the stream, and twirl it around in your hands. Then, for reasons you can't explain, you spontaneously jump up, hop in the stream, and splash around, like a child who hasn't truly lived in a long time. It's a wonderful feeling, and you love every second!


Suddenly, you hear a loud noise in the distance.

BOOM.

A few moments pass, then you hear it again.

BOOM.

You slowly get out of the stream. You keep quiet, though...for some reason, you don't want to be heard.

It's a feeling deep inside that instigates this great care you are now taking. It's a feeling you have experienced before.

Fear.

You carefully and quietly walk towards the direction that noise came from. Then, as if on cue, it announces its presence again.

BOOM.

Curiosity is clouding your judgement. You want to run the other way, but you are dying to know what this sound is. For all you know, you are inching ever closer to your doom. But you don't care. It's a new sound, and you must know what it is.

BOOM.

It's very close, now.

At last, you come to a ledge. You know it's down in the gorge below. You can sense the difference in the air here...it's thicker. Something feels wrong. Something feels very wrong. You begin to feel sick, but you can't fight the feeling that is deep inside of you. The desire to discover what it is that has invaded your peace.

You gather your bravery, take a deep breath, and look.



What you see will change your life forever.

Down below, you see things that you have never seen in your life. Lots of shiny things move about, very quickly, as if they are in a hurry to get to where they are going. Fire flies? No, they couldn't be. They're only small from this distance. They would have to be....at least 5 times your size, up close! These things are moving to and fro, as if they have purpose. All around them are strange mountains, except...not natural. They are shiny and reflective, like the water's surface...but they didn't seem like anything the Earth would make. They are...too perfect.
After studying the patterns of all the lights, you decide you had better back away. You have a bad feeling inside, one that is almost screaming at you to get away. You listen, for the first time all evening.
Suddenly, bright lights, at least 100 times brighter than the Moon, shine in your eyes. You back away in pain, unable to see for a moment. The lights make a loud sound at you, as if yelling at you to get out of their way. The sound is unlike anything you have ever heard before.

A terrible pain hits you. You're overwhelmed by it, and you scream. An incredible force throws you to the ground, before you can even react. You then realize that your legs are broken. You also find it hard to breathe.

You're hurt bad.

The lights, and the sound that accompanied them, keep on going, unfazed by their attack against you. You sense this, even though you're unable to move, and you are facing away from them. What could do this to someone? Is there such a horrible creature in existence?

You begin to cry, because you are in incredible pain. You cry harder than you have ever cried in your life....and the sadness of dying alone makes it even worse.


You're going to die, and you can't say goodbye to anyone you love.



In the last few moments of your life, you think back to the river. To the trees. To how wonderful life was, before the light did this to you.

You wish there was a way to warn all of your loved ones....warn them of the dangerous light.
-------------

(Summary)
I'd like to dedicate this piece to all the Wildlife(plants and animals alike) that have suffered, and even died, due to our stupidity, cruelty, and selfishness. Deep in my heart, the only thing I respect is Nature. If it could even begin to undo the extremely heavy damage done to our wild brethren, I would dedicate the rest of my life to helping them, and giving them the life they deserve.
The life we took from them.

(Image Info)
Drawn by hand on my Wacom Tablet, in Photoshop 7.
Total time: 1-2 hours, estimated.
References: A recent pic of me, in a similar pose.
The image is simple, but I feel it is effective in portraying my feelings.


-For those of you who actually read everything, I am grateful. I cannot express how much I appreciate those of you who actually read what I had to say, and(hopefully)have something to say in return. May Nature be with you always, and guide you, as it has guided me during troubled times.