A Conversation Between a Man and a Lion

A lion's roar travelled through unfamiliar scenery. In the golden age one would expect a lion’s roar to be restricted to Africa, but that was a long time ago. The monstrous deep green pines shivered unyielding as the sound waves emitted from the jaws of the king passed in-between the thin branches. This was not their true king for he belonged to the jungle, not a forest. But that was a long time ago.

Another former creature of the jungle was walking carefully over the forest floor to the clearing beyond, the crunch of the leaves making his presence known. The clearing was small and entirely enclosed within the forest. The centerpiece of the clearing was a black rock shaped like none seen by the creature. This rock held the lion.

The moon made the lion look almost beautiful than human instinct kicked in allowing the human to see what was really in front of him. Death.

"My sisters tell me you want my help.” The lion whispered loud enough for all to hear.

Even though this human was born far after the fall of the golden age of mankind, always knowing animals being able to talk, as he watched he felt sick. There was a part of him that thought this was a dream. Life had taught him otherwise.

"Greetings mighty king. My name is…" The human started.

"Do not waste my time with human hearsay." The lion interrupted arising to his full stance. "I care nothing for your name, I care only for how much meat is on your bones."

"I’m sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, king of the jungle. “He said, bowing.

When he lifted his head back up it was met with a wet nose.

When the lion was far away he looked no different to the lions he saw in the books of old. Now that he was face to face he could see that more than their brains had changed. His mouth was almost as human as the one two centimeters away from him. The only difference was his mouth was shaped to accommodate the teeth that he could now see very clearly as they were barred, even more so with each passing second.

"You won’t walk away from here alive.” He said almost laughing. “You know that… so why did you come here?"

"Every time one of my people comes in here they die and as a result everyone else is dying as well. I have children…please.” The human whimpered.

"I will never understand why humans love their children more than their race. If mother took my son, it was meant. He will then become someone else’s son until mother takes him again. So do not use that to beg my sympathy.” He said turning back and jumping bag to his rock. “What do you need from the forest that you cannot acquire in the grounds we have allowed you sanctuary?"

"Meat.” He said attempting to reaffirm his dominance.

"Monkeys do not eat meat."

There was an unsettling pause.

"Why won’t you share? “He said, instantly regretting his words as he saw the lion’s eyes.

"A human comes to a lion asking why he will not share…” The lion scoffed. “When have humans ever shared? If the virus that was the human race wasn't practically destroyed, there would be nothing left to share. If mother hadn’t given every creature the gift she wasted on humans, there would be nothing. You almost destroyed our home."

On the 1st January 2800 all ‘human’ activity stopped. The year before this everything was the best it had ever been, as far as the humans could see. Technology had advanced far beyond what anyone had ever imagined. There was peace. Not a single war or conflict between countries or individuals ever occurred — as everyone could have whatever they wanted at a single thought. Literally.

During that time, the vast majority of the human race slept. Not as they had done at night, but attached to a machine. They could make the world how they wanted it — all with their mind and a fancy computer. Eventually people wouldn’t want to go come back into reality, because why would they? Anything they could ever want was a flick of a switch away, but it was all fake.

The elite circle of humans knew it wouldn’t last long. That was part of the reason they released the technology that would lull the entire population into a slumber of false content. Of course there were a few who wouldn’t use the technology. They would live very lonely lives, but their gift emerged as survival, when it finally came to an end.

Millions of people were thrust into reality at once and the peace ended. There was no money in the world anymore, as it had been all digitized, as had most ‘human necessity.' Food wasn’t grown in the golden age, it was built by machines, transported by machines, and digested through machines.

While the humans had slept, every other animal took the opportunity to awaken. If you were to ask a human, they would call it evolution, if you were to ask any other species, they would call it ‘Mother's gift.'

Although with their newfound intellect, animals could never fully grasp human conversation. When they say mother, they do not mean the thing that gave birth to them, they refer to something greater. Some humans theorize that they refer to the earth itself, others state it is their deity but most suspect that it is both.

“I did nothing!” The human pled. “I was born after the many mistakes of my people. All I have known is the life where humans are at the bottom.”

“Mistake implies it was done by accident. Every human made this happen and would again if everyone else never kept you under control.” He said.

“How is that true? The few of us that are left have learned our lesson.” The human said.

“You can’t unlearn your genetics. I will crave meat for I am I lion. Humans will always crave everything because they are greedy, before anything else.” He said.

“What is wrong with wanting it all? That’s how we came so far.” The human said, smiling proudly.

“If you take it all, there is nothing for anyone else. I could have anything I wanted for I am king, but I take what I need. As does everyone else bar your filth.” He snarled.

The human went to speak but held back. Another silence broke over them.

“I’ll do something for you? Anything!” The human offered.

“What could you do for me? Give me a jumper or two? A trim?” he chuckled.

“I can teach you something, anything you want.” The human said stepping closer.

“So I can impress every other living thing. I am happy for what I am. I have learned all I need to survive. I know what makes me happy and I care not of what other things may think of me.” He said stepping down from the rock once more. “Now Human, you have kept me amused, but my stomach is no longer full.”

“Please, my people need me.” The human said dumbstruck and trembling.

“Your people will die shortly after you, by coming here you have proven humans will never learn. We have given you all that you need yet you still come to me asking for more. Not even more. ‘Meat’, something you do not need, but want.” He hissed.

“On second thought, I may let you live...”

The human's face lit up. For the last six seconds of his life he was happy.

Lions may have changed a lot, but one thing about cats will never change: they like to play with their food.

The End…

For humans.