1. The rebellious child

Mango, Togo

In the heart of Mango, where the sun scorched the golden savannah and the winds whispered ancient tales, a unique celebration unfolded. The small town was awash in a sea of vibrant colors and joyful sounds as it was celebrating a wedding – an event that brought together the community in a harmonious blend of tradition and festivity. The air was filled with the melodious chanting of local singers, their voices weaving a tapestry of sound that echoed the song of new beginnings.

Every corner of the town was adorned with decorations. Colorful fabrics draped over the buildings and streets, fluttering gently in the breeze, while flowers of every hue adorned the pathways and doorsteps, their fragrance mingling with the festive air.

Men, women, and children, dressed in their finest traditional attire, gathered around, their faces alight with excitement and happiness. The women's dresses were a riot of colors, with intricate patterns and designs that reflected the rich cultural heritage of the region. The men wore brightly colored tunics and trousers, their outfits complemented by traditional hats and accessories.

The sound of drums and other local instruments added rhythm to the celebration, with musicians playing energetically, their skillful hands coaxing melodies that made it impossible for the onlookers not to sway and dance.

The ceremony itself was a blend of age-old rituals and heartfelt vows, with the elder of the village officiating. The couple stood under the canopy, their hands joined, as the elder recited blessings and prayers, invoking the spirits of the ancestors and the natural world to watch over and protect the newlyweds.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the savannah, the celebration continued.

In the distance, the animals of the savannah seemed to pause and listen to the human celebration, a reminder of the harmony that existed between all living beings.

Amidst the jubilation and festivities of the town, there was one restless soul who found no joy in the celebration. Aja, unlike her kind, was anything but pleased with the ongoing merriment. Her mood was sour, a stark contrast to the cheerful atmosphere surrounding her.

As she was scheming to abruptly appear at the party to instill fear and bring it to a halt, her plan was disrupted by Nosso, the most boring showstopper.

« What are you doing ?” Asked Nosso.

“Hey! You scared me!” Aja startled.

“You are not supposed to be here.”

“Yeah yeah…whatever. Look at them Nosso. Yikes!”

“We must go back…”

“Those useless bipeds are troubling my peace,” Aja replied as she proceeded to come closer to the group of humans.

“I forbid you to take one more step.”

But Aja could not care less.

Aja is the epitome of feline grace and power, her every move exuding confidence and strength. But it was her eyes, intense and burning with a fire that seemed to challenge the very world, that truly set her apart. In those eyes danced a spirit too wild to be tamed, too curious to be contained. Unlike her siblings, who adhered to the natural order of the savannah, Aja hunted for the sheer thrill of it, often venturing into territories she was forbidden to tread. Her hyperactivity was legendary; she thrived on adrenaline, her heart pulsing with the joy of the hunt and the exhilaration of her prowess.

Her latest obsession? Lurking near the human town, a place where her kind was forbidden to hunt. To Aja, this was not about hunger; it was about excitement, about sending shivers down the spines of those she deemed inferior – humans. To Aja, being a leopard was not just an identity – it was a celebration of power, agility, and freedom.

And this is why Nosso knows quite well that the stubborn leopard he raised was no longer listening to him. Therefore, as usual, the old panther with a coat as dark as the night sky decides to inform the only entity that Aja fears enough to respect.

After waiting for the sun to fully set, Aja was subtly crawling and about to debark at the human celebration when a furious roar echoed brutally inside her skull.

It was Kae’s voice. Kae, the spirit of nature resided in a baobab so ancient and vast that it seemed to touch the heavens.

Located six miles away, amid Sadori forest, this tree was the heart of the Savannah Region, its roots delving deep into the earth, its branches stretching wide to embrace the sky. Kae was the guardian, the nurturer, the wise one to whom every creature, from the tiniest insect to the mightiest elephant, from the humblest blade of grass to the loftiest tree, looked up to as a protector.

Therefore, it is with a bit of shame that Aja interrupted her forbidden hunt to head back to Sadori.

Under the starlit sky, Kae's presence was formidable. Her voice, resonating with the wisdom of ages, broke the stillness of the night.

"Aja, where have you been?" She asked, her tone firm yet weary.

Nosso edged away quietly, sensing the gravity of the moment. As Kae spoke, a flurry of Bennett's woodpeckers and Marabou storks took flight from her branches, startled by the rumble of her voice.

"Just wandering around," Aja replied nonchalantly, her eyes flickering with defiance as she glanced at Nosso.

"Care to elaborate? " Kae pressed, her voice betraying a hint of fatigue from their repetitive discussions.

Aja hesitated, then muttered, "It's the humans again...they are loud and weird…they are chanting… They're a disturbance Kae, they shall be stopped…"

Kae sighed deeply. "Not this again… Celebrating a bond between two families is a part of their existence, just as hunting is a part of yours… "

"Don’t you see that they are outgrowing us in numbers and that they are becoming a threat?" Aja persisted; her tone laced with frustration.

"You have barely seen twenty full moons. Humans have been here far longer than you. Aren't you tired of this constant fixation on them?" Kae's words were a mix of admonishment and concern.

Aja’s response was a stubborn "No."

Exasperation crept into Kae's voice. "I, however, am exhausted. We have this conversation every dusk, and it leads us nowhere. This is my last warning…"

Aja opened her mouth to retort, but Kae raised her voice, a rare occurrence. "Enough, Aja! You're blinded by your prejudice against them. I cannot bear another word on this. I have already forbidden you to get out of Sadori. I do not want to talk about Mango’s village with you ever again. Go now. I wish for solitude, free from this endless cycle of grievance."

With those final words, a heavy silence fell over the Forest. The meeting, tense and unresolved, left a ripple of unease in the air. Aja slinked away into the darkness, her rebellious spirit undimmed but momentarily subdued.