I was running through the deep canyons in search of food and water. It was one of the first warm nights and the currents through the canyons would shift as I came closer to the sea. Solitary as always, I followed the scent of a small animal . . . perhaps a small dog. Exhilarating in new territory but always keeping the scent of where I had been to return by dawn. I must have run too far. Suddenly I couldn't quite feel the ocean and the streets were paved. There were tall, concrete walls around. I began to lose my way. I saw a wall of some sort, could have been as high as a boulder. I jumped, barely hanging to the rim as I muscled my way up. I was teetering on the rim so I had to land below on the other side. Panicked now. I am enclosed. I cannot get out. I attempt to jump the wall again but it is too high, losing energy. I start stalking. I cry out for help, out of fear, out of panic. Father sun is rising . . . dread, caught. I lay down for a moment to gather myself. Suddenly an opening emerges and human man looks at me in the eyes. I growl and he drops what he has in his hands, screams, disappears. Trapped. My heart is beating and I'm panting. Thirsty, exhausted. High pitched noises begin to wail upon my ears. I cannot escape. There is a machine above my head, now two. They are going around and around mechanical birds of terror. I growl and try to jump the wall, over and over and over. Suddenly men come through the opening. I feel their claws shoot into me. Paralyzed a bit but fighting still. Human walks towards me and the shot is heard . . . from the sea to the canyons above. A raven cries out. Blackness. Dark.
Last week a mountain lion was caught trapped in the courtyard of an office building in Santa Monica. That lion's last few moments has been haunting me for days. A shame the police chose to kill it. A great shame when there are only about ten left in the mountains, and Fish and Game could have found a way to remove it safely. Another example of how mankind jumps to the rash killing of something wild and beautiful, rather than finding a more compasionate solution.
On a happier note . . . so many exciting things to report this week. Alejandro Junger has sent us a special piece; a visit with forest fairy of Topanga Carly Margolis; discovering organic skin products from Marie Veronique, and so much more!
