The Lion and The Stag: Part 1

by Jason Buckland

windows “I’m going to need your names and zodiacs please” he asks peering into the car and we do as we are asked “Christopher Harding. Horse thourghbred” “Connor Harding. Horse Friesian” “Really?” the enforcer says raising an eyebrow in confusion “Different breeds” Chris says and the enforcer nods tuning his attention to me “Thomas Buckland stag” we say one by one and the man writes something down on his board till I say my zodiac to which he looks at me in disbelief “I’m sorry but I am going to have to ask you to prove your zodiac” the enforcer says to me “Why do I have to prove it?” I question and the enforcer looks at me stunned obviously not used to being questioned “Because there hasn’t been a stag zodiac for almost a decade and I think that your lying if you don’t I will detain you till you prove it” he says angrily and I step out the car angry. As I step out the car the trees start to sway back and forth which is strange since the air is perfectly calm. “Can’t you tell by the fact I have a tail” I say not wanting to change for him adrenaline still pumping from earlier “Very funny” the enforcer say sarcastically “I think I might just take you in for refusal to cooperate” he threatens slowly lowering his hand behind his back reaching for something. “Okay okay I’ll do it” I say reluctantly and do as he asked causing him the smirk cockily “You happy now?” I quip as I turn back and start to get back into the car.

  “Yes. Yes I am” he says rather ominously as I shut the door and we drive on in silence. I’m shaken by the ordeal because they threatened to arrest me but what’s shaken the other two as we sit in silence I look back on the ordeal and one thing he said sticks in my head. He said there hadn’t been a stag zodiac in over a decade. I’ve never been told this. Why? Something stinks here and I want to know what The silence lasts the whole way to the house and as head inside Chris ushers us into the lightly decorated sitting room Connor and I both sitting on the sofa Chris standing in front of us “Dad what’s going on what happened back there” Connor asks his voice afraid “What did happen back there why are you two so shaken up? I’m the one that was almost arrested and what did he mean there hadn’t been a stag zodiac in over a decade?” I cry and Chris gestures with his hands to calm down. “Didn’t you see the leaves Thomas?” Connor asks shocked “No I was too busy not getting arrested” I reply irritated no one cares I was about to be arrested “They grew Thomas the branches grew longer and the flower buds blossomed.” Connor says and I’m shocked that I didn’t notice it “What on earths going on?” I ask mind completely confused “There are two zodiacs that break the rules the stag and the lion.one herbivore and one carnivore both of them are incredibly powerful and are the protector of their country. The enforcers say that they are here looking for carnivores that got past the wall but I think it’s a lie. I think that they are after you Thomas. If the carnivores got over the wall you are the only hope we would have for this not to become a bloodbath” Chris says and I’m stunned. It takes a moment to comprehend what he said but when I do I gasp “But that means…..” I start “Yes Thomas it means that they have found you” “Wait a minute why has no one told me this till now?” I ask “Because we didn’t believe that anything was going to happen. The world has been at peace for over a century and we grew sloppy before the stag would be taught what he was capable of from a younger age but believing it was not necessary your parent refused to let us teach you” Chris says but he doesn’t appear to be blaming my parent but more himself “So what happens now then?” “I don’t know the enforcers where definitely looking for you but I have no idea why they didn’t take you at the checkpoint earlier.” He says stroking at the base of his chin as if he had a beard. “Wait a minute!” Connor exclaims and jumps off the chair running upstairs “Connor what are you doing” Chris shouts after him but Connor doesn’t reply soon remerging carrying a book in his hand. The cover is an olive green and he hands to his dad “I thought that it all sounded familiar” Connor said and Chris looks at the book his eyes suddenly going wide with disbelief “Firstly Connor what on earth are you doing with this book? And secondly Connor you are a genius” “I needed some new reading material and this was in the attic covered in dust. I thought that it would be a good read but when I opened it there was just one page. A poem and it started talking about a stag” “What poem let me see” I say climbing to my feet and taking the book from Chris’s hand “Wait Thomas” Chris starts but he’s too late as I open the book. At first there is nothing there but then dots start to appear on the page slowly growing to form lines and words written in the fanciest handwriting I have ever seen. It says

  Two four legged beasts, two rule breakers

  Both perfect opposite in design one delicate and one powerful

  Both born to hate each other, to fight each other

  One a protector, one a killer

  One a giver of life, the other a taker

  Neither knows the other their fates intertwined

  They shall cross paths and only one will emerge

  The other will have died

  The book falls from my hand to the floor as the words sink in the poem feeling more like a prediction of the future “That’s not a poem is it?” “No Thomas it’s not. This is the last remaining prophecy book. I was asked to guard it so I hid it in the attic. The book shows who ever opens it a prophecy of their future. These are not the truth Thomas they are often metaphors or puns they are not gospel truth” Chris says placing his hand on my shoulder as I stare at the floor blankly. “Look at me Thomas” Chris orders and I look up at him his brown eyes soft and caring

  “Whatever that book said it is not true do not believe it. You make your own future” he says sternly and I nod the last line of the prophecy echoing in my head. “Connor the same goes for you whatever it said it is not the truth” he says turning his attention to his son “I know dad I don’t believe all that stuff anyways” Connor says a smile on his face “Glad to hear it” Chris says smiling “Thomas I think that it would be best if
you go home I’ll give your dad a call and see if he can come else I’ll take you back” Chris says and neither of us argue “Thank you Chris but I must ask. The enforcers know about me know so are they going to be looking for me?” Thomas asks and Chris runs his hands through his hair. “I don’t know what they are up to Thomas but I advise that you trust no one with this information only us and your parents now about this everyone else think it’s just a zodiac but you are so much more. You always have.” Chris says as a pair of tires pull up onto the drive “If you are stopped and asked again lie tell them you are something ordinary and try not to give yourself away” Chris says and Thomas heads out to the car to go home with a huge smile on his face. Things are going to get interesting he thinks to himself I clamber into the car to find Lauren and David have come with dad. The car on the way back is filled with talk and laughter till we come to a stop in road. Cones have