Captured

I woke up in a dark place. I'm freezing cold and my head is pounding. I open my eyes to look around, and all I can see are woodland creatures, fox, bear, rabbit, squirrel, deer, they're all here. What's more frightening? They're all talking about me and I can understand them.

Vicious creatures out for blood. They're the ones who trapped me here. I lay still, not wanting my consciousness to be known.

"I say we shoot her in the gut and wait till she bleeds out!" cried the deer.

"Well, I say we let her go and trap her!" said the bear.

"Let her go and chase her into a hole and set fire to all exits!" exclaimed the fox.

"Now, now," said squirrel. "We must not think with our rage. Be rational. We must be humane." at this the whole circle of animals broke into an uproar of rage and hate.

"Humane? You want us to be humane? What is humane about shooting my kind for sport? I've lost far to many loved ones for me to be 'humane'". The deer roared. "I still say we kill her".

The squirrel sat and thought about everyone's points. "I understand your hate for this human. But who are we to end her life? Would that not put us on the same level as those who we claim to hate? Do we not want to rise above and show them all who is superior? I say we let her go. Not to capture or kill her later. I say we release her, for good. Let her be on her merry way. She's awake, and she's heard quite enough."

My heart stopped at these words. The squirrel was wise but I feared his woodland friends were not.

"I say we give her a chance to speak". Said the wise squirrel as he nodded towards me. I lifted my head up from the hard earth and prayed my words would not fail me.

"Um..hello. I understand your hate for humans. I know many of the things we have done are horrific. I ask you all of your forgiveness. I apologize on behalf of all humans. But, I have done you no wrong. I have never gone out and killed any of your kind, ever. I am a vegan. I eat only what the good Earth grows. I hope that you will all see reason and release me without consequence." I wasn't really a liar, but how exactly to you tell hateful creatures holding you capture that you come from a long line of hunters?

I barely finished the thought when I felt a heavy thud in my chest. I looked down long enough to realize I had been shot. Blood was pouring from my chest and I could taste metal in my mouth. I collapsed to the ground in agony. As I fought to keep my eyes open, I saw that the squirrel who I saw as my ally holding a smoking gun. He approached me and said "Your kind never gave mine any kind of warning. Karma's a bitch."