Free

• Piya Mohal
• Short Story
• 2021

My heart pounded against my chest. Someone was freeing us! Of all my years being locked in a cage, nobody had ever done this before. She was a tall being and locks of wavy blonde hair sat on her shoulders. On her shirt were the words ‘Animal Rights’. Not quite was that meant but she definitely wasn’t from the zoo. This was my moment to be free. Along with all my friends we could go back to the wild and not have to bear screaming children knocking on the fences or people poking our noses. I called out to my hairy friends and they ere thinking the same. Giraffes, horses, tigers and much more were let out as we galloped to the exit, hearts in our throats.


We heard many sounds of distress and cries as the people ran about, screaming their heads off. The animals and I didn’t know why they were so afraid. They weren’t when we were locked up. We don’t scream when they are walking along our cages. But that didn’t matter anymore. We were now wild animals and would always be. There was a clearing up ahead so we could stop and have a little break before we found another habitat to live in. I took mouthfuls of refreshing water and gulped it down quickly. It felt so good to be outdoors rather than locked up in a cage. Suddenly a silver piece of something started to beep rapidly and I anxiously stood there not knowing what to do.

It was a microchip that they insert so if we get lost, they could track us. Why hadn’t I thought of this? Bulky trucks teared through the trees and came zooming towards us with a grim expression spread on their faces. “Hmmm.... how did you fellas end up here eh?” A man bellowed. Then, I saw something move behind the bushes of blackberry. It was the girl with the animal rights sign! She had come to save us yet again! I wondered why she was doing this and if she would trap us and take us to another zoo. The big man started to adjust his nets to capture us. Another man tightened us too quickly to escape and we gave in. Our life would not get better. We would just have to accept it.

This time, instead of taking us to the zoo, they took us into some caged hut and left us there with only one stale piece of meat to share and a salty glass of old water. This was not the quality of life I expected or wanted. At that moment the tall girl busted in through the glass window. It shattered into pieces and fell on the hard floor. She walked in with a calm face, and undid our wire cages using her bare hands! She was one strong woman for sure. Thankfully she kept trying to save us. Now I believed we would be free but for real this time. She beckoned us to follow and we did, trusting her very move. The girl led us to a nicely decorated hut with ample garden for us to live. It had butterflies flying around it and flicking lights hanging around the ornate lanterns. The landscape was picturesque with horses galloping and cows mooing.

This would be our new home. We were free. Forever.