Echo of The Wilderness🔊

In the blissful oblivion of the dense wilderness of Corowa, an isolated little hamlet nestled comfortably on the fringes of natural beauty, lived Aiden, a man who found his purpose amidst nature. Aiden was a man of thoughts; he conversed with the winds, read the language of the trees, and found companionship in the wilderness.

Aiden wasn't always a dweller of nature. He was a city dweller, born and brought up amidst the cacophony of the bustling life. He had been a brilliant architect, shaping the concrete jungles, but gradually he started feeling the disconnection. It was as if the bustle of the city was overpowering his being. His existence felt like a spot of colour lost in a grey abyss. His hankering heart sought peace. That's when Corowa whispered in his ears, and he left everything behind to reunite his soul with nature.

Nestled in the bosom of nature, the architect in him didn't die. Aiden saw an opportunity to use his skills to harmonize with nature rather than altering it. He made an eco-friendly cabin, with minimal disruptions to the natural environment. The glorious mornings gifted him chirping melodies, while evenings unfolded the most seductive sunsets his eyes ever witnessed. Days passed by, and Aiden aged gracefully as a part of the wilderness, often regarded as the voice of Corowa by the occasional wanderers.

One day, Aiden heard the mournful bellowing of a grizzly bear. It was an unusual sight as the grizzlies usually kept to their territories further deep in the forest. On following the sound, he discovered a small grizzly cub trapped underneath fallen logs. With the help of tools and gentle hands, he managed to free the tiny creature and nurse him back to health. They grew fond of each other, and thus, Echo, the grizzly cub, became a part of his solitary existence.

Years lapsed and their bond deepened. Echo was no longer a cub but a majestic adult grizzly. Aiden and Echo would take long walks. Echo would listen to Aiden's tales, gorging on berries that Aiden picked for him from the tallest trees, and Aiden would cherish the warmth the huge grizzly provided during the harsh winter nights. They created a language of their own, blurring the lines separating man from animal. They were two souls lost in the wilderness, finding solace and companionship in the other.

However, the harmony was disrupted when a group of poachers found their way into Corowa. The tranquil life was destabilizing as gunshots echoed against the serene backdrop. One day, Aiden returned from his usual stroll to find Echo missing. His heart thudded as he followed the trail of blood that led him to the wounded grizzly. The sight of the iron trap gnawing at Echo's leg was a horror he found hard to stomach. Filled with rage and anxiety, Aiden battled against the trap, freeing the bear while the poachers had their eyes glued on them from the bush.

Sensing an immediate threat for Aiden, Echo, despite his tremendous pain, roared and lunged onto the poachers. Time seemed to standstill, the air hung heavy with alternating sounds of gunshots and ghastly roars until silence resumed its reign. An exhausting fight ended with Echo standing over the defeated poachers. The authorities arrived, alerted by the gunshots, to round up the poachers.

Echo, the brave grizzly, didn't survive his wounds; he left behind a cavity that was hard to fill in the quiet life of Aiden. The bear was gone, but his echo lingered in the wilderness. He was immortalized in endless tales of bravery, love, and companionship.

Aiden spent his remaining years as the guardian of the wilderness, protecting it from external threats with an echo by his side. In the charming wilderness of Corowa, Aiden and Echo still exists as an eternal tale of friendship, love, and bravery.

A story that not only testifies that language isn't a barrier to communication when hearts understand each other, but also reflects the courage it takes to protect the native wilderness and the ones who dwell in it.