The birth and death of one of God's creatures
The female seal was starting to become restless. It was her time, and she knew she would have to find a suitable place for her coming baby.
Hours later she lovingly nuzzled her baby as the sun shone down, warming his fluffy white fur. His fur was as white as the snow he lay upon. The bond between mother and baby was perhaps stronger than that found in many human relationships.
Less than twenty-four hours later serenity ceased to rule. The other seals moved restlessly, the older ones showed outright terror. This was the mother seal's first pup, so she and her baby laid trustingly still.
She could smell death all around her, but she didn't understand. The man was standing over her and her baby now, his arm raised in the air. There was a sickening crunch. The club had found its mark. Her beautiful baby lay almost dead, his blood soaking into the surrounding snow.
She moved menacingly towards the man, but he drove her back again and again. She fought to save her baby, but to no avail.
Finally her tormenter left them. He had cut open her baby's belly and stripped him of his beautiful fur.
In the days that followed, she stayed guarding the lifeless, naked body of her baby. The man had gone at last, taking God's gift to her away.
Next year she'll understand ...
Emma Acciariello, year 9, Cheltenham VIC
This story comes from the collection Voices for the Animals - A Collection of Stories and Poems by Australian School Students .
Animal Liberation SA holds the copyright to this work. Permission is granted to teachers to make copies for their own students.