Two Shadows running
By Utah Red
I am running through the forest, swerving around trees.
Body working in perfect harmony.
Brain, heart, lungs, legs.
Ducking and leaping o’er branches.
Looking back over my shoulder I see my body, held parallel to the ground.
Tail stretched out behind me so I can keep balance.
I look down at my torso; see my arms and hands tucked tightly against my sides,
My feet rhythmically striking the leaf litter, the two killing toes are raised off the ground.
Dancing through the dappled light, running as fast as a Cheetah now...
There!
Ahead, the trees are starting to thin, and I go even faster.
Abruptly I break out of the forest, and I see the edge of the cliff before me.
Do I stop or do I jump?
Too late!
I leap…
Sailing through the air, I squeal at the top of my voice, the cry is filled with joy and terror.
My arms and legs are flailing at the air, my tail swishing from side to side.
Down below I see the pool at the bottom of the waterfall.
I tuck my arms and legs against me to form myself into a dart, made of flesh… made of bone.
Falling now, I use my tail as a rudder to steer myself towards the water.
I am very close now.
Impact!
Water is forced up my snout and I sink to the bottom stunned.
I recover quickly and start to swim up.
I surface coughing and spluttering, and start to dog paddle to the bank.
As I swim over I think to myself “That was fun. I’m going to do that again.”
Fin.
