On safari: It’s Good to be King
It’s springtime on the savannah, and our Goldenbeast is growing up.
With his first birthday rapidly approaching, the Goldenbeast is reveling in his newfound authority, standing on the precipice of adulthood just as springtime waits to ascend into summer.
He has, for example, taken ownership of prime savannah real estate.
From his comfortable perch on the plateau’s edge, the Goldenbeast enjoys a view of the front door goings-on as well as the ability to survey the treetops for interesting prey. He intuitively selects a vantage point that provides excellent camouflage.
The labocerous is not so fortunate.
She waits, vulture-like, trusting in sheer bulk to protect her.
What has caught the attention of our Kingly Beast?
Ah. There, in the treetops.
A small orangutan dangles a tempting bauble.
In his tempestuous youth, this would have enticed the eager young Goldenbeast to abandon his perch to attempt to procure such an item.
But he is older now, and wiser. He does not beg or ask anything of anyone. The jungle comes to him now.
He waits.
And waits. He knows if he remains still, perhaps the orangutan will simply deliver the item to him.
Sure enough, the orangutan quickly grows impatient, and it takes just a minute before he descends down the vines from the safety of the treetops.
Without moving a muscle, the Goldenbeast is delivered a succulent morsel- is it a strange jungle fruit? A shrunken head stolen from a tourist?
The Goldenbeast almost cannot believe it himself. Is it really this easy?
Indeed, it is good to be king. A hint of his youth shows through in his smug grin.
Or is he licking his lips? Has anyone seen the orangutan?
