Are We Home Yet?
Diocesan Girls’ Junior School, Chan Siu Yee Tania, Fiction Group 2
T
he gigantic shadow of the Siberian Steppes cast a large patch of darkness over a small,
bedraggled group of snow leopards. The moaning wind echoed across the sand dunes
and snowflakes fell on the leopards’ matted fur. All of them were exhausted, their paws
rough and worn, unable to move.
“Hurry!” a burly leopard, his pelt hidden under masses of scars, hissed breathlessly. “If we stay
for any longer, the two-legged creatures will find us!”
A tiny leopard with round but desperate eyes and a ragged pelt complained in despair, “But
I’m too tired, Claw! I can’t go on. Why can’t we just go home?” Claw shook his head. “I’m sorry,
Blizzard. There isn’t enough food back home. The oasis is drying up! If we didn’t go, we would’ve
died, just like your father!” Blizzard stared at him quizzically, her blue eyes filled with doubt.
Claw sighed. We’ve only barely evaded capture these few days, but the two-legged creatures
won’t give up. What can we do?
The leopards settled down in a small, cramped cave to pass the night. Blizzard snuggled next
to her mother, Storm, seeking comfort, and Storm licked her muddy fur in a comforting gesture.
Poor Blizzard…she may not be able to see this journey’s end…
The clear, vibrating calls of a few hunting hounds alerted some hunters camping near the
Siberian Steppes. The hunters woke up at once, and they ran out to greet the hounds. “They’ve
tracked down the snow leopards!” one of them whispered. “Let’s move.” The others nodded their
heads in agreement, and started heading for the Steppes. But deep down, the hunter who had
spoken hesitated.
Should I really kill them? Is it fair…? We already have enough food this winter!
Storm jolted up. The rhythmic thudding of heavy footsteps, up the Steppes...she knew what
was happening. She had long anticipated their arrival. “Run, everyone! Run!”
The hunters saw their prey fleeing, and they, in fear of losing their well-earned prizes,
released their hunting hounds.
Blizzard stumbled, her weak limbs buckling underneath her body. Storm feared that it would
be the end of the both of them. The hunters closed in…
“Run swiftly!’” she yelled. “Find Claw and ask him to protect you! He’ll keep you safe! I’ll
stay here.”
Blizzard asked, “Why can’t you come with me, Mother? I want to go with you!”
Storm knew the creatures would only want her, but not Blizzard, for her beautiful fur. “Run
with the winds! Go!”
Blizzard heard the urgency in Storm’s voice and sprinted away, occasionally tripping over
jagged rocks. Blizzard kept glancing back. Storm had been surrounded by a pack of hunters and
hounds, and her white fur was splattered with blood.
“Run!” Blizzard cried. Storm shook her head sadly. She knew that she could not escape, for
Blizzard’s sake. Blizzard cried, tears streaming from her eyes. “I’ll come with you, Mother!
Please don’t…”
Storm hissed. “Go! Run while you can, Blizzard! I love you! Go now!”
Blizzard very reluctantly dashed off towards the pack of struggling leopards. Storm gazed
