The attack was sudden and ferocious, it came from nowhere. There were no hints given, no signs of trouble, just wham and it was on. As soon as I could find an opening I ran, there was nothing left to do. I don’t feel ashamed that I ran, it was a matter of life and death in my mind, if I stayed in the midst of that savage onslaught there would be no tomorrow. And so I ran, I ran as fast and as far as I could, the blood pumping so loud in my ears that I couldn’t even hear if there was a pursuit. Having changed course so many times in my frenzied flight to avoid the anticipated chase I’m now totally lost, but at least I seem to be safe.

Yesterday life was simple. We weren’t a big family but we were family and we had each other and there were friends and neighbours too. We kids kept ourselves pretty busy, there were always lessons to learn or games to play and there was enough food for us to share. Mum looked after us, though we all knew that dad was the boss, she was always there to calm things down if we got to rough, always there to soothe a hurt or nurse a bruised ego. It was mum who kept us quiet when dad was asleep, who kept us safe when there was danger a foot. Dad, well he was dad, he was our protector, he confronted the danger. But he could be soft too, he’d play with us and help us in our lessons when he could and he was kind.

This morning everything changed, I woke up and all was well, I went outside to greet the day and that was when it happened. Mum was standing just beyond the entry staring at my father. At the very sight of me he tensed, there was no talk and, to my eyes, no movement. One moment he was standing there, the next he was on me in a blind fury of attack, somehow mum had been knocked out of the way but I had no time to think about that. My entire mind was taken up with just one thought “Survival”, nothing had prepared me for this, it now all came down to instinct. The father that had been there to protect and nurture was suddenly gone, this was not my dad, this was a killing machine intent on murder. No thought then as to the why of the matter, only of how to get away. Then the moment came, he seemed to gather into himself to unleash the final, murderous, assault and in that brief lull, which lasted no more than a heartbeat, I was gone. I saw a way out and took it.

So now here I am hiding amongst these trees, bruised, battered, cold, alone and scared, oh so scared. Now I have time to think, I hope mum is OK and that she managed to keep my sisters safe from the madman who was once my father, strange how already I don’t think of him as dad. I still don’t understand why he turned like that, I just hope that he took his fury out on me and left the others alone.

After a while I decide that my escape will be meaningless if I just stay hiding here and pine away. With a shake and a stretch to ease over-exerted limbs I realise that my life has changed forever. I am no longer a childish little cub, now I must be a master of the Serengeti.

I Must Be The Lion I Was Born To Be……