Grassland+Fiction

__//** Joey H. Tim S. **//__ __//** Grassland Fiction **//__

=Rhin the Rhino=

One hot dry, summer day in the African Grassland, there was a Rhino named Rhin. Rhin was trotting over to the watering hole. His back was itching like crazy, because of all of the insects biting him on the back, which he kicked up from the ground. Just when he thought he couldn’t bear it any more, the itching stopped.

“What’s going on?” inquired Rhin.

“It’s only us, the Sparrow sisters!” cried three voices together. “We were so hungry, and we saw the insects on your back and well we just thought…” the voices trailed off.

“So what are your names?” asked Rhin.

“I’m Sarah, the bird to my left is Susie, and the other is Sophie.” Said Sarah, “and we are so glad to meet you. So what is your name?”

“Oh me? My name is Rhin. I was just going to the watering hole, would you like to come?”

“Oh yes please, if you don’t mind. We have such a mutualistic relationship with each other.” Replied Susie.

The four of them continued on for a while, and they were almost to the watering hole, when suddenly a voice cried out.

“AHHHHHH” cried a voice. “Please don’t eat me!”

“Who was that asked Rhin.

“It is the insect this sparrow was about to eat!” cried the voice again.

“Oh well that’s all well and good, but you see, I as a bird am committed to eating an insect like you, because we are in a Predator-Prey relationship, so I must eat you.” Said Sarah plainly, and with that she took a big bite.

After that little incident, the foursome had reached the watering hole. They were all taking a big gulp of water, when Sophie spotted something in the water. It was slowly floating toward then, but what they saw scared them to the bone.

“Why, it is a dead fish!” gasped Rhin.

“Not just any old fish, he was a friend of mine,” cried Sophie, “his name was Fredrick, and we were the best of pals. Oh why did he deserve such a fate?" She immediately started sobbing.

“What is that on his stomach?” asked Rhin. “It looks like some kind of hole.” “A tapeworm, no doubt. His family had tons of them near their house. Oh how dare that worm!” said Susie, “That worm had only a parasitistic relationship with Fredrick, and I’ll bet he didn’t know what hit him.”

“Oh, it’s okay, don’t cry, but we better get moving.” Suggested Rhin.

“Oh alright, it’s been such an eventful day and all… and I would love to keep walking with you, but it’s time for us to go home now.” Yawned Sarah. “Our tree is just to the right.”

“No problem, it was a pleasure meeting you. I hope we see each other soon.” Replied Rhin.

They continued to the Sparrows home, and when Rhin found out I was a tree, he was slightly confused.

“You mean the tree doesn’t care at all that you guys live on it?” questioned Rhin

“Oh no, not at all. We are Commensalistic toward each other, we benefit from the tree by us having a home, but the tree doesn’t care at all.” Sarah explained. “Well, goodbye now, we hope to see you soon!”

The End.

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