The Case of the Kyloring

Hazel Bee, Year 6, ACC Southlands

“Bang!” A lightning bolt darted across the sky. Thunder rumbled through the gloomy air. Jane jumped from the unexpected sound of the crackling storm, which was getting increasingly worse by the second, “Uhh! I hate storms!” Jane groaned. “Meow!” Jane's kitten Maggie rushed under the family couch. She was shivering from the loud, booming sounds of the thunder. Jane ran over to pick up her kitten. She sat on the couch and laid Maggie on her lap. She felt her kitten's heart beating rapidly but as Jane ran her hand over Maggie’s small, delicate body she could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat going back to normal. Jane looked out the window, continuing to pat the little cat on her lap, and watched the storm. The sky steadily grew darker, the clouds covered any patches of the sky where sunlight seeped through, rain slid across the window and lightning zapped through the frosty sky.

“Crack!” A streak of bright lightning flew through the sky and landed in the big patch of bush that surrounded the family farm and house. A few moments later, Jane saw crackling flames, which were growing rapidly, rise through the green trees and black smoke polluting the sky. Minutes later Jane looked over and saw her dad's ute rushing up the driveway. He burst through the door and ran to his room. Soon after, Jane's dad came bolting into the living room with all his firefighting gear on. “I’ve got to go help with the fire!” He said as he rushed out the door. Jane went to go call her mum since she was out working on the farm. “Mum, Dad's gone out to treat the fire,” Jane said quickly over the phone.

“Yeah I know he told me on his way out.” Her mother exclaimed.

“Okay.” Jane replied and then put the phone down.

Once Jane had finished the quick chat with her mother she went to her room and laid on her bed. “I hope Dad will be okay.” She thought as she rolled over to lay on her stomach. She reached over to grab her drawing book. Each page held a special drawing of an animal which she dreams of being able to hold one day, her absolute favourite is the drawing of an endangered bird, the Kyloring. Although by the time that Jane reaches her dream of working in an animal rescue, she will probably never even see a Kyloring, by then they will probably be extinct. She found a small gap on one of the pages and started to sketch a small bird.

Later that exact evening, Jane and her mum were sitting on the couch when a call came over the house radio that they needed more help with the fire. Jane's mum hopped up and rushed to get her things on. “Jane, you need to come. I can't leave you here by yourself.” Jane and her mum rushed towards their car and got in. They arrived where the fire was quickly eating all the plants, trees and bushes it could find. Jane looked around, she had never seen anything like it. Her heart dropped seeing all the bush being devoured by the burning flames. She looked around at everyone, who was trying their very best to extinguish the fire. They all looked exhausted but yet they put up a fight. Jane looked around, there were birds flying overhead escaping from the blazing inferno. She looked over to her left and her heart felt like it was jumping out of her chest. She saw a little green bird waddling out of the scorching flames. “Mum, quick get that bird!” Jane screamed out of the car window. Her mother looked over her shoulder and ran to get the small bird. Jane's mother scooped up the tired, fragile bird and ran over to their car. She dropped the timid little bird on Jane's lap. Its tail was singed, it was a girl, she had small burn marks on her legs and she was weakening by the second. Jane covered the eyes of the miniature bird so it wouldn’t be too afraid. All of a sudden, Jane's heart danced in her chest. “Wait!” She said aloud. “It’s a Kyloring!” She was starstruck.

At home, she ran around getting all the supplies she would need to care for this delicate little bird. She got a box, a towel, some water and she got her mum to go get some leftover grain from the silos. She put the box in the lounge room and since it was late she went to get ready for bed. She was looking around the house for the small family cat. As soon as she went into her parent's room she saw Maggie snuggled up on top of her parent's soft, cozy bed. She picked her up and plopped her on Janes's bed.

When she was all ready for bed she went out into the lounge room one last time. Mindlessly, she glanced out the window. As she looked out the window she saw yellow, beady eyes glaring at a small green bird. The bird was absolutely tiny. As soon as the situation clicked in her head she ran to the front door. She slammed the door shut in hopes of scaring the creature away. The creature sprung off its hind legs and ran into the depths of the bush. Jane rushed to the bird and scooped it up between her warm fingers. She flew over the frosty grass and in through the door. She went over to the box where the injured Kyloring sat and delicately put the baby Kyloring down into the box.

“Mum, there was another Kyloring outside!”

“What! Really!” She replied

“What will we do with them!” Jane said quickly

“Once they heal we will have to go give them to the animal rescue in the city.”

“What! Fine then!” She said reluctantly. “I really don’t want to give them away.” Jane thought as a frown formed on her face. After the disappointing conversation with her mother, she went to her room and crawled into her cozy bed. As quick as a cheetah her thoughts washed away.

In a few days time, Jane and her mother packed up the now completely healthy kylorings and got everything ready for the two hour trip to the nearest city. Jane sat in the car with the two little green birds sitting on her lap. She stared out the window wishing she didn’t have to give her dreams away. Finally, they saw the first few buildings of the colossal city. They arrived at the animal shelter. They walked up to the front desk. Her mother explained the whole situation and it was finally the time where she had to give up the two birds. She pushed the box onto the counter and the lady at the front desk grabbed the box. She went to put them into one of the back rooms. The lady thanked them for these extraordinary birds and then Jane and her mother were back on their way to their little farm. As they left the humongous city Jane felt a little disappointed but she couldn’t help but feel happy that one of her dreams had come true.