Metamorphosis

It was once a placid freshwater village pond with distinct species. Its species were least known to the world outside. But they had their own things, developed over the centuries by generations, and they clearly knew the habitat, for it was ancestral. It existed in its perfect way, yet it was imperfect like any other setup, and its inhabitants were simple in their own way, but not ignorant. 

Then one day they realised they had to give up their way because of Strange Hand. When many among the species disagreed and naturally contested the interference. The hand reacted brutally. Its brutality persisted and gripped the species with constant fear. Soon many of them began looking for streams that connected the pond with creeks. The hand was finally confronted, and what ensued was heightened fear. More species left in fear only to find themselves in the creeks, and then in lakes and finally in an ocean where they were courted by mammals which they confused for fish. 

They had come a long way, and going back entailed greater risks. So they stayed gulping the saline water and dodging the mammals in their waters. It soon occurred to them that they had to compete with the mammals in their waters. They started acting like mammals and drank more saline water. Thus they were given the tag, freshwater wannabe small mammals. With no prospect of returning to their pond, they struggled harder to find out what in them should be altered or eliminated to ensure their survival in this ocean. It was to shed all that had made them, but it was not easy. They were relentless, soon they realised they were able to hate themselves and began to see all the good values in the mammals. 

Despite the fast transformation, the freshwater memories still stained them. But it appeared that they could easily be erased as well. Its completion was awarded with acceptance, for they had expressed genuine admiration for the mammals. Often they found themselves initiating nastier mischief to prove their worth, and the mammals, gratified by their dedication and sincerity, admitted them to their tiny corners once in a while, and finally were introduced to Strange Hand. 

By now, they feel remotely removed from that fear which once haunted them. But they no longer saw the hand as a symbol of fear, and particularly, they thought all should be uniform and diversity was a thing of the past or rather appalling and remotely relevant. In other words, they were even ahead of the mammals' unborn in their outlook. When asked, do you still fear the hand? They replied, what hand? And to fear, they reacted, that's a myth. Who wouldn't love such species! Who wouldn't pity them! Who wouldn't find them loyal and useful! Who wouldn't find them very convenient! Who wouldn't find them open and useful! 

They were least interested in what had become of them, nor in what had changed them; rather they were desperate to discuss how they were seen in the ocean and occupied with how they should present themselves. They were so open that they showed more fondness for the saline story than their own. It occurred to them that more of their kind should breed mammals, for being mammals was all that was required to ensure survival. They were asked about this metamorphosis, and they countered with 'Why do you keep talking about the hand when we should be talking reproduction?' Such remark was something the hand had long been waiting for. The hand knew that the time was ripe to take some of them back to the pond, provided their bellies were filled with saline water. 

When they neared, they figured that the air was awful and strange, and the water was no longer fresh; it had turned bitter with blood, anger, fear and confounded confusion. But they had come to throw in the saline water which they had carried in their bellies. Caught up in between faded memories and the saline taste in their bellies, they said, when asked, they disliked the place. Instead of staying put, they begged the hand to take them back. Thus they went back, but not without releasing the saline water. 

It didn't take for the rest to flap their way out of the pond with mouths gasping. When they landed in the creeks, they gulped saline water. There the hand announced, 'See now you don't have to travel far to gulp this water. Soon, the streams will be filled as well. Just wait.' Thus the creeks were entirely filled, then the streams and it slowly started flowing into the pond. First, they species were anxious, out of it they leapt above the water surface only to fall back, fainted and then woke up still. But it was matter of time till it had repeated. Surprising themselves, they flapped and gasped with noticeable ease. In this state, they were asked if they would like more of saline, they simply nodded. 

Years later, the still and the yet moving species were asked about the hand. They said, 'We don't know. There is no difference. We are one. Let's live, instead of dying.'