It's been 5 years... 5 terrible years since she caught sight of the fly on a tree in the western forest of Xavca .
A fly that hasn't been seen in any scientific entry at all. A fly without a name and with a body that looks like it came straight out of the story books, well maybe because it did.
Apparently as she was about to take a picture of it, my scouting dogs came and scared it off.
Since then she's devoted her time and ignored my advice of leaving, in order to prove a myth- or so I thought.
"John, come to my location. I think I've found it, leave the dogs and bring the jar."
I laughed out loud as I read the message. Surely another fruit fly that has been caught like a thief just because of a little misunderstanding.
In complete defiance to her instructions, which was a rather new addition to her list of commands, I indeed did carry the dogs.
With the dogs leading the way, sniffing on the grass and every tree bark, I walked at a leisurely pace to Anna's location which is roughly a 4.6 km hike.
On my way there I thought about how I even got on this journey with her..
I was a young aspiring Zoologist who was looking for a good person to apprentice under.
I met Anna in my favorite Library, as she was getting ready to get into a fight with the attendant.
A stunning woman with a great well built body like hers, isn't the type one would normally see in the Library, let alone argue with the attendant.
Apparently the argument stemmed from the question; How real can a fiction be said to be?
Surely the library attendant didn't think a fiction could be real at all but not Anna.
Anna believed that just because it was called fiction by the author doesn't mean the contents in the book can't be real.
The argument first started in low tones, then it climbed to normal and then high tones.
Till it escalated into a colorful word battle that could only be accomplished by reading geniuses.
I managed to step in before it became physical, and I asked what the argument was about.
The Library assistant seemed to realize where she just had the word battle in and she rushed into the staff room with her cheeks being a bright shade of red.
Anna went on to explain her thoughts to me and I was amazed.
She then asked about me and when she heard about my passion in Zoology, she pitched the idea of coming to find the fly.
Apparently her life ambition is having a species named after her.
Apparently, she needed me to do that. As part of me being her apprentice, I'll name the first new species we encounter after her.
I've been with her for more than 15 years, way more than the required time for an apprenticeship.
In that long span of time, we've rediscovered more than 4 old types of frogs, mistaken 3 different types of fishes for new ones and been to 6 of the 8 continents.
Watching her get excited over every new rumor or bar gossip about a new animal makes me all giddy. It's like watching a child being handed a piece of candy tied with a string.
Although these 5 years have been awfully drab. It's like she just gave up on her dream which isn't the Anna way.
The dogs began barking up a tree breaking me out of thoughts. I grabbed my binoculars and took a look at the tree.
Spotting the green snake coiled lazily on the canopy made me shiver.
I had to remind myself that I'm still in a jungle and I shouldn't be walking with my head in my thoughts.
I took a look at the GPS and noticed that I'm just 5 minutes from her location. Suddenly, the dogs began acting crazy. They pulled at their chains, dragging me out of the path. A net sprung up, leaving me, the dogs and a piece of roasted bush pig in a tangled mess.
I heard laughter
"Hahaha." Anna appeared from behind a piece of foliage. Wearing a white shirt that perfectly compliments her sun-tanned body.
"I'm so sorry, I just couldn't take any chances and it seemed my insurance paid off. You still brought the dogs." She proclaimed proudly.
"Okay, you've proved your point," I said angrily. "Now let me go!"
"Hush hush, now that's no way to talk to your boss, my dear apprentice."
She said smiling at me with bright eyes, I loved that look.
It's the look that gives me that giddy feeling, the look that she has every time she's looking for a new species. I which she always looked at m-
"John?..." I saw her holding out her hands as though she wanted something.
"Huh? Sorry I was a bit lost in my thoughts there." I replied.
"How could you be lost in your thoughts when you're in a net with dogs?" She shook her head.
"Actually nevermind that, just give me the jar."
I fished around in my bag and brought out the jar, curious as to whatever normal insect she'd imprisoned this time.
She looked at me as though she could read my thoughts, then she showed me the picture, before running off to catch the specimen.
@borjanTaking a look at the picture I was stunned. She actually did find it, the Queen Wool Moth of legend.
After 5 years of searching, she finally found it. A sudden thought struck me, if it turned out to be real. That means she was right 5 years ago, I did in fact scare it off with the dogs.
She came back with the exact same moth in a jar. It sat as regale as a Queen, it didn't flutter around, it didn't quiver its antenna.
It could've been mistaken for dead if not for the slow sensual movement of its wooly wings.
Anna's joy couldn't be contained, she smiled from ear to ear, holding the jar out like a prize. I collected and expected it then spoke the words she's been waiting to hear her whole lifetime..
"Yes.. This is indeed a new species."
I dropped the jar on the ground and took another picture. Then I told her to hold the jar while I took a picture of her.
All through the picture taking, I was thinking of how my life would go as her lifelong ambition has been fulfilled.
Would I go back to my land? Would I go on my own journey?
Could I go on my own journey?
Funny how I'm deciding the future of my life as I'm doing a photoshoot in the middle of the forest.
After I was through with the photo shoot, Anna asked
"John? What's next?"
"Well, I'll have to report this to the bureau of all insects and species, then they'll cross-check all their records, looking if there are any similarities with other fly species and -"
"I mean what's next for us, John." She said cutting me off.
I took a second to register the question in my brain. It's the same question that has been troubling me since I got the message earlier today, and it's the reality that has been biting me since I first took a glimpse of the picture.
Should I tell her how I feel, I asked myself inwardly. Looking at her awaiting eyes, I decided it's better now than never.
"Anna maybe you could-"
"What if we go to search for another species?" She asks with a strange feeling of bubbling enthusiasm.
"Why?" I asked. "You've got your first species, this moth would have your name. You've accomplished your life goal. Your ambition paid off."
"Well one thing about having an overactive ambition, my dear apprentice. Is that once you're done with one life's work, you'll want to start another."
I smiled at that, imagining doing two life's works in one life.
"Okay, so what do you have in mind to be doing?" I asked her
She looked around then straight up the mountain.
"Maybe mountain climbing?..." She asked coyly
"...and we could start with this one here. We have the gear, plus I heard this was a dormant volcano."
"No volcanoes." I say firmly
"Come on John, it's dormant." She said, trying to persuade me.
"Think of all the new species that would bud in such a harsh environment. You may even see a new plant species to rename."
Taking a deep breath, I reviewed the offer in my head. As long as I get to stay with her a bit longer, I guess it's a win.
"Okay I decided, let's do it."
"Yes!" She exclaimed then looked at the mountain. As she was looking at it, I could see the ambition growing in her eyes. I'm sure before long she'll have us trying to break a record on the mountain.
I took a look at the queen moth in the Jar and thought about what name I should give it considering Anna couldn't name the species herself.
The Queen moth~ The Anna Moth.
I think that's perfect, as she'll always be a Queen, in my eyes.
