In The End

Let me tell you a story that happened decades ago. It is a story about a great
war. A war between two countries. A war that caused so much bloodshed, so
much pain, so much sorrow.
Before the war, the people of land and water lived in harmony. The people of
water were known as the ‘Vardara’ and the people of the land were known as
the ‘Bhumi’. This war was caused because of a feeling of inferiority by the
people of dirt. They felt that they were outnumbered. They thought that the
people of water would turn on them. They wanted to eliminate the majority of
the Vardara. So, they started throwing their waste into the Vardara people’s
land, they polluted it. They were killing it. As they did that, they poisoned the
people of water. The people of water retaliated. They started flooding the
Bhumi peoples’ land. These small attacks led to battle and then battles led to
war. After a gruesome, brutal, and sorrowful war, the two tribes realized that
they could no longer continue with the war and called a truce. They came up
with a treaty that satisfied the needs of both people.
Now 30 years later that very treaty is on the verge of collapse. My name is
Kaida Rivera. I am a proud Vardara, I am fifteen years old. My father -is the
chief of the Vardara people. And right now, our people are at risk of being
attacked by the cowards of the Bhumi tribe. The feeling of inferiority that was
so prominent 30 years ago has come back to the Bhumi people. They have yet
again started attacking my people. Not to credit them, however, they have
been clever with these attacks. These attacks are carefully calculated and
executed to make it seem like an accident. They do not attack constantly, but
just enough to hit us where it hurts. This makes it all too complicated for us,
not only because of the damage but also because we are not able to discuss
this with the ambassador of the Bhumi people because we do not have enough
evidence to say that it was them. This would just lead to more conflict.
Anyway, I’m on the way to a city council meeting my father is conducting to
discuss about the war on the verge of breaking out. The people of dirt are
bloodthirsty and have a deep hatred for us. Even though they would probably
lose because we outnumber them and would eradicate them from our planet.
Buzz. Because everyone knows that water exists in almost everything. Buzz.
And even though I know this, I am so very against war because of its effect on
everyone- both in the moment and in the long term. Everyone knows how
mentally messed up the elders of the village are. Buzz. War has that effect on
people. Buzz. What is that noise? Anyway, enough of my rambling. Buzz. I’m
almost there. Buzz. I am interested in knowing what my father’s approach to
the war is. Buzz. As I am walking, I hear that agitating, grating sound again.
Buzz. buzz. buzz. It is getting louder. As I am walking, I hear an explosion and
that’s when the world goes dark
I wake up in a white room with lights far too bright. Where am I? I don’t know
where I am. Where is my father? Where is everybody? What day is it? What
happened? As all these questions rush into my head, I try to get up and
immediately regret it I get this pounding ache in my head along with the room
spinning so incredibly fast that I feel nauseous. I sit back down; I try and fail to
get up and walk more than five steps when I fall onto the ground. When
someone helps me up, I recognize them as a nurse-specifically the village
healer, and even more specifically, my mother. I jump into her arms as I
breathe a sigh of relief that I am with my people.
“How long have I been unconscious for?” I ask my mother still holding her
close
“Three days” she replies as she hugs me still
I bombarded my mother with questions about what had happened. She says
that I was attacked by the Bhumi. She also adds that we are apparently at war
now. She gives me a syrup to drink as she continues talking. “The treaty has
been broken kaida, whatever hope we had of negotiating is gone”, she says.
And now I want to cry. Cry for all the brave soldiers and their souls about to be
lost to this pathetic and unnecessary war. Cry for the children who will be
orphaned. Cry for the people who will be mentally scarred for life. Cry for the
people who will lose their families to the war. Cry for the people who will
never be able to continue their lives normally because of this war. “How much
time till we go out to the front?” I ask my mother who is bandaging my wounds
that I did not know I had.
“I do not know, ask your father,” she says
“So, I am allowed to leave?”
“Not until you have eaten something”
That’s when I realized I had not eaten in three days.
***
I start training. Even though I am not allowed to go to the front to fight.
Because of my father of course. However, you never know. They might need
me.
***
Both tribes march toward each other, ready to fight.
It’s been four days since the tribes fought each other at the battle's front It’s
been 326 people. 107 men and 109 women. And 10 children who were
unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I pray a prayer
for each of their souls. I do not want this war to continue. I want it to end. I
want to be of use. I want to fight. I want not to feel useless.
 I want to win.
A month since the war has begun 31 days since people have stopped counting
the souls gone because it is too painful. Not me though. I check in on the
people lost. It’s been 690 men, women, and children all together. 75 soldiers
missing. And 26 children were kidnapped. I want this to stop. I want to do
something. I do not want these lives and souls who were taken to have been
lost in vain. I want not to feel hopeless. I want to help

I beg and plead to be allowed to do something. To fight. To help. To win. I want

to help so badly. They refuse to hear my pleas. That does not stop me from
asking though. I ask every day. They refuse every day. I am beginning to lose
hope. I tried one last time that day. And to my utter shock, they allow me. Not
to fight, however. But to be an ambassador. To try and negotiate with the tribe
of Bhumi to end this senseless war. I suppose they expected me to refuse and
be scared. Ouch. Even though I am, I will not let them see me like this. I will not
make them regret their decision.
I am going to help.
***
I wear my best outfit. Its components are blue. To represent my land, my
people. Everything they tried to take from me. I am going to be polite. I hope.
It is a two-hour journey from the water to go to the dirt. From there it takes an
hour and a half to the court hall where the Vardara and Bhumi and supposed
to negotiate. As I am the representative of my people and my land, I will be the
one speaking. For the most part anyway.
We make it. At the entrance, they search us to check if we have any weapons
or anything that stands as a threat to their king. After they finish, I am led to a
grand-looking room. The court hall I suppose.
It is a beautiful place. Filled with greenery everywhere. Different kinds of trees,
flowers, ferns, shrubs, etc. The king’s throne is one made of the most beautiful
flowers and shrubs.
He addresses me with a slight inclination of his head. He is a king and is not to
bow to anyone, especially in his own land. I address him in turn with the
slightest of courtesy. I am too a princess. I do not bow to anyone but my father
and mother.
“King Ardus, greetings”
“Greetings, Princess Kaida”
“A time has come for this war to end,” I said
“Oh?” King Ardus says while lifting an eyebrow
“You and I both know that both of our people have suffered at the hands of
this war,” I say
“We have lost both men, women and children. As have you, Your Majesty” I
say waiting to be interrupted
“This war is an absolute waste of time, resources, and energy. And life.” I
continue since he doesn’t stop me. “We are fighting over nothing but the fact
of space and the feeling of danger felt by both of our people” I say referring to
the reason for the past war and the reason for the current war going on.
“I think we could help each other. We all know that these two elements, soil,
and water, are not just resources but are interconnected components of the
delicate web of life on our planet.

Your soil is not merely a lifeless medium; it is a dynamic ecosystem teeming

with life, microorganisms, and nutrients. However, our water plays a pivotal
role in shaping the characteristics of soil. Through processes like weathering
water helps break down rocks into smaller particles, contributing to the
formation of soil.

Soil, in turn, acts as a reservoir for water. It has the remarkable ability to retain
and store water.
The health of soil directly influences the quality of water. A healthy soil
ecosystem acts as a natural filter, removing impurities and pollutants from the
water. In the same way, water also relies on soil for stability and regulation.” I
speak.
“At the end of it all, Your Majesty, we can help each other. We can make our
kingdoms thrive. We can do so much for each other. We can resolve our
differences and learn to live together in harmony.”
“I’m impressed, Princess. You are right this war is meaningless and can get us
nowhere. It is time for a change. It is time for an era and so many more of
peace and harmony between our tribes.” The King says
“I agree with this. It is time for a treaty that supports both of our needs. We
are going to be one. Let us unite our nations. Let us be one. Let us be called
earth” he says.

The End.