The Fighter It was a titanic battle with Death, and Life fiercely fought back … but it was only a matter of time. Intensively the Burchell’s Zebra struggled to keep up with its herd. It had just survived a lion attack, and that encounter had left the zebra disemboweled. As its strength wearily waned a Spotted Hyena clan’s relentless bedevilments became bolder and bolder. What ensued was a battle of will that reached tsunami proportions. Repeatedly the hyenas charged. Again and again the zebra met each assault with its sharp hooves flying. The fracas continued for what seemed an eternity. In the final moments of its life, the zebra stood stalwart and defiantly faced its assailants. Then the opportunists closed in and down went the equid. There was rending of flesh, fast whoop calls and a confusing obfuscation of view as mortality was consummated. In the end the fighter was vanquished yet one aspect of the striped horse could not be diminished. Its dauntless spirit lives and still wanders the vast expanses of the enigmatic Mara. ~ Anecdote and Burchell’s Zebra and Spotted Hyena capture, The Fighter © Jerry L. Ferrara, Kenya.
