How the Rhino Earns its Horn

 In the vast Savanna there lived a rhinoceros by the name of Ryhan. Not your typical sized rhino, Ryhan was smaller than most other rhinos. Of course no matter how much Ryhan’s ability was doubted he didn’t care.  In a young rhinoceros’s life there is a time where he or she must earn their horn. On Ryhan’s 5^th Birthday, it was time for him to earn his horn, the one thing that made a Rhinoceros so special.

Now, earning your horn is no laughing matter.  It’s a rigorous challenge that leaves no prisoners. Yet, if a rhino is to pass the test, he will live out the life of a prideful happy rhino. On the other hand, the punishment for failure was terrible.  Should a rhino not to pass their test, they would be banished to the dirty mud puddles of the Savanna; stripped of all pride and respect. Then, he or she would live the life of a disgusting angry wallowing hippo. Ryhan knew the scenario well.  Throughout his whole life, his family had made it quite apparent as to what was expected of him.

Finally, the day arrived.  It was time for Ryhan to begin his challenge.   He was up against all odds.  Ryhan was a small rhino. He wasn’t the strongest, and he defiantly wasn’t the smartest, but he had the will and desire to succeed. The test consisted of three challenges; no one knew what these challenges were for they were chosen by the Gods of the Savanna. His family wished him luck, as he carefully treaded through the dark wooden challenge gates; gates that very few rhinos ever see again.

As soon as the gates closed Ryhan looked forward WHOOSH, he was in the wide open plains of the Savanna. Out of nowhere came the Great Gazelle,” Ah Ryhan we have been awaiting your arrival” said the great Gazelle. Ryhan said nothing but nodded in recognition.       “Your first challenge is to catch me.” said the gazelle. “And it starts now.” In a flash the gazelle was off, Ryhan knew that he would never catch a gazelle in straight line so as he ran he devised the plan, to try to trick the gazelle. He thought to himself, that if he could just get the gazelle wedged in between the river and the thicket, he could corner the gazelle and catch him. Instead of chasing him Ryhan crouched and waited in the tall grass, the gazelle assumed victory and started to slow.

Yet, slowly but surely Ryhan crawled around the gazelle now facing the river and the thicket. Now having the perfect angle and seeing his point of attack, Ryhan charged. Shocked the gazelle desperately ran without any regards as to where he was going, and before he knew it he was water’s edge. He looked left right, nothing but thicket and water. As the Great Gazelle looked forward, he felt the steamy hot breath of a tired rhino, knowing that he had been beat the gazelle bowed his head and spoke. “You have defeated me fair and square you have much pride.” As Ryhan began to thank gazelle the very tip of a horn grew from his head.

Before the flick of his tail, Ryhan found himself face to face with a massive silver back gorilla; this was undoubtedly the great god of the Apes, Silver. “We will see who strongest” Silver said, “Whoever get most bananas down from tree is winner” Silver then walked over to a banana tree grabbed hold of it a shook. “Woo woo woo hoo” he yelled as all the bananas from the tree fell except for one. Ryhan immediately knew what to do; he will not try to out muscle Silver he will try out think him just as he did Gazelle. Ryhan started to grind his horn tip against the base of the tree. Silver and his apes began to scoff and laugh at Ryhan, little did they know, Ryhan was taking a much different approach. The sharp tip of his horn started to gnaw away at the tree. After much hysterics and cackling, Silver and his apes heard a loud thud. The tree had been cut down, and in disbelief Silver was stunned. “I am defeated more of horn you will receive” Silver spoke with a heavy heart.

Exhausted, weak and tired Ryhan stood in the pitch black darkness. Instantly a pair of yellow eyes sparked from the darkness, and a deep low voice growled. “So close yet so far.” Out of the moon light stepped the god Tsavo. Tsavo was the mightiest, strongest, fastest, smartest, most blood thirsty lion the earth had ever known.

Although terrified out of his mind, Ryhan remained motionless, not trembling, nor shaking. He stood as authoritative and tall as he could, unwilling to show any sign of weakness. In a dark low tone Tsavo spoke “This challenge will not only test your speed, strength, and intelligence, but it will also test your heart, will and desire for survival.” “I know what you’ve been told.” he snarled “That failure will merely result in the disgusting transformation of a hippo”. Tsavo declared, “Yet when you challenge me it is life or death.” Rhino said nothing, just gave his node. “Here is what you must do.” He said “You must travel back to the gate of whence you came, during your journey I will stalk find you and kill you.” Tsavo roared “If for some reason you survive, and reach the gate you will receive the rest of your horn, you have a two hour head start…. GO!!!! Tsavo roar boomed like thunder. In complete panic, Ryhan darted off in distress.

  Ryhan knew he had to get all of his two hour head start, and for two hours he plowed through the jungle foliage. Finally he made it to the big banana tress of the apes he was heading the right way. Trudging through the trees, Ryhan spotted a lion claw mark. Tsavo was ahead of him. Ryhan realized he was being toyed with for Tsavo it was all a sick game. Keeping his eyes and ears open, Ryhan finally made through the jungle. The bright red orange African sun started to rise; Ryhan could clearly see that he was in the savanna grass where he fist started. Bruised, battered and just about done for, Ryhan gave one last effort. He sprinted and sprinted for miles, through what seemed to be endless spans of Savanna plains. There it was, he could see it, the gate. Ryhan wouldn’t stop couldn’t stop he kept going. Out of the corner of his eye the tall grass rustles, paw prints are already on the ground where Tsavo has been planning out his ambush. A thick line of Savanna bushes and thicket stood about 100 meters from the gate. There were three passage ways through the grass to the gate. Ryhan had to think quickly for his life depended on it. Somehow it hit him; Ryhan realized each passage way was doomed for failure the only way to get passed was to charge through the thicket. Regardless of size of strength, it was his only way out. Full speed, hooves trampling, head down, Ryhan blasted through the thicket. Out from behind the passages Tsavo roared in anger. Ryhan ran Tsvao chased. Ryhan could reach out and touch the gate, Tsavo right behind him he leaped Ryhan dove colliding at the dark gates exit, Ryhan reaches and……….