Bull

Igashu gets up and steps towards the barn with the painting of a bull. He opens the doors and some unknown force pulls him in and straight down into a dark abyss. Igashu screams until he hits the ground and becomes unconscious.

When Igashu wakes up, everything is dark, but there's a light. He struggles to get out. He can't see very well due to his eyes being sensitive to the blinding lights. Once he gets out, he attempts to walk, but stumbles. He lays on the grass for a while to take a breather. His mother walks towards him and lays down beside him. She brushes her cheek against his head and cherishes her little newborn. He tries getting up and manages to walk a bit. After a while, Igashu gets used to it and starts prancing around excitedly.

Igashu is an only child. He doesn't know who his father is. He asked his mother a couple times, but she stayed quiet or changed the topic. She always had a sad face when the topic was brought up. Igashu realized this and knew that it's better to not mention it anymore. He assumed the two legged beings took him away along with most of the calves' fathers. Because of that, Igashu was able to befriend the other calves. They would stick together constantly and play around a lot in the open field. Their mothers would let them roam wherever they pleased because they lived in an enclosed field. For Igashu, growing up, everyday was pretty much the same, but he loved every minute of it.

When Igashu grew into a strong, independent bull, he noticed the bull's way of life. His entire life, his mother protected him from the truth. Many cows, including his mother, strayed away as much as possible from Songaa. Songaa was the chief of the cows, but Igashu's mother refers to him as a dictator. Soonga is the strongest alpha bull among the males and the only bull who managed to stay in the enclosed field for the longest time, for breeding purposes. He got the right to be chief through the traditional Battle of the Bulls. A test where bulls would fight it out one versus one in a tournament manner and the toughest bull that becomes victorious will be chief. Normally, the Battle of the Bulls would take place often, but none could defeat Songaa or have enough courage to take him on. There was one bull that could've taken his place at that time. It was Igashu's father. However, the two legged beings took him and the other bulls away to get slaughtered. With most of the bulls gone, the Battle of the Bulls slowly disappeared and Songaa remained in power indefinitely. Eventually, greed poisoned his mind. He was already popular with the lady cows and when he got a taste of power, everything changed. He would give other bulls jobs in order to control them and gain more power. He restricted access to the fresh grown grass and the only waterhole. Any one who didn't look up to him got the short end of the stick. Some even died from starvation and dehydration under his watch. Igashu's mother shielded Igashu from the horrendous sight and remained in the far corner until he grew up and was capable enough to face reality.

-

"We need to change this, guys," Igashu says to his fellow bull friends.

"Our families can't live this for the rest of their lives," a bull says.

"Yeah, I can't stand doing nothing," another bull says.

"Let's recruit others to fight with us. Ask around, especially those in similar situations as us, but be careful what you say. They might report us to Songaa and it'll be trouble for us," Igashu says.

His bull friends agree and went their separate ways to recruit allies.

-

As time passed, Igashu and his bull friends managed to gather enough support to even the playing field against Songaa and his followers. However, word broke out and Songaa readied his bulls.

In an open field, two sides are preparing for battle. Songaa stands behind his bulls and orders them to take down the enemy. Igashu and his bulls charge forward and the battle between bulls takes place. They are evenly matched, each bull ramming into one another. Songaa gets tired of watching and decides to join the battle.

"What do y'all think y'all are doing?!," Songaa yells out. "What do y'all expect to gain by going against me and my bulls?! Y'all will just lose everything that y'all hold dear!"

He starts ramming nearby enemies. Igashu and his bulls start to feel uneasy when Songaa enters the battle. The majority of them fear him and his might.

"Do y'all even think y'all can beat me?! I'm the strongest bull on this field!," Songaa continues.

"We have to take down Songaa," Igashu says to nearby friends. "Take him out and all of this will be over. I'll charge head first and y'all ram him in all directions."

Igashu starts rushing towards Songaa. His heart is beating faster as he approaches him. Songaa notices him and charges head first towards Igashu. Both heads collide against one another. Igashu is barely holding on.

"Now!," Igashu yells.

Igashu's friends start ramming Songaa on the sides. Songaa is able to withstand the first few blows, but the constant barrage takes a toll on him and he falls. The damage done to Songaa cripples him and he's unable to do any strenuous activities. Most of the Songaa's bulls give up while a handful continue to fight until they're beaten. Igashu and his friends become victorious and they cheer.

-

Once the battle was over and everything settled down, Igashu and his fellow bulls met up to discuss who would be best to take charge of the herd. Igashu was one of a few to be selected to, but Igashu declined. He supported one of his closest friends to guide them to their new life. A vote was decided and Chu'a, Igashu's closest friend, became the new chief.

With no worries left and knowing the herd is in good hands, Igashu decides to go to the far corner to live the rest of his days in his birthland.

-

After a year, another of Igashu's friends finds Igashu and tells him that Chu'a is out of control and that he is abusing his powers.

"Igashu, I need your help. Chu'a has changed. I don't recognize him any longer. He kills those who are against him, even his family and friends. Chu'a is worse than Songaa!," his friend says. "You're his closest friend, talk some sense into him!"

"Alright, let's head there now," Igashu says.

"We should head there later tonight. The other bulls will be less likely to see us when we can confront Chu'a," his friend says.

-

Night arrives and Igashu and his friend head towards Chu'a's territory. Following behind his friend, Igashu thinks to himself and tries to find talking points to help persuade Chu'a to change his ways, but the only thing on Igashu's mind is how greed is a never ending cycle. Even if Chu'a changes his ways or is replaced, the next bull will want more of something, whether it be food, power, status, etc. They'll do whatever it takes to help themselves or help those closest to them and the cycle repeats itself. Igashu asks his friend something, but he doesn't respond. Igashu says it louder, but nothing. Igashu notices himself falling behind further and further. Igashu yells out to his friend as he's getting dragged backwards into a black tunnel. Unable to help his friends and save the herd, Igashu disappears in the dark abyss and becomes unconscious.

When Igashu wakes up, he returns to the place with the white sky and seven barns with the paintings.

- Break the cycle of greed.