Hi, I’m Ellie and I’m two years old. My mother, father, and I love to walk around with the herd and explore the savannah. I used to have a big brother named Elliot, but he’s gone now. Mom says he got captured by humans. I don’t know what or who these humans are, but they are mean, and because of them, I don’t have anyone to play with.

It’s bath time, the best time of the day. I have a blast with everyone in our herd. Suddenly, we hear a loud sound—a sound I have never heard before. It’s a sound louder than trees falling, louder than thunder. Everyone’s happy faces turn upside down and are replaced by worried expressions. I hear dad telling mom to go. I have so many questions in my head, but there’s no time to ask. I run with mom as fast as I can and try to keep up with the herd.

Dad isn’t running with us. We keep running, going further and further away. I can hear dad and other adults screaming, “Go away, stay away from us!”

They are screaming so loud.

I keep running, even though I feel tired. My heart leaps every time I hear that deafening sound. We enter a different area of the jungle and stay there all night. Some others return and mom asks them about my dad. One dad replies, “He’ll... come soon.” My face lights up hearing this, but mom just nods like she understands something very important.

The next morning we go to see my dad and the others. I am tired and hungry, but I really want to find my dad. While we walk I see tears streaming from my mother's eyes. I ask her what’s wrong, but she doesn’t answer.

We continue walking. I feel dizzy, hungry and I’m so, so tired. I want to tell mom how I’m feeling, but my throat is so dry and I can't get any words out. Just then, everything turns to black.

When I open my eyes, the world looks so beautiful.

I can see two elephants ahead. The bigger one seems familiar. He has a big scar just like my dad. Just then it hits me, it is my dad. But I’m not sure who the other elephant is. As I run towards my dad I scream, “Mom, I found dad! Come on!” But when I turn around, she isn’t there.

I ask dad who the other elephant is and he says, “This is your brother, Elliot”. I feel so happy to see my brother for the first time. He looks just like my mom described…. but, where is she?

Dad says, “She’ll come when it’s time.”