Pov: Vik
This research lasted over two years, but humans did not achieve any satisfying results. Finally, Chakor was released from his cage, but to his horror, the research did not stop; it entered a new phase. Researchers began observing Chakor and other birds of his species. They already knew these birds had an intense desire to fly to the moon since birth, but their mortal bodies prevented them from reaching it.
Humans, being the dominant species on Earth, advanced to a point where they could explore beyond their planet. They ventured into space to discover other celestial bodies like their own. They launched numerous projects to find life on other worlds, but these efforts had failed thus far. However, they made many discoveries about the universe, and the moon, being the closest celestial body, became humanity's first site of exploration. For decades, humans have considered the moon their backyard.
So, humans decided to help Chakor fulfill his lifelong dream, a dream shared by his ancestors and many generations before him. Through voting, they resolved to send him to the moon in a specialized cell during their next mission.
Preparations were soon completed. They built a special cage for Chakor, designed to reduce the impact of the rocket's takeoff. They also put him through a training program. Chakor was not the only bird chosen, but he was the only one who survived; the others either died or were seriously injured.
Chakor completed the training program, and next, he was taken to the launch facility, where he was placed in the special cage, which was then secured in the rocket.
Chakor felt terrified. He had barely survived the experiments the researchers conducted on him for two years. Now he was in a cage inside a metal object. He had witnessed many of his species die from similar experiments, but he survived not due to any special qualities. He survived because he understood one word spoken by the humans: "moon." Researchers referred to that bright object in the night sky as "THE MOON." Gradually, he began to understand human language. Whenever he heard that word, it motivated him to keep living and survive until he saw the moon again.
He heard humans say that he would reach the moon if he survived this metal giant. He decided he would endure this challenge too and finally attain the freedom he craved.
Soon, the rocket's engines ignited and lifted off. The G-force built up inside the rocket, and Chakor faced it, resisting until the force made him lose consciousness as the rocket flew toward the moon.
The rocket completed its flight path and touched down on the moon, unloading the pod containing Chakor. This pod was equipped with a life support system and an ignition engine to return him to Earth after one hour.
As the pod landed, the life support system checked Chakor's condition and sent data back to Earth. If he survived, they would wait one hour before taking the pod back. If he died, they would leave the pod as it was. Fortunately, due to luck and his strong will, Chakor survived.
He woke up from a small electric shock and saw the surface of the moon through the thick but clear glass of the pod.
This adventure was broadcast live back on Earth. Surprisingly, the broadcasting rights generated a substantial revenue, making the mission a great success. Many humans wanted to see how Chakor would react upon reaching the moon. The story of the moon and the moon bird was finally reaching an ending.
Unlike the colorful lights and love stories, Chakor was feeling something horrific, something that would change his life and the fate of the world. As he stared at the moon's surface, his first thought was why it was so barren. He began to question what he had seen and heard from the humans, who told him they would send him to the moon. But he found himself on a desolate landscape, devoid of life.
He did not see any trees, grass, or even animals. The moon he admired from the ground shone brightly, but now it looked like a lifeless desert. This was not the paradise he imagined but rather a desolate hell, one that couldn't even support any devils.
He started questioning his life choices. Was this the place he wanted to reach? Why had he been so eager to fly to the moon? Why did generations of his kind risk their lives to come here?
Now standing on the moon, he remembered the mountains back home, which he thought were far more beautiful than any rock on the moon. Why did he gaze at the moon as a newborn when his nest in a tree was priceless compared to any moon rock?
Yet, time did not wait. Soon, the pod ignited its engine, preparing for takeoff, this time more manageable due to the moon's weak gravity. Their destination was Earth, the home Chakor missed dearly.
This journey was riskier than the last since Chakor was already exhausted, but he held on to life. He longed to return home to the place he had overlooked, the place that had given him everything.
He had always gazed at the sky, seeing the moon as his heaven, when his true paradise was right below. Thinking this, he slipped back into unconsciousness as the pod reentered Earth's atmosphere, creating a huge impact. But he held on, wishing not to chase the desolate moon anymore but to return to the shade of the trees on his mountain.
This wish felt like a dream, yet, as if the universe heard him, a miracle occurred: he reached Earth still alive. Afterward, humans celebrated the mission's success, achieving excellent results. Chakor, the focal point of the mission, was rewarded.
Researchers wanted to conduct further studies, but most humans decided to free Chakor. He had become a hero to many who watched the live stream of the moon mission. So they sent him back to his home in the Moon Hills, and this time humans did not wish to research his species any further since they had already spent enough time uncovering its secrets.
After that, Chakor lived a happy life, savoring every day as if it were his last. In the forest, he persuaded others of his species not to pursue the moon until their deaths. He shared the truth about the moon, helping them appreciate their home more than any heaven.
However, this peace was short-lived. A major event occurred a few months after Chakor's return. Humans till this day call it the first calamity, marking the beginning of events that would change the very foundation of their world.