Bella couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw the sweet face of the baby elephant that Nathan and Ulwazi had rescued while Bella had been at school. The little one had been pulled out of the mud where she’d been stuck. She had so much personality, that Bella fell in love with her right away. Nathan had given Bella the honour of naming the infant calf, but unlike what Bella usually did - naming the baby elephants on sight - she took time to think about it. Her days had been so sad since Eli’s death. She’d been filled with, not just grief, but also with guilt. It had taken her so long to come to terms with the tragic truth that her baby brother was no longer existing on this earth. She’d felt close to the edge, slipping into the oblivion of depression, teetering on the whirlpool of mania. It was her little family that kept her grounded to her sanity. It was Mya’s loving hugs, Eryn’s excitable chatter, Nathan’s undying love, and of course now, another dream come true. She’d have the chance to work up close and personal with an elephant. A baby elephant! It brought so much opportunity for in depth research. First, the elephant’s name called for some research of its own. Something that would make Eli proud. Bella found the story of the infant prince Dutugamunu, Sri Lankan ruler during the second-century. At birth, the prince was gifted with an elephant who’d been discovered by a fisherman named Kandula. Named after the fisherman who found him, the elephant grew up beside the young prince.
Years later, Kandula was officially the royal mount. In the siege of Vijitanagara, although molten pitch had been poured on Kandula’s back, the elephant managed to break down a fortified gate. The elephant became even more renowned when King Dutugamunu defeated his South Indian rival, King Elara, by slaying him in battle while mounted on Kandula. It was this heroic battle that led to the unification of Sri Lanka, something rather important in history. Ithemba’s elephant deserved a name of such importance. “I have a name for our newest member,” Bella said with a wide smile as she walked into the home office where Nathan was focused on paperwork. She gently pushed back his chair and claimed his lap. “I’ve been doing my research and I found a name perfectly suited. Eli would be proud.” She smiled at Nathan. “Kandula.” Nathan looked at her questionably, making Bella chuckle. “I’ll explain on the way over there but… how about we go pay her a visit and see what she thinks of the name huh? We can take the girls to finally meet her.”
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Isabella Kaylee DwyerWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
December 2017
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