As told by Matilda, Red Kangaroo of the Australian Outback
The old ones taught us that fire is both destroyer
and creator. As a Flame Walker, I've learned to dance with both sides of this
ancient force. When the hot winds blow and the eucalyptus trees crackle with
warning, my mob knows exactly what to do.
You might think we'd bound away in fear when smoke
first tints the horizon. But we kangaroos have a deeper understanding of fire's
ways. For countless generations, we've been the unofficial firefighters of the
outback. Those powerful legs that let us hop? They're not just for show –
they're tools for fire management.
When small fires start, we don't panic. Instead, we
use our heavy tails for balance and our strong feet to stamp out emerging
flames. Thump, thump, thump – that's the sound of us creating
firebreaks, trampling down vegetation to stop the fire's spread. It's a dance
as old as the continent itself.
But our real mastery lies in reading the land. Long
before the flames appear, we sense the changing air, the drying earth. My mob
knows all the safe zones – those precious patches where the grass stays green,
where water lingers in hidden hollows. We've mapped every escape route through
our territory, knowledge passed down through generations of Flame Walkers.
The young joeys often ask why we don't just leave
when fire threatens. I tell them that this land is our home, and the home needs
protecting. Besides, fire brings renewal. After the flames pass, we're among the
first to return, helping to reshape the landscape. Our grazing patterns and
movement create natural firebreaks that protect the land all year round.
The most remarkable nights are those after a
controlled burn, when the Aboriginal people have worked their ancient fire
management wisdom. The air smells of ash and possibility, and new growth is
already stirring beneath the earth. That's when you'll find us, my mob and I,
hopping through the cooling embers, doing our part to keep the land in balance.
Some see us as just big-footed bounders, but we're more than that. We're guardians of an age-old dance between destruction and renewal, between danger and hope. When the flames come, watch for us – the Flame Walkers – moving with purpose through the smoke, keeping our ancient promises to this sun-scorched land.
Click here to explore the Weather Warriors printable set on Etsy
