Green Feather Award, featured sci-fi stories (part 1)
Nature Nexus Institute was thrilled to co-present the Green Feather Award in 2023, a component of the Omega Sci-Fi Awards science fiction writing contest open to high school students throughout Los Angeles County. The Green Feather Award is a special prize for environmentally focused sci-fi stories that integrate creative solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises. We are excited to feature the two winning stories on our blog!
Our first award winner to be featured is Diana Pena, who is a student at Downtown Magnets High School. During her free time, Diana enjoys learning her grandmother's gorditas recipe and indulging in creamy strawberry popsicles. The Jurassic Park series has inspired her to write short stories about dinosaurs.
Painting the Way Through the Future
Los Angeles 2022
Her eyes glistened as she stared in delight at the T-rex skeleton displayed in front of her at the Natural History Museum. The 8-year-old child gripped her brachiosaurus plush, determined to find a way to bring the scaly, yet vividly colorful creatures back to the modern world.
After arriving home from her school trip, she snatched up fresh wet paint, various paint brushes, a cup of water and a medium large canvas. She dipped her brush in the green paint and swiftly moved it left to right to create the background, her fingers gripping the fragile thin wooden stick. She cleaned her used paintbrush and then dipped it in the white paint, breathing in the unpleasant odor of chemicals. This time she carefully drew a triceratops and long palm trees. She stood up after finishing her masterpiece, holding on to the canvas with admiration. “Perfect!”
“No matter what I have to do, no matter what I must sacrifice, I will bring these creatures back!” she said.
Los Angeles 2053 12:00PM - Labcorp
“Professor COS, please view this. It is urgent,” said Albert, a brown haired scientist holding out his tablet with its data. “Another pterosaur fell ill this morning on their way to Argentina with passengers on their back. The pterosaur’s brachial patagium stopped functioning, which caused their finger webs and claws to fracture.”
“This incident killed over 30 passengers and 7 were injured! Someone needs to send the California Animal Welfare Association over!” Louis shouted from behind Albert.
Professor COS jumped up from her seat and rushed towards Albert and Louis. Both of them were standing in front of a huge screen that monitored every detail of the dinosaurs’ movements. “More than 10 dinosaurs have died this past week. Dinosaurs are continuously dying as deforestation destroys their habitat. I am afraid that they will end up going extinct just as they did 65 million years ago unless something is done," Albert warned her.
“Has Governor Oliver taken action on this issue?” asked Professor COS.
Since the re-introduction of dinosaurs, first in California, the California state capitol had been moved from Sacramento to Los Angeles and the governor of California had obtained global power over dinosaurs.
“No,” stated Albert. “In fact, Governor Oliver is responsible. He has increased the growth of infrastructure and livestock due to the population's demands. This has in turn increased deforestation within the dinosaur habitats by 75%.”
Professor COS was silent for a second, speculating on why the Californian Governor had not prevented the death of the dinosaurs. She’d worked so hard to create a time machine -- using fossils she’d found in the desert of Mexico -- to bring back her beloved dinosaurs, yet why …?
She thought about how here, in Downtown Los Angeles, dinosaurs had been placed under the savage tyranny of humans. Pterosaurs were forced to replace planes. Brachiosauruses were forced to replace public transportation. Triceratopses were forced to replace automobiles. And Plesiosaurs were forced to replace water transportation. No freedoms were permitted. Humans didn’t deserve dinosaurs.
Professor COS ruffled her long obsidian wavy hair with her left hand, and took out her round crystal hard shell glasses with the other. She pinched her nose with disgust. After putting on her glasses, she pulled a small polaroid from her white lab coat pocket and stared at it. It was a picture of her younger self, holding on to her painting, with which she’d been profoundly infatuated. Her brown honey eyes were filled with joy and shone brighter than the sun. Now Professor COS’s eyes had eyebags and were dull like the antique doll her grandma had once given her.
“Ma would be disappointed in me,” she whispered, placing the polaroid back in her pocket.
Then she said to Albert, “Please put me in contact with Governor Oliver ASAP. I would like to speak to him regarding this issue. Tell him that I will be visiting him at LA City Hall at 2:00 PM.” She walked outside to get some fresh air.
Los Angeles City Hall 12:10 PM
Governor Oliver was sitting in his office chair, staring at the pleasant scenery of Downtown LA. Large tall buildings and busy roads were scattered everywhere across the city. The sun’s rays smiled at him. But his beautiful city was being ruined by the hideous scaly creatures that he detested enormously. It was all due to that famous professor.
“Sickening,” he spat out. “But all dinosaurs will be enslaved by the end of this year and my precious city will return to normality. I will make sure that all dinosaurs tirelessly serve humanity non stop until every last one is dead.”
His moment was interrupted when the candlestick phone rang beside him. He grunted as he picked up the phone and answered.
“Hello, Governor Oliver speaking.”
“Good afternoon Oliver, Albert speaking. Profesor COS would love to arrange a meeting in two hours regarding deforestation. Your infrastructure plans have decreased the lives of dinosau-- ”
“That is none of my concern. She created them, she can fight for their safety and freedom.” Oliver abruptly hung up the candlestick phone, glaring icily at it.
Back at the lab, Albert’s eyes were wide. He quickly called Professor COS to tell her the news.
“Professor COS! Governor Oliver won't cooperate. You need to take action. Please do it for the sake of the dinosaurs and for the environment. Mother nature has granted us the chance to live here. We need to protect her in return,” Albert said worriedly.
“I will go to the City Hall at this moment. Thank you for your help, Albert,” the Professor exclaimed. She grabbed her keys and phone and quickly rushed to her destination.
Los Angeles City Hall 1:11 PM
Before Professor COS stepped into Oliver's Office, she started recording on her phone in order to expose him.
Then the Professor barged in with anger showing in her eyes.
“Governor Oliver.” she shouted desperately. “Why won't you cooperate with us? In our current society, dinosaurs have the ability to live in cities similar to human beings. This shows how much society has changed over time. In the past, people believed that dinosaurs were monsters and should be feared. Now, we know that they are actually animals with feelings like humans. It is very important for us to learn more about other species on Earth so we can understand them better and not fear them. I worked extremely hard to bring these dinosaurs back to life and NOW YOU HAVE BEEN HARMING THEM WITH THE PROCESS OF DEFORESTATION. And harming the trees not only does harm to the dinosaurs but to all living creatures in the environment.
“There will be more carbon released from trees into our atmosphere. There will be an increase of zoonotic diseases as humans and creatures come into more contact. Many of our dinosaurs will lose their habitat!”
“Those pathetic creatures' only function is to serve humans,” Oliver responded, leaning towards his desk. “They don't deserve the same rights as us. Why should I listen to a fool like you? Do you believe that every human being here in LA loves dinosaurs? Have you considered the fact that children may be scared by their ferocious characteristics? I will make sure your time machine is destroyed and these dinosaurs become extinct once and for all.”
The Professor stared deeply into the Governor's eyes. She saw no emotions whatsoever. She slowly dove her hand into her lab coat pocket, reassuring herself that she had recorded every word this repulsive man had said.
“Then I will take my leave.” Professor COS turned around and left Oliver's office, wasting no time.
Outside of Los Angeles City Hall 4:00 PM
“PROTECT THE DINOSAURS, PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT!” shouted Albert holding a poster.
“OLIVER NEEDS TO RESIGN. WE WANT A NEW GOVERNOR WHO VALUES US!” a blonde scientist shouted with a sign in her hands.
The streets were filled with people of different backgrounds and ages who wanted to have their voices heard. Some were concerned about the dinosaurs. Others were concerned about deforestation, and still others about civil liberties. A leaked recording had exposed the truth about Governor Oliver.
The protesters noticed a weird figure following them as they marched through the streets. It was a large, previously extinct animal with a long tail and pointed teeth. As the dinosaur drew near, the audience stood still and gasped in amazement. They were reminded of the importance of scientific innovation and research.
Next to the brachiosaurus was Professor COS, a reflection of her younger self. Her brown hands gently massaged the dinosaur's leg. Albert walked up from behind, his hand softly patting the brachiosaurus, yet shifting his emerald eyes to Professor COS with determination, demonstrating that he would always have her back.
The Professor closed her eyes and breathed in. The brachiosaurus would serve to energize the crowd and inspire the next generation to fight for what they believe in.
