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  River along the Hidden Falls Trail - Grand Teton National Forest, Wyoming
 © 2006-2007 David Bromden.
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Dulu is the leader of Sembuh’s clan. He is counted first among the orangutan group. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word dulu means first.

Antara is Dulu’s mate. Before Dulu, she was mated to Antik. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word antara refers to one who is between. Her role within the clan is one that helped smooth the transition of leadership in the group when Dulu took over for Antik.

Kado is the Yellow-breasted Warbler bird whose gratitude to the orangutan species compels him to help Sembuh in a time of need. His help and friendship is a gift Sembuh will always cherish. In Bahasa Indonesia the word kado means gift.

Bunga is the Sumatran Rhinoceros whose gruff first impression belies the gentle heart she possesses. Her personality, once revealed, is a blossom of generous beauty. The Bahasa Indonesian word bunga translates to English as flower. Tangguh is the Sumatran Tiger introduced very early in the story. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word tangguh translates to English as tough, or hard to defeat. Tangguh is a strong male tiger in the prime of his young adult life, certainly fit to carry that name.

Cinta is Tangguh’s mate. She is the tigress who has captured Tangguh’s heart and shares his life. She helps him hunt and lovingly cleans him when he gets messy. The Bahasa Indonesian word cinta translates in English to the word love.

Terbang is the Giant Spotted Flying Squirrel that spends as much time as possible up high in the trees. There is nothing that Terbang enjoys more than riding the wind as he leaps from tree to tree. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word terbang means to be aloft, or to fly.

Konco is Terbang’s best friend. In Bahasa Indonesia, konco means friend.

Lapar is the Golden Jackal that hungrily searches the forest for food. The scavenger is very familiar with the pains of an empty stomach and in Bahasa Indonesia, the word lapar means hunger.

Sembuh is the brave young Sumatran Orangutan who’s incredible mind helps the injured boy in the story on a path toward healing. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word sembuh means to heal, or to recover.

Ibu is Sembuh’s mother. In Bahasa Indonesia, the word Ibu means mother.

Antik is the wise elder of Sembuh’s clan. The Bahasa Indonesian word antik translates to English a the word old.

The animals featured in "Gathering in the Mist" can all be found in the rainforests of Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The forest scenes in the story take place on the island of Sumatra. Many of the animals that live in Sumatra are threatened with extinction today. Human population and development in the area is expanding into the wild places and the resulting destruction of jungle habitat has placed many species at risk for survival. Recent tsunamis and earthquakes striking the region have also had an impact.

The language spoken in much of Indonesia is called Bahasa Indonesia. All of the names used for the animal characters in "Gathering in the Mist" are derived from Bahasa Indonesian words. The meanings behind the animal names are listed here, sequenced in the order the characters appear in the story. Several animals remain unnamed in the story, but their species deserve mention here. Among them are the Malayan Pit Viper, Anoa (a deer-like buffalo), Sun Bear, Mentawai Leaf Monkey, White Backed Vulture, Malayan Tapir, and the Clouded Leopard. Each of these and the species featured in character throughout the story are unusual in their own ways and it is my sincere hope that through a little reality mixed with fiction, I’ve done them no injustice in the telling of "Gathering In The Mist". As residents in an ever-shrinking habitat, they deserve to be known and admired, before they vanish from the wild forever.

To learn more about these and other animals, I recommend the Web sites listed below. I referenced these sources when seeking to verify the behaviors and traits I assigned to the characters in the story. Whenever possible, my descriptions of the animals do align well with facts derived from scientific research. That research and more can be found on these sites.
www.animalinfo.org
www.animalplanet.com
www.arkive.org
www.blueplanetbiomes.org www.canids.org
www.mangoverde.com
www.wildkingdom.com
www.zoo.org