The Wrath Of Mount Tabaga







Abid Imane



 
© Copyright 2026 by Abid Imane

  

 Image by Michal Renčo from Pixabay
Image by Michal Renčo from Pixabay

I was tending to my livestock on the rugged slopes of Mount Tabaga, as I had done a thousand times before. But that day was different; the biting cold forced me to alter my usual grazing path, leading me down a hidden trail I seldom trod. Through the grey morning mist, my foot struck something soft amidst the frozen brush. Suddenly, a sharp, piercing squeal shattered the silence—I had accidentally stepped on a wild boar piglet.

In an instant, the thicket exploded. The mother sow charged from the shadows, a massive mountain of dark, bristling fur and pure, unadulterated fury. She was a terrifying sight: her small, bloodshot eyes burned with a primal rage, and her snout was wrinkled in a permanent, menacing snarl. Her tusks gleamed like dull ivory, ready to rend and tear. She didn't just run; she lunged with a terrifying speed that belied her muscular frame, the earth trembling under her frantic hooves.

She was inches from ending my life when my trained dogs threw themselves into the fray. Their fierce barking and brave intervention gave me the split second I needed. I turned and bolted, running until the world became a blur of trees and frost, gasping for air that felt like needles in my lungs.

When I finally reached a safe distance, I stopped, my breath ragged. Suddenly, a cold realization struck me: "My sheep! I left them behind. Should I go back? If I return now, she will surely kill me." I stood there, torn between the instinct to survive and the duty to my flock. I whispered to myself, trying to calm my racing heart: "Wait a little longer... let the storm pass. I will return soon; the dogs must have driven her away by now." I waited, my heart hammering against my ribs, watching for the moment Mount Tabaga would grant me safe passage back to my livelihood.


I am a writer and a novelist from Algeria, focusing on historical and literary narratives. Much of my work is inspired by the rural landscapes and the deep heritage of regions like Tebessa and Gelma, documenting the extraordinary lives of people in these ancient lands.


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