THE PRINCESS THE BEAR & THE OWL

a bedtime story

THE PRINCESS THE BEAR & THE OWL

 

There once was an Indian village tucked away on the river’s edge. White water wrapped around the mountain, spilling into a clear, still pool.  It was rich land, good for farming dark ebony soil loose and flaked in minerals glistening in the sun lined the garden. Which sat at the base,of a large rock faced cliff. The garden was always filled with more than enough. The older children tended the garden while the men hunted,  and the little ones fished. The old women wove garments, while the mothers cooked and wintered food. Everyone did their fair share. They shared this ground with a family of wolves. The tribe and the wolves raised their offspring side by side. The wolves even did their share by keeping out unwanted visitors and pests from the garden.

 

This was Ela's twelfth harvest and to prove her soul pure to the forest and her heart fearless, it was her task to take a basket of corn to her grandma's. The grandma lived in the village on the other side of the forest. Her Cherokee name means earth and this task will empower her namesake.

 

That night at the fireside everyone told tales of the forest and though the evening and the fire was warm, the young girl felt a cold chill run up her spine, as the stories took hold of her imagination. She was happy to get in her own bed where she slept safe and warm. In the morning her mother waited for her to awake, she had a wonderful gift to give her before she left out on her trip. For this trip her mother had worked all summer on a berry-stained cape that was as red as the setting sun on a hot summer's eve. The cape was crested with beads of red and burnt orange and lined with feathers of white. She also gave her a gourd filled with fireflies; a perfect  little lantern for her trip in the dark.

 

So our little Ela was ready for her trip. From the first step she took in the forest she could hear someone or thing shadowing her. As the day wore on she was less afraid. Soon she was eating berries and skipping behind a bullfrog. Nightfall would come early in the cover of the forest. So she sat down for a rest and checked on her fireflies, and admired her mother's handy work. The cape was clasped with a claw of a bear. A large stick broke behind her and a great bear appeared.

 

"Why are you in my forest?" He demanded.

 

"I'm on my way to my grandmothers." She said standing her ground.

 

He growled deep and low "Where did you get that claw?"

 

"Why from my mother". She cried.

 

"I have a cousin that has been missing for three full moons". He snarled.

 

The back of his neck hackled and his dagger like claws pierced the earth. The stair of his eyes burned her own till tears flooded them. She scooped up her basket, and the wind kicked up behind her as she ran with all her might. Her new feather lined cape bellowing in the breeze as she ran. The shadow of the bear was about to overtake her, when a great spotted owl snatched her up, and flew her into a nearby tree.

 

"Thank You!" She cried. He only nodded and flew away. Her breathing was just about to quiet when the bear pushed down the tree and he would have eaten her for sure, but appearing from nowhere was father wolf, which lived in her village. Piercing blue eyes with a hint of mankind staring from them made the black bear nervous. His coat was a mix of silvery-gray and brown with his edges tipped in black. The bear had no desire to fight father wolf over such a messily morsel, so he left fussing and mumbling under his breath. Little Ela hugged father wolf. "So you have been following me" she squealed. He only smiled. She dusted off her cape and picked up her basket. The two of them headed out to her grandma's house. As she whistled and sang "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?"

 

Reviews

[Laughing-Bear]

My Dear Writing Friend,
I loved this story, is it based on Deep Time lore? While on vacation I’ve been reading a book titled “Northern Tales”, its stories of First Nations peoples from Deep Time. You word tapestry reminded me of something that would be found in it, a story that teaches a truth, we are watched over and really have little to fear but fear its self.

Blessings, Laughing-Bear

[Cherrie Palmer]

I wanted to put a new spin on little red riding hood

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

I so enjoyed this I felt like a child once again! Great Write!

[The Rock And Roll Cowbo..]

In the beginning I just got lost in the wonderful imagery... the story speaks so wonderfully of how we need to put the past behind us and coexist. Great story telling.