Bartlett and Anjou

At the heart of the forest, there was a circle of cornstalks. Each stalk was fifteen feet tall. At the center of the circle was a pear tree stretching forty feet in the air. The mystical place was a blessing to any who found it. The ears of corn were two feet in length, delicious, and regrew every month. The pear tree had the most sumptuous fruit to be found. Even more interesting was stumbling upon a deer in the area that had been eating the corn or pears. Each whitetail deer that consumed the fruit was nearly twice the regular size.

Bartlett and Anjou were legendary trackers. They had heard stories of the mystical heart of the forest. They were even named after types of pears by their parents, but the heart of the forest had not been seen in living memory by any of their people. Bartlett and Anjou had provided food for their people well and for many years. However, a drought was beginning to affect the forest. Bartlett and Anjou travelled further and further into the forest to bring back food but had yet to see the heart of the forest.

The drought became so overwhelming that Bartlett, Anjou, and their people decided to move further into the forest. If they could not find the heart of the forest, they could at least find more game or fruit. Days later, Bartlett was looking south and saw one of the famed, massive whitetail deer. He froze, unable to fire an arrow at the majestic creature. However, he and Anjou hurried back to the people and let them know they were near the heart of the forest. After hearing the description of the whitetail deer, the people were divided. Yes, they were starving, but what affect would this new food have on them? Would they change like the whitetail deer?

Bartlett and Anjou were scouting the forest again the next day. They encountered a pack of coyotes. They were not larger than normal but were looking to take down a larger whitetail deer. Eventually, they succeeded. Anjou had an idea to follow the coyotes and observe what happened to them. In the meantime, one of Anjou’s people was so desperate for food, he had found the mystical pear tree and eaten one of the pears. He immediately passed away. Now the people began to complain to Bartlett and thought they should move away from the heart of the forest. However, Anjou came back to them with the story of the coyotes. They had eaten the whitetail deer. Days later, they seemed fine. Anjou hypothesized that the deer digested the fruit and corn so that the people did not have to. They could simply enjoy the meat of the deer safely.

Years passed, and the coyotes and humans had significantly dropped the whitetail deer population. Back home, the drought had lifted, and the people decided it was best to return to their land and farm it. Bartlett and Anjou had a child and had taught her everything to know about the heart of the forest. If the people ever needed to come back for food, she could lead them back and feed them again. More importantly, she started the sport of coyote hunting, both as a source of hides and to help the deer population return.

Gala, for that is what her parents named her, also set out to explore other parts of the forest. She would go on to find what she called the stomach of the forest. Four circles of corn surrounded apple trees with luscious fruit. Of greater significance, the fruit and corn were all the correct size, but still regrew at astounding rates. After testing each tree and corn circle, she still maintained strong health. Once again Gala relocated the people, and they were able to feast for many years under her guidance.