Legend of the Forest

“We need to help him, ancient one. To let him perish among us without attempting to save the boy goes against all the fundamental teachings of our kind.”

“You still have much to learn, my little sapling. Our laws are just that, our laws. We cannot apply them to other species because every creature lives their life differently. Humans, more than any other creature, are the most unpredictable and least trustworthy of all.”

“As you have witnessed life for hundreds of years, I’m sure your point of view makes sense, but I cannot let him perish, knowing I stood by and did nothing. Together, we must try to save him.”

Lone Eagle was the name given to him by his father on the day he was born. The young brave had looked to the sky to give thanks to the Great Spirit for his healthy son when he spotted a lone golden eagle soaring gracefully overhead. He took it as a sign and christened the boy Lone Eagle.

A curious child from birth, his mother spent a good portion of her day keeping track of her inquisitive boy. The woods encircling their camp fascinated him. First by crawling, then by running on unsteady legs, he would head for the forest every time he could escape his mother’s watchful eyes. What fascinated him was the massive size of the trees. To this inexperienced youngster, these behemoths touched the sky.

When Lone Eagle reached the age of ten, he began accompanying his father on short hunting and fishing trips. Each time they entered the woodland, the burgeoning young man in him could feel the magnetic draw of the trees tempting him to push deeper into the forest.

“Dad, what’s on the other side of the woods?”

“I can’t answer that question, son. Our tribe has found everything we have ever needed within one sun’s cycle from our camp. I’m not sure the forest has an end. What I know is there are dangerous creatures living deep in the forest where people do not dare to travel.”

“You mean no one has ever gone beyond one sun’s cycle? Never?”

“A few have gone on such a quest, but none has ever returned. I felt the forest tugging at my spirit when I was your age, but I struggled against its pull until I won the battle. You need to do the same. Do you understand, Lone Eagle?”

“Yes, father. I understand.”

He did understand what his father was telling him, but he knew sometime soon it was a battle he couldn’t win.

It wasn’t long after this conversation that Lone Eagle’s resolve was tested. He was foraging for berries at the edge of the forest when he spotted a plump rabbit bound past the tree line. Returning home with such a prize was far better than a basket of berries. Besides, he now possessed his first tomahawk and felt it was time to show his skills with the tool. Lone Eagle set off on his quest.

The future warrior’s hunting skills, not as honed as they would eventually be, found keeping up with the wily rabbit challenging. Each time Lone Eagle got within striking distance of his target, the furry creature would bound off deeper into the forbidden part of the forest. This game of “catch me if you can” lasted for several hours. Finally, as dusk asserted its dominance over daylight, Lone Eagle realized he had become hopelessly lost among the towering trees. Most ten-year-olds would allow panic to take control, but not this future warrior. Instead, he pushed panic from his mind and replaced it with his father’s teachings. He sat with his back against a sturdy sapling to assess his situation.

The sharp snap of a dry twig and the rustle of shrubs immediately pulled Lone Eagle from his musings back into the here and now. He scanned his immediate surroundings looking for the source of the disturbance. Lone Eagle knew how quickly roles could change in the forest, from being the hunter to becoming the hunted. As the alpha wolf emerged into the clearing, the boy knew this was exactly what had happened as the rest of the pack joined their leader. Brandishing his tomahawk, Lone Eagle prepared himself for what he knew would be his first and final battle.

“Ancient One, please! We must do something now! He is brave, but I can feel the fear in him as he leans against me. I am sending his feelings through my roots into our shared system so you may all feel what he is experiencing. Now you may know his terror. Can we simply stand here passively and let this noble child perish by a pack of bloodthirsty wolves? I know I can’t!”

“You have made your point, young one. It is time to act!”

The pack, taking slow, measured steps, encircled Lone Eagle. They bared their fangs and uttered low, menacing growls as their attack circle slowly shrunk in size. The alpha appeared to take pleasure in the terror his pack was creating in this young human. He remembered the way humans had hunted his family when he was a mere pup. This was payback for him.

The air grew noticeably still, briefly catching the approaching pack’s attention. Every tree in the immediate area slowly vibrated. Lone Eagle stood stupefied by the scene. As the vibration increased in intensity, it created a humming sound. The high-pitched sound wreaked havoc with the wolves’ sensitive hearing, forcing them to scatter in every direction. The alpha was the last to surrender his long-sought-after prize.

Now that it was safe, the trees created a pathway to the outskirts of the forest and Lone Eagle’s village. Overwhelmed with gratitude, the young brave ran his hands along as many branches as he could. When he reached the forest perimeter, he turned and shouted, “Thank you, my brothers. I will never forget the kindness you have shown me today.”

Lone Eagle grew into a powerful leader and chief of his tribe. The legend of the forest is told to this day.