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The wise old owl saves the day

Owl wisdom is not a myth

By Ellen MoyerPublished 2 years ago 6 min read
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The Owl sat high on his tree in the woods near the popular canyon hikers like to explore. It was near time to go hunting but he was uneasy. The air felt heavy and acrid. He smelled it. There was smoke in the air. Smoke meant fire. Fire that could make his tree into ash. Danger. Time to move on.

But below him was a tent that two people had pitched earlier preparing for tomorrows hike. Fire was danger to them too and he would warn them. Owl descended to the top of the tent and let out a screech. There was no response do he screeched again and again and finally there was a stirring. A zipper moved and a head looked out and surveyed the Forest. Another screech and the head turned to see the 12 inch bird with the heart shaped face and big eyes on the tent top. “What the Sh.. are you being so noisy sbout big bird?” Another screech and Bud smelled the acrid air too.”Smoke! Fire!”

Bud moved back inside and shook Anna. “Wake up! There is a fire nearby we have got to move. Pack your backpack and let’s haul out of here. Maybe we can make it to the parking lot.”

Groggily Anna emerged from the tent. Boots in, backpack slung over her shoulder wondering what to do. “Let’s haul our ass out of here” . Bud headed back the way they had come.

“Wrong way” thought Owl who took to the air flapping his wings and screeching. A coyote with her pups came racing by. Bud got the message and turned to head for higher ground.

“This won’t do” though Owl. “They are too slow hauling all that junk on there back”

Ths trail crossed a stream with stepping stones, slippery with moss. Anna slipped into the cold mountain stream drenched she still held on to her back pack. “Water should be good for safety. Let’s follow it”. And so they left the path and hiked along the stream until it unexpectantly started down hill. Owl who stayed with them saw the waterfall over the ridge and also a cave nearby that looked like a place to ride out the fire. He flapped his wings and led a pondering Bud to a rock pile that had fallen off the cliff face that could be traversed to the cave below. He soared down and flew around the cave to show the way. Bud maneuvered over the rocks helping Anna slide on her butt. And they reached the cave ledge as Orange began to appear on the ridge above.

Anna opened her precious backpack to find some dry clothes. Owl sat on the ledge beside them as they watched in horror and see as the fire torched the trees above. Spreading her wet clothes to dry Anna heard a noise. Searching behind her she discovered a little mountain Lion cub curled against the back wall sans mama. They were not alone. Owl kept his distance knowing that at a future time he would be lunch for the Lion. But for now all was well. Bud searched for some trail mix and found a jerky that he gave to the cub.

“Let’s pitch the tent to protect us from the weather and … “ as they struggled with the pop up Anna slipped on a loose stone and sprained her ankle. Fussing and cussing she saw a graceful moving shape on the box canyon wall. Mama was coming home.

Mother Lion was perplexed by what she saw in her home. Her cub was there. She growled and was about to bounce when Owl landed on her back with a loud screech. His talins could do significant damage but he chose not to use them yet. Her baby was safe and was calling. She jumped on by and rushed to him dropping a very dead rabbit at his feet for dinner. Than she cuddled up against the back wall too. Given the danger above it looked like all would linger peacefully for awhile.

The smoke lingered for 24 hours. Some seeping into the canyon. Bud and AnNA stayed in their tent. Owl stayed on the tent roof. The lions cuddled along the wall. When voices were heard Owl flew to investigate. The fire had scorched everything it had touched, burned itself out over a meadow that was surrounded by stone cliffs above the timberline. The voices seemed to be men in red protective clothes Rangers, firefighters also surveying the damage and ready to rescue anything recueable.

Owl flew to them flapping his wings and screeching. One of the men, Al who worked with hawks, understood the frantic actions of big birds. He agreed to follow Owl. Owl led him to the ridge of the rock fall where he could see the tent perched on the ledge of the cave. “Looks like we have some humans to rescue “he reported to his buddies.

Max, the leader of the group and most experienced rock climber agreed to return to the cave to assess the situation. He would call his buddies on his fragile cell service iphone. With Owl leading ghe wayMac manuerved the rocks and reached the cave ledge. He spied Mama and her cub, speaking softly to hurl any alarm hecalled into the tent . Bud appeared unzipped the tent door and appeared healthy but shaken. Anna foot was swollen and needed support. Mac found cloth in the backpacks to bind it after applying cream from the pack first aid kit. The way out was challenging. The way down was a sheer cliff with ledges suitable for a goat or sheep or Lion but not for an inexperienced human . The way up over the rock pile was doable, tough climbing but he and Bud could do it. Anna with a swollen ankle was a different story. She would need a rope to haul her up. The backpacks and tent would be left behind. Anna objected. If a rope could haul her why not haul the backpacks too?

Mac scratched his head. Called to his buddies for rope. They carried short rope, shovels and picks with them. Bedding longer rope they combined the loops off of the five of them. Hitching one end over a burned tree stump they pitched to rope over the rock slide where it got hitched between two rocks.

Owl seeing the dilemma flew to the rope end. Catching it in his powerful jaws he hitched it free and carried it as far as it would reach towards the ledge. Slipping it through the backpack and under Annas arme and around her waiste the three began the arduous climb out of the canyon. Mama watched warily but made no move to interfer with getting her home back.

Mac chose his path through the rock slide carefull to avoid difficult climbs over high rocks. Bud made it out in an hour and helped the buddies keep the rope tight and shorter as they helped Anna climb too. Her foot in pain caused her to rest frequently. But she too arrived at the top greeted by a big eyed Owl.

It was obvious Anna could not hike far so Mac elected to call for a plane request. No helicopters were available but a plane with a basket rescue line was. It arrived within the hour.Anna was basketed up to the Piper cub. Bud too went in the plane. And lastly 2 Backpacks, tent and an Owl were hauled aboard.

Owl thought there should be a tree near Bud and Anna’s home, maybe one with a hollow suitable for a nest, and with plenty of mice around for meal time. Life was good. He was soaring in a big bird toward a new life in a place near his new friends , friends that he had protected from fire and lions .He would always be nearby to help them again if ever help was needed. He flapped his wings and let out a low screech to the applause of 4 Hands. Yes life was good for the wise old Owl.

Adventure
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