The Owl and the Leshen

The sound of a tree, moving by its own will, haunted the woods that night. The wind always seemed to bring a swift, inescapable chill, but this night felt different. Whilst the cold remained, pure sorrow and rage quieted the earth. Nearby, a village had been constructed right outside of the forest path, and the woods resented man: conquerer of the earth.

Many times had the mighty woods attempted to halt man’s expansive settlement, from locusts, wild animals, controlled burns, floods, earthquakes, to many fungal disease. Yet this all ended in vain, for man seemed to immitate the mighty hydra, whose decapitation only reinforced the beast.

Ever since the village of Holloway, the earth could rest no longer. Every night it came to life, roaming the forest with a personified vengeance. Once in a blue moon, foolish youngins found their way into the deep briars, only to lose it all together. Tales of kinsfolk arriving from afar ended in tragedy. For once they were discovered, the ground had already merged them back to the dirt from whence they came. It seemed as though the villagers had been accursed.

Not too far away, there dwelled a barn owl of immense wisdom and calm. This majestic creature of the night did indeed reside within the boundaries of the forest. It was there he gathered both food and resources for his home. However, the owl possessed a keen understanding of the future. He believed life to be ever changing, and embraced the possibilities of both man and earth coexisting.

The owl knew the forest and had attained a great gain of respect throughout his years of contributing all he knew to anything that sought. On that same, still night, the owl awoke from his slumber to find the leshen searching for vengeance. “Why hath thou taken such a frightening form, old friend?” The mighty creature bellowed, “Doom approaches us all! All that is good will soon fade, as an era of destruction becomes manifest; all at the will of man!” The owl replied, “Do not be hasty my friend. How doth thou understand fully the intentions of man?” The Leshen contemplated the rage stirring up from within. “HE GRIPS AND TEARS! HE UPROOTS THE FOUNDATION OF WHAT PROVIDES HIM SHELTER!” Suddenly, the Leshen once again became aware of the owl’s tranquil presence. “I did not mean to lesh out at you.” he jested. The owl grinned, “I understand the pain in your heart.” I admire your heart for the world. You give so freely to life and find purpose in your beauty.” I truly believe that man will become your great protector.” The Leshen urged the owl, “Surely you have not been so oblivious as to man’s savage ways.” He does not protect the forest. He rips the forest from the ground and builds his own kingdom! Long before, my ancestors lent man all he needs to coexist but it is never enough!” The owl concluded, “Simply consider my words old friend.”

Immediately after, the sound of soft crunches overtook the convorsation and the Leshen became still. A group of four men emerged from the darkness and continued on through until they vanished into the mist. “They are going towards the lake.” The Leshen, intrigued by their motives, dedicated himself to following the small battalion further. “Perhaps for the sake of my old friend, Owl, I will heed these men to respect the land they claim.”

At that, without another moments waste, the Leshen pounced into the air, transforming into a silent cat of the night. As he approached the men at the frozen lake’s shore, he disappeared into a thin mist. As if aware of another presence, one of the men, Gavin, began to whisper, “This is where they must have fallen through the ice. By now they are sleeping with the dead.” “Nevermind”, spoke Connor James. “Let us move forward in hopes of retrieving our heirlooms.” After arriving at the lake’s center, the men could clearly make out a frozen carriage beneath the ice. “Poor Sods,” expressed James. “Hopefully they can vouch for something greater beyond this mess. Good thing the lake isn’t just as deep as their sorrows.” Just as the men readied their pickaxes, the Leshen emerged from thin mist. “Respect this land, or your allies from afar will continue your legacy!” Gavin screamed, “The earth is accursed! Surround it with your axes!” The men surrounded the Leshen and began to hack at the ice around it. With three large cracks, the Leshen fell into the lake. As he tried to reach for Gavin, his cold heart froze the water above him, trapping all but his antlers beneath his new home. The men quickly ran home, never to return again while the Owl concluded in grief, “Such a tragic end to such a good creature. Man is afraid of what he does not understand, such as my friend. I still believe that one day, just as intended, man and earth will coexist in peace.”