08 - Spirit
This happened last week: On her way through the forest Little Red stops by every tree, gives it a name and hugs it while singing a love song for it. In return the trees throw a lot of fresh fruit on her head.
The married couple went hand in paw through the forest, and they would have faced any dangers squarely if they could. But today there were no dangers to face. Little Red found this strange, but Wolf didn't find anything at all.
Anyway, the sun was not shining at all, but this was because it was now past midnight. The rain was most definately falling however, but this made no difference to the mood of the two creatures making their way through the forest.
It is said that some men turn into werewolves when the moon is full. It is not said that some wolves turn into weremen when the moon is full. Probably because it isn't true. So Wolf wandered through the forest unchanged but for a soaked fur.
They walked for quite a while.
They walked into a big clearing with a lone tree standing in the centre.
The Spirit of the Forest lives in the heart of the forest. The heart of the forest is the clearing Little Red and Wolf just walked into. Most people never know this, and most people pass the Single Tree and thinks of it as just another tree among a million. Perhaps a bit older, perhaps a bit more furrowed. Perhaps grander, perhaps more intelligent. But just a tree, nonetheless.
People normally pass it and nothing happens.
What most people never know is that this tree is the Spirit. The difference between it and the other trees is that it is intelligent.
"Hello there," said the Spirit to Little Red and Wolf.
Oh, and it can talk.
Little Red and Wolf stopped, as one; froze, as one; turned, as one, and stared, as only a girl and a wolf can do. The sound seemed to come from nowhere in particular, but from the general direction of the tree. And in that direction was a tree.
Little Red turned to Wolf. "Did you just hear a tree talking?"
Wolf shook his head.
"Thought so," said Little Red. "Neither did I. Come on, let's -"
"I'm here, you know," said the Spirit. "You don't have to ignore me."
"Uhm," said Little Red and Wolf, as one.
"Hi," said Little Red uncertainly. "Who are you?"
"I am the Spirit of the Forest."
"Uhm, pleased to meet you," said Little Red. Then she added, "Sir."
"Sir?" the Spirit said. "I am His Almighty Spirit Of This Forest. I am He Who Gives And Takes Life. The 1 Who Decides Fate. You might want to call me God." The Spirit managed the tree-equivalent of a hearty chuckle. "I'm just kidding," it laughed softly. "Just couldn't help myself. Sorry."
"I.." Little Red started, "suppose.." she continued, "you.. don't.. meet.." she went on, "verymanypeople" she finished quickly.
"All too true," said the Spirit. "I spend all this time contemplating life as a rather immobile tree, then I make all these great little jokes, but no one is here to hear them."
After a while, it continued, "And the trees around here.. well.. you know, they're a bit daft."
Little Red nodded, "I suppose they might be. Haven't said anything to me, and I've been walking through the forest for over a week."
"Oh, not much conversation left in them, I'm afraid."
"But they used to have?"
"Yes. They used to talk an awfully lot. Could be quite a pain, they could. Ah.. those were the days.. but times are changing, and not always to the better, I'm afraid."
"What happened?"
"Ah, now, that's a long tale. Let's just say they got bored and shut up. Talking didn't get them anywhere, you see. Being rooted to one spot can be very frustrating."
"But you're still talking." It wasn't a question, more of a statement.
"Well, not really, not very often nowadays. Not many to talk to, as I said. Just thought I'd tell you that you shouldn't forget about your coffee machine."
Little Red blinked. "Coffee machine?"
"Er," said the Spirit in an unsure voice, "You're supposed -"
"How did you know?" Little Red interrupted.
The Spirit let out a sigh of relief. "You scared me there for a while. I'm psychic, you see."
That too.
"Psychic?" asked Little Red. "You can tell what's going to happen?"
"Yes."
Little Red thought. "So what is going to happen to me?"
"You're going to go to the house of your grandmother and save her."
"Yes, yes," said Little Red, "but before that?"
"Oh. None of that is important. The important thing is to remember your coffee machine. It might become handy at least once more."
And that was it. Except for one thing.
"Hum," hummed the tree as Little Red and Wolf was about to leave the clearing. "Pardon me for asking, but is that friend of yours a mute? He hasn't said a word all evening."
"Woof," said Wolf.