Folksburywoods Story Blog

“Where is that bird? Doesn’t she know I have things to do before dawn?” said the vixen.

The fox scanned the horizon until it saw a bright spec approaching.

“Finally,” murmured the vixen.

“I’m sorry, Galeena, for being so late. The Dark Ones were prowling again,” said the owl.

“That makes four times this month already. Something must be afoot,” replied the fox.

Grasping the bottle in her jaws, Galeena bid goodbye, then dashed into the forest.

“Why are the Dark Ones appearing so often lately?” remarked Kiree as she rested.

In the time before, when the earth was very young, the people lived in darkness, causing them fear. The animals, feeling sorry for man, sent a raven to steal light.

“Here is the gift of light,” said the animals. “You must take it high into the sky each dawn.” Then you must collect it again each twilight,” the animals told man.

“We can not fly. How will we do as you have told us?” said the humans.

The animals talked among themselves and agreed to offer their services once again to man.

“The mighty owl will serve you at dawn. She will take the light high into the sky to start the sun,” the animals said.

“What about at day’s end, who will bring the light down?” the people asked.

Again, the animals talked, and again the owl agreed to fetch it back at day’s end.

“There is one last task,” said the animals. “Once the owl brings light down from the sky, you must take it. Keep it safe until the next dawn,” the animals said.

“We can not do as you ask, light will burn our homes and kill our children,” the people said.

The vixen offered to keep the light safe in her earthen den. There, it could not harm anything.

The people rejoiced and thanked the animals for their kindness. They agreed to offer a tribute every year in honor of their friends, the animals.

Humans leave their homes on the shortest day of the year. They travel to stand in a circle around a great fire. The fire’s flames light the sky. Send a message: “We are thankful for the coming of the light. We thank our friends, the animals who gave it to us.”

Kiree woke from her sleep, stretched her wings, and flew to meet Galeena at the clearing.

“The way is clear, Kiree. Fly high,” said the vixen.

The owl grasped the light in her talons and then launched herself high into the air. “Time we get you back where you belong,” said the owl soaring into the black abyss.

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