The Magic of Life Forces

The Magic of Life Forces

In the aftermath of the human celebration of Earth Day, deep in the forest, life teemed within and beneath tall trees and flowing ferns. Water dripped from the tips of branches and fronds, while an invisible mist from the plant life cooled the air, moistened all around. Deep under the soil, beetles and bugs, ants and grubs, tunneled to and fro sustaining short lives and reproducing more colonies of their kind. Squirrels scampered and flew tree to tree, gathering food for their families. Songbirds nested and sung, or if an eagle, nested and perched regal and silent in the tall old trees. Above the forest, life giving oxygen floated from trees and plants to drifting clouds to be shared with all living beings.

Disappearing in the overgrowth, narrow trails made by larger animals, including humankind, could be seen with the elf’s sharp eyes. She was Nythriale - a guardian of the forest. She welcomed humankind as long as there was no mischief of cutting, hauling and clearing. Her own kind lived deeper in the forest, each community protecting the land, trees and mountains from destruction. Another of the elfen kind lived and guarded on the grand wide stretch where open sky domed, gulleys and hills rolled and rivers flowed through the lands.

Today was a good day. The air was peaceful and gentle. The sun was warm at the trees tops, but coolness slid down it’s rays as it reached the forest floor. The only sounds were of birds singing and squirrels chittering, save for the occasional crash of an elder tree falling. When the grand elders laid down, the forest floor welcomed and thanked them for their sacrifice. Bringing their slowly draining energy, they provided shelter and foods to the forest residents. Then, very slowly, the elders became part of the forest floor to continue nurturing their home with the last of their earthly forms.

Nythriale smiled.

“Some infinities are bigger than other infinities.”

~ John Green, The Fault in Our Stars