Water Changes Things!

 

            When the people and their familiar beasts came back down out of the mountain, they found a changed world.
            A rather tentative sun shone above them as they trooped back down the same way they had climbed up two days before. The great Raven flew overhead. Her eye was on all below. From time to time the girl-child looked up to see black wings block the sun. She raised her hand toward the bird.
            Ralph led them into the forest. His feet sank deeply into the sodden soil, then the followers had the same experience. The column of travelers with muddy feet descended further, nearer home.
            A mist came up from the ground, smelling of forest loam and resinous plant life.
            An inquisitive wind came up the path, blowing the mist away.
            There were signs of heavy rain on the way down, but not flood as such.
            Ramona held Cherry tightly in her arms. Blue stayed beside Ramona’s feet. Berry and Bob walked on either side of Twigg behind Ramona. They looked solemnly left and right, staying right with the young man.
            Aunt Suzy, she who had been a queen in some time, whether past or future, no one knew, walked behind Twigg and the cats. Her step was measured, even stately. Last of all was Uncle Bob, short in stature, but earnestly taking care on the trail.
            “Oh, Ralphie, look at it,” he said when they walked out into the open meadow.
            Small pools of water still lay on the ground here and there. But the sun was shining as if to encourage the grasses and flowers to stand again, and the grass was indeed reaching up to the sky.
            “It’ll be alright, Bob,” said Ralph. “Let’s go see how your Stump House made it through the flood.”  
            There was enough standing water to clean the walkers' feet as they traveled on.
            At last everyone stood before the Stump House. Its door still held. The fire pit was gone and would have to be rebuilt, but no great harm was done. In fact, the meadow was higher than the Home Clearing. Uncle Bob and Suzy stayed there, and Ralph led his family on.
            “Birdie!” called Ralph, “Will you go see Thaga and Ooog? Tell them that we are back down from the mountain. Ask them if they are also well.”
            “Yes, I will,” Maeve said, and she left them walking home.
            The path left the meadow and went down the familiar way into the forest. Here the ground cover looked ravaged. It was a solemn homecoming.
            Ralph’s favorite log was there of course, being much too heavy for even a flood to carry away. However, the flood had carried away his stash of cigars and beer. The cigar box and both sixpacks of Heineken were gone without a trace left behind.
            “Could be worse,” said Ralph. Ramona nodded, holding on to Cherry tightly.
            More mist rose from the ground. Water dripped from the firs.
            Maeve returned. She silently lit on Ralph’s shoulder as he walked.
            “Well, Birdie, what did they say?” said Ralph.
            “They are well. Their house was not damaged. The garden will need some work,” said Maeve. “They are grateful to hear that your people and yourself are well and back home.”
            “Thank you, Maeve,” said Ralph.
            The Home Clearing looked washed, as if some gigantic hand had scrubbed it with an impossible amount of water and left it to dry in the sunlight.
            “Ralph, will you open the door. I’m a little afraid to look,” said Ramona. She stood beside her circle of river boulders. There was no trace of a fire ever having burnt there. Nothing was left but the stones.
            The seating logs had rolled a little, but were there.
            “Yes, Mona, I will,” he said and undid the latch and pulled the green painted wooden door, the door made by Ooog, open.
            “The door did its job, Mona. There is just a little water behind the it. Not much at all,” said Ralph.           
            “I was afraid,” she said quietly.
            “We need fire. Twigg and I will go find some wood, then we’ll go get some fish, and life will go on,” said Ralph, looking more like himself.
            And so, after the flood in the Great Forest, life did go on as it always does.
            The river was back in its bed as before.
            The fish were handy and obedient, and the wind helped things dry up nicely.

🐟