| The Force The clearing was a small one with deer feeding on the tender grasses. Birds scratched and pecked on their backs searching for small insects nestled in the hair. Flying from one to another as occasionally one would raise its head to glimpse any sign of danger approaching. A majestic Elk browsed the ground, head held high and mighty. The mighty antler rack magnificently displayed swooping over his muscled shoulders. A bugle trumpeted from his deep chords every now and then to tell the world he was there. Always on alert and legs tensed to leap to safety at a moments notice. Squirrels chattered in the treetops lining the grove, jumping excitedly from one limb to the next, sometimes over one another even. The banter and screaming of the Jays as they upset all in the area griping about everything they saw. Smaller brightly colored birds flew here and there displaying brilliant plumage to dazzle their female suitors, most of whom paid little if no attention to them strutting and fluffing feathers dancing exotically their tribal steps. Lush green grass mixed with brown and wild flowers blooming in splendid arrays of colorful faces dabbled in yellow, gold and rainbow hues. Each swaying in the gentle breeze to shed tiny minute seedlings further prolonging the species to bloom yet another season of colorful cheer. A fright green foliage canopied the forest edge shadowing the ground in cool spring scented smells. Thickets overgrew some areas like a barricade giving shelter and protection to smaller more vulnerable creatures darting in and out. Wolf and fox slipped by unnoticed along the shadowed edge, briefly showing a glimpse of their forms as they skulked along. Each avoiding conflict with one another they went on as if the other weren�t even there, but they knew. Eyes intent, observantly recorded every move unobtrusively. White tails immediately raised waving and twitching the air as nervous deer trembled and withers flinched ripples as they gazed at the sulking pair, the wolf being of more concern. But even the playful fox would torment and frighten a fawn into running in harms way into the waiting clutches of the wolf. The doe on the ready waiting to see if her offspring learned his lessons she had been teaching and remaining motionless even when apparent danger lurked. Having no smell to alert and notify a predator the fawn would lay camouflaged even in the open as sometimes a lurking carnivore would walk silently by the unnoticed helpless victim. Then the wind!!!!!!!! A mighty how went up as a torturous gale bent stems to place the delicate flower heads to the ground in frightful abandon. Grass lay horizontal under duress as the hurricane forces blew. Dark black clouds formed swirling masses of disfigured shapes over the grove. Limbs strained to the breaking point, some already succumbing to the torturous force rolled along the ground like paper in the gutters. Animals ran for cover, hiding where ever possible from the nightmarish howling winds. No deluge of rainfall, no sprinkles or drops fell, only the insistent wind. The calm serene landscape changed to turmoil as frightened animals sough the nearest shelter. The bear, fox, deer, wolf, and all other creatures of the earth gathered together to witness the destructive forces nature threw upon them all. Gathered in huddles the masses quaked with fear as the onslaught continued. Trees uprooted and falling across other natural beauties destroying all they touched. Searing heat began to appear out of the earth as it rumbled and shook. Ground rippled like foil as it seemingly rolled it crusty surface. Lightning bolts from every direction shattered the already unbearable noise to strike repeatedly into the ground and anything nearby. Howling screaming winds raised to a higher pitch as the turbulence grew stronger. THEN, out of the breaking cloud cover nearly dark black a lone figure appeared. Cowl and robe unstirred as he stood there arms crossed viewing the destructive forces at work. No expression was to be seen under the shadowed hood, blacker than any moonless night. A chuckle barely audible drifted over the frightened flock. Hair raising, chilling sounds raised the tempo as it grew and became louder. A drumming sensation accompanied the voice as it rang across the land. No understandable language or speech, just a voice. Vibrations sent shock waves out in wide beacons around the lone figure like heat waves in the hot dessert sun. still the gales continued their fury but not a ripple on the cloth covered figure. Then a movement as the figure reached and laid the hood back for a moment as gleaming red eyes beamed rays of deadly light like lasers denigrating everything it touched. Such fury and devastation man nor beast had ever seen. Then the beams turned green and everything it touched became whole again just as if nothing had happened. Such controversial actions and still yet had an unknown purpose. Then pulling the hood back in place, beams of cruel lighted energy withdrew into the dark sockets. The figure then moved to step down where there was nothing, but just as he stepped a small black cloud like apparition appeared under his foot. Each step was the same as he slowly walked down the mysterious stairway. Reaching the ground the earth seemed to wither and withdraw wanting nothing to do with the dark force. He gazed down and the earth calmed and lay still. Beasts of the meadows and forest had retreated back slowly as the figure neared the ground fully expecting it to float above the surface like a hovering bird, but it didn�t. it stepped forward a step at a time then stopped. He raised his hands and shouted. BE THERE ANY LIFE FORM TO DEFY MY WRATH? OR BE YOU ALL COWARDLY BEASTS OF NOTHING? SURLY AMONG YOU IS ONE BRAVE, STUPID PROTECTOR! YOU KNOW YOU WILL ALL PERISH ANYWAY AS I HAVE NO USE FOR INFERIOR MORTALS LIKE YOURSELVES! Then out of the forest shadows appeared a misty vision. Wavering and shimmering it spread a bright light over the edge of the forest. Then it vanished just as it came. The dark spirit unmoved but seemingly distraught over the erie event stood steadfast and searched for signs of rebellion amongst the huddled creatures. Seeing nothing intimidating he spread his hand and plants became ugly disfigured lost souls from the very depths of the earth. Slow lumbering figures ungainly walked methodically towards the forest edge. Out of the forest came several men in orange colored vests with camouflage jumpers curious as to the meaning of the disturbance. Seeing the dark hooded figure and the monstrosities he�d created they dropped their weapons and fled stumbling and falling over one another until they were no more to be seen. All this while unobserved were a man, wife and child hidden in the thicketed cover of the woods. The man bronzed and slender build, muscled and lithe peered out at the scene before him. His wife of many moons stood by his side holding his and their sons hands. His name was Raging Eagle, hers Happy Otter, and the boy of ten winters was Little Bear. Then just as dramatically as the misty form appeared before a new one was taking shape. Little Bear shimmered and gave an Eire cast as it changed again and again in and out of something never completed until it at last stood huge and dangerously threatening. A large carnivorous head laden with long fangs even more menacing than the ones Little Bear had hanging around his neck previously. Its short shaggy coat became long tangled locks of course fur as arms lengthened to club like appendages ending in claws almost a foot in length. Razor sharp, pure white, gleaming knives of death. Huge bowed legs arched over the ground. A leathered tail barbed in projectile quills as big as your finger. Little Bear had become the legend protector. prophesied many eons ago in lost and forgotten books of knowledge. His father seeing this raised his hands to the sky and chanted a victory cry. Then knelt on the ground and kissed mother earth. He to began a change as did Happy Otter kneeling beside him, head bowed, eyes closed and whispering old protective songs of warriors past. That they might go and do their bidding and return unharmed to fight the spirits and mortal enemies yet another day. A prayer for her young son going out to give his life for a belief only he knew. Raging Eagle had transformed into a huge flying dragon like shape with armored plates and wings of tempered scales tipped with hooked claw like spikes. His finely plated tail flexed and writhed like a serpent, twisting and coiling. His life support was a nervous system near that of a reptile with no central heart to fail him in battle. He could have noticeable injuries and still function just as before. No light gleamed from the polished plates as near darkness prevented noticeable light from casting its warm flow. But the flaming breath billowed smoke and spit fire to warm and light enough of the battleground to carry on. Happy otter to had transformed into a beautiful but deadly aqua marine mammal having both lungs and gills to further protect her. Skin smooth looking but raspy pebbled texture warded off minor infliction�s while giving a torpedo skill unerring. Her short but usable squatty legs could propel her on the waters bottom with ease as does her slim finlike tail propels her through the water. Electrical pulses shot out short bursts of deadly energy while her jaws carried small sharp pointed teeth to tear and rip the toughest of flesh. The flexible collar protected her gills and helped in propulsion. Eyes independently rotated in clear covered sockets leaving nothing to chance. All of these transformations were in themselves even the toughest of miracles. The creator hadn�t created them or set designs or plans. Each individual sought in their own mind though almost unknowingly, what transformations would suit their particular roll in protection of themselves and hopefully succeed in their quest. The Creator Had never written the book of protection or the eons past reforms to read. He merely planted it in the first seed of man long before man had become man. Only his growing intelligence and keen mind would ever trigger it. He knew someday man would forget all that he had given and taken it for granted that it would always be there. He set in motion that some day in the life of man he would give them a subliminal choice on how to help themselves. The dark force was even his creation. Dark force was needed to startle man onto the road of either recovery or oblivion. The creator cared not which way it would become. He had planted good pure seeds in man. The impurities he had no part in. Man himself created , nurtured and harbored the bad portions of their existence. Had man refused or neglected to change all was lost to smoldering ash and rubble until a new smarter knowledgeable creature evolved again millions and millions of centuries later. Not even the second coming would ever know of the first as all traces would be forever wiped from the face of the universe. So now do we wait and see who will win this struggle to defeat his enemy and glorify the rightful heir to the creator? Will the dark force be more willing to band with his cohorts and rule? Or will man in all his learned wisdom partner and team up as this small but brave family did? They sought an answer they knew nothing of only because they worshiped the mother earth and all it held. He the protector of the sky, she of the briny depths from which all man crawled to the shore and breathed for the first time, or their son of 11 summers, innocent and young but brave of heart and loving the magic and serenity of the blessed land. Learning and putting to test his growing curiosity, but still even young knew without the land all would perish. could these three win alone, or will others join to conquer? It is possible that these few could survive and damage the dark force enough to prolong another siege. But only prolong and at this point in time I am sure. It will be only a fraction of the time dealt before, not the millenium�s, as was at the beginning. There are many more transformations to be sought after, the air, the rain, and the sun, and so many more to choose. So much more to learn and so little time. If not peace and unity, then some semblance of it � 2001 Tommy Lovett�The masked Writer <o.o> <-.-> <_ _> |