by Orla Kelly
Squashing a few bitter berries into his mouth, Owly set off zigzagging through the forest, going deeper and deeper where it was getting darker and darker.
The forest was changing. It sounded and looked different, and he was getting scared. He felt like something or someone was watching him, but couldn’t tell where from. “Keep going” he kept telling himself.
His wings were getting more tired and feeling heavier and heavier. He was feeling sleepy and very thirsty, “just a bit more” he kept saying to himself.
After what seemed like hours, and just when he was about to give up, he suddenly saw something up ahead. It must be the tree all the forest animals were talking about. But it certainly didn’t look magical or like a medicine tree. In fact, it looked like it could do with some medicine.
All its branches were bent over and brittle, parts of it were rotten and its bark was crumbling. Its roots had risen above the forest floor and were being slowly eaten by insects, birds and other creatures.
His journey had been a waste of time, or so he thought. However, the tree really was magical and could read the thoughts of any creature close by.
Long ago, it could read the thoughts of every creature in the forest. But now its powers were nearly all gone, so it could only do this if the creature was up close to it.
The tree gave a deep moan and then shuddered. Owlys heart nearly stopped beating. Suddenly the tree motioned for him to move closer. Owly had to be brave.Slowly he went a little closer then stopped.
The tree moved one of his branches again like a signal to move forward, and so Owly took a bigger step this time. Then in a low, deep voice that seem really old, it asked why he had come to the part of the forest where animals no longer visited.
Owly was so frightened, he spoke really fast, without taking a breath, and told him all about Victor and Lizzy, and about needing medicine and help. When he was finished, the tree said nothing and Owly could almost hear him think.
All his branches were groaning and shaking, and the tree seemed to be breathing in and out with the bark getting bigger then smaller over and over.
Finally a big branch broke off, and came crashing to the ground. It was so close to Owly, he thought he was going to die. “Oh dear” said the tree, “I didn’t mean for that to happen, but now that it has, go to the end of the branch fast before the medicine seeps out into the forest floor and disappears forever.”
“I don’t have much medicine left, and that is why I gave you one of my best branches. You need to collect what medicine is inside and try not to lose any, as my body is weak and I am not able to make any more” said the tree.
Quickly Owly went over and put the largest curved leaf he could find, underneath the broken part of the branch. Slowly out oozed some silver thick liquid. There wasn’t much, and as the last drips came out, Owly now needed to find a way to fold the leaf up and tie it so he could keep it safe untill he reached Lizzy.
“Take a piece of my root and tie it around the leaf to hold the medicine inside.” “Will it hurt you?” said Owly. “Not as much as me having to break off my good branch. My old ones break all the time, but they have no medicine and wouldn’t be any good to you”. “Thank you so much. I promise I’ll be back and will try to help you get better” said Owly.
“Thank you” said the tree in a weak voice.
Off Owly went clutching the leaf as tightly as if his life depended on it, but it was really Lizzy’s life that depended on it. He hoped he wouldn’t be too late!
As he got closer to the place he left Lizzy, he saw Victor. “He must have lost interest in the mirror” he guessed, and now Victor was really hungry and impatient. He knew he was tricked and was really angry. He kicked at the forest floor, scattering balls of dust and leaves everywhere.
“He must think Lizzy has crawled under a leaf and he is looking for her” gasped Owly. “I can’t get to her either” he thought, as Victor would see him. “What if Victor stole the medicine?”
Owly knew he needed to make a big sacrifice. He had found a little ball with a bell inside, near the edge of the forest, near a picnic area, and used to love to push it around and hear the bell tinkle. It was colorful and as the ball spun, all the colors seemed to swirl together and make a cool pattern.
He had to let Victor play with it which would hopefully give him some time to give the medicine to Lizzy, but how much time did he have, and what if it was too late.
Luckily Lizzy’s Mom and Dad knew Victor was outside, and they peeped out at him. Lizzy was so ill she couldn’t cry any more. They knew they couldn’t make a sound or Victor would have all three of them for lunch!
Owly had time to hide the medicine. Because he was watching Victor so closely, he stood on a branch and it snapped. Victor spun around. “I eat owls too” he snarled, scratching the ground with his razor like claws, “especially small soft ones like you” said Victor.
“Maybe so” said Owly in his bravest voice, “but I bet I can beat you at a game of special football. If I lose, you can eat me and keep my magic ball and I’ll tell you where Lizzy is. If I win, you go away for one day.”
“Hmm just one day, what is the catch?” said Victor Vulture. “None, I am just really good at football and know I am going to win, that’s all,” said Owly in the bravest voice he could use.
Victor flapped his wings, and as they spread out they seemed to block out all the light in the forest. “He is just trying to ruffle my feathers” thought Owly, but he had to admit he was afraid.
“Let the games begin” squawked Victor. “I can almost taste my lunch.”
Owly Sets a Trap for Victor Vulture
