Leela and the Forest of Light

by Lin Northrup

  “No,” she screamed defiantly at the fast-moving wall of darkness closing in on them. White Mare and the herd were risking their lives for her. She called upon the Earth Mother for help.

  “Shapeshift the storm. “

  “It’s too powerful,” she shouted, trying to hold on.

  “You have the power. Do it now!”

  She went into her heart and envisioned a circle of light surrounding the herd. Then she sent her mind back to the moment before the storm when they were galloping across the plains with such joy and freedom. She could picture it exactly - how it felt in her body, the sounds and smell of the horses. She imagined that White Mare was her own brave steed escorting her to a beautiful sanctuary where they could rest and drink fresh water.

  While the wind and lightning raged around them, she kept her face buried in White Mare’s mane. So intent was her mind on shapeshifting time, she didn’t notice the storm had ended.

  “Leela, you can get down now and drink some water. We’re resting here for the night,” said White Mare.

  The stars were beginning to dance across the night sky and the mustangs were drinking at a nearby stream. A full moon lit the landscape and a soft breeze chased away her jittery nerves. She slid off White Mare’s back and fell to the ground, dazed and shaken. The mare nuzzled her reassuringly before heading to the stream.

  Desperately thirsty, her lips caked with dust, Leela stumbled after her. She splashed water over her head to wake up from her dream-like state. After a long drink, she sat by the stream too tired to move.

  “Shapeshifting that powerful force took a lot of concentration and energy. You need to rest and come back fully into your body,” said White Mare, giving her an approving look.

  The next morning, Leela stayed by herself for a while thinking about yesterday’s terrifying battle. She was still amazed that her shapeshifting attempt had dispelled that black mass and wished she could talk to Sky Bear about it.

  White Mare trotted over to her. “It’s time to go. I want to reach the high country before nightfall.”

  Leela sighed, still feeling the soreness in her legs from yesterday’s ride. But she could tell the mare was impatient to leave, so she climbed onto her back. They traveled at a steady pace. The day was bright and clear making yesterday’s storm seem like a bad nightmare.

  “How could the dark forces create such a dangerous storm? It could have killed us.”

  “It was no ordinary storm, as you know. It was a storm created from fear. When humans create from fear, it interferes with earth’s natural weather. The storm was directed at us in order to stop you.”

  White Mare’s words sent a chill through Leela. “But don’t people’s loving thoughts also circle the earth?”

  “Yes, of course they do. And the power of love is rising on the planet. It’s making those who use fear to control the world, uneasy. They know their reign over the earth is coming to an end.”

  Leela grew very quiet. “Those dark forces have followed me before.”

  “That’s why we’re teaching you the skills you’re going to need for your future.”

  The mustangs galloped for miles determined to bring their charge safely to her destination. By late afternoon, they rested by a wide river that flowed down from the high country. White Mare stood guard while Leela rinsed the dust from her face and hair. When she waded back to the bank and saw the look in White Mare’s eyes, she knew what was coming.

  “We’ll be leaving you, Leela. Your sacred path stone will lead you to a spot located up in the hills. When you reach that spot you’ll find the teacher who will take you home.”

  White Mare cantered through the center of the herd then reared up to pay her respects to the girl who would speak for them. With a final look at Leela, the mare leaped forward like a winged Pegasus and took the lead. The mustangs left as quickly as they had entered her life.

  Leela raced to an outcropping of rocks and watched the herd vanish behind a cloud of dust. Gazing into the distance, she wondered what was waiting in the hills. White Mare said her next teacher would take her home. That must mean she’s going back to the Forest of Light.

  Chapter 14

  Standing Tall

  Holding on to that happy thought, Leela took the sacred stone out of her pocket tracing the brown line that ran through the middle. It jumped out of her hand and danced along the ground. She reached down to grab it.

  “Hold fast,” said the stone, pulling her up into the air.

  She shot across the plains like a rocket and was dropped onto a soft carpet of pine needles. Fighting down nausea, Leela sat doubled over clutching the stone. It must possess magic powers to be able to move her from one place to another in seconds. Afraid to touch the brown line again, she carefully put it back in her pocket.

  The smokey smell of a wood fire wafted through the air. The stone must have brought her here for a reason. But why? Curious, she followed the smell until she got close enough to see who made the fire. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the Medicine Women she’d met under the full moon. Instinctively, she touched the feathers that were tied to her waist.

  A tall woman dressed in a red blouse and long denim skirt came forward. Her dark brown hair was tied in a braid that reached to her waist. She carried a bowl and a mug. “Hello, Leela, welcome to our home. I brought this for you. I’m sure you must be hungry.”

  “Is this real or a dream?”

  The woman’s eyes twinkled. “Sometimes life is a dream within a dream.”

  “I was far away in the land of the mustangs. Yet this seems so real.”

  “And so it is. But now you must eat, child.”

  “What’s your name?” asked Leela, taking in the woman’s dignified bearing.

  “Standing Tall,” she said, humming as she walked away.

  Leela gulped down the food. If this was a dream, how could her dreaming body be so hungry? When she finished eating, the woman came back, took her hand and led her into a small lodge. Dried bunches of rosemary, thyme and sage hung from the thatched ceiling. A large silver tub filled with steaming water sat behind a partition made of colorful woven cloth tied to a frame of birch branches. Standing Tall silently indicated it was time for a bath.

  Leela went behind the partition and peeled off her torn, dusty clothes. She carefully placed the feathers on the dirt floor and slipped into the warm herb-scented water. The soreness from her wild ride with the mustangs seeped out of her.

  She leaned her head back against the rim of the tub and listened to the melodious sounds of a flute as she drifted in and out of sleep. The soothing herbs soon relaxed her mind and body. When she opened her eyes, she noticed a shield hanging on the wall of the lodge. A bear’s face was etched into it and three feathers hung from the bottom.

  Standing Tall returned and combed the knots out of Leela’s tangled hair. Then she washed and rinsed it with fragrant water poured from a clay pitcher. Leela tilted her head forward as Standing Tall braided the strands of hair that framed her face. There was no need for words between them. The warm water, the smell of herbs and the woman’s gentle touch worked their magic.

  Standing Tall took a hand-woven blanket off a hook and handed it to Leela. She gestured to a neatly folded pile of clothes and left. Leela found a fresh pair of jeans, a shirt that was soft as silk and beaded moccasins. She dressed quickly, retied the feathers around her waist and went outside.

  Standing Tall smiled approvingly at Leela’s appearance. “Come with me.”

  Leela followed her inside a larger lodge where the Medicine Women were sitting on logs around a fire. Standing Tall took her seat. Leela stood awkwardly until one of the women nodded and pointed to the other side of the fire. Nervous about doing the wrong thing, she edged her way past the women and saw they had left a place for her.

  When she took her seat, a silver-haired woman e
merged from the shadows and stood in the center of the circle. “My name is Walking in Wisdom. Welcome to our council fire, Leela.”

  “The four elements of fire, earth, air and water weave our world together. Water represents the lifeblood of Mother Earth and you’ve successfully come through the initiation of the water element. Through those trials you’ve followed your path and held onto your determination to help our animal relations and the earth. You’re the daughter of our hearts and we are pleased to have you with us.”

  The other women nodded as Walking in Wisdom continued. “Each woman in the circle will share a wisdom teaching. Listen carefully, for these stories have been passed down for many generations. Each story will be kept in your heart until you need it,” she said, taking her place in the circle.

  Standing Tall began by telling her story of confronting a man-beast who lived in the caves near her tribe.

  “The beast was a bully and everyone was frightened as they ran past his cave to fetch water from the river. The day came when it was my turn to fetch water. I was the fastest runner in the tribe, but I knew the beast could shapeshift and fly ahead to block my path. When I went into my sacred space, my wise self told me to stop at the beast’s cave and show him kindness and respect. I told the tribe of the guidance I’d received, but they shook their heads and thought this would be the last they’d see of me.

  “When I approached the cave, I called to the beast who growled ferociously ready to attack me. I put my jug down and asked the beast’s permission to pass and go to the river to fetch water. The beast growled even more ferociously. Though my heart was racing, I stood as tall as I could and asked the beast again for permission. To my astonishment, I saw a tear drip from the beast’s disfigured eyes. He stopped growling and sat there looking at me. Another tear came.”

  “No one has ever stopped to talk to me,” he said. “They look at me, scream and run from my ugliness. Why aren’t you afraid of me?”.

  “I am afraid, but my heart told me to stop and speak with you. It felt right and that’s why I’m not running away.”

  “The beast was so grateful to have a friend after years of being alone that he offered to become the tribe’s guardian. From that time on no other tribe dared to attack us. He continued to live near our village protecting us until we were guided to let him go. We thanked him and told him he was free. He transformed into a glorious golden eagle and flew away. The tribe gave me the name Standing Tall for having the courage to look into the eyes of the man-beast with love and compassion.”

  When she stopped, the woman next to Standing Tall began to speak. Leela sat transfixed as one by one they told their stories. There were tears and laughter as the steady beat of the drum cast its spell. When their stories were finished, they all looked at her.

  “It’s your turn, Leela. Tell us your story,” said Walking in Wisdom.

  The lodge was quiet except for the crackling fire. Her heart beat faster and her cheeks reddened. What would she say? She wasn’t used to being the center of attention, especially among women such as these. They waited quietly until she was ready to speak.

  Slowly, stumbling over her words, she began. Tears streamed down her face when she told them about her parents. She told them of her time at the orphanage and how lonely she’d felt living at the Rumsford’s mansion. The woman sitting next to Leela gently rubbed her back during that painful telling.

  She described her meetings with each animal teacher and her encounters with the dark forces. They all laughed when she told them how she kept colliding into Fox. The women listened respectfully until she was finished. She looked around the circle hoping she hadn’t taken up too much time.

  Walking in Wisdom stood facing Leela. “Telling our stories brings past, present and future into the circle. When we share our stories of transformation, everyone benefits. We weave our personal vision from the lessons we’ve learned and then are given a new vision. The dreams you hold for yourself, Leela, will grow and change with the decisions you make and lessons you learn. Thank you for sharing your story with us.”

  The Medicine Women silently left the lodge, leaving her alone with Walking in Wisdom. “You listened deeply and spoke your truth. Take this blanket and lie by the fire. Let your dreamtime plant the seeds of knowledge into your body, mind and heart. Goodnight, Leela.”

  After Walking in Wisdom left, Leela sat staring into the fire, thinking about their wise council. Finally, she pulled the blanket over her shoulders and fell into a deep sleep.

  When Leela awoke, she was sitting atop the rocks where she’d watched the mustangs disappear behind a cloud of dust. She didn’t remember traveling back, but she did remember the wise women and their stories. She was wearing the beautiful shirt with an embroidered design on the front.

  It was the face of a wolf.

  Chapter 15

  The Hunters

  Leela took her totem out of her pocket hoping it would give her some guidance without hurling her through the air. The stone vibrated in her hands. “Listen.” She heard the faint rustle of Hawk’s wings high above her.

  Pleased her hearing was so keen, Hawk dropped a feather. She picked it up and followed the direction of hawk’s flight.

  The air was cool and the puffy white clouds looked close enough to touch. She hiked steadily toward the hill country and by late afternoon came upon a field dotted with clusters of wild daisies. Tall pine trees circled the field as if they had been purposely planted there by Mother Earth to create a quiet refuge for the forest creatures. Leela did a handstand into the tall grass. This felt like the right place to wait for her next teacher.

  Standing Tall had given her a leather pouch to tie around her waist. Nuts, dried fruit and a small metal canteen of water fit snugly into the pouch. Savoring the sweet taste of dried apricots, she shared her bounty with a gray squirrel who’d invited herself to the picnic.

  Just as she was about to take another bite, there was a sharp shift in the wind. Was a storm coming? She grabbed the pouch and ran for cover. A nocturnal darkness descended over the field as if someone had dropped a black velvet curtain from the sky. Fearing it was the dark energy, she hunkered down and pulled the veil of invisibility around her. After a flash downpour, the wind blew the curtain away revealing a pack of wolves standing in the center of the field.

  “Gray Wolf are you out there?” she called, hoping it was his pack.

  The wolves grew quiet. Gray Wolf broke from the pack and ran toward her. Seeing him stirred a rush of feelings that went right to the center of her heart. Being with him made everything feel right again. His mate, White Wolf, joined them with her pup. Leela scooped the furry ball into her arms laughing as he licked her face.

  The wolves stretched out in the grass. Leela closed her eyes and sat in the middle of the pack. Time seemed to stop and all that mattered was that they were together.

  When the clouds slipped over the sun, Gray Wolf’s ears twitched. “Humans have invaded our territory. They’ve been shooting at us from the sky. We’ve got to keep moving to survive.”

  Leela’s heart sank. The wolves didn’t deserve such a horrible fate. “How could they be so cruel and heartless?”

  “Have faith, Leela. There are humans who are trying to help us, but for now we…”

  Before his words were finished, the wolves sprang to their feet. Rifle shots shattered the safety of their sanctuary as a small plane flew over the field. A man with a rifle hung out of the door of the plane and took aim. The pack circled protectively around Leela.

  White Wolf was an easy target. When the next shot rang out, she dropped to the ground. Her pup crouched next to her whimpering.

  A hunter standing at the edge of the field lowered his rifle. “Hey, there’s a kid out there,” he yelled to the others.

  Gray Wolf took advantage of their shock at seeing a human child running with them. It gave him the opening he needed.
White Wolf struggled to her feet, blood trickling down her side. With a fierce howl, Gray Wolf led them away from the gunfire.

  The men in the plane hadn’t seen the child yet and continued their pursuit. Their shots ricocheted through the trees as Leela and the wolves ran for their lives.

  “Gray Wolf, I’m slowing you down. Go ahead without me.”

  “You’re one of us. We all stay together.”

  White Wolf ran by his side, her white fur soaked with blood. The female wolf’s courage spread through the pack. When they reached the river, the wolves were panting heavily. Leela knelt next to White Wolf and gently examined the wound, grateful to see that the bullet had only grazed her side. She concentrated on shapeshifting time and envisioned White Wolf contentedly lying in the sun before the attack. Holding that image in her mind, she instinctively moved her hands above the blood-soaked fur. Then she dug up some moss and placed it on the wound.

  White Wolf lifted her head. “Thank you.” she whispered.

  Leela curled next to her doing her best to comfort the frightened pup. Gray Wolf watched over them through the night.

  Tossing and turning, Leela relived the nightmare of the attack. She sat up to make sure the sleeping wolves were safe. Gray Wolf put his paw on her arm to reassure her.

  Exhausted from the day’s violent attack, she finally fell asleep. In the early dawn the pup licked her face to wake her. She bolted to her feet afraid something terrible had happened.

  “Where’s White Wolf? Is she alright?”

  “She’s drinking at the stream. She’s better because of you,” said the pup.

  Relieved to hear the good news, Leela took some dried fruit out of her pouch. The pup wanted to play and kept pawing at her arm. She wasn’t in the mood, but remembered Otter’s advice, “When things get too serious, it’s time to play,” so she wrestled with him and felt the heaviness in her heart begin to lift.