Leela and the Forest of Light

by Lin Northrup

  No one went into the pantry without permission. “Are you sure?” she asked, puzzled by Janine’s sudden willingness to let her enter the cook’s sacred domain. She opened the door slowly and squealed with delight at the sight of a tiny orange kitten snuggled in a basket. Leela picked it up gently and ran back into the kitchen beaming at the cook. “Can I keep it Janine? Please.”

  “Well, now do you really think I’d let a scraggly little creature like that stay in my pantry?” she said, with a twinkle in her eyes.

  “I love him,” exclaimed Leela, lifting the kitten up to see if it was a male. “I’m going to call him Oliver,” she said with certainty. “I’ll need a litter box so he can sleep in my room. And please, please don’t say anything to Alexa and James.”

  “It’s our secret, but you’ll have to be very careful,” warned Janine, knowing the twins got pleasure out of tormenting Leela.

  Oliver must have been the runt of the litter, but he made up for it with his loud purr and sweet nature giving Leela more happiness than she’d known in years. Janine was glad to finally see Leela smile and they became allies in the art of keeping Oliver away from the Rumsfords.

  Leela kept the kitten in her room while she was in school then brought him into the garden behind the kitchen so he could explore. After feeling so alone, Leela had a friend and they were inseparable. But soon that all changed.

  After a particularly horrible day at school trying to avoid the twins, Leela went straight to her room to feed Oliver. She opened the door, but he wasn’t there so she raced to the kitchen.

  “Janine do you have Oliver?” she asked, looking around frantically.

  Janine saw the fear in Leela’s eyes. “No, but don’t worry, we’ll find him. I’m sure he’s close by,” she said, opening the cabinets while Leela rushed into the pantry.

  They looked all over the kitchen and basement, but there was no sign of Oliver. Outside, the sky turned black and a crack of thunder rumbled a dark warning that made Leela’s heart race. She ran into the garden searching everywhere. Sheets of heavy rain flattened the flower beds making it almost impossible to see where a small kitten might be hiding. Shaking uncontrollably, she couldn’t bear thinking he was outside in this storm.

  “Come back inside away from the lightning!” called Janine.

  Leela ran back into the kitchen. “Did you find him?”

  “Not yet, but he’s got to be here,” she said, praying she was right.

  Leela ran back to her room. James stood by her bed holding the frightened kitten by the scruff of its neck.

  “I believe this is yours?” he said, with a cruel smile.

  “He’s mine. Give him to me, James,” she shouted, reaching for Oliver.

  “Not so fast. You know my mother is very allergic to cats and dogs. So this mangy creature has got to go.”

  “James, please don’t tell. I keep him down here. And if she’s not near him it won’t bother her allergies. Give him to me!”

  James dropped the kitten on the floor. Oliver hid behind his basket. Leela stood in front of the basket terrified James would take him.

  “Your little plot is over. We’ve never been able to have a pet so why should an orphan brat think she can have one?” he said, enjoying the stricken look on her face.

  When Mrs. Rumsford heard about the stowaway kitten, she went into an allergic fit. Cloistered in her room, she hired a nurse to help her through her ordeal and ordered the immediate removal of the kitten. She wouldn’t even let Leela come near her to plead for Oliver.

  “The girl reeks of cat hair,” she said, sneezing. “She’ll need all her clothes dry cleaned and must stay away from me until my head clears. I warned her no pets were allowed in the house. What made her think she could get away with this? She knew my rules.”

  “I’ll see to it right away, Mrs. Rumsford,” said Rachel.

  “And bring me my medication,” she said, blowing her nose.

  The chauffeur took the kitten to an animal shelter. “Now we need to send back the other stray,” he said to the butler.

  Leela was in shock from losing Oliver and cried herself to sleep for weeks. None of Janine’s kind attempts to cheer her up had any effect on the heart-broken girl. Alexa and James gloated and made sure their parents knew they were the ones looking out for their mother’s welfare. Mr. Rumsford was too busy to pay attention to the drama of the kitten. Mrs. Rumsford rewarded the twins by giving them money to go shopping. “Buy whatever you want, my precious dears.”

  Leela was so sick with worry about Oliver she fell ill. Lying listlessly in her bed, she barely ate or cared about getting better.

  Finally, Janine, who was nursing her back to health, found the shelter and reported back that the kitten had been adopted. She sat on the edge of Leela’s bed trying to comfort her.

  “I know how sad you are but try to send Oliver your love. He’ll feel it and doing that will make you feel a little better too,” she said, turning out the light. “Try to get some sleep.”

  Leela turned away from Janine because she still couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing him again. A few days later, she got out of bed and went to the window.

  “I miss you so much. I’ll never forget you. But I want you to be happy wherever you are.” She opened the drawer of her dresser, searched for the picture she’d drawn of him and put it under her pillow. Without Oliver to love and care for, she felt more alone than ever.

  To fill up the long afternoons, she would disappear into the woods and draw whatever she saw: squirrels, deer, chipmunks and woodpeckers. Her mother used to take her into the forest and teach her to listen and feel the spirit of all living things. They’d sit by the stream and watch the forest creatures come for a drink. She told Leela that the animals were her allies and would teach her many things. When she taped her animal drawings to the wall, she could hear her mother’s voice. It made the nights bearable.

  One gray day as she was walking across the field carrying her pencils and sketchpad, she remembered that her father told her everyone had their own destiny and if she kept her heart open, she would discover hers. But living here couldn’t be her destiny.

  There had to be another way. And that was when Leela made up her mind. She would wait for a sign. When it came, she’d run far away to a place where the Rumsfords would never find her.

  She looked longingly toward the forest hoping that sign would come soon.

  Chapter 2

  The World Between Worlds

  Deep in the forest Fox sat sunning himself on a rock by the stream. A strong wind whistled through the trees. He smelled something coming toward him and headed into the bushes. But the trees whispered, “Wait.” He stopped to listen. It was quiet again except for the sound of Finch singing to her new babies. Her lullaby was so beautiful Fox jumped back to the rock, stretched out and dreamed himself up to the branch above. Insects buzzed, frogs splashed into the water and Fox’s whiskers twitched in his sleep.

  A twig snapped close by. Fox woke with a start. He smelled a creature from the human tribe and hid behind the rock alert for any sign of danger. More twigs snapped. The smell grew stronger. The creature was getting closer. Fox crouched low to the ground while Finch watched from her nest.

  A human child stepped from behind a tree and walked to the stream. She leaned into the water, cupped her hands and slurped noisily. Sensing something behind her, she turned and looked straight at Fox’s hiding place. But it was so still and quiet, she decided she was imagining things and started digging a hollow in the soft sand. When she finished, she curled up and closed her eyes. Finch stopped singing and Fox climbed atop the rock. It was strange to see a human in this part of the forest.

  They didn’t know what to do. Finch flew around the child to see if her dreams were peaceful. Fox crept closer and smelled the sweetness of her breath. They decided to call upon Raven who knew the secret
s and mysteries that surrounded the human tribe. Soon Raven appeared, circled above the child then flew closer to listen to her thoughts. Fox and Finch waited quietly until Raven spoke.

  “She’s here to learn our ways and bring them to the children of the new earth,” said Raven. “But she has to be prepared and develop her skills in order to face the tests that lie ahead of her. Befriend her and teach her our secrets. Fox, you’re her guardian. Finch, teach her our language.”

  Raven flew away and Fox and Finch stared at the child with great curiosity. This was most unexpected and neither of them knew quite where to begin. But Raven’s message warmed their hearts, and they knew they were being given an important task.

  They watched a vision forming above the child’s head. She was sitting with a group of children in a desolate village. As she talked, animals from the eastern forests and western plains stood in a circle around the children. Fox saw himself sitting in the circle and felt a shiver go through him. It always happened when the Great Mystery entered letting him know that the vision was true. Finch ruffled her feathers in agreement. They waited patiently knowing that this vision would have to be received by the heart of the child and as soon as that happened, she opened her eyes.

  Fox jumped back onto his rock and Finch flew up to her nest. When the child sat up, her eyes widened in surprise, but she looked at Fox without any fear. She’d seen his face in her dream and heard the calm sweetness of Finch’s lullaby. Curious, she reached out to touch him. He melted in the warmth of her hazel eyes. Finch flew down to a lower branch and hopped onto the girl’s outstretched hand. They all sat in the golden light that streamed through the tall trees. Fox silently sent his thanks to Raven. He could now begin to teach the human child her place in the circle of life.

  The girl had long brown hair with gold streaks that caught the sun. A few freckles were sprinkled across her nose. She wore jeans and a white t-shirt. A faded green sweater was tied around her waist. Dark lashes framed her wide-set eyes.

  He jumped off the rock and sniffed her. “What’s your name?” he asked.

  “My name is Leela. What’s your…Wait a minute. You’re talking to me. How come I can understand you?” she asked, shaking her head as if waking from a dream.

  Finch flew down and perched next to her. “You’re in the world between worlds where everything is possible.”

  A look of pain slid across the child’s face when she heard Finch’s words. Memories came flooding back. Memories she had tried to push away. Fox and Finch could feel the hurt in her heart, so they sat quietly until she composed herself.

  “Tell us what you’re remembering,” he asked.

  Leela’s eyes had a faraway look. “When I was little, my mother taught me about the mystical world that most people can’t see or hear. A world where animals and humans could talk to each other. She told me that the animals and trees were my allies and would teach me many things. But that was a long time ago,” she said, folding her arms against her stomach to protect herself from what came next.

  “My parents died when I was eight,” she whispered softly.

  Finch jumped lightly onto Leela’s knee. Fox’s eyes urged her to continue. She’d been holding in her feelings for so long she didn’t trust herself to speak them out loud. They waited for her to go on.

  “My mother was an artist and my father was a scientist. They were going to Brazil for a big conference.” She took a deep breath. “They were flying over the jungle when their plane crashed,” she said, in a flat voice as if she were reciting facts about somebody else’s life.

  Fox saw the child’s radiant energy turn muddy around her heart where she carried her sorrow. Finch saw it too. Leela rocked back and forth still holding her stomach and kept her eyes closed so she wouldn’t have to look at them.

  “After they died, I was sent to an orphanage. I lived there for three years. When I was eleven, Mr. and Mrs. Rumsford adopted me. Their real children, Alexa and James, are spoiled and they hate me.”

  She put her hands over her ears still hearing the constant bickering that went on at their house. “They only adopted an orphan because it made them look good to their rich friends and business partners.”

  Fox stretched out in front of her. She stroked his rough fur and continued. “When they’re really mean to me, I take my pad and pencils and climb up to my secret hiding place in the beech tree. I draw the birds and animals I see. Every night I tape my drawings to the wall. When I look at them, I don’t feel so alone. Or afraid.” She cleared her throat embarrassed to admit that.

  Fox and Finch knew it was important for her to tell her story and begin to heal her heart in order for her to accomplish her mission.

  Leela reached inside her jean pocket, brought out an elastic band and pulled her long hair into a ponytail. “A very mysterious thing happened when I moved into the Rumsford’s house and I’ve never told anyone about it.”

  “You can tell us,” said Finch.

  “After I ate dinner, I went to my bedroom to get away from Alexa who was whining about being the worst dressed girl in her class. And she has three closets full of clothes.”

  Fox flicked his tail and Finch ruffled her feathers. They both sensed she was about to reveal something important.

  “That night I was reading and I felt a cool breeze come in only there aren’t any windows in my room. When I looked up, I saw a woman dressed in a white robe standing at the end of my bed. She was surrounded by an orange light and had feathers tied to her long black hair. She said she was a messenger from my future.”

  Finch and Fox listened intently. Even the trees seemed to bend closer to listen. “I think I can remember most of the message.”

  She took a deep breath and spoke the words slowly. “Leela, your journey will begin soon because our teachings must be brought to the world. People have forgotten how to love the earth and honor their animal relations. They must learn the sacred point of view of all living things. You are gifted in the ancient ways of knowing, but you must reacquaint yourself with that knowledge. Pay attention to your dreams. They will guide you to your right place.”

  Leela stood up and looked across the quiet stream. “The woman vanished before I could ask her anything. I couldn’t sleep all night. I kept wondering what she meant and the strange thing was, I felt like I knew her.”

  Fox was satisfied that she was the human they’d been waiting for. This girl held the key to their future and she would lead other children who were like her. He knew this was the beginning of a journey she could not yet imagine.

  “What made you come into the forest today?” he asked, swishing his tail.

  “It was my birthday. After dinner the maid brought in a cake. Alexa was fuming and James sat at the table yawning to show how bored he was. I went downstairs to my room and was drawing when Alexa slammed open the door. She accused me of stealing her sweater.”

  Leela stopped talking and looked away. Her stomach had the sick feeling that came whenever Alexa and James ganged up on her. Fox and Finch gave her time to relive the memory so she could let it go and begin her new life.

  The horrible details of that night played in Leela’s mind and she could still hear Alexa yelling. “You thief…you ungrateful orphan! Where’s my blue cashmere sweater? How dare you sneak into my room. You’re going to pay for this,” she shouted, her face turning red and blotchy. James stood in the doorway smirking.

  When they screamed accusations at her, Leela always shut down unable to speak. But this time something inside her snapped. “I’ve had enough of your stupid, selfish threats,” she shouted.

  She got off the bed and moved toward Alexa with a look that made Alexa’s mouth drop open. She backed out of the room and ran upstairs complaining loudly to her mother that Leela had attacked her.

  “You’re in trouble now, Leela,” sneered James.

  Sighing in frustration she grabbed her s
ketchpad and pencils and raced across the meadow where the beech tree stood like a solitary giant guarding the entrance to the forest. Her heart was racing and tears stung her eyes.

  Nestling against the tree’s thick trunk, she opened her sketchpad and scribbled her anger onto the page. This time she’d run away! Looking into the forest, she remembered her mother’s words. “The animals will be your allies.”

  Throwing her pad down she closed her eyes and gave in to the sadness that wrapped itself around her heart. She felt utterly alone.

  The meadowlarks stopped chirping, two squirrels sat still on a branch watching her and even the breeze gave up its attempt to stir the air. The heavy silence was finally broken by the piercing call of a hawk circling high above her. She watched it swoop closer and closer as if stalking its prey. Her mother always said that hawks were messengers. She wondered if Hawk had a message for her, but the bird flew away into the clouds.

  The sun’s rays were beginning to sink below the horizon and the peepers started their evening chorus. She dreaded going home. Alexa would be planning her revenge. It would be safer to spend the night up in the tree and leave in the morning.

  As dusk settled quietly over the meadow, the air had a feeling of magic. In the stillness she felt a memory whispering to her. Closing her eyes, she listened to the night sounds and heard the fluttering of wings. A raven flew out of the evening shadows and landed next to her. The bird’s shiny, black feathers glistened in the moonlight and when she looked into its eyes, the raven stared back. A light drowsiness slipped over her as if the bird had cast a spell.

  “It’s time, Leela. You’re ready to begin your training,” said Raven.

  She tried to speak, but no words came out. The raven flew toward the forest and without hesitating she ran after it. Clouds covered the remaining light of the moon as night claimed its rightful place. It wasn’t long before she lost sight of the bird in the evening shadows. Unsure of which way to go, she heard her mother’s voice.