Leela and the Forest of Light

by Lin Northrup

  “Fox, I know you’re in there. I can feel your energy.”

  No answer. She pushed her way into the bushes, but he wasn’t there. Where was he? “You’re trying to trick me, but I’m going to find you.”

  She backed up and almost fell over Fox who was sitting right at her feet. He jumped out of her way.

  “Where did you come from? I didn’t even see you.”

  “I must say you do have a tendency to bump into me. I see I have to be quick when I’m around you.”

  He gave her a look that said, Listen. “I was hiding in the mountain laurel. You felt my energy. Then I sent my energy in a different direction, but you were too sure of yourself and lost your focus. In that moment, I was able to move my position without you noticing me.”

  She knelt down and retied her sneaker to hide her embarrassment. Fox nuzzled her hair. “You have to refine your skills. Practice and patience will earn you knowledge.”

  She looked into his eyes. “I felt the energy around things when I was little. After my parents died, it stopped.”

  “You shut down your feelings to protect yourself. That’s why you’re here - to remember the things you already know in your heart.”

  She reached over to stroke his ears. They sat together watching the sun disappear behind the hill. It had been a full day of learning and she needed to think about all the things her animal allies were teaching her. Breathing in the pungent smell of the leaves, she curled next to Fox knowing he would soon begin his nightly hunt. After he left, she tossed and turned, unable to go to sleep. Fluffing up her leaf pillow three times, she sat up and stared at the enormous full moon. Too restless to sleep, she gave in to its magnetic pull and followed a moonlit path until she came to a wooded grove.

  A light mist hung in the air obscuring whatever lay beyond the stand of trees. She heard muffled voices and moved cautiously in case it was Mr. Rumsford and the policemen. Peering through the bushes, her heart leaped at the strange sight ahead.

  Twelve women were standing around a fire chanting softly. Hidden by the shadows, she watched as each woman stepped forward and spoke, but she was too far away to hear their words.

  They wore feathers in their hair and were dressed in beautiful robes. An older woman with long silver-white hair stood in the center. Her turquoise dress was embroidered with red beads and she walked around the circle touching the forehead of each of the twelve women. When she finished, she turned and looked directly at Leela beckoning her to come and join them.

  Leela came out from behind the tree and walked toward them. They stood in silence and opened a place for her in the circle. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure they could hear it. The tall, silver-haired woman motioned for her to step forward. She put her hand on Leela’s shoulder and walked her around the circle. Each woman looked into her eyes and gave her a feather.

  “These feathers represent the power of the bird tribe. Keep them with you always,” said the silver-haired woman. “Sit by the fire and close your eyes.”

  Leela carefully placed the feathers on the ground and sat very still while they chanted. When the chanting stopped, she opened her eyes. The women were gone.

  Staring into the glowing embers of the fire, she sat for a long time, trying to grasp what had just happened. Slightly dazed, she got up and started walking away, but remembered the feathers and ran back to the fire. There they were. It was real. But where had the women gone?

  The moon’s light reappeared making it easy to find her way back. Her heart sank when she saw that Fox wasn’t there. Three small cornbread cakes were resting on a log. She devoured them. Someone was helping her. But who?

  She broke off some vines and tied the feathers together. A dream drifted back as the night sky lit up with stars. She was seven years old, dressed in a robe dancing alone inside a circle of women. Their faces were hidden, but she’d felt their love for her. Were these the same women?

  Leela tried to rest, but her mind was busy thinking about the mysterious women. She decided to go look for Fox. This time she’d be quiet and not cause a commotion. “Fox, where are you?” she whispered, trying to feel his energy. The fast-moving clouds covered the moon so she had to use her other senses. A sudden change in the air signaled that a storm was brewing. The distant rumble of thunder moved closer. Without warning the wind whipped through the trees bringing a fierce rainstorm. Lightning ripped branches off the trees forcing her to roll out of the way. Thunder cracked right over her head. It sounded like a bomb exploding.

  She dove under the low branches of a hemlock tree. Lightning sliced off more branches. They rained down upon her like jagged spears thrown by a vengeful enemy. Drenched and frightened, she started to run toward another tree.

  “Leela, stay here in my sacred space. This storm is testing your resolve,” said the tree. “Be strong and know you have allies everywhere watching over you. Remember, you are kin to all creatures.”

  Reassured, she nestled close to the trunk while the storm raged on through the night. Struggling to stay awake, exhaustion finally took over and she fell asleep.

  In the morning, a loud squawking sound woke her. Looking up through the branches, she saw a very agitated Finch. The small bird jumped from branch to branch. “I’ve come to warn you. There’s something you must know.”

  She’d never heard Finch sound so upset. After the violent storm, the sun was shining. What could possibly be wrong on such a beautiful morning?

  “Listen. Last night’s storm was no accident. You’re being stalked,” said Finch.

  Leela crawled out from under the low hanging branches. “I’m being stalked?”

  “I was hoping you wouldn’t have to know this so early in your training, but there’s a dark force on the planet. It knows you’re here and wants to put a stop to what we’re teaching you.”

  “What do you mean? What dark force?”

  Finch landed on Leela’s knee. “There is someone who will tell you more, but for now you must be very alert. Beware of sudden violent changes of weather. This dark force is trying to upset the new way. That’s all I can tell you for now,” said Finch, flying away.

  “Come back! Don’t leave me alone. What should I do? Where should I go?”

  Reluctant to leave the sanctuary of the hemlock tree, but too afraid to stay, Leela started walking. The safety she felt in the forest, disappeared.

  Chapter 6

  Learning About Power

  After Finch’s warning, Leela’s confidence plummeted. Fighting back tears, she tried not to think about dark forces stalking her. But her nerves were jittery. She kept looking behind her as she trudged along a steep path leading to higher terrain. Every shadow in the woods looked suspicious. Clouds in the sky could turn dark and violent. What could she trust?

  Lost in thought, she got to the top and stood at the edge of the cliff shivering in the cold wind. Far below a river meandered its way through a narrow ravine. The silence stirred her fear of being alone. She sat with her legs dangling over the side looking for Fox, hoping he would come back and tell her more. But the forest didn’t reveal any sign of her guardian.

  Finch made this dark force sound dangerous. What was it and why did it want to stop her? She had to know. Her only choice was to enter her quiet space.

  “How can I protect myself?” she asked. As she listened, she felt all her senses expand. The legs of a centipede crawling on a nearby rock sounded like the steady pounding of a drum. Leaves falling to the ground landed with a thud and a butterfly’s wings sent a breeze that ruffled her hair. The forest was teeming with sounds and sensations coming from the smallest insects. How come she’d never noticed that before?

  To keep her mind off Finch’s warning, she closed her eyes and tried to figure out what was creating the myriad of sounds that bombarded her senses. It became a game and helped her forget her fears.

  Immersed in the
hidden world of the forest, she heard something moving. Keeping her eyes closed, she tried to guess what it was. That was a mistake.

  A loud, screeching sound tore through the silence. Startled, she opened her eyes. A mountain lion was crouched on the rocky cliff across the narrow ravine. Amber eyes ringed in black stared at her. The big cat’s body was poised and ready to leap. He growled and bared his teeth. She looked down at the river. If this creature was from the dark forces, it would be her only way to escape. She decided to jump.

  The mountain lion leaped across the narrow ravine blocking her fall. The impact knocked the breath out of her. She rolled backwards pinned under the mountain lion’s paws. Paralyzed from shock, she couldn’t move. He didn’t maul her. Or tear into her. In fact, his strong heartbeat was oddly calming.

  Leela stayed very still for a long time. The mountain lion didn’t move. He waited. She didn’t dare turn her head to look at him. It must be an odd sight, she thought. A girl pinned under a mountain lion on top of a rock. In spite of her desperate situation, she started to giggle.

  “Well, it seems like you’ve come back to yourself, Leela,” said Mountain Lion.

  “I thought you were attacking me,” she said, sitting up to look at him.

  “I was only trying to keep you from jumping into the river and breaking your legs. I had to act fast, but I admire your courage. You weren’t about to give up, which is why we chose you.”

  She wondered again what that really meant. Was anyone going to tell her why she was chosen? And why dark forces on the planet wanted to stop her?

  “Leela, I know you want to know everything all at once, but it won’t serve you to hear what you cannot yet understand. Be patient.”

  She stood up on shaky legs. “Are you my next teacher?”

  “Yes. And you’ll need my powers in the days to come. However, it’s a power few people can handle well. Follow me. We need to go higher.”

  The big cat moved with quickness and grace, leaving her to catch up as best she could. They climbed up a narrow ridge that circled higher and higher into the hills bordering the great forest. She slipped several times grabbing onto rocks that jutted out from the cliff. A gray mist hovered over the upper path blocking her from Mountain Lion. Afraid she’d be left behind, she shouted, “I’m coming. Wait for me.”

  The thick mist slithered toward her twisting into the shape of an ugly demon with long snake-like arms. It crept closer. She could feel its hot breath. Backing away she pressed her body against the cliff. The river below was a thin ribbon weaving its way through dwarf trees. There was a wide gap in the path ahead and behind her falling rocks blocked the way down. She was trapped. To catch up with Mountain Lion, she’d have to leap over the gap. One wrong step and she’d fall hundreds of feet.

  The demon grew larger blocking the sun’s light. Its roar whipped the wind into a frenzy that almost tore her off the cliff. Loose dirt and pebbles pummeled her from above. Her fingers gripped whatever spaces the rocky surface offered.

  The demon screamed in her ears. “Turn back. Leave. Or die.”

  Terror squeezed her so hard she couldn’t breathe. What was she doing here? Where was Mountain Lion?

  The temperature dropped so fast her feet and legs were numb. She looked across the gap. It seemed impossible, but she’d have to jump across it. Bat told her she’d be tested. If she went back down the mountain would she fail?

  Tears stung her eyes. A determined voice inside her whispered, “Trust.” Without thinking Leela leaped across the gap. As soon as she landed on the other side, she heard Mountain Lion’s roar.

  Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the cliff relieved to know he was waiting for her. The rays of the sun dissolved the demon and revealed a shiny black onyx lying on the ground in front of her. When she picked up the beautiful stone, it whispered, “The next step is yours to take.” She placed it in her pocket and started climbing.

  The tips of her fingers were raw from holding onto the rocks, but it felt good to be on firm ground. Leela heard Mountain Lion’s roar again, so he couldn’t be too far ahead of her. With each step, she felt lighter. A hawk swooped through the clouds above her. Her mother told her that hawk meant you need to be alert and see things from a higher view. Remembering her mother’s teachings filled her with confidence.

  Mountain Lion jumped down in front of her. “Well done, Leela. We have a little farther to go to reach the summit. Then we’ll talk.”

  This time Mountain Lion stayed close by and gave her a look of encouragement as they climbed to the peak.

  From this high point, the dense forest and deep blue sky seemed to go on forever. She spread her arms wide and shouted, “I love you, sky.”

  Mountain Lion stood at the edge of the peak. “It’s good to express your appreciation to the world around you. Father Sky and Earth Mother are joined together and if humans thanked them, they would feel blessed every day of their earth walk.”

  “What’s an earth walk?” she asked, eager to begin their talk, hoping he would answer the questions bubbling up inside of her.

  “It’s your life path. Every human and every creature has their own sacred path.”

  When they reached the summit, Leela sat next to Mountain Lion not daring to break the silence as they gazed at the beauty of the valley. But soon her curious mind started churning and she placed her hand on his paw. Seeing her bloodied fingers, he licked them clean.

  “My teachings are about power, the power of leadership. Being a leader means that you accept the responsibility to lead without forcing others to follow you. That’s not an easy thing to do. You must be strong and yet able to bend like a blade of grass.”

  “Don’t leaders also need to tell people what to do?”

  Mountain Lion turned and looked into her eyes, “A true leader’s power must come from inside. They must inspire others through their own actions.”

  “But why must a leader be like a blade of grass?”

  “They must be able to listen to others and be able to bend with change, so that the highest good is achieved for all.”

  “There’s a girl in my class who’s a leader, but I never liked her,” she said, remembering their clashes. She’s in the popular crowd at school, but she’s a bully. Everything has to be her way and if you don’t go along with her, she makes up vicious rumors to humiliate you.”

  “She was covering her own fears by bullying others. Did she bully you?”

  Leela didn’t like thinking about that girl and her followers, but she could tell he wanted her to continue. “She’d pick on the shy kids and make them give her money even though she’s rich. One day she pushed a new girl into a locker and demanded money. I yelled at her and made her stop. She left, but said she’d get me later. After that happened, she and her gang would make low whistles and threaten me whenever I walked by them. They painted horrible things on my locker.”

  “It was brave of you to speak up for that girl. Sometimes a leader is ridiculed like you were. But when you stand up for what is right, you are leading by example.”

  His words helped soften that painful memory.

  “Leela, you had a choice on the cliff. To go back down the path, or trust your instincts and leap forward into the unknown. Your courage acted for you and you’re here with me because of it.”

  “Why did the mist turn into a demon and try to push me off the cliff?”

  He was silent for a while before giving her a look she’d never forget. “The wind is part of nature, but when humans mistreat the earth, nature is out of balance. Then the wind can feel like our enemy. The demon you faced used the wind to make you turn back.”

  She shivered as he spoke and moved closer to him. “Finch warned me about the dark forces on the planet,”

  “The forces of darkness take many forms. They don’t want you to follow your path or become the leader you’re meant to be
. And they’ll test you every step of the way until you become strong in your heart.”

  She stood up sensing their time together was over.

  “It’s time for me to leave. Remember what I’ve told you. A leader has to lead from the heart.”

  She wanted him to stay. His powerful presence made her feel she could face anything.

  “Your power lies within you, Leela.”

  Mountain Lion bowed his head. She placed her hands over her heart and bowed to him. Moments later his roar echoed through the hills.

  She walked back to the peak to watch the sunset. It looked like someone had waved a magic wand over the world and painted the sky. Oranges softened into pinks and purple turned into black velvet, as millions of stars came alive. Which ones are my parents?” she wondered.

  “Can you see me?” she called to the night sky.

  Two stars brightened. They were near the Pleiades.

  She was sure she heard her mother’s voice. And then in a burst of light, the stars were gone. Stars can’t just leave like that can they? She kept watching to see if they’d return. Her longing gave way to sadness. Where was Fox? She didn’t feel like being alone on a mountain top. And then out of the evening shadows, the Great Horned Owl flew to a nearby tree. The arrival of her faithful night guardian lightened her heart. After making a pillow of leaves, she curled up on the coarse mountain grass. In spite of her hunger, Owl’s soft lullaby carried her into her dreamtime.

  At sunrise, Leela found three cornbread cakes waiting to be eaten. Next to the cakes was a curved shell full of delicious water. She ate her breakfast silently thanking whoever was leaving her food.

  It was time to make her way down the mountain. She dreaded going on the treacherous path that hugged the steep cliff. There had to be an easier way. The wind answered by bringing the cry of a hawk circling overhead. She called out to the raptor hoping it would have a message. It swooped down and landed at her feet. The hawk kept screeching at her, and after all she’d been through, she wasn’t in the mood for a lot of noise.