The Fairy Glen’s
Visitor
By
Valerie L. Egar
A
dazzle of fairies lived deep in the forest in a thick fern glen near a babbling
brook. The fern sheltered the wee folk
and underneath the green fronds, tiny houses made from acorns lined moss covered
avenues. Red mushrooms decorated neat yards and here and there, a hammock woven
from spider’s silk was lashed between mushrooms.
Like
any village, the avenues in the fern glen led to a bustling Main Street where
all the businesses were located— a cobbler shop with tiny shoes made from pinecone
petals. A grocery with bottled moonlight
and sun glitter. An apothecary with a wise herbalist who knew exactly how much
honeysuckle nectar to mix with star shine for sweet dreams. A dress shop with
clothes made from rose petals and daisies.
One
day, the fairies heard thunderous splashing, worse than a heavy rain storm and closer,
too. Leaving the water, something
pounded the ground so hard the earth shook. Looking up, the fairies saw grey
fur above them. It shook, spraying water everywhere.
“It crushed our
houses!” they exclaimed.
The bravest ventured
from under the tree to look at the creature. Long snout. Pointy ears. Bushy
tail. Long legs.
“It’s a horse!”
said the mayor.
The wise herbalist
shook her head.
“Tiger!” said the
cobbler.
“No.”
“Puppy.”
“No. It’s a wolf,”
she said.
Just then the wolf
stirred and opened his eyes. Few humans are able to see fairies and the same is
true for those in the animal kingdom. Some have the special gift, most do not.
The herbalist waited and saw the wolf blink. He shook his head, but he knew
what stood before him— a magical creature, a fairy.
“You’ve injured
your paw,” the herbalist said. “I can fix it.”
The wolf nodded
his assent.
“What about our
houses?” the others demanded. “Tell him to get out of here!”
She held up her
hand. “Wait.” She made a mixture of soothing herbs and pressed them into his
wound.
The wise fairy
nodded. “You trampled most of our village.”
“I’m sorry! How
can I make it up to you?”
“It’s no worse
than when the brook floods in the spring, but I have an idea. Let me talk to
the others.”
The wise herbalist
talked with the townspeople and they came to an agreement. The mayor presented
the plan.
“We would like you
to stay with us,” the mayor said, “but not in the village. You wouldn’t
fit.” The fairy children giggled,
impressed with the wolf’s enormous size.
“You can build a
den nearby, maybe over there.” The mayor pointed to a rocky hill, which looked
like a perfect place for a wolf’s den.
“We need your
protection. Squirrels and chipmunks steal our acorns. Wild boars root in the
fern and destroy it. We need you to chase them away.”
The wolf shook his
head. “I would, but those who hunt me still follow.” He lifted his nose in the
air. “They are getting closer.”
“But I shall make
you invisible,” the herbalist said. “They will never find you and you will be
safe.”
“Say yes,” yelled
the children who were growing to like the furry beast.
“You can be our
school mascot,” shouted the principal.
The wolf looked
around. “I accept,” he said. “Yes.”
The wolf hunters
never found him and for many years, he shooed the squirrels, chipmunks and
boars away from the glen. They sensed him as an invisible force and the rumor
grew that the glen was haunted. Humans and animals stayed away. The fern grew
more lush and fairy village increased until it became the largest in the world.
It still exists, but only those with courage and eyes to see will find it.
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Copyright 2018 by Valerie L. Egar. May not be published, distributed or copied without permission from the author.
Published September 16, 2018 Biddeford Journal Tribune (Biddeford, ME).
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