Return to Nature - Story IX

quadraptor's picture
Return to Nature Index

You have found yourself daydreaming during the next few days. You imagine yourself in a wonderful forest, the sunlight piercing the canopy and illuminating the air with rays of light. You see specks of pollen float around aimlessly, and in the distance you see great deer enjoying the scenery and grazing without fear. You truly think that these visions are of the Endless Forest, as if it was a very real place.

That night, you fall asleep and dream once again of the same place. You find a waterfall, and taking a sip of the water from the pool below, you see yourself...as a doe. You never noticed you were walking on four legs, and this truly surprises you.

You then find yourself sitting on a fallen log, in your human body. The dreams hit you - they were from the doe whose spirit now fills you. You were seeing the world through her eyes.

You realize that you are in a similar place to the dreams you had seen. You see your deer nearby, and you hear the faint sound of water. Standing, you greet your friend, who bows and says, "Now that you have become one with the spirit of the doe, you will begin to feel the world around you much clearer. It is difficult for humans to listen to nature, as their heads are always cluttered with their daily lives. For deer and other animals, it is much different. We have few worries when we are connected to the land, and it is kind to us in return. When nature decides that it is time for us to die, we willingly accept our death and give ourselves back to her. And then, we are always given a choice...", they pause here.

"A choice?", you ask. The deer nods, they knew you would ask. "We are given the choice to have another life or to rest eternally.", they say, "Now you understand why I know so much about the humans from so long ago. I was there living alongside them."

You start to wonder about this yourself. Did you have a similar life before you were a human?

Were you a deer?

"Come, we have business today.", your deer says. You look to them curiously, they didn't mention any kind of business to you. Your deer walks off to the direction where the water sounds were coming from, stopping to make sure you were following. You follow them, walking deep into the forest with your deer.

The two of you soon find the source of the noise. A great waterfall falls from a cliffside, collecting into a pool that drains as a river. The waterfall is quite lovely, and you enjoy the sound it makes as it flows. "Are you ready? This step of the process will be very important.", your deer says.

"What will we be doing today?", you ask. The deer chuckles, "Not we, you will be bathing in the waterfall.", they reply. You tilt your head at this response. "Don't worry about your clothes, they will dry. Just walk into the pool and stand under the water. I will guide you through the rest.", your deer instructs you.

You do what they say, stepping into the pool. Your bare feet touch the clean rock that formed the pool, and the water is cool and flowing through your toes. The waterfall is louder and louder with each step you take, and you soon are standing under the falls.

"Now, open your arms! Let the waterfall embrace your body, let the Spirit of the Doe flow with the water!", your deer calls to you. You do so, feeling the water hit your arms and hands. You could feel your body adjust to the constant pummeling of each water drop. The Doe must have enjoyed bathing in a waterfall, as you felt a strange, wonderful sense of nostalgia.

"Clear your mind! Let the sound of the water enter and speak to you!", your deer says.

You close your eyes, your mind slowly...slowly clearing. The roaring sound of water continued, but began to diminish and sound much more like a steady trickle. You hear nothing else but the gentle sound, and you lose all feeling in your body.

And then...

"Listen closely, for these words are only spoken to those who have proven themselves worthy to hear them.", a voice unlike any other you had ever heard speaks.

"I have watched the development of humans, and over time they changed the world to suit them. The world that had been shared so long ago was taken over by them, and the animals were driven from their homes. The change of the world has been drastic ever since. Nature will reclaim what was hers over time, but I fear it will be too late by then.", the voice spoke, "All lives on this planet are connected in one way or another. If one species perishes, a chain reaction will begin. I have seen it happen many times in the past, and I fear that if humans remain on their course, it will happen again. You must help Nature regain what was hers, even if it is a little. Otherwise, this may be the end of life on this planet."

At that moment, your hearing around you returns, the roaring waterfall becomes loud once again. Your deer can tell that you have heard the words of the land, "You can come out, now!", they call to you.

You step out of the waterfall and return to your deer's side. Looking back at the falls, you reflect on the words spoken to you. "How can one person change the entire world?", you question your deer. They smile, "Don't doubt, just believe you can.", they reply, "A wise human spoke wonderful words, and I want you to remember them: 'Be the change you want in the world.'"

You nod your head, the ideas swirl around in your mind, but you come to peace with what was told to you. You awake and find yourself back home.

"Be the change you want in the world...", you repeat the words, "...Mohandas Ghandi's quote."
quadraptor's picture

Sorry, haven't finished it

Sorry, haven't finished it but I'll get this one done soon.

...I can't really decide what I want the waterfall to say to you, that's why I left a cliffhanger there. I know it's kind of lame to ask, but...could you guys give me suggestions for what should be said to you?

I'm sorry if this spoils the magic of this chapter, but I just can't think of anything at all that would be meaningful.
ocean's picture

Hmm. Perhaps it could say

Hmm. Perhaps it could say something about the connection of all things, something like that?
It might also say something about having seen a lot of the world and how it's changed, but how it always comes back?
quadraptor's picture

Great ideas! I just

Great ideas! I just brainfarted when I got to that point, but I can totally work in something like that!

Maybe the waterfall talks about Nature herself, how she reclaims what was taken from her over time.

Thanks for the suggestions! I think I want to sleep on it but finish it tomorrow since I have the day off. I'll probably start Story X tomorrow too.
Swifttail's picture

.....o.o-dies- Loves it. >w

.....o.o-dies-
Loves it. >w<
I think the waterfall should say something about something the meaning oflife or something.^^;;

Deviantart|Bio
Signature/avatar are WIP.

hi how are you ?

hi how are you ?
quadraptor's picture

Hiya Apolo, doing alright I

Hiya Apolo, doing alright I guess.

Finished this story this morning.