THE MOUNTAIN BEAR AND THE HUNTER

THE MOUNTAIN BEAR AND THE HUNTER
A very short story
by
Angel Marckwordt

CHAPTER ONE

THE DEEP FOREST
I held my hand up high towards my brow, somewhat puzzled to discover I was just standing there staring at the early morning sun light.

I had absolutely no clue or recollection of why I was looking straight at the sun. I took a deep breath and finally covered my eyes with the palm of my hand and pinched
both eye balls with my thumb and forefingers. Then, I looked back and the world around me began slowly to take shape by the beautiful rays of sunshine penetrating through the branches of this deep, deep forest meadow.

I stood there trying to remember where I had been or what I had been doing a few minutes, or even a life time prior. The thought and the actions of such were on the tip of my tongue and for the life of me I could not remember anything. It felt as though I was experiencing a state of temporary amnesia. So, I spent a few more seconds trying to recall something; anything that would give me a clue about where I was, or who I was... or what it is I was supposed to be doing there... When I felt my beard with the tips of my fingers, I looked down and noticed the heavy brown leather belt hanging from my waist, the bluish furry coat on my torso keeping me warm, my strong arms baring leather bands at the wrists and the hatchet and large hunting knife hanging from my belt. Still no clue...

And then, when I could not remember, I gave up thinking anymore about the subject and went back to doing what I always did... pick up the honey with the container I was already holding in my other hand.

I love everything about raw honey,,,. I thought. From the taste and thick consistency, its smooth healing properties, to the sweet and flavorful sensation it gives me as it coats my throat on the way to my tummy. "What a delight!!" I expressed thinking out loud and thanking nature and my little forest friends for the wonderful supply of raw honey; nourishment to my body and source of peace to my soul.

I started singing and humming a happy forest song while I worked on transferring the barrels of honey into tubs made of tree trunks. The sounds of the river with its tasteless clear water made my mouth water even more. Mmmm I love a gulp of clear-cold and fresh-delicious water when followed by spoon fulls of honey. Then, I began recalling a few facts about honey. How someone -a man of science; had found jars of honey from ancient Egypt. And the raw honey was still good to eat. "Honey is the only food in the whole world that does not go bad..." another thought interrupted. And kept on humming the forest song.

When I was done with the work I stood by the small house by the tree and waited, and waited... And then! there she was... a HUGE and magnificent mountain bear with two of her cubs by her side. Delighted, I approached the bunch and without inherent fear the mother bear charged at me. My useless hesitated lasted a second, I was already too late, by the time I reacted the mother bear with her massive arms was hugging and trashing me around like a rag doll; a few happy grunts escaped from my throat as her big thick hair tickled my nose. The cubs emulated their mother and while she went for the honey tubs, the cubs did not let me get up. They were so excited to see me and I to see them too.

A world of solitude is a universe of wonders: Later during the day when we all had filled our appetite for honey and nuts and raisins and berries and fruits washing them down with gulps of clear fresh delicious cold water from the river nearby. I left mother bear and her two cubs to enjoy a restful nap and walked away from the cabin and through the thick damped forest towards a destination unknown at the time.

THE MARKETPLACE AND FESTIVAL
A few moments, or hours, or days later... I arrived at a clearing. From up in the mountains where I had come from, the clearing seemed an opening to heaven. The small pebble stone path carved from river rocks represented the beginning of the road to civilization. Below, the path opened up wide into one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. The chain of of distant mountains in the horizon were a light blue, while the closer mountain peaks were a darker one. I had no recollection of ever seeing the lands that laid after them. But I was curious to know what was beyond them. I looked down to step onto the road made of pebbles leading to the valley below. The day was so beautiful and I could not wait to arrive at the center of the valley.

I kept a steady pace on my way down; I had with me, two containers full with wild flower honey. When I approached the outskirts of this gathering place all the children rushed me too. They all knew me, happily and quickly they walked around me. "Good Morning littles" I said with a strong voice. "You seek the pleasures and sweetness of the forest. But before anyone of you can have a taste -I paused for effect. We must all sing!" They all cheered in laughter. "Who wants to go first?" I asked. Me!, me-es! exploded all around. And with a thundering voice I began the happiest of songs:

"We all have been waiting for
the sweetest taste of the forest
the bounty, let us have, at least just a bite
make a circle, happy faces all around
Come gather, let us not miss this great delight

We want a bite of the sweetest delight, the bounty of the forest"

GOLDEN LOCKS
The smallest of the children gave me a beautiful yellow flower, I smiled and my heart rejoiced. I stood up towering all of them and I walked forward passing a few small tents. Suddenly without expecting it... I heard the most angelical yet strong of female voices. The sun was in the direction I was heading and as I looked to my left. It was then that I saw you for the very first time... I kept walking without looking where I was stepping. Standing a few feet away, giving someone directions, you were attentive, cordial, a strong woman with a jovial spirit. Your golden hair fell over your shoulders braided, your eyes, the color of the ocean and your smile... friendly. Mesmerized by the vision of you I kept walking forward without breaking my gaze or my stride. As I passed you by, you looked in my direction with curiosity. I detected the smallest movement of your right eyebrow and the raising of the left. Then soon thereafter, the slight squinting of your eyes. As I passed you by... I smiled back, and nodded. Your eyes reverted back to the person asking for directions, but your smile was brighter.

IT MAY CONTINUE...

Draft 01
Thursday, November 04, 2010

This story was inspired last night by my second dream of you.