THE PRINCESS THE BEAR & THE OWL

THE PRINCESS THE BEAR & THE OWL

A Story by Cherrie Palmer
"

a bedtime story

"

THE PRINCESS THE BEAR & THE OWL

 

There once was an Indian village tucked away on the river’s edge. White water wrapped around the mountain, spilling into a clear, still pool.  It was rich land, good for farming dark ebony soil loose and flaked in minerals glistening in the sun lined the garden. Which sat at the base,of a large rock faced cliff. The garden was always filled with more than enough. The older children tended the garden while the men hunted,  and the little ones fished. The old women wove garments, while the mothers cooked and wintered food. Everyone did their fair share. They shared this ground with a family of wolves. The tribe and the wolves raised their offspring side by side. The wolves even did their share by keeping out unwanted visitors and pests from the garden.

 

This was Ela's twelfth harvest and to prove her soul pure to the forest and her heart fearless, it was her task to take a basket of corn to her grandma's. The grandma lived in the village on the other side of the forest. Her Cherokee name means earth and this task will empower her namesake.

 

That night at the fireside everyone told tales of the forest and though the evening and the fire was warm, the young girl felt a cold chill run up her spine, as the stories took hold of her imagination. She was happy to get in her own bed where she slept safe and warm. In the morning her mother waited for her to awake, she had a wonderful gift to give her before she left out on her trip. For this trip her mother had worked all summer on a berry-stained cape that was as red as the setting sun on a hot summer's eve. The cape was crested with beads of red and burnt orange and lined with feathers of white. She also gave her a gourd filled with fireflies; a perfect  little lantern for her trip in the dark.

 

So our little Ela was ready for her trip. From the first step she took in the forest she could hear someone or thing shadowing her. As the day wore on she was less afraid. Soon she was eating berries and skipping behind a bullfrog. Nightfall would come early in the cover of the forest. So she sat down for a rest and checked on her fireflies, and admired her mother's handy work. The cape was clasped with a claw of a bear. A large stick broke behind her and a great bear appeared.

 

"Why are you in my forest?" He demanded.

 

"I'm on my way to my grandmothers." She said standing her ground.

 

He growled deep and low "Where did you get that claw?"

 

"Why from my mother". She cried.

 

"I have a cousin that has been missing for three full moons". He snarled.

 

The back of his neck hackled and his dagger like claws pierced the earth. The stair of his eyes burned her own till tears flooded them. She scooped up her basket, and the wind kicked up behind her as she ran with all her might. Her new feather lined cape bellowing in the breeze as she ran. The shadow of the bear was about to overtake her, when a great spotted owl snatched her up, and flew her into a nearby tree.

 

"Thank You!" She cried. He only nodded and flew away. Her breathing was just about to quiet when the bear pushed down the tree and he would have eaten her for sure, but appearing from nowhere was father wolf, which lived in her village. Piercing blue eyes with a hint of mankind staring from them made the black bear nervous. His coat was a mix of silvery-gray and brown with his edges tipped in black. The bear had no desire to fight father wolf over such a messily morsel, so he left fussing and mumbling under his breath. Little Ela hugged father wolf. "So you have been following me" she squealed. He only smiled. She dusted off her cape and picked up her basket. The two of them headed out to her grandma's house. As she whistled and sang "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?"

 

© 2018 Cherrie Palmer


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Featured Review

My Dear Writing Friend,
I loved this story, is it based on Deep Time lore? While on vacation I’ve been reading a book titled “Northern Tales”, its stories of First Nations peoples from Deep Time. You word tapestry reminded me of something that would be found in it, a story that teaches a truth, we are watched over and really have little to fear but fear its self.

Blessings, Laughing-Bear


This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 10 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Cherrie Palmer

10 Years Ago

I wanted to put a new spin on little red riding hood



Reviews

My Dear Writing Friend,
I loved this story, is it based on Deep Time lore? While on vacation I’ve been reading a book titled “Northern Tales”, its stories of First Nations peoples from Deep Time. You word tapestry reminded me of something that would be found in it, a story that teaches a truth, we are watched over and really have little to fear but fear its self.

Blessings, Laughing-Bear


This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 10 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Cherrie Palmer

10 Years Ago

I wanted to put a new spin on little red riding hood
Wow, Cherrie... where did you pull this one out of? This is an amazing little story. You keep on surprising me. Tour many fans have already said it better then I could (yeah, I read them all). And it's deserved, you're a great writer. I agree with those who thought it could be expanded nicely.

There's only one thing I could think of in regard to critiquing. It's what I've started calling, 'He said, She said.':
"He demanded."
"She said standing her ground."
"She cried."
"He snarled."
"'Thank you!' she cried."
"'So you have been following me', she squealed."

I try to avoid those like the plague, in my dialogue. To me it messes with the flow of thought when you're caught up in the story. This is, of course, just an opinion. Your mileage may vary.
;)

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 12 Years Ago


I should tell you that I never give platitudes, and I do not say things I don't mean. I have to tell you I absolutely loved this. The descriptions were fantastic, with smart little touches such as her skipping behind the bullfrog and the fireflies in the jar for a lantern. Your word choices work well to create a riveting, pulse-pounding read. The bear was well conceived. A wonderful take on Little Red Riding Hood, and the ending was great. "Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?" LOL! Brilliant.

I left you a message, but I'm still trying to figure out the site, so if you didn't get it, let me know and I will resend.

Great work!

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Great story line here, well defined charachters, I would like to read more about them. A hint of mankind in the wolves eyes is very nice writing.

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


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mir
Again, great story! Reading it this second time helped me to create a better imagination as I was reading along. Your editing seemed to clarify more in detail a better picture---great job on this! Like the humorous ending in her whistle and song!

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Interesting take on the red riding hood myth. I like the fable feel of this and the little references gave it a tongue in cheek feel to me. awesome job. last paragraph nerves should be nervous

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

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mir
Very nicely detailed story of the well-chosen Cherokee nation---a beautiful setting of a beautiful people. I, too, agree with roarke in that this short story would make a spicy chapter in a broadened story. I see a lot of opportunity of potential in this fascinating tale. I like it and really enjoyed reading it! Great story!

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


I like it; I very much enjoy the native american stylization to little red AND the aspect of the wolves not being blood thirsty villians. I would've apriciated it more, however, if Ela wasn't reffered to as "little red riding hood." the basket and cape are obvious enough, so actually calling her that kind of ruined the illusion for me. Also, I felt like Father Wolf deserved more of an introduction or back story, generally no bear would be the slightest afraid of a single wolf, so if Father Wolf is special enough not to need his pack for back up i want to know about it! lol.

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

the opening paragraph sets up a very interesting story. Folklore is a traditional story telling format. I think these kinds of stories are very important for inter-generational communication.
There is enough here to expand into a much larger scale story. The tribe and the wolves, Ela and her family, dangers and animals outside of the tribe, even an interjection of humor at the end; these are all potential expansion areas. I'm interested to see what you do from here with the story.

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Wonderful Imagery! Great story telling! And EXCELLENT WORK!!!

This review was written for a previous version of this writing

Posted 13 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.


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Author

Cherrie Palmer
Cherrie Palmer

Oakland, AR



About
I am a published poet and love poetry. I live near the White River, and love trout fishing. I find my surroundings a great inspiration to me. I also have two books on Amazon Kindle: Obsession Starts.. more..

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