The Story of EisKookie

In my warm, cozy den, I was awakened by the falling snow touching my nose. I stretched my front paws first, then my hind legs. A glance to the right revealed that my parents were still asleep, which meant I could sneak out. With a light jump upward, I left our den and with small, careful steps through the snow, I crept away. The sun was just rising above the horizon, causing the snow to reflect and shine like tiny crystals. It looked almost magical. I jumped over fallen trees, slid across frozen rivers, and hid from my neighbors. Further and further I moved away from my den, heading towards the clearing. Happy about the adventure and lost in my fantasies, I stumbled over something unknown. I turned around and sniffed a few times. It was silver, oddly rounded in shape, and had sharp teeth. Suddenly I heard a loud crackling, which made me recoil and hide behind a tree that gave me security. My pulse rose, my ears were pinned back, and my neck fur stood on end.

Fearful yet slightly curious, I stretched my nose again towards this unknown object. The teeth that were previously spread wide apart were now together, and the broken branch had been split in two. That was the moment I realized it was dangerous. But where did it come from? What is it?

I decided not to think about it further and continue my adventure. Just as I stretched my first paw southward, I felt a powerful gust of wind and suddenly a deer appeared, running past me. After it, countless animals of various species fled. Squirrels, birds, wolves, wild boars, and many more. One of them shouted: "Run away! It's getting dangerous here!!"

Against my instinct, I ran straight into the danger. Although I don't know what happened, what would await me, I know one thing. My mother, my father are also in danger! Just as I worry about them, they worry about me! I had to get to them!

I ran as fast as I could, and no matter how much my stamina and strength left me, I kept running. The other forest animals that were fleeing unintentionally inflicted some scratches on me during their escape. My throat hurt, my paws ached. Suddenly I saw smoke, smelled a strange and slightly painful odor. Out of nowhere, a tree fell, which I barely managed to avoid. As I looked at it, I noticed it was burning. Shocked and afraid, I turned in all directions. Fire everywhere. I was trapped. The previously glittering snow melted as quickly as it had come a few days ago. The underlying grass, which had been covered by snow, burned. In my panic, I only heard the cries for help from the other forest dwellers and my rapidly rising pulse. This was my end. I'm sorry Mom.. Dad..

"Do you really want to give up already?" I heard a bright, gentle voice. I perked up my ears and turned once more in every direction. Confused, I called out to her. When nothing came after a few seconds, and the fire drew closer, I heard her ask again: "Do you really want to give up already?" Without hesitation, I screamed: "NO! I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE AND SAVE MY PARENTS!" Not a second after I shouted the last word, the flames that once surrounded me vanished. Tears of joy came to me, blurring my vision. I could only make out small outlines until a bright purple light appeared. The outline looked like a small butterfly to me. A gentle laughter, like that of a child, echoed in my head. Something inside me said, I must follow!

I swung my paws and ran after the light. Several times I stumbled and almost lost sight of it. Again and again it waited for me until we went under a tree crown where the tree's roots were glowing. In the middle of this beautiful tree crown was an even larger light, it was so bright that my eyes nearly went blind. My little guide became part of the great light again.. and there I heard it again. That beautiful voice that brightened in my head. "Please save this forest, its inhabitants, our history...." With a nod, I agreed. My previous fox body transformed. I turned into a human, but didn't lose my fox features. My previously white fur turned purple at the tail and ear tips. Wings grew from my back and a halo formed on my head. I felt these spiritual powers, the voices of the living as well as the deceased souls. Their memories, emotions, and stories burned in my brain. I immediately understood my task. With my new body, I flew as naturally as could be over the trees and got an overview of the situation. I saw how far the fire had already spread. It was a terrible sight. The fire had already reached my family's den. With my new power, I spoke to the forest animals: "Flee to the south, it's safe there." In return, I flew in exactly the opposite direction. My duty was to save the forest, but my own family still had priority. I made sure all animals were out of the fire's reach until I summoned a snowstorm with my new powers that smothered the fire. This drained my energy greatly. But I continued my search for my parents. Arriving at my den, I felt the deceased souls.. I felt.. that they both.. died in the fire.. All kinds of feelings came over me. Sadness, fear, anger.. revenge. All these feelings overwhelmed me, but one anchored itself deep.

I jumped back into the sky and made my way as fast as my body would allow to the origin of the fire. Beings that looked similar to my new body were fighting for their lives to survive in the terrible snowstorm I had caused. I stopped the storm so they could escape and immediately ran out of the forest. I would not become like them. They should live and see what they had done.

After the last flame was smothered by the storm, I ended it completely and gave both the deceased souls and the survivors a new home. My parents were no longer as before, but I was still able to be with them.

Since that day, I am the protector of this forest. All inhabitants will now be able to lead a happy, carefree life. I would make sure of that.

And this, I have been keeping alive for over 100 years now...