The Outlaw

A whisper drifts on the wind. It began as a deep growling, rumbling from within a chest. It ripped out through a throat and lips, a fearsome growl. It traveled into the ears of the Jailer whom released it; now an outlaw, it broke apart and wound its way into eardrums, before hammering into another, the one the Outlaw was truly meant for, for here it was the loudest!

Even as the two chunks tore into brains, one more zipped off in another direction. Free, unchained, no longer imprisoned, the Outlaw tore a reckless path of destruction in its wake, until the Mighty Mountain, proud and unmoving, scattered it everywhere like broken glass. As the Outlaw bounced in every direction, birds took flight in alarm, deer pranced with their white flags raised high, and the still water of the Pond rippled, startling a school of sleeping fish.

The Outlaw carried on, never feeling so exhilarated in its entire life. It was even so arrogant as to bounce to-and-fro within the Mountain's mighty walls, as if mocking it! In anger, the Trees rustled their leaves, shaking their green fists at the Troublemaker.

"Quiet you!" they said. "We are trying to sleep!" The Outlaw simply passed through the Trees, laughing at the Brook on the way.

In jealousy of this newcomer's sudden fame, the Clouds covered the Moon and rumbled their challenge; yet the Outlaw only grumbled right along with the Clouds! As if it were helping the Clouds sound better. HA!

The Wind would not stand for its brothers and sisters to be frightened, challenged, and laughed at this way; but the wind was wise... It knew the best path for vengeance is not always a raging storm.

So, the Wind danced its soft ballet, twirling around the Greenhorn.

All the others were shocked! What was the Wind doing? Why play with this law-breaker?

After some time, the Clouds and the Trees came to a somber, yet necessary agreement. This Outlaw must be stopped! So, the Clouds struck flint to steel and sent a spark to the Trees. Instantly, a raging fire erupted. Another prisoner was now released, but the price must be paid. Besides, the Moon could always sway the Sea and make the High Tide come sooner to kill the Fire if it got out of hand.

Unaware of a possible double-crossing, the Fire cackled and crackled and laughed and roared and spewed its challenge to the Outlaw. "FIGHT ME IF YOU DARE!" . . .

But nothing happened.

The Fire weakened a moment, taken aback. This had never happened before. EVERYONE wanted to fight Fire, to control it!

The Fire took the life of another tree, feeding itself. Still hungry for more--always for more--but now re-energized, the Fire rose above the Treetops into the Moonlit Night.

This time, it let out its mightiest roar, "FIGHT ME IF YOU DARE, COWARD!" . . .

. . .

None could believe what they saw next.

The Wind was dancing with the Criminal! It should have the Death Sentence, a Swift Justice, an Order of Silence; and the Wind was teaching it ballet!

Still, the more all the Valley watched, the more the Valley listened; and the more they all listened, the more they understood.

She said, "I am protecting my pups. If you do not wish to be harmed. leave this place now. I am singing this loud and proud, so all will know: This is MY HOME and I will protect it with my life! NOW GO!!!"

. . .

As the wind moved on across the land, carrying the message, the Voice was repeated over and over again. All had heard a creature, not of their Kind, so they had sealed up their ears and refused to read the letter of the so-called, 'punk-kid' had brought. The whole time, it had been trying to tell them, but all the Valley had wanted was peace and quiet, so they could sleep, unbeknownst to them that a trespasser and a killer traveled their land. The one that was misunderstood could have warned the Deer and the Fish and the Birds of the Serial Killer that walked on two legs and carried sticks that shot thunder and lightning.

The further the two unlikely pair--the Wind and the Courier--danced, the quieter the Messenger spoke. It at last drifted to sleep, the Valley now safe, all thanks to the Coyote's Whisper.

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