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The sun has always seemed to shine more brightly after a storm, and that day was no exception. Lynorra strolled through the Viridale, investigating what damage the wrath of Talos had wrought upon the wood and its inhabitants.
It could have been much worse. The heavy rains had quenched the fires that had leapt to life with each lightning strike. In some places, rainwater had pooled into large ponds, but those were slowly draining to the River Elthazar or evaporating into the air and would be gone within a few days. Many trees had branches torn partially from their trunks by the high winds and Lynorra set about removing the dieing branches and tending the damage to the trunks of each one she found.
As she worked, a pair of squirrels chattered at her happily from the branches of an oak as she passed. Apparently these two were not affected by the raging winds nor the terrible thunder and lightning. They must have stayed safe huddled in their nest, hiding from the brunt of the storm. Lynorra responded to their greeting with a smile and tossed them each a small piece of bread from a pouch on her belt.
"And where are your little ones?" she asked in a quiet tone. The pair looked at her for a second, each holding the piece of bread between their two front paws. They shook their tails in three decisive swipes, and three young squirrels came into view. Lynorra extended her arm, and the three young pups climbed onto her, allowing her to inspect them.
Lynorra had helped their mother to birth them a few months ago. Since then, she had periodically passed by to check on them and they recognized her from her many visits. But now they were on the verge of adulthood. Soon they would be looking for mates of their own. Lynorra inspected each one, declared them all healthy, and returned them to the safety of their oak, each with their own gift of bread from her hand.
Bidding them farewell, Lynorra left the squirrel family behind and returned to her inspection of the wood. She tended to the wounds of the forest whereever they were to be found. It was not long, however, before she came upon a disturbing sight in one of the many clearings in the forest. Her face scrunched up in displeasure as her eyes found a cedar tree in the middle of the clearing which had been felled.
The once proud tree had stood alone in the clearing, and when the winds came it could not withstand them. It rested on its trunk and lay where it had toppled over onto the ground. The roots were torn from the earth and laid bare to the elements. There was nothing that could be done for this one. Soon it would dry up and become another victim of the Raging One.
Lynorra set about gathering all of the acorns from the boughs of the fallen cedar. These she planted with care, one by one, throughout the clearing. She then returned to the tree. She reverently clasped the golden acorn pendant hanging from her neck in both hands and closed her eyes.
"Shiallia, Lady of the Woods, though you be far away and these woods be not your own, I ask your blessing on the offspring of this fallen child of the forest. Its life was cut short, but in your name I have ensured that the purpose of its life has been fulfilled. Blessed are the things in nature which in death provide life."
Her short prayer concluded, Lynorra pulled out her lumber axe and set to freeing the tree from the earth. Then she carefully removed the limbs from the log, preparing it for travel. The work was long and arduous, and the sun had sunk low by the time it was done. Satisfied with the results, Lynorra grabbed a wooden whistle from her belt and blew it silently.
It was not long before a great grizzly bear appeared in the clearing. Lynorra approached the beast and scratched him behind the ears. The old bear growled in pleasure and nuzzled against her, almost knocking her off her feet. Laughing, Lynorra led the grizzly across the clearing, careful to avoid disturbing the locations of the newly planted acorns. She tied a rope to the prepared log and attached it to the grizzly. Together, they headed back under the waning sunlight to the safety of the grove with the fresh timber in tow.
It could have been much worse. The heavy rains had quenched the fires that had leapt to life with each lightning strike. In some places, rainwater had pooled into large ponds, but those were slowly draining to the River Elthazar or evaporating into the air and would be gone within a few days. Many trees had branches torn partially from their trunks by the high winds and Lynorra set about removing the dieing branches and tending the damage to the trunks of each one she found.
As she worked, a pair of squirrels chattered at her happily from the branches of an oak as she passed. Apparently these two were not affected by the raging winds nor the terrible thunder and lightning. They must have stayed safe huddled in their nest, hiding from the brunt of the storm. Lynorra responded to their greeting with a smile and tossed them each a small piece of bread from a pouch on her belt.
"And where are your little ones?" she asked in a quiet tone. The pair looked at her for a second, each holding the piece of bread between their two front paws. They shook their tails in three decisive swipes, and three young squirrels came into view. Lynorra extended her arm, and the three young pups climbed onto her, allowing her to inspect them.
Lynorra had helped their mother to birth them a few months ago. Since then, she had periodically passed by to check on them and they recognized her from her many visits. But now they were on the verge of adulthood. Soon they would be looking for mates of their own. Lynorra inspected each one, declared them all healthy, and returned them to the safety of their oak, each with their own gift of bread from her hand.
Bidding them farewell, Lynorra left the squirrel family behind and returned to her inspection of the wood. She tended to the wounds of the forest whereever they were to be found. It was not long, however, before she came upon a disturbing sight in one of the many clearings in the forest. Her face scrunched up in displeasure as her eyes found a cedar tree in the middle of the clearing which had been felled.
The once proud tree had stood alone in the clearing, and when the winds came it could not withstand them. It rested on its trunk and lay where it had toppled over onto the ground. The roots were torn from the earth and laid bare to the elements. There was nothing that could be done for this one. Soon it would dry up and become another victim of the Raging One.
Lynorra set about gathering all of the acorns from the boughs of the fallen cedar. These she planted with care, one by one, throughout the clearing. She then returned to the tree. She reverently clasped the golden acorn pendant hanging from her neck in both hands and closed her eyes.
"Shiallia, Lady of the Woods, though you be far away and these woods be not your own, I ask your blessing on the offspring of this fallen child of the forest. Its life was cut short, but in your name I have ensured that the purpose of its life has been fulfilled. Blessed are the things in nature which in death provide life."
Her short prayer concluded, Lynorra pulled out her lumber axe and set to freeing the tree from the earth. Then she carefully removed the limbs from the log, preparing it for travel. The work was long and arduous, and the sun had sunk low by the time it was done. Satisfied with the results, Lynorra grabbed a wooden whistle from her belt and blew it silently.
It was not long before a great grizzly bear appeared in the clearing. Lynorra approached the beast and scratched him behind the ears. The old bear growled in pleasure and nuzzled against her, almost knocking her off her feet. Laughing, Lynorra led the grizzly across the clearing, careful to avoid disturbing the locations of the newly planted acorns. She tied a rope to the prepared log and attached it to the grizzly. Together, they headed back under the waning sunlight to the safety of the grove with the fresh timber in tow.