The Beech

Title: The Beech
Date Written: September 2010
Notes: My entry for a Creative Writing competition, on Juliet Marillier Café.

The text couldn't be more than 1000 words and had to include all four of these objects:
* A pool of water
* A flower or plant
* A flame or fire
* The north wind

The Beech
The Beech stood tall in the clearing. Around it only its fallen leaves and a few weeds could be seen. Here and there a rock peeked under the yellowed foliage. And outside the clearing the forest spread, oaks and rowans mingled with other beeches, but none as great as The Beech.

Solitary in the clearing, it gave a sense of calm to anyone who passed nearby. It appeared quiet and still, devoid of life other than it's own. Now, that was just wrong!

Hidden by its foliage, birds and squirrels scuttled away trying to find and hide food. Chuckling and chirping could be heard if one was paying attention. But all the attention in the world would not reveal the true dwellers of the tree. They called themselves the Beech People, and had lived on The Beech for as long as they could remember, which incidentally was not very long. The Beech People had short memory, short lifespans, and short stature. They, however, were quite the tricksters and used their seemingly shortcomings to their advantage.

Of the current Beech population, the most terrible pair to encounter were the Wort Brothers: Navelwort and Sneezewort. Many squirrels had lost their assortment of nuts to these two, quite unknowingly and only realising what had indeed happened days later. By that time, the Wort Brothers could claim they knew nothing about it because once the nuts had been eaten, the memory of them and how they got them was gone as well.

The most beautiful was young Bluebell. Every Beech Boy was in awe of her. Her eyes were the colour of the flower that was her name, deep blue, but her skin was the like the bark of The Beech, light and smooth. She could really have her pick of any boy she wanted but seemed to be in no hurry to do so.

The eldest member of the Beech People and their leader for his wisdom on trickery was Nuthatch. Although he no longer moved with the speed of a youngster, his wit was still at its best, and everyone came to him for advice.

The most courageous one was Fieldfare who was known for his long night travels across the clearing. Sometimes he would even dare to cross the entire clearing, and enter the forest where he said there was a clear pool of water, very deep and very cold. No one believed him.

And the outcast in this big tree, because there is always someone that is not quite like the others, was Ostria. Ostria was not even his real name, it was given to him as joke by Nuthatch, and it stuck. No one remembered his real name, but no parents would have called him that.

Ostria was indeed different. While most of the Beech People were at home among birds and plants, some even in water, he was the only one that embraced the skies and the winds. He lived at the top branch, so that he could feel the cold North Wind blow around him, invigorating him every morning. Or the salty Western Wind, that carried a special smell of something unknown and exotic.

Ostria's only friend was Nightjar who, albeit having a much more decent name, was almost as strange as him. But everyone liked her. She would be up most of the night, while the others slept, keeping Blackcap and Hornbeam company while they kept watch. The two of them would be snuggled around their tiny fire, only leaving the hole to make their rounds.

Nightjar was in a bit of a problem, though. She had climbed to the very top of The Beech while looking for Ostria, and couldn't get down. She wasn't sure it would hold her weight for long either.

And while Nightjar was clinging to her life, most of the Beech People were several branches below shouting encouragements, not knowing what to do. They had sent Fieldfare to look for Ostria, but he couldn't be found. The Wort Brothers were even feeling a bit guilty because the reason Ostria was missing was them, they had been pulling pranks on him.

But when all hope seemed lost, and quite by chance, Ostria appeared. He was coming home, figuring the best place to hide would be at the topmost branch of The Beech, only to find it occupied by Nightjar, who was very close to panic now.

Not missing a beat, Ostria did his magic. First he calmed the wind that was making the branches move, and then he made a strong wind lift him just enough to reach Nightjar. Holding her close, he brought her down to a much safer branch, where all the Beech People were standing in awe. Ostria had shown that he could be just as courageous as Fieldfare and intelligent as Nuthatch. He was quite the hero, and would be as long as the memory of the Beech People would last. Unfortunately it wouldn't be very long, and he would return to his outcast role.

And while he was thinking of his new status and its undoubtedly short duration, sitting at his branch at the top of The Beech, a small bird came flying towards him. As it was landing, it suddenly transformed into Nightjar, who promptly kissed his cheek, saying “Thank you for saving me.”, with a impish smile on her face, and eyes glowing with mirth.

Ostria realised then that he had forgotten that the Beech People are the best tricksters in the world.

---