The Maple Tree

The frosty winter's snow fell lightly over the heavy and ice covered ground. It was the month of December and the Lord Malvon had been taking a walk with the rabbit, Thumper - now older and a father of many - through the Silver Wood of his lands.

'Prince Bambi has been missing you lately,' the rabbit said as they stopped beside one of the many silver barked trees which were dotted around them. He shook his thick grey winter coat and smiled up at the Leader of The Silver Herd.

'I've been missing him too,' said Lord Malvon to his friend. His matted dark brown pelt looked dull and lifeless after the frost they had the night before and his features looked more weather beaten then ever.

Long head fur was strained against his wise face, but although his appearance was that of a tired and elderly buck, there was always that winning twinkle in his kind, soft brown eyes.
   'But the winter has been longer then I expected,' he said quietly with a sigh.
Thumper smiled and put a paw on the buck's leg.' Let's hope for Spring to come soon, then we can all get together; You, Bambi, Flower and I!'

Lord Malvon laughed, the rabbit was getting excited.
   'We'll all meet up here in this forest!' he cried, hopping around Malvon's legs.
'Where in this forest?' Malvon asked with a smile.
Thumper stopped hopping, and standing on his haunces, looked about him.' There!' he said pointing to a clearing on which a solitary tree stood.

It was small, and a little twisted at the trunk, with small branches and green leaves that had not yet fallen; The bark was brown, and it had a sort of lonesome, untouched feeling about it.
Feeling happy with his choice, the rabbit bounded towards him, and would have gone and touched it if he hadn't heard a voice cry; 'Stop! Thumper! Don't touch the tree!'

The rabbit skidded to a halt just near the tree's trunk. Eyes wide with confusion he turned on his heel and looked at Lord Malvon.
   'Why? What's wrong?' he whispered.
Lord Malvon walked gently towards his friend. 'It's dangerous -'

'Dangerous?' said the rabbit, glancing at the tree again.'How can it be dangerous?'
'It killed many, Thumper,' explained Malvon, softly.' It killed many, including - my grandfather.'

Thumper edged away from the tree, mouth gaping. 'Your grandfather? How?'
'Come,' said Lord Malvon, he led the rabbit far away from the tree and when they were quite away from it, he lay down under a silver barked tree and said:

'The tree has a story, a story my mother used to tell me. The story has stuck in my head, and will probably stay there, forever more. Shall I tell it to you?'

Thumper curled up beside the buck and nodded slowly and silently.

So Lord Malvon started his story.

 'The Maple tree as been standing in The Silver Wood for a very long time. No one dared to touch it; no bugs would sit on it, no birds would nest on it, no deer would eat the bark off it.

Why? Because it had belonged to The Old Deer of the Forest.

The Old Deer used to be feared by all because of his frightening changes of moods; One minute he was gentle, kind and silent, the next he was a angry, loud and dangerous. He used to protect the tree from others, and told everyone not to touch it. The only friend the Old Deer had was a young squirrel called Yune.
Many thought the buck crazy, or selfish or just plain mad to guard a tree all the time, but Yune did not.
Even though the Old Deer had died long ago, no one would still go near the tree, for they feared that his ghost still guarded the sapling. No one touched it....

Not until that one day... 

A buck called Jans For Quey was passing The Silver Wood, it was December and most of the deer who visited the Silver Wood that winter had stripped all the bark off the trees in the land, except of course the bark of the Maple Tree.

Now Jans had traveled far and he very hungry and thirsty and had searched for hour for food in vain. When he found the Maple Tree he was filled with utmost joy and ran towards it. On reaching the tree he was just about to rip the clean, tasty bark on it's fine trunk when Yune the squirrel sprang out of a nearby tree and halted him - '

Malvon stopped to take a breath and paused to think. Then he continued...

'No, buck!' cried the squirrel.' Do not touch the bark!'

'But why, dear squirrel?' asked Jans.

'I cannot tell you, for I have sworn to not tell. But please, do not eat it.'

Jans looked annoyed, for he was very, very hungry.
He groaned but left the tree and did not touch it.
That night, Jan slept in The Silver Wood, all through the night he dreamt of the tree. Halfway through one of these dreams, Jans awoke to the sound of voices.

He opened his eyes and saw the Maple tree in the darkness, it seemed to be glowing. Or, something beside it was glowing. Walking slowly towards it, Jans saw a tall buck, it looked old, very old and it's pelt was shining like a large star. Before the old buck stood the squirrel.

'Did he eat the bark?' asked the buck.
'No,' said the squirrel.' Do you see a body upon the snowy ground?'

'No,' answered the buck. 'You have served me well, squirrel, I am pleased with you. And if you manage to save him tomorrow I will grant thee thy wish of freedom.'

The squirrel thanked him. Jans went back to sleep, utterly confused and puzzled. Who was the buck? In the morning he had forgotten all last nights happenings.

He had also forgotten about the squirrels warnings, some madness had somehow shadowed his memory.

But he had not forgotten his hunger; he had grown very thin over night, his ribs could be seen through his mangled fur and his eyes were clouded.

Waking up and seeing the Maple Tree again he sped towards it.
'No!' cried the squirrel again. 'Do not eat the tree's bark!'

Anger seized the buck. 'Do you wish me to die, squirrel? Why can't I eat it?'
The squirrel shook it's head.' I cannot tell you. I have promised...'
He was cut short by the buck, who snapped angerly at him.
'No! I can't tell you!' cried the squirrel.' Do not eat it!'
The buck did not listen, but he walked closer to the tree and opened his mouth to take a bite.
Quickly the squirrel threw itself at the tree and after taking a lick at it, fell down dead.'

Lord Malvon looked down at Thumper, the young rabbit was trembling in fright and looking at the clearing were the tree stood. ' So, Yune sacrificed his life to show Jans why not to eat the tree, without breaking his promise to the Old Deer?'
  'Yes,' said Malovn. I'm sorry for frightening you about the death of Yune...'
'No,' said Thumper.' It good to know the truth, for I believe that you are telling the truth. Even if it hurts.'

Lord Malvon smiled and licked Thumper's head.

'But what I don't understand,' said the rabbit.' Is why does The Maple kill?'
Lord Malvon sighed.' Man. Man spreds poison on it's bark.'
'But why The Maple's bark in particular?'
 'Because he knows that we do not eat the bark of the other trees,' explained the Leader. "For they are distasteful to us.'

Thumper pushed himself underneath the buck's fur and closed his eyes.' What happened to Jans?'

'After burying Yune under the Maple Tree, he became the new guardian of the tree until he died. Many say that he was haunted by the memory of the squirrel's death and became mad. Others say that he met the Old Deer and Yune's spirits and was forgiven.'

Thumper looked confused.' So if Jans died, who guards the Maple Tree now?'

Lord Malvon looked down at the rabbit with his soft twinkling eyes and smiled.

The End