Upon the flat lands of the southeast, near the farm lands and cotton fields of a small town that

is now nameless to me, once stood a vast forest of such majesty that man's great cities stood away

in fear and awe and dared not set it's grey, dirty spires near the endless crown of green.

Standing before the great gate of oak and pine in an open field, I would gaze in wonder at

the seemingly endless paths covered in silky moss and carpets of needles. Taking my first step

into the border of this other world a still silence falls for a moment as if the world had frozen

in time and space. Stepping onward into the wood the light trickling voice of a stream can be heard

over my rustling footsteps.

On my arrival at the shore of the small, rushing water's edge, I bend down and touch the cool,

life giving liquid. The water's feel rushes into my body and deep into my bones, refreshing my

aches and washing away all the torment and frustrations of the world outside this sacred place.

Looking up I would sometimes see that I am not alone. The natives of the forest also came down

out of thier shadows to sit near me and take of the fresh, crystal blue waters. I would watch as

small, furry rabbits and the occasional raccoon would dip its snout to take a drink or wash a

bit of food.

As the sun neared its peak of the day, the light would splash down over the foliage and cast a

glow over the entire spa of my sight. It was then that I believed I saw the elves and fey that

lived in the deepest depths of the shadowy woodland. I saw them dance and play along the way,

waving ro rhem as I went along and every now and then stoppin to let one kiss my cheek.

Following a small path through the pillars of the forest once, I came upon a clearing where

the sun was able to break through the great, green canopy. The song of birds could be heard clearly,

not a cheerful song, but one of wisdom, echoing through the sky. In the center of the clearing

stood the Lord of the Forest himself. His strong roots broke the surface to plunge into the

depths of the earth while also reaching to shater the very limits of the sky, taunting the

clouds and the sun.

As the great tree stood over me, I felt the challenge it called out. I approached my adversary

and reached out to touch the gnarled bark and took hold. I pulled with all my strength only to

slip down, the rough skin of the tree scraping my own. Persistence drove me on and my muscles

exploded as I struggled up higher and higher until the first fork in the long road upward was

reached. From here I rested only a moment before continuing on.

I leapt from branch to branch, pulling, swinging and finally coming to what could only be my

destination. The final forking large enough to support my weight was just high enough to be able

to peer out through the leaves and to see the roo of the forest. I lay back against the natural

chair and let the world drift for I had conquered the challenge and earned the right to sit upon

this throne high above the world and rest.

From my throne, I tasted the sky and let Mother Nature hold me in her gentle arms as once again

the fairy folk came out to talk with me and to nurse my hurt, tired body, I closed my eyes and let

myself dream of an eternity here, becoming lost in the magical place that had become my second

home.

Then with out warning, What I now call the day of fire came. The smoke could be seen for miles

rising like a demon straight from the pits of hell to bring its wrath upon the world. Running to

face the horror, I saw the first tongues of flame reaching out to lash the grasses, bushes,

and even the emerald leaves.

I hears the sound of gunshots and yelling over the angry cackling of the flames. Over and over

again the thunder rang out, forever imprinting itself in my mind. The flames rose higher and higher,

sweeping inward, feeding upon the lush bark and crisp pine needles, leave only sick blackness

in it wake.

My grandmother once told me a story of the woods. The legend said that the trees were so close

to each other that they had become a grea family and had grown very fond of each other and if one

was ever lost one could hear the rest of the forest weeping for their lost brother. On the Day of

Fire, I found out how true that legend was, as the whole world seemd to wail out in sorrow and

pain at the mad destruction of those who would gain such simple pleasures from death.

The Alcohol had completely consumed them. The hunters... nothing would stand in thier

way and not be touched by thier force. They had set the wood aflame to flush out thier prey so

that they may destroy these innocent creatures and brag to their friends. Never had I known such

anger as the heat rose from the inevitable end of the unforgivable flame. They were captured,

taken away, and charged for their crime I am sure. A rightful vengeance, but it didn't bring back

the noble trees.

Nothing in that great forest was left alive. It's only remaining piece of existence lays in

a whisper of memory inside me.

The world had lost something valuable that day. NOt just a drop in the oxygen in the atmosphere

that scientists and naturalists warn us about, or a damaged ecosystem that biologists and

zoologists preach about, but an entire world of gifts and magic.

No child will walk among the great pillars, and dance witht he elves again as I had. Instead

they will be content to sit and stare at thier technologically advanced video games and

entertainment systems.