The Fate of the Forest

THE TREE

The morning breeze sends my arms into a sway, waving back and forth as I greet the day with delight. As my needles drop to the forest floor, they are interrupted mid-flight with the sound of a soft plop-a noise I have yet to hear throughout my several decades of existence. As I look down, I do not notice the green blanket of grass and sun-browned earth at my feet that I am used to. I notice instead a man-made structure of triangular shape; bright orange in colour, and satiny in observable texture. I feel the delicate weight of the structure resting atop the earth above my deeply planted roots. It remains still, but I know it is not empty, for I hear the sound of heavy, drawn-out grumbles coming from within it. The sounds continue until the sun peaks above the mountain tops, and as its rays begin to illuminate the capacious, bowl-shaped valley and all of its contents, there is slight movement from inside the foreign object. 

THE MAN

My eyes remain closed as I awake to the familiar chorus of willow warblers and wood thrush. My neck feels stiff and taut, but I know it will be relieved with a brief stretch. I sense the light trying to penetrate through my eyelids. I open them slowly, feeling a brief sting of the neon orange of my tent before my eyes adjust. My stomach growls, and I know it’s time for breakfast. 

I make my way out of the tent and grab my bag of food I had hung from a tree, far away enough from a bear's curious nose. I put a handful of rolled oats and dried nuts in a bowl and walk down to the river's edge so I can filter a cup of water. The water is cold and untamed. It glitters as if a million crystals were on its surface, and it is so clear that I can see through to the bottom without struggle. 

As I pump the water through my filter, I take a moment to appreciate the wild that surrounds me. Every noise around me forms a single song; the rushing waters and calm breeze intertwine with each other as if they are one harmonious voice, while the birds continue their rhythmically consistent chorus. The frogs croak in a baritone unison, the insects buzz like flutes, and the trees creak, clatter, and hiss like a percussion ensemble.

I feel at peace. The feeling fades quickly as I notice something from the corner of my eye. I turn my head, and an instant shock runs from my head to the tips of my toes. The beautiful song of the forest begins to fade farther and farther away as the beat of my accelerating heart grows louder with every second.  

THE BEAR

The human is thin, but lean. He tries to hide a bag of tasteless oats, as if it were something of interest to me. Silly human. Little does he know, is that he is the peak of my interest. I would so much love to ravish him immediately, tearing my claws into his warm, soft flesh. I imagine my teeth piercing through every layer of his pink, creamy skin. I restrain myself, for I'd rather study him momentarily. Humans don't come this way very often. In fact, I have only ever spotted them once, from a great distance. There were three of them across the valley, heading West towards the mountains. I was feeling unusually lazy that day, and had just eaten a large meal of elk, so I felt no need to overly exert myself for the sake of a snack. 

Today however, my stomach was feeling a bit too unsatisfied for my liking. I felt very fortunate when Human came frolicking into my territory, serving himself on a silver platter. I watch him crouched by the river; he appears to be content. I wonder if he has any idea of his fate, and I laugh. They never do... I remind myself. My mouth begins to salivate as I imagine what he must taste like. I had never tasted human before, but I imagine it would be sweet in taste, and soft in texture. I always remember the first taste of a new animal. It's like feeling the warmth on your fur for the first time after a long, lonesome winter's hibernation. 

My impatience is growing thinner. I wonder how I will make his death. It could be brief and uneventful, or it could be prolonged and exhilarating. If I choose the latter, I will have to be articulate with my actions. One careless swipe of the paw or pierce of an incisor, and he will bleed out quickly. Now I'll admit, I'm not a sadistic animal. I'm just severely bored these days. Every day is the same. I scrounge for the same tart berries, or I snatch the same, mindless salmon. Even hunting the elk has become a tedious, passionless task. 

I can no longer resist the urge. An ancient, instinctive force takes over my body, and I no longer see colour. A bright, angry red impedes my vision. I raise my lips, widen my nostrils, and snarl. I stomp my feet, and begin to charge headfirst towards the pitiable creature that dared cross through my territory. 

DEATH

I can be cruel and unjust, or I can be honourable and forgiving. I can be certain and expected, or I can be accidental and tragic. 

I can visit as I please, before the sun hits the crack on your windowpane, before your index finger can silence an alarm clock, or before your coffee maker can finish brewing a single cup. 

I can visit midday, as you heat-up last night’s leftovers of spaghetti and canned tomato sauce, as you read the arts & culture section of the newspaper, or as you take the dog for a walk in your sweatpants. 

I can arrive at the darkest hour of night, on a lonesome stretch of highway, in an empty, fluorescent-lit parking garage, or even under the covers of your cotton bedspread. 

Time is a concept you all create to maintain order among the chaos of your world. Time means nothing to me, because it all begins with me, and it all ends with me. I am the only certainty of life, and without it, you would cease to exist.

I see the human, and I see him cling to life. He begs me to spare him, cursing my name through gasping breath. His fate has been predetermined since the moment he entered the world. I am not here right now to make a decision, offer an ultimatum or an alternative plan. I am merely here to offer my guiding hand, to walk beside him, to comfort him. He need not fear. This is only another beginning.