Chapter 14 A New Phoenix

As I flew away from Joshua's wedding, I lamented not being there for my son. I thought about going back and being with him. But he just got married. He needs time with his new wife. Anyway, I was a newly reborn now. I was his mother in another life. I am his sister now. Now I must live this new life, and I intend on having a good one.

As I flew through the sky I watched the ground go by. I lowered my flame till you could not see it anymore. I found a nice patch of earth that looked perfect for me. It was far from any village: It was deep in the forest. I will be surrounded by trees and wild life. This looks like the place for me.

When I landed I found that this area had tall sunflowers everywhere. The buds were bigger than my head. I bent some of the stalks and wove them together to make a make shift shelter. When I climbed in and laid down the ground was so soft. I fell asleep.

When I woke up the next day I felt rested and ready for the day ahead of myself. I decided to explore my new home. As I walked around I noticed that some of the trees were having some issues. I placed my hand on them and gave them some of my energy. As soon as I did the trees perked up and the leaf's perked up turning back a beautiful green.

I knew from when I flew over that there was a beautiful lake nearby. I flew up in the air to get my bearings. As I came back down several of the forest animals had come to see what was happening. Forest animals are very curious creatures. None of them came close. But they let me know they were there. As I walked to the water they followed me to see what I would do next.

I was hungry! So I walked out into the water. I caught a nice fish and turned back to shore. There were many animals on the banks watching me. I giggled and continued to come back ashore. As I did the animals backed off, or ran and hid in the forest again. All remaining close to see my next move.

I fixed up a little fire pit and roasted my fish on a rock. As I ate my fish a big black bear sauntered up. He did not act threatening at all. He sat down next to my fire. I froze! I did not want to hurt the bear. But I was not going to be his dinner either. I did have about half my fish left. I picked up the rock and fish and placed it in front of the bear. Let that be his lunch instead of me, you know!

The bear took the fish and ate it gladly. I swear it looked like he was smiling. That is when I noticed a arrow in his side. As he was eating I carefully approached the arrow. The wound was getting infected. I gently placed a hand by the arrow. The bear growled in pain and turned his head at me.

I thought he was going to attack me. but he rolled over and laid flat. I patted his side and petted him to reassure him. He moaned and grunted. Luckily the arrow did not have an arrow head. It was just a stick arrow. Probably some kid playing hunter. I hope the kid survived! All in one movement, I grabbed the arrow and jerked it out, and laid my other hand on the wound. I sent healing energy into the bear. The bear grunted and bellowed. But he laid still until I was done.

When I stepped back the bear got up. He shook his whole body and stood up on his back legs. He bellowed loudly into the sky. Then slammed back down on the ground. I smiled and giggled at first. I was glad he was better. But then when he came down he barreled at me.

I did not have time to think or move. He knocked me down, and leaned in close baring his teeth. Then he began licking me. He laid down next to me with one long arm over me cuddling into me. I tried to get up, but he was not having it. He rolled over on his back and pulled me on top of him with his strong arms in a hug. He rolled from side to side hugging me like that. Then he let me go.

When I got up, he pushed his head gently into me. I giggled and patted him on the head. I think I just made a new friend. I went to crawl back into my little shelter, but the bear pushed past me and went in first. As he went in he accidently undid my delicate weaving job of the sunflower stalks. He laid down on the soft earth and looked at me. I swear he was saying come on in.

I laughed and began redoing my weaving job. I weaved the sunflowers in a bigger shelter. I could stand in it now. I sat down a little away from the bear. The bear growled at me. He got up and walked to the entrance. He turned around and began nudging me to the back of our shelter. I laughed and he licked me as he nuzzled me.

Once he got me to the back he laid down in front of me. Then turned his back to the entrance. He opened his front paws to me and gently bellowed. I got between his front paws and he wrapped his back paws around me too. We slept together that way through the night. It was one of the warmest and most comfy nights of my life!

The next day when I woke up my sweet bear was gone. I came out of my daisy shelter and found a deer laying close to my shelter. He was an older dear. His antlers were huge! On one rack he must have had 15 points. His coat was beautiful and glistened in the sunlight. When he turned to look at me; I could see his eyes were a beautiful dark blue. I did not know deer had blue eyes!

I approached him very slowly. He did not move. He laid there staring at me. As I got closer, I could see he had an short make shift arrow in his back flank. It must have hurt the poor creature to even move let alone walk!

I went to his head first. I put my hand out and let him take in my scent. He smelled me and licked my hand. I petted his head. He really seemed to like it. I kept a hand on his side as I slowly walked down to the arrow. I barely touched the arrow, and the dear kicked out and laid flat on his side. The arrow must have hit a nerve. Again, in one motion, I pulled out the arrow and placed my other hand on the wound and sent healing energy through to the creature.

Once the wound was healed, I quickly stepped back. The deer quickly began kicking out and got up. He ran off into the forest fast. I laid the arrow next to the one I had pulled from the bear. This was interesting. Who was foolish enough to do this. You never wound a creature. If you are going to hunt it, finish the job. It is cruel to leave a animal to suffer like this. The hunter should have followed and finished the job. That is unless this was for sport. If this was for sport, I had better never meet the hunter. He will be burned alive! You only ever hunt for food. Never take more than your fair share. That is a law of nature!

I stood up fuming from my thoughts. I had to calm myself down. I looked at my hand and I was on fire again. I forced myself to calm down. I walked down to the lake and took a nice soaking bath. The water was cool and felt so good on my skin.

When I started back towards shore, the big black bear was waiting on me. He had my clothing in his mouth. What a sweet bear. I took my tattered dress from him and held it up. 'I think it is time for some new clothing." The bear nodded his head with a huff. I guess he somewhat understands me.

We went back to my makeshift den and I pulled several dozen of the flowers. I wove them all together and made a decent fabric. It will do for now. I broke off the pieces I did not need till I had a decent looking shape of a dress. Then I put it on.

I pushed the bear back against a tree. Then I let my flame do the rest of the work. I glowed bright and floated off of the ground slightly. Then I cooled myself down. When I looked for my bear friend, I found him behind the tree. But as soon as my glow diminished he came to me and licked my face.

I looked down and was very happy. My flame had turned my makeshift stalk dress into a beautiful green dress. It came down to my feet. I even had shoes to match. I love my flame. God surely has blessed me!

The bear turned towards the shelter and picked up something small, white, and dead. He turned to me and waited for me to take it. It was a dead rabbit. I knew while I was working he had left. What a nice present! I petted the bear and gave him a hug. This bear is a good friend.

I began preparing the rabbit. The bear watched every move I made. I made sure to give him all the scrap's. He was a happy bear. He left while the rabbit was cooking. I sat down next to the fire and breathed in the nice fresh mountain air.

That was when my little get away was disturbed. A boy walked up and cleared his throat. I turned to find what looked like a young peasant boy. He was skin and bone. His clothes were all tattered. He must have been 17 maybe 18. He fell to his knees and begged me to share my food. He had not eaten in nearly 3 days. His father had sent him out on trials and he has failed. He cant even make an arrow right. Could I please spare him some food.

It was a good thing that the rabbit that the big black bear brought me was huge. I told the boy to come and sit. I fed him some of the rabbit. I asked him while we were eating if these arrows where his. He nodded. I threw them in the fire. I went and got a straight stick and came back. I showed him how to make a bow and arrow out of the wood. I went over what wood to use and not use, and even helped him practice. He got a squirrel.

He was so happy when he left he took the squirrel as a prize to show his family. He thanked me several times. I sat down and began eating my portion of the rabbit. It got a little overcooked during my helping the boy. But it was still good. While I was eating my big black bear came back with a dead fox in his mouth. He laid down next to the fire and tore into his meal while I ate mine.

Over the next several days, many animals would come to me with minor problems and I helped them. The big black bear never left. I started calling him big boy. He was quite literally just like a living teddy bear to me. But he was still a wild animal! He would scare away any animal he did not think should have been there. Really he was kind of more like a bouncer at times.

I really enjoyed my time in my little get away. I had spent several months here at this point. Big boy has never left my side except to hunt. I have seen all manor of creatures too. Luckily no more with make shift arrows in them. I love this home. But I think it is time for me to move on.

That night was a bad night. A forest fire had begun. It had not rained in nearly two months. Everything was dry and brittle. That is except for my little area. I kept is looking fresh. Not on purpose mind you. It was just because of my presence.

The bear and I were cuddled up and snoring when a stampede of animals came barreling through our shelter. We were trampled. Big boy tucked and rolled me under him. He got the worst of the beating. I only had a few scratches.

I could smell the smoke. I flew up and saw the fire coming. I looked down and several of the animals were at my shelter. I could not let them all die! So I decided to hurry up nature a bit. I did my dance of flame. I imagined a small dome shield around my little camp. I flew high to make an energy field around this entire side of the forest.

As I did smoke filled the dome. I danced faster and faster. I tried to make sure my fire would not hurt and living creature but this had to be done. The entire area except the dome around my camp lit up in flames. Everything burned and fast. I kept dancing.

Luckily the dome was over the lake as well. I used the heat from the fire to evaporate water from the lake. It began to rain in my dome. As the ground got wet I used my healing powers on the land. My great red fire changed its color to a green hue. Plants began to grow at an extraordinary rate. It looked like it had never been touched by the fire. Everything that had been under the dome was lush and green now. While everything outside the dome still looked withered and dry. But the fire was out.

Once the entire area was carpeted with lush green foliage again, I came back down. I dropped my shields and domes. I must have repaired a quarter of the forest. It was a mighty large area. I was so tired. I felt utterly drained. When I was back on the ground I went straight to my knees.

The animals thanked me with licks and nudges before the ran off into the woods. However, big boy did not move. I walked over and nudged him. He grunted but did not move. I was so tired, but I forced myself to walk to his other side. He had been hurt badly in the stampede. His back was broken, his ribs displaced. But the only way I could tell that much, was the big gaping hole in his back. I could see the damage.

I cried! This big guy has done nothing but care for me. He saved me from the stampede! I put my hand on his back and tried to pass my healing energy to him. But I was out of juice. I was so tired that I fell over and passed out. Even then the bear protected me. He pulled me into his arms.

He passed away that night while he protected me yet again. What a good friend my dear sweet bear was. The next day, when I found him dead, I cried. My tears hitting the ground made flowers grow. I laid on my friend and knew what I had to do. I let my emotions go, and let the flames free.

As I burned his body took flame as well. However, he did not turn to ashes. Instead, he turned into a blanket and a black dress. It was a wonderful way to remember my friend! I would honor him as often as I can and wear this dress often. I put the dress on and it was so soft! I slept with my blanket that night. I cried a little but having this blanket was just like having my friend with me still. Thank you God for the wonderful gifts.

The next day, I made up my mind. I was going to go on exploring this world. I still had a lot to see. Now at least I would have my friend with me where ever I go. I folded up my blanket and it magically turned into a handkerchief. I smiled, "This is good for easy travel." I tucked it safely into the pocket of my dress and then I took off into the air again.