Mother Nature (Part 2)

At the appointed time Mother Nature, in her corporal form, visited Herb and Rosemary, to claim their son Rock for herself, as was promised sixteen years ago. After a tearful parting with his parents Rock followed Mother Nature into the unknown, wondering how his future was destined to unfold. They travelled for three weeks living off the fruits of the land until they arrived at the edge of a dense forest. Mother Nature turned to Rock and commanded him to enter the forest alone and she would return for him in three year’s time.

Rock was intimidated by the prospect of entering these ancient woods, he had lived a carefree life, in the open air, under the sun, tending his parents garden and vegetable patches. This was a different side of the nature he was used to. He steeled himself and stepped tentatively into the forest. The air immediately changed becoming thick and damp, heavy with the scent of wet earth. He felt the forests indifference as he staggered through decaying leaves, moss and broken branches. After walking for half an hour he became disoriented, and overcome with a sense of isolation sat down and wept.

Rock became aware of the light beginning to fade and his survival instinct kicked in. His first thought was of shelter so he collected branches and built a lean to against an overhanging rock, placing leaves and pine needles inside for insulation. Satisfied with his accomplishment he passed out, oblivious to the forest and its inherent danger.

Time passed with Rock picking up new skills, maneuvering a fire drill to make fire, mapping out sources of water from the fast flowing forest streams, identifying food sources, as edible berries, nuts, dandelions, insects and grubs supplemented with fish from the streams. He initiated a daily routine of exploration, and soon became familiar with the forest and its inhabitants. He came to love the forest, the solitude, the peacefulness, the harmony, he built an altar to Gaia and meditated daily on the wonders of nature. He came to understand that the Forest was a dynamic, self sustaining system where life and environment are inseparable and often pondered where the human element entered the equation.

After three years Mother Nature returned and she and Rock continued on their journey.