|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Aug 31, 2017 13:17:27 GMT -6
I love fairy tales and fantasy because of their haunting beauty and magical strangeness. They are set in worlds where anything can happen. Frogs can be kings, a thicket of brambles can hide a castle where a royal court has lain asleep for a hundred years, a boy can outwit a giant, and a girl can break a curse with nothing but her courage and steadfastness. ~Kate Forsyth Yes!! I do love fantasy.
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 8, 2018 10:46:46 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 9, 2018 6:04:14 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 9, 2018 11:01:01 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 10, 2018 6:15:37 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 10, 2018 8:59:45 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by susan on Jan 10, 2018 9:05:22 GMT -6
i know that sounds like the day is done, but....
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 10, 2018 9:10:58 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 11, 2018 5:42:58 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 11, 2018 11:30:37 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 12, 2018 6:15:23 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 12, 2018 12:45:06 GMT -6
The Changeling
Once upon a time in Ireland, there lived a woman called Shiela. Shiela had a small baby whom she loved above all else.
One Saturday morning, she noticed that her baby did not look right. Her baby boy was fat, healthy, and happy. This "thing" in her baby's crib was thin and looked like a skeleton. It was ugly and had shifty eyes, not at all like Shiela's baby. This baby "thing" never stopped crying. Shiela was at wit's end. Where was her son? What was in her son's crib? And would it never stop wailing?
Shiela's neighbors came and tried to comfort her. They told her that what was in her baby's crib was certainly a changeling. She must ask the wise woman what to do.
Shiela left her small thatched cottage and went along the road to the wise woman's house. But she traveled slowly because tears were pouring down her cheeks. She missed her little son and worried about him. Had the good people really taken her baby and left one of theirs in his place? Were they treating her son kindly? Would she ever see him again? These and other sad thoughts chased each other through her mind.
When Sheila was in the wise woman's house, she told the woman the whole story. The wise woman asked many questions about the baby in Sheila's cottage. Finally, after talking for two hours, the wise woman said, "Yes, you have a changeling. Here is what you must do."
When sheila returned to her home, she hurried to her chicken house and collected a dozen eggs. Going into her house, she did not look at the changeling. Instead, she went to the hearth, started a huge, hot fire, and put on a big pot of water. When the water was boiling, Sheila broke the eggs and threw away the yolks and whites. But she kept the shells.
Sheila noticed that the changeling, for once, was very quiet. She saw from the corner of her eye that it was watching what she did very closely. But Sheila never looked at it directly.
Sheila tossed the egg shells into the boiling water.
"What are you doing, Mother?" asked the baby.
Sheila knew then that the baby was indeed a changeling, for her own son was too young to speak.
"I am brewing, my son," replied Sheila.
"What are you brewing, Mother?" asked the changeling in the creaky voice of a very old man.
"I am brewing egg shells, son," said Sheila.
"I have lived for fifteen hundred years and I have never seen anyone brew egg shells before," laughed the changeling.
At that, Sheila jumped up from the fireplace and ran toward the changeling. But she had risen so quickly that she slipped and fell. When she got up and ran to the crib, the changeling was no longer there. But there was her own dear baby, sleeping quietly and with a smile on his lips.
Sheila gently picked him up. Tears slipped down her face and dropped onto his head. But this time the tears were tears of joy!
courtesy Irish Culture & Customs
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 13, 2018 6:15:00 GMT -6
Creepy story with a happy ending ... I like it!
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 13, 2018 13:19:23 GMT -6
So it is, Rick.
 |
|
|
|
Post by susan on Jan 13, 2018 14:01:01 GMT -6
it is a creepy story but we do wonder where alot of ideas come from that are turned into movies, books, tv shows...and that...
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 13, 2018 14:03:26 GMT -6
That's for sure, Susan.
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 13, 2018 14:21:47 GMT -6
The Value Of Life
Cold, so cold. I shivered as my bare feet crackled against the frozen ground. "SHHHH" I whispered to myself. I heard a rustling sound, then I saw them. Two huge glowing eyes in the forest beyond. Beautiful, golden and shiny. They blinked twice then turned quickly. I would have welcomed Death at that point or at least the company of another living soul.
Suddenly shots rang out into the cold night air and the sound of drunken laughter rose above the snow covered hills. A rescue party? No, unfortunately just a bunch of inebriated hunters. (Come on death) Hold on a minute...they had spotted something now. I could tell because they finally fell silent, the eyes where back, only this
time I could see who they belonged to.
I saw the biggest Timber Wolf that I had ever seen. He was snow white with piercing golden eyes. He stood in a clearing bristling like
a porcupine. I'm sure that inside he was shaking, but he stood his ground, never taking his eyes off the rag tag bunch of warriors before him. One of the hunters slowly raised his shotgun to his shoulder.
Sport? Hunting isn't a sport. Sports are to be played on a level playing field. Give this magnificant wolf a gun and let's see how man makes out. Something inside of me propelled me toward the wolf. I don't know how or why or where I got the strength, but I lunged for the wolf, and as I made contact with his coarse coat I felt the worst pain my body had ever known.
"Let's get out of here", one of the humans called out, and they all scurried away faster then a run of frightened Deer. "Cowards". I heard a gruff voice call out after them. It wasn't my own. I wasn't alone after all.
Somebody had seen what happened and had come to help me. But I saw no one, no other face except that of the wolf. No...impossible...they can't talk, can they? I must be dreaming, maybe because of the pain, or because of how much blood I had lost. But no, there he was, the Great White Timber Wolf standing over me. He was looking gently into my soul. He licked my face to keep me awake.
His mouth moved not, but still I heard a voice. I'm sure I heard the deep resonating sound in my head. "Do Not Be Frightened!! We are here to help". "WE?" I thought. "You mean there are more of you?"
"I have some friends here, Shhh, Don't talk now, save your strength, you'll need it."
Then the most amazing thing happened. The trees started swaying even though there was no wind. It looked as if they were doing yoga stretches. They lowered their mighty branches and lifted me up from the ground, carrying me up upon their mighty oaken shoulders as if I were some kind of Princess.
"You'll be safer up here", said a squawky voice. I turned my head and was startled to see an Eagle and a Hawk staring at me, just inches away from my face.
"Quickly! said the wolf, Go gather herbs,and tell Pelican to bring water."
"Mind if I come up and see what you have here" said an even deeper, yawning voice. "Sure, Medicine bear, I've been expecting you", said Wolf. "Oh, my it looks pretty bad. Pssst are you sure we can trust this human?" Of course. She saved my life, didn't she? It's the least we can do. Besides, she couldn't harm Brother Mouse in this condition."
For the next month I stayed within the secure, and surprisingly comfortable, confines of the trees. Brother Bear dressed my wounds, as Sister Hawk and Brother Eagle gathered medicine herbs and food for me. Brother Pelican brought water when it didn't rain or snow, and the Wolf and Little Red Sparrow kept my spirits lifted high. Wolf told me of happenings elsewhere in the Land, and Sister Sparrow sang the most beautiful songs I had ever heard.
Wolf slept beside me watching over me every night until he knew I was no longer hurting. When I was finally ready to walk again, the trees set me down gently. They didn't let me go until I proved to them that I could balance on my own two feet.
By that time the snows had melted and the cool rivers ran along banks covered with Spring wild flowers. I loved all of the Creator's creatures. I never knew plants had souls. No offense to Eagle and Hawk but you can only take so much of berries and field mice. I understood them now. But Wolf and I knew each other best. He was such an enormous beast but you would never guess it to see him play like such a young pup.
His eyes were so curious and cunning. He had a heart so big and free that the universe is too small to contain it. We could not have been closer if we shared the same skin.
We breathed the same air. We howled at the moon together. He was not just my friend or my brother he was my life now. My soul. We walked, side by side, for many moons. Eagle and Hawk saw that I was well once more and bid me farewell. They each had mates now, and soon it would be time to settle down to nest.
Brother Bear looked tired." What's wrong?" asked Wolf. "I was so busy taking care of our friend here that I never got a chance to hibernate. I just need some rest that's all," muttered Bear.
"I'm sorry, Brother, I didn't mean for you to miss your rest," I tried to stammer. "That's quite all right I enjoyed helping you, besides
Wolf has saved my skin plenty of times. Farewell, Human Sister". "Good-bye, Bear Brother, and thank you."
Everyone had left me. I was all alone except for the Wolf. "I guess I'd better be getting back, I guess I'll, uh " "Why?" "I don't want you to leave growled Wolf". Don't you....don't you....want, to have a
mate? A family, I asked?" "You are my family now. I love you. I need you," howled Wolf as he begged me not to go. I could not leave so I stayed with him. When we walked in the woods, Wolf taught me how to be cunning and sly. Wolf said that I was almost invisible. "Almost" laughed Wolf, "but I can still smell you."
I built a shelter for us. Wolf said he liked it much better than any den he had ever dug. It was summer and food and water were plentiful here. I even managed to make some new clothes with the help of Lady Spider. She taught me how to spin my own thread and weave it into a fine cloth. These were long and happy days.
It was too hot to stay indoors, so Wolf and I went out for a walk in the forest. Wolf stopped suddenly. "Shhh I heard something", he
whispered. "You stay here. I want to practice my sneaking" I said, as I crept up over the hill.
This place looks familiar I thought to myself. Just then I heard a sound, like a single, out of tune guitar string.
"Get Down." Before I could say anything more Wolf flew at me knocking me down. Uhhn, the air rushed out of my lungs from the pressure. Wolf cried in pain and rolled onto his side.
Blood, blood all over me. I was covered in blood. Wait, Oh, Dear Creator It's not mine, It's not mine I screamed. Why couldn't it have been mine. I did not blame him, the hunter. He was so young and he had a family to feed. He himself had gone without eating for at least a week, just so that his family wouldn't starve.
There was drought in his land, and he had traveled many miles, tracking the deer herds into the mountains... Our Mountains. He fell to his knees to beg the Creator's forgiveness for killing one of his Chosen Guardians.
As his tears of regret flowed down his face to the dusty earth and as my tears of sorrow mingled with Wolf's life blood there arose a mighty whirlwind. In the midst of this Cyclone was a bright white light. And I heard a voice unlike anything, or perhaps like everything I had ever heard.
It was Male and Female, Light and Dark, High and Low, Animal, Human, Plant, Earth, Wind, Fire, Water, all at once and yet it had only one message for every living creature:
Love everyone and everything for we are one another. I then saw a light reach out for Wolf's soul. The sight was glorious to behold. It looked like a little crystal sphere and inside it had a million glowing, feathery spikes. Like a snowflake which is lit from within.
Never before had I realized the true value of life as I did at that moment.
~Author Unknown~
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 14, 2018 6:29:34 GMT -6
An incredibly beautiful story
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 14, 2018 12:22:16 GMT -6
Yes Rick. One of my favorites that is both sad and beautiful.
![]() |
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 15, 2018 6:54:50 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 15, 2018 14:05:13 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 16, 2018 5:51:14 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 16, 2018 10:15:47 GMT -6
Fox and the Little Prince
It was then that the fox appeared. "Good morning" said the fox. "Good morning" the little prince responded politely although when he turned around he saw nothing. "I am right here" the voice said, "under the apple tree." "Who are you?" asked the little prince, and added, "You are very pretty to look at." "I am a fox", the fox said.
"Come and play with me," proposed the little prince, "I am so unhappy."
"I cannot play with you," the fox said, "I am not tamed." "Ah! Please excuse me," said the little prince. But after some thought, he added: "what does that mean--'tame'?" "You do not live here," said the fox, "What is it you are looking for?"
"I am looking for men," said the little prince. "What does that mean---tame?"
"Men,"said the fox, "they have guns, and they hunt. It is very disturbing. They also raise chickens. These are their only interests. Are you looking for chickens?"
"No," said the little prince. "I am looking for friends. What does that mean--tame?"
"It is an act too often neglected," said the fox. "It means to establish ties."
"To establish ties?" "Just that," said the fox. "To me, you are still nothing more
than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you.
And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world. . ."
"I am beginning to understand," said the little prince. "There is a flower. . .I think she has tamed me. . ." "It is possible," said the fox. "On earth one sees all sorts of
things." "Oh but this is not on the earth!" said the little prince. The fox seemed perplexed, and very curious. "On another planet?" "Yes" "Are there hunters on that planet?" "No" "Ah that's interesting! Are there chickens?" "No" "Nothing is perfect," sighed the fox. But he came back to his idea.
"My life is very monotonous," he said. "I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And in consequence, I am a little bored.
But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music out of my burrow. And then look: You see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread.Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat. . ."
The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time. "Please---tame me!" he said. "I want to, very much," the little prince replied. "But I have not much time. I have friends to discover, and a great many things to understand." "One only understands the things that one tames," said the fox. "Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me. . ."
"What must I do, to tame you? asked the little prince. "You must be very patient," replied the fox. First you will sit down at a little distance from me-like that-in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me, every day..." The next day the little prince came back. "It would have been better to come back at the same hour," said the fox. "If for example, you came at four o'clock in the afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy. I shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances. At four o'clock, I shall be worrying and jumping about. I shall show you how happy I am! But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is ready to greet you. . .One must observe the proper rites. . ."
"What is a rite?" asked the little prince. "Those also are actions too often neglected," said the fox. "they are what make one day different from other days, one hour different from other hours. There is a rite, for example, among my hunters. Every Thursday they dance with the village girls. So Thursday is a wonderful day for me! I can take a walk as far as the vineyards. But if the hunters danced at just any time, every day would be like every other day, and I should never have any vacation at all."
So the little prince tamed the fox. And when the hour of his departure drew near--
"Ah," said the fox, "I shall cry." "It is your own fault," said the little prince. "I never wished you any sort of harm; but you wanted me to tame you. . ." "Yes that is so", said the fox. "But now you are going to cry!" said the little prince. "Yes that is so" said the fox. "Then it has done you no good at all!" "It has done me good," said the fox, "because of the color of the wheat fields."
And then he added: "go and look again at the roses. You will understand now that yours is unique in all the world. Then come back to say goodbye to me, and I will make you a present of a secret." The little prince went away, to look again at the roses. "You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one. You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made a friend, and now he is unique in all the world." And the roses were very much embarrassed.
"You are beautiful, but you are empty," he went on. "One could not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you--the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or even sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is MY rose."
And he went back to meet the fox. "Goodbye" he said. "Goodbye," said the fox.
"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." "What is essential is invisible to the eye," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember. "It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important. "It is the time I have wasted for my rose--"said the little prince so he would be sure to remember.
"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose. . ." "I am responsible for my rose," the little prince repeated, so that he would be sure to remember.
From the Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
|
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 17, 2018 6:17:00 GMT -6
This is such a mesmerizing story, Foxy  |
|
|
|
Post by QueenFoxy on Jan 17, 2018 14:37:37 GMT -6
Thank you, Rick. I love all these fantasy stories. |
|
|
|
Post by lostineternity99 on Jan 18, 2018 6:50:55 GMT -6
I love them too   |
|
