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Fiction » Fantasy » Silent Spirit, Roam Free font: B s : A A A . width: full 3/4 1/2
Author: Scratch
Fiction Rated: K+ - English - Drama - Reviews: 18 - Published: 04-01-01 - Updated: 07-20-01 - id:242913
On the journey back home from the Endless Woods, Spirit spoke not
one word. Phoenix wanted to talk to her, to know about the meaning she had
discovered in the phoenixes' song. However, he didn't talk to her at all,
because he knew she was thinking hard about it. Phoenix knew he would find
out about what Spirit thought eventually, but his curiosity was killing him.
Still, he flew in silence.
When they finally reached the house, it was getting dark out.
Spirit's "mother" had been worried, but she was happy to know Spirit was
okay. Spirit went straight up to her room, still lost in thought. Phoenix was
already there, in his cockatiel form. His curiosity finally got the better of
him.

"Spirit, I've waited long enough. I have to know. What did you
figure out about the phoenixes' song? What does it mean?" he asked.

Spirit's glazed-over eyes focused at once. "Hmm? What did you say,
Phoenix?"

"I said, what did you figure out about the phoenixes' song, and what
does it mean?" Phoenix repeated.

"Oh! Phoenix, it's great! The phoenixes told me what I have to do!
Now I know. I can protect the Endless Woods. I can fulfill my destiny!"
Spirit said.

"All right, great! Now what is it, already?" said a frustrated
Phoenix.

"Oh! Well..." Spirit motioned for Phoenix to get close to her.
Phoenix flew over until he was only inches away from her face. Since he had
changed into his phoenix form, Spirit could feel the heat from his fiery
feathers on her face.

"What is it?" Phoenix whispered.

Spirit leaned towards Phoenix, and whispered into his ear beneath
all his flaming feathers.

After a while, she stopped talking. Phoenix's narrow yellow eyes
grew wide.

"That's it!" he cried. "It will work. Spirit, you've done it!"

"So you think I'm right about the meaning of the song after all?"
Spirit said.

"Yes, definitely. I know it will work. You can do it," Phoenix told
her once more.

"Yes... I will finally be... I will..." Spirit said softly, so even
Phoenix could not hear.

"Spirit, you'll have to get a good night's sleep. This will take
work! I... I will not go with you. This is something you must do alone. I
wouldn't be able to help you or guide you," Phoenix told her.

"Yes, Phoenix, I know. You've done so much already. I thank you from
the bottom of my heart, Phoenix, and I... I sincerely hope that this plan
will end this whole ordeal once and for all," said Spirit.

"Spirit... thank you. It has been a pleasure to work with you.
You've grown up in so many ways since I first met you. I know you can do
this. By the next time I see you, we will hopefully be living in harmony in
the Endless Woods. Now you must rest. It will be tough tomorrow," Phoenix
said.

"I can do it..." said Spirit, dozing off. "Good night... and good-
bye... Phoenix..." And she fell asleep with thoughts of forests and dragons
in her head.

* * * * * *

Spirit could hear the whistling of the wind. She could hear leaves
being ruffled. She could hear the scampers of animals scattering. All these
noises told her that something was happening.
She looked up at the clear, cloudless, blue sky. There seemed to be
an oval of... something white, in the sky. It looked like an oval of cloud,
but perhaps wind also. Spirit couldn't tell. She could see, however, that
there was a swirling presence within the oval, and the swirling clouds began
to focus into a being.
Slowly, gradually, the being became clearer until at last it was
fully formed.

"It's... a dragon," whispered Spirit, in human form, of course.

She saw the beautiful dragon, Eternity, within that cloud. How long
had it been? Right before Spirit became human, that was the last time that
they had seen each other. They dragon stared at Spirit with her brilliant
purple eyes, looking almost mesmerized. It suddenly became a look of sadness.

"Don't you know who I am?" the dragon said softly.

Spirit was shocked. "Why, of course I do! Eternity, Eternity! Why
wouldn't I know you?" said Spirit, who was beginning to look sad herself.

"You do know me! Oh, Spirit, Spirit, you're all right! I thought...
I was afraid... that because you were a human, you would not remember me...
and then, when I saw you as a... human, your face looked so blank, like you
had never seen me before," said Eternity.

"Eternity... I would never forget you. I probably looked that way
because... it has been so long, and I have missed you... Oh, Eternity, you're
like my mother!" Spirit cried.

"Spirit... I'm sorry I thought that... I didn't know what being a
human would do to you... but I should have known, you are very strong, and I
knew you could handle it. If I didn't think you could have, I would have just
let you die on that fateful day, instead of becoming a human," Eternity said.

Sometimes I wish she had let me die, thought Spirit. But she said
instead, "Eternity... how could you not know? You are a goddess, a forest
guardian! How could you let me be a human when you didn't know what would
happen? If you didn't know what would happen, then how do you know if I will
ever be a cougar again, in this disgusting form? Why didn't you let me die
that day?!"

Eternity looked taken aback, and a little hurt. She understood,
though. "Spirit, Spirit, I couldn't let you die, because... the forest needs
you. Your home, the Endless Woods! You are the only one who can protect it.
I... I can't do this anymore. The only other option... was human. You're
right... I didn't know what would happen, but I knew... I knew you are
strong. I knew you could do it, and maybe even find a way to become a cougar
again. That's actually why I am here, Spirit, because you HAVE done it."

Spirit looked confused. "I have... done what?"

"You have found the way. You have found the way to fulfill your
destiny! Spirit, you have figured out how to save the Endless Woods. It may
even... make your greatest wish come true," Eternity said.

"My greatest wish?" said Spirit. Then her green eyes lit up. "You
are saying... you are saying that my plan will work? My plan to protect and
save the Endless Woods! Oh, Eternity, is it true? It will really, truly
work?"

"Spirit, yes." Eternity smiled. "I am so proud of you. You have done
it, as a human! You are so strong, so wise! This is why I kept you alive!
Because I knew you could do it. Spirit, that's why I showed up here to talk
to you, to confirm that you are right. I will be happy to know that you will
protect the Endless Woods, when I go..."

"When you go? What? Eternity!" Spirit cried.

"I've got to leave now, Spirit... I'm sure I will see you soon...
May good fortune always... be with you..." said Eternity's fading voice, that
was soon inaudible.

"Eternity, wait! Please, I have so much more that I have to ask
you... Eternity, I have to know..." cried Spirit, who gave up and flumped
down on the ground.
As soon as her body touched the ground, everything disappeared. The
sky, the sun, everything, gone in a flash. And Spirit woke up. It had all
been a dream.

* * * * * *

By the time Spirit had fallen alseep again after her dream, there
were only a few hours left before she had to wake up again. She slept
dreamlessly through those few hours. When she woke up, it was barely light
out. But it was time to do what she had to do. Spirit sat on her bed for a
few moments before actually going anywhere. She thought about her dream. Even
though it WAS just a dream, she knew that there was meaning to it. And
something gave her the feeling that... Eternity was actually real, that she
had come to Spirit in her dream to talk to her. To say that... what Spirit
had planned to do that day was the correct thing to do. When she had reached
that realization, she was even more set on her plans.
Spirit stood up as quietly as she could. She looked about the room.
There was Phoenix, sleeping soundly in his cockatiel form in his cage. Soon,
the cage would disappear and he would be free of his job as a guardian of
her. She tiptoed through the house and down the stairs. She looked into her
"mother's" room. Soon that poor human would have her normal life back. And
soon, Spirit thought, I will be fighting for the Endless Woods, maybe as a...

* * * * * *

Spirit had exited the house, and she was now outside. An excited
feeling rose in her chest, because she was leaving this place, forever. She
walked through the grass, as quietly and gracefully as a cat would, to the
edge of the woods that surrounded the human's house. She took a deep breath
and started to journey into them, pushing aside bushes and shrubs and dodging
trees as she walked. She thought about what she was about to do as she
journeyed through the brush. One way or another, Spirit thought, this will
end it all.
Finally she reached the place she was looking for. It was an
extremely small clearing, free of trees and bushes but covered by tall, light
green grass and tiny wild flowers. The trees surrounding the clearing were
tall and almost forbidding. This is it, Spirit thought, here goes.
She stood tall in the middle of the clearing, opened her mouth, and
sang:

"Nothing is right with the world
All your hope is gone
Your mind is whirled
Patience, not for long...

When you are in need
Let your friends know
They will definitely heed
All your troubles will soon go...

They will help you
They will be true
Their loves knows no ends
You can call on your friends...

Chaos will stop
Peace will not drop
Put it to the test
You will be able to rest...

They will help you
They will be true
Their love knows no ends
You can call on your friends..."

Almost at once, cougars started to appear. They crept out from
behind bushes and trees and almost everywhere else, surrounding Spirit from
all directions. They stared at the human Spirit with their deep, hypnotizing
eyes; their expressions and emotions unreadable. Spirit looked around at them
calmly and lovingly. She knew that the phoenixes' song would summon her
friends. When she was sure that no more cougars would come to her, she said
in a loud, clear voice:

"My brothers and sisters... my family of cougars, please listen to
what I have to say. I am, at this time, a trapped, silent spirit, and I have
been trapped for a long time. During the time of my being trapped in this...
human... body" -you could almost see the cougars cringe- "it became necessary
for me to figure out what I had to do to fulfill my destiny, which is to save
and protect the Endless Woods. While I was trying to figure out what I had to
do, I had to lay low, and be silent. But now I have found the way, and I no
longer have to be a silent spirit. So my friends, my fellow cougars, let my
silent spirit roam free!"

Spirit took a deep breath and glanced at the cougars around her.
They seemed to be contemplating what they had to do, and if they should
really do it. Finally, the cougars all looked at Spirit. A huge, mighty male
cougar gave a great and ferocious snarl, and all the cougars jumped on
Spirit, tackling her to the ground. They bit and scratched her with the
powerful and beautiful strength of a cougar. As her eyesight began to dim and
her mind became fuzzy, she thought, it's going to be all right now. It'll all
be over soon... And with one last quick bite to the neck, Spirit died.

* * * * * *

The next morning, Spirit woke up to the ominous rumbling of thunder
in the distance. It was extremely dark out, suggesting that a major storm was
coming. She felt strange, as if she was being watched. A cold, scared feeling
settled in the pit of Spirit's stomach. Her mind felt fuzzy, until she looked
down at herself. She saw a furry brown paw. Her mind instantly cleared, and
she looked at her paw again. This time, it was real. She moved the muscles
in her leg and her claws came out and flexed, looking sharp, deadly, and good
as new. Spirit looked behind her and saw a long tail waving there. She had
ears on the top of her head, whiskers on the sides of her face, and she was
standing on four, strong legs.

"I'm a... I'm a..." Spirit paused and sighed deeply as a single tear
dripped out of her dazzling green eyes. "I'M A COUGAR AGAIN!!!"

As soon as she spoke those words, the fear in the pit of her stomach
was consumed by joy. Her cougar body felt so new and so old at the same time;
the power and grace that she could almost feel running through her blood was
so different from the dull human body, and the feeling felt almost new since
she had been a human for so long. However, her cougar body also felt old
because it WAS her. It was as comfortable as an old shoe, and it brought back
old memories from the past. Then her mind drifted back to what she had just
done, what had happened. Her plan had worked! By killing her human body,
the other cougars set Spirit's spirit free to return to her cougar self. She
had been right, just like Eternity said in her dream. And now she was back in
the Endless Woods... everything was the way it was supposed to be. With that
thought in mind, Spirit felt the adrenaline build up inside her, and used her
powerful cougar hindquarters to propel her across the ground of the woods.
She shot by the trees and plants faster than any other animal could go, this
being a way that she could release all the happiness and emotion she felt.
This feels just like the old times, Spirit thought. I used to run like this
through the forest as a cub! Spirit was as happy as she ever could have been,
and all her burdens and troubles seemed to float away as she ran as fast as
the wind. She felt young for the first time in a long time. When she had to
go through all her pain and loss, it seemed to make her age considerably, at
least in her mind. But now she was young, free of all worries and troubles,
as she made the most of her care-free happiness.
Spirit felt like she would never get tired. She dashed around the
woods, occasionally changing direction this way and that. She laughed
silently to herself as she felt the joyous emotion spread through her. She
could have kept on running forever, except-
She suddenly saw the ground almost disappear before her eyes, at
least that's what she thought. She dug her claws into the ground and
stiffened her body to make herself stop before she ran right off the land!
She stopped just in front of the edge, enough to see off the small cliff.
What she saw was not only disgusting and horrifying, it also drained out all
her happiness. What lay before her was the dead clearing that she and Phoenix
had encountered on their last visit to the Endless Woods. The yellow and
brown sinking land with all of its dead trees, animals, and plants left
Spirit feeling like she had grown old again. All the troubles and burdens
came back to her. But that was a good thing, because, Spirit realized, she
wasn't here to play and mess around like a little cub! She was here to save
the Endless Woods! The humans and their huge machines that cleared away land
that entered the barren dead land did not do anything for Spirit's mood.
Spirit knew why she was at the Endless Woods, she knew why she had become a
cougar again, and she knew that it was time to take action.
Spirit watched the humans using their huge machines to ruthlessly
and relentlessly destroy the trees, plants, animals- the whole forest, the
entire Endless Woods, if that was even possible. She decided that she would
stop these malicious actions at once. She crouched low on the edge of the
small cliff, right above the wasteland that had once been the beautiful
woods. Her keen eyes followed the humans, so she could find the right one. As
soon as the closest man came nearer to her hiding place, she tensed up her
muscles, and then sprang out of her place with a huge, ferocious snarl. All
the humans jumped with fright, and gasped when they saw the powerful Spirit.
She pounced on the man's back, ripping and clawing away at him. The others
humans were so shocked that they stood motionless. Then one of them finally
snapped out of it and he ran over to Spirit and the man to try and help him.
But when he reached the, Spirit bared her teeth menacingly, and he backed
away. She suddenly sprung off the man's back and landed on top of another;
she was beginning to maul him, too. The other man had fallen to the ground,
weak from Spirit's attacks. The other humans started to snap out of it, too,
and they quickly got out their guns. As Spirit attacked the humans that were
destroying her forest, they started to shoot at her. She dodged them with her
spectacular agility, but with all of the humans shooting bullet after bullet
at her, she couldn't dodge them all. One of their bullets hit her right in
her left hind leg, near her thigh. Spirit screamed viciously with pain. She
fell and hit the ground, the pain throbbing in her leg. What will happen to
the forest now? Spirit thought sadly. And... what will happen to me? Will I
have to be a human again? Can't they just let me die?
Spirit was about to lose all hope when she saw, from the corners of
her eyes, cougars. Cougars, appearing from every direction, out from under
bushes, behind rocks, jumping down from the numerous trees around the dead
clearing. These were the cougars that had helped her before. And these were
the cougars that would help her again. All the humans looked around at the
cougars in fear. One of the cougars snarled loudly, and all the cougars
began to pounce on the various humans, ripping, clawing, and biting. Spirit's
spirit soared. Her enthusiasim and strength felt renewed, and she helped the
other cougars fight as best she could while having to deal with her injured
leg. As she attacked the humans and they attacked her, thoughts whirled
through her mind. I wonder, Spirit thought, will animals and humans ever live
in harmony? Can they live in harmony? She looked around at the huge battle
that was taking place in that small, dead clearing. She watched all the
injured humans and cougars fall to the ground. If the humans keep destroying
the forest and killing animals, Spirit thought to herself, if they keep
acting like this- I'm not sure I would want to live in peace with them.
Spirit kept on fighting, though; she would fight to the death if it
meant saving the forest. She knew the other cougars would as well. But as the
battle raged on, more and more cougars seemed to be getting shot, and more
humans seemed to be recovering from the cougars' attacks. Spirit noticed
this. If we all go down, Spirit thought worriedly, all this fighting and the
loss of our lives will be in vain! And the forest will still be destroyed.
All the cougars kept fighting, though, being led by Spirit. Hope was getting
dim when a deep voice boomed, "Children of the Earth, get out of the way!"
Every single cougar, even Spirit, jumped as far and as high as they could to
get out of danger's way. They all landed on a place in the woods above the
dead clearing, and they saw the fear in the humans faces as a river of fire
was let loose all around them. When the fire disappeared, Spirit saw a huge
dragon with beautiful silver wings who was coming from the direction that the
fire had come. "ETERNITY!!!" Spirit cried in happiness. It was her! Not in a
dream, but in real life!
Spirit thought she saw the huge dragon smile in her direction, but
she couldn't be sure. Then Eternity started to speak again.

"Now," Eternity said calmly and ominously, "I want you humans to get
out of the forest RIGHT NOW. If you don't do as I say, you will die. Simple
enough? This is Spirit's forest, and she has worked hard to protect it with
all her might. Her hard work will not be in vain. Humans, respect the forest,
and respect the creatures of the Earth. NOW GET OUT OF OUR SIGHT, AND NEVER
COME BACK!"

The cougars snarled viciously. The humans stood open-mouthed, and
the great dragon stared at them with contempt in her eyes. Then the humans
began to run out of the forest as quickly as they possibly could, dragging
and carrying the injured ones as they went.
Finally, all the humans were gone. Spirit had a feeling that they
would not come back. The cougars sighed with exhaustion, and began to
disappear to the place from which they had first come. Spirit stood on top of
the cliff, her leg bleeding, but her face radiant. The humans were gone...
and the Endless Woods was saved.
She felt like all her troubles were lifted, that she was actually
free now. She was a cougar, and her home was safe. But all of a sudden,
Spirit heard a huge thud against the forest floor, and it was so loud that
the whole forest shook. Spirit glanced around in curious fear, but then she
realized that Eternity was nowhere to be seen. She looked hard in the
direction that Eternity was before, but she still couldn't see anything.

"Eternity!" Spirit called, still looking for the one who had been
most dear to her since they met. When Eternity didn't answer, Spirit started
to get really worried. She immeadiately began to run as fast as her legs
could carry her towards the spot where Eternity had been, calling her name as
she went.

* * * * * *

When Spirit finally reached the thick of the woods, where she and
the other cougars had seen Eternity, she was practically winded.

"Eternity! Eternity, where are you? Eternity!!!" Spirit cried in
worry. "Oh, where are you?" she whispered to herself.

Suddenly Spirit heard something. Her beautiful black ears perked up
at the sound. What was that? thought Spirit.

"Spirit... Spirit... are you there, lonely Spirit?" a faint voice
said.

"Yes! Yes! Eternity, I'm here! Where are you? Eternity!" Spirit
cried in happiness at the sound of the voice.

"Over here, Spirit... no worries, cougar, I'm here," Eternity said.

Spirit followed the sound of Eternity's voice to find her. When she
finally saw her, she was shocked.

"Eternity! Oh, Eternity, are you all right?" Spirit cried when she
saw the dragon.

Eternity was lying on her side, breathing hard. She didn't look so
good, and there was smoke pouring out of her nostrils.

"Oh, Spirit... are you all right? Your leg..." said Eternity.
Spirit's leg was bleeding heavily, and she was limping badly.

"Don't worry about it, what about you? Eternity... what happened?"
Spirit questioned, concerned.

"Spirit... I'm... I'm much too old for this. I... I can't do it
anymore. That fire took a lot out of me... I'm not sure I can live anymore,"
Eternity said gently.

Spirit was crushed. "No, Eternity, no! Don't give up, you can live!
No, you can't die, you're a goddess..." Spirit sobbed, and she threw herself
upon the multi-color scales of Eternity's massive neck.

"Oh, Spirit..." Eternity said soothingly. Then the great dragon's
beautiful purple eye came to rest on Spirit's bloody leg. She lifted her huge
silver wing, and made the very tip of it touch the bullet hole on Spirit's
furry leg. Spirit lifted her tear-stained face, and watched as the tip of the
silver wing slowly sealed up the hole.

"Eternity, save your strength for yourself! Maybe... maybe you can
live, just a bit longer..." Spirit pleaded, though her leg was now fully
healed.

Eternity smiled at Spirit, and looked at her with her amazing eyes.
"Spirit, dear, no one can delay death. When it is their time to die, there is
no way to stop it or delay it. And now... it's my time to die. It wasn't just
because of the fire or anything else, it's because I've grown old now, and I
have to leave you."

Spirit contemplated this for a long time, until she finally looked
up at Eternity with a look of confusion and pain on her face. "But
Eternity... you... you're a goddess, how can you die? And your name...
doesn't that mean you'll live for an eternity?"

Eternity chuckled. "Spirit, Spirit, my name has nothing to do with
it. Why was I named that and by whom was I named? These answers I do not
know. But Spirit, even goddesses don't live forever. I've lived a long time,
and now... I'll go. That's the way life works. Even if it is confusing at
times."

"Eternity... how can the forest go on to exist with out you? You are
the heart and soul of this place. You... you keep it safe from... evil,"
Spirit said.

Eternity then looked very gravely at Spirit. "No, Spirit... no, not
at all... YOU are the heart and soul of the Endless Woods, you are the one
who keeps it safe. When we met all those years ago and you came to live here,
the only cougar who has ever lived here, I knew that you were here for a
reason. And the reason is that this is your forest. You saved the Endless
Woods from the humans, and you even found a way out of your trapped state.
Spirit... you have proved to me that you are very strong, and I am very proud
of you. I am honored to be able to leave this forest in your hands, and I
have no regrets. You have fulfilled your destiny, Spirit, and now your work
is done. All you have to do now is keep watch... and be aware."

Spirit's green eyes had grown large in sadness and pain. She looked
up at the dragon who had meant so much to her, who had been like a mother to
her since she was young. "Eternity... thank you. Thank you for all you've
done for me, and thank you for letting me be the guardian of this forest."

"Spirit, thank you for saving my forest and protecting it. Maybe we
can make it endless. Maybe we can make the forest last for... an eternity,"
the dragon said.

Spirit's eyes welled up with tears as she smiled at the dragon.
"Yes... of course we will."

"Spirit... help me get over to that dead clearing that the humans
made. I want... I want to be buried there," Eternity said quietly.

Spirit's eyes widened. "Why? Eternity..."

Eternity smiled. "Come on, Spirit."

So Spirit and Eternity slowly made their way to the dead wasteland
that the humans had created. When they finally reached it, Eternity collapsed
into the dead clearing, causing the forest to shake again.

"Spirit... never... never forget... what I've told you... Be strong,
great forest guardian," Eternity mumbled, and then her eyes slowly closed.

"Eternity? Eternity! Oh..." Spirit cried as tears spilled from her
brilliant green eyes. Spirit lay on the hard, dead ground next to Eternity.
"Eternity... I'll... I'll never forget."

* * * * * *

Spirit stood on the small cliff that was above the great mound of
dead land, where Eternity was buried. She looked at the decaying land, and
wondered why Eternity wanted to die here. So this is my forest now... she
thought. Then Spirit suddenly heard a rustling beside her. She looked around.

"Who's there?" she called. "Hmmm... Phoenix!"

The beautiful fire bird came to rest on the ground beside her. "Hey,
Spirit! I heard that you saved the forest! Well done!"

Spirit smiled. "Hey, Phoenix... how did you get home? And how did
you know I saved the Endless Woods? Actually, I didn't save it, we all did.
The cougars, Eternity, and me."

"Don't be modest, Spirit, I knew you could do it. Eternity and the
cougars helped you, but you led them all. The other phoenixes told me. I flew
home when I knew that it was time. My cage disappeared, and that human forgot
all about "Catrina". It sure feels great to be a phoenix again. I mean, not
having to switch back and forth from a cockatiel. And, hey... you're a cougar
again. Your plan worked. Your fondest wish has come true," Phoenix said.

Spirit smiled again, a little sadly. "Oh, Phoenix... I am so happy
to be a cougar again. I can't tell you enough."

"Then what's the matter?" Phoenix asked.

"Well, it's... it's..." A tear fell from Spirit's eye as she
gestured toward the big mound in the dead clearing that the humans had made.

Phoenix's fiery yellow eyes widened. "Spirit... is it...?

"Yes, Phoenix... Eternity is dead," Spirit choked out.

"Oh, Spirit..." Phoenix said, and for the first time, Spirit saw a
tear escape his eye. "Spirit... this means then... that you are the guardian
of the Endless Woods?"

She nodded.

"Spirit... you've fulfilled your destiny... you saved the Endless
Woods! And... and you're a cougar again. I've always wondered how it would be
when you became a cougar again..." said Phoenix. "But anyway, you've
completed your mission. There's nothing left for you to do now... to worry
about..."

"Phoenix... I have to regrow the forest here," Spirit said as she
gestured toward the dead clearing where Eternity was. "I have to make sure
the Endless Woods is full again..."

"Well, Spirit, I know you can do it. You've saved our home. You
saved the other animals' homes. And we all thank you for it. Eternity and I,
we knew that you would protect this forest well. And I know you will be a
wonderful guardian for this forest, protecting it from harm until the end of
time," he said.

* * * * * *

So Spirit worked hard to regrow the plants, trees, flowers, and
grass that used to be in the dead clearing. And after a while, with the help
of Phoenix and the other animals of the Endless Woods, the clearing was no
longer a wasteland that was dead. It was flourishing, much like the rest of
the forest.
With Spirit as the forest's guardian, none of the animals worried
about a thing. They went about their business like it was just another day,
even without Eternity there. They knew that Spirit was strong.

* * * * * *

Spirit stood tall, watching the forest, her forest. It was finally
safe. All the hardships, troubles, and horrors that she had to go through
were over with. Spirit sighed. It was over, and now she would protect the
forest with all her strength and heart, as she had done before.

I won't let you down, Eternity, Spirit thought. I'll keep this
forest safe forever.

Spirit took a long look at her beloved Endless Woods, and stood
tall, because she would never give up.

* * * * * *

No human ever entered the Endless Woods again. A legend was passed
down from generation to generation about a mysterious and majestic cougar who
protected the forest from all harm. And no human dared to set foot in her
path, so therefore the Endless Woods was finally safe forever.
And so ends our story of a trapped spirit who was finally set free
to save her home.



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