Honey and Owl: Courage

“From carrying comes courage.” Lao Tzu

Fire and Fear, The Courage of One

One morning, Honey woke up very early, tipped-toed past her mother, father and three brothers, and out the front door into the clover patch, where she munched, munched, munched until she finally looked up and said: “I wonder what is going on in the forest; I think I’ll go find out.” So off she went.

Not far away, Owl woke up, stretched his wings, and said: “I’m hungry.” Before long he spotted a nice, plump field mouse, and whoosh, down he went and ate him all up! Then he said: “I wonder where Honey is? I think I had better go find out. She might be in trouble.” So off he flew.

Honey had gone to look for Sally and Kujo in order that the three might spend a day on the far side of the Rogue River where the grass was lush and the acorns plentiful. It wasn’t an easy hike because they had to go over the mountains, but the path was soft, covered with cedar and surrounded by green ferns that sparkled yellow in the filtered sunlight. Up and down they went until finally the Rogue appeared, the seeming calm rippling water, purple and white, masking the danger of hidden rocks and swift current. Nothing was ever what it seemed, or as simple as it seemed, ever! There was a green iron bridge for cars to pass over to the other side, and a big rock on the near side where Lobster creek flowed into the Rogue. It was breathtaking, and Honey always, always loved the sight and the sound; it made her feel both big and small at the same time!

Kujo, though, figured out how to get to the other side, because Kujo was smart. Rabbits and squirrels can swim if they have to, but they don’t like water. Besides the fact that the current was swift and the water cold, it was too far from one side to the other to make the trip safely. They were discouraged and started to turn back when Kujo spied a large piece of flat wood and thought: “That’s just the thing to ferry us across! It won’t tip over, and the current will take us to the other shore; this is a cinch!” Sally was nervous but excited all at the same time, and Honey wanted to see what there was to see on the other side, so gathering up their courage, they hopped onto the piece of alder, pushed off from the rocks, and let the current carry them to the bank on the opposite side. What a ride they had! Sally became so scared she nearly tipped the little raft over when the water became frothy white, but she managed to hold on because Kujo grabbed her close and held her still. At last they floated into a calm inlet where they hoped onto the sandy shore, up the bank, and into the sweet green grass. The warm sun and light breeze made everything appear safe, and so they were, or so they thought.

Time seemed to stop as Sally chased after monarch butterflies, pinecones, and walnuts while Honey munched on clover and lime-green grass. Kujo kept a watchful eye on her friends and preferred to sit in the shade under a large fir stump. Now and again she ate some clover blossoms, but mostly she just looked over the Rogue river, thinking about how much fun they were having on such a quiet, peaceful day.

Honey smelled the fire before she heard it, but the roar was so swift and loud that all three froze in an instant before the hot blast hit, so hot that it singed their fur and prickled their soft skin. Sally stood still as cement, Kujo gazed around, and Honey crouched low.

Only Kujo had seen fire before, but even he did not know what it was or what to do. Fear froze them solid, but burning heat drove them to dash towards the river and towards their little wooden boat. Honey had never known such a feeling, had never been so scared, had never run so fast. She was confused and lost, and wanted, more than anything, her mother and father to come and save her. But Honey knew they were far away, and she knew her life, and perhaps those of her friends, depended on the decisions she would make in the next few minutes. She was afraid of the fire, and she was afraid of making a bad choice, and so she almost did nothing.

It was Kujo who got them to the Rogue, and Kujo who yelled: “Hurry Honey! Scamper Sally! We must reach the water and the little raft before the fires gets closer! Run fast! Follow me!” But when Kujo tripped over a slippery rock and twisted his front right paw, it was Honey who took charge. Kujo shouted:  “Go on without me! I’ll be fine!” but Honey, who felt the fire’s heat singe her fir and steam the air, would not listen. Over the roar of the fire she screamed at Sally: “Lift Kujo’s two hind paws and I’ll lift her front one! Together we can drag her to the water’s edge and the waiting raft!” So they pulled and pushed and pushed and pulled until finally they felt the cool of the river calm the furnace of the fire. But when Sally looked up, she discovered that though the water was there, the raft had vanished!

No time to think, no time to lose! Honey found a log bobbing nearby, big enough for both Sally and Kujo but too small for all three. She nudged Kujo aboard and told Sally to keep it balanced and upright by paddling through the water with both paws at the same time, and not to leave Kujo, no matter what! Sally, frightened by the river in front and the fire behind, obeyed Honey without question! Giving a final shove, Honey pushed the log off the bank where, with luck, the current would carry her friends to the far shore and to safety. And Honey, now that her friends were safe, could plan her own escape.

She did not need to look far, for close by was a snag of driftwood that bobbed in the water like a tangle of roots that one would often find in an old burrow, all twisty and spooky! It was coming down river fast, and if Honey were to catch it, she would have to act fast. Without thinking, Honey scampered to the highest nearby rock and with all her strength made a huge leap that seemed to go on and on and on forever, poised as she was between the fire behind, the water below, and the snag in front. But make it she did, though just barely, landing mostly in the water but close enough to grab onto a last trailing root that allowed her to pull herself up out of the frigid water and onto the sodden snag. Exhausted, she found a safe spot near the top of the tumbling craft where she keep watch on the raging red fire and the foamy waves. She was so very tired. she nearly fell asleep.

Perhaps she would have dozed for a long time had Honey not heard a strange wailing from somewhere beyond the foggy fire smoke, a wailing that got both louder and more plaintive; someone was in trouble and needed help! Closer and closer the sound came until, out of the grey smog, thrashing in foamy white water, Honey spotted two yellow eyes, white teeth, and damp red fur! Foxie, pawing frantically in the dark, deep current, was trying to swim and not to sink. But ever so slowly he slipped below the water’s edge, going deeper and deeper until only his black snout and red ear-tips stuck out above the surface! Foxie was desperate and afraid. He would sink for sure if Honey did nothing! 

But Honey knew that Foxie presented the greatest danger of all, for while the fire might burn her and the water might drown her, Foxie would surely eat her, no matter what, even on a raft in the middle of a river! For the first time she was truly afraid, for if she saved him, she would not live, and if she didn’t, she would not be able to live with herself. For Honey knew, deep, deep down from all the lessons her mother and father had taught her, that she could not ignore Foxie’s peril, and that she had to do something, or both she and Foxie would be lost forever.

In an instant, the answer came to Honey as clear as clover. Without thinking about what to do, but knowing it was the right thing to do, Honey reached out her right front paw for Foxie to grab onto with his long white teeth. Surely but slowly she pulled him up, out of the water and onto the safety of the snag. Foxie, too scared to realize what had happened, sank down sodden wet and relaxed his mouth just enough so that Honey could wiggle her paw free. Quickly she scampered to the top of the raft and leapt into the swift current, choosing the uncertain danger of the river to the certain danger of the raft! The frigid water took her breath away, but it was better than the hungry fire and the hungry fox, so she swam and swam and swam. Just when she felt she could go on no more and was ready to quit, the hard stones and soft sand touched her paws. She had reached the far shore! Struggling out of the blue water and onto the rocky bank, Honey shook her wet fur and licked her sore paws. For the first time in a long time she felt secure, and though exhausted, exhilarated. If only her friends were safe, she would feel joy, too!

It was Owl who spotted Kujo and Sally first, for he had seen the fire from a great distance and all that had happened, and he had come looking for Honey. The current had taken them far downstream but safely across the mighty Rogue. Kujo lay next to the log that had served as their ferry, and Sally, sound asleep, lay cuddled next to him, weary from paddling their little craft. Though Kujo’s paw was still sore, he was on guard as always, and he saw Owl at the same time that Owl saw him. Within seconds Owl swooshed down and, seeing that Kujo and Sally were out of danger, he told them to hurry home as soon as possible. “Sally,” he said, “you must look after Kujo and stay with him, no matter what! His paw is still very painful, and he will need you to lean on! Now, hurry along and I will go search for Honey!” 

Then up, up he flew until he was high enough to see the raging fire, and all the many animals that had escaped, or tried to escape, across the river. There were so many! Deer and bears and foxes and birds, even butterflies! The earth was scorched red, the air smoky gray, and the river crimson blue. Where could Honey be? Owl was worried, really worried.

Soon, though, he swooped down next to where Lobster creek emptied into the Rogue, and there, next to a charred, hollow log, he saw Honey, soaking wet, completely exhausted, and sound asleep! He nuzzled her with his wing and hooted quietly for a minute or two. Before long Honey’s eyes opened, her nose twitched, and her ears stood straight up. Owl nuzzled her, hooted quietly, and brought her some fresh lettuce he had spotted at a nearby farmer’s garden. When she had recovered sufficiently, Owl spoke these words to her:

OWL’S HOLLOW

Courage, Honey, is when you face your deepest fears and, in spite of their persistence, conquer them. Perhaps they will never go away completely, but you know that they will never dominate your will to do what is right and good. You, Honey, discovered courage when you confronted the fire in the forest, and when you confronted Foxie on the snag.

You see, it is rabbit nature not to like change, and the ancients tell us that fire often causes change. Fire brings us warmth and keeps the night shadows at bay, it brings us the sun which makes all things grow and live, but it also brings us fear when it comes unexpectedly, as when it burns the forest or woodlands. When the fire came, you were afraid, and ran every which way looking for safety; you were scared and lost, but you listened to Kujo and soon overcame your fear and headed towards the water and safety. And when Kujo hurt his paw, it was you who saved the day! 

Later, when you were on the snag, you knew it would be wrong to let Foxie drown, but you were wise enough not to stay on the raft with him, so you did the right thing: You overcame your fear of Foxie and pulled him to safety. You also overcame your fear of the water and swam to shore. That, Honey, was courage! It is an important lesson to learn; no one can teach it to you, you must learn it on your own. Always treasure the fire of courage within you, Honey. Guard it with care and never, ever let the flame go out. 

Today you have done well, Honey bunny, and now it is time to take you back home to your family! 

With that, Owl told Honey to climb onto his great back where surely and swiftly he soared high up into the sky, over the treetops, and back to the warren at Mussel creek. Honey was so, so glad to be with her brothers and mother and father, and she quickly told them all about her day and all about the Great Fire. Seeing that Honey was at last safe, Owl departed. And, though her mother and father were pleased to see her, they were not happy that she had left the clover patch to go into the woods, and told her to go right straight to bed, which she did! Of course, father rabbit brought her a small cherry soda, as always. At last Honey fell sound asleep, dreaming about all the new adventures she would have tomorrow with her friends in the forest!