Once upon a time,on a hill in Spruce Pine, stood an ancient tree. "My limbs ache" the tree complained.
"You’ve never complained before," cawed the black raven perched high in the tree’s tangle of branches.
"I’m old and tired," sighed Tree to his faithful friend, "Tree’s don’t live forever, you know."
Raven had grown up in a small secret nest in Tree’s thick leaves, and she couldn’t stand to think that one day he might be gone. "Tree, I’m going to find you some magic!" she declared.
Tree’s leaves rustled at the thought of that possibility. "Magic?" he asked.
"Yes," Raven said, "I’m going to find a magic seed that will perk up your branches and make your bark young again!"
Tree wasn’t convinced.
Raven winked goodbye to the tree spirits and butterflies hidden in Tree’s leaves and headed North. Raven flew north until she reached mountains covered with snow as thick as heavy blankets. She soared and searched until she saw something that glittered like a ruby in a salt shaker. "That has to be a magic seed," Raven told herself as she swooped down and snatched the object. It shivered and wiggled in her beak.
"Get your beak off my back. I ain’t no seed," protested Ladybug.
"Sorry, I didn’t know ladybugs lived in snow," Raven apologized, "I don’t know much about the north, I‘ve come from the south to help a friend that’s sick."
"I got left behind," explained Ladybug, "and I could use some southern sun. They say I’m good luck. Take me with you and I’ll do what I can to make your friend better."
A day and a week later, Tree saw his friend Raven reappear. "Did you find the magic seed?" he asked, his leaves quivering with excitement.
"No magic seed," Raven answered, "But we’re in luck! I brought back a ruby red Ladybug!"
Tree wasn’t convinced.
"Don’t worry," Raven said, "There are three more directions to travel and I’m sure I’ll find that magic seed. "At dusk the following day, Raven headed south.
"Hurry back. My limbs feel heavier than ever, " Tree moaned.
Raven flew until she saw a mound of gold that beckoned with magic. She tucked her beak and dove straight into…a bale of hay. She came up sputtering, "It’s awful hot here!"
"Heat’s miserable," agreed an old workhorse whose coat gleamed with sweat. "I hate it! What brings you here?"
"Well, my home is the coolest, wettest, sweetest place on earth and I wouldn’t have left it except I want to help my friend, Tree," said Raven, "Follow me home and you can rest in his shade."
"I could use a little shade," said Horse. "And maybe your Tree could use a little company!"
"What’s that crazy Raven done now?" wondered Tree as the bird landed on his branches and Horse galloped up to his roots. "Did you find the magic seed?" he asked.
"Nope. No magic seed," Raven said, "But I did bring back a wonderful companion. Meet Horse!"
Tree wasn’t convinced.
"Look Tree, he’s got a million stories, you’ll love him! Besides there are two more directions to travel and I’m sure I’ll find that magic seed." After breakfast, the following day, Raven headed East.
"Hurry back. My roots feel weaker than they ever have before," Tree whispered.
Raven’s flight ended the following morning when she spied what she thought was the magic seed. But it was only a dew-drenched spider’s web that sparkled in the day’s early sun. As she coasted nearer; her claw tore a golden strand. "Sorry," apologized Raven.
"Happens all the time," muttered a fat blue spider, who balanced like a trapeze artist on a tiny strand of web silk. " I can’t seem to keep a web in one piece."
"I know a place where you can weave in peace and keep your web together," Raven told her.
"Doesn’t exist," Spider said suspiciously.
"Just climb on my back," Raven told the tiny creature and I’ll prove it to you." Spider balanced gracefully on Raven’s dark wings and spun golden threads so that Raven was covered in silk by the time they returned to Tree.
"Did you find the magic seed? Tree asked. This time he was too weak to shake his leaves.
"Nope. No magic seed," Raven said, "But Spider’s golden threads will shine from your branches."
Tree wasn’t convinced.
"My leaves are starting to drop and I’m too tired to hold on to them," worried Tree. "Not a problem! To the West!" Raven shouted. She took off into a dark sky. Though lightning ripped the sky in half, thunder deafened her, and wind buffeted, Raven kept going.
Darkness blinded the steadfast bird. She was nearly lost. Finding her way back home on the back of a rainbow, Raven was greeted by a band of children. As their giggles rose into the sky, Raven knew they would make Tree feel better.
"Children," she called, "If you follow me down the valley and up the next hill, I’ll show you the best climbing tree on the face of the Earth!"
"Lets go!" they exclaimed and rolled down one hill and leaped up the next until they reached Tree.
"Raven," murmured Tree weakly, "I thought something terrible had happened and I’d never see you again." At the sight of his loyal friend, Tree’s branches lifted with joy. He heard the sound of the children’s laughter and felt the tickle of Horse rubbing against his bark. Birds twittered, Spider’s web captured the gold’s of the sunset and ladybug danced on her tiny legs as the children planned a giant tree ladder. Tree’s aches, tiredness and sadness vanished. Raven had done her work well. He didn’t need magic seeds. The magic was all around and inside him.
Tree was convinced!
This collaborative story was created at Penland, Summer 2002, for Spruce Pine Montessori School
Written by: Susie Wilde, Peg Gignoux, Jane Dalton, Kate Murray, Jude Stuecker, Stacie Bicknell, Helen Buiskool, Amy Ruth Tobol, Rosina Jaqis, Harriet Hoover, Carolyn Nelson, Patti Owens