Ostra: The Spring-Bringing Bee-Eater

“When Avid was younger, his favorite story was The Spring-Bringing Bee-Eater. In it, Spring slumbers, and can’t find motivation to wake. Winter was desolate, and the animals of the plains worried their children would have no food in the coming months. The barren reign of Winter loomed long, and he had no intention of leaving as long as his enemy, Spring, remained deep in her dreams.

The many animals of the plains line up at sunrise to coax Spring into rising. The Hare, the Hart, and the Harrier each gather their courage and speak.

The Hare, being a flighty and nervous creature, tells Spring of its worries, of how it longs to raise its children in the thick grasses she would bring. But Spring cares not for the young. There will be more.

The Hart, cheerful and pleasant, speaks sweetly of the warmth Spring would lay upon the grasses, and how all of the animals would celebrate the perfect days to come. But Spring would not be roused this way. The animals surely have other things to celebrate.

The Harrier, a terrifying hunter, swoops at Spring to scare her into waking. But to Spring, the Harrier is a small thing. Spring would not be frightened.

Finally, as the creatures are about to accept a lifelong Winter, the modest Bee-Eater comes flitting along, and with her children, she shines her wondrous colors across the plains.

The colors rouse Spring like the scent of fresh rain. She is so overjoyed to be reminded of her own beauty that she leaps from slumber and paints the tops of the grasses to match the colors of the Bee-Eater. The animals celebrate the coming of Spring with healthy children and bountiful food.

Now, when the forlorn villager waits for the bounties of Spring, they look for the Spring-Bringing Bee-Eater, and know its warmth will come.”

-Rennik