Narnia, Chapter XII
Beauty and the Chronicles of Narnia, the Other
Chapter XII
*It Happened One Night*
Scretceeeeeeechhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Croakkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the heck is that????
They all were awakened to an ungodly squawking and screeching and croaking that wouldn’t quit. Even Popsi Blui was reluctant to go outside and investigate. These terrible “sounds of the night” made even him, brave though he was, feel cold terror at the heart. By the dim light of early dawn, however, and due to their intense curiosity, they all felt they could handle the truth to see for themselves. Once the light of day happens, courage strengthens and fear dissipates.
Well. What they found about 20 feet away from the cabin, was a Great Blue Heron, just standing on the ground. To see such a magnificent, prehistoric creature that up close and personal, was an event of a lifetime. Still etched forever in the minds of all, this story has been told and retold over these previous fifty years to every listeners’ amazement.
The giant bird had obviously fallen out of a broken tree limb high above after landing on it. Unable to fly away, he had no choice but to stay where he had been dumped. And to complain about it. And he did. Or, perhaps, it was a cry for help? Herons need a long, unobstructed runway in order to take off. In his current predicament he was surrounded by dense woods with no means of escape. Being used to only seeing the ground from the sky above, he also must have been very disoriented. Otherwise, why didn’t he simply just walk back home?! Very fortunately for him, however, because of the many predators lurking unseen in the woods, he had excellent protection and good company. Mighty Aslan was lying alert right next to him, and fierce Molly the cat was circling the area. Heck, being sensitive to the possible hungry needs of the new guest, she might even have been catching some nice mice snacks for him!
Popsi Blui approached, not knowing quite what to do. But when he came within six feet or so, the bird swiveled his two foot long and pointed beak right in his direction as a warning to not come any closer. The mom somehow got within three feet, until he flashed his peak in her direction, possibly aiming for her flashing gold wedding band? Not sure what they expected to be able to do for him…perhaps a pet on the head, or, a scratch under his chin?!
But the next thing to do, they figured, was to call a forest ranger. So, off they went to Porcupine Hill to the nearest phone, leaving Aslan and Molly in charge. Soon after the call and return to the scene, a ranger lumbered up the hill in his four-wheel drive jeep to check out their find.
After seeing the Heron for himself, he told them what a good thing they had done by calling this in, because the Heron, without water and unable to fly away, would have become dehydrated and died.
As he circled the bird, he started wondering out loud if this Heron could possibly be the one he had saved and raised as a chick, many years ago? Blue Herons do return every year to the area they are born in order to birth and raise their young. He got closer and said, “Are you Big Bird?” The bird immediately responded to the name. The ranger, overjoyed, then simply went around behind and picked him up and carefully put him in a cardboard box to return him to the nearby lake. Big Bird willingly submitted to his care, another indication that he was familiar with and grateful to this particular, humanitarian human.
After thanking them all again and telling them what a good job they had done, he was off with their magnificent, short-term guest. Well done, all!
A day or two later, they heard that same shriek up in the sky as Big Bird flew over their cabin. Popsi Blui said he must be thanking us! Then realized, oh, no, he was of course thanking Aslan and Molly for their all-night guardianship and hospitality!
I had intuitively sensed the communication that occurred among the dog, the cat, and the bird. It was a beautiful and successful collaboration that made me feel grateful to be included among their ranks.
In some cases, however, the encounters with wildlife didn’t always end as well. Another visitor to the cabin had a very different experience…
In this case, there was a large and fat porcupine that seemed to think their log house was a tasty treat. It persisted in chewing on the butt end of one of the logs. The annoying munching and grinding reverberated throughout the cabin. Popsi Blui, enraged that some animal would actually dare to eat his dwelling, rushed out yelling to scare her away, only for her return again and again. Finally, in desperation and having had enough and feeling he had given plenty of warnings, he grabbed the five-gallon bucket that was filled with water under the sink drain, and flung it over the poor creature. That alone may have been enough in order to make her stop and desist, but what sealed the deal was that this water also held the poop from a week’s worth of Sunwood’s dirty diapers! That porcupine waddled away as fast as it could from that place with clumps of excrement hanging all over its quills and smelling like, well, like shit, never to return.
Thus ends two well-remembered incidences with the animal world, illustrating again that co-habitation has its upsides and downsides. Such was life on the wild side!