Tommieboies

            Chapter 1.

            As the sky darkened, hundreds of eye’s looked up in awe, as black clouds crashed into each other, slow rumblings of thunder echoing across the sky as bolts of lightening streaked downwards, exploding into the ground. Rain fell from the sky in a torrent, the raindrops dancing on the roofs of the huts in which the eye’s dwelled.

          The Tommieboies had never witnessed a storm such as this before. They peered into the darkness as each bolt of lightening sped across the sky before they exploded in a blinding light, illuminating Zakieboie Wood as if night had been turned into day. In the midst of this stood a mighty Oak, tall and serene casting its mighty shadow across the village, its branches holding the huts in a protective embrace. This Oak was like a mother to the Tommieboies and had been there for generations; some believed it had been there for ever! It offered shelter and food when the acorns and Oak apples ripened in the warm spring and summer months.

        As they watched the clouds racing across the sky, a bolt of lightening streaked downwards and tore into the Oak. There was a blinding flash of light, flames and sparks leapt from the Oak shooting into the dark sky lighting up the village like sunlight. The ground beneath them trembled as the explosion rumbled through the village and deep into the woods.

         The watching Tommieboies looked on in fear as their mother Oak fought, desperately clinging to life, the flames burning deep towards its heart. Despite the pouring rain the Tommieboies crept out from their huts, tears rolling down their faces as they watched the Oak slowly dying before their eyes. So great was the outpouring of grief, the birds and animals that lived deep within the woods slowly made their way to the edge of the village. They too, could feel the pain and anguish of the Tommieboies.

         The flames had burnt deep into the Oak, and so great was its pain, all could hear its cries. The rain ran down its trunk, like the tears that were rolling down the faces of the Tommieboies. The tears turned to steam, as the Oak screamed out in pain. So loud were these screams, the Tommieboies stepped back from the Oak as one, like a receding sea leaving a beach devoid of life. The Tommieboies hugged each other as they wept in despair, knowing that they were to lose the Oak to the flames.

         One Tommieboie stepped forward, and through his tears cried aloud, pleading with the dying Oak, “Don’t die mother Oak, please live! We need your strength and guidance, you are a mother to us, and we can’t lose our mother!” The Oak trembled and shook, a deep sigh emanating deep from within. The Tommieboies stepped further back, save this one Tommieboie, who continued to plead with the Oak to live- Tommy. Tommy was young in years and had a special bond with the Oak. His mother and father had never returned from a journey many years ago. Tommy had always been able to confide to the Oak all manner of things that most would normally confide in to their mother. This Oak was his mother.

         As Tommy looked up at the Oak, blackened by the flames, he saw that no other tree, or plant, in the wood had been burnt. Tommy looked around and couldn’t understand why this was. An almighty crack echoed through the woods as the Oak split and fell to the ground with and almighty crash sending sparks and smoke billowing into the night sky. Dust from the ground mixed with the smoke and sparks, and as it fell back to the ground it was as if a light covering of brown snow had covered everything, and everyone. The force of the falling Oak knocked Tommy to the ground. He picked himself up, brushed himself down and wiped the dust from his,eyes. As the dust slowly cleared, he saw the fallen Oak, its branches stretched across the ground, clinging to life.

        The Oak lay as still as death, its life now failing so quickly it spoke to Tommy from its heart, ”Come closer young Tommy, come closer.”

       “But how can I hear you?” sobbed Tommy.

      “You are at one with the woods, and its secrets; you have been so since your birth. It is you who must look to its’ heart, to find the way to deal with what is to come.” whispered the Oak