Nova darted through the forest, trees whirring past her
tear-blurred vision. Her heart raced as fast as her feet, each pulse taking her
further away from her home. Finally, she broke through the forest and into the
meadow. In one swift movement, she sunk to her knees and buried her face in her
hands.
“Nova?”
Takoda’s familiar voice sounded worried. His swift footsteps rustled the grass
as he neared the spot where she knelt. She felt his strong hands on her
shoulders. “What is it?” he asked anxiously. “Are you hurt?”
Nova forced
her head up to look at him. Seeing the concern in his dark, kind eyes only made
her tears fall anew. “I am promised,” she said, her voice catching, “to
Megedagik.”
Takoda’s
jaw tensed at the news. “The master hunter,” he said.
“Yes,” Nova
confirmed, feeling herself sickening at the thought of him. “The master hunter
who always smells of death, always talks of the kill. This is not a marriage
but a punishment.”
“Why would
your father choose this man for you?” Takoda asked. His eyes remained kind, but
there was a fierceness behind them now.
“He said that no other would consent to marry
me because of my…habits,” she finished.
Takoda
smiled. “Your habits?” he asked. “You mean roaming the forest alone, making
friends with wanderers?”
Nova
managed a smile despite her distress. “I suppose that is what wards off my
prospects.”
“Would you
ever be happy with Megedagik?” Takoda asked, more serious now.
“No, of
course not,” Nova answered.
“Would you
ever be happy with me?”
Nova glanced
up and locked eyes with Takoda, feeling her heartbeat quicken. Happy with him?
The happiest moments of her life were with him. Ever since she met him a few
years ago on one of her lone ventures into the forest, she spent half of her
time with him and the other half wishing she could be. He was so different from
the people of her own tribe. He made her feel like it was okay to be like her, a
wanderer, a dreamer. He made her feel at home.
They spent
hours immersed in the nature surrounding them, talking of the beauty of the
creatures and trees and creeks. He showed her how to gather the best nutrients
of the forest so that she didn’t have to eat the meat of the creatures she
loved so dearly.
“Of course
I would,” Nova said quietly. Takoda grinned and took her hand. He drew her to
her feet. “Then cry no more, Wanderer,” he said. “Your life is just beginning.”
 |
| (forest painting from pixabay) |
Author’s Note: This story is based off of The Fairy Bride from the Native American
Indian Fairy Tales Unit. In the original story, the daughter of a chief was
loved by her parents and tribe but also labeled as a “dreamer” or “romantic”
because she loved walking alone in the hills. Little fairies were rumored to
cause mischief around the tribe’s land and the girl had heard a story of a
Happy Land where no one suffered. She dreamed of living there and disliked that
animals were killed in this world. Her mother chose an obsessed hunter for her
to marry. On the day of the wedding, she went to her favorite spot in the
meadow one last time but never returned. Later, another hunter saw her in the
Spirit Wood with the Fairy Evergreen, a fairy who looked like a youth.
For my story, I turned the Fairy Evergreen into a mortal
youth. He does not have a tribe but instead wanders the forest and gathers his
food. Takoda means “friend to many.” I wanted to focus more on their
relationship to show that Nova will be happy with him. Nova means “chases
butterflies” to speak to her free and gentle spirit. Megedagik means “he who kills many.”
Bibliography: "The Fairy Bride" from American Indian Fairy Tales by W.T. Larned, illustrations by John Rae 1921
Brianne- This was such a sweet short tale. I really liked the title but was a little surprised when it had nothing of the movie’s plot line, my mistake. I like that was able to end up with the man (or fairy) who she actually loved but I wish there was more of an introduction and/or ending to the tale. It kind of left me hanging. Otherwise it was a sweet love story. Great job!
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