“Wake up, Luna! We’re going to miss it!” whispered Sage the hare, nudging her friend, a snoozing squirrel wrapped up in her bushy tail.
Luna blinked awake, her eyes widening as she remembered. “The Great Gathering! Oh, let’s go!”
This is the night in the year when the Great Gathering occurred in the Forest of Elderwood: a night that all animals from every corner of the land came together to share tales, wisdom, and merriment on the first full moon of autumn. They said that on this night, many animals could understand each other’s languages more clearly as if some ancient magic rested in the glowing light of the moon.
The two friends scurried through thick underbrush, their small forms weaving in and out among fallen leaves and low-hanging branches. As they reached the clearing, Luna and Sage paused to enjoy an amazing view.
Under the silvery glow of the moon, creatures of all kinds filled the meadow. Rabbits and foxes, mice and badgers, even a stately owl perched high above on a twisted oak, watching over the proceedings. The air hummed with anticipation.
“Look, there’s Wolfric,” whispered Luna, nodding to an elder wolf with a coat as silver as the moonlight itself. Wolfric was known as the oldest animal in Elderwood, and he was the first to speak at every Gathering.
The animals hushed as Wolfric rose, his voice low and powerful, rumbling through the crowd. “Friends of Elderwood, tonight we gather to honour the turning of the seasons. We are one family, each of us carrying the stories of our kind. So let us share, and let us listen.”
A young deer named Cypress stepped forward, her delicate legs trembling slightly. “I have a story of bravery,” she began. “It’s about a mouse who stood up to a hawk.”
The animals leaned forward, intrigued. Cypress recounted the tale of a tiny field mouse named Pepper who had leapt in front of a young bird that had fallen from its nest, shielding it from a swooping hawk. Against all odds, Pepper’s courage had driven the hawk away, saving the young bird and becoming a legend in her corner of the forest.
When she finished, the meadow erupted in applause, paws and claws tapping the ground in admiration.
A fox named Finn shared a tale of quick thinking and wit, saying, “Once, a raccoon and I made a wager to see who could trick the humans into leaving more food behind at the edge of the forest.”
The animals chuckled as Finn recounted the tale of his trickery, such as hiding human tools so they’d leave out extra food in confusion. Though he’d won the wager, Finn acknowledged that the raccoon had “accidentally” stumbled into a whole basket of apples, making them both winners in their own way.
As the stories went on, Luna found herself growing braver. She wanted to tell a story, too, though she’d never spoken at the Gathering before. Her heart pounded as she glanced at Sage.
“Go on, Luna,” whispered Sage, sensing her friend’s excitement. “They’ll love to hear from you.”
Finally, Luna took a great breath and stepped into the centre, feeling dozens of eyes on her. She cleared her throat; her voice was a little trembling but full of warmness. “I’d like to tell a story of friendship,” she began. “It’s about a hare and a squirrel who got lost on a great adventure.”
Sage’s eyes widened, recognizing the beginning of their own story, and she watched with pride as Luna continued.
There was once a hare who always wished to visit a place that only a few animals dared to go due to the darkness, tangled trees, and strange sounds: the Oakheart Glade. However, as the hare was afraid, she did not want to go alone, so she asked a little squirrel, her friend, to accompany her. Together, they set off, through forests and fields and over streams.”
The pitch of Luna’s voice changed as she continued telling about the night they had spent in a hollow log. There, they listened to the hoots of their own and the distant howls of wolves, and the dawn finally rescued them from the haunting voices. She described how Sage had kept her spirits up, reminding her that they were brave, that they had each other, and that they could find their way home.
As she finished, Luna looked around, surprised to see so many animals leaning forward, their eyes warm and approving.
“And so, they found their way back,” she concluded. “Because they were never truly lost, as long as they had each other.”
The clearing burst into cheers, and Luna felt a warmth spread through her as if she’d just discovered something important about herself and her place in Elderwood.
After a pause, Wolfric the wolf spoke again, his voice thoughtful. “Thank you, Luna, for reminding us that sometimes, the greatest adventures are not measured by distance but by the friends we make and the challenges we overcome together.”
The night wore on, each tale filling the meadow with laughter, courage, and kinship. An ancient tortoise shared the wisdom he had gathered from decades of observing the seasons. A mischievous young raccoon shared a humorous tale of raiding a campsite and nearly getting caught while an old otter reminisced about a stormy night when the river had nearly washed his family away and how his community had helped them rebuild.
As the first light of dawn began to brighten the horizon, Wolfric raised his head one last time. “Tonight, we have shared our memories, our dreams, our laughter. Each of us carries a part of the forest within, woven into every story. May we remember this night, and may it guide us in the days to come.”
With that, the Gathering drew to a close, and the animals began to make their way home, some with sleepy eyes, others still buzzing with excitement. Luna and Sage walked together, side by side, feeling closer than ever. They had not only shared an adventure but had also discovered their own voices in Elderwood’s stories.
As they passed the edge of the clearing, the first-morning song of the birds began to rise, a soft, harmonious melody welcoming the dawn. Luna stopped, taking one last look at the meadow that had seen so much laughter and bravery in one magical night.
“What a night, Sage,” she whispered.
Sage smiled, her nose twitching as she looked at her friend. “The best of nights. And just think—next year, we’ll have a whole new story to tell.”
With that, the two friends turned and scampered back into the forest, ready to embrace whatever new adventures awaited them, knowing they’d never truly be alone so long as they had each other.
And so, the Forest of Elderwood settled into a quiet, contented slumber, holding its secrets and stories close, awaiting the next Gathering under the light of a full, golden moon.
