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Poetry News Post #5085

The Badger and the Butterfly a short story

Written by: Liv Veranius, of the Emerald Orchid
Date: Friday, October 28th, 2016
Addressed to: Everyone


There once was a loyal badger who lived in the forest with all the woodland creatures. He wasn't a member of the flocks of birds or the herd of deer, but he was loyal to the forests. Mr Badger was a good woodland creature. The other woodland creatures got along just fine with him. All the woodland creatures made rules to get along with one another and protect their home.

After years of feeling just a bit out of place, Mr. Badger fell in love with a beautiful magical butterfly and became her devoted protector and voice. The butterfly really didn't need protecting because she was very powerful, but Mr. Badger took it upon himself to protect her at all costs. The woodland creatures were fine with this for they respected the butterfly and found that she was good for the forests. Some even chose to join Mr. Badger and his love for the butterfly. They all coexisted for decades, happily enjoying their frolics and the wonderful life that the forests gave them.

One day a great threat overcame the forests. The woodland creatures were all very scared and not sure what to do. The big threat locked the butterfly within a cold empty space and began ravaging the forest. Mr. Badger was shaken to the core at the loss of his beloved butterfly. He commissioned a group of soldiers from all around to hunt for her. The soldiers had also lost their beloveds and wanted Mr. Badger and the woodland creatures to help them find their loved ones as well.

Mr. Badger being one to protect and harrass when in danger, began ordering the woodland creatures to find the butterfly and bring her back. The woodland creatures, watching their home put in peril balked and went to aid the forests only to be growled at by Mr. Badger. Mr. Badger then let the fire starters, loggers, and poachers join in the hunt for his butterfly, ordering the woodland creatures to not harm their enemies.

The woodland creatures began to ignore Mr. Badger and his commissioned soldiers. Secretly aiding the forest whenever they felt it would help their beloved home. Their hatred towards Mr. Badger and his butterfly growing with every day that passed. No longer a happy group of woodland creatures, the birds and deer and other animals began to divide amongst themselves. Questioning their true loyalties and promises to one another.

The rules they had made fell to the wayside, broken for the cause of finding the butterfly. The great threat grew more powerful as each rule was broken, gaining power and overtaking more and more of their home. Distrust grew among them as more enemies were enlisted to aid in the fight and the woodland creatures were asked to aid others first, before their beloved forest.

The woodland creatures gathered their forces and fought off the great threat. Their home safe once more they frolicked and continued their wonderful life. Nobody knows what happened to Mr. Badger or his beautiful magical butterfly. The memory of them long forgotten with the rains of spring, as the woodland creatures diligently protect their home to this day.

The moral of the story is badgers do not make good leaders. They are loners, become vicious when cornered, and butterflies fade away on a regular basis.

Penned by my hand on the 5th of Ero, in the year 726 AF.


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