I've had writers block, so this is a little nonsense piece I pounded out to help me get over it maybe.
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Once upon a time, there lived a little tree in the middle of a field named Yevin.
Yevin was a very happy little tree and had everything a little tree could possibly want. Sunshine, rain, a little bit of breeze to make his trunk strong, no other trees shadowing him out and fighting for the best soil nutrients. Yes, Yevin was a very happy little tree.
One day; a very fine day in early spring, a wee bird came and landed in Yevin's branches, fluffing her feathers and peering herself under his bright green leaves and making happy little bird sounds.
"What news small sister?" Yevin asked, swaying gently as a vagrant breeze glided across the field and through his branches.
"Much news young brother. Farmer Henry recently bought ten fine young cows to replace the ones he lost in the fire." she twittered in reply, stretching a wing out.
"Oh! What kind of cows?"
"I did not see them myself. Brother Crow told me of them and he said they were very fine little Welsh cows."
"Ah yes....I have heard from sister meadow lark of Welsh cows...she said they are very gentle creatures. I wonder if good Farmer Henry will put this field back into use now."
Having finished her preening and stretches, the small sister hopped into Yevin's upper branches, "I know not. But the wind beckons me to be off! Peace to you brother!" she sung, taking flight.
Yevin waved his branches, "And peace to you sister."
The rest of the day was very quiet and peaceful and Yevin entertained several other small birds, each bringing their own bits of news from the woodland and farmland. A mouse paused at his base to shine his whiskers and later a small garter snake coiled in his cool shadow, seeking refuge from the midday sun.
Dawn broke the next morning and pale golden light spilled over the rolling hill into Yevin's field, a cool breeze coming with it. Yevin shook himself, turning towards the warm morning sun, each leaf soaking up the rays and his roots drinking up the morning dew as it fell to the soil from the grasses. At the top end of the pasture, came Farmer Henry, driving his pretty little Welsh cows before him, a staff in one hand to gently prod on a dawdling cow and a black and white dog slinking at his heels, ready at the smallest word to send an errant bovine back onto the path.
Another bit of black and white settled into Yevin's sturdier lower branches and squawked.
"Good morning brother magpie. What has you in a tizzy?" Yevin inquired, while watching the Farmer and his cows.
"Oh! Oh! Such news! In a farm over, last night, a barn burnt to the ground! Such a sight! Two good work horses were stolen and three of the milk cows were lost to the fire!"
"Oh dear...what a loss. Much like what happened to Farmer Henry." Yevin replied.
"Yes, yes! My sister over in the town said that one of the swallows told her that the police are calling it serial arson! Can you believe it!? Of all the things to happen here!" Brother Magpie squawked, then hopped to the ground to inspect a shiny bit of rock.
"Well I really must be off! So much news to tell!" he said, before taking flight, black feathers glistening in the sun.
Yevin waved, "Goodbye then brother."
By this time, Farmer Henry had gotten his cows into the new field and was leaning on the closed gate, watching them look about before spreading out and fall to grazing contentedly. Yevin was content as well, for although he had company coming in and out all throughout the day, there was no one there constantly. Now, however, there were ten pretty little cows he could watch all day and never feel alone...provided they did not rub on him or lick his leaves off. He wasn't sturdy enough to bare a rubbing yet, but in a few more years he hoped to be.
The cows paid him little mind during the day, but that night, they all bedded down around him and Yevin was a very happy tree as he dozed off while the sun disappeared from sight. Several hours later, he woke to concerned lowing and shifting about from the cows and horrifying red flames licking the grass towards him, pushed from behind by a strong breeze.
Needless to say....Yevin did not survive. The cows managed to get away, so Farmer Henry wasn't out anything except one field and a small tree.
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Meh.
-Kas
