Journeys of a Bent Mind

Snowy Owl banked to his left, and caught the updraft coming off the butte overlooking the river. He could feel the weather was changing — the long endless winter night was drawing to a close, and the land of the midnight sun was beginning to emerge from its peaceful slumber. Below him, Arctic Wolf was padding along a well-beaten path through the snow alongside the river. Caribou herds had cut this path through the snows early last fall, using it to cross the low-lying tundra plains. Wolf was lean, and some would say mean, from his long night foraging, from his hunts late into the extended Arctic night. This is the life of a lone wolf in the Arctic wilds. Continue reading →

Knight Pancho Sanza leaned against an ancient oak tree and looked thoughtfully out over the pleasant valley as the rays of the sun at first light bathed the castle walls in a warm amber glow. He was tired from his long journey home, but was still vigilant and alert. “It is deceivingly beautiful, isn’t it?” came a soft voice behind him. Knight Sanza’s faithful traveling companion, Donkey Hotei, stepped to his side and the two looked out over the tranquil valley. “Why do you say that?” asked Knight Sanza. “What the eye beholds is so beautiful, yet beneath the surface there is such great evil,” came the reply. The two stood in the growing morning light, and watched in silence for a long time. “They say a Continue reading →

The day was cool, and the air still. Dew had formed on the shrubs and grasses just before dawn, and now dampened his ankles as he walked through them. He followed her lithe figure through the brush as she made her way down to the pool where she loved to come to watch the animals gather to drink. Morning was the best time for this – everything was quiet, and the waters the least disturbed. There was the all familiar calm throughout the land as the sun rose, and the lavender and pink light of pre-dawn gave way to the blue-white of morning. It was beginning to warm, though he knew it would not become too uncomfortable. Continue reading →