The Long Winter

Long ago in the woods of Camelot, all the animals lived in harmony. The woods were rather small compared to others, however all the animals got along perfectly well and they all shared the food they had in even measures, this was the law that bound the woods together, no animal however big or small would need to survive alone. Every day each creature contributed whatever food they found by storing it inside the hollow trunk of a pine. After collecting food, the animals would play and relax together, the ducks would go with the frogs and raccoons, the bears would go with the beavers and the weasels. This is just how it was and nobody had a problem with it. This is how the animals lived for generations, at least before the long winter came.

 

It happened suddenly and the animals were unprepared, many died of famine and frostbite. One of the bears, emaciated yet burning with anger, revolted. To him it was unfair that everybody had to be treated equally. He was bigger and stronger, and could easily live by himself. The others just dragged him down. The starving bear then went to the trunk with the sole purpose of eating all the food, but to his surprise there was barely any. Frustrated, he went into the pond for water, but then he saw something that terrorized him. His own reflection stared back at him, sunken eyes and ribs showing. Seeing how far he had fallen, how he lowered himself to the level of the weaker forest animals, made him snap. Roaring, the bear went into a rampage, destroying the forest and eating his friends.

 

 

Most animals were able to flee thanks to the sacrifices of others, and over the years rebuilt their community. The bear having nowhere to turn, lost his mind, and eventually starved. Winters came and went and the group survived, honoring the fallen so that their sacrifices would never be forgotten. The bear however, was demonized, as he had destroyed what little they had left in their old community. Precautions were taken, food storage organized, and bears outright banned. This created a divide between the animals, and soon every beast was stricken with paranoia that their neighbors might one day do the same as that bear had done. Eventually every animal was suspicious of the others, and the group drifted apart. The bonds and common purpose that had held the community together were forgotten, and soon the members of the forest never helped each other again.


Author's Notes/Comments: 

Eugenia Murguia A01440027

Rogelio Saldaña A01193950

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POV

This is expository - telling the story about the story - I know the syndrome. I used to write that way to. :D