Haven and the Tree

********Here is the first one. I just used spell check. Grammar and maybe even spelling are going to be off. ********

Haven and the Tree

One

The Northern where cold this time of year. Haven thought as he walked along the dirt road leading back to the small home he shared with his wife Rezal. They had been married little over a year now and were expecting their first child. Haven was so happy when he found out that he soon would have a baby boy. Not that he knew if it was going to be a boy or a girl. But he hoped for a boy.

"Hello Haven. How are you on this fine fall day?" a older man called out. Haven waved and walked over to the small rock wall separating the road and the old man's farm.

"I'm will thank you. How are you Mr.Ari?"

"Oh, I can't complain. If I did no one would listen." He said with a chuckle. "How's Rezal? I hear she expecting."

"Word travels fast in a small town doesn't it." Haven said with a smile. "She doing good."

"I think John would be a fine name if it was a boy you know." the old man said with a smile on his face.

"I'm sure you name is a fine name indeed. But We are thinking after one of our grandfathers." Haven replied setting an hand on the old man's shoulder. A gust of wind blow in from the north caring the smell of a fire.

"It's going to be a cold winter." Mr.Ari replied looking to the north. "Did you know it's already started to snow in the mountains. Started a few weeks back."

"No, I didn't." he turned to look at the mountains. The clouds hung low around them hiding away the peaks in a gray shaded.

"I hope you have plenty of fire wood."

"I do. But a bit more couldn’t hurt." He said as he turned to look at the old man. "I think it's about time I head home. The mis is going to start wonder here I have gone off to if I don’t get back soon." The two shuck hands and said there goodbyes. Haven heading down the road. The old man when back to his farming.

Haven smiled as the cabin came in to view. His wife pulling the cloth from the line. She waved when she caught sight of him. The two kissed and walked in to the small home.

"Mr.ari says winter going to be here soon. He also thinks we should name the baby John."

"What if it’s a girl?" she asked as she folded the cloth she had just cared in.

"I'm pretty sure it wouldn’t matter to him." he said with a laugh.

"Defiantly not." Rezal said.

"I think tomorrow I'm going to head in to the forest to gather a bit more firewood." He said as he pulled off his boots.

"I think we have plenty and I don't like you going in to the forest."

"I know but if we get caught with too little fire wood because winter comes early it will be hard on us." He looked at her and pulled her closer. "I also not just thinking about us." He added as he placed a hand on her stomach. She sighed and agreed. Still unhappy with the thought of it.

Haven woke early. Not wanting to wake his wife. He packed a few griddle cakes and a skin of water. He walked over to the stable finding old blue eating away on some hey. He attacked a small cart and bridle. He lead the old mule down a dirt trail that headed towards the forest on far side of the farm they lived on. The forest grow larger and larger as he got closer to it. He recited an old prey he learned from his mother when he was a small child.

"Ro, god of gods, bring of life, taker of life. Watch over me and my mule as we enter this place. Keep a child of Ro a servent of you Ro'Sal safe on his journey." He placed a his hands together and his thumbs to his forehead and bowed before step in to the forest. Haven didn’t notice that the forest was unusually quite. He headed deeper and deeper in to the forest. peaking fire wood off the ground as he walked. Normal he wouldn’t chop down a tree but instead clean the trails and path ways of downed trees and fallen limbs. But today he felt it would be fast and safer if he chopped a tree down. The heavy thump thump thump of the axe biting in to the wood of a young tree filled the forest. As the tree came crashing down he did not hear the great beast of the forest walking his wave. The normal heavy foot fall of the beast walking was mask by the thump of the axe. As if the two where in rhythm.

"Who cuts down a member of my family." A voice boomed around the clearly. Haven heart seem to skip a beat. At the sudden sound. He whirled around axe in hand looking for who or what it was.

"Who's there?" Haven shouted. His eyes scanning every were looking for the owner of the voice.

"Do not make me ask you again." the voice replied.

"I Haven of Rockfish." He tried to shout but only came out in a weak cracked voice.

"Haven of Rockfish. Who said you can harm my family?" this time he say a set of green eyes that must have been about 30 feet off the ground.

"No one."Haven replied looking right at the large eyes that loomed just outside the clearing. "I'm sorry. I truly am. I only wanted to Gather wood to keep my family warm for the early winter. I have a small child on the way."

The eyes just stared down at Haven not speaking a word. Haven was unsure what to do. He wonder if he should turn in ran or weather to say something else. He was just about to make up his mind to say something when the owner of the voice stepped in to the clearing. The heavy thump of the trucks and the shaking of the ground filled Haven whole body. The cracking and creaking of trees could be heard. Haven stud there unable to speak as he watched a tree walk out before him. The great tree slowly walked around him. Where every the tree had stepped left planets spring to life. He stepped on the back side of Haven when he spoke again.

"Your kind has pilled and burn my family for far too long. I do not like to hear the cries of my children the howls of their pain. It fills me with great sadness and great rage."

"I did not mean to enrage you." Haven started to say but was cut off.

"But I know of Haven of Rockfish. I have heard what you do. I know you only take the fall and sick. So I will let you live this time."

"Oh thank you great tree!" Haven said falling to his knees. The great tree counted on pay no mind to Haven repeated thank you.

"But If I find you or hear of you cutting down a member of my family again. You won't able to hide from me. Now go. Leave my site and do not return till summer."

"Thank you great tree thank you!" Haven turned to look for this mule but old blue was no were in sight. But Haven did not stay to look for him. instead he ran is fast as he could town the path towards his home. He burst out of the forest in a dead run. Sweat poring off him. his breathing heavy. He axe long dropped and lost. He saw his wife standing there frightened. At the sight of him she burst out in tears.

"Oh Haven!" she shouted as she ran over to him grabbing hold of him. I was so scared when I saw old blue and what was left of the cart.

"I'm fine. Don't worry." he said trying to come her down. But tear steamed form her like a great water fall. he held her there for a long while when his eyes saw old blue and the cart. The cart looked as if a tree had fallen on it. nothing was left but for the front two wheels.