An Old Rain Tree felled in a forest on Monday.   

There was a great sense of sadness and loss that echoed through the forest, especially amongst the animals that has lived with the Old Rain Tree for a long time. While there are also many great trees in the forest, this one was special, its branches grew long and wide, and has offered many squirrels’ refuges; birds a nest for them to roost, shade for a tired bear to rest, and it’s roots run deep into the ground, and it’s firm standing even helped saved a few bunnies from being swept away in a bout of bad thunderstorm not too long ago.              

The felling of this magnificent Tree sent a vibration through the forest floor, and all creatures large and small came, and gathered by the fallen Great Tree. Some cranes from faraway, flew back, upon hearing that the Great Old Tree has fallen. Storks gathered, some of them hadn’t seen the Old Tree for a long time, but came as quickly as their wings can take them.

Everyone gathered, has something good to say about the Old Tree. 

“The Old Tree has given me a nest to raise my 5 chicks.” One of the Stork said.

“There this time, the Old Tree gave part of this branches to this farmer for him to use as firewood and warm his family!” A Chipmunk mentioned.

“He’s my favorite scratching spot!” An old brown bear growled.

Everyone in the forest, near and far has benefitted from the wisdom, protection, care and love from the Old Rain Tree. They will all miss the Old Tree, and wondered what the future will hold for them. 

“Where are we going to build our nests? Now that our dear old friend is no longer there?” Chirped one of the mama birds, distressed about the tree.

“How about us? Where can we stash our nuts?” a family of Squirrels pondered in earnest. “Our old friend helps us keep our nuts for the winter!”

“The forest will never be the same anymore.” the bunnies whined, vividly remembering, how the Old Tree reached down and let the terrified bunnies held onto his branch as the torrential rain threaten to sweep the creatures to a certain death.

But the Old Tree has a plan.

Long before this fateful day, the Old Rain Tree has already set in motion and make the forest a place the animals can continue to thrive long after he is gone.

You see, there was never a forest, it was nothing but a barren land, and the little young sapling of a Rain Tree decided to grow there. This small Rain Tree grew against the weather, the sun, the bad soil, he grew and grew and got so big, that some woodsmen even came to try and chop it down. They were close, but the little band of animals in the forest stood with the tree and protected the Rain Tree from further harm. This tree is precious and sacred to the animals and they turned the woodsmen away.

From then on, the land around the Rain Tree grew, and thrive, it dropped seeds on the forest floor, and while many seeds didn’t grow, some did; as the Great Old Rain Tree grow in stature and magnificence, small little rain trees started sprouting around it, adding to the shade, and adding to the magnificence of the forest.

So the animals in the forest don’t need to worry, because while the Great Old Rain Tree has fallen, there are also many trees around it, all grown from the same seed, providing the shade protection and nourishment the Great Old Rain Tree provided. While he is gone, he has given his seeds and raised many more young trees to help the forest flourish. These young trees will stand their own, and this is their time to stand against the elements, and join the ranks of the other Great Trees in the forest.

This is the legacy of the Old Rain Tree.