Week 11 Story: The Hare and the Lynx (and the Beast)

Arctic Hare (Wikimedia)

The Hare and the Lynx (and the Beast) 

            Some days ago, in a forest much like any other, a little white hare lived in a warm den with her Grandmother. They lived a happy life together tending their crops and harvesting from the forest. When the young hare had nearly reached adulthood, her Grandmother told her that she must make a pilgrimage to her native land. She was too old to accompany the young hare, but assured Hare she would be with her on her journey.

            As Hare traveled down the trail she was invigorated by the exploration of new lands. Having never traveled far from her home, the new sights and smells were almost too much. But as Hare reveled in adventure, a sinister shadow lurked close behind. Hare continued to soak in her surroundings until she was lost in thought. The shadow had waited for just this moment. At once, Lynx leapt from the trees and blocked Hare’s path.

The Lynx sang:

"Where, pretty white one,

Where, pretty white one,

Where do you go?"

“Tshwee! Tshwee! Tshwee! Tshwee!” cried Hare. But her grandmother’s voice told her, “Have courage! Tell Lynx you are going to your native land!” and this comforted her.

Hare gathered all of her courage and chanted:

"To my homeland,

To my homeland,

I am going to my homeland!"

The Lynx disagreed:

“Never come down this path,

Never come down this path,

Or I’ll eat you up!"

Hare ran into the trees and found the nearest place to hide. Her heart was racing, but her Grandmother came to her again and told her, “Be creative young one! You must scare the one you fear. Build yourself a costume so that you might become the Beast!’

And so the young hare built a costume that made her look like the most ferocious beast to ever walk the forest. She waited until nightfall and hid by the path.

When the Lynx came down the trail he called out:

"Little white one,

Little white one,

Were you brave enough to return?"

At once, Hare leapt out from the trees and blocked Lynx’s path.

The Beast bellowed:

"Loathsome Lynx,

Loathsome Lynx,

Leave this forest forever or I’ll eat you up!"

“Tshwee! Tshwee! Tshwee! Tshwee!” cried Lynx, and he ran off into the hills never to be seen again.

To this day, the Lynx is still fearful by nature, living as a hermit hidden from mankind. All because a brave young hare stood up to a tyrant, with some help from her Grandmother and a Beast.

Bibliography

Book

Myths and Legends of the Mississippi Valley and the Great Lakes, by Katharine Berry Judson

Story
The Hare and the Lynx:

Author’s Note: 

In the original version of this story, a young hare tries to return to her homeland but is confronted by a Lynx three times. Each time the Lynx sings, the hare runs and tells her Grandmother, and the Grandmother gives her some advice and sends her back. The Grandmother’s final advice is to not mind the Lynx, which the hare does, and then the Lynx eats her. I like the patterned repetition of song like dialogue in this story, and that aspect of the story I condensed and kept. I also wanted to use it more like dialogue, rather than repetition of just the Lynx’s words, so I made some responses for the hare. I had the Grandmother deliver her messages in a Yoda like manner to prevent redundancy. I wanted a more positive ending, so I had the hare solve her own problem by scaring the Lynx away. I thought this would also give the story an “origin story” feel for the Lynx, explaining why they are so reclusive.