Common Experiment #104While people come and go, the land remains. As humans we rely on the land.
We must think long-term and see the big picture to ensure the sustainability of the land.
She had been watching over her domain for aeons. She had an elegant aura and delicate features, with long auburn hair and bright violet eyes. She wore a dress made of leaves and flowers, and a crown of twigs and berries. She had wings like a butterfly, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow. She could fly, shape-shift, and communicate with all living things. She was the embodiment of the forest's spirit, its guardian and its friend.
For aeons, Otilie had tended to the flourishing flora and the diverse fauna that called the forest home. She danced through the moonlit glades, her laughter mingling with the rustling leaves and the soothing babble of the brooks. She knew every secret of the woods, from the hidden hollows where the fairies would gather to the deepest caves where the oldest spirits dwelled.
She loved every leaf, every flower, every animal that dwelled in her forest. She knew them all by name and they knew her as their benevolent protector. She was gentle and kind, but also fierce and brave when she needed to be. She had faced many dangers and enemies in her long life, but she had always prevailed with the help of her magic and her allies.
Lately, there had been disturbances in her forest. Tranquility turned to concern as Otilie sensed an unsettling disturbance in the natural symphony she cherished. A group of humans had arrived, with loud machines and sharp blades, their axes and saws glinting cruelly in the dappled sunlight. They sought to harvest the towering trees that had stood for centuries, trees that held within their rings the stories of generations past. The homeland of countless creatures, both great and small, was under threat, and Otilie's heart ached at the impending loss.
Otilie felt a surge of pain and sorrow every time she heard a tree fall, every time she saw a flower crushed, every time she smelled a fire burning. She felt a rage and hatred towards the humans who dared to invade her forest, who did not care about the life they were taking, who did not appreciate the gift they were wasting.
She tried to keep the balance of nature and protect fauna and flora through a peaceful way. She used her magic to heal the wounds of the trees, to regrow the plants, to shelter the animals. She hoped that the humans would eventually leave, or at least respect her forest. But they did not. They kept coming back, day after day, cutting more and more trees, leaving behind a trail of destruction and death.
Otilie realized that she had to do something more drastic. She gathered her allies, the other fae and Guardians of nature, and prepared for a battle. She knew it was risky, that she might lose everything she loved, but she also knew that she had no choice. She had to fight for her forest, for her home, for her life. She felt a mix of fear and courage, of sadness and determination, of love and anger. She was ready to face her enemies, to defend her forest, to die if necessary.
Her first instinct was to unleash the fury of the elements upon the intruders, to summon storms and torrents that would drive them away. Yet, Otilie knew that violence would only beget more violence, disrupting the delicate harmony she had vowed to protect. So, she chose a different path – one of wisdom and understanding.
She flew to the front line of the battle, where the humans were advancing with their machines and weapons. She saw one of them aiming at a tree that was older than him by a thousand years.
Otilie materialized before the humans, her presence radiant and calming. With eyes as old as time, she gazed at them, her voice a soothing whisper that carried the weight of ages.
"Stop! Don't you see what you are doing? You are killing a living being that has done nothing to harm you. You are destroying a part of this world that is precious and irreplaceable. You are hurting yourself as well as us!"
The human looked at her with a sneer. He said:
"Get out of my way! You are nothing but a fairy tale, a hallucination, a nuisance! You have no right to tell me what to do! This is my land now, and I can do whatever I want with it! I don't care about your stupid trees or your pathetic animals! I only care about money and power!"
He pulled the trigger and shot at the tree. Otilie felt a jolt of pain as if he had shot her instead. She screamed in agony and anger. She flew towards him with her magic blazing in her hands. But instead of attacking him, she did something unexpected. She touched his forehead with her fingers and showed him a vision.
She showed him the beauty of the forest, how it was before he came. She showed him the life that thrived in it, how each creature had a role and a purpose. She showed him the harmony and balance that existed between them all, how they respected each other and helped each other. She showed him the joy and peace that she felt as their guardian and friend.
Then she showed him the horror of his actions, how he had destroyed everything he saw. She showed him the pain and suffering that he had caused to the forest and its inhabitants. She showed him the anger and hatred that he had provoked in them all, how mother nature ready to fight back. She showed him the consequences of destruction at a massive scale - the entire world plunged into chaos and barren wasteland due to these irresponsible actions. scale She showed him the emptiness and loneliness that he would feel if he succeeded in his foolish plans.
"Human," she said calmly. "You have not lived long enough to understand the consequences of your actions. But I have. I've lived an eternity. Through cycles of prosperity and decline. I have seen it all. Is this the world that you wish for? What is left is nothing but death and despair. Does money and power matter at all, if you humans cannot even live in the world that you're on the pathway to create? What kind of ancestor do you hope to be for your future generations?"
She showed him all this in a matter of seconds, but it felt like an eternity to him. He gasped and dropped his weapon. He looked at Otilie with wide eyes. He said:
"What have I done? What have I done?"
Otilie looked at him with compassion. She said:
"You have done enough harm. But you can still undo some of it. You can still change your ways. You can still learn to love this forest as I do. And love every forest, every mountain, every water, every sky above, every land beneath, and every living being, that you'll ever cross paths with. For they are what nourishes this world. Please preserve the land, for it is what all living being depends on to survive and exist. No money or power can ever undo the permanent destruction of flora and fauna. Don't continue down this path of destruction for it is you humans that will also ultimately suffer the consequences from your own actions."
She took his hand and led him to the other humans. She did the same thing to them, one by one, showing them the vision of the forest. Some of them resisted, some of them cried, some of them apologized. But they all stopped their attack and followed Otilie
She brought them to the center of the forest, where the oldest and wisest tree stood. She asked the tree to forgive them and to teach them. The tree agreed and spoke to them with a voice that only they could hear. It told them the secrets and stories of the forest, the history and wisdom of nature. It told them how they could live in harmony with it, how they could benefit from it without harming it. It told them how they could be its friends and allies, instead of its enemies and destroyers.
She spoke of the intricate connections that bound all life together, how the felling of a single tree could send ripples of devastation throughout the entire forest.
She shared stories of the creatures who relied on the trees for shelter and sustenance, the intricate dance of pollination that gave birth to the flowers they marveled at, and the silent wisdom of the stones that had witnessed the passage of centuries. She painted a portrait of the forest as a living, breathing entity, each component playing its part in the grand tapestry of existence.
As Otilie spoke, the humans began to listen. They saw not an adversary in her, but a guardian of truths that had been forgotten in their quest for progress. They put down their tools, their faces etched with a mixture of remorse and realization. In that moment, the timeless fae had reached their hearts, igniting a spark of empathy that transcended the boundaries of species.
The humans listened and learned. They felt a change in their hearts and minds. They felt a connection with the forest that they had never felt before. They felt a gratitude and respect for Otilie and her kind. They felt a remorse and regret for their actions.
They decided to leave the forest in peace. But before they did, they helped Otilie and the other fae to restore some of the damage they had done. They planted new trees, watered new flowers, fed new animals. They apologized to each one of them and thanked them for their forgiveness.
Together with the humans, Otilie orchestrated a plan to preserve the forest while meeting the needs of both worlds. The ancient trees would stand untouched, serving as a testament to the enduring power of nature. In return, the humans would explore sustainable methods of sourcing wood, ensuring that the delicate balance would be maintained.
They left with a promise to spread the word about the forest, to tell others about its beauty and value, to warn others about the power and consequences of mother nature's sorrows and wrath. They left with a hope to see it again someday, as friends and not foes.
Otilie watched them go with a smile. She was proud of herself and her allies. She was happy for her forest and its inhabitants. She was hopeful for the future and its possibilities.
She flew back to her home, where she was greeted by her friends and family. They celebrated their victory and their peace. They thanked Otilie for her courage and wisdom. They praised her for her kindness and compassion.
They called her a hero, a legend, a miracle.
She called herself a Guardian.
As the seasons flowed onward, Otilie continued her guardianship over the forest, her presence a reminder of the unity that can be achieved when understanding and compassion prevail. The tale of the timeless fae and her alliance with humanity became woven into the very fabric of the forest, a testament to the possibility of harmonious coexistence between all living things.
Credits
Character and story by 
Selphina
Experiment #104 image is a larger version of the official art by 
Rah on tumblr
Profile code by: Curio with additional edits by: Selphina on hover effects, overlay placement, layout fixes
Māori whakatauki/proverb definition by Inspiring Communities
Background image: Season Zen HD Live Wallpaper
