Chapter 1: The Birth

  On the rainy and stormy day, the winds were blowing hard, and all the animals of the Forest were finding their place to hide and save their lives from this disastrous storm. Purnima, a deer who was pregnant, was with her herd and was finding a place to hide. The storm was so strong that was never come in the past two decades. While finding a place to hide from the storm, a thunderclap clashed on the tree and fell on the herd of Purnima, and the herd got separated. Purnima was left behind her herd. The wind was blowing so hard that it was difficult to stand in an open area. Purnima was looking for a safe place; she was wandering through the forest.

  She was really scared and tired. “Don’t worry, my kid, Mother will keep you safe,” she said to her kid, looking at her stomach.

  She finally found a dense bush where she could sit and save herself from this tremendous storm. Bushes were very dense, and they were surrounded by big trees which stop the hard winds and stop the rain water little. Purnima was really scared. She was all alone by herself in this hazardous situation.

  Suddenly, she starts feeling the pain in her stomach. “Oh, Mother,” she shouted in pain. She was giving birth to a fawn. She was in so much pain. She was already so tired after running from the storm.

  “Oh, Mother, please help me,” she prayed to the Forest Spirits for help. She was in tremendous pain.

  Strom was getting stronger; the winds started to blow harder than ever. Purnima thought it was her last time; she won’t be able to survive this. She was very sad that she would die right here; she wouldn’t be able to give birth to her kid.

  “I am sorry, my love. I won’t be able to save you. I won’t be able to give you a good life. I am so sorry.” She cried her heart out.

  “Oh, Mother Forest, please help me. Please save my child. You are the only one who could save us.” She prayed to the Forest Goddess for saving her and her kid.

  The storm was still strong. Purnima was in so much pain; her eyes were closing she was fainting because of the pain. Just when her eyes were half closed, she saw something, a bright spirit which was coming to her. That Shadow was containing a calming aura with her. An aura that contained the warmth of a mother. That shadow was coming to Purnima and gliding her hand on Purnima’s head gently.

  “Mother,” Purnima whispered, and she fainted.

  The storm was finally getting weaker; the winds started to slow down. The dark clouds started to shatter, and the sun shone bright. The catastrophic forest now become calm. The storm brings so much chaos with it. The Jungle was shattered, many trees had fallen through root, birds that lived in the trees died under those trees. Animals and birds that survived were in shock because of the storm and were moving slowly. The survivors started to search for their missing member and food, and looked for a new place.

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  Purnima’s husband, Shashi and her daughter Prakruti were looking for Purnima, who had got separated when the tree fell on the herd.

  “Father, Mother will be safe?” Prakruti asked her father cryingly.

  “Don’t worry, Prakruti, she will be alright. Your mother is very strong. She just separated from us when the tree fell. We will find her soon,” Shashi replied, wiping the tears of her daughter, but inside, he was worried about Purnima too.

  “Purnima,” shouted Shashi.

  “Mother,” shouted the Prakruti.

  The storm has destroyed so much in the forest, trees fell off the roots, and many animals and birds were crushed by the trees and died. Surviving animals and birds are coming out slowly from their hideout from the storm. Shashi and Prakruti were looking for Purnima since the storm was calm.

  “Father, I am really scared. Where is Mother?” Prakruti started crying again.

  “Don’t cry, Prakruti, your mother will be alright. We will find her soon,” Shashi pulled Prakruti with his head to give her a warm hug so she feels better.

  “Oh, Mother Forest, please keep the Purnima safe. Please show us where she is,” Shashi prayed in his heart.

  Suddenly, a butterfly flew between Prakruti and her father. Then the butterfly went to the bushes not far from where they were standing.

  “Mother,” a whisper came from the bushes.

  When they went to see, the Purnima was lying there, whispering “Mother”.

  “Mother,” shouted Prakruti with excitement after seeing her mother safe.

  They both went to her and hugged her.

  “Mother, we were looking for you for so long” Prakruti started to cry and lie down beside her mother.

  “I am here, my child,” said Purnima with her soft voice, hugging her daughter by putting her head on her daughter’s head and licking her daughter.

  “Purnima, thank God you are safe,” said her husband and tears of happiness came out of his eyes.

  “I am safe, Mother Forest saved me”, said Purnima with a thankful smile.

  “Did you give birth, Purnima?” asked Shashi with a sense of surprise, seeing the blood on the ground and Purnima’s legs.

  “I don’t know, I fainted”, said Purnima with a shock. “Where is my child?” said Purnima by looking at the surroundings, searching for her newborn fawn.

  As they were looking, a sudden movement happened in the nearby bushes. They all were scared. Is there any Animal who will hunt them? Then suddenly the movement stopped, and a small fawn came out of the bushes.

  “Mother,” said the fawn slowly, wobbling steps towards his family. The fawn was scared.

  “My kid,” Purnima stood up fast and went to the fawn. She hugged her with her head and started licking her newborn fawn.

  “Thanks to Mother Forest that you are safe,” said Purnima, thanking the mother forest with a tear of happiness and gratitude come out of her motherly eyes. She started to lick her son.

  The fawn feels safe now, getting closer to her mother, holding her make him comfortable and warm. Prakruti was excited to see her little brother; she was running around her mother and her new brother with excitement. Shashi was very happy to see his wife and son safe.

  They thanked Mother Forest. They were all happy now. The dangerous storm was gone now, and the forest was again a calm and peaceful place.