Chapter 2 - Grousing Day

(More of the Story of the Knights of the Round Bale)

 Any human looking at the pasture would see a large bale of hay, round in shape, laying on its side.  But if they could look from the veil side they would see a very different scene.

  Yes, there was a round bale, but it wasn’t empty.  The regular goats were not paying attention to it, because they could see the magical ones gathered around it.   There were mice, voles, moles, chipmunks and squirrels sitting on the top of the bale.  Stretching up the side of the bale were the fishers, martens, possums, bobcats, rabbits and other medium sized cats.  They were all looking at a particular spot above the bale.

   Next to them, standing on all four hooves, were deer and moose, listening intently toward the spot above the bale. And above all that the branches and trees were full of songbirds, owls, hawks and other birds, listening intently to what was happening. Hovering there above the bale, but below the trees was a beautiful winged figure, flitting like a glistening butterfly,

     That was Queen Agra, and she was explaining the reason for the meeting. “Welcome to Grousing Day.  This is not meant to be a complaint session, but one where concerns are aired and shared. The point is to solve a problem, but first the problem needs to be identified. That is what Grousing Day is for.  Let me introduce my Knights of the Round Bale, who are my on site problem solvers. If you need to air a problem and there is no Grousing Day scheduled, you just need to reach out to them.  Here they are.”

  She waved her arm toward a small armored rabbit, who stood below Queen Agra on the edge of the Round Bale. “ Sir Lagamorph is here to speak to the needs of those of you who live off the seeds and the plants of this land.” The large rabbit stood up on his strong haunches, lifted the visor of his helmet, and nodded to the crowd.

    “I am in charge of making sure there is enough food for everyone. As long as you share the riches of the woods, you have nothing to fear from me.  If you refuse to share, then you will meet with me in an official role.  If you find there is a problem where food is in short supply, come to me and I will tell the Queen.”   He relaxed back to his hunched form, and lowered his visor in humility.

  “Sir Assinine here makes things move,” continued Queen Agra. “Whether it’s an obstacle, or a problem with a human, Sir Assinine is the one who takes care of that for us all.”  A large donkey stood up to the side of the bale.  His ears reached out of his helmet, and though he didn’t wear a visor, because his nose was too long, he did have a shield over his crown, protecting his forehead.  He quietly explained “I am a tool to live with humans.  Use me for that purpose. I love to help you all, but remember, I do not do stupid things. We donkeys know better.”

    Queen Agra looked down to the side of the round bale and saw another knight climbing to the surface. He was not fast, but he was determined. “Sir D. Forest is here to speak for those who live on the forest and farm floor, and beneath it. He tells me when there are problems with the soil, or the fungus, and I work with the farmer to take care of it.  

  And at that, a little snail, complete with a helmet on his head crawled over the edge of the bale . Lifting his visor he slowly stated  “ I am Sir D.Forest , and it’ s my job to make it safe to grow things here.  Whether if’s crops for the farm, or berries for the bears, if there is a problem with the soil, I am here to help solve it.” He also closed his visor, and pulled himself back into his shelmet.

    The Queen pointed toward a quiet figure lurking behind the other knights.  “Sometimes we’ll need a little strong arming, and that’s where the Pigja comes in. If anyone, human or fauna, comes onto our land to harm it, it is his job to stop them.”

  A large pig stepped up on the bale, complete with a black belt around his broad belly.  He also wore a black hood, with tiny eye holes. The hood was cut on the side to allow the pig’s ears to stretch out. He announced, “I will be your snout of power.  If you need something moved out of the way, Sir Assinine and I will work together.   If a logger comes on the property, I will work with the trees, to block their equipment.  No one suspects a pig. That is why I am the Pigja.”  He backed up behind the line of knight animals, sinking again into their shadows.

    “ I realize that sometimes the danger comes from above.  While I do have ravens and eagles to act ask watchbirds, it is the wise owl, Sir NightEyes, who will be the knight responsible for the air and upper trees.  “

    A giant set of wings swept down onto the Round Bale, leaving his perch in the oldest oak tree. As always, his wings made no sound, but he spoke clearly “I am always around, though you may not see me. I am purposefully silent when I fly, but I will try to be louder when you call for me.  Should you have a problem with breathing, or seeing, or odd things falling from the sky, I’m your bird.” With that, he swooped back up to his branch, nodding repeatedly. Each time he did so he moved his head further around, so he could address everyone in the gathering.    

“And lastly, here is Sir Caprica.  He is my protector of good humor.  If there are arguments among us, he will mediate.  If there is a problem from outside of the wood, either magic or mundane, he will be the problem solver if the others cannot. “

  “And,” said an armored goat he jumped up on the bale, “when the humans think that they have control, it will be my job, along with Raven and my other friends, to humble them.  Our farmer knows how to live with us, but not all humans understand that. It is my job to remind them the Nature will have her way.”

   “And now,” said the fairy, “It is time for the grousing to begin.  If you have a problem that can’t be solved with my knights as your tools, then I will intercede.  But I don’t want to scare the farmer when I present our grievances, so let us all work very hard to solve our problems ourselves.  All right?”

  The gathering of creatures nodded in unison, and began to disband, each animal scurrying, sliding or sweeping to the knight they wanted to speak with.