Secret Of The Marsh

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The sound of snapping and snarling echoed through the clear morning
air.
Suddenly beneath a blanket of mist a group of Irish Wolfhounds
uncovered themselves with wide open jaws and long stretching legs,
running like a flame through the dry forest the wild dogs chased their
prey into corners and as
Their victims lay motionless, a presence of the kill protested in
vain.

Marsh creatures emerged out from their holes and looked on helpless as
wild geese and other small animals tried to fight off their savage
attackers.

Thousands of eyes watched as the Wolfhound packs devour the
waterfowl.

The sound of a horn blew and scattered the Pack of wolfhounds as from
the edge of the forest a group of Wolf Women emerged holding fiery logs
in their hands.
"We must wait until the time is right "
Said Lizer who stood as the leader among the group.

"When will that be " asked Mias the tallest of them all.
"When night falls "
Came the reply from Lizer.

As Lizer collected wood the others lit a fire on the marsh.
Placing wild geese on the embers they fed themselves on the Wolfhounds
kill.
After they had eaten they sat around the fire, matching brute strength
in arm wrestles and showed their great ability to leap over the flames
of the fire.

Suddenly a few wild pigs came running straight from the forest towards
the Wolf Women, as the pigs hurtled towards them Lizer held up her hand
and commanded the pigs to lie down. The pigs all came over and lay down
at the feet of the Wolf Women.

Then as the dark cloak of night threw itself over the marsh, every
noise overspilt over the marsh and filled every crack and ledge with
wonder, and over the rocks the wind whispered.
"At last the time has come "
Said Lizer .

A tall dark stranger walked towards the Wolf women . A light shone
around the head of the person who drew near.

" Do you wish to step back from this place "
Said the stranger.
Lizer looked into the face of the visitor that shone like the
sun.
She covered her eyes and said,
"Master of the marsh, I am told that you have powers greater than
mine".

"Wolf Woman, leave this place for it belongs to me "
But the Wolf Woman had great skill and cunning and told the
stranger,
"It is known all over the land that the fear you place over the
marshlands
Takes the shape of Wolfhounds and that the mist is nothing but a
trick.
I have fire from the forest so it is you that must leave this place
"

Even the Wolfhounds must keep their distance from the forest
dwellers.
What is that horn you blow "
Asked the stranger.

It is not the horn, but the hands that hold it and the breath that
blows it "

At last I see "
The stranger took a few steps back.
Lizer and the wolf women circled around the stranger who lifted his
cloak and tossed it into the air. It feels to the ground like a stone
and shattered into. Pieces. Suddenly a strange mist crept over the
marsh and clung to the air.
Beyond the marsh on the edge of the Forest a path opened up between the
trees and the lowlands. Large creatures walked down the path and shook
the ground with every step. The women of the Forest never moved an
inch.

"We have no fear of your tricks and if this is the limit of your
powers, we have nothing to worry about. Your illusions have no place
here."
Said Lizer
As a number of Wolfhounds ran over the marsh.
"So you fear us then "
Sid Lizer .

"Here I am at home, you are trespassing. I am the master of the marsh.
And I could destroy you all in an instant "
Said the stranger.

"Maybe so, but I know you have a secret"
Said Lizer
He stomped his foot and his face stopped glowing.
"Please you must understand.'
'Lizer pulled the dagger from her shoulder strap and threw it at the
dark figure The stranger fell to the ground and his body turned into a
marsh snake.
Lizer and the other women spread their thick wolf skins over the
snake.
"You are now in our keep " Said the Wolf Women .as they bundled up the
skins and threw them on the fire.

"Where there is nothing to fear, you cannot control. We found your
secret master of the marsh and now you must leave this place "
Said Lizer .
The flames from the fire spat out a Hugh ball of light that spread
itself over the forest and returned back to the Wolf Women.
A light shimmered around Lizers head and a voice from the marsh
said,

"You are victorious over the keeper of the marsh because of the truth
you
Have spoken. Wise Wolf Women, you are the select ones that I
congratulate. You must remain here, and become like a river of
light."
The entire marsh was illuminated and transformed into a green
pasture.
The path into the forest became a river that cut through the
horizon.
A voice echoed from the river of light,
" Without fear, truth will survive. With this knowledge you have the
power to control and become rulers over the all the land .The story
here begins with you. Goodbye "

Trees sprung up around the women who began to sing in harmony.
Their singing was heard over all the land by men who where so entranced
by the songs that they blindly followed the sound where they remained
with the
women as long as the truth remained.
From that day to this singing has been heard all over the land .

By Paul McCann