The Story of Atlanta
Once upon a time, there lived a rather reckless king who believed that only boys could rule a kingdom. So, when a daughter was born to him, he didn't want her and took her deep into the forest, where he left her alone on a stone.
At first, the little girl enjoyed playing with the grass and leaves around her. But soon she grew hungry and began to cry. A mother bear, who was in a nearby cave, heard her and came to her with her cub.
— Oh, what a beautiful child! Poor little one, who left you here? — What kind of bear is this, Mommy? I've never seen one like her. Look at her paws! They're very different. — That's because she's a human-bear, my dear. — I like her! Can we take her with us, Mommy? — Oh, yes, we can. We won't let her stay hungry and all alone in the forest. — How could you not come, Mommy? — We'll name her Atlanta.
Atlanta in the Forest and in the Village
So the mother bear took Atlanta to her cave and cared for her like her own cub. No other animal in the forest attacked the little girl, for they all saw her as one of them.
Soon, Atlanta grew up and played with the bear cub and the rest of the animals. She ran with the cheetahs and outran them. She climbed trees with the monkeys and outclimbed them. She hunted with the lions and did it better. Atlanta was strong, fearless, and wise.
One day, a group of travelers passed through the forest.
— Ugh, I'm tired! — Indeed, how much further do we have? Oh, oh! — Hey, you! What are you doing alone in the forest at this hour? — We can't let her stay here. We must take her with us. Come back with us. Come to our village and live with us.
Atlanta didn't quite understand what they were saying, but it was the first time she had seen people. So she was curious. She followed them to their village.
— Come! My wife will be happy to meet you. — Ha! — Maria, see what I found in the forest? — A little girl! What was she doing alone in the forest? How did you find her? — What? Come here, dear!
Atlanta's Double Life
Maria and John treated Atlanta like an angel. And Atlanta learned some fascinating things in the village. She returned to the forest, but she also came to the village and seemed to have two families. One in the forest with the animals, and one in the village with John, Maria, and other people.
Years passed and Atlanta became a strong, impressive, and beautiful young lady, but also wise and clever. Now, we'll pause Atlanta's story for a moment and take another path, to a kingdom that belonged to a very powerful and noble king named Oeneus.
Forgotten Gratitude
— Your Majesty, this year we have harvested a great deal of grapes and a great deal of wheat. Our barns are full of grain and our orchards are full of fruit. This year, the wealth of our kingdom will multiply 800 times. This rich year is due only to the blessings of the angels and spirits of nature. Shall we organize a feast? Let's reserve a place for each fairy, angel, and spirit. And let everyone bring them a worthy offering as thanks and gratitude. — Oh, Father, what a wonderful idea! I will take care of these matters myself.
So all the citizens of the kingdom gathered with their prince and organized a grand feast in the fields and vineyards. They built altars for fairies, angels, and spirits: an altar for Ceres, who showed people how to harvest grains; one for Bacchus, who told them about grapes; one for Mercury, the one with winged heels, who comes on clouds; one for Athena, queen of the air; one for the guardian of the winds; one for the giver of light; one for the king of the waters; and one that was...
On each altar, they placed the largest bunches and the best grains. Finally, they lit a fire and burned everything there, believing that the rising smoke went directly to the heavens with their gifts.
— We ask you to accept our sincere and humble sacrifice as thanks. Drum rolls! — Bravo! Bravo! Bravo, bravo!
All the people of the kingdom went home with joyful hearts, thinking they had thanked everyone: all the fairies, spirits, and angels. But they hadn't. The people of this kingdom had forgotten about the fairy Diana, guardian of the forests. And Diana became very angry about this.
— What an insult! Do people not realize that forests bring beneficial rains, always protect the soil, and fertilize their lands? How dare they insult my forests and their creatures? — Great guardian of the forests, how do you wish to punish them? — We will punish them! They will pay dearly!
Diana's Wrath
That night, the citizens of the kingdom went to bed peacefully. They had no idea what disaster was about to follow.
— Oh, what was that? — I've never heard anything so terrifying!
All the villagers came out of their houses with lit torches and saw the most terrifying creature they had ever seen. They tried to scare it with the torches, but that only provoked it. It ran through the fields, tearing up the freshly cut grain and destroying it. It mercilessly trampled the sacks of grapes, ruining the harvest. The villagers were terrified. They went to the king.
— Your Majesty, a terrible creature is destroying all our fields and orchards. — Creature? — It looks like a wild boar, but it's not. — It has already destroyed part of this year's rich harvest. — If we don't stop this creature quickly, we will lose everything. — And this after the fairies, angels, and spirits have been so good to us. — At the feast, when we built altars for fairies, angels, and spirits, we probably forgot someone.
The king reviewed the spirits, fairies, and angels.
— We forgot the guardian of the forests! We were so obsessed with fields and orchards that we forgot the importance of forests, trees, and their creatures. It's true! No wonder she's punishing us. Organize a grand feast in the name of the fairy Diana, guardian of the forests.
The Boar Hunt
The people of the kingdom gathered to offer sacrifices to the guardian of the forests, the fairy Diana. But as soon as they lit the ceremonial fire, the great boar appeared and trampled it. People began to flee, screaming and scattering. Even the king and the prince were terrified. The fairy Diana appeared to them.
— I accept your apologies, but you offered me a sacrifice only because your precious fields are being destroyed. Try to catch my boar. If people live in continuous fear and don't know what to do, then they will respect the forest and its creatures more. — I will go and catch the creature. — No, Father, the feasts were my responsibility. I will go and catch the creature. — Very well, but you won't be able to do it alone. Take your best hunters and warriors with you.
So messages were sent throughout the kingdom and to neighboring kingdoms, asking for help from the best hunters and warriors. On the appointed day, they all came to meet the prince.
— Can you believe it? A boar whose skin doesn't burn and cannot be pierced by arrows? — A boar that has destroyed almost all the kingdom's fields? — I can't wait to hunt the creature. It's surely a great exaggeration. — Why would the king exaggerate and call the best hunters and warriors from other kingdoms? — A woman talking about hunting, how strange! — Perhaps you're lost, miss? Only hunters and warriors are here. — And that's exactly why I'm here. — Are you looking for a husband? This isn't the time. Look for me after I catch the boar. — Hmm, we'll see in the forest. Or are you very afraid that a girl will catch your precious boar, and that's why you're acting this way? — Welcome, gentlemen and lady! I need help. — If she comes too, we won't help you, just so you know. — Yes, but if she stays, we will leave. — In that case, I cannot force you to stay. If you don't have the courage to admit that a woman can be as strong or stronger than you, then you don't have the courage to face the boar, just so you know. Decide, will you stay or leave? Stay or leave?
Atlanta Saves the Day
The hunters stayed, and the team set off in search of the wild boar. They saw it heading into the forest.
— We won't kill it. We just need to catch it. Therefore, all of you, put your arrows here. This will put the creature to sleep.
They entered the forest. They climbed trees and hid behind rocks. A hunter shot an arrow at the creature. The arrow broke in two when it hit its thick skin. The boar got angry and destroyed the tree the hunter was in. It was about to attack the hunter when Atlanta jumped onto its back and plunged a spear into its ribs with such speed and power that the boar staggered. The prince quickly came and shot an arrow at the creature, and the boar fell asleep. After Atlanta tended to its wounds, the boar was locked in a metal cage.
— There. Now it will be fine. Perhaps the fairy Diana will be pleased.
The Reward and the Lesson Learned
— Oh, yes! I am pleased! I am pleased that you had mercy on my boar, and I am pleased with you, Prince, for you alone saw how much this woman is worth and did not consider her weak because she is a woman. May all riches return to your lands. — Thank you, guardian of the forests. We are very sorry that we did not respect you. Now we have learned our lesson. We will never again forget the importance of forests, trees, and their creatures.
The king was happy, and the whole country rejoiced. Atlanta received a special place, for she had saved their land. They feasted and ate all night.
— You were fantastic! — You too! — You struck the first, most important blow. — Hmm, I must return soon. — Oh, yes, but can you stay a few more days? — I... — Please! I would love to get to know you better. If you don't mind. — Well, I'll stay a few days. We can explore the forests together. — Of course! It was an honor to hunt with you. — Yes, likewise.
The moral of the story: Never underestimate someone based on appearances or prejudices, and never forget to respect and appreciate all aspects of nature, for each has an essential role.
