RAVENSBOURNE

Written by: Nicky Peelgrane
(Inspired by: The Stolen Sun – A Story of Native Alaska by Amanda Hall)

CHAPTER 1

In the middle of a great ocean lay an island of unsurpassed beauty.

At the island’s centre, icy, jagged peaks stretched upward to touch the clouds. These were peaks propped up by mountains, then in turn by the undulating hills that tumbled downward through verdant valleys to white, sandy dunes, then bowed to meet the turquoise sea below.

High, above the peaks, clouds and crystal-blue sky, higher still, in a land above the sky, lived Raven who watched over all the world. In those days, there was a hole in the sky above the island linking Raven’s world to the world below. One day, Raven looked down through the hole, saw the majestic island and sensed at once what was missing. So Raven created animals and people, birds and fishes and he sang to the people to tell them to love and respect all life. Along with the gift of these creatures to the earth below, he also bestowed the island a name: Ravensbourne.

The people and creatures of the earth and sky found Ravensbourne to be both bountiful and good. A spring that burbled from a source deep within the mountains was sweet and cold to the lips. It bubbled down the mountains, forming streams, before being coaxed by the earth into deep rivers, where fish multiplied after feasting on insects lured to the water. The waters of land and sea swirled together in the turbulent mouth of the river before flowing out into the ocean. Whales birthed their young in these warmer waters in spring time.

The people of the land scattered to parts of the island they found gladdened their hearts. The people who enjoyed the river water and life by the ocean, settled near the river mouths and became known as the Fish People.

Those who preferred the solid crunch of earth underfoot and scent of forest, wandered into the hills. There, they discovered that the streams that burbled created caves during the water’s timeworn passage down the hillside. And it was inside these caves that these people discovered shelter and abundant jewels within the cave walls. These people became known as the Miners.

Those who preferred to be close to the song of the Raven - and the entrance to his world - climbed over the hills, upwards into the mountains. They settled at the water’s source: the spring. These people became known as the Mountain people.

No one remembers how it happened – perhaps an earthquake many years ago – but the Mountain people’s village became split by an impassable crevasse. It was thought that the crevasse reached into the centre of the earth, for a stone dropped into its depths made no sound. And so, one side of the village became separated from the other. The mountains at the top of the island were so formed that the two halves of the Mountain village were also separated from the Fish and Mining villages below. Each half of the Mountain village could not see the other, but when the wind was blowing from the right direction, they could hear snatches of conversation and smell the smoke from their cooking fires.

Time passed, seasons turned.

CHAPTER 2

The Fish and Mining villagers began to trade with each other. What at first was a sincere exchange in goods – jewels for fish – became twisted. It’s difficult to say who started it. The jewels were so stunning in the sunlight that the Fish people quickly became jealous and coveted more jewels. They would stockpile them. Then they would hold out on their fish supply until jewels were delivered. Hungry for fish, the Mining people gave in. And then they all grew greedy. Corruption ensued as the greed and jealousy escalated. And, as always happens when people want more than they need, things fell apart.

The caves became filled with rubble, the sweet spring water polluted by mining. And then the Fish and Mining people began a war between themselves. Violence spread like a shadow, destroying the creatures of air, land and sea. Stockpiles of fish began to rot, the stench excruciating as flies and maggots claimed their share of the gore. Speared whales lay in the mouth of the river, their blood and entrails staining the water. Slaughtered, then left to rot, an act of heinous proportions.

In short, people forgot the song of the Raven.

CHAPTER 3

Raven grew angry. With a piercing shriek, Raven tore the shining sun from its place in the sky. Then he flew back through his hole in the sky with the sun under his wing and vowed never to return. The earth and sea below was immediately plunged into darkness.

At first the Fish and Mining people were terrified – what had happened? Then, over time, they became angry at the perpetual night. They shouted to the Raven, they beat their chests, they shook their fists to the sky, but to no avail. The sun was gone.

A year passed.

One day, one of the Mining villagers decided to try a new strategy. Instead of shouting at the Raven, he sang a sweet song through the sky hole to the Raven, politely asking when Raven would return the sun.

Raven sang in return:

What is the gift of greatest value?
Show me no deeper understanding
Then sympathy and compassion will combine.
Live my song then
I will give back the sun

‘What does it mean?’ asked the bewildered villager. No response came from the hole in the sky.

CHAPTER 4

Word of Raven’s response spread. The Fish people and the Mining people discussed among themselves what they should do.

The Miners decided that the gift of no greater value must mean jewels. It was slow, dangerous work by candlelight but the miners dug jewels of every colour of the rainbow. Finally, they made an enormous pile of jewels and placed it on the ground under the hole in the sky. Nothing happened.

It only stands to reason that the Fish people decided that the gift of no greater value must mean fish. Supremely difficult in darkness, they managed to catch hundreds of the best mackerel to offer the Raven. Again, nothing happened and the darkness continued.

The Mining villagers and the Fish villagers then decided they would lay down their weapons of spears and arrows. Piles of weapons were added to the jewels and mackerel. Nothing happened.

They lit candles and sang to the Raven, pleading for the sun’s return. Nothing happened and darkness continued.