The Diary of a Mountain
Once there stood a colossal, formidable, yet serene mountain; it was so wealthy in tales of adventurers, lone travellers, rebels, vagabonds and poets.
The mountain was regarded as a sacred sanctuary by the village that resided at its foothills. Villagers strongly believed that its deified soul protected them from the horrors of the world outside. The village boasted generations of tales about the mountain's divine interventions and omens.
However, the mountain had a different tale to tell. A story untold, a chronicle hastily covered in layers of human mythologies. As days passed, the mountain felt an urge to tell its story. One fine day, a physically challenged poet named Orion arrived in the village. Orion was from a distant land and had heard fascinating stories about the enchanted mountain village. He decided to capture the essence of the mountain village's tales in his work. The villagers met him with warmth, affection, and an array of riveting stories.
On a chilly night, as Orion lay under the vast, starlit sky, he was visited by a mountain spirit. The spirit granted Orion the ability to listen to the mountain, hear its narrative, and share it with the world. Orion felt a sudden rush of energy, as the mountain began to narrate five centuries' worth of stories in the web of time.
The mountain told of the storms it had weathered, the earthquakes it had endured, the sublime sunrises it had witnessed, the chilling winters it had braved and the calm springs it had enjoyed. It also revealed how over centuries and decades, countless people from different walks of life had sought its solace.
There was the story of Xing, an escaped convict who found refuge in the mountain’s ominous caves, evading capture. The mountain provided shelter and food in the form of fruits and mushrooms, healing Xing's wounded soul. On the mountain, Xing found meaning, enlightenment, and a sense of purpose.
Next, the mountain shared the tale of Thomas, a heartbroken poet who sought the isolation of the mountain to heal his wounds. Day after day, amidst the mountain's rich landscape, Thomas wrote verses so vibrant, so profound, that they echoed through ages and were sung as folklore.
Then there was the tale of Lina, an audacious explorer from a far-off land, who discovered diverse species of flora and fauna while exploring the mountain. She found her life's purpose in this wilderness, transforming the village into the centre of botanical studies and conservation.
Lastly, the mountain told of its connection to the villagers. The mountain had been their protector and provider, withstanding the tests of time. It felt their joy during fruitful harvests, their sorrow during calamities, and their hopes when they prayed for safety and sustenance.
Through this narration, the mountain also confessed its fear of being left alone if the villagers were to abandon their reliance on it. It held memories and spirits of the past, and the thought of being deserted filled it with dread. However, it also had a glimmer of hope that its story would inspire future generations to acknowledge and respect its existence.
Orion penned down the narratives imbibing the raw emotion of the mountain's saga. His writings became popular across the globe, resonating with the mountain's five centuries' worth of stories. They encouraged people to respect nature, appreciate its tales, and care for its preservation.
This work made the mountain immortal, and the villagers started recognising the mountain as not just their divine guardian, but a living, feeling entity with its stories to tell. The mountain, in return, stood firm and high, protecting the village and the memories it carried. And just like that, the mountain finally spoke, and the world listened.