The Last Whisper of the Old Oak🔊

Once there was an old oak tree named Eld Oak, who stood at the heart of the Emerald Forest. For over a thousand years, Eld Oak had been the oldest and wisest amongst all creatures of the forest. Birds nested in his strong branches, squirrels darted through their holes, and wise old owls made a home in his ancient trunk.

However, the passage of time had not been kind to Eld Oak. His once smooth bark was now rough and scarred, and his emerald leaves had turned a pale yellow. He knew he did not have much time left but wished to pass on his centuries of wisdom to the younger trees before he withered away.

One day, the Forest King, a magnificent stag, approached Eld Oak. He sympathetically observed Eld Oak's deteriorating condition and asked how he could help. Eld Oak humbly requested the Forest King to gather all the young saplings for he had a lesson to pass on.

The Forest King did as he was requested, and soon the forest was filled with young saplings eager to listen to the wisdom of Eld Oak. He started his tale, 'Long ago, I was a small sapling like you all, without much knowledge of life. My roots were not strong then, my branches not as widespread. But with time, I grew, reaching out to the sun, the moon, and the stars, absorbing their energy, wisdom, and warmth.'

The saplings listened in awe as Eld Oak continued, 'The first lesson I learned from the sun was of warmth and light. The sun taught me to embrace all creatures without distinction, just like its light touches everything equally.'

'Next came the moon, lending me its gentle light during the darkest nights, showing me that even in the direst of situations, there is a glimmer of hope, a respite from the darkness.'

'Finally, the stars showered upon me their distant wisdom, teaching me about the vastness of life. They showed me how small and significant our problems are in the grand scheme of the universe.'

The young saplings were spellbound by Eld Oak's wisdom. They realized that it was not the strength that mattered the most but the lessons and the wisdom one garnered throughout their journey of growing taller and spreading wider.

As Eld Oak concluded his story, the Forest King touched his antlers to the old tree, a mark of deep respect for Eld Oak's wisdom. He thanked the old tree for his insightful tale and promised Eld Oak that the young saplings would remember and pass down his lessons to the future generations.

Weeks later, Eld Oak, satisfied that he had fulfilled his final duty, peacefully withered away. The forest mourned his demise, but more than that, they celebrated the vast wealth of knowledge and wisdom that the old oak had left behind.

Years later, the Forest King saw the younger trees embracing all creatures as the sun did—neither fearing the darkness but welcoming it for the moon would shine, nor worrying about their troubles but taking them with grace and courage, knowing they're minute before the universe. And every time he witnessed these imprints of wisdom noting them as the continued whispers of Eld Oak, the Forest King couldn't help but smile, knowing Eld Oak was always present in the forest, as a whisper, a lesson, a part of every tree.

The Emerald Forest continued to grow and thrive, each sapling becoming a bastion of wisdom, carrying forth the teachings of Eld Oak. Even though Eld Oak was no more, his whispers still lived amongst the forest's rustling leaves, continuing the cycle of wisdom, the legacy of Eld Oak - The Old Oak.