Chrysanthemum Gummi






Old Fallari Gummi settled into the seat of her worn chair. The ancient storyteller smiled as she glanced at the excited faces of the cubs at her feet. The fire crackled lightly. The room was lit gently by the glow. And outside was as cold and wind-howling as could be. A perfect time for a story. The story. Fallari opened the large book in her lap.

"The Legend Of Chrysanthemum." the ancient one started.

"She was a young Gumwyn gummi. Very beautiful and full of life but always restless. Gumwyn was her home but her heart lay abroad. This is why everyone thought Chrysanthemum was a loner. 'Such a strange young gummi.', and 'Perhaps she has a secret sweetheart out there.' they wondered."

Fallari smiled at the page. "But Chrysanthemum's head was too much in the clouds for such romantic adventures. If anyone asked where she went all the time, she would merely smile and reply, 'Among the flowers.', for she had a solemn promise to a dear friend that forbode her from mentioning where she went or what she did there."

By now, the children were poised on Fallari's every word, their eyes round and mouths open O's. Even the two unlikely friends, Strawberri and Sweeti, were wrapped up in the tale, though they'd heard it before.

"Every day, earlier than the rising sun, she would wake and start out before anyone else knew she was gone. And she went over the nearest hills and through the valley beyond our castle to a thick but beautiful forest. In it lived many a fancied creature. True enough, the forest itself was invisible to anyone without a pure heart, so that all inside would be protected. Of course, Chryssi could see it as plain as day. Each day, she would go to this hidden forest -- the Shadow Forest it was sometimes called -- and meet her friend."

By this point, the cubs grew anxious. They asked the white-violet-furred storyteller, "Who? Who is it?"

The lady storyteller chuckled. "Patience, patience." Back to the book, she turned the page. "Chrysanthemum had a very important responsibility to maintain the secret of her friend's identity, for Thistleseed the Pixie was an outcast among her people. If they knew she was being productively unmischievous -- in a forest no less! -- they might come and take her back with them." Fallari looked up to explain to her audience, "Pixies at this time were not as nice as we might find them. And Thistleseed had good reason to stay hidden from gummies, as well. All cubs were warned never to go near them. 'They cause trouble!', 'You'll be sorry if you talk to one!, 'And for Gum's Sake, don't follow any of them or you'll disappear forever!!'. Yes, it was true... At times." The white-violet gummi returned to the book.

"Chryssi had met Thistleseed quite by accident inside the Shadow Forest but it was as if they were friends long before that time. Inseparable, and very much alike; for just as Thistleseed was separated from her people, Chrysanthemum felt alone in her ideas and wishes among her fellow gummies. They both made an oath to maintain the beauty of the Forest which few could see. And they never called it the Shadow Forest. Oh, no. That was too dark and dreary a name for its magnificence. No.. To them, it was The Forest. Simple and beautiful and all their own. And so it was unfortunate that Thistleseed and Chrysanthemum were found one day."

The young gummies at her feet leaned closer, mumbling 'Oh, no's as the heroine was now in danger.

"No, it's true. Chryssi was never to leave with anything from The Forest, and she never did. She was followed one day by a young gummi lad wanting to discover where her heart lay, for it certainly wasn't with him. He waited hidden near her door to awake in time and followed her quite silently over the hills and through the valley but when he saw her disappear behind the invisible vines at the entrance to The Forest, he was at first stumped. Magic, yes, but where did it take her? He marched forward, as determined as anything. It was furtherly unfortunate that one needn't a pure heart to enter The Forest. Only to see it. And Chryssi had unknowingly shown him the entrance. Now, the gummi lad was not an unfit gummi by any means. Yet The Forest knew who could undo its beauty and so lay hidden from many a pair of eyes."

The page was turned once more. "He could not find Chrysanthemum in the mysterious and beautiful forest on the other side of the invisible curtain but his mind was lost in all that he saw. The day passed so fast, he was almost found by Chryssi as she left for the evening. Rising from his quick hiding-place behind a vine-covered tree, he decided it was wise to return. And to both tell Chryssi of his affection and that he had found her hidden place among the flowers, he plucked one that grew from the vines so prolific in The Forest. He left for Gumwyn and returned at mealtime to present Chrysanthemum with the gift, expecting to confess his affections to her in front of all the gummies, but the sight of the flower right away had Chryssi grabbing it from him and running as fast as she could back to The Forest. She was never allowed to leave with anything, as this would surely kill all the others within. True enough, the flower was wilting in her hands and tears formed in her eyes. Her magic place, The Forest, was dying; all because of her."

Looking down upon her sorrowful audience, Fallari smiled to reassure them. "Chrysanthemum did not return to Gumwyn that night. The confused and troubled gummi lad sought her out in The Forest once more and found it a much-changed place. Dead and dying leaves, animals fleeing from his very presence, and a much darker place in general. He found Chrysanthemum tirelessly replanting and culturing the ground and plants with Thistleseed's help.

"The little Pixie saw him and flew at him, pulling angrily at his fur. 'Leave this place.' she demanded. 'You have harmed this Forest beyond recovery and you are not welcome here!'

"But the gummi was so startled by the dreaded Pixie that he swatted at her and she folded like a flower petal under his hand."

The cubs about her feet pulled at her skirt worriedly.
"Did she get hurt?"
"Is she alright?"

"I'm afraid not, little ones. For even if she were alive, a storm of Pixies suddenly rained down upon the unsuspecting gummi lad and threw him out of the forest. They settled about the fallen outcast Thistleseed and bowed their heads before carrying her off into the night. Chrysanthemum was now alone."

The page was turned. "Chryssi returned to the castle but spoke to no one. The gummi lad was not found about but many were afraid to ask Chrysanthemum where he was or why she cried in her room. She would not even speak to her mother. When she attempted to go back to The Forest the next day, it was gone. No trace remained of the hidden, beautiful place. She never returned to Gumwyn after that day."

"That's so sad..." Princess Sweeti, head bowed, could not believe the tale ended so miserably. "Wasn't there anything else that could've been done, Fallari?" she asked the old one.

"Perhaps.." She grinned. "And it was done. For it is rumored that the Pixies restored Thistleseed's health and took Chrysanthemum to her in the lost forest where Pixies dwell. And there, she's believed to be a trusted advisor among their king and queen and still working with Thistleseed to restore the moved Forest. We may never know if the legend is true, but Chrysanthemum was supposedly seen many centuries ago, wandering with a tiny bright light in a field beyond the castle. From a distance was she seen, for when the shocked gummi tried to chase her down, she disappeared as if a ghost. It is said that if one calls for her in a group of chrysanthemums, she will appear to them."

"Hasn't anyone ever tried? Have you?" Strawberri asked of the old storyteller.

Fallari chuckled. "Oh, no, child. Not for a very long time. There haven't been any chrysanthemums here since... Well, since they all died, I suppose. Chrysanthemum cared for all the flowers in Gumwyn. When she left, her namesakes died without her."

Many a cub-face fell at this news, for it was too bad they could not grow some and see if the legend was real!

The End



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Chrysanthemum story and all characters(c) Jade Griffin/cheetah the furry, 12-11-00
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