Pretty Poisonous Protectors

Long ago, when the Earth was still taking its first years of breath, there lived the first people. Caretakers of their blue and green home, they were known as the Earth Keepers. But they weren’t the only ones who lived there.

The living beings of the world, both human and animal, were also surrounded by great spirits. The Narahim, spirits of the light, and the Mal’gath, spirits of the dark. Each played their part. While the Narahims helped the Earth Keepers during the day, the Mal’gaths took great amusement in luring them deep into the forests where they would become lost, confused, and sometimes consumed.

Seeing the distress in the Earth Keepers at the end of each day, the Narahim gathered together to create a circle of protection around their village. These delicate yet mighty guardians were called flowers. While their beauty and fragrance brought smiles to the Keepers' faces during the day, when night fell and the Mal’graths lured a Keeper too close to the barrier, the sweet fragrance of the flowers would break the spell.

For many months, the Mal’graths left the Earth Keepers alone, but as the seasons changed, the flowers wilted, withered, and died until there was nothing left to protect the village. The days and nights grew colder and the Mal’graths soon returned to begin their terrible rituals once more.

As if this wasn’t enough, the skies broke open for the next several days to flood the nearby rivers, lakes, and even the village. Their gardens were destroyed. Precious food was swept away. And they thought, surely, this was the work of the wicked Mal’graths.

Perhaps this was their revenge.

On the day the sun appeared and dried up the water, the Earth Keepers and the Narahims ventured to recover what they could from their crops. And where the dead flowers lay surrounding their village, they were astonished to see something new growing there. Sprinkled around the perimeter were hundreds of tiny white hats on stems. Even the Narahims were bewildered by the sight.

But they could sense the magic inside them and knew they were good.

Later that evening, after the Narahims had left, the Earth Keepers watched as the Mal’graths returned to weave their spells anew. Their giddy laughter filled the night air as hundreds of them approached beneath a full moon. Their twisted bodies loomed over the caps and the Keepers were certain this was the end. However, when the Mal'graths drew too close to the tiny plants, one by one, their spiritual bodies shattered.

Giddy laughter turned into grotesque screams.

One spirit, strawberry red, splattered a group of caps, leaving white spots behind. Another spirit, the color of the sun, bathed another group in fiery orange and yellow while a blue Mal’grath doused a dozen more. The Keepers watched in awe as each corruption was destroyed by the magic of the tiny plants. All the while, the Mal'graths' colors were transferred onto each cap and stem until there was only the sound of the frogs and crickets.

Much to the Keepers' relief, these tiny plants stayed throughout each night and winter, bringing protection to the village forever more.

So if you see a mushroom, remember how they protected the first people of the Earth. But take heed of the ones that were tainted by the Mal'grath, for they will surely make you ill or steal your life away. Just as the evil spirits once did so long ago.

And if you ever happen upon a ring of mushrooms, take a step inside and you just might glimpse a Narahim.