her and protect her, earth of the north." He bent down.
My toes grew warm.
"Bless her and protect her, fire of the south." He stood back up, this time with fingers wet from the lake. He laid his wet hand on my right shoulder while at the same time the wind picked up and a strong gust hit my left. "Bless her and protect her, water of the west and air of the east. I call upon the elements – grant our Gaia your enduring and eternal strength, and steadfastness. May she ever have a spirit that seeks the stars, and roots deep within your loving breast."
Cato took my hand again and faced us both so we looked out over the lake.
"Now what?" I whispered, trying not to ruin his reverent mood.
"I am looking for a sign," he whispered back.
I followed his gaze into the woods across the lake, squinting my eyes into the shadows. I didn’t need to try nearly so hard. A few seconds later, a butterfly came at us from across the lake. It may have been a trick of the moonlight or water, but the tiny insect seemed to shimmer and sparkle as it flew. It made a few circles around my head, its wings glittering like fireworks. It was the most brilliant and beautiful fanfare I’d ever seen, all held within a few inches on the wings of a butterfly. It was more than a welcome to this new world of magic, it was an acceptance. Not only did I make a conscience decision to stay, but nature itself gave her approval. The butterfly finished its parade and danced back across the lake, fluttering carefree. I smiled with delight, almost sad to see the thing go.
"Well, Kaitlyn. I think you’ve officially been–" Our simultaneous gasp of horror cut Cato off. An owl, camouflaged until the last second by the shadows of the trees, dived toward the butterfly. The butterfly, light-hearted and blissfully unaware, had no chance. The owl’s talons snatched the magical insect. As he passed us, still squeezing the life from the butterfly, the owl turned his head and screeched. It's screams echoed across the lake, dying out as soon as the owl disappeared into the trees once again.
I shook my head, looking for words. "What does that mean?"
"I’ve, I’ve never… I don’t know."
It was the first time I’d seen Cato speechless.
Chapter 13
Fishing
After gathering his thoughts, Cato finally responded, "Let’s start with the butterfly. A butterfly represents transformation; highly appropriate in this situation, as you have just accepted a new lifestyle. A butterfly also represents faith; in this case perhaps the earth is communicating her faith in you as the new Gaia."
"And the owl?" I encouraged; he had an irritating habit of speaking slowly.
"In mythology, if an owl flew over an army before battle, victory was imminent. However to some, the owl is a bird of ill omen". He paused, scouring the encyclopedia of a mind he had. "Also, locals to this island consider the owl to be a very wise animal. Before a long journey, they listen to the owls. The owls make two different sounds; the first means it is safe to go, and the second means it's better to stay at home." Cato paused, seemingly lost in thought.
"Well, what kind of sound did that one make?" I asked, tapping my foot.
He shrugged, "Honestly, I don’t know. I’ll have to research it. Not to mention the fact I have no idea what the symbolism is when an owl kills a butterfly."
"That was very unhelpful, Cato," I said, looking back out at the lake. "It would have been better to never have seen that at all."
"Well said, Kaitlyn. That is often the case with signs."
I wanted to shake him.
"Anyway," Cato brushed his hands on his pants as if it would brush off the entire incident, "let’s get down to business. Sit down with me." I followed his lead, sitting right next to the edge of the water and removing my shoes. A silky layer of bright green moss served as a soft blanket. We settled in, enjoying the small comfort
My toes grew warm.
"Bless her and protect her, fire of the south." He stood back up, this time with fingers wet from the lake. He laid his wet hand on my right shoulder while at the same time the wind picked up and a strong gust hit my left. "Bless her and protect her, water of the west and air of the east. I call upon the elements – grant our Gaia your enduring and eternal strength, and steadfastness. May she ever have a spirit that seeks the stars, and roots deep within your loving breast."
Cato took my hand again and faced us both so we looked out over the lake.
"Now what?" I whispered, trying not to ruin his reverent mood.
"I am looking for a sign," he whispered back.
I followed his gaze into the woods across the lake, squinting my eyes into the shadows. I didn’t need to try nearly so hard. A few seconds later, a butterfly came at us from across the lake. It may have been a trick of the moonlight or water, but the tiny insect seemed to shimmer and sparkle as it flew. It made a few circles around my head, its wings glittering like fireworks. It was the most brilliant and beautiful fanfare I’d ever seen, all held within a few inches on the wings of a butterfly. It was more than a welcome to this new world of magic, it was an acceptance. Not only did I make a conscience decision to stay, but nature itself gave her approval. The butterfly finished its parade and danced back across the lake, fluttering carefree. I smiled with delight, almost sad to see the thing go.
"Well, Kaitlyn. I think you’ve officially been–" Our simultaneous gasp of horror cut Cato off. An owl, camouflaged until the last second by the shadows of the trees, dived toward the butterfly. The butterfly, light-hearted and blissfully unaware, had no chance. The owl’s talons snatched the magical insect. As he passed us, still squeezing the life from the butterfly, the owl turned his head and screeched. It's screams echoed across the lake, dying out as soon as the owl disappeared into the trees once again.
I shook my head, looking for words. "What does that mean?"
"I’ve, I’ve never… I don’t know."
It was the first time I’d seen Cato speechless.
Chapter 13
Fishing
After gathering his thoughts, Cato finally responded, "Let’s start with the butterfly. A butterfly represents transformation; highly appropriate in this situation, as you have just accepted a new lifestyle. A butterfly also represents faith; in this case perhaps the earth is communicating her faith in you as the new Gaia."
"And the owl?" I encouraged; he had an irritating habit of speaking slowly.
"In mythology, if an owl flew over an army before battle, victory was imminent. However to some, the owl is a bird of ill omen". He paused, scouring the encyclopedia of a mind he had. "Also, locals to this island consider the owl to be a very wise animal. Before a long journey, they listen to the owls. The owls make two different sounds; the first means it is safe to go, and the second means it's better to stay at home." Cato paused, seemingly lost in thought.
"Well, what kind of sound did that one make?" I asked, tapping my foot.
He shrugged, "Honestly, I don’t know. I’ll have to research it. Not to mention the fact I have no idea what the symbolism is when an owl kills a butterfly."
"That was very unhelpful, Cato," I said, looking back out at the lake. "It would have been better to never have seen that at all."
"Well said, Kaitlyn. That is often the case with signs."
I wanted to shake him.
"Anyway," Cato brushed his hands on his pants as if it would brush off the entire incident, "let’s get down to business. Sit down with me." I followed his lead, sitting right next to the edge of the water and removing my shoes. A silky layer of bright green moss served as a soft blanket. We settled in, enjoying the small comfort
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