And the Lamb
will
Lay Down
with the Lion
by
C. Donald Martin
© Copyright 1997 Martin D. Coats

The One walked a quiet road with a family of big Cats. They said little yet much was known between them. The Sun hung low on the afternoon horizon as they came out of the woods and looked out over a grass plain. A family of deer, quite well known to the Cats, was grazing near by. The Cats paused to look at the deer, it had been over a day since they had eaten. The air moved gently across the Cats and the Deer soon caught their hungry sent. The Great Stag, long undisputed leader of these Deer looked up with no sense of concern. The One raised an arm in a gesture of recognition. The Cats started to move toward the Deer. Two Bucks, offspring of the Stag, moved toward the Cats and took a defensive stance. The Cats paused. The Bucks paused. All the other animals sensed the tension and moved appropriately. All at once the Great Stag Ran straight at the One. The Cats tensed. The One just watched in a most detached way. The Stag stopped and bowed her head down to the One. The One stroked the Deer's head. The Deer then turned to the Cats and spoke to the Head of the family as only Deer can do. "Please honor me my friend. You have been most loyal. You have kept my family strong and healthy. "My time is at an end. Would you do me the honor of one more chase?" The Cat did respond thus: "You have also been a loyal friend. You have fed my family well. And provided many an adventurous chase. I would be honored to pursue you this one more time." With that the Stag bolted straight off into the grass. The Cats waited just long enough to make it a good chase. As these families, this family, ran together, the other animals moved to give way and find a better place to watch. This was the seventh running of this race. The first had been thirty-five Suns ago. The Stag ran to a small wash. It was her intent to turn at the bank and watch the Cats tumble into the shallow stream. Thus she could run just one more time. But as she was well into the turn, the bank gave way under her hooves. The momentum of the turn brought her neck around just as her friend Cat gave her final lunge. The Cats teeth found their mark and the two fell into the water. The Stag shuddered once and then lay still. As the others came up to the two the Cat moved back in a most reverent manner. The One moved up beside the Cat and stroked her head. She then moved to the Deer and knelt beside her. She turned to the Sun as it was just touching the horizon. All fell quiet. The One started the Song with a clear strong note. The others joined in and the song was sung as the Sun slipped out of sight. As the song ended a light formed around the Deer. Slowly the light rose above the deer and shined most pure and white. Then the assembled multitude gave out a collective roar and shined as bright and pure as the spirit of the departing Deer. And all was now quiet. The One took out a stone blade and cut off a small piece of shoulder. This, and some vegetables she had collected today, would be her meal tonight. As she moved, the Cats started to feed. She walked to a low bluff overlooking the meadow. Tonight's adventures were just at a beginning. The Bucks were readying themselves to battle for the honor of leading the Family. For this was the way of the Deer.

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