Thursday photo prompt: Snowfall #writephoto

This is Sue Vincent‘s Thursday PhotoPrompt,

Snowfall

The journey had been long and arduous. Travelling through time was wearing on the nerves. So much had changed around him and he had only been able to witness in silence.

So much had happened he’d felt warm and safety of the womb of mother earth. For the longest time he was settled until the great movement had churned up. He and those around him were awoken and cast out. They had lain where they had landed open to weather, wind rain sun and snow.

The animals came first they never caused trouble, occasionally rubbing up against him or sheltering from the sun. The plants also were a pleasure to live alongside. They had colour, they whispered gave shade kept him company. The gentle moss even covered him in green.

Then came the humans they were no trouble at first but they changed, became less animal like and more selfish and destructive. They had moved him him twice to use him as part of a circle. He was bigger then but later they had stolen parts of him to build castles and homes.

He was glad he could still talk to his other selves where ever they were it made him feel safe and whole.

He liked the snow it was soft and gentle. Not like the humans, demanding, waging wars, killing eachother. He had seen dreadful things , killing machines, some throwing bullets or flames. Death dropping out of the skies blood all around.

Not all the humans were bad though he has seen some be kind, even worship him or near him, make love hidden by him, sleep in his shade and even touch and talk to him.

He sighed “I suppose” he said to the tree next to him “I will just go on, I will miss you though”. The tree sighed too. He replied, “I will miss you too old friend but you were here before me, you will stay on.” Gentle letting the snow settle on his limbs the tree continued.”Our feathered friends have taken my seeds and spread me far and wide. So we may meet again, especially if you are moved again.”

The ancient stone looked up at the tree and replied. ” I cannot bear to see you killed, I have seen too many of your kind cut down. I will sleep and when I wake again I wonder what shall I find.” The tree bowed, “Goodbye friend I hope we meet again.”

—————

They came in the night, two humans, a small female and a taller male. They were wise in the old ways, the stone could tell. They touched him and asked his permission to stand in his shadow. They apologized that they could not stop the developers from moving him and chopping down the tree. They did not think it was progress. The stone assured them he would survive.

————–

In the morning the bulldozers came. They cut the tree down, the stone was asleep, deeply asleep so as not to see or hear his friend being killed. The snow fell.