Ozette's Destiny Read Online Free Page A

streams and rich in beauty and abundant food.
    Unfortunately, that had all changed shortly after Ozette was born. Terrifying noises had echoed through the forests and those brave enough to investigate had discovered large, yellow metal monsters like nothing they’d ever seen before. The monsters roared through the woods, uprooting ancient trees and scraping fields of vibrantly colored wildflowers bare until there was nothing but dirt that turned to mud when it rained.
    Gone were the blackberry brambles and fruit-bearing trees where generations of squirrels and birds had feasted. Pristine streams now ran brown with silt. Soon the once-beautiful land was almost barren. Trees and fields of flowers were replaced with large houses. The pathways the animals had used were covered with black, shiny material where nothing grew.
    Large creatures, which her grandmother had called humans, took over more and more of the land. They began wandering into what remained of the forest, carrying long, black sticks that belched smoke. Pheasants, quail, deer and squirrels fell victim to these loud, smoking sticks. The animals retreated farther and farther into the forest. But the humans were never far behind.
    When Ozette was old enough to understand, her grandmother explained what had happened. As a result of the humans, the food supply was severely reduced and areas safe to seek food were growing smaller and smaller. This was why the gift of the acorn was so important. Soon, squirrels were burying all kinds of nuts, hoping to replenish the supply. Birds were working diligently to spread and scatter flower seeds, hoping for fresh crops. The idyllic life in the forest was slowly turning into a fight for survival. Many were leaving, not sure where they were going, but knowing they couldn’t remain.
    How Ozette missed her grandmother! She’d had the reputation of being very wise, in part because she could see into the future. Sometimes when they were planting, her grandmother’s ears would perk up and she would carefully sniff an acorn or other nut. Then, instead of planting it, she would bite into it, examine it carefully and make her proclamation.
    “Ahh. Looks like your Auntie Bets will be having triplets, come early fall. All girls,” she once said, smiling broadly. And it came to pass. She could predict frigid winters, food shortages, sweltering summers and even helpful and trivial events. Ozette sighed. There was another memory playing in the back of her mind, but she couldn’t quite catch it as it flitted through her squirrelly brain.
    Because of her grandmother, Ozette had vowed to be the best tree-planting squirrel around. She would pick up a nut in her paws and roll it around, sniffing it to make sure it was tasty. Using her front feet, with their sharp toenails, she would drill it into the ground. From behind she looked like a miniature jack-hammer. Then she would smooth the dirt, cover the spot with leaves and move on. Of course, she always took time to eat a few of the tasty morsels. She did need to keep up her strength, after all!
     

 
    Maxwell may have been handsome and powerful, but he was a terrible gossip. While Ozette was busy planting trees, news of her adventure was spreading rapidly through Farlandia. Everyone was excitedly discussing this turn of events.
    Tired from her planting, Ozette returned to her tree hoping for a quick nap. To her delight, Sydney, one of her fairy friends, had left a hand-woven vine basket filled with freshly picked carrots at the tree’s base. She was munching away happily when she heard the sound of wings.
    She looked up and saw a large group of fairies and elves flitting her way.
    Then she heard a chattering commotion in the trees and saw her squirrel friends, leaping through the branches.
    They were joined by birds, a white unicorn and dozens of other woodland creatures making their way to her tall maple tree.
    “Queen Ozette! Queen Ozette! Queen Ozette!” they chanted loudly.
    Ozette