NIGHT time – dark and mysterious, the soft whispering of the wind and sounds of the jungle; nature undisturbed. The native girl standing on the fringe of the reservation closed her eyes, breathing in the cool, fresh air, her mind embracing all she loved so much, the natural beauty and serenity of this place she called home, in the hinterland.
“Ann Marie.”
Her friends were calling her, for the end of the week feast was just beginning. It was a night when the villagers gathered around a bonfire, drinking, eating and being merry. They told stories of their adventures, their work and yields and of course, stories of superstition and mysteries. Ann Marie, being the village’s heroine for her bravery and courage, always had some kind of adventure to relate, but tonight she just listened, fascinated by this one story of the beast. The villagers were divided in their beliefs, some thinking it was not real but for those who believed, the story lived on.

It had been a dark night like it was tonight, and the Toshao’s son, a brave young man, who was an ace hunter was returning with a small hunting party, after three days in the jungle. It had been a very dry season, and the animals had moved away in search of water. The hunting party had not found much game and then, as though luck had crossed their paths, they came upon a deer and doe drinking from a small pool of water. The hunters froze in their tracks and the Toshao’s son signalled he would take the shot. He knew not then it was a spirit of the jungle that took many animal forms and he shot the doe. The spirit angry and grieved at the death of its mate, struck the young hunter with a bolt of lightning, changing him to a hideous creature, saying,
“Not until someone can show you love and kindness will you be man, again.”

The other hunters, scared of the spirit’s rage, had run leaving the young man, now beast, alone in the dark jungle and told their story of their encounter with the spirit. No one saw the Toshao’s son again and that was almost ten years ago. Never a sign of the beast, and many wondered about the hunter’s story. The Toshao, a sad and broken man, still awaited his son’s return.
Ann Marie had been just a little girl and as she grew older, so did her fascination for this story and, in her heart, she felt it was true. She had ventured in many dark, forbidden places in the jungle, where even the bravest men dared not to go, but she had never seen this creature. Where could he be and why is he hiding so long?

A soft growl riding with the wind flew over the tree tops above the now sleeping village. A dark creature stood in the shadows, its red eyes gleaming, looked at the girl, as she sat alone by the fire, its glow casting a reddish-golden light on her long dark hair. She was so beautiful, like an Indian Goddess, and though he had seen her many times, as a young girl and had sensed there was something special about her, he had never allowed himself to be seen, afraid of scaring her. Now, she was a young woman and he felt the time was right for her to know of his existence. But, would she be able to love a creature, like him, to lift the curse?

Ann Marie sat by the fire, as the embers burnt to a soft glow playing with the ring on her finger. She was thinking about David, the young Englishman whose life she had saved, when she had found the lost plane, waiting for the day he would return so they could be together forever. The diamond ring he had given her as a promise, so she could wait for his return. She stood up and walked towards her hut, then stopped and looked around feeling a strange sensation of being watched. She shuddered off the feeling and went to bed, and as her eyes closed, slipping into the comforting embrace of sleep, she wondered what new adventure tomorrow would bring.
Ann Marie opened her eyes to a warm and beautiful new day. She sat up, lifting her hand to touch the sunbeam streaming through the window when she saw the white orchid by her bedside. She looked at the flower, quite surprised and picked it up gingerly. It was one of the rarest flowers found anywhere and she knew where it came from, but who could have brought it?

Her father burst into the hut then, quite disturbed,
“Ann Marie, you’ve got to see this.”
She rushed outside with him and stared at the maze of strange tracks everywhere. Something not human had entered the village that night and there was fear and confusion in the air. She recalled the feeling she had last night and looking at the flower in her hand, she gasped as the thought dawned on her.
“Oh my gosh, could it be?”
Had the beast come home?

Her father looked at her curiously and warned
“I want you close to home until we figure out what this is.”
A hunting party went out scouring the jungle, but found nothing. Whatever it was, was long gone.
Ann Marie tried not to sleep that night, but at about midnight, her eyes closed and next morning, by her bedside, was a yellow orchid. She picked up the flower and looked at it for a long moment, not sure what to think. Was it the beast and what did he want? She had to know and the brave soul she was, she went into the jungle that day. She did not venture too far, stopping by a stream and felt that strange presence again. She did not turn around, but sat staring at her reflection in the water, hearing the sound as it came closer and gasped quietly as another reflection appeared above hers.

It was the beast!
He was not just a tale, he was real!
She rose slowly, trying not to be afraid, not knowing in the next moment if she would be killed. He was so hideous, it almost took her breath away, but his eyes held a soft, almost pleading look. In his paw-like hands was a red rose, that he held out to her, but before she could move, voices were heard coming and with a deep growl the beast turned and disappeared into the jungle.
She picked up the red rose, he had dropped and at that moment, she knew what she had to do, for the pleading look in his eyes were more than words could say. The next morning, before dawn, Ann Marie left the village, quietly. She had to reach deep in the jungle, where the rare orchids grew. It was a long journey and just before dusk, she reached where she knew the beast would be.
“Beast,” she called “I’m here to see you.”

Nothing moved, it was quiet, too quiet, she thought.
Where was he?
She sensed his presence, just behind her and turning, she almost screamed. The beast was standing there, bleeding, two arrows protruding from his shoulder and back and he slumped to the ground. The hunters had found him and the voices were drawing closer. She wasn’t sure what to do, but she knew if she didn’t do something, he would be killed. She knelt down beside him and breaking off the arrows, she tore pieces of her clothing to stop the bleeding.

The look in his eyes was so gentle, that it touched her heart and holding his face, she said
“Please don’t die, I love the flowers you brought, and I know from that, you have a good heart. I see you, not as a beast but as a nice person who will live in my heart.”
He touched her face at those words that he had longed to hear so long and his eyes begin to close.

“No, no, please!” she shook him, “Stay with me, you can’t die.”
Loud angry voices were heard as the hunting party drew closer and Ann-Marie cried softly, looking at the beast, “What does it take to save your life?”
And as though in answer to her distraught question, a pure white buck appeared in a glowing light. Ann-Marie looked stunned at the spectacular vision knowing the story had related that it was a spiritual being that had cast the curse on the Toshao’s son. It raised itself on its hind legs and a blinding flash of light caused Ann-Marie to close her eyes.

When she reopened them, the buck had disappeared and lying in her lap was not the beast but a handsome young man. She cried in relief just as the hunters burst onto the scene, their arrows in deadly poise but slowly lowered on seeing the Toshao’s son.
Ann-Marie looked at them, tears streaming down her face, “The story was true.”
She had believed and her care and kindness towards the beast helped to break the curse.
Another adventure for the brave Native girl.