Bettrys and Banon
Banon was waiting for Bettrys under the tree with drooping branches that touched the river. Bettrys liked the green colour of the tree and the arch it made overhead. It reminded her of how her dad would wrap lots of branches into one strong piece shaping them into the walls of their lodge and she felt safe sat underneath the leafy roof.
Her snout was filled with the sweet smells of the river helping her feel calm. Banon gave her a warm smile and spoke softly to her. She listened to Bettrys without interruption as her words and feelings flowed and as she spoke she started to feel a bit better.
Bettrys made a plan with Banon about how to help herself and what she could do in between their special time spent together under the lovely green tree. When they met it was as if time stopped, she could just think and talk. Bettrys started to look forward to the time with Banon and mum joined them so she could understand how to help Bettrys feel better inside.
© Copyright Lucy Hargan 2018
Bettrys learned that it was okay for her to have muddles, wobbles and spiky feelings and for her to feel glad to have survived and to enjoy herself. She had also learned that everything she felt was okay because what had happened to her was not a regular thing. And that what happened to dad and Brac wasn’t her fault and that bad things from the sky hardly ever happen.
Banon helped Bettrys think about the unkind things that the other kits said. She wondered with Bettrys, would she have believed such a story if it hadn’t happened to her? This made Bettrys think perhaps it was just too scary for the kits to believe it. Had they wanted to make up a different ending because what happened was so sad. Bettrys thought, ‘Maybe I don’t have to be on guard all of the time. What if forest is safe after all, one day I might feel safe again, but I will always miss dad and Brac.’