Bran and Bryn and the Storm Moon

There once were two young children, a brother and sister, named Bran and Bryn. They lived at
the edge of a forest with their mother and father, and two cats. Every winter, the snow fell and
covered their garden and the floor of the forest. Their mother would keep them inside near the
hearth, warm and cuddled in their soft blankets. When the Sun whispered to their mother that
Spring would soon arrive, she would unwrap the children and shoo them outside to play in the
melting snow.
One night, the night of the Full Moon in February, Bran and Bryn peeked out their
window. The white ground glittered silver in the moonlight. The children looked at each other,
smiles on their faces. Bran grabbed their cloaks from the cupboardlight blue for himself, and
violet for his sisterand they sneaked out the front door of their house. They were careful not to
make a sound, save for their feet crunching the snow, until they reached the edge of the forest.
Well be able to find our way back by our footsteps in the snow. Bran said, grabbing his
sisters hand. They both looked at their house, the windows glowing with the light from the fire,
dark smoke escaping the chimney into the sky. We wont be gone very long, Bryn. I promise.
All right, brother. Bryn nodded. They walked, hand in hand, into the trees, soon losing
sight of the comforting warmth of home, their mothers soft humming, their fathers knife
against a piece of wood, the glowing of their hearth-fire. Their path was lined with many
different types of treesBran and Bryn named some of them:
Rowanthe ones with the bright red berries; cherry Laurelthe ones with the blue-black
berries; and Cedarsmell that? Momma said the Cedar tree is the Ancestor Tree. They giggled as
they skipped along in the snow, passed the trees, to a clearing.
At the centre of the clearing was a deep well that froze every winterthey had to collect
their water for the season before the first freeze, or else spend an entire day travelling to the
river to the south. Beside the well there sat a hunched figure in a grey cloak. Bran and Bryn
approached the figure with caution.
Excuse me, are you lost? Bryn asked, reaching out to touch the figures shoulder. It
shook, sending bits of snow all over the place.
I am right where I need to be, but my sisters are nowhere to be seen. The person under
the cloak was a woman! Bran and Bryn looked at each other, knowing how it felt to be separated
from your sibling. If you help me find them, I will give you a gift. The woman held out a pale
hand and uncurled her fingersa single purple primrose bloom sat in the centre of her palm.
We will help you find your sisters, maam, but may we know your name in case they
question? Bran said. The woman under the cloak stirred and lifted the hood away from her head.
Golden hair, the colour of the flames, glimmered in the moonlight.
I am Brigid of the Well. My sisters are Diana, the free-spirited huntress, she is
accompanied by a Stag; Arianrhod, my wise sister, carries a Silver Wheel and is accompanied by
an Owl; and finally, Selene, who is riding a white horse and carries a torch. They often get lost on

nights such as this, when the Moon is high above and full in Her glory. She held her other hand
out and produced a clear crystal. Should you need any assistance, take this and I will be with
you. She handed the crystal to Bryn, who placed it in her cloak pocket.
Bran and Bryn could not stop staring at the womanshe was bright as flame, and she gave
off a warmth that melted the snow down to the brown earth beneath.
We will find your sister, Lady Brigid. Bryn said, leading Bran away. They continued down
the path, away from the well, through the thick trees. Their father had taken them hunting many
times in the forest, and had taught them the different animal paths, their tracks, and special
landmarks to help them remember where they were going.
As their path twisted and turned, they lost the light of the Moon behind dark storm
clouds. Bran shivered.
It will surely begin to snow, sister. Should we not turn back?
We promised Lady Brigid that we would find her sisters. We should at least try. Bryn
looked around the forest, but could not see any sign of the sisters. Do you think they are very far
away?
For all we know, sister, they do not exist. That woman could have been a hag in disguise!
Doubtful, brother. She was too bright and warm to be a hag. Bryn smiled at Bran, though
he could not see her face in the darkness. Just then, the snap of twig startled them. They searched
the trees on either side of the path and saw a strange shadow looming between two trees. From
the darkness of the shadow drifted a soft voice.
Who are you? What do you seek?
We seek Diana, sister of Brigid of the Well. She sent us to find her and her other sisters.
Bryn whispered. She huddled close to her brother. The shadow moved, and a young maiden
stepped away from the trees.
You are in luck, for I am Diana. She had brown hair streaked with silver, a quiver on her
back, and a bow in one hand, the other rested on the neck of a Stag. I do not know where my
other sisters are, but I will help you find them. Should we get lost, take this arrow. It will lead you
to me, no matter where you are. She handed the arrow to Bran, who placed it in one of his belt
loops.
Bran and Bryn continued down the path, and Diana followed. She sent her Stag away into
the trees, to help alert them of any dangers. The clouds overhead darkened, casting the forest in
an eerie and foreboding darkness the farther they walked.
As they rounded a corner in the path, they came across a large white owl in the middle of
the path. It stood taller than the children, and had a silver wheel on a chain around its neck. Bran
and Bryn shrieked and jumped back, and in the time it took them to blink, the owl was gone and a
woman stood before them. She smiled at them, and then greeted Diana with a warm laugh.
I am Arianrhod, and I see that Brigid has sent you brave children to find us. I am grateful
for your service. Selene is still lost, and she is with child this night, soon to give birth. We must
hurry to find her, before the heavy snow falls and hides her forever. Arianrhod turned away

from the children and began walking down the path. They followed her, running to catch up,
Bran to her left and Bryn to her right.
My Lady Arianrhod, how did you chase that giant owl away so quickly? Bran asked. The
woman laughed and ruffled his hair.
Dear one, I did not chase it away. I am the Owl. You see, she stopped and knelt on the
ground in front of Bran, I was given the gift to change into the Owl whenever I need to. It makes
travel much easier. She removed a wooden Owl from her dress pocket that had a stone in the
centre of its bodyit glowed even though the light was so thin in the forest. She placed it in
Brans hand. Take this Owl, and know that the wisdom of the Owl is always with youit will help
you find answers when no answers seem possible.
The group continued on down the path in quiet. Soon, small flakes of snow began to fall
from the sky. Diana and Arianrhod seemed not to notice, but Bran and Bryn felt the weight of the
snow building on their shoulders. They shook the piles of snow onto the ground and looked
around. They could barely see what was in front of them at this point, the snowfall had turned
from light to medium in a matter of minutes. Just as they thought they would not find the last
sister before she was buried in the snow, there was a break in the storm and they saw a white
horse.
Excuse me, are you the Lady Selene? Bryn called. The woman turned away from her
horse, and Bryn was surprised by her face. Selene was not a woman, not like her mother was at
leastshe was much younger, with a round face and blue eyes like the river. She held her belly,
which was round like the Full Moon being hidden by the snow clouds. If you are, your sister
Brigid sent us to find you.
I am Selene, dear girl. Come here and help me. She lifted her hand from her belly and
beckoned Bryn over. Here, take this torch. It will help you find your way in the darkness. Bryn
took the torch and held Selenes hand as they walked back to the group.
I fear this storm will stop us before we reach Brigid. Diana looked at the sky.
We must hurry, then, sisters. These brave children need to be home with their mother
and father before the snow covers the world. Arianrhod took Bran by the hand and began
walking back toward the clearing with the well. Selene followed, her hand wrapped around
Bryns.
The wind howled down the path, chasing the group like a pack of wolvesit hit them, with
wet snow and biting chill. White covered their vision, and Bran let go of Arianrhods hand; Bryn
lost Selene in the flurry, but found her brother huddled next to a Cedar tree. She sat down next to
him wrapped her cloak around his body. They both held the clear crystal Brigid had given them,
and tried to remember her bright hair and how she seemed to melt the snow around her, but they
could not keep their eyes open. The cold snow looked like a warm blanket, and they were so tired
from their adventure that they both fell asleep.
In their dreams, they saw Brigid appear, her flaming hair melting the snow, her warm
smile wrapping around them like their mother had wrapped their blankets around them. She
lifted both of the children from the ground and carried them to their home.

Brigid laid Bran and Bryn on the worn carpet in front of the fire, and kissed their
foreheads, taking away the frost that had begun to take root in their bones.
Thank you, my brave children. You have received many gifts this night, keep them close
at all times for we are never too far. She stood and placed the purple primrose flower between
them, on the stone of the hearth. She removed her grey cloak and covered the children with it
like a blanket. Sleep well, children. Bryn opened her eyes at that moment, and saw through the
haze of sleep, that the fiery haired woman walked out into the snow without any covering. The
door closed, and so did Bryns eyes. She dreamt of Spring, and how she and her brother would
plant purple primrose around the well once the ground had thawed.

Correspondences: The Storm MoonFebruary

Primary Theme: FAITH AND TRUST