The Tale of The Great Bear of the Carpathians

Gisella lay on her back, her long, lithe body stretched before her. Her startling, piercing blue eyes were like a mirror image of the great dome of sky overhead. She felt the chill wind brush across her heart-shaped face with its high, sturdy cheekbones, so like those of her Romanian race.

There was nothing Gisella loved more than a summer in the Sighisoara foothills of the Carpathian mountains. She couldn't really call Sighisoara home. Her life, all sixteen years of it, was spent on the move from one Gypsy camp to the next. She didn't quite understand the reason why.

Elders of her Gypsy tribe knew the reason. It was only on the occasions of gatherings for celebrations, of which her tribe had many, Gisella heard bits of clues whispered by the oldest men who sat around a great fire in the center of their latest camp.

With a half dozen, hand carved, gaily painted caravan wagons encircling the camp, children slept peacefully while women baked and prepared the next day's meals.

Only one woman remained in her wagon. Not because she was shunned. Because, according to tribal legend, she had "sight" only a select breed of Gypsies possessed.

Magda never spoke. She never needed to. By her actions alone, she was clearly understood.

The legend spoke of the old, wizened woman as a relation to Gypsy royalty. As a child, Gisella heard whispers among the other women that the old woman, Magda, planned to teach her special gift to one child among those in the tribe, who showed a keen sense of "sight."

Everyone thought Magda possessed an unusual skill with potions, elixirs and other hand made remedies for those who fell ill. Within minutes, whatever Magda prepared, old Yohann was up and about after being taken ill for more than three days. When the infant son of Georgi suffered from a high fever, Magda was called and the infant's color returned quickly and the fever was gone. The tribe believed strongly Magda was their special gift.

Gypsies, for centuries, had wrongly been accused of being fortune tellers. In truth, all Gypsies knew it wasn't possible to tell fortunes or know the future.

Yet, lingering rumors of Gypsies with the gift of telepathy and "sight" continued. Their flamboyant attire and love of all things gold and glittery set them apart from the rest of Europe's more reserved cultures. Their craftsmanship and artisan skills in jewelry, rug and weaving left their imprint, as they traveled from place to place. Having roots never mattered. Having strong ties to family did.

Gisella also heard about the odd things Magda believed. Things like wolves who understand the language of Gypsies and Ursi, the Great Bear of the Carpathians who wandered the mountain forests protecting Gypsies from the dreaded Ottomans, who hunted Gypsies to enslave them.

When the old men sat around the fire talking, Gisella heard them speak of the Gypsy King who had been stolen away at birth by a Wolf Queen and was kept hidden deep inside the Black Mountain.

As she lay this day upon the soft, black aromatic mountain floor, she thought she heard a rustle among the trees. She sat up quickly. She had never felt fear of forest creatures. But then, she never really encountered any. This day would change that forever for Gisella.

She stood up and look around her. Off in the distance, she noticed a bluish haze in a lush copse. She was nearly a mile from the nearest stream. The haze shouldn't be there. She heard the rustle again. She started to run until she heard a voice. A young man's voice.

As she turned slowly to see the face of the young man, she saw instead, only a huge black bear. She dare not run. She'd been warned since early childhood to remain stock still if ever she encountered a wolf or a bear.

"Why are you afraid?" the voice said.

"I'm afraid of you," Gisella answered.

"I mean you no harm," the voice said.

"What do you want of me?" she asked.

"I bring you a message. You must tell your leader to leave their camp before dawn. You are all in great danger," the voice said.

Gisella turned around to face the young man. There was no young man. She felt more frightened than she'd ever felt before.

"Where are you? Show yourself so that I may see you," Gisella said.

"I am here. I am Ursi, the Great Bear of the Mountains," the voice said.

Gisella thought one of the young men in her camp was trying to fool her.

"You cannot be Ursi. He has no voice. He growls and kills," Gisella said.

"And how many have I killed in your tribe?" the voice said.

Gisella felt confused. She knew the answer was none had been killed.

"Go to Magda when you return to camp. Tell her what I have told you. She will know I speak the truth. Your tribe is in great danger."

"You mean to attack everyone in our camp?" Gisella asked.

"No. I mean to protect everyone in your camp. Your enemies are not far away. They will come in the early morning hours. That is why you must warn Magda and the others. Now go!" the voice commanded.

Gisella stood there until she heard the deep, bellowing growl of the bear. It motioned for her to go with its arms raised.

When she returned to camp, she wondered if she dreamed the episode that seemed all too real. She saw the shadow of Magda pass by her wagon window. Then, she saw the old woman standing at the door of the wagon.

In utter silence, Gisella believed she heard Magda calling. Yet, not a sound floated upon the wind. Gisella walked quickly to Magda's wagon.

She motioned for Gisella to step inside. Magda held Gisella's hands in hers, closed her piercing blue eyes and then released the girl's hands. She showed Gisella a drawing of a great bear.

You have seen Ursi? Do not speak. I will read your thoughts as you read mine already. 

Gisella was shocked! She heard no sound and still knew the old woman's thoughts. How could this be?

You have the same gift as I, my dear. Together, we must warn the people to ready themselves to leave this place. Ursi will not keep the enemies from finding us. He will only delay their attack. That is all he can do.

Gisella started to speak and realized it was not necessary.

What shall we do then, Magda? 

You must tell your father "Magda knows we are in grave danger." He will know what to do. Now, go and prepare to leave. I shall do the same. 

The old woman gazed into Gisella's eyes with great sadness in her own.

My dear, you must know...you will replace me when I am gone. You are the only one among our people with the "gift." You must not tell anyone. The price upon your head is the same as the price now upon mine. It is the one our enemies fear most. 

I promise I will do as you ask, if you will promise to teach me all you know. 

Gisella glanced briefly back over her shoulder at the old woman. She did as Magda asked. Her father reported what she told him to their tribal leader.

The camp was empty when Ottoman soldiers arrived with Ursi at their backs. Seeing the empty camp, Ursi hurried back to the mountain forest and the cave beneath the mountain in which he hid. His work was done.