Join us at the campfire for tales from around the world, told by storytellers of all backgrounds and creeds. From the heros and heroines of old, let us relearn and rediscover the wisdom of our ancestors. Shhh..the story begins..

One day, Tanemahuta, Guardian Spirit of the Forest, was strolling through his realm. He looked up at his children reaching for the heavens and noticed they were beginning to sicken because the insects which crawled upon the ground were devouring their roots.

Tanemahuta went to his brother, Tanehokahoka, and relayed his fears. Tanehokahoka called upon his own chidren, the birds of the air, and bade them to gather before him.

Tanemahuta spoke to the feathered creatures.

"Something is eating my children, the trees," he told them. "I need one of you to come down from the roof of the forest and live upon the floor, so that my children may be saved and your own homes may be saved. Who will come?"

All was quiet as not one single bird spoke.

Tanehokahoka turned to Tui, saying "E Tui, will you come down from the forest roof?"

Tui looked up at the trees and saw the bright sun filtering through the leaves. Tui then looked down upon the forest floor and saw the cold, dark earth. The bird shuddered.

"Kao, Tanehokahoka," he trilled. "It is far too dark and I am afraid of the dark."

Tanehokahoka turned to Pukeko.

"Pukeko," said Tanehokahoka, "will you come down from the forest roof?"

Pukeko looked down upon the forest floor and saw the cold, damp earth. The bird shuddered.

"Kao, Tanehokahoka," he warbled. "It is far too damp and I do not want to get my feet wet."

All was quiet as not one single bird spoke.

Tanehokahoka turned to Pipiwharauroa.

"Pipiwharauroa," said Tanehokahoka, "will you come down from the forest roof?"

Pipiwharauroa looked up at the trees and saw the sun glistening through the leaves. Pipiwharauroa looked around and saw his family.

"Kao, Tanehokahoka," trilled the bird. "I am far too busy at the moment building my nest."

All was quiet as not one single bird spoke. There was great sadness in the heart of Tanehokahoka for he knew that if one of his children did not come down from the roof of the forest, then not only would his brother lose his children, but the birds of the air would have no home.

Tanehokahoka turned to Kiwi.

"E Kiwi," he said, "will you come down from the forest roof?"

Kiwi looked up at the trees and saw the rays of the warm sun filtering through the leaves. Kiwi looked around and saw his family. Kiwi looked down upon the cold, damp earth. Looking around once more, Kiwi then turned to Tanehokahoka and said: "I will."

Great was the joy which leapt into the hearts of Tanehokahoka and Tanemahuta, for this little bird was giving them hope. But Tanemahuta felt it only right that he should warn Kiwi of what would happen. "E Kiwi," he informed the bird, "do you realize that if you decide to do this, you will have to grow thick, strong legs so you are able to rip apart the logs on the ground. You will also loose your beautiful colored feathers and wings, so you will be unable for evermore to return to the forest roof. E Kiwi, never again will you be able to see the light of day."

Kiwi took one last lingering look at the sun filtering through the leaves and said a silent farewell. Kiwi took one last lingering look at the other birds...their beautiful wings and their colored feathers...and said a silent farewell. Taking one final look around him, Kiwi turned once more to Tanehokahoka and said: "I will."

Then, Tanehokahoka turned to the other birds and said: "E Tui, because you were too afraid to come down from the roof of the forest, from this day forward, you will wear two white feathers at your throat as the mark of a coward. Pukeko, because you were fearful of getting your feet wet, you will live forever in the swamp...and Pipiwharauroa, because you claimed to be far too busy building your nest, from now on you will never build another nest, but lay your eggs in the nests of other birds."

Tanehokahoka then turned to Kiwi, saying: "But you, Kiwi, because of your great sacrifice, you will become the most well-known and best-loved bird of them all."

A section has been added to Penumbra entitled "Rainbow Bridge," dedicated to the memory of our beloved animal companions. It features various pieces of work, whose words, it is hoped, will bring solace and comfort to those who have lost a dear little furry (or feathered or scaled...etc.) one.

It contains an area known as "BlueBird Bower" where a memorial may be placed by anyone upon request in the name of their departed pet (no species refused).

Just click on "RainBow Bridge" on the home page to access the area described.