The Willow Sprite is a small bird, no larger than the common sparrow. Its feathers are a muted palette of soft browns and grays, with a delicate pattern of speckles that help it melt seamlessly into the background of tree bark and forest floor. Its eyes, though sharp and watchful, are a modest, earthy brown, reflecting the dappled sunlight that filters through the forest canopy.
Catching a glimpse of the Willow Sprite is a feat in itself, but capturing it is nearly impossible.
Their sensitivity to magic allows the bird to detect approaching threats long before they become visible, giving it ample time to escape with astonishing speed. The moment it feels the slightest tingle of magic, it takes flight, a blur of motion that leaves would-be captors staring at empty branches.
The bird we're looking for nests high above the ground in the ever-shifting branches of the Willow trees. These trees, with their gnarled trunks and ever-moving limbs, provide the perfect sanctuary for such a sensitive and elusive creature. The nest itself is a small, tidy structure made from twigs, leaves, and soft moss, carefully woven to cradle its tiny eggs. The Sprite often chooses nesting sites near streams and bodies of water where the glow worms it feeds on come in abundance in the mossy rocks of streams with gentle flowing water.
Drawing upon my childhood experiences of building bird traps with my brother Tom, I set my plan into motion. With a glow worm carefully secured to a branch near the stream, I knew it wouldn't be long before the bird, drawn to the faint luminescence of the glow worm, would make its appearance.
I positioned myself in a dense thicket nearby, obscured by shadows and the natural cover of foliage. My heart raced with anticipation as I waited.
Minutes passed, and then I saw it—a slight flutter of brownish wings. The bird was perched quietly on a slender branch above the bait, its keen eyes scanning the surroundings. I moved closer still, confident as my presence was completely masked. The bird, sensing nothing amiss, remained calm.
I paused beneath the tree, looking up at the unassuming creature that had eluded so many before me.
The Willow Sprite descended gracefully, its keen eyes fixed on the glow worm. With cautious steps, it approached the bait.
As the Willow Sprite neared the wriggling bait, I held my breath, readying myself for the crucial moment. Earlier I had fashioned a net from the strong yet delicate webs of silk from giant silk spiders inhabiting the forest, carefully woven to ensure it would ensnare without harm. The net was connected to a mechanism hidden in the foliage, rigged with a thin, almost invisible thread.
With precise timing, I waited until the Willow Sprite was just inches away from the glow worm. In a split second when the bird took the bait, I triggered the mechanism—a gentle tug on the thread caused the net to unfurl silently through the air, draping over the unsuspecting bird with expert precision. The Willow Sprite reacted instantly, sensing the trap closing around it.
It fluttered for a brief moment, surprised and caught off guard, but the spider silk held firm. The bird, now trapped within the folds of the net, struggled briefly before realizing escape was futile. I approached cautiously, my movements slow and careful, mindful of not alarming the frightened bird further.
Its eyes, normally so alert and wary, now looked up at me with a mixture of fear and resignation. I spoke softly, "Easy…easy…I'm not gonna hurt you," calming it with gentle blow of air from my mouth on its head. The bird's struggles ceased, and it lay still in my hands, its heart beating rapidly beneath its delicate feathers. I held the bird carefully, removing silk residue.
I had done it! "Hurrah!" I felt proud of myself, I wished Menelaus was here to see me successfully complete the first hurdle. The elusive Willow Sprite was finally within my grasp. But as I held the tiny creature and placed it gently inside the cage, I felt a hard object hit me at the back of my head knocking me unconscious.