A long time ago, there was an Abenaki hunter who lived near Sunday Lake with his family. He would go hunting with traps and with bow and arrows. When a large animal (usually a deer) was killed, he would use a travois attached to the reins of his pony “Browny”. Young Owl, that was his name, was 21 years of age and he was already well-respected within his peers.
On that hot day of September Young Owl was heading with his pony towards Sunday Lake where deer were frequently seen. The hunting season had already opened and his whole being was driven by hunting fever. In reaching the lower waters of Sunday Lake, he spotted a beautiful buck above the rocky cliffs surrounding the northern side of the lake. He left Browny roaming near the grotto entrance to an abandoned mine and climbed several meters to obtain a better view. He saw the buck standing on a rock at a close distance and he decided to shoot. As he took aim, he lost his step and fell down from the rock to the entrance of the old mine, hitting the ground with such force that he became unconscious.
When he woke up, Browny was still grazing and the sun was high in the sky. To his great surprise three young girls were smiling at him and caring for the wounds on his forehead. They wore white dresses, their hair was black as charcoal and their eyes were warm and welcoming.
The youngest of the three said: “Young man, we are Denisha, Manisha and Tamisha, from the kingdom of Aspidia. We have saved your life and will bring you into our kingdom where winter does not exist and the pastures are filled with flowers and fruit trees all year round. Our Queen will be pleased to see you.” They entered the grotto and to Young Owl’s amazement it was illuminated with quartz crystals that produced blue light deep into the cave. Soon a paradisical landscape opened to Young Owl’s eyes.
The three girls brought him to a stone palace where Queen Saliga lived. She said to Young Owl: “You must stay with us three days, then you will return to your world and you will only remember the name and face of our young Denisha who found you at the entrance. You must promise that you will never show the entrance to anyone. If you want to come back, you may do so only when there’s a full moon, but you have to stop hunting any wild animal around Breeches Lake or Sunday Lake. All you have to do is to shake the Mountain Laurel bush at the entrance and call Denisha.”
Young Owl was so happy with beautiful Denisha and with the pleasures of the land at the kingdom of Aspidia that he promised to comply with the queen’s wishes. Young Denisha took his hand and together they went to a small lake of crystal clear waters, where wild animals and trees could talk in a language that was understood by Young Owl. To his amazement, a young deer approached and said: “We are happy here because we live and die normal lives, not shortened lives. Sometimes our young are killed by wolves and bears and we fight and run but we do not have to face arrows or spears.”
Aspidians knew how to grow fruit trees that were never seen on the other side of the Grotto. Orange, mango and other tropical trees were growing around the “pseudo–Sunday Lake”. Everyone could drink its water without getting sick. To ensure its cleanliness, special guards were assigned the task of enforcing rules to ensure that no pollution was brought into the waters of the lake.
Young Owl and Denisha spent three days in total happiness. Once the three days were over and the full moon passed, Denisha took Young Owl to the entrance, gave him a gift of silver and gold coins, and with a warm kiss and a “See you soon, my love,” she vanished.
Returning home, Young Owl was asked by his cousin Mario about his hunting feats during the three days that he had been away. Young Owl answered: “I had an extraordinary experience, but I cannot tell you anything as I would break a promise.” He showed the gold and silver coins that he had received as gifts, so the cousin became rather intrigued. When the full moon arrived on the following month Young Owl took his pony in the middle of the night and went to the grotto. His cousin Mario decided to follow him.
Young Owl ruffled the Mountain Laurel bush which created a sound of bells. At that moment Denisha appeared with a glorious smile on her face. She kissed him and said: “Young Owl, I was waiting for you. Come with me.” He went into the grotto with Denisha to enjoy three days of great fun and happiness.
Mario had been watching him as the full moon appeared in the night. He also saw the entrance to the grotto, the Mountain Laurel and beautiful Denisha. He returned to the village and told the story to Young Owl’s father who also was the tribe’s chief.
Once the three days passed, Young Owl returned to the village with several pieces of gold in his hands, and his father asked him to enter the teepee and sit down.
“Young Owl, he said, you are now not only my son but also one of the best hunters of our village. Your cousin Mario tells me that you have met a beautiful girl who only appears during a full moon and she brings you into a magical world. She is a fairy who seduces hunters to kill them, as these witches cannot understand our need for hunting.” I want you to stop visiting that place as it will cause your death. We shall destroy the entrance to the grotto and the Mountain Laurel growing nearby.”
On the following full moon Young Owl went to the grotto, but the entrance was blocked and the Mountain Laurel had been destroyed. He called: “Denisha! Where are you?” But he received no answer.
He returned to the village but his spirit was now one of despair and nothingness.
After several months passed, a new hunting season started and some friends invited him to join them in the hunt for deer. They went to Sunday Lake, famous for larger animals. Young Owl remembered the promise that he had made to Queen Saliga but did not give it much consideration as his state of mind was now very different and his hunting fever was too strong. While near the grotto, now with a blocked entrance, he saw a magnificent buck up on the hill and he climbed a few rocks to gain a better vantage point. The buck continued climbing and so did Young Owl. Finally, he saw the buck on top of a large rock and without hesitation he aimed and shot an arrow. The buck was suddenly transformed into the three fairies, Denisha, Tamisha and Manisha who addressed him with angry voices:
“Young Owl, you have not kept your promise of not shooting wild animals in Aspidia and for this you will have to pay!” The rock where Young Owl was standing tumbled down and he was swept away in the middle of an avalanche of rocks and rubble. He was buried under the debris, and nobody has found him since.
The rocks can still be seen near the Sunday Lake Cross. Hunters say that Young Owl’s spirit can be heard sometimes on a full moon night, during the hunting season, still calling for his beloved Denisha to appear.
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