Stella discovered the incredible hidden world of the wild creatures of the woods as a little girl.
"The four legged ones and the feathered ones have their own stories, just as you and I.
"I go the the lake or in the woods and sometimes sit for hours, to study their behavior, and a story comes."
Stella wrote this in response to a PBS series about traditional tellers:
As a little Choctaw girl living in the woods, the animals and birds were my only friends. I spoke to them in the language and knew they understood me. I would sit on a large rock, my favorite place in the mountain and felt blessed to have the privilege to be among these creatures.
Darkness came and the night musicians, the insects of the night began tuning their instruments. Soon, their music was heard throughout the mountain.
The night birds began their calls, reminding me that I am a day creature and it was time for me to go home for the night. I am sad that the place I once called sacred place has been cleared of trees and now only spots of trees remain.
What will become of my friends?
