GIGGLES

GIGGLES

There was a time when hyenas did not laugh and weeping willows real tears.

 Hyenas not only didn't laugh, they did not smile. They were the saddest and most Serious Creatures in all the animal kingdom. 

None of the other animals ever invited them to their socials or picnics. In fact, they held their events in the farthest distance from the Hyena Village. The other animals did not dislike the hyenas, but nobody could have any fun with a hyena, sitting and staring stone-faced, as they danced and swung from the trees and or threw  coconuts at each other.

The hyenas of thought that the other animals were silly, not funny wasting their time on unproductive games.

The hyenas valued they're stoicness. They gave names to their 

 children like Gloomis, Dark Thunder and Stick- to- it-. These were Black Clouds friends in the village, set apart from the rest of the jungle.. a hyenas code was, the other animals could not accept their behavior, they would not accept the other animals silliness either. Black cloud was not that sure..

He snuck off into the far Glen and often tried to laugh. He could not. He tied sticks to the corner of his mouth, to try and smile.. they just broke and hurt his lips.

He went to his parents and asked them if they had ever smiled. "Why would a hyena want to smile?"

He went to the Grand Hyena, and and asked him why this was so. He was told, that all animals were different... birds could not roar, lions could not fly, and hyenas could not laugh. It was just so. Black Cloud was still not sure.

Things continued as they were until a spring morning, when Black Cloud was picking blackberries near Guzman Meadow. He was among the fields of wildflowers. He heard a buzz . In those days, bees were Capital Bees and a bee sting was up serious business.

He ran, but tripped over a hidden log and fell into the slime pit. Then, he scurried out and plowed through the flowers ,till he heard no buzzing sound. At the reflecting pond, out of breath, he gazed at the water. He was covered with every imaginable color flower. Twigs were stuck like a crown on his head,  and pine cones covered his nose.

He looked again in amazement.. not at the flowers, but at his own mouth...his lips were starting to turn upward.. then it came from deep down.. laughter.. uncontrolled laughter. The more he looked, the more he laughed.. Black Cloud could just not be still..

He dashed to his village. Each hyena he met, stopped to lecture him, but wound up laughing too. Seeing him made each hyena think of looking like Black Cloud, as no hyena had ever looked before. 

The inner barriers cracked open, freeing the joyous sounds, missing for so long from the village.

Soon the whole village rocked with laughter. Hyenas rolled on the ground with  their snoots in the air, gasping for more breath.. to laugh some more.

After that.. no hyena could stop laughing. They became the first animals invited to festivals. Good jokes, bad jokes, the laughter still came.. bathing the jungle with joy, till even the weeping willow stop shedding their tears. 

Every Grand Hyena, at every annual Hyena Slime Pot Day, before his dip, still tells the story of Black Cloud, the wise hyena who discovered the great hyena truth. "TO BE ABLE TO LAUGH AT OTHERS, YOU FIRST HAVE TO LAUGH AT YOURSELF."

Oh Yes And..Black Cloud's first child was named GIGGLES.

 

TORTLES

There was a time...when turtles and tortoises were one, and the waters of the Great Hanging 

Gardens, dipped into the hues of green,and into the glistening Tortle Lake. 

Tip Top was still a tyke when the first inklings of uu "Exile" loomed unnoticed by him and almost all the other tortles, who swelled happily together in the valley.

Tortles were laid back creatures. Blissful,  to take long walks amongst The Giant Mushroom Forest and then to dive into the cool, green lake,  to shed the heat and the dust of the long languid, summer days.

Tom  Tom  often rode on his Dad, Topsy's broad shell, for the last few yards,when his little legs gave way. The sight of young tortles resting on their Dad's or Mom's s shells, was very common occurrence in Tortle Garden.

It was called Tortle -Toting.

Tom Tom grew up alongside his best friend Shelby, a tortle who could disappear into his shell faster than any of his other pals. Shy Selby was nicknamed "Shel-bye"by the  village gang.He was more known by his shell, than his face.Tom  Tom only called him Shelby. When they parted he distinctly articulated. "Good bye Shelby"and watched that sweet smile spread across his face.

THE RACE

There were different stories about how the games began...how the first race was run. The old tortles often gathered to swap tales by moonlight,after the rest were asleep. The older a Tortle the less  he slept. With all their history it became too quiet in their shells. They craved an audience.Since some were over 100 years old, there were many stories to be shared on a warm starry night.

Older tortle's family members were  called Parents Plus.  It was too immodest to be called great...great...great grandpa or grandma. Modest they were, but orderly they were not. The tales were often told at the same time, words bumping into each other, bouncing off shells instead of ears. Each title swore he saw "The Race." "Tortles Honor".

Thunder Domes version was that it was a race to choose the first  Ancient Tortle King.

Stubby swore it was for the Hand of the Legendary Princess, the only unwrinkled tortle  ever to  live.

Snappy said, "Tortle Grass!" They all were gibberish. It happened on ...the day of the highest reported temperature of the century. The stones burned and the tortles hotfooted  it all the way to the lake. It wasnt a race at all!

Whatever tale was honorable or true...or if all were...races became part of the Tortle culture. And whenever tortles moved their legs feverishly and gasped for air...no matter ,their direction and goal was the same. Distance between them was created.

SHELBY

Shelby hated being so shy. He hated it more than the nickname it earned him. Tortles all had quick twitch neck muscles to get them out of danger... but it also got him out of so many mixed opportunities to enjoy comradery of the other Tortles.

He didn't know what he would do without Tom Tom, who patiently waited for him to repoke his head back out  and even talk to him when he shivered in his shell  when a pretty tortle went by...shivered and had to imagine her instead of enjoying the sight.

Together they tried to conquer his shyness. Tom Tom got his nickname by tapping on Shelby's shell to give him the all-clear...or alert him if wondrous sights. But anytime Shelby felt those Tortle eyes on him-'Snap' !...In went his head and another chance passed by his shell...Shel-bye.

Then came the Games. It was his first and seemed like his only  real opportunity to get involved with the other Tortles.  He was fast...maybe it was the quick twitch heredity,that also went to his legs. He could outpace Tom Tom easily, and with so much time alone, he trained.

He ran up the hills, braced himself against the trees, pushed against

 the logsm rocks or anything that didn't move.

It worked. His legs began to muscle up..as they thickened and became more defined, he ran faster and faster.  Nobody but Tom Tom knew.

"One more rep". Tom Tom  encouraged Shelby  as he stood on his shell. "Only one more push up!"

Shelby grunted and gave him two more.

"And that's after my big lunch,"Tom Tom joked.

After the workout, as they rested on fallen leaves, Tom Tom  nodded at the smile on Shelby's  face. "You're going to win a medal this year!"

"I won't be able to keep my neck out long enough to have them hang it." Shelby half laughed. Tom Tom did too... Friends share things!

TURTLES AND TORTOISES

The solar eclipse was called, "The Anger of the Sky Tortle". The Tortle moved steadily across the heavens, tending to the universe, dispensing stars and rainbows stored in his shell. On a rare day, as he moved very close to the sun,it's heat rays stung the Sky Tortle's ears in a. Demonstration of Solar Power.The Sky Tortle  annoyed by his disrespect,  simply spread his huge shell over the sun, blocking it's light, to allow all tortles below to understand the order of things, and to take a few moments to reflect on their own destinies. After each eclipse, it was a custom for tortles  to go down to the lake th join in a moment of Shared Reflection.

This year's reflection caused a refraction. Two groups formed quickly. The swimmers could not resist the chance to do a few more laps in the lake, while the racers were drawn to stockpiles, throwing and hoisting every size stone into the air.

The only reflection,  taken by Otto, the Giant Snapping Alligator Tortle,  who surfaced in the lakes center,disturbed by all the motion, looked around, took a huge breath of air, shook his moss covered body in disbelief, and sunk again, to his home on the lake's bottom.

Then things got UGLY. UGLY to Tortles was alot like Otis Snapping... Verbal assaults.

"You swimmers love to bathe in your own turds..."

"Gross, gross", the racers echoed. "Turds, turds, turdles..."

Angered the swimmers yelled back, "Tortle racers are a bunch of asses. Sweating in the sun, instead of cooling in the water...they chorused. Muscle heads, muscle heads, , "tort- asses, tort-asses."

Tom Tom and Shelby remained silent, caught the cross fire of angry looks and the sounds of fury. Visually distinguished by the size of their legs, each was needed to opposing warring, tribes. As Shelby was nudged away, Tom Tom instinctively said, "Good bye Shelby". Shelby could barely muster a smile. 

Repeated over and over again,  turdles became turtles, and tort-asses,  became tortoises, to appease the ears of the elders and the newest borne  tortles, and they soon knew the word tortles no more.

As time passed the existence of Tortles began to become a tale, like "The Race" and "The Games".

CAMPS

Tortoises racing on the land, turtles swimming in the lake. All training for the games. But never in the same events.No longer the same goals and direction. Parallel Universes. Divisional Distances.

 A Turtle and Tortoise, just being together became an unusual sight. The separate villages formed.  They trained together, ate together and lived together.

Tom Tom and Shelby still met at the wooded outskirts, which was always their special haven. They refused to give it up...but they met at night...neither wishing the hassle of coming up with defenses. Saying, "he's my friend"...didn't seem enough in these troubled times.

"We're the odd couple now..."Tom Tom said sadly.

"Before and after..."Shelby flexed his thickly muscled leg as he touched Tom Tom's webbed foot gently.

"I often wish that 'after' was 'before,'" Tom Tom extended their greeting by joining their other foot.

"And what's 'after, after'? Shelby asked, looking  skyward at the stars.

Tom Tom had no answer, as they both watched and hoped for a sign...They were looking in the wrong direction.

THE DECIDERS

THE old turtles competed with tales, not in races...due to this factor, both turtles and tortoises  let them be  the judges. Deciders of events. What events took place , their values, and the eventual outcome of the games.

Late that historical night...They met at the string of rocks...the courses constructed by tortoises to stage the land races.

"Look at the lanes. Those tortoises always want more events...100 yards...200 yards...relays...ridiculous events. Having tortoises pass a big leaf with their mouths..,"Tuckahoe said as he looked at a stone.

"Their final total will wash out." One eye squinted. "All the water sports!"

"We can't have that renegade group of of freaks win this year...it was too close the last time," Tuckahoe said...,as he pushed anther stone out of place.

They formed a turtle circle, their heads almost touching.

"We'd better do something while we still can." Big Harvey motioned the others closer. tortoises want more land games...I have one more for them..." He started sketching some thing in the sand.

THE  EXILE

There were so many more turtles than tortoises, waves and waves if the, their webbed feet squishing on the ground, as they  formed a bumpy, green, barrier to the tortoises at the Valley Pass.  Neither turtles nor tortoises would harm  one another...Inside they were still "Tortles".

THE herded tortoises stood still for many uncomfortable moment, til one finally, slowly turned,and walked through the Pass, away from the Turtle Valley. Soon a long procession formed, each tortoise following the others tail.

Tom Tom  watched helplessly, unable to move...til Shelby passed...he tapped the partially webbed foot on the familiar shell, and Shelby turned to gaze to him. They stared, each reluctant to release their bond... but the the other tortoises began pushing Shelby forward.

"Good bye Shelby." Tom Tom barely c ould utter the words.

Shelby nodded...and trudged away. Tom Tom knew that this time it was 'Shel-bye'.

 THE line faded as the light faded. Speed was no longer a factor, parallel distance was no longer a factor; this time it was durection...direction apart..."

OTTO

Time passed as it always does, and tortoises roamed to far flat plains and deserts. They lived longer lives than turtles mandnthu s had more time to tell tales of turtles and Turtle Valley to other creatures they encountered.

Some believed, and these soon found The Turtle Lake. The new predators drove turtles into the lake, taking over the Valley floor, turtles now spending almost all their time in the lake.

Force long period, Tales if the Races, and The Games,mwere told by other Turtles. But the only game played now was the Game of Survival.

Decades later, as Tom Tom swam in the congested water of the lake, he spied a group of teenage turtles circling and taunting old Otto, as he surfaced for air, totally covered with algae and moss, he snacked and snapped at the quick youngsters.

"Upstarts, out of my way...you Tortle rid raf.".

"Tortles. " One squealed. "Tortles-the old geezer doesn't  even know a turtle when he sees one."

"How can anything that looks like a decaying rock recognize a turtle?"another howled. 

"Maybe he can't say it right with that worm of a tongue?" A third said, pretending to be sympathetic, he said, "Let us be kind to the poor handicapped fellow!"

Jibes went on for a few more moments til Otto muttered one last snappy comment. "Tortle fools", as he started floating down his solitary lake bottom, home.

Tom Tom  turned and began breast stroking to the rocks that dotted the shallow waters of the lake. He felt especially filled. He wanted to dry and get a few more rays of warm light before sunset.

As he swam and gazed ahead, through his totally webbed feet, he thought of Shelby..of Their walks and their talks...he whacked his way through a sea of small fish, mumbling. "Otto was right! They were"...he reflected,`" No , we were... all Tortle fools!"

And as he stroked, seemingly alone, his image was seen far , far away on a distant sand dune.   FRIENDS FOREVER SHARE, EVEN IF IT'S ONLY

MEMORIES!

.

DRAGONS BREATH

.  There was a time when dragons dreamed about soaring above the highest clouds and knew not of lances or arrows, nor white hot hate..Dragons and men lived separate existences,,,by choice of the fiery  serpents.   Dragons were peaceful creatures.  Their kindness equal to thteir wondrous size and strength.   The heart of the Dragon was as pure as his stomach was hot. Hot, hotter and hottest were the only settimgs.  

The Dragon could digest anything, and did.  Rocks, wood and vegetation all became fuel for his furnace. After five years, flames could be belched forth in great Dragon breaths. Before that, the young were defenseless and vulnerable. 

Prius remembered  being four when he first  saw the power of his heritage.Heartburn was the ultimate compliment to a Dragon. It was when his heart was purest that the flame attained a blue,white color from his feet and the heat grew in intensity.

THE WALL

Dragons did not blow out candles on their birthdays. They blew out pieces of the cliff. When a Dragon turned five,he was brought to the Great white granite cliffs, to add his individual mark to the eternal mural, that was their Dragon history.

Prius knew his time was near and he watched with his cousin,Crooked Scale, from the feet of his father, Prago,as the ceremony proceeded slowly. Dragons never hurried.

"I'm scared,"Crooked Scales tail could  not keep still.."What if I blow a puff of smoke and they all laugh?"

"Keep good thoughts" Prius tried to calm him...."and focus!"

"Focus?" Crooked Scales eyes almost crossed.

THE VILLAGE

Far down the mountain was a small village of stone and wood buildings , and unlike the others that appeared haphazardly along the countryside. A main street of cobblers,breadmakers, and blacksmiths,servicing the farmers that drove down the roads in their carriages,dressed in plain, handmade clothes,were available whenever a trip was needed...or money was available.

Barnum loved the trips through the town, filled with the sounds...plunderings and voices ,filling the air. So different from the solitude of their farm..An only child, he liked the chattering of the cows and chickens. But these sounds were a different and  exciting music.

Barnum was 13, and could wear his father's old overalls, and even his shoes, with the aid of rolled cloths. The cobbler went for patches and stitches and not door the fresh, wonderful smelling, new boots, that hung, tantalizing, from the cords that stretched  across the store.

He sat on his stool and removed his shoe and handed it to Old Brandy, a toothless, bent man, who looked as if he's pounding a sole,just standing in the middle of the store, with his hammer was Drury ,

Any news from thOutlands?" Drury asked as he reached to touch a  specially handsome pair of boots.

"Nothing that will get you those boots, but maybe the boy."

Brandy moved  quickly for his age, already mending the  boot. Barkums 'eyes  widened. Drury remained silent and uncomfortable.  His mouth twitched. "More taxes are comin, much more. More men needed to do 

 king's bidding. More strong boys needed to become men," He touched Barkums shoulder.

"I'm strong", Barkum puffed up his chest...

"Can lift a whole bale of hay."

"Since when your folks have a whole bale of hay?"the old man spit out a nail, or a full belly?"

"Just finish the boot", Barkum has time to grow a belly...and fill it" he answered under his breath.

Barkums eyes were on the boots. His big ears just framed  his lean, sculptured face .

THE SWORD

Barkum twirled the old sword, jabbing and striking the poses he had seen through the fence of the Warrior Trainijng School. He had his own watching spot, nestling between heavy, leaves bushes,barely breathing but , always his eyes , darting at the flashing swords, his body vibrating with every clank of steel.

He whirled about the barnyard, stabbing trees,looking off the tops of berry stalks, then freezing in an assault pose,facing Jimmy the Scarecrrow,daring him to raise his broom

The old sword had many missing chunks, it's point finally gone...but it still could cut and, the handle was perfect...perfect for Barnums:"s hand. It was his secret treasure,hidden away from  his Dad's eyes, under the barn's  creaking boards...Just as were the stories behind each missing chunks, his dad would not tell him about. No matter how many times he asked, pleadedd to know the past life he led, it was always the same answer,same sad look,the same harsh words "The bloom doesn't stain the steel, it stains the mind. Let it be"

Barnum just wanted to be. A wet tongue was brought him back to the present, as Groff,a big yellow dog was all over him,knicking him down, licking his face. "Some warrior"  He rolled with Groff in the dirt."

 "Duels with dog and scarecrow and I still  ilose Barnum screamed at the clouds above, lifting the sword. "I will be...II sware I will be." Groff kept licking.

DEATH

Barnum tossed the can in the air and swung the sword as it ascended...clank...it flew through the air.  Two of three...he was getting better. He remembered one of five.  He smiled, then frowned. "Cans ain't foes that move." Thinkibg of the boys at the school dueling, faking movements. So many surprises.

He rested on his sword, surveying the backyard, watching the chickensfrolicking about. "Did he dare?" He fed them. He scooped up their eggs..."they sure could dart" , he  thought ...His eyes clouded at the thought."What's the harm? They could use the exercise."

He went to the coop and took out two. 

,

THE UNICORN'S GIFT

THE unicorns Gift 
There was a time when unicorns pranced and the Waterfall of Warriors flowed black down Scarlet Gorge. 

Unicorns ruled the planet with rigor. Their horns hardened by these black bubbling waters were the most powerful weapon on Earth.. able to pierce any animals hide no matter how thick ,even the huge jawed Mastorts. Once pierced the black poison killed within seconds. 

Where Unicorns strode,every creature trembled. All stood aside and trembled in fear and fled to Mountain caves , scampered up trees or just ran into it till they dropped. Unicorns were Majestic.... and deadly.

Scarlet Gorge was guarded day and night by the most fierce and Powerful unicorns .   Only the unicorns ruler was more mighty. Leadership was established by battle. Champion and Challenger charged across the Unicorn lined Royal path of giant pine trees.. till their horns met in a thunderous lightning Spark and clashed.. echoing against the granite cliffs.

 Whoever's horns arrived was the victor. The other combatant was relegated to the thankless tasks of the hornless forever to the Gorge's confines.

No unicorn killed another. It was the way. The way lasted for Endless days till the time of the zig zag comet when Gus and Equene were born.

Gus was weird as all unicorns. Runs up the steep, twisting rocks mock duels, attack strategies and the awards also. The scrumptious snacks from the berry bushes growing wildly up the cliffs, and of course the daily showers and swims in the sacred Black Waterfalls that had hardened his sprouting horn. There he first Equene, the Queen's daughter. ..bumping heads under water as they dove simultaneously. They both took this as a sign of their future being intertwined.

They grew up sneaking away from the pack.. away from the strict conduct code to legally play amongst the hidden flower beds, beyond the falls. Gus, placing a pedal Crown upon Equene.  Equene, picking a pine cone on his horn, they were always late, always missing, always scolded, but they did it anyway. Their bond grew as they did. 

The future became the present, as the young unicorns saw the world change over their sharp, fully matured horns. A Warrior's View. Their second year marked their Maiden pilgrimage to the valley below a journey designed to show The Chosen all their lands and creatures they ruled. And how it was that they ruled.

The passage, was all wondrous and exciting following a Royal Parade of magnificent aristocratic unicorns in a slow gallop through the fields of deer, past huge bears, long tooth tigers, long jawed marmorts, as the howls of the hyena like dogs warned all to be wary and clear the way.

Gus and Equene legged behind as usual, captivated by all the new, fragrant plants and colorful insects.. in this new spacious world. They finally caught up to witness something that froze them. Their eyes did not blink. In a meadow, at the edge of the forest, amongst a scattered heard of deer, stood a giant book. All the deers of his charge watched. Maybe those hundreds of eyes made him too proud to move, to yield, in their admiring, adoring, vision. He stood his ground.

It was over with lightning quickness. One swift stab of the horn by bicus the lead unicorn and the Giants stag lay still. The other unicorns arrogantly galloped by as if only a log lay in their path. None looked back. After the sound of hoof's quieted, the other deer came closer. Does frantically licked the Stag to no avail. They could not accept the reality that their leader was no more. 

Equene and Gus could. Their Eyes Were pinpoints. They were the victors, the blood was on their horns too. They shared uncomfortable emotions, as they walked apart in small circles, unable to look no more. When they finally met, they touched torns. It was an oath not to spill innocent Blood on the Earth that they Strode on. 

They turned, and head spout started back to Scarlet gorge. They needed to be far away from the herd, the gore, the blood, alone again in their private world...their shelter.

That evening in their special place, under a sky of flittering stars and a full moon, They carried out their oath, with one final nod, one final look they butted horns. Again and again.. till the black dust littered the flower bushes and both were hornless.

Night came and all the tales of excitement of the passage was soon overshadowed by the sight of Gus and Equene, moving hornless, amongst the? When? Buzzed along the unicorns. It could not be, never before, what?

A huge circle of unicorns formed in the Great Meadow. A circle of horns, with Vargon and Equene at the center. With their nostrils extended, hoofs tapping Gus and Equene moved slowly past them...eyes downcast. They stopped within a few feet, surrounded by an eerie silence and twinkling stars that seemed to join the countless eyes piercing the darkness.

Finally Varcon spoke, the unicorns horn is his treasure. Anytime even one is lost in battle it is a loss felt throughout the kingdom. One loss always could be explained, two lost at once is unprecedented in our history. Varcon moved closer, hovering over the two. "Do we have new enemies to deal with ...what did this ...who could have done this?"

Both stood, shivering in silence. Every unicorn Drew closer, they're breathing could be heard louder and louder. Equene and Gus looked at each other, waiting for the other to speak.

"My poor baby!" Equene broke the heavy silence,moving towards Equene, tears in her eyes."

"Let them speak!" Varcon's voice echoed. We must know of this new danger!"

Finally

Equene spoke, a small voice floating through the fragrant air, settling upon the eager ears of all the herd. "There is nothing for anyone here to fear. But fear was responsible for our condition... our fear alone."

"Riddles-Unicorns have no fears!"Varcon's anger rose with his voice. "Riddles are for young upstarts". Vargon pressed his horn to Gus ignoring her. "This is not your past play times. Answer me now! How did you lose your horn?! 

Gus shifted to Shield her. She speaks the truth. Gus glanced at her, then stood tall, Our Truth.. we feared killing the creatures below, so we removed our fear!"

"Your horn. YOUR HORN IS YOU!" VARCON   rose even higher. His nostrils flaring. "You dared to..."

" young, young fools disgraces to every unicorn that ever roam this Earth. To every Warrior!. He moved to the center of the herd, his horn glistening in the Moonlight." They do not belong.. they are banished to the valley below. He turned towards them." You didn't respect the glory of the unicorns, then you won't live with the unicorns... tomorrow you both are banished. You are no longer unicorns.!"

He raised up on his hooves and let loose a king's whale that reverberated to the heavens. He then moved through the herd, toward his cave, the sign of dismissal. 

Tge queen slowly and unwillingly started to follow him. She looked the last time at Equene. She was her mother, but still the queen. The other slowly dispersed, heads hung, low, not making eye contact.

Soon, only Gus and she remained alone in the field. They stood many minutes, not knowing where to spend the remaining hours before Darkness.

They finally seek shelter under a large, heavily branch tree, nestling close to each other on a bed of Fallen leaves. She shivered now and Gus moved his head towards her, both were amazed. Is there noses touched, it was a sensation neither had ever felt before. Tenderness.. somehow sleep finally came.

Daybreak first rays and Equene's sharp horn awakened them.

"You must go..." Through her stern tone, warm filtered through. Varcon will not let another creature kill a unicorn.. even a hornless

One."

"Does he still care? "Equene asked.

"Unicorn prude or caring...he will still protect you." She stepped back. "Now go!"

Go, they did. And survive they did in the valley below. Never again did they make contact with the other unicorns who shun them on their pilgrimages to the valley. Distance was maintained and enforced. Between visits the fleeting glimpses of the unicorns in the valley made potential enemies wary..

Soon Speed and Agility became their assets, as they flourished in the coming seasons. And eventually a cult was born, who they named Equius.

Equis, the first born of the valley raised with constant parental noslings. A white star on his forehead, not a hint of a horn. Equius roaming, free of fear all his days, loving all the valleys creatures and having his love returned.

Days turned into years and eventually Equis' descendants filled the valley and enriched the planet. 

Surprisingly, the mighty unicorns gift to the Earth's animals and Mankind came, not from their  invincibility, nor from their majesty and power ,but from their Love.💘

BLOSSOMS

BBLOSSOMA

There was a time when trees bore no fruit, and birds rested among rocks and scrubs.

The land was forever wintertime, stark and grim. The trees branches jutting angrily at the sky, their leaveless twisted spindles magnified into grotesque shapes, whose  eerie shadows frightened the forest creatures whenever they ventured out by the moonlight.

The trees trunks were rock-hard and their branches had series of sharp closely-spaced thorns that stung and cut any creature who tried either to climb or alit on them. Squirrels, or birds, or bears, they all kept trying. They kept failing. Only beehives still hung from the highest branches, staying attached by the bees intricate webbing. Their buzzing was both a beacon and a warning.

The life of the birds was mostly affected. Their existence was both harsh and short... exhausted after long flights having to land where predators watched and waited .Nests always at risk, being the food more than finding food, birds were in danger of becoming extinct. The only ones safe were the birds of prey, who added to the other bird's misery.

During these fearful times,there was borne a bird of unparalleled spirit. The smallest of the small,, the weakest of the weak....his name was Binki, a mini-wak. The mini-wak was the tiniest woodpecker of the planet, even smaller then the black  chinned hummingbird.

Binki, who chirped a wondrous note the first time he smelled the fragrance of the apricot bush,saw the blueness of the sky and felt the warmth  of his mothers protective body. He never stopped smiling or winking at his brother Dinki, whenever his mother told and retold him the rules,   and recited the dangers that existed out beyond their small cave. Dinki winked in fear and Binki winked in disbelief. Their eye movement had a subtle difference,even that their mother never picked up.

Time passed in many winks,and they grew big enough to leave their deep crevices in the Ninth Boulder, covered by  twigs and scrubs.Their bills were long enough and strong enough to form a chisel  to forage for ants and grubs. Their tongues were sticky enough to keep their meal from wandering off.

One final time mom called them back as they crossd the threshold . "Don't ever go above the shrub lines.. Dart from leaf to leaf when foraging... Always know where the next crevice is..  Hawks are watching.. Wolves are watching ...You are both appetizers to them", she choked."Remember that...remember Dad, and never go as high as the tree branch ...Never... Got that.?"

A LARGER WORLD

Their life, outside the Boulder started early on a day, following a night of dreams of terrors and wonders.They were flitting from the boulder ,  their mothers nervous eyes to far off bushes whose Eederberry leaves shaded them. Stinky barely looking out exposing only his eyes.

"Get back here  You can be seen. "Dinki chided.

"I  can see !   Binki sang . "Can see a chipmunk running.. there's a hawk!
"HAWK?! Dinki totally disappeared beneath the foliage.
"And the meadows...the trees..."
"Trees...let's go back. It's enough for one day."
"Go, it's not enough for one moment." Binki eyes widened.
They parted ways. Binki was sure that Dinki would be okay.

Binki day was a series of daring hides and seeks. He always seemed to be "it". So many creatures to see and so many places to flee to safety. And to top it off,the finding of a treasure. A small, thick tree branch hidden below loads of thickets. A brancgph to play all the games Dinki and he had heard about from their Dad. Oh how he wished Dinki could share the fun with him. Well. He just had to pretend he was!
"What us your most important mission?"
Dinki thought of all the dangers  surrounding the bush He blinked, "to live another day."
Binki thought of all the wonders he had encountered. He couldn't wait for the next sun set. "To Live
He winked.

CREATURES
Other days started the same way. Dinki would not leave his Bush. The h, the bush...Binki stories were enough...but pleading with him to actually come and see the rest of the forest.

And see it Binki did.So many flowers, so many bugs and those other critters that Mom had told...no worries about...that ate  birds like them.

His little wings flipped all day...dart and hide dart and hide, dart til he found himself in an exposed Open Meadow with no place to hide. It was those yellow flowers. A field of them. His eyes glazed by their beauty. He's so nothing else. Till he saw the Black Hawk swooping down. He flopped furiously heading for the shelf of shrubs. But he knew he was too slow.He took what he thought was his last breath. When he saw the badger among the yellow haze. He discovered safety could be a large pile of fur.

The badger was startled by the impact. His attention was quickly fixed on the hawk. Sharp bared teeth and claws shown in the sunlight. The hawk veered off  and Binki ..lived for another day.

Another day meant many other shrubs and animals, as Binki expanded "  exlorations, landing on baggers, oppossums and then a black creature. The one with the white stripe, like a landing beacon. Leaving Binki with more than a new memory. Dinki blinked and  almost fell off his branch.

"I promise ...to stay away..."he winked...And he stayedbaway...from Dinki and Mom. For the first time he slept in his own little crevice,far enough to nit be smelled.

 Without Dinki to talk to he had time to reflect on his adventure and imagine the coming days,  and  one animal was at the center of his 

BOZZLE

BOZZLE was the Lord of the forest.Ten foot tall, black and brown,  with paws that fell anyone or anything that cut in his way. He wasn't very grateful , so alot got in his way. He was always mad. And especially mad about honey.

Ever since  the wild winds of the season blew part of a hive off a tree and he tasted the sticky goo,,,no savored  the sweet golden nectar, nothiing else satisfied his hunger 

Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, his sweet tooth  just yearned for the honey. He even ate bees, hoping for a hint of honey...NOTHING!

 

EVeryday sometimes early and sometimes late, the sweet tooth went off and his thindersome gait was heard throughout the forest as he galloped to the Great oak,hoping for some drop to fall. His patience always evaporated as he sniffed air,leaning on the tree and he climbed as high as he could  til his paws were cut and bloodied.Too Sorrento rnsclimb anymore. He remained motionless,eyes staring at the huvfe,clin ging to the tree trunk,a huge ball of glistening fur for all to see...Binki thought the sight was majestic.

Binki knew Bozzle and the giant oak were all part of his destiny. He just needed the right moment....the right spot...the right...his eyes closed and he dreamed ,smiling through the night.  Smells fade and dreams do too...But sometimes there occurs a time where reality, however dreamlike unrolls an opportunity,  that can make a mini wak rub  his eyes

On a windy day, that same month, destiny called.There stood Bozzle, braced against a tree,using it as a scratch pad trying to rid himself of his bug passengers. When he dropped to all fours, Binki didn't hesitate boarding the bear express.He landed on Boozles' back at a point when Bozzle's teeth could not reach, nor his paws could claw.

The bear shook to rid himself of him,then moved through the scratchy shrubs..."Bam, Bam.Bozzle knocked them down...but still Binki held on. "Bam, Bam", Bozzle trampled the berry bushes full of thoruns and hung on.

More than Holding on, he snacked on the bugs, also along for Th he ride.Bpzzle was a mobile lunch wagon  Bozzle, finally stuffed, liked the massage that Binkis beak provided, and and the itching of those areas to get at bugs had finally stopped.

Binki knew that he could stay. He had earned his rife.Now no one would dare bother him.An allegiance was formed.

What a day! A royal como through the forest. Days of his small trips

at once. And he couldwatch without fear till time oak tree...the unknown.

THE GIANT OAK

Bozzle started up the tree. Binky was so holding on so tight to his fur, that in  his excitement he tore a patch off. Bozzle didn't flinch.  Only honey was in his nostrils, his eyes,and his brain.

As th at went higher, Binki could see 5he whole forest expand. He wanted to fly over it...soar. It was so vast..but He held on tight. 

Then came the branches,thistles, the mains from zBozle. He could go no higher again. He clung and eyed the bees,circling the hive, many branch's. Above the black, brown intruder..

Binki now had time to look around. The branches were like his treasures. He hopped off Bozzle and settled safely in between some thustles.The world was his money. He understood Bozzle. Inhaling the delicate fragrance, he could not resist pecking with his sharp beak. He pecked gently.Then he pecked faster and faster,penetrating the inner surface, releasing a flowing liquid. It must be a honey tree.?!

He moved to other spots and more of the liquid flowed out. Sooftening,,.,Giving  sap pent up fir centuries in the tree.

IN THE NEW AGE

It was the beginning of the NEW AGE of all leaves and  fruit.Binki didn't know. Bozzle didn't know...but the trees did the whole forest of trees knew. The whole firest knew and had awaited the visits from Binki...and Dinki, and all the other mini -waks to fully live and give life.

BOZZLE lived enough seasons to again taste honey, to the bees dismay and it was as sweet as a memory.

In the same season Dinki stood beside Binki on a branch of the Great oak,hidden amongst it's leaves,something unusual happening. The view was lush with trees that  had blossomed and flowered. He The sky filled with every hue of  crisscrossing birds. Highlighted by the rising of that huge ball of light Binki blinked...not in fright...but in awe.

Binki too felt a stirring in his breast. As he gazed at the panorama he sensed someone or something out there. He could not help but wink! And on that morn of wonder, something happened.  He told his children...and they told  their children.

Someone...or something WINKED back..!

STRIPES

There was a time whe tigers had no stripes. Tigers were the vainest of all Earth's creatures. All day they lounged by the cool, reflecting pond, admiring their glistening orange fur.

They took  turns stroking each other with pine cones, and bush brushes, purring and prancing and posing,on the rocks and fallen trees, that they used for stages. Male and female...they were no different.

Tigers would not help any other animals in the forest even in emergency.

The mama tigers even ignored their cubs.They just gazed and groomed...gazed and groomed, under the  giant peanut trees, upon whose fruits they  lived. Tigers did not eat meat, in the "before"days".

Scat Scat was a sad tiger,smaller and not as beautifully formed. She kept to the edge of the rim of the trees that surrounded the ponds.Nibody noticed...nobody cares.

On a very hot summer afternoon,as the air seemed to bend and reshape the forest...as she was munching on a peanut, she saw the blur of a white tiger...running...no flying through the trees and into "the Other Parts' She had to follow. Nobody noticed.

The " Other parts "-were not forbidden.to tigers, but had no ponds to reflect in, and thus were of no interest to them.

There were red and blue rocks gnarled  trees an  enormous meadows of reeds and multi colored flowers...she saw the white fur flash along the rainbow of petals...and quickly followed into another forest,she a strong cry made her not.

The trees were denser ...the ground was strewn with colored rocks and leaves that tickled her paws.. but she went the deeper!

A soft cry made her right ear stiffen. A small gray baby bird lay near one of the twisted trees.Scat Scat hovered over it.

The sound stopped and the little creature shook.Scat Scat looked up and around. A nest was on a high branch.She bent over and opened her mouth...the bird shook harder as Scat Scat gently picked it up and climbed to it's next, dropping the frail creature next to the other chirping future flyers...

Scat Scat moved along the branches and spied a baby giraffe extending his tongue length to reach a tasty leaf ...she moved along the branch,her weight lowering it....allowing the giraffe to get the tasty treat.

She missed her pearnuts, but there was not one to be seen.She searched still for the white tiger, stopping here and there to help a creature,great and small, in her small ways,where she could...but still no white tiger.

As night neared, she exited the forest and curled up near a red rock and  slept for the night in a big meadow..

The next morning she awoke,.lonely and hungrey she trotted,towards home.She grew closer when she spotted the first sight of water,an old pond rarely used outside her homeland. She dashed to take a drink of water and stood stunned.Stripes covered her body.

She jumped into the pond to wash the mud  away. Furiously thrashing,she looked again...the stripes remained. She was petrified!

She climbed a Tom- Tom  tree and curled up on a branch sobbing. A voice echoed all around her "Why do your tears floor so sadly?"

"I'm marred and marked. I can't go back without being laughed at and  

scorned."

The voice grew softer and sweeter. "The stripes are the rewards for your good deeds. They are from within". The echo faded.

Scat Scat went home. She was  hungry, alone,and had nowhere else to go. She huddled right at the trees edge for many hours,as she saw the other tigers pranching.Maybe she could live in the shadow of these trees.

Then something remarkable happened. The prettiest tiger looked up from the pond and directly at Scat Scat...it was the stripes....everyone noticed. Scat Scat could not hide. She stood frozen, as Golden Girl came foward,closer and closer. Tears flowed down her cheeks...she waited for the laughter to start. It did not.

"You are beautiful!" Golden Girl said. The other tigers came closer and circled her, clapping their hands, they said, "How can we get stripes?"

Scat Scat told them her story...And in the years that followed, tigers who wanted to be beautiful, spent their time doing good deeds.

SOMEBODY CARED!

CLAWS

There was a time when bears had no CLAWS and rainbows ended at a pot of honey. Bears were  thinner and always hungry. They loved salmon, but even more, capturing them was a team effort.

Each morning, high in the mountain ridges, where the whitewater streams were salmon highways, a group of five bears formed a line, from the stream to the shore. The lead bear reached into the icy water, with his furry paws, and butted th He salmon into the air. He could not grasp the slippery fish.  As the next bear batted it skyway, it sailed from bear to bear till it landed on dry land. Their batting average was not high.

They never ate enough to hibernate, so everyday was a day at the stream. The little cubs played along the shore, watching the sun reflecting on the silvery fish, eating berries til enough fish were caught get their share.

Booker was a young cub who spent his time floating in the streams on a log, trying to catch his own salmon. He paddled with his paws and reached down and snatched a passing fish.  He only managed to pat them. In fact, they seemed to like it, as they swam alongside the log.

Trying didn't matter. He was still trying to catch his first salmon.

Somedays he became so involved his log drifted very far into the stream and it took him an enormous amount of energy to get back to shore. He wished he had paddles like the beaver ( he thought they called them "oars"). He wanted 'oars' instead of paws, to make his life easier.

In this time,when bears were 2 years old, they were granted one wish from the magical bear,  who lived in a cave, high above the forest.

One night, when the moon was full and turning orange, the bears trekked to the Grand Cave, with their cubs. In the moonlit darkness, a huge bear crept out of his cave and sat Buddha like over his tribe.

Each bear cub went to a round patch of leaves directly below the magic bear,  made his wish,and departed with his treasure. Since the young bears were always hungry, they all made a wish for a pot of honey or a fat salmon. " Intelligence was not a bears main  attribute. This treasure was gobbled up so fast, his parents never saw a scrap left.

When Bookers turn came, he was starving from smelling so much.salmon and honey, but he took a deep breath and made a different wish.  He held up his paws and said in his best voice , "Oars".

The magic bear almost zapped him another salmon...Barely listening to the limited menu of requests, he was taken by surprise. Happy for a chance to use more of his  magic, he didn't ask Booker to repeat his wish, as long as it wasn't  for more food.

Booker felt a tingle and looked down, ...There were claws...on his paws. He opened his mouth to repeat his wish,  but the bear just said, 

"Next!"]   

Embarrassed, he turned his paws downwards.  Luckily his claws retracted and he was able to go back with the other bears.They all assumed he had eaten his wish.

The next day he awoke, his face scratched, still not used to his claws.

He told his mother that he had gone through a thicket .

Booker was glad to be alone. Dreamily he reached down and patted a salmon as usual, but an odd sensation went through his paw. He pulled it out of the water, and to his amazement, a salmon was stuck to his claws. He thought about it for a second...bears only think for a second...then he ate it.

He did It again and again. It was the first time in his life he had ever felt full. 

All the activity was noticed by all the other bears. Booker soon became known, valued and overworked. Till another season of wishes came, he was the chief fisherman, with a village of bears to feed.

When the next time of wish fulfillment came, the momma bears fed their cubs before they made their wishes, to be sure their old habits didn't take hold and, the cubs would wish for what they needed, not what they wanted!

And oh yes...Booker was remembered as the first bear to have CLAWS...   And ...HIBERNATE!

....