Save me a Story – Beaver

This is the continuing story of my adventures in the tale: Save me a Story. If you wish to read the introduction to understand what is happening, click this link: 

https://www.hdhstory.net/Storyblog/?p=3431 

Otherwise, I’ve tried to summarize what happened at the beginning of most of the sections of this story.  

Beaver

As a storyteller, I am somewhat versed in fairy and folk tales. I enjoy a good fantasy as well as the next person. However, when put in the position that I am right now, where I have to find all the stories that have disappeared, apparently stolen, in a place that doesn’t even exist in my world, I’m at a loss as to what to do. 

First, I’m whisked away by some fortune teller to a realm called Selat. Next, I find myself in a ghost town, whose only inhabitant, if you would call it that, is a voice attached to an invisible store clerk who answered when I asked, “Where the stories had gone?” –  “They have been taken far away to the north.”

Well, I guess the prudent thing would be to start heading north. Since I have no idea where I’m going, as long as I keep going north, I guess I won’t be lost. 

The road I was taking seemed well-built for the first hour, but then the paved road became unkempt. I struggled a bit, ensuring I didn’t get tripped up by loose rocks or roots that jutted up from the ground when I came upon a small river leading up to a marsh. That was where the path ended. 

As I made my way to the marsh through the wooded area surrounding it, I noticed a movement on the ground along the banks of the river a few feet in front of me. Cautiously I moved forward along the bank, hoping to find a path again, when I heard a splash. It came from the marsh, which was just ahead. 

I got there in time to see a beaver paddling towards what appeared to be its home. It was built out of sticks, twigs, rocks, and mud. I watched as the beaver climbed on top of its lodge, turned, and stared at me. I studied beavers in school as part of an aquatic animal unit. I recollected that beavers’ eyes were supposed to be black. The color of this beaver’s eyes was vivid green. The same color as the mystic woman that sent me on this mission. 

The other thing I noticed was that though beavers’ lodges are supposed to look like mounds of sticks and mud and stuff, this beaver’s lodge was definitely in the shape of an arrow that pointed northeast.

It didn’t take long to figure out that this was no ordinary beaver and that the arrow was meant for me to go in that direction. 

Seeing the understanding on my face, the beaver then swam back from its lodge to me.

“If you would be so kind as to follow me,” was the first sound it made as it reached me. 

“A talking beaver?” I muttered. “What’s next, Aslan and the rest of the cast from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe?”

“All in good time,” was the beaver’s reply.

What else could I do but follow the beaver?

Continued in…Cottage