Part 3:
“But I don’t understand, even if he did have nine lives, why would he waste it on something so silly!”
“Well, my young friend silly to you is serious for another.”
“Did he waste his other eight on such small curiosities?”
“I suppose I don’t know the answer to that as I never did speak to him again. But I don’t think a bird change from feathers to fur, so I would guess he just might have.”
“Poor cat, maybe since he had so many he took each for granted.”
“I would suppose you are right again my young friend.” Martin smiled at the young rabbit and squirrel who’d cornered him by the riverside. He did love to share his stories so it was no bother at all to offer a short one over a cool drink.
“Alright little ones, now off with you! I have another brewing for this evening when everyone is invited to listen in.”
They hoped and climbed away laughing and chasing one another as they went. Martin watched with a glint in his eye. He did miss the days of play he used to enjoy with his own brothers before they all grew and separated.
He let his eyes feast over the valley. The blossoms were in full bloom and the valley creatures were all enjoying the perfect blue day. The sun was creeping over the horizon dancing in with waving willows and thick oak canopies offering him shade.
It was his favorite season, and for the first time in quite a long time, he was enjoying it outside of the forest. He let out a joyful squeal and skipped through the low grass toward the cave his brother now shared with the family of bears.
“Knock, Knock?” He called through the entry.
“Who’s there!” Came the gruff response.
“Who do you think?” He trotted into the low light provided by the natural skylight at the back of the cavern.
“Nice place you’ve got here.”
His brother’s grunt echoed off the cave walls.
“Oh come now Thomas, you’ve barely left the cave since we found this wondrous place, soon the animals will begin to wonder about your character. You must show yourself, at least make an appearance tonight for storytime?”
“Not everyone thinks into things so much as you do Marty. You have always been strange about appearances and characters. Some might appreciate my need for privacy.”
“Some may, yes, but others are beginning to make stories of their own. I am only saying if you would come and do an introduction I would much appreciate it, Thomas.”
“Fine, fine, if it will get you to shut up about it I will come for an introduction, but nothing more.”
Martin smiled wide, showing teeth until his eyes pinched into slits. “Thank you! Come for an introduction and you may just stay for the good company.”
Thomas grunted, but said no more.
“Right then, well unless you need anything else from me I will be on my way.”
“As I recall, I needed nothing from you in the first place, it’s you who needed something from me.”
“Really, sometimes I wonder how we came from the same brood.” Martin rolled his eyes. He turned to the front of the cave and pranced on his way, hollering, “You may want to think of finding your own place before you wear out your welcome with these fine folks.”
His good advice was met with a series of annoyed squeals. He chuckled and shook his head as he set his sights on the honeysuckle patch near the pond.
Thomas came to the front of the cave, he looked over the merry field, his eyes came to rest on his brothers’ houses.
Edward had made his abode at the edge of an, especially wild and unkempt area. None of the animals had any complaint about it, in fact, they had felt poorly about offering him such unpleasant features. Edward had something completely new in mind. His sights had been set on the future and he didn’t seem to notice the current state one bit as he set to work.
He had enlisted the goats to eat up the weeds and the thorns, and the sheep to help him eat away at the wild wheat and the grass until there was a completely bare section of field. The moles and the rabbits had agreed to help him toss and turn over the soil and now there were stately rows of plowed land ready for planting. Thomas had to smile, he was proud of his brother, he always had been quite the farmer. Now that he had some willing paws to help him along they were all in for a grand treat.
What none of them knew is that Edward had been storing up and drying all kinds of exotic berries, nuts, roots, and fruits from the enchanted forest and keeping them hidden away in a massive log close to where the brothers were meant to meet each year. He had disappeared into the forest the day before and was probably well on his way to bringing them back.
Thomas considered the house at the edge of the orchard. Edwards eager allies had done a splended job creating a dwelling very well suited to the farmer pigs tastes as a way to thank him for the work and guidance he offered toward cultivating larger food stores for the colder months. It was underground, so it too would stay warm or cool as was most fitting to the season. Somehow they’d dug out the side of a hill and created a house, windows, and all without disturbing the structure or grassy outside of the hill. It was quaint and pleasant to look at, but most importantly, Thomas had never seen anything quite like it.
He moved along to view Martins’ house at the opposite side of the meadow along the treeline and propped between two massive oak trees on the perfect little knoll. It was like a lookout for him to see the rest of the meadow from. Thomas couldn’t imagine a better home for a storyteller such as Martin, no wonder he was so jolly.
The deer, beavers, and raccoons had followed the wise owls guidance while building, Thomas had kept a careful watch over the entire operation. Log by log, stick by stick the structure came together beautifully. Down to the grass, thatch and woven willow wisp roof was perfect. The little pig saw potential, for what, he still wasn’t quite sure, but their ability to work together, unified and hospitible to newcomers and old hats alike, was like no place he’d witnessed.
He trotted, snorting thoughtfully, to the back of the cave and dipped his snout into the honey pot. He sucked down the sweet substance while collecting his bearings. Each group of animals was capable of so much, and each had unique skills and capabilites based on what type of critter they were.
Honey drizzled from his snout as he came to a final conclusion. They have a farmer and a storyteller. Outside of conducting his brothers while they were wondering the forests and wetlands after their mother passed, Thomas wasn’t quite sure he had anything to offer, they seemed to have everything they required right in front of them. He looked to the ground and kicked a rock, it bounds and clattered before coming to a stop at the steep ledge the bears slept on. He wasn’t warm and cheery like Martin, or happy to grow plants and shrubbery like Edward, but most of all… He wasn’t good at sharing what he considered to be his own.
He frowned, suddenly feeling more out of place than ever before he decided to take a walk in the woods to clear his mind and prepare what he might say to the meadow creatures when Martin introduced him. Little did he know, his little walk about was about to change everything.