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Wildling SeriesAuthor: Serella Savenko
Wildling Series written and performed by Serella Savenko Language: en Genres: Fiction, Kids & Family, Stories for Kids Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Episode 25
Thursday, 17 June, 2021
Chapter 22: LakeTonic blinks in confusion, “What was that Fen?” The gnome looks over at the brownie’s journal, and sees a page with sketches of a tent, a boat, and a sandwich. Fen continues holding the little box and swaying gently, but doesn’t reply.Turning, Tonic says, “Petrichor, I really don’t know how we will get home. Can’t we just walk back up the trail we came in?” The tylwyth teg looks pensive. “Well, that might work, but it usually doesn’t. Not only is it a journey to go through the World’s Between one way, it’s usually a journey to get back, too.”“How do you usually get back?” Tonic queries.Petrichor’s shoulders sag, “I haven’t ever gone back. At first I was freaked out, and couldn’t even think well enough to figure out how to get back. Later, when I could think more clearly, I had made friends, like Wynn, and a home, and I wanted to keep exploring this world. ...and I’m uncertain of what I would find. I haven’t tried to find my way back.”Tonic’s jaw is set firm, “Okay. We will need some way to sleep safely. .. OH! The Night Tent! Prism; doesn’t the Night Tent become a boat? Do you think Fen and I can sail home, like Graemes does?” Tonic gives Fen a proud hug, “That’s what you were trying to tell me, isn’t it? You have your journal open to the sketches of the Night Tent, and it folds up into a star - I bet that box you are holding is the Night Tent! That’s what we will use to start our journey home.” Fen smiles, holding the star shaped box, and twiddling the rocks laying on the open journal; with a content sigh, the brownie murmurs, “The rocks are finally in the right order. It’s okay now.”After many lingering thanks, and some securely wrapped snacks, the groups depart. Petrichor gifts Tonic, Fen, Graemes, and Prism each a plant-themed headband. Prism puts the charms of Steam and Turbine into Tonic’s peach pack. Fen silently gives everybeing a stone, Graemes hugs them all, and Tonic portions out the last of the tea packed from home, giving each an equal share. Graemes and Prism head off to Australia. Tonic and Fen set sail for home in the Night Tent.“I hope we don’t need an ocean, Fen, because this lake is what we’ve got.” Tonic says, checking that the sun has set fully before placing the star-shaped box on the water.After watching the box bob up and down on the water, and do nothing else, Tonic reaches out and pulls a small cord that had gone unnoticed. With a good tug, then several more, the box finally expands into a large inflatable raft with a sunshade. The gnome grumbles, loads their gear, steps squealchily aboard, and helps Fen in. With bare feet and drying toes, the two friends set out for the distant horizon.The two friends drift slowly for some time, paddling as best they can with bits of branches. Fen doesn’t concentrate well on this task, and soon goes to check their packs, falling asleep under the raft’s shade. The improvised rowing is difficult and tiring, and Tonic eventually falls asleep thinking of the sketches of the Night Tent.In the morning, the raft is much improved, and appears to have settled into the idea of being a small houseboat. Delighted with this find. Tonic tumbles out of a hammock, and goes to make tea in the tidy kitchen. Fen wakes up from among their gear, and flaps frantically out the window, while making garbled noises. An enclosure of castles looms up at them quickly as their boat runs aground with a shuddering jerk, and a terrible scrunching noise.
