Begonia Ferngem was walking down a path in the deep reaches of Amesley Wood. She was walking, as she always did, because she was a fairy who had lost her wings. While the other fairies flitted about in the mysterious and magical wood, she would walk from place to place, taking time to appreciate the wonder of the woods.
She was walking along one day when she came upon a clearing that had been created by a lightning strike. The lightning had felled a number of trees, leaving a gaping hole in the canopy above. The sun filtered through the opening, creating an almost-magical glow over the clearing. Begonia took a moment to admire it before moving on.
As she walked away from the clearing, she heard the sound of a twig snapping behind her. She stopped and turned around, only to see a strange little creature hopping toward her. It was a small creature with a greenish-brown body and a white belly. He had long arms and legs and a pair of wings that were missing most of their feathers. He had a short tail, which he used like a rudder to keep him from crashing into tree trunks and rocks as he flew along. His head was round, his nose was long, and his ears were pointed.
“Hello,” said Begonia. “Who are you?”
The little creature looked at her and said, “My name is Kreedron.”
Begonia looked at him curiously. “Where did you come from? Are you lost?”
Kreedron shook his head. “No, I am not lost. I know exactly where I am. I am a Nonhog.”
Begonia smiled at this. “So what brings you to this part of the woods?”
“I have come here looking for something.”
“What are you looking for?”
“I am looking for chillwater. Do you think I could find some?”
Begonia nodded slowly. She knew that chillwater came from a nearby stream, which had a source deep in the rocks. Chillwater was especially cold water, almost as cold as ice. It was said that a few sips of chillwater would restore health and energy to anyone who drank it.
“If you can get to the end of the path, there is a clearing where a lightning strike knocked down a number of trees. It’s very pretty in the sun. You might be able to find some chillwater there.”
Kreedron nodded and hopped off to follow Begonia’s directions. As he hopped past the first tree, he felt a tingle run up his leg. He paused to look at the tree, which was covered in bright green moss. As he examined it, he noticed that all the moss around it was dark brown. He reached out a hand and touched it, and he saw that the moss was soft and fuzzy. He also felt a tingling sensation. When he pulled his hand away, it was covered in dirt.
He glanced down at the ground. “Oops.” He stepped on a rock and fell flat on his face. He started to laugh, then remembered that he needed to hurry. He picked himself up, dusted off his hands, and hopped off again.
He made it to the clearing, where he found Begonia waiting for him.
“You found the spot!” said Begonia. “But why do you need to drink chillwater?”
Kreedron smiled. “I am a Nonhog. My mother told me that I would never grow big if I didn’t drink some every once in a while. It’s good for you!”
Begonia laughed at this. “That’s a good reason. Now go ahead and fill your flask.”
Kreedron nodded and jumped up to the edge of the clearing. He searched for a stone that would serve as a drinking cup, and he filled it with clear, cold water from a nearby brook. He hopped back down to the ground and handed the cup to Begonia. She took it and tasted the water.
“It’s very good,” she said. “Thank you. Now go find some more!”
Kreedron hopped happily away and soon found another brook. He filled his cup and returned to Begonia.
“You’re welcome,” he said.
Begonia thanked him and offered him some of the water. Kreedron accepted, and they enjoyed the cool liquid together.
“Where are you going next?” asked Begonia.
“To a river,” said Kreedron. “I’ve heard that there is a river of chillwater near here.”
“A river?” said Begonia. “That sounds exciting. Why don’t we go there together?”
“All right,” said Kreedron. “It will be nice to walk with someone else for a change.”
Begonia and Kreedron walked together until they came to a river. They sat down beside it and watched the water rush by.
“This must be the river of chillwater that my mother told me about,” said Kreedron.
“I hope so,” said Begonia. “I wonder how much longer it will take us to reach the other side.”
Kreedron sighed. “I am a Nonhog. I can swim across the river in a heartbeat.”
Begonia looked at him doubtfully. “You are sure?”
“Of course,” said Kreedron. “I am not afraid to swim.”
Begonia nodded. “I am sure you are not.”
Kreedron smiled at this and swam across the river in no time.
“How was that?” he called out when he got to the other side.
“It was wonderful,” said Begonia. “Now let’s see if we can find any chillwater.”
They walked along the bank of the river until they came to a large rock.
“This looks like a good place to rest,” said Kreedron.
Begonia nodded. “It does.”
They climbed onto the rock and lay down.
“I wish I had a blanket,” said Kreedron.
“I have one,” said Begonia. “It’s a magic blanket that keeps me warm no matter what happens.”
“I’d like to try it,” said Kreedron.
Begonia reached into her pouch and took out her blanket. She spread it out on the rock and laid down beside it. Kreedron followed her example, and soon they were both lying on the blanket, enjoying the warmth of the sun.
“It is very warm,” said Kreedron. “I feel as though I could sleep forever.”
“So do I,” said Begonia.
Begonia closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep.
When she awoke, she realized that it was late in the day.
“Oh dear,” she said. “I should wake up Kreedron. We need to be getting back to Amesley Wood before nightfall.”
Begonia rose from the rock and shook Kreedron awake.
“We should get back,” she said.
“Okay,” said Kreedron. He stood up and stretched. “I wonder what I’ll find to eat tonight.”
“I’m sure you’ll find something,” said Begonia.
Kreedron nodded and started walking toward Amesley Wood.
“Wait,” said Begonia. “Do you think you could fly home?”
Kreedron stopped and looked at her. “I can try.”
Begonia smiled at this and pointed toward Amesley Wood. “Go ahead. I’ll watch from here.”
Kreedron took a few steps and flapped his wings. Nothing happened.
“Come on,” he said. “It worked last time.”
Kreedron flapped harder, but he still couldn’t lift himself off the ground.
“Don’t give up,” Begonia called out.
“I’m not giving up,” said Kreedron. “It’s just that I don’t know what’s wrong. Usually I can fly whenever I want to. But now I can’t.”
Begonia thought for a moment, and then she had an idea. “There’s a brook close by. Maybe you can use that to help you fly.”
Kreedron nodded. “That’s a good idea.”
Begonia ran over to the brook and filled her flask.
“I know it’s not as cold as the chillwater you were looking for, but it’s still cold,” she said. “Drink this and you’ll be able to fly.”
Kreedron smiled and drank the water. He felt a little better, and he flapped his wings as hard as he could. The more he flapped, the more he felt as though something was pulling him down. He opened his mouth and tried to scream, but no sound came out.
“Don’t worry,” said Begonia. “Just keep flapping your wings.”
Kreedron flapped his wings as hard as he could, but he felt as though he had been buried in mud and couldn’t get out.
“Try to keep your eyes open,” said Begonia. “You might be able to see the problem.”
Kreedron blinked several times and stared at the ground. “What is it?”
“I don’t know,” said Begonia. “But it seems to be something in the air. If I could see it, I might be able to help.”
Kreedron continued to flap his wings and look at the ground. He noticed something. “It’s moving!” he shouted.
“What’s moving?” asked Begonia.
“The water!” said Kreedron. “The water is moving!”
Begonia looked at the brook. It was flowing much faster than usual.
“Why would it do that?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” said Kreedron. “But I think I know what to do. Drink some more water and hold on tight!”
Begonia quickly refilled her flask and gave it to Kreedron.
“Hold on to me!” he said. “I’ll do the rest!”
Begonia grabbed him and held on tight.
Kreedron opened his mouth and swallowed the water. Then he opened his wings wide and flapped them as hard as he could. He flew higher and higher, and Begonia held on tightly.
“I’m flying!” said Kreedron. “I’m really flying!”
Begonia smiled at this and laughed. “Yes, you are!”
Kreedron kept flying and flying, and soon he saw Amesley Wood in the distance. He was almost there!
“I did it!” he shouted.
“Yes, you did!” said Begonia.
“I did it!” Kreedron cried again.
Begonia laughed at this. “Yes, you did!”
Kreedron laughed, too. “I really did it!”
Begonia laughed even(?) and said, “You really did!”
Kreedron laughed loudly, and Begonia laughed even louder.
“I am so happy,” she said.
Kreedron nodded. “Me, too.”
Begonia looked at him and said, “You seem very happy.”
“I am very happy,” said Kreedron. “I am so happy that I am flying.”
Begonia smiled at this. “That’s wonderful.”
Kreedron laughed. “It is wonderful. It is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened.”
Begonia smiled and said, “You’re right. It is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened.”
Kreedron laughed again.