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For permission to copy any part of this story, please e-mail fof@doohickys.com. Written by Tanjo Kabri. Property of the GDEA. |
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The sudden spray of water from a nearby stream wakes most of the doohickys in the small clan. A huge but harmless fowloo has just jumped in to drink. The doohickys rise sleepily, looking around their unfamiliar surroundings; a huge, dense forest, and a meandering strip of water. They are small for a clan, only a dozen or so. They are currently looking for a new home after their old forest was ravaged by a beetle fire. They have stopped for the night next to a small stream. It is still the middle of the night. The doohickys are tired. They look angrily over at the fowloo, a nocturnal animal. A few doohickys fly over to the bank of the stream, their wings glinting oddly in the pale moonlight. Their meeting with the fowloo is quick. A few indignant squawks and the huge beast reluctantly retreats into the shadowy forest. Meanwhile, the female doohickys try to quieten the younger doockys. They are scared by the dark, their eyes have not yet developed enough to see clearly without bright light. They can only see outlines of formless shapes, flitting across their sight. With a loud cry, the clan leader lets out a bellow that resounds through the forest, shattering the silence. The babies cringe under their parents, while the doohickys still asleep wake with a start. The clan leader makes it quite clear what he wants. They are setting out on their journey again, even though it is still night. The doohickys protest vigorously, but the leader silences them. He has good reasons. He has seen the signs of fresh water tunnels, murky but distinct below the surface of the water. They are the homes of vreshia fish, relatives to piranhas. If the doohickys need to cross the stream, they need to do it at night, while the fish are asleep. They know too well that it would be incredibly simple if they could fly, but their babies cannot, and the clan puts great value on its youngsters. After all, they will be the backbone of the clan in a few decades. Still grumpy at loss of sleep, the doohickys reluctantly obey. The whole clan makes their weary way towards the stream, and start to follow the river north, to where they hope there will be a spring and some fern woods. They move silently, looking simply like one huge shadow, gliding through the night. They know that many forest predators hunt at night so they keep very quiet. It will be much safer once they leave the heart of the forest, and get out into the thinner forests and grasslands. Some of the smallest doohickys can be seen clinging onto the hump of their parents, while the bigger ones trail behind, making sure to stay close to their parent's tail. They walk steadily for about one hour, then the stream disappears underground. Many doohickys let out clucks of dismay, but they are relieved to discover that it appears again just a few hundred metres away. The leader of the clan is curious to find out what made the stream dip underground and instructs some doohickys to dig down to where the stream should be. Suddenly, the diggers let out a huge cry as the ground below them gives way and the whole area of earth around them falls down. The other doohickys crowd round to discover that there is a huge underground cave beneath them, and some of their clan has fallen in. They are struggling to stay afloat in the icy cold water that fills half of the cave. Without waiting, the remaining male doohickys fly down into the cave and work together to lift their friends out. There seems to be a current which is pulling them away, further into the depths of the cave. Two of the three doohickys are rescued quickly but the third has been carried away almost out of sight. The other doohickys make a frantic dash to rescue him but he suddenly disappears under the water and does not come back up. With growing anxiety, the doohickys skim the top of the water, trying to catch a sight of him. The leader is looking very worried; he is responsible for the safety of the clan, and he ordered the dig. The doohickys work for another ten minutes trying to locate the lost one, but without success. Eventually, angry and sad, they admit defeat. They fly back to the surface and communicate the bad news. The clan becomes very subdued and depressed, many want to give up and go back. The leader urges them to continue, even though he himself is having doubts. The doohickys resume their slow march across the forest floor, but their legs and hearts are heavy, and their heads are drooping. The night vanishes to be replaced by a depressing mist. No sun is visible, but it is obviously day. The doohickys follow the stream which is getting thinner and thinner, but the mist does not lift and the stream has not ended. The doohickys are almost ready to stop, when they notice a form up ahead, floating in the stream. The doohickys pick up the pace, not daring to believe what they are hoping in their hearts. But as they get nearer, their elation is easy to hear. Their clan member is floating peacefully on the water, looking like he is dead. But the doohickys know their kind well, the tell-tale ever so slight twitching of the tail, means that he is still alive, but barely. With great urgency and renewed enthusiasm, they drag the doohicky to the bank, where they attempt to dry him with their wings. It is an anxious few minutes, and many doohickys jump when the tail stops moving for a second. Fortunately, after about ten minutes, the doohicky opens his eyes. Cheering breaks out among the doohickys as they welcome back their lost one. Even the sun seems to join in, as it breaks through the mist. The rest of the journey is a happy one, and the doohickys reach the spring within the hour. They look around appraisingly at their new surroundings. A bubbly source of water, safe fern forests, and grassy plains with many fruit bushes. They are eager to explore. They are still extremely tired though, and so first of all, they settle down under some ferns, and, under the heat of the midday sun, go to sleep. If you liked this story, look out for new stories coming to this site, and even the chance to write your own... |
