Today’s prompt is to talk about my plans for this blog, now that the July challenge is coming to a close. Where would I like to be in 90 days, when the next chapter of the Ultimate Blogging Challenge starts?
Today, I am going to share the ninth and last installment of the steampunk bear’s saga. I think that it’s so much fun that the story will be complete in nine installments because one of my blog posts was about the magic of the number nine. My dad was a math guy. I was always amazed by how he was able to calculate and by how he truly made numbers his friends. Although I did not inherit his gift for rapid calculation, I am able to see the magic of numbers and how you create patterns with them. I think that I would have enjoyed math in school much more if I had been shown the role that patterns play in mathematics.
When I begin the next challenge, I would want to continue telling stories. Because the next challenge is October, also known as Inktober, I intend for the next story to follow the Inktober prompts.
So, now to finish the story.
The raven found a pot full of fish. Where were the other ravens? Where was the giant bee and the steampunk bear and the mouse?
He began to search. All of a sudden, he heard a scream that was so loud that he jumped backward and fell. He stood, ready to fly away from whatever danger awaited but then he saw the mouse, who was back to normal squeaking.
“I didn’t make the noise,” said the mouse. “I don’t know what happened.”
Just then, the other ravens, the bee, and the steampunk bear came out from the forest.
“We must eat the fish for strength and then we must fly,” said the bee. “That scream was the earth crying out. It cries here, and no one knows why. We asked the animals and they don’t understand why the earth screams here and nowhere else.”
The fish was delicious and delicate. Once everyone had their fill, they took off, with the steampunk bear, the mouse, and the bee flying on the backs of the six ravens. They flew high and fast and, before long, they had flown over the ninth mountain. They had gone beyond the sea, and they arrived at a beautiful bay that had been untouched by humans.
The birds and the bee and the steampunk bear and the mouse heard music, but they didn’t know where it came from. As far as they could tell, there were no humans. But the music persisted and all began dancing, in the water and on the sandy shore. They picked up starfish and danced with them before throwing the starfish back out to sea. They danced with joy and with happiness at finding a beautiful place to land when, suddenly, one of the ravens spoke.
The steampunk bear walked into the water and danced there. He looked into the horizon and he saw a brigantine approach.
“We have crossed nine mountains, and we have danced nine dances. But there are only six ravens. Are we to remain ravens forever?”
“No,” said the bee. “I found out, when the Rusalka took me that I could change my form to anything but my original form. We had to cross nine mountains and dance nine dances before we could be who we once were before we became enchanted.”
The steampunk bear, who was tired from dancing with the ravens, sat down and picked up seashells.
Just then, the brigantine landed on shore. A girl with long blonde hair and dressed in many colors stepped off the boat, along with a bear.
“Hi,” said the bear. “I am Bearnacle, and I have someone who wants to meet the ravens.”
The six ravens and the bee gathered together.
“I am your sister,” said the girl. “I was told about the spell on you and that you had to have two more companions.”
“Your brothers’ two companions are here,” said Bearnacle, who brought the steampunk bear and the mouse into the circle.
Slowly, the ravens and the bee began melting and transforming until they were seven young men. They and their sister ran along the beach and danced joyfully.
“And you?” asked Bearnacle. “You’ve had an adventure. Would you like to continue having adventures with me? This is my first sea journey, and I don’t have a crew yet. Would you like to be the first?”
“Yes,” said the steampunk bear. I have flown on the backs of ravens with a mouse. We would love to have more adventures.”
The bears and the mouse got on the brigantine. Before long, the boat was sailing off to… a new adventure…
The end (for now)
Alice, you are a magical story teller.I like to know if there’s any place left on earth that has not been touched by humans. Your story telling reminds me of Alice Letts’ also.
I’ve noticed this year there are less bees.
Thank you so much, Lily!!!
There may be places on earth that haven’t been touched by humans, but they’re probably very remote and inhospitable.