Today’s prompt for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge is to share five blogs or websites that I think my readers would enjoy. Which I will do. But first…
part four of the steampunk bear’s story
The seven ravens with their passengers flew all night. They saw the lights extinguished on the second mountain. As they flew over the third mountain, they saw the nocturnal animals search for their prey. They marveled at the ability of the nocturnal animals to find their prey despite the darkness. They flew over the fourth mountain as the sun crept up in the horizon. They could hear the songs of the birds who were welcoming the new day.
As the ravens approached the fifth mountain, the man, who had been sleeping on a raven’s back, woke up and began singing a song that the ravens didn’t recognize. When the ravens landed, the man, who seemed to have healed from his injuries during the flight, bounded off a raven’s back and ran toward the ocean. He caught a fish with his hands.
“Hold this,” the man told the mouse as he handed the fish to the mouse.
“Put your arm in the water and then attach it to your body,” the man told the steampunk bear. The bear did what the man told him to do and, immediately, the arm reattached itself.
“That feels so much better. Are you a magician?” the steampunk bear asked the man.
“Maybe,” the man said. “I can make breakfast. Can you see if there’s a bucket or anything for the mouse to put the fish? He’s still standing still with the fish. I need to catch some more, and then I’m going to cook it. There used to be a bucket behind that big tree, but I’ve been away for a while.”
The steampunk bear walked to the tree, found the bucket, and carried back. It was beginning to fall apart. The man put the bucket into the water and mumbled something. He pulled the bucket out and the bear was startled to see that it looked like it was in perfect condition. The mouse raced over and put the fish into the bucket. The mouse ran off and didn’t reappear until the food was ready. Once the bucket was in place, the man waded into the walter and pulled fish out.
Before long, the man was cooking the fish on a little improvised firepit on the beach.
The man had put everything together for a complete meal. He had collected plants, which he was cooking, along with the fish. He found some old dishes that he had used in the past, along with some utensils. When he was finished cooking, he served everyone.
“Who are you?” asked one of the ravens. “Why do the humans hate you so much when you’re one of them?”
“I am not,” said the man. “I am a shape shifter. The humans are afraid of me and my power.”
“Your power?” asked the steampunk bear, confused.
“I am not a human and I am a human. I am not a seal and I am a seal. I am a selkie. My skin is in a safe place in the woods. Very soon, I shall put it on and swim out to sea and find my true love again. It is she whom the humans are most afraid of, but she gives her power to me, as well, so the humans wanted to be rid of both of us.”
“Why do the humans fear you and your true love?” asked a raven.
“They fear her kind. She is a siren. Sailors find her calls to be irresistable. She leads them to their doom.”
“Why do they do that, and why didn’t she lead you to your doom?”
“I don’t know. I loved her music and I love her. She told me later that she thought about leading me to my doom, but then she discovered that I could live in both the human world and the sea world. I guess that made her happy. As we traveled the world, we knew that we were made for each other. We visited the great sea monster and the land of the giants and we were happy. And then, one day, I said that I had to visit the Land of the Humans in my human form. I traversed the seas in a small boat until I came to the first mountain. At first, the humans greeted me warmly, but it didn’t take long before they grew suspicious and angry. They put me in a zoo with animals who never spoke and I was alone with my thoughts. I wondered if I would ever see my siren friend again or the sea world or the sea monster or the land of giants or my precious home. After all, home is where the heart is. Not long ago, I was able to escape, and then, a very loud alarm sounded. The humans had decided that my fate was to be thrown off of the top of the highest mountain. That is where you found me and you saved me.
“And now, it’s time for me to go back to the sea, where I have love and hope. When you choose to visit the sea monster, who is close to the eighth mountain, I shall lead you. When you arrive there, I will be there in the form of a seal. I never forget those who have done such a great service to me as you have.”
The man walked into the woods and came out with an empty seal skin. He fitted himself into it and jumped into the water. In an instant, he was a seal, and he swam away.
“That was really something,” said the steampunk bear.
The bear, the mouse, and the ravens relaxed on the beach for the rest of the day. There was enough leftover fish and vegetables for them to have another meal.
As the bear and the mouse were collecting seashells, the ravens got together.
“They don’t know how dangerous the seventh mountain is,” said a raven.
“Let’s not tell then, just yet,” said another.
to be continued
And now, the five blogs that I’m going to recommend!
The first blog is by Alice Letts. She is a music teacher and a storyteller. She has come up with all sorts of fun ways to teach kids music, and you can find her stories and her lesson suggestions here: https://alicemeditationcoach.wordpress.com/2026/07/17/song-no-17-chloe-and-the-whispering-echoes-of-the-woods-discovering-inward-peace-creative-play-by-ear-ubc202607/
The second blog is by Daniela “Dani” Pescuma, who has been sharing stories and pictures of Italy. I’ve truly enjoyed the adventure that she is sharing. Here is one of her blog posts: https://danielapescuma.com/eating-in-napoli/
The third blog is by Lily Leung, who talks about her greenhouse and life in general. She has a beautiful storytelling voice that draws you right in. Here is one of her blog posts: https://onethousandandtwo.com/2026/07/14/labour-of-love/
The fourth blog is by Kebba Buckley Button, who talks about the challenges she has experienced and how that has led her into a calling as a healer. She is healthy happy loving life and her blog reflects that. Here is one of her posts: https://kebbabutton.wordpress.com/2026/07/16/healthy-happy-loving-life-stuff-happens/
The fifth blog is by Barbara, who shares photographs and stories about her travels through Newfoundland. She has definitely caused me to add Newfoundland to my bucket list. What a wonderful tour this is! Here is one of her posts: https://barbandjohnsretirement.blogspot.com/2026/07/at-top-of-newfoundland.html
