Beavers’ Mysterious Adventures

By Olga Nikolson

A spring flood bursts a dam on the river and four young beaver friends – Marc, Denny, Vince, and Remy – are swept away by a whirlpool, along an underground river and into a huge dark cave.
How to find their way home? A friendly plesiosaur helps the beavers reach the surface and suggests that they ask the wise White Salamander, who lives far away. On a journey filled with adventures the friends meet Alison, the cat, who joins them on their travels. Together they find White Salamander who tells the beavers to look for some builderite – a stone that can save their dam forever.
But it’s long way to go, through unknown places full of mystery and danger. Will they ever find the builderite?
The quest for the stone brings the friends to a snowy seashore, far away from their home. How to find their way back? The long journey is filled with dangerous adventures, mysterious events and strange encounters with tiny horses, enigmatic platypuses, enchanted elephants, glowing caterpillars and huge pterodactyls.
Sometimes, it seems to the friends that they will never reach home. But they keep going.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Olga Nikolson
• Release date: Sep 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9780993897009

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Beavers’ Mysterious Adventures

By Olga Nikolson

Copyright 2014 © Olga Nikolson

Cover Artwork by Leslie Marguerite

Smashwords Edition

ISBN 978-0-9938970-0-9

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favourite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

I am indebted to Carol Lee for a fantastic job of copy-editing as well as for her valuable comments on earlier drafts of this book.

Table of contents

Part 1. In search of a Miracle

Chapter 1. The Whirlpool

Chapter 2. The New Friend

Chapter 3. White Salamander

Chapter 4. Strange news from Uncle Victor

Chapter 5. Willow Island

Chapter 6. Trapped on the Island

Chapter 7. Reaching the Odd Desert

Chapter 8. The Bridge to Nowhere

Chapter 9. The Dangerous Journey

Chapter 10. The Enigmatic Valley

Chapter 11. To Stay … or to Go

Chapter 12. The Freezing Land

Chapter 13. Builderite

Part 2. The Way Home

Chapter 14. Sailing Home

Chapter 15. Reaching the New Land

Chapter 16. Unexpected Encounters

Chapter 17. Jeopardy Beyond the Ocean

Chapter 18. Leaving the Odd Island

Chapter 19. Getting into Trouble

Chapter 20. In the Jungle

Chapter 21. Through Fire

Chapter 22. Through Water

Chapter 23. Below the Surface

Chapter 24. The Chilling Forest

Chapter 25. The Cryptic Kingdom

Part 1. In Search of a Miracle

Chapter 1. The Whirlpool

It was one of the first sunny, spring days in the magnificent forest and its inhabitants began to come out of their burrows and dens, joyfully watching the snow disappear. On the Maple River, winding its way through the forest, the ice started to melt and break, looking like a jewelled lace that kept losing its gems. Beavers were bustling around their large river dam, repairing it here and there. Ravens living in a nearby willow were watching the beavers closely, making a loud leaking sound each time they saw a crack in the dam.

Can you hear that pouring noise? Finny, the oldest beaver, kept saying nervously to the younger beavers. Go there quickly! Can’t you do it faster?

The four young beaver friends – Marc, Denny, Vince, and Remy – had been working hard for quite some time, fixing the middle part of the dam.

Don’t you think it’s time to take a break? said Denny. This beaver had bristling rusty-coloured fur, which was quite eye-catching.

You want to stop now, Denny? Let’s finish the repairs first, suggested Marc. He had beige fur and a fluffy head and was always encouraging the other beavers.

Look out! yelled Vince, the big, black-furred beaver; usually calm and quiet, he sounded so agitated that it scared his friends. Vince had spotted a big chunk of ice that had appeared out of nowhere and was gliding quickly towards the dam – and the beavers.

Crash! The ice hit the dam, barely missing Denny, whose fur stood on end with shock.

The friends were terrified as they watched the chunk of ice starting to break through. Then the dam burst and the water gushed out, carrying the helpless friends down the river with it. The river was, by now, rapidly becoming a small lake.

Marc pointed to a gnarled log floating close by. Let’s get onto that! he shouted. They managed to reach the log and were catching their breath when Remy, the chocolate-furred beaver, gasped, Look! Whirlpool!

They all stared helplessly at the madly swirling muddy water further along the river – it was getting closer every second.

If only there was a switch to turn it off, said Marc.

I wish we had wings …, Denny said passionately, just before the powerful whirlpool mercilessly pulled them in.

The friends floundered in the swirling water, desperately gasping for air and sinking deeper and deeper; they knew only a miracle could rescue them. But their desire to survive was strong, replacing all other thoughts and giving the beavers determination and strength. Within a few seconds – that felt like an eternity – they found themselves in an underground waterfall and all four beavers were thrown into an inky river below. They emerged from the water, panting heavily, in almost total darkness.

Is everyone here? shouted Marc, still panting.

I can just see Denny, replied Vince, peering down the gently flowing river.

But, someone was missing. Remy! Where are you?! cried the three beavers anxiously.

Exactly! said Remy, hurriedly swimming to his friends from some distance away. Where are we?

I think we are in an underground river, said Marc glancing around.

What an amazing place, said Denny admiringly, turning his head left and right. Then he saw a large tree stump that was floating nearby and climbed onto it. All aboard! he said, inviting his friends to join him.

The four friends began leisurely drifting down the river in the silent darkness and gazed at the uneven walls of the huge cave; the incredibly high ceiling appeared to be glowing here and there.

Interesting, Vince said reflectively, as he looked around. Where does this river go? And how do we get out of here?

If there is an entrance, there should be an exit, Marc said confidently, as he struggled to see into the distance.

Meanwhile the river had been getting wider and wider and by now resembled a never-ending lake.

Did you see that? Remy asked uneasily, looking at something far away.

It must be – Denny stopped and rubbed his eyes, trying to peer into the pitch blackness.

Did I see something … or someone? Or is it just me? Remy said under his breath, not quite sure whether to bother his friends with his suspicions or not.

What’s that? Denny said, pointing to something just a stone’s throw ahead of them. It looked like a small island.

As the beavers got closer to the island, it suddenly rose up, turning into an enormous beast with a long neck.

It may be a plesiosaur, whispered Marc, staring wide-eyed at the beast. I remember seeing a picture of one in a book.

Cool! said Vince. But let’s get out of here now! Any chance it’s herbivorous?!

Yes, I am, said the plesiosaur politely. Its pleasant voice and the friendly gaze of its curious, pale eyes made the beavers feel better.

I’m Plessy, she continued. Are you new to this place? I’ve never seen anyone like you before.

We are from the Maple River, Marc replied, looking admiringly at her blue skin, which was sprinkled with radiant spots.

And we want to find our way home, added Remy.

When Marc explained what had happened to them, Plessy shook her head, Maple River? I’ve never heard of it.

The beavers hung their heads thinking that they might remain in this murky cave forever.

Wait! Plessy thought for a moment, then added, Maybe White Salamander can help you; she knows everything.

Where does she live? asked Denny and Vince in unison.

You can find her in the indigo cave by Gem Lake, Plessy said willingly.

Gem Lake? Where’s that? Remy sounded unsure.

Denny turned to his friends and said confidently: Don’t worry, we’ll find this salamander even if she lives at the edge of the world!

If we keep trying, eventually we’ll get what we need, Marc agreed.

Then welcome aboard! said Plessy cheerfully. I’ll take you back to the surface.

Now encouraged, the beavers mounted onto her back and Plessy moved forward, quickly picking up speed.

Splash! Suddenly a grey plesiosaur emerged from the water, right in front of her, so she had to slow down sharply to avoid hitting it. It took the beavers’ breath away.

Hi, Honey! it said. Such wonderful toys you have! Can I get a couple of them?

Hi, Martin! They’re not toys – they’re beavers, Plessy said reproachfully.

That’s even better! Martin said, looking pleased. I’ll put them in a cage! What do you feed them?

The terrified beavers were losing all hope of ever seeing their home again.

No way! Plessy said indignantly.

But Martin was determined to have his way; he dived below the water and pushed Plessy with all his might. She swayed one way … then another … until all the beavers fell into the water where Martin was waiting for them.

Chapter 2. The New Friend

In a split second Plessy grabbed all the beavers out of the water and put them on her back.

Hold tight! she ordered as she dived under water like a torpedo.

After several minutes, when Plessy stopped to float on the surface, Martin was nowhere to be seen so she continued her swim down the river with the beavers. On the way they passed some more plesiosaurs, but they paid no attention to the group, although the beavers felt uneasy each time they saw the giant creatures.

At last it became lighter as pale sunlight was coming from somewhere in the distance.

That must be an exit?! Denny cried joyfully.

Plessy smiled. Yes, it is, she said.

All four beavers brightened up and said sincerely, Thank you Plessy! You saved us!

Welcome, she said quietly, feeling sad that they were going to leave; she liked her new, so-different friends.

Marc looked at her and said gently, Plessy, we’ll never forget you. Maybe one day – He stopped.

At last! It’s time to land! Remy cut in as they approached the stony, underground river bank, which sparkled in the brilliant sunlight pouring through a large opening in the roof of the cave.

Blue sky! What a pleasure to see it again! Denny exclaimed looking up at the sun.

Who would have thought … murmured Remy.

Plessy helped the beavers to get out of the cave by letting them climb up her neck. They waved goodbye to her and Good luck! was all they heard wafting from the cave as she disappeared beneath the water.

***

The beavers found themselves in a luxuriant, sunlit forest. Trees, flowers, chirping birds – everything around them was so bright and peaceful that the beavers simply couldn’t stop smiling, laughing and joking with each other. The cave that they had left behind soon seemed unreal, like a bizarre dream.

But their home was still far away and no one knew even which direction to go, so Marc, thinking aloud, said Who could help us to find Gem Lake?

Gem Lake? It’s quite a distance from here, chirped a bird from somewhere above them.

The friends looked up and saw a cardinal sitting on the branch of a young oak.

The bird, with its venetian red plumage, continued, Hi! My name is Marish. Are you going to Gem Lake? I can show you the way.

The beavers gratefully accepted the offer and, as they followed the bird, they briefly recounted their adventures. Walking through the forest they realized that they were hungry and began picking up edible plants. Suddenly, a huge bear leapt out of the bushes and ran toward them, growling. Instantly, the beavers scattered, but the bear immediately rushed after Marc.

Thinking quickly, Denny dashed up to the bear, who then changed direction to chase him. A moment later, Vince darted to his aid and bit the bear on the leg while Remy started throwing lumps of soil at the bear. Marish had rounded up some other birds and they were dropping cones on the bear’s head.

Oh-oh! said the bear, by now