Ockleberries to the Rescue

By Mandy Eve-Barnett

Tansy and Crispin are woodland sprites who help all the forest animals with their ailments or injuries, no matter how big or how small. The healing potions and practices they use were handed down generation to generation. Living in a home built within the roots of a magnificent old oak tree, the two sprites and their animal helpers, remain hidden from human eyes.

Crispin wishes to find a long lost cave filled with ancient healing books and potion recipes. No matter where he travels in the forest he searches for it. Always hoping...

Will he find it? What is the story behind the cave? When humans come into the forest - what happens? Follow the adventures of Tansy and Crispin and meet their forest animal companions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dream Write Publishing
• Release date: Jul 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781988723587

Mandy Eve-Barnett

About the author – Mandy is a fairly new Canadian resident, who has a wealth of experiences to draw from for her writing. She has lived in South Africa, England and Canada and the uniqueness of each continent has left its essence within her. An avid reader her whole life, it wasn’t until she joined a local writing group, the Writers Foundation of Strathcona County, that the writing ‘bug’ gripped her. Now Mandy Eve-Barnett writes with an all-encompassing passion and is deeply involved with the foundation and its members. Writing in various genres, Mandy is published in anthologies, on numerous web sites and in the local newspaper as well as regularly blogging about her writing journey. She has successfully completed two National Novel Writing Month challenges in 2009 and 2010 and the subsequent volume of work has resulted in two novels. In September 2011, she released her first kid's book "Rumble's First Scare."

Book preview

OCKLEBERRIES TO THE RESCUE

Mandy Eve-Barnett

Illustrations by Joe McKnight

Dream Write Publishing Ltd.

P. O. Box 57083 RPO Eastgate

Sherwood Park AB T8A 5L7

Canada

www.dreamwritepublishing.ca

2014 | 2019 © Mandy Eve-Barnett

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. The characters and situations in these stories are the creation of the author. Dream Write Publishing and the author are committed to providing quality literary products.

General Fiction: young readers and general audience

Ockleberries to the Rescue

ISBN # 978-1-927510-15-5

Cover image and illustrations by Joe McKnight

Library and Archives Canada Cataloging in Publication

Ockleberries to the Rescue

Eve-Barnett, Mandy (b. June 18, 1958-)

Sherwood Park AB

McKnight, Joe E. (b. June 20, 1975-)

Gibbons AB

Available in print | print-on-demand | e-book

Dedication

The wonder and complexity of the natural world

was taught and encouraged by my parents,

Stan and Gerry Eve.

Through their enthusiasm and wealth of knowledge,

my siblings and I grew to respect the wildlife around us.

This legacy has, in turn, been passed down to our children

and, we hope, to future generations.

Table of Contents

Welcome to the Forest!

Swift the Fox

Doze the Doormouse

The Squirrel Twins

A Birthday Visit

Stump the Woodpecker

Cyril the Pine Martin

Tansy Gets Sick

Xavier the Owl

Dizzy the Rabbit

The Storm

Major the Badger

Chip the Beaver

Bruin the Bear

Morry the Mole

Spike the Hedgehog

Crispin’s Discovery

The Legend of Vila the Goddess

Book a reading? About the Author

Swift the Fox

Curled into a ball, his bushy red tail across his snout, Swift twitched in his sleep. He helped Tansy the previous evening by dashing to the aid of a rabbit. Now his mind replayed his hurried course through the forest to the sprites’ home.

The first time he came across the sprites, he was a young cub, following his mother on a night hunt. They were alerted to something approaching by the soft crunching sounds of breaking twigs. Mother and son crouched low, sniffing the air. The smell was unfamiliar to Swift, so he looked to his mother with questioning eyes. A slight turn of her head told him to remain quiet. Another crunch and a vague form appeared. To his surprise, his mother stood and trotted toward the figure, greeting it with soft yaps. Unsure what to do, the cub remained hidden.

Come out of there, Swift. Come and meet Tansy.

At his mother’s request, Swift slowly moved to stand beside her and the strange being. It was unlike any he had seen before. Without thinking, Swift circled around and sniffed at it.

Stop that, you are being disrespectful.

Do not trouble yourself, Mai, I am too much of a curiosity for a youngster. Let him be.

When Swift completed his circling, he stood beside his mother, gazing at the strange little creature standing on two legs.

This is Tansy; she is a healer sprite. She and Crispin help all the creatures of the forest. Swift nodded a greeting.

You have a fine son there, Mai. He will grow up to be a handsome fox.

Thank you. Can we be of help to you, Tansy?

I am looking for evening primrose. Its oil is a great pain reliever.

We would be honored to help you seek out this plant, Tansy.

Thank you, Mai. I’m sure your eyes are sharper than mine in this half-light.

The sprite and foxes began walking toward the stream; there they found a small clump of primrose flowers, shining under the full moon. Swift watched Tansy gently pick the blooms and place them in a satchel. She thanked them for their help and turned to leave.

Can I see you again? Swift, quickly asked.

Well yes, of course, you can. I wander the forest quite often. I’m sure we shall bump into each other again, my fine young fox.

Mai looked at her son with puzzled eyes as he gazed at the sprite.

You seem to have an admirer, Tansy.

Swift lowered his head in embarrassment and without waiting for his mother, ran into the woods. Back at their den, Swift pretended to be asleep when his mother returned. He could not explain the connection he felt to Tansy; he just knew she was important to him.

*****

A year later, he met Tansy again when he was drinking at the stream and she was once again picking evening primrose flowers.

Good evening, young fox.

Hello Tansy, do you recognize me? I am Mai’s son.

Well, you have certainly grown into a fine fox. I never forgot you and dream of you constantly. Do you know why I would do that?

There is a legend that each sprite has a favored helper. One that assists them in their duties.

When I first met you, I felt something deep inside that I could not, and still cannot, explain. If I am your favored one, it will be my pleasure to help you.

It will be my privilege to have such a handsome fox by my side. What name do you go with?

My mother gave me the name Swift as I can outrun all the other foxes in the forest.

Then Swift is what I shall call you. It is a fitting name.

From that day on, Swift proved his ability to not only run extremely fast on many an occasion but, as well, proved to be a reliable helper for Tansy.

A call woke Swift from his slumber; it was Tansy’s whistle. Shaking his body to dispel sleep, Swift headed for the sprite’s home in the center of the forest. He wondered where he would be taking Tansy this time; it might be a rabbit or a squirrel or may be some sort of bird. He arrived at the clearing to find Tansy and Crispin standing in their doorway; their heads hanging low.

Hello Tansy, Crispin. Where shall I take you tonight?

Come here, Swift, we have news.

Puzzled at Crispin’s words, Swift became anxious as he saw Tansy’s tears.

What has happened?

Crispin placed a hand on the fox’s back and knelt beside him. We were called to your mother’s den earlier this evening, Swift. She was sick and we brought her here.

And why did you not call me then?

She didn’t want you to see her in pain, Swift...

Where is she now?

Inside, we have given her potions to help with the pain.

Without waiting for permission, Swift ran into the sprites’ home to find his mother lying on a bed of fresh hay. Her eyes were closed and her breathing shallow. He anxiously walked slowly toward her. As he leaned down, her eyes opened, and she greeted him softly.

Mother, what is wrong?

I’m not sure… I found myself awake mid-morning. I can’t remember anything after settling down after a night’s foraging.

Swift turned as footsteps sounded behind him. Tansy and Crispin stood to one side of the room.

You can make her better, can’t you, Tansy?

We need to find out what made her so ill first, Swift. Mai has no idea what she ate the night before. It could have been a poisonous berry or some sort of mold. Until then, I can keep her comfortable and hope it leaves her system.

Mother, think hard. Which trail did you use? I can search along it and maybe find what made you sick. Then Tansy will know which potion to give you to make you well again.

Mai closed her eyes to think, as her son and the two sprites waited silently. Mai coughed then opened her eyes.

The high trail. It was the high trail, Swift, just before the pointing rock. There were fallen berries and mushrooms. I remember now.

Then that’s where I will go. Look after her, Tansy. I will be back as fast as I can.

Without waiting for a reply, Swift grabbed a pouch from the table and darted out of the sprites’ home heading towards the pointing rock. He spent many a lazy summer day lying on the warm rock. Panting heavily, he arrived to find the rock’s large shape only just visible. The moon was just a sliver in the sky. His sharp eyesight made it easy for him to see a cluster of mushrooms with dark round berries scattered on top and around them. Carefully, using his paw, he rolled the berries into the pouch and a couple of the mushrooms, as well, for good measure. Satisfied he had enough, he turned to race back when he stood in a sticky substance. When he lifted his paw, a glop stretched with it. Swift wiped his paw on the grass then managed to put a small amount of the goo into the pouch, as well. It wasn’t like anything he’d seen before.

When he arrived back, he found Crispin sitting on a bench whittling a piece of wood by the light of a lantern. He jumped up when he saw Swift and smiled. Swift hoped this was a good sign.

You certainly live up to your name, Swift. What did you find?

Panting heavily, Swift only managed to speak a few words at a time. Found mushrooms.... and berries... and goo.

Goo? What sort of goo?

Swift dropped the pouch in front of Crispin who picked it up and pulled at the drawstring. He peered in; then coughed.

It really smells bad, doesn’t it? Let’s take this inside and see what we can find in the books.

Inside, flames flickered in the fireplace and the aroma of cooking filled the air. Swift looked into the chamber to find his mother lying on her stomach with her head up. He was relieved.

She is feeling better, Swift. We just need to keep the pain away. Did you find something?

He did, Tansy, it’s all in here. Come and look. I will get the big book.

As the sprites began turning pages and discussing the pouch contents, Swift sat with his mother. He relayed his run to the pointing rock and what he found.

We’ve found it, Mai, Swift! It’s a slime mold. I would think small parts of it were on the berries you ate, Mai. Now that we know what it is, we can look for the cure.

Swift watched the sprites leaf through several books then begin to make a potion. As Tansy crushed and mixed the ingredients, Crispin located the vials and hanging dried herbs for her. After some time, Tansy brought a shallow bowl to Mai and asked her to drink the liquid. When it was all lapped up, Tansy smiled at the two foxes.

You are going to feel much better in an hour or two, Mai, but for now you should try to sleep. That goes for you too, Swift. Why not sleep here?

I would appreciate sleeping here. Thank you, Tansy.

In the morning, Tansy looked in on the two foxes deep in comfortable, painless sleep beside one another. She thought to herself how lucky it was to have such a noble helper and she was happy she was able to help his mother.

Doze the Dormouse

The summer months were busy as usual for Doze as he foraged for his favorite foods of succulent berries and tasty flowers with plenty of grasshoppers to crunch upon. He spent his days sleeping in a nest well hidden by a large pile of leaves within a rotten tree trunk. Doze was sheltered from summer rains and the baking heat of the day’s sun.

The large hollow log was a great find after a falling branch destroyed his previous nest. He counted himself lucky that he had been out hunting in the moon’s glow when it happened, otherwise, he might not be around at all. When he returned to his demolished nest, he scurried among the leaf litter on the forest floor desperate to find shelter before the dawn’s light shone on the horizon. Ever alert to predators, he darted from hollow to bush to root hoping to find a suitable place to build a new nest. The flap of wings diverted his path and he ran into the log. He might have run the other way if it had not been for the sound of that bird’s wings. Safe within the dark depths of the fallen log, he gathered dried leaves and pulled moss from its sides to make a bed that night. The following two nights he improved his nest considerably, using grasses and more dried leaves. Now it was home and more robust than his last.

Doze spent the late summer busily eating more and more hazelnuts, so he was ready for his winter sleep. Gnawing precisely, he made a circular hole on the side of each shell to expose the soft inner part - the best part. As the evenings began to get cooler and cooler, Doze’s body got rounder and rounder. On his nightly rummages through the forest floor debris, his investigation of holes in old stumps would sometimes reveal a squirrel’s cache of nuts. These were welcome finds that gave him the opportunity to munch to his heart’s content instead of spending long hours searching.

He wondered what the squirrels would have done if they had found him.