Category: Snoop

Snoop's Scoop - The Return of a Dragon

6/30/2021

Snoop is sitting in his best chair and indulging himself with his favorite tea, Earl Grey, enjoying this special moment as he had just published the Scoop of the Century. A Wish Dragon has returned to the Realms and he had witnessed it all! Read all about it here in the current special edition of The Bellwether...

The Dowager is also pleased with the article about her but is also wondering if anyone noticed the dandelions.

Most of the others who where there at The Wishing Well wondered where Snoop had been hiding since they didn't remember seeing him. Nemmer kept muttering that even though he wasn't there at the Well, he knew the Dusty Mytes must have something to do with it. Of everyone in the Realms, the only two occupants that were not reading the paper were the Spites, Sprigg'n and The CAT, instead they were swapping funny stories about Wizards and Dryads.

Even the Trolls were purchasing this edition. Contrary to popular belief, most Trolls do read (they also clip coupons, but that's a different story...). This story was holding the attention of one in particular and the more he read, the more he smiled. "Now I can finally get that talisman," he muttered.

Singing in the chaos...

6/16/2021

"A Wish Dragon? Hungry here is a Wish Dragon and I am his Spite?" growled The CAT. "And there is some prophecy? Is that what you were singing Hewy?" Hewy nodded his head to the surprised feline. "Okay, so I can understand this right... could you sing the prophecy again Hewy?" The troll slowly started his melody again with the first part of the prophecy.

"When the last of the Wish Dragyns are lost
and is starving for knowledge at any cost;
will choices be made by many
that will bring the Realms to despair or to plenty. "

"Now wait a minute. Sorry to interrupt but I am trying to figure this out," cut in The CAT. "If Hungry is the last of the Wish Dragons and he has been lost for this whole time... sounds like to me that he would certainly be starving. Also sounds like he might be in need of a teacher too. Okay, please continue."

Hewy then continued his song.

"Which way will it sway and who will triumph none yet can foretell
but for good to win the evil must not prevail;
for if evil wins forever magic will be changed or lost
and the Realms will suffer at the cost."

"Whoooh!" said The CAT. "That sure sounds like the wizard here. He almost prevailed with trying to get his wish. Not that I am saying you are evil, mister wizard, as I don't know you that well. But it sounded like to me that the wish you were asking for could have changed things not only here in this Realm but where you were from too."

Dewin, hung his head and nodded. "I hadn't really thought about what my wish could do. I was just angry and wanted to go back to where I had come from. Now I can see that maybe fate put me here for a reason," answered the wizard slightly raising his eyes to look at Hungry.

Excited, Hewy sang the next line of the prophecy. "For in the telling of this tale a musician must play' - that sounds like me," exclaimed Hewy getting caught up in the solving of the prophecy. "But who would be the - 'as the dryad who has forsaken it's way'?"

Parsley raised her hand and told the others that it could possibly mean her. "I left the ways of the Tree Mothers to become the herbalist I am today. Though I don't see why that would make a difference?"

"The troll will mend what was once broken, " Hewy continued. "Apparently that is me also as I am the only Troll here. The sole thing I had broken was my heart when the love of my life left, but that was healed when I saw Awena again. This last line still confuses me though," said Hewy as he sang the next part.

"As they both must gain the Dragyn 's token."

Excited about how the prophecy was coming together, Hungry pipped in, "That is easy. A Dragon's token is his trust. Nothing is more important to a Dragon than knowing who to trust."

As the others thought about what Hungry had just said, Hewy wrapped up the prophecy by singing the last stanza.

"For if this does not happen another will sway
the young mind which will drift away;
and from the lack of knowledge will the choice then be
for the Dragyn will grant the destructive plea."

Silently everyone gathered around the little Wish Dragon. Dewin was the first to speak. "I am sorry for misleading you Hungry. I just wanted to go home, not realizing that maybe I am already there." After that, everyone agreed that Hungry needed to learn more about the powers of the Wish Dragon. It was decided that Hewy and Parsley, having gained the Dragon's trust, would be responsible for starting those lessons. The CAT was happy he was also going to be returning to familiar surroundings, as he now had to have lessons too apparently as the Dragon's Spite.

Sprout was thrilled to hear that Hungry was going to be heading home with him as her heard his mother tell the Wish Dragon that she would be his teacher. Until Parsley added, “and you will not be alone for Sprout will take classes with you.” “WHAT?” exclaimed the startled Dryad.

So now that the little Dragon was found, and the prophecy seemed to have been fulfilled, everyone decided they could all return to their homes. Of course a stop by the Sugar Plum Bakery on their way didn't sound to bad too. "I wonder where Nemmer is?" thought Cornelius as they started to leave. As luck would have it, Nemmer had forgotten all about getting to The Wishing Well (he had bumped into some Dusty Mytes who had sprayed him out of habit with the forgetful dust) and too was on his way home.

It was only The Wishing Well who noticed after everyone had left Snoop rushing from the bushes he had been hiding in to hurry back to the Bellwether to get out the scoop of his career. A Dragon had returned to the Realms!!!

When is a good wish bad???

6/9/2021

“Hungry, if you are this prophecy Dragon, then all you have to do is not do evil,” Dewin told the young Wish Dragon.

“You mean that if I tell myself that I am not going to do anything evil, then evil can’t win?” eagerly asked Hungry. “I can do that!”

Before Dewin could continue though, the least likely member of the group replied to the Dragon.

“I am afraid it doesn't work that way. I have tried but no matter how much I try to do something, it somehow always seems to not come out the exact way I pictured it to be,” answered The CAT. “Look Hungry, bad things can happen even when trying to do good.”

Dewin had his own plan here and being interrupted by this CAT wasn't helping it, but before he could stop The CAT, another spoke first.

“You're his Spite!” Sprigg’n exclaimed excitedly at The CAT. “I wasn’t sure at first, but after listening to you speak, the feelings we experienced when we first met, and now meeting Hungry, I realize that you ARE his Spite. That is Good... I think."

“What do you mean 'his Spite'?” Hungry and The CAT, both being surprised and confused, replied together. Now everyone was listening for Sprigg'n's answer, even the Wizard. Since Sprigg'n still hadn't answered, Dewin asked again, "What do you mean? How is The CAT the Wish Dragon's Spite? You told me before that Spites only appear with a Wish Dragon and a wish."

Shaking her head at the wizard, Sprigg’n finally answered. “Hungry and The CAT were both born at the same time. Hungry must have been from a wish that was answered, and don’t ask me how it was answered or by whom cause I don’t know. But, The CAT is Hungry’s Spite, take it from me.”

“But what does that mean?” pleaded the Dragon. “Will he help me make the right choices so that evil won't reign?”

At that comment, everyone but Dewin (who did not know The CAT as well as the others did) started to laugh. After wiping the tears from her eyes, Efem answered the confused little Dragon. “I am sorry to have laughed Hungry, but The CAT is not known for his helping others nor making, as you said it, ‘the right choices’ very often. He actually is a handful of mischief on most of his good days and a lot more on his bad ones.” Quickly she added, with a more serious tone, “but today he has surprised me with his answer to you. He is correct that bad things happen even with the best intentions and that each of us must understand that we are ultimately responsible for our own actions, be they good or bad,” as she reached down to give The CAT a hug.

Seeing that the conversation was not going where he had hoped, Dewin spoke. "Hungry, as a Wish Dragon, you have the power to create things for good just as easily as evil. Let us say hmmm... that you maybe granted me a wish to send me back to my world. I was transported here without my consent many years ago and want to go home."

“That is terrible! I know I would not like that either. You should be allowed to go back,” Hungry replied. Smiling, the wizard thought his plan just might work after all. “All you have to do is wish me back,” he urged the Wish Dragon on.

Before Hungry could grant the wish though, Hewy jumping in with a loud "NO!" which distracted everyone. "Is that why you have been looking for this Dragon, Wizard?" Hewy stared at Dewin. But before he could answer, Hewy turned to the little Dragon and said "Hungry, before returning Dewin to his own land think about what could be the downside of his wish. It could just as easily be that he will loose all the magic he has accumulated while here or that his life may end. The magic here has kept him alive for far longer than he normally would have lived in his own realm.”

Dumbfounded, the Wizard realized he had never thought of that! “Hewy, you may be right. By breaking the original spell, I could revert to the same state I was in when I was transported here.” Glancing at Sprigg’n, Dewin realized that the Spite was looking directly at him and slightly nodding her head. “You knew?” he asked her.

With all of these realizations, Hungry was now even more worried about who and what he was. “Now I REALLY don’t want to be a Wish Dragon!”…

The Dragon is Hungry!

5/26/2021

Before Hungry had a chance to even put the last cookie in his mouth, Sprout piped in, “Hey... What choices Hewy, are you talking about to be made? And what about that part about despair or plenty? Is that plenty of food? How can Hungry be the cause of any despair? He’s my friend… he wouldn’t hurt anyone,” as Sprout turned toward his Dragon friend.

Parsley smiled at her son as she answered his question. “Sprout, listen to the next two parts of the prophecy as it helps explains part of the mystery. Certain things need to happen and then Hungry will have to make a choice. It will be that choice which Hungry makes that will could cause either plenty or despair. Hungry may not even know what will happen because of his decision. It may be something that will happened in the future or immediately. We won’t know until it happens.”

“What things, Mom?” asked the young Dryad.

“Hewy is well known in the Realms as a master musician. He has already played out the first part by singing us the prophecy. Though I don’t know for sure about the Dryad who has forsaken its way, and I am also not sure about what Hewy has to mend let alone what the Dragon’s token is,” she told Sprout. “Maybe the others might have figured it out as I haven’t,” she said as she looked at the others to see if anyone did have the answers.

“But Mom, what happens if the rest of the prophecy doesn't happen? Does it mean that Hungry is not the Dragon?” Now that question took Parsley by surprise. “Does it?” she thought.

Before the others could say anything, Hewy again spoke. “I have been thinking about that too and it sounds like Hungry is more than just hungry for food but also for knowledge. Maybe it is who will teach him the power of the Wishing that will cause the evil?”

Hearing this, the young Wish Dragon suddenly realized that if he could grant wishes, his first wish was to be anywhere else. Bowing his head, he quietly told the others that he did not want to be a Wish Dragon anymore.

“Hungry, I am sorry, but it doesn’t work that way,” Cornelia replied. “You are what you are, but remember, it's your intention that will make the difference. Your intentions and maybe the help of your friends. Do you intend to harm the realms?” she asked.

“No! No, I love it here. I don’t want anything to happen to anyone here. I don’t wish harm to Scarlet nor the Nytemares, or Acorn, or Meen, or any of the others I have made friends with. What should I do?” Hungry inquired – now not really asking just Cornelia but the entire group.

Dewin seeing his chance spoke up as he approached the young Dragon. “Hungry, you don’t know me. I am a wizard. My name is Dewin and maybe I can help you. I have been thinking about the prophecy a lot since Passporte’ told me about it and I think I know what you should do…”

The Magic Begins... or "Well, well... What do we have here?"

5/5/2021

You know, I wasn't always a wishing well. I was built many, many, many years ago to offer water to the old woman who used to live by me. Then those four silly girls came around one day and started dancing around me. At one point they started throwing in little trinkets and making wishes. The problem is when you believe in something hard enough, it can take on a life of it's own. That is how I came into being The Wishing Well.

Now I am caught up in this silly drama waiting for my part to play as well. Oh, I have choices, don't get me wrong. It is not like I 'have' to do something. By one of my little acts, things could change the outcome. But would it just delay the same results or create another whole new problem? I decided a long time ago, to just go with the flow (that's a well joke if you missed it). So, I might as well see who has already arrived and who is coming since I can feel their energy as they approach.

Yep, there is that guy who likes to hide behind bushes, I think I heard his name once. It was something like "Snoop" or "Scoop". He has been camping here since yesterday and thinks no one is hearing him as he mutters to himself about finding the Scoop of the Century. Little does he know I have been listening to his babbling (another one of those well jokes - come'on and keep up).

Oh yes, I can now feel the gentle breezes that flow (get it?) when the Tree Mothers approach. Dryads have such a soothing healing energy that I do enjoy when they visit, though they don't come as often as they did when I was younger.

Efem was my favorite Tree Mother as I did enjoy her inner light. I see that Cornelia and Parsley still like to spar with each other, that certainly hasn't changed it seems. But who is that young energy around the Troll? I haven't met him before though I can feel a connection through him to the Tree Mothers. Hmm... that is interesting. Now the Troll certainly is a different vibration. Usually they are so slow and stagnate (think water... come'on these are funny), but this Troll has a different beat around him. I do believe he is going to have an important part in the prophecy if now is the time for it to happen.

Wow! That is a power I have not felt in eons! It seems that the time has come after all. A Wish Dragon has returned. He is what must have started this whole hullabo. His energy is so strong that I barely feel The CAT with him. I wonder if he knows what it really means to be a Spite to a Wish Dragon. If the others thought The CAT was a nuance before, they haven't seen anything yet if my guess is right.

With almost everyone here, its fun to watch the others circling around me. Each looking at the others and wondering what the other wants with the young Dragon.

Ahhh... now we all come together... for here is the wizard and the Spite who I gave my mirror too approaching like a tidal wave hitting the beach (okay... if you missed that one you really don't have a sense of humor and maybe aren't well --[wishing well that is - sorry just had to throw in one more]).

As Dewin, the Wizard, and Sprigg'n approach The Wishing Well, they are surprised to see so many others there. "Where did they all come from?" the wizard whispered to the Spite. "I thought we were only going to meet the Dragon." Before Sprigg'n could answer, Hungry noticed them walking down the trail and the first thing his eyes latched onto was what Sprigg'n was carrying. "You have MY PILLOW!" roared the Dragon.

Special Edition of the Bellwether

4/14/2021

Everyone is reading all about it!!! Snoop got the scoop! The truth behind the strange sightings in the Wandering Woods (or at least the foot prints and strange lights anyway) has been discovered.

Click here to read this Special Edition of the Bellwether

Several days ago Snoop volunteered to search out the Woods to discover the strange reports that had been coming in. What he has discovered will change everything in the Realms and you are reading it here first!

As Hewy and Sprout eat a quick snack at the Sugar Plum Bakery, the latest headlines catch the Troll's eye. Quickly scanning the article he grabs the young dryad and heads for the door. "We have somewhere to be," is all he tells Sprout.

Efem, Cornelia, and Parsley were all drinking tea while they waited to hear the latest reports from the Mushroom Line and Twitter birds when the special edition of the Bellwether arrived. Instantly they all jumped to their feet and started for the door. In their haste, Parsley did not even remember to leave a message for her son, Sprout. "I am sure he will find something to eat on his own," she thought after the three of them had hurried down the trail.

Nemmer, finally giving up on finding The CAT let alone a Wish Dragon, was walking home to have dinner with his wife, Cornelia, not realizing that at that moment she was closer to finding the Wish Dragon than he was. As he stooped in the doorway to pick up the newspaper that had just been delivered, he decided to quickly scan the headlines to catch-up on local events. He never had a chance to turn to the next page as he dropped the paper, turned around, and headed back down the trail.

As Fiddlefaddle delivered copies of the paper to both the Baron and Dowager with their tea, soon it would be known that their secret was out. The Wish Dragon had been discovered! “I hope Hungry will be alright,” thought Griselda, the Dowager, as she read the article.

Taking a break from his many duties at the stable, Scarlet was spending a minute reading the latest edition of the Bellwether. “Did you see this Meen?” asked the farrier to the jumping Pyksee. Before Meen could answer he continued, “Your Dragon friend has been discovered to be lose in the Woods and will be making an appearance at the Magical Wishing Well out back behind the King’s Castle today. Let’s go see how he’s been doing but first you should tell the Shadows' King.”

… and yes readers, we too will have a representative of the Bellwether on hand at the meeting to keep you informed as to what transpires at the Magical Wishing Well.

The Heart of Magic...

2/2/2018

“Atian, it just isn't so!" said Granny Flare. "Just because you figured out the Baroness' secret that I have been trying to keep, doesn't make you the expert! Yes, a baby Dragon is a challenge, but I am sure we can come up with a solution to keep him undiscovered until we are ready to let the Village know.”

"You are right about not letting the Village know, Granny, but you should have told the Council," Atian replies with a small shake of his head. "The Council should be a part of this process of helping the baby Dragon."

"You are right. The Council needs to talk to the Dragon," conceded Granny.

"Do you mean he can talk too? Baby Dragons talk?" hollered Atian.

"Don't yell at me Atian. You wanted to know all about him. What are we going to do?"

"What 'we' are going to do, Granny, is tell the Council now. But how and who should be first to know... I don't know?"

Off in the bushes, trying not to be seen, Snoop was doing what he is best known for - Snooping. "I wish I could get closer to hear more of what they are saying," he thought. He could only hear parts of their conversation, but enough to know they were talking about Dragons.

"That's it! Granny has a baby Dragon! No wonder Atian looks worried. That also explains the strange way the Baroness had been acting. This has got to go to the presses for today's edition of the newspaper... wait, who is that coming? It looks like Hunter. The King of Shadows hardly ever leaves his realm..." smiled Snoop. "I might as well get comfortable and wait to see why he is here."

Snoop starts snooping...

1/3/2018

"What is the Baroness hiding I wonder?" thought Snoop. Just having left her tea parlor, Snoop wasted no time in starting his ‘snooping’. "Maybe if I visit Atian he can see what clues I might be missing.

"We shall see… We shall see...” he thought. "After all, he is a fellow council member and the Village Historian and I am going to need help solving this mystery of what the Baroness is hiding."

As Snoop starts his walk to Atian's hut, Atian already has a visitor, Granny Flare. She yells out the front door as he is sitting in his favorite reading spot, the oversize mushroom in his yard.

"What else do you have on dragon's?" Granny asks. "Since you are the Historian, you might as well be the Librarian. You are the only one in the whole village with a decent collection of books." Not waiting for Atian to respond, she continues, "Do you have anything on the care and maintenance of a baby dragon?"

"Try the second stack behind the door. Towards the bottom," replies Atian. Granny soon finds them at the very bottom of the indicated pile. "If Atian was a Brownie he certainly would be much more organized than this, that's for sure," Granny thinks to herself.

As Snoop nears Atian's hut, he sees the Historian sitting on the large mushroom and reading one of his books. "Yep! Nothing strange here... Atian always seems to have his 'nose' in a book", Snoop thinks smiling to himself.

Granny sees Snoop coming up the walkway through a small window of the hut and decides she had better get out of there. "All I need now is Snoop snooping around and asking questions I don't want to answer," Granny decides.

"Atian, I am going to borrow a few of these books and will return them to you later in the week. Is that is okay with you?" Again, not waiting for Atian to answer, Granny sneaks out the backdoor of the hut with the books in tow.

"Good morning Atian, my old friend," greets Snoop.

Before looking up from his book, Atian mumbles to himself, "My day started so much quieter before all my friends started dropping in".

As Atian peers over the top of his book he replies, "Hello, Augustus (aka Snoop). I predicted from the way Granny Flare was just here that you would also be showing up soon."

"How would you know that?" responds a startled Snoop.

"It is all in seeing the patterns of history. That is my specialty after all. Now, how can I help you? You usually have some bee in your bonnet (or top hat) when you come to see me."

"I just finished having tea with the Baroness and I know that she is hiding something. She was twitching, nervous, and appeared like she was trying not to tell me something."

As he listens to Snoop's theories, Atian starts putting together recent events and some of the things that Granny Flare said while she was hunting through his books. Ideas started floating around in his head. Crazy ideas they were indeed!!!

"Snoop, Granny Flare was just here and she did mentioned that the Baroness had received a letter today from her grandfather, the Baron. This might be part of the mystery of why she was so twitchy and anxious as she told Granny that she had to leave town suddenly because of it."

"Did she say anything more?" asked Snoop.

"Granny did say she was being left in charge, but as to what, she wasn't sharing those details. Could this have something to do with the books she was asking about regarding baby Dragons? We all know about the Dragons leaving the Village and how that brought down the decline of the Village, but you are wanting to know more... Am I correct? There is a pattern here that the two of you are weaving regarding the need to know about Dragons."

Tea Party for 2 ... or is it?

11/15/2017

"More tea?” asked Dragonia as she stood before the Earl of Grey ready to pour. “Please, the little red speckled sandwiches are sweet and the green teacakes are salty,” she continued before he could answer.

“Thank you Baroness, I will have a little more,” ignoring the offered pastries. As she poured into his cup, he continued to look around at the small tea parlor they both were sharing for the moment. “I wonder why she has invited me to tea?” he thought, “Over the years, patience has been a virtue he has learned in his quest to ferret out hidden truths. He smiled politely to Dragonia. “How may I be of service to you, Baroness?”

"As you already know Snoop, I have placed the announcement for a council meeting in your newspaper. In the absence of my grandfather, I wish to speak to the council concerning the sad state of the village. The village needs to be revitalized.

Since Dragons have departed from here leaving a dragon nest egg shortage, these lands have not been as prosperous as before. I would like to see that changed,” replied Dragonia.

Nodding his head and peering over the top of his glasses, the Earl paused a moment before speaking. He noticed that the Baroness was fidgeting slightly and appeared a touch nervous.

Could he get her to reveal what was making her act so? “I don’t know if a meeting is really necessary. We all know it is a hopeless case without the Dragons' revenue so what is there really to talk about?” he slowly replied. Snoop watched her purse her lips before she answered, “Aahh, she does have something to hide” he realized.

“Perhaps I have a way to improve our situation Snoop,” she said “but I want to present the possibility to all of the council at once.”

Again, pausing to see if she would reveal more, he waited to see if she would continue. When she did not, he realized if he was to find out more he would have to ‘snoop’ around for himself. “I will be happy to hear your presentation at the meeting of the council Baroness, but now I must be going. Many things to do and people to see before the next edition of the paper goes to print. Have a pleasant day.” Pushing his glasses back from the bridge of his nose and donning his hat, he arose to take his leave.

What happens when the Earl loses the family jewels?

11/5/2017

Now Snoop is quite the character. He is the Earl of Grey. The title is as old as the hills and I heard through the Historian that it came about due to something of saving a ship load of the King's Tea.

But that ship has long since sank. He is now an impoverish Earl meaning he may have the title but not the fortune. So what will that make him look like?

He does own the Village newspaper which is his only source of income... or at least that is all that we are aware of. He certainly has the nose for sniffing out a good story.

It isn't like he doesn't want to know about everything and everyone in the Village, but being an Earl, he does have a certain level of snobbery and aloofness to maintain after all.

So from the top of his top hat, to his frayed cuffs and the patch on his pants, and finally to the bottom of his spat shoes...

I hope you enjoy meeting Augustus, the Earl of Grey, otherwise known as Snoop.