Category: Story

And the competition is on...

9/21/2021

As Druzzy, King of the Trolls, sat on his throne only partially listening to a troll speak about about the rising costs of bridge construction, his mind was really focused on his plans for the young Wish Dragon. "I must have it," he muttered silently to himself as the speaker continued, totally unaware that his royal audience's mind was miles away and many years into the past.

Once he would have considered Hir'aeth, now the Gooblin King, a good friend. That was many, many years ago and before that moment. "Ah, if he hadn't dropped it, I would have had it," thought Druzzy. It had been their first search for a collectable. Both had boasted about how they would be the one to find the rare and precious bone sculpture. It was a one-of-a-kind as only one had ever been made by the great Dragon master artist, Di-Zane, but it had been lost when Di-Zane left with the other Dragons. After many years of searching, both the troll and gooblin had finally found the Dragon's lair. Little did they realize that Di-Zane also left clever little devices behind to keep his secrets. As Hir'aeth was the first to put his hands on the sculpture, a rock came crashing down and smashed it to a thousand small pieces. Hir'aeth barely was able to remove his hands before the stone fell but the piece was now lost forever! "If he would have let me take it first, I would have saved it," Druzzy still thought.

It was from this day forth that started the competition on a less than friendly beginning and as the years continued, that desire to one-up the other became even more fierce between the two. Now, it seemed, to be the sole ambition of each of the rulers over all else! Who will win the next competition?

As the speaker went on about the bridge problems, he took heart when he saw the King smiling and nodding his head. "He must like my presentation," he thought and continued on, not once realizing that the King of the Trolls was really smiling at his own thought that he knew something the Gooblin King did not. "I will get this talisman first," he silently told himself, just waiting to see the look of defeat on the Gooblin King's face when he showed him his newest acquisition.

Burnt Out...!!

9/14/2021

Hewy needed to check on Hungry, the little Dragon, especially after being "asked" by the Troll King to find him. As he followed the trail to Cornelia's cottage, (since that is where Hungry was staying) his thoughts were concentrated on what had just happened at the Troll King's court. "Why does the King really want to meet Hungry?" he pondered. He knew that Druzzy was up to no good, but he just could not see what he wanted from the young Wish Dragon. "I need to talk to the others," he mumbled deciding that was his best course and wondering what was causing this smoke in the air? The smoke seemed to be coming from the direction of Cornelia's cottage! He quickened his pace and after realizing that it WAS coming from the cottage he started running towards the smoke.

Smoke was rolling out of the windows and the door. Fearing for his friends he was just about to run into the cottage when he saw Cornelia, Efem, The CAT, and Hungry all standing near the bee hives. As usual, The CAT was just looking at everything and smiling, Efem and Cornelia were both coughing and wiping their watering eyes, and Hungry, if a Dragon can look apologetic and embarrassed, was wringing his front paws together saying that he was really, realllllly sorry.

"Is everyone okay? Where's the water buckets and I will start trying to put the fire out!" asked Hewy as he started towards the well.

"Hewy, It's fine. The fire is out," Efem was finally able to tell him after she had stopped coughing. Cornelia grumbled, since Efem was coughing again, "We have found out that when Hungry gets excited, he spits a little fire and a lot, and I do mean a lot, of smoke."

It took Hewy a minute before he realized what was happening, then since everyone was okay, he started laughing. This is when The CAT joined in as he also thought it was funny. Knowing that he was Hungry's Spite, The CAT was enjoying both being fed by Cornelia and Efem as well as the entertainment of these Wish Dragon's lessons. Hewy, soon realizing that both of the Dryads were not as amused as him, quickly stopped laughing but still could not take the smile from his lips.

"And to what do we owe this visit from you today?" growled Efem as she wiped the tears from her eyes. "You are not scheduled to be Hungry's teacher for another couple of weeks."

Having almost forgotten his reason for the visit, Hewy quickly told them of his meeting with the King of the Trolls and his concerns. "I agree Hewy, he is up to no good," answered Efem. "The question is, what do we do?"

"I have been thinking about that and the best I can come up with is to send Hungry somewhere for a while so Druzzy won't be able to find him until we find out what he is wanting," answered Hewy. "The problem is that I can't think of anyplace safe and where he won't be seen."

It was The CAT that came up with the answer. "Well, since your places aren't fireproof," smiled The CAT, "Why not send him to Dewin's for his lessons a little early? With the shabby way your homes are built, at least the cave won't burn down..." With the withering stares he received from both Efem and Cornelia, for once The CAT did not finish his sentence. Standing up and slinking away, Hewy could hear The CAT muttering something like, "sure, blame the cat..."

Now Dewin, being a wizard, had given the others each a crystal to communicate with him over long distances so they could keep in touch. They decided that would be the best for Hungry and after the smoke cleared, went back inside of the cottage where they told Dewin about their concerns and request. Shortly Sprigg'n, the Spite that had attached herself to the wizard upon his arrival to the Realm, arrived and they (Hungry, The CAT, and Sprigg'n) were off to the safety of Dewin's cave.

As they left and Hewy watched them crest the first hill and disappear from sight, Hewy finally felt that Hungry would soon be safe... ahhh, but will he? There seems to be others who also wish to see the Wish Dragon and not all of them from just curiosity. "Now," wondered Hewy, "in the meantime where I am going to disappear until this blows over?"

It came in a dream...

8/25/2021

I do admit I get interesting dreams and from time to time I will get such complete and detailed ones that I receive a full story... like the Story of the Sleeping Sisters. It was that story that inspired the creation of Awena. I felt this tale needed to be told but didn't know how to incorporate it into our Dragon Tale.

Again... little messages or clues inspired the "competition" between two kings.

So what is so important and why is the King of the Trolls trying to find a blue rose? Ahhh, but this is not just any colorful flower. This is a treasure of great mystery and power! The Blue Rose is one of the greatest treasures in all of the Realm of Wymsy but it has been hidden for a very long time by the Sleeping Sisters...

Maybe you will understand more if you knew the tale? It all began a long time ago, not very far from this spot, and it involved four sisters who were just trying to find a way not to get into any more trouble... but let's have Awena tell the tale...

***Click here to read the tale***

Answering a Royal Summons...

8/17/2021

"I wonder what he really wants," thought Hewy as he sat in the receiving room waiting to see the Troll King. "After the last party I played for his Royalty and with the Gooblin King showing up uninvited -- it was pretty well understood by everyone that there would be no more parties at this palace. It hadn't been pretty when the Gooblin King entered and stole the audience by having a bigger gem to show off than King Druzzy," Hewy sat remembering.

The more Hewy thought about it, the more he was convinced that the King must have another reason for summoning him than just to write the music for another party. "I bet it has something to do with Hungry," he guessed. At this time his own stomach rumbled as he had been waiting quiet a long time and was beginning to get hungry before finally Drat, the King's minion, came to invite Hewy into the royal chambers.

"Ah, Hewy, just the Troll I was waiting for," smiled the King with a quick wink to his eye and a small smirk on his lips as he knuckles bumped Hewy's clenched fists. There were very few protocols for Trolls, but the knuckles bump was one that all Trolls did. More of out safety than anything else, just like a salute is to make sure your enemy's hand was empty of a weapon, trolls wanted to make sure both hands were busy. Every troll wanted to live to become an Ancient One so each was taught as a young trolling to make sure that you did not allow anyone to get a hold on you. Thus the knuckles bump was started making it difficult (but not impossible) to be grabbed.

"How may I serve you sire?" Hewy asked as he quickly backed away from the King to be a safe.

"Hewy, I have heard about a young Wish Dragon and that you are to be one of his teachers, is that correct?" Before Hewy could reply though, the King kept talking... "It has been a long time since the Dragons have been in the realm, do you think that you could bring him here to meet with me? I would really like to have a private chat with him," asked the King, again giving him that wink-wink. Now, when a King asks for something of one of his subjects, it really is not a request, it is a nice way of saying that he wants something and it is up to the one being asked to get it. The Troll Kingdom is no exception.

Hewy knew he was going to need to answer this request but he hoped he could delay it for a little while. "I will have to meet with the young Wish Dragon, sire," answered Hewy, "as he is currently with his other teachers."

"That's fine... just fine. Don't be long and let Drat know when you will return," the King idly replied as his mind was already planning the next steps of his scheme. "You may go."

Drat, knowing his cue, started ushering Hewy from the King's presence. As Drat and Hewy left, the King overheard his minion asking where the Wish Dragon was now, how long before Hewy would be returning, and what did a Wish Dragon eat?

"Now, the next step in getting the Blue Rose begins," snickered Druzzy with a smile on his lips and a twinkle in his larcenous eyes.

What a Knight!

8/3/2021

The Dowager, Griselda, had heard that there was going to be an event in the Woods hosted by Hunter, the Shadows' King. Some type of tournament where Hunter's Nytemares would be able to let out some energy. If it was going to be like the tournaments that she had watched as a much younger maid she just had to go. The problem with a tournament though is that proper young ladies did not go alone. "Maybe Efem would enjoy this too," she thought. At first she was going to snail mail the invite, but then decided to send it through the Bee-Gs to see if the Dryad would accompany her to the Festival.

Later, as Efem and the Dowager were walking around the tournament field admiring the beautiful Nytemares competing against each other, the Dowager asked Efem "Have you heard anything in the Mushroom line about Hewy's new commission to the Troll King and what the King is like? I have been gone quite a while and maybe the Baron has met the Troll King, but I have never been introduced to him myself."

"I had not heard about a commission and I don't know anything about the King of the Trolls personally, only gossip of what the Twitter Birds retweet about him. They say that he can be a devil," Efem answered.

"Oh No!" Griselda exclaimed. "Do you mean he is evil? We don't need that here!" "No... No..." smiled Efem. "He not the blackhearted, world destroying evil type. The buzzing I have been hearing is that he is more the minor, mischievous imp, wicked-fun type than dark evil. Just not someone you would trust your family fortune too! Eventually he would find a way to keep it and have you working for him too."

"Oh" the Dowager sighed. "Then he could still be dangerous in his own way," dreamily smiling as she gazed at a knight riding a Nytemare in the jousting arena... "We will have to keep an eye on him - for Hewy's sake of course." Efem, realizing that Griselda was staring at the knight and not the horse, turned startled eyes to the Dowager and smiled, "Griselda, aren't you too old for such nonsense?"

The Dowager, turning her big innocent eyes towards her answered with a laugh, "I'm not dead yet!"

The Game is On...

7/27/2021

"Sire. I know you and 'him' are both collectors, shall we say, of rare objects, but you shouldn't assume that he also is looking for the Token. 'He' may not even be aware of its existence," said Drat.

"Oh, he knows about it my furry little friend. It was one of the first things we fought over when he told me his collection was better than mine," growled Druzzy.

"He has always been poking his pointy little, no, I take that back, his pointy BIG nose in my affairs ever since," said the King as he put his hands in front of his nose and acted like it was long and pointy. "Even your nose is not as big as his," chuckled Druzzy, now in a little better mood.

"Now Drat, how are we going to get that token?"

"The reports indicate that another Troll helped the Wish Dragon Sire. I suggest that you maybe can smooze him. He apparently has a close association to one of the Sleeping Sisters," grinned Drat. "If you can try a little of your knavery..."

"I don't knave" glared Druzzy. "I educate. There is a difference you know. Can I help it if my charm and good naturedness gives me the best of the bargain?"

"So sorry Sire. If you 'convince' this Troll that your best intentions are for the Wish Dragon and building its trust for Trolls, maybe he can help us get closer to the Token."

"What is the Troll's name?" asked Druzzy as he started pondering his scheme (err... I mean plan).

"It is Hewy, Sire. He is the master musician that wrote the music for your last rock party. You know, the one where you showed off the new jewel added to your crown. The one that the Goob..."

"Don't say his name!" roared Druzzy.

Drat, The Rat, did not move nor complete his comments. He silently waited for the King of the Trolls to calm down enough to speak. When he did, it was to tell his minion to find Hewy and bring him to the royal court for a commission.

As Drat was leaving, his sensitive ears picked up the Kings mumblings. "I wonder where did he find that gem bigger than mine and how he crashed my party with it..."

Reporting In Sire...

7/20/2021

Being the King of the Trolls was a little bit of an annoyance to Druzzy especially this time each week. Trolls, being extremely independent, were usually not the greatest subjects to a mon-archy (nor even a mom-archy...), but once every week, Druzzy had to sit in the throne room and hear reports from all of his subjects. Most were minor complaints such as 'so and so won't let me cross the bridge' or 'an annoying billy-goat won't leave me alone'. There was only one highlight on these dull boring days and that was when Drat gave his secret report.

That report was given only after all of the courtiers had been dismissed and the hall cleared of everyone but his only trusted minion.

"Okay Drat, what have you been hearing that I should know?" asked Druzzy. After looking around the room to confirm that others were not there to overhear, Drat (the Rat) unrolled his scroll to give the King his weekly report.

"Well Sire, first there is the letter from the Shadows' King, Hunter, expressing his appreciation about one of your subjects assisting in the Wish Dragon affair. He is hoping that this will be the beginnings of a..."

"Get on with it Drat. I know about all that stuff. Tell me about 'you know'," growled Druzzy. "Jump to the good stuff!"

"Yes your majesty. It appears with the reappearance of the Wish Dragons, that maybe you might finally be able to add to your collection of magical artifacts. It appears that the Wish Dragon, named Hungry, does not seem to be aware of the item and thinks that a Dragon's Token is trust. You might be able to use that when dealing with him."

"Very interesting... Of course I am trust worthy... as long as you read the fine print on the contract. Won't the Dragon's Token make a fine addition to my collection Drat?" said the King, not really waiting for an answer. "The Sleeping Sisters have it hidden away somewhere and now maybe, with the help of this young Dragon, I can get it before another annoying collector beats me to it."

"Do you mean," began the Rat before he was interrupted.

"Don't say that name!" growled Druzzy. "He's irritating enough on his own without you saying his name."

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!”…