Evergreen Friends

Introduction

Deep in a far green country, there lives a wondrous community of forest critters . These are not normal forest critters by any means. They live lives much like us, and enjoy many of the same comforts. Unlike us they live their lives devoid of human contact. As such they have the pleasure and terror of sharing their lives, adventures, and misfortunes with many creatures in our tales of fantasy and folklore.

The following tale recounts the events surrounding one of evergreens spring flings. On the eve of their spring festival the community was almost brought to ruins by a plot most nefarious.

The Goblin King and his conspirators have hatched a plot to raid the town, destroy the trees, and kidnap the children. Only time will tell if Evergreen will survive the Goblin Kings Ire. With the Children kidnapped, a distressed town calls for aid.

Mr. Badger and his companions rush off to find the children. On their quest, Mr. Badger will find deep revelations about himself, one of his companions, and their shared past.

CHAPTER ONE

Dawn just arrived, and the morning dew hung like a thick soft shroud about the town. In the distance a rooster crowed announcing the waking of the sun, and sheep bayed in the fields. The mouth-watering smell of fresh baked bread and pastries wafted through the trees, and the tink-tink sound of hammer on anvil echoed through the air.

Welcome to the town of Evergreen, home to a community of extraordinary woodland creatures and the last remnants of an ancient race of sentient trees. They live lives similar to our and enjoy many of the same comforts. Spring has just arrived, and the town is preparing for their spring festival. With just a few days left before the festival, the town is rushing to get everything ready.

Mayor Hamilton was busy about town, checking in with the town's folk and helping out where he could. Mr. Fox and Mole were busy building the main stage in the town center next to the wise old evergreen tree. Old man evergreen had the towns children nestled under the shade of his bows. They listened quietly as he rehearsed the history of land, and the beginning of the town up to the current events. His voice boomed deep and reverberant, yet had the softness of a grandfather speaking to his grandchildren. As the oldest being in town, everyone went to old man evergreen for advise.

The sound of metal work was coming from the far edge of town, at the home of Mr. Badger. The sounds came from his workshop more precisely, for Rupert Badger is the town Blacksmith. His home and workshop sit on the far edge of town, but he is comfortable with his seclusion. When not working his smithy he keeps watch over town , with his friends Fox, Mole and Jeremiah frog. His home sits on the boundary of the town and the lands belonging to trolls and goblins and a very disagreeable clan of weasels.

Rupert was busy making new hinges and locking bar for the old iron gate behind the O'Hare family farm. The gate separates the town from the fey lands, and glade where lady willow resides. Also at the workshop was little molly o"hare, the youngest child of Martha and Thomas O'Hare.

Molly is fond of Mr Badger, and enjoys helping him work. Rupert enjoys Molly’s company, and made her his apprentice in the blacksmith arts. She kept herself busy around the workshop, cleaning, and handing or taking tools to or from Mr Badger.

Rupert had just finished one set of hinges when Sirius squirrel and Bartly beaver walked in. He set down his hammer and tongs and turns to them; yes, what can I do for you?.

Sirius steps forward, hello Rupert, hello molly! Well, we um.. need some more nails to finish the stage and booths.

Mr. badger sighed and grumbled as he searched around the workshop; oh where are they, Molly have you… oh never mind here they are.

Rupert hands squirrel a box of nails. that’s a box of fifty, says Mr Badger.

Bartly looks at the box in squirrels hands,and frowns; I’m afraid we need more than that. We need at least another box or two.

Rupert puts his hands on his hips and wrinkles his brow in frustration, well that’s all I have for now, if I can make more today I will, but only after I finish these gate parts.

Sirius was about to say something but Molly interrupted, I could make the nails! Please, it would be fun!

Mr Badger smiled at her, "you sure can, but only if you really want to. You may miss story time with old man evergreen.

Molly jumps off her stool,"oh that’s alright, I will listen at the festival. I like making nails!

alright then, Mr Badger chuckles. He turns to squirrel and beaver," You will have your nails when she is done. Oh, and Sirius, tell mayor Hamilton I want Woulfgar to stay here tonight. I saw someone sneaking around the fields behind my house last night..

Sirius and Bartly nodded and left. Mr Badger turned to help Molly get setup. He set out a smaller anvil across from his, and close to the forge. Molly ran to her workbench and pulled out the set of tools Rupert made for her. She set them on the table next to her anvil, and tied on her leather apron. She quickly re-ties her bows on her long floppy ears, and giggles excitedly as Rupert hands her the metal ore to smelt.

today you will make some copper and tin nails, I need the iron to finish your dads gate. Do you remember how to use the smelter?

Oh yes! Molly says excitedly, and I will be careful I promise"!

Mr. Badger chuckles, Ok, remember to use the heavy gloves and go easy pouring the metal into the molds.

"Yes Sir, she says excitedly as she places the copper ore in the smelter. Mr. Badger just chuckles and shakes his head as he begins hammering the next hinge plate.

Just as they get started they hear distant barking. Moments later Woulfgar comes bounding in the workshop. Woulfgar is an Irish wolfhound. He lost his human master to illness, and was accepted into the town as a friend and guardian. He is almost the tallest member of the community with the exception of the elder trees and Mayor Hamilton, who stands shoulder to shoulder with him.

Woolfy!, molly shouts and gives him a big hug. Woulfgar nuzzles her cheek and she giggles. Mr. Badger looks up from his anvil, Molly, remember the smelter. There will be time to play with wolfgar, but after the work ok.

Molly quickly runs back to the smelter, oh yeah, sorry sir.

Mr Badger smiles at her, its ok, Woulfgar is an easy distraction, which reminds me . He turns to Woulfgar, something was sneaking around the back fields, go see if you can pickup a sent, if you please. Woulfgar nods and bounds out of the workshop and down to the fields behind Mr. Badgers home.

Back inside, the ore in the smelter was ready. Molly watched eagerly as the molten copper flowed down into the smelting pot. When the pot was full she quickly but poured the molten copper into the nail molds. As she waited for the molds to cool she cleaned and readied the smelter for the tin ore.

Once she was finished she returned to the molds and pulled the nails out and placed them in a neat pile next to the anvil. One by one she heated the nails in the forge and hammered a good edge and head to each nail. Once they were all done and cool she placed them in a box and set them on her workbench.

She was about to put the tin in the smelter when she realized Mr. Badger was no longer in the workshop. Puzzled she saw that he left with a hinge only partly finished. Worried she left the workshop to look for him. She first checked his house, only to find he hasn’t home. She went back outside and saw him back in the fields with Woulfgar. They both looked upset about something. She ran towards them calling them both.

Mr. Badger was talking to Woulfgar. So your sure its weasel? Woulfgar nodded, and goblin, never forget their stench!

Rupert grumbled and shook his head,this cant be good! I’m going to need you with me tonight for the watch. Before Woulfgar could respond, they heard Molly calling them frantically. They turned to see her running towards them. Worried the run to meet her.

Molly jumps into Mr. Badgers arms, and he wraps he in a big bear hug and sets her down and looks her over. whatever is the matter?

Molly sniffs, I was afraid something happened, I was so busy working that I never heard you leave. Is everything alright? Mr. Badger smiles and brushes a tuft of hair from her eyes, yes everything is fine, Wolfy and I just had some adult things to discuss, nothing to worry yourself about".

Molly nods, I finished a box of nails, I think I’m ready to start the next box.

well its noon, how about we take a lunch break? Before molly could respond her stomach rumbles. Mr. Badger laughs, I will take that as a yes .

They all walk into the house. Molly washes up and sets the table. Rupert sets out a bowl on mint water and roasted pheasant for Woulfgar. For Molly and himself he set out a decanter and glasses of cool mint tea, a tray of seed cakes, some sandwiches and fresh blackberries and cream. Molly's eyes swelled as she looked at the delicious spread.

your belly isn’t going to be happy just staring at the food, said Mr. Badger warmly. Molly sat ,licked her lips and eagerly filled her plate.

After lunch Rupert and Molly quickly finish their tasks. Molly boxes up all the nails and says goodbye to Rupert and Woulfgar before skipping down the lane towards the town square. Rupert packs up the gate hinges and his tools and makes his way to the O'Hare farm. Woulfgar nods to each, yawns and curls up in his favorite napping spot and was fast asleep.

Back in town square, old man evergreen had just finished his story,and the children thanked him and ran off to play. He quietly surveyed the progress of the festival preparations, and dropped one more branch from his many ancient bows so the folk hard at work could shape it as they needed.

Beaver and his sons thanked the him and quickly took the wood away to cut the boards they needed. Mayor Hamilton concerned walked over to the ancient tree and stuck his thumbs in his suspenders before speaking.All ways we thank you for the generous offers of your wood, but you have given so much already,please don’t push your limits on our behalf.

Old Man evergreen just looked down on him and smiled,your concern is heartwarming, but unnecessary. I only give what I do not need. I haven’t gotten this old by being too generous.

The ancient tree swept his gaze over the town and all the folk hard at work, Mayor Hamilton followed his gaze. And besides, I believe this year will be the greatest year the town has seen since its founding. Mayor Hamilton looked over the progress and frowned,yes I believe your right, if we can get everything ready in time.

The mayor trotted over to the main stage where Mr. Fox, Squirrel, and Otter were just finishing lunch and getting back to work. how are things coming gentlemen?

Mr. Fox looked at their near empty box of nails and frowned, Not too bad mayor, but we wont be able to finish today if Rupert and Molly don’t come through with those nails we asked for.

As if on que Molly came skipping down the lane and right up to the main stage, I have the nails for you, and I made them myself!. Mr Fox took the nails and looked them over, thank you molly, this is just what we needed. Molly smiled and skipped over to the old evergreen. Mr. Fox turned to mayor Hamilton, we will have everything done before sundown, mayor. Mayor Hamilton nodded,good,good! Id like to help but I have to run to the post and make sure all the invitations and announcements have been sent out.

The Mayor quickly said his goodbyes and was shortly off to the post. The old Evergreen looked down at molly, Hello Molly, I missed you at the telling today. Molly nervously played with the dirt at her feet, I’m sorry, its just that I wanted to help Mr Badger today. I promise I will be there for the telling at the festival.

Old man evergreen chuckled alright little one. Oh I almost forgot, your brothers are looking for you. They are in the great barn up in the hay loft. Thanks, said molly and she quickly hopped through the field toward the grand old barn.

Inside she quickly climbed the ladder to the loft. Her brothers were busy stacking hay bales for the maze, and sending all the loose hay down to pile for the barn jumping.

She called to them as she made her way through the hay maze. They smiled at seeing their little sisters ears popping up over the hay stacks.the maze looks great!, said Molly.

Bucky, her oldest brother, looked over their maze;"yep,