Author: admin

They did not actually take much time to celebrate. They were each hungry and tired and ready to be back in a more familiar setting. A faint trail led further into the woods and they decided to try their luck following it. They were climbing up an embankment of rocks and roots when a loud boom stopped them in their tracks. Even the trees and stones shook from the sound of the blast. The trio rushed to hide themselves. The possibility of a hunter angry at the loss of his trap was not far from their minds. They stayed perfectly still and silent while they watched and listened from their hiding spots. They did not see anything approaching but the initial bang was followed by a whooshing sound that seemed to right overhead.

Allie May, Cleo and Hugh were pleased with a job well done. They congratulated each other not just on their latest teamwork, but for all the trials they had passed through together. Clasping hands they pledged long lasting friendship.

“I’m not just saying this, it really is true. I have never had a buddy like either of you,” Allie May told them with a smile.

“We take such good care of one another. I feel I have a new sister and brother,” Cleo agreed.

 “Yes! Our strange trio is pretty great. Let’s take time to celebrate!” Hugh added with enthusiasm.

After yesterday’s scribbling crosshatch tonight it was nice to use my new varied point pens to draw a few more precise lines.

“Anyone could be walking along without a care, and then snap, they’re caught in the snare!” Hugh stood up and looked around. “It’s not just a matter of luck. We need to make sure no else gets stuck.”

Cleo and Allie May agreed. They discussed their options and decided the best plan was to dig a hole and bury the rope and net. Both armadillos and coypus are expert diggers so they took care of the hole while Allie May climbed the tree and cut down the rest of the net.

Once it was buried they found twigs and leaves to spread around so that the spot looked like any other place in the woods.

Allie May was pondering what her mother might be cooking for dinner when she heard a loud yelp from behind her. She stood up and looked around. Her friends had left obvious tracks across the sand leading to the woods beyond the beach. She started heading that direction and then heard what was definitely Cleo and Hugh calling her name. She picked up her pace and it did not take long for her to find them. Hugh was stuck in a big net hanging from a tree and Cleo was jumping up and down beneath trying to grasp hold of it. 

“While you were finishing up your nap, I seem to have walked right into a trap,” Hugh told her the obvious and then went back to gnawing on the ropes that surrounded him.

Allie May climbed on Cleo’s back which allowed her to reach the net and started cutting at the rope with her knife as well. Working together they were able to rip a large enough hole in the net for the Coypu to push himself through. He fell to the ground beside them with a crash.

“Who do you think put this here? And do you think they are still near? Cleo asked them looking around nervously.

“Let’s see what is beyond the shore. Come on Allie, let’s go explore!” Hugh woke up with tons of energy. Allie May was slower to open her eyes. The sand and the sun felt warm on her skin. She was in no hurry to get up.

“I’ll catch up after you go a little way. For a while this is where I want to stay,” she admitted.

Cleo decided she was ready for a walk, so while the two animals headed off towards the trees beyond the beach Allie May relaxed and gazed at the blue expanse above her. Fluffy clouds that looked like chef hats floated lazily along. Allie May watched them contentedly and thought about everything that had happened so far, and wondered what could possibly happen next.

Did you ask where the Copics were?

Allie May found the reef and its creatures absolutely fascinating. She would have liked to float there watching them all afternoon, but she did not have the energy. While coming up for air she noticed that on the other side of the reef there was what looked like a small island.

She pointed it out to Hugh, “Look, we could reach that beach in a snap. And then, we could take a well deserved nap.”

He agreed that a snooze was just what they needed. They carefully swam across the reef and towards the beach. As they got closer they saw that someone was already curled up on the sand. It was Cleo. When they reached her she opened her eyes and mumbled a greeting. They were thrilled to see her but still so tired. Within moments all three were deep in their much needed sleep.

Allie May tried to keep her eyes on her friends as they spiraled deeper and deeper but it was no use. The river seemed to have dumped them into an underground sea. Allie May tasted salt water as she gasped for air in the funnel. She felt it could quite possibly be her last when something dove through the swirling wall of water and stopped her descent. At first she was too disoriented to know what it was, but she grabbed hold anyway. She held on tight as they swam away from the whirlpool. It did not take long for the darkness to start to recede as they moved up towards warmer water. They started seeing fish moving through the water, and then a bright and bustling coral reef stretched out in front of them. Hugh, for it was the Coypu who had rescued her, brought up Allie up to the surface of the water to catch her breath, then they both dove back down to look in wonder at the beautiful color and textures of the reef.

“I’ve always wondered where this river might flow. Now I guess I will finally know.” Cleo said with a sigh as she surfaced. All three were strong swimmers and they had no trouble following the current of the underground river as it meandered through dark tunnels. But the lack of light meant that they had no advance warning of the whirlpool that had formed ahead of them. No matter how hard they paddled to try and get clear of it they were no match for the powerful swirling funnel of water.  They were soon all so dizzy and exhausted that there was nothing they could do to keep from being pulled down into the center of it.

Most of the animals ran back towards the cave they called their outpost but Allie May had noticed a ledge with an opening near where she had been working. As the sky had darkened she thought she had seen flickers of blue light from within it. It reminded her of the will-o-the-wisp. She pulled herself up and peered into the darkness. After just a moment the blue light appeared again. She rushed after it. Cleo saw her go and gasped. She called to Hugh and told him they needed to follow and quickly. They clamoured up and rushed after her.

“Wait! Stop! Don’t run anymore! I have to tell you about the trap door!” Cleo tried to shout above the sound of the rain, but Allie May could not hear her. She was so focused on the blue light that she did not notice when the rock floor turned to a wooden bridge. But she definitely knew when the planks swung out from under her and once again she was falling. 

The water Allie May landed in was incredibly cold and deep, but she could still see the blue light glowing above her. She was able to swim towards it and get her head above water. She tread water and looked up at the booby trapped bridge. Cleo and Hugh had just arrived at the gap in the bridge. They only paused for a minute and first Hugh and then Cleo dove in after her.