Whippersnappers

The full story for advanced students

This is the full story, written for first-language readers. You can use this with your advanced students who need more of a challenge. Or it’s fun to look at and listen to with the whole class so they can feel the difference. bIt goes with the Snaps lessons and the simplified story we put out every week.

Prologue

As the galaxy spins on a needle of night

And the stars twist along to the unseen song

I stand.

As the greenest of hills makes the blue river play

And the biggest of ants lies sleeping in shade

I stand.

For I am the biggest tree in the Great North Forest.

My breath moves cloud. My leaf-rustle is a shifting age.

I am as wide as a dream, as tall as the rain.

As strong as the mud and as old as the breeze.

For I am Hemved, the home tree.

Chapter 1: Whippersnappers

On my branches and in my roots live the Whippersnappers.

The Whippersnappers are likers of comfort, lovers of story and adorers of fun. They are sturdy of soul, happy of heart and twitchy of tail. And not just one tail, but two. Each Whippersnapper has a bottom tail and a top tail. With this couplet of magnificent furry tails, they can swing through trees like maddening monkeys, hang from branches like brilliant bats and play intricate games like circling swallows.

In Autumn, Whippersnappers harvest and dry mushrooms. Dried mushrooms keep well until Spring. Whippersnappers collect nuts and berries for the long winter months. Crunchy hazelnuts, luscious lingonberries, succulent walnuts, and delicate cloudberries. Delicious acorns and juice-filled blueberries. All are carefully placed into leafy pots and covered in the warm protection of the finest mosses. For when winter comes with icy breath and sparkling fingers, it’s good to have a safe store of tasty things for unexpected parties and midnight feasts.

In Winter, Whippersnappers sing songs, write poetry, and read old books. In songs you find the rhythms of feet and hands. The whirling of dance and the high-low voices keep the cold at bay and the wind’s moan thin. In poems you find sunshine on a dark night and carefree butterflies embrace the Northern Lights. And in old books – well, in old books you find nothing but words and pictures. But, as everyone knows, from nothing comes something. And something can be anything.

On the darkest night, Whippersnappers have the deep winter party. And what a party it is! Music to shimmy and sway; plates of food piled so high that mice dare not climb to the tops; games to shine the dullest of thoughts and chaos to challenge the stars.

In Spring, Whippersnappers clean, make mushroom stew from the Autumn harvest and carve furniture. Mushrooms are the finest of things. Tasty, filling, warming and perfect with wild garlic. And Great North Forest mushrooms are the best of all – strong thick stems and a hat shape that wants to be a circle but always gets it wrong and never seems to care. Stews become rich and thick and stay in Whippersnapper bellies, warming through the night until breakfast jams usher in the new day.

In Summer, Whippersnappers jump into lakes, roll down hills and decorate their tails with wildflowers. Spiky purple flowers. Long yellow petalled flowers. Tiny white flowers like the tears of a snowflake, and powder-blue flowers yearning to be bells. Each is entwined in the other. Garlands of new life and colorful exuberance. And, on the longest day, Whippersnappers celebrate mid-summer. Hopping like frogs around my trunk, tail in tail in tail, snouts upturned to the never-setting sun and eyes bright with stories to come, they sing and sing and sing.

All year round, Whippersnappers are hard at work. They learn the languages of every animal that lives in the Great North Forest. And why do the Whippersnappers learn and learn? One reason. Stories.

The foxes, the mice. The beavers and birds. The reindeer, the rats, the moles and the bats. All that live in tree, in cave, in frozen lake and sun-filled moss have a story.

The Whippersnappers collect these stories of the forest and write them in journals. The journals are kept in the library, hidden beneath my roots. At special parties and on interesting days, the Whippersnappers read the stories to each other. Whippersnappers love stories.

The library has Whippersnapper journals that tell the stories of the Great North Forest for a thousand seasons.

Griselda the librarian takes care of the books and makes sure excited Whippersnappers don’t make too much noise. Griselda is a hedgehog so when the Snaps don’t behave well, she rolls up into a ball of spiky bits and chases them from the library. She is a bit scary and a bit lovely which is strange for a hedgehog but perfectly proper for a librarian.

Chapter 2: Four friends

Whippersnappers is a long name. So, the Whippersnappers call themselves Snappers, or sometimes just Snaps.

Here are four young Snaps. This is Fex, Velamsund, Boo and Beck.

Boo and Beck are twins. Boo was born one minute before Beck.

This is Fex. He is two seasons older than the twins.

This is Velamsund. She is one season younger than the twins.

Boo and Beck like to see who can jump from the highest branch and make the biggest splash.

The twins sleep in bunk beds. Boo is older so sleeps on top. Beck doesn’t understand why. Boo likes football, painting and pencils and crayons made from bees’ wax. Beck likes football and hockey and reading. Both twins like to play chess but both twins are not very good. Fex and Vel beat them all the time, so they don’t play with them. Losing sometimes is ok, but losing all the time is very tiring. So, they just play chess with each other.

Velamsund likes things she doesn’t understand. She also collects pictures of things she doesn’t understand. Her friend Boo paints them for her, and she hangs the paintings on the walls of her little house.

Vel has a pet snail called Clarence. He helps her to count things. She loves baseball and her favourite colours are green and red. Her favourite nut is a conker, but Fex says it isn’t a nut because you can’t eat it. Vel thinks he is wrong.

Fex likes singing to ants. Fex’s big passion is music. All kinds of music.

Fex’s house is full of musical instruments: drums, guitars, triangles and flutes. When he isn’t playing with his friends or writing up his journal Fex plays music and he studies. He has been studying with Kikkix, the Whippersnapper Master Musician, for three seasons already. One day, Fex wants to be a master musician too.

On the evening of the darkest day is the deep winter party. Kikkix, the Master Musician, has spent a month making a musical ice tree. She pours tiny bits of water from acorn cups to make the icicles longer or shorter. Then, when she knocks the icicles with sticks, they make beautiful music of different tones.

At the party, Whippersnappers will eat lots of food and plan for the coming year. They will dance to the music of the Master Musician.

Chapter 3: The first snows

So, on this very early morning, all the Snaps, except for Fex, are asleep in their homes. Fex is too excited thinking about the party to sleep. He jumps out of bed and stretches his arms up. To celebrate the new day, he sings a tiny song about falling stars. Today is going to be a good day, he thinks. Today is going to be a big day with big surprises, he thinks.

Then Fex brushes his teeth, washes his face, brushes his hair and tails and gets dressed.

The party is only four days away! He lies on the branch outside his front door and looks down at the forest below. The first snows are gently falling through the red and green leaves to brush the forest floor white.

It is fun being awake when everybody is asleep, thinks Fex. But it would be more fun with friends.

Fex jumps from branch to branch and knocks on the doors of his three friends.

“Wake up,” he hisses through the doors. “Wake up and follow me.”

Soon the other three sleepy Snaps are following Fex through the trees.

“Where are we going?” asks Velamsund.

“Why aren’t I still asleep?” complains Beck.

“When can we have breakfast?” asks Boo.

“Just follow me,” says Fex.

Fex leads them to the musical ice tree. The little Snaps look up at all the sparkling icicles.

“One day soon I will be the Master Musician and I will play the music for the deep winter party,” says Fex proudly.

“Not so soon,” says Velamsund.

“You’re just a student,” says Boo.

“But I can already play,” says Fex. “I’ve watched Kikkix practice and I can do it. It’s not so hard.”

“Are you sure?” asks Beck.

“Watch me!” says Fex and runs up into the ice tree. He takes two little sticks and taps an icicle. Boooooong! The icicle makes a long, low note.

“See! I can do it!” Fex says, his top tail quivering with excitement.

“That’s not music!” says Beck. “You need more than one note for music.”

So Fex runs from branch to branch, tapping icicles with his sticks.

Ping ping! Dong dong. Ting ting!

The sound isn’t really music, but the little Snaps jump up and down anyway.

“Play louder!” yells Beck happily.

So Fex plays louder.

“Louder!” shouts Boo.

Fex plays even louder.

The Snappers join tails and dance in a circle.

Fex wants to end the music with a very loud note so he bangs a big stick as hard as he can on the longest icicle.

Piiiiiiiiiing

The note is high and loud. But it doesn’t stop. It grows and grows. The longest icicle starts to shake and then all the icicles are shaking!

“What’s happening?” says Fex, his voice small, his top tail pointing down.

“Oh dear,” begins Velamsund. “I think that…”

And then, all the icicles fall off the tree!

Chapter 4: Sticky things

What to do? The deep winter party is only three days away.

“We cannot make new icicles in three days,” says Fex. “It took Kikkix over a week and she is very good at growing ice.”

“If we can’t grow new icicles, then we need to stick the old ones back on,” says Velamsund.

The Snappers think about all the sticky things they know.

Beck talks to a spider that agrees to give them some web. But the web doesn’t work.

Boo and Velamsund collect a pot of tree sap, but the sap doesn’t work.

Fex sits with his head in his hands and his top tail wrapped around his eyes. He has ruined the party for everybody! But even his tears don’t help to stick the icicles back to the tree. Nothing works!

“We are not clever enough,” says Boo. “We need to ask an old Whippersnapper.”

“No,” howls Fex. “If we ask then everyone will know what I have done.”

“So, we need to ask someone who is not at Hemved,” says Beck. “Who is the cleverest animal in the forest?”

“I know,” says Velamsund. “Follow me.”

Chapter 5: Owl

“Who lives here?” asks Boo.

“A big owl,” says Velamsund.

“But owls are dangerous,” says Fex.

“I’m not scared,” says Beck.

“Me neither,” says Boo quickly.

“We don’t have a choice,” says Velamsund. She knocks on the door.

The owl is big and brown with a sharp beak and big eyes. He looks at the four friends and shakes his feathers.

“Why are you waking me up?” the owl asks.

“We broke the musical ice tree,” says Velamsund.

“I understand.” The owl blinks slowly.

“We ha… ha… have a problem,” stutters Fex, swishing his bottom tail left and right.

“I understand.” The owl looks at them from under a wing.

“It’s a big problem with the musical ice tree,” explains Boo.

“I understand.” The owl hops from foot to foot.

“We are not afraid of you!” says Beck, putting his top tail straight up in the air.

“I understand.” The owl yawns, showing a sharp, black tongue. “But I can do this!” Suddenly, he turns his head all the way around.

The little Snaps look at each other. What to say?

“But, how does that help?” asks Velamsund.

“I can do the other way as well,” continues the owl and turns his head all the way back.

“That’s… very good,” says Beck.

The owl nods slowly. “Yes, it is. Watch. I will do it again.”

Once more, the owl turns his head all the way around.

“But that doesn’t help us,” says Velamsund. “If we don’t stick the icicles back on the tree, all the other Whippersnappers will be angry with us.”

“I understand.” The owl nods slowly. “But I can turn my head all the way around.”

“So…. can you help us?” pleads Boo.

“Ah, so you have a question.” The owl slowly pecks a grub from a sharp claw.

“Yes! Yes, that’s it!” says Beck excitedly.

“And you want an answer,” continues the owl and swallows the grub down.

“Yes!” say the four Snaps together.

“You need a hole,” says the owl and shakes his wings. “When I have a question, I look in a hole. When I need food, I look in a hole. When I want to make a home, I look in a hole. A hole. A hole. A hole. You can find anything in a hole. So, if you have a problem… why don’t you….”

“Look in a hole?” finishes Fex helpfully.

“Exactly!” The owl agrees. “You have a big question and I know a big hole. Climb on my back. I will take you there. We fly South!”

Boo, Beck and Fex look at Velamsund. She shrugs and waggles her top tail. What else can they do?

Chapter 6: Flying high

The four young Snaps hold on tight to the owl’s feathers as he swoops over the trees. They have never seen the Great North Forest from this high. The green tops of the trees, dusted with snow, are spread as far as they can see.

The wind is cold, so the four friends use their top tails to cover their ears and mouths and their bottom tails to wrap around their legs.

“Look!” shouts Beck, pointing down. “What’s that?” She speaks loudly because the wind is noisy.

“That’s a lake,” yells Velamsund. “Things look strange from up here.”

“No, I mean, what’s in it? See! There are two brown shapes on the ice.”

“Maybe it’s big frogs,” shouts Boo.

“Frogs don’t grow that big,” yells Fex.

From the white-blue of the lake leads a long winding river. It looks like a big worm.

“Down we go!” says the owl over his wing. The owl swoops down, keeping his wings close to his body. As they reach the treetops, the owl calls out again. “And off you go!”

The owl spins and twists until he is flying upside down. Of course, the little Snaps can’t hold on and tumble through the trees. But Whippersnappers learn to fall from trees when they are no bigger than four walnuts. The four friends use their top and bottom tails to reach out and slow their fall. They land and tumble in snow. In front of them is a big, stone hole.

Chapter 7: A hole is a cave. A cave is a hole.

“That’s not a hole, it’s a cave,” says Velamsund.

“But a cave is a hole,” says Boo.

“And a hole is a cave,” says Beck.

“It’s a bit dark and scary,” says Fex.

“I’ll go first!” says Beck.

“No, I’m older. I will go first!” Boo insists and swishes her bottom tail from side to side.

After seeing who can hold their top tails the highest, Boo and Beck decide that it is best to go in together, hand-in-hand. Or rather, being Snappers, tail-in-tail. Fex and Velamsund are right behind them.

The cave is very dark and very scary. Vel has a candle in her bag and the flickering flame makes shadows that dance and move on the rocky walls.

Then the four Snaps hear a soft wind. Then they can smell the wind. It smells like cheese!

“I don’t think that’s wind,” says Beck. “I think that is…”

ROOOOAAAAAR! A terrible noise! A terrifying noise! A terrific noise!

The Whippersnappers turn and run back to the cave’s entrance. They can hear something heavy following them.

“Stop! You are not my cubs!” It is a big brown bear.

“No, we are Whippersnappers,” says Velamsund, forgetting to breathe.

“And we need your help,” says Fex.

“And I need to find my two cubs,” says that the brown bear. “They are supposed to be asleep with me in the cave for winter! They are ill-mannered cubs and have left the cave. My name is Batly. If you help me to find them, I will help you.”

“Where can we find two bear cubs?” says Beck.

“Of course,” says Fex. “That’s what I saw when we are on the owl’s back. The two bear cubs. They are on the lake.”

Chapter 8: Ill-mannered bear cubs

When they arrive at the lake, the two small bear cubs are crying on the ice.

“What are you doing on the lake?” calls Boo. “Your mother is looking for you.”

“We wanted to play on the ice,” says one of the cubs. “But the ice is too thin. Can’t you see? Are you stupid?”

“If we move, we are afraid we will fall into the cold water,” complains the other cub, and sticks out her tongue.

“You are strange and ill-mannered little bear cubs. But we will try and help you.” Velamsund takes one step onto the ice but it is too thin. It cracks under her foot.

“Look, there is a branch above the bear cubs. Maybe I can reach them from there,” says Beck. She quickly climbs up the tree and scampers along the branch, but she cannot reach the bear cubs.

“I have an idea,” says Velamsund. “We must work together.”

One by one, the four Snaps move to the end of the branch. Fex holds onto the branch with his top tail and dangles. Beck climbs down Fex and links his top tail with his bottom tail. Boo climbs down Fex and Beck and links her top tail with Beck’s bottom tale. Finally, Velamsund climbs down her three friends and links her top tail to Boo’s bottom tail. Now she is just above the two bear cubs.

“Hold on to my bottom tail,” she calls to the cubs.

“Your tail smells like rat droppings!” says one of the ill-mannered bear cubs.

“Pooh!” says the other, but both reach up and take hold of Vel’s tail.

The bear cubs hold on tight and Velamsund swings forwards and backwards.

“Now, let go!” calls Velamsund. The bear cubs let go of her tail and slide to the side of the lake.

“We didn’t need your help,” says one of the cubs.

“Why do you look like ugly squirrels?” asks the other.

Yes, they are ill-mannered little bear cubs, but now they are safe.

Chapter 9: A tasty meal

When the Snappers get back to the cave, it is nearly dark. Batly licks her bear cubs all over, up and down and round and round, making them squeal and wriggle. They climb on her back and the big bear leads the young Snaps into the cave so they can sleep somewhere warm.

Boo and Beck make a small fire while the big bear brings food from her stores. Strong cheeses, nuts and berries, muddy mushrooms, and sweet dark breads. Soon there is a pile of food so big that when the Whippersnappers have finished eating, it looks just the same.

“Before we go to sleep,” says Batly, the big brown bear, “I will tell you a story. This is a bear story, so it is a true story. Because as everyone knows, bears don’t lie.”

Velamsund takes out her quill and licks the end. She will take the bear’s story back to Hemved. The four Snaps and the two ill-mannered bear cubs lean their heads against the big brown bear’s side and rub their eyes as she starts her story.

Chapter 10: The bear’s tale

“When I was five times older than you little cubs and half as old as I am now, I was a mighty bear. Not quite as mighty as I am now, but I was still the mightiest bear in the Great North Forest.

It was a warm summer’s day. I was hungry, so I followed the river down to the lake. I sat and waited by the still waters, as patiently as a rock, waiting for a salmon to swim close enough so I could feed. My patience was rewarded. I saw the pink and gray flash of a big salmon swimming towards me.

Just as I was about to strike, the sun came out from behind a cloud and cast my shadow onto the water’s skin. The salmon saw me. It swam down into the deep water. But I am a bear with a purpose. I jumped into the water and began to swim straight down after the salmon.

I swam deeper and deeper, and deeper and deeper, and deeper and deeper into the water. And then I saw something strange. Coming up from the bottom of the lake towards me were water-bears. They were half bear and half fish! There were five of them, swimming up towards me as fast as they could. One of them called to me,

“Turn around and be quick,” she shouted. “There is a monster chasing us! A monster!” The water-bears were shaking, their eyes wide and bright.

“I will fight the terrible monster,” I said to them.

“Who are you?” They asked me.

“I am Batly of the South! When I roar the sun comes out! When I sing, flowers grow! I am not scared.”

I swam down past them. The water-bears followed me.

Deeper and deeper. Deeper and deeper. Deeper and deeper. I swam over amazing underwater things. Swirling things. Things like lightning. Things like the moon. Things like clouds blowing quickly; pushed by wind. But this was not the wind of the air. This was the wind of the water. Deeper and deeper. Deeper and deeper. And then I saw it. A monster salmon! It was… it was…” Batly pauses, lost for the right word.

“Terrible?” suggests one of the ill-mannered cubs and yawns as widely as raven’s wings.

“Yes,” says Batly and pats the little cub on the rump. “You may be ill-mannered, but you are extremely clever!”

“This terrible salmon was as big as Hemved and as strong as a hill. Its terrible claws sliced through the water, its terrible eyes were blood red and from its mouth breathed fire!”

“But doesn’t the water put the fire out?” asks Beck sleepily.

“You are a silly snip of a Snap!” says the big bear. “This was a monster salmon and water cannot put out the fire from a monster salmon.”

“Everyone knows that!” says one of the cubs and sticks her tongue out again.

“And bears don’t lie, you stupid, smelly squirrel,” says the other cub and yawns before nuzzling further into his mother’s side.

“Run! Swim!” screamed the water-bears.

“No!” I said. My heart was full and strong. My teeth and claws were ready. I swam and jumped at the giant salmon. The monster’s fire burnt me, but I did not feel it. My claws were terrible, my eyes were terrible and frightening, my roar was so loud that the monster salmon tried to cover its ears. But it could not escape from me. We rolled over and over, locked in terrible battle. I was victorious! I opened my mouth wider than I have ever done before or since, and I swallowed the terrible monster salmon in one giant gulp! The water-bears came and lay at my feet. They said I was the bravest and strongest bear in all the Great North Forest! They called me Batly, the magical sun bear of the South!”

“And then what happened?” mumbles Fex, half asleep.

“I came back to my cave. I had a cup of tea in my special gold cup, and I slept for three weeks. The monster salmon was so big I was not hungry for a long time. Now little Snappers, my cubs are asleep. It’s time you join them. Tomorrow, I will help you if I can.”

The quill drops from Velamsund’s tired fingers. And the four little Snaps push their heads back into the warm fur and fall asleep dreaming of fire-breathing salmon and water-bears calling to them through the deep, warm waters of the lake.

Chapter 11: A bear’s breakfast

Our four Whippersnapper friends are about to wake up.

Velamsund has rolled onto her side and is just finishing a dream of flying on the owl’s back. Far below her, the trees look small and prickly.

Boo and Beck are curled up together for extra warmth. Boo’s head tail is wrapped around Beck’s neck like a snuggly scarf and Beck is talking in his sleep about dancing rats riding the backs of snow-white swans.

Fex has wriggled all night long. He wriggled and wriggled further into the thick fur of Batly’s belly so now all you can see is his sleeping face and twitching nose poking out from the warm brown bear.

One by one the Snappers open their eyes and yawn and stretch. All except Fex who nuzzles back even further.

Batly opens her chocolate-brown eyes and uses her strong paws to gently push Fex away from her. He rolls over onto his stomach and continues to snore.

Velamsund is now wide awake and already writing in her journal. She writes the story of yesterday down while it is fresh in her mind. What a good little Whippersnapper!

“Wake up sleepy Fex” laughs Boo.

Beck throws a bit of cheese that bounces on his back.

Fex opens his eyes and sits up. His top tail swishing from side to side, “Where am I?” he says sleepily. Then he sees Batly and his eyes open wide.

“A bear! A huge and scary bear!” he says.

“Batly,” says Batly. “The magical sun-bear of the South. No snip of a Snap has ever used me as a blanket before! But I forgive you because you rescued my ill-mannered cubs.”

Fex remembers the story of yesterday and his heart slows down. “I’m hungry!” he says and rubs his stomach with his bottom tail.

Batly the bear and her two ill-mannered cubs busy themselves making a bear’s breakfast of vegetables, cheese and sweet dark bread. After they have eaten, the Whippersnappers ask Batly if she knows how to stick the icicles back to the tree.

“Did you try licking the icicles first?” asks the big brown bear.

“Yes, we did,” says Velamsund.

“You have the brains of a beetle!” says one of the cubs.

“And the morning breath of a dead beetle!” laughs the other and flips onto her back to kick her paws.

“We tried spider silk,” says Beck.

“We tried sticky tree sap,” continues Boo.

“And we even tried our tears,” sniffs Fex. “But nothing worked.”

“Hmmm,” says Batly and scratches her ear. “Then I do not know how to help you. You need to ask the badgers. The badgers are mysterious, clever animals and they live in a secret underground kingdom.”

“But no one knows where the badger kingdom is,” says Velamsund.

“But I am Batly. I know where they live. You follow the river until the sun becomes low and then you will find a birch tree split down the middle by lightning. Behind that tree, you will find the entrance to the secret underground kingdom. Ask the badgers your question. Maybe they can help you.”

Batly puts some strong cheese and sweet breads into Velamsund’s green bag for their journey.

“My fur is dirty,” says Boo.

“Where can we wash?” asks Beck.

“No need. You filthy squirrels! No need!” sing the bear cubs and jump up to lick the Whippersnappers clean with their rough tongues.

“Ugh! Tastes like moldy worms!” says one of the ill-mannered cubs.

“More like slug slime and carrots!” says the other.

And soon the four Snaps are as clean as winter dew.

Chapter 12: A beautiful day

It is a beautiful blue day.

The light bounces from the waters of the river as it flows through rocks and branches. Small pieces of ice float past, reflecting colors from the bright rays of sun that dazzle the Whippersnappers as they walk.

And the Whippersnappers stop and talk and play with all the animals they meet on the way. It is a great chance to learn more stories for their journals.

They play hide and seek with beetles and hear the story of the small red spider.

They learn how to chop wood from a beaver called Allen and float on their backs with his four small kits. Allen’s kits excitedly tell the story of the floating leaf that looks like a rabbit.

They jump up and down with river rats and laugh at the story of the rolling hail stones.

They play a difficult game of colored stones with a grumpy raven and cry when he tells them the story of the trapped mouse.

They jump on trees to see who can make the most leaves fall.

“SQUIRREL ATTACK!”

Squirrel one throws acorns that bounce and sting.

Squirrel two shakes a branch so snowflakes swirl in their eyes.

And squirrel three dances with glee, yells “MAYHEM!” and launches two snowballs that both find their targets.

The four Snaps duck and hide and run and jump and spin.

And when the battle is over, the hungry enemies share cheese and sweet dark bread and sing squirrel songs about lost nuts in deep snows.

An amazing day.

Chapter 13: The Secret Underground Kingdom Of The Badgers

As the sun crosses the sky and begins to fall, they see the split birch tree. Behind the tree is a large hole, partially covered in purple mosses. When Beck looks into the hole, he sees a long tunnel. There is a sign above the hole. The sign says:

The Secret Underground Kingdom of the Badgers.

One by one, the Whippersnappers walk into the tunnel. The tunnel slopes downwards, under a hill. It is dark. The four young Snaps hold tails, so it is easy to follow each other.

Eventually, they come out into a small square room. In one corner is an old wooden table and sitting around the table playing cards are three badgers. One small, one medium, and one big. They look up as the Whippersnappers walk in.

“More guests,” sighs Small.

“Whose turn is it?” asks Medium.

“My turn,” says Small and plays a ten of diamonds.

“No, I mean whose turn is it to welcome visitors?” says Medium.

“It’s my turn,” says Big. Big stands up and clears her throat.

“Welcome to SUKOB,” she says in a grand voice.

“Pardon?” asks Beck.

“SUKOB,” repeats Big. She sighs dramatically. “The Secret Underground Kingdom of the Badgers.”

Velamsund twitches her top tail. “Shouldn’t that be TSUKOTB?”

“Too hard to say,” shrugs Small.

“We need to ask you some questions,” says Medium.

“Why?” asks Fex.

“We just do,” answers Small. “Names?”

The Whippersnappers answer politely.

“Reason for visit?” continues Small.

“We need help with a big problem,” says Fex. “You see, we were playing the musical ice tree and…”

“We don’t need details,” interrupts Big. “How long will you be staying in SUKOB?”

“Um…,” starts Beck. “I’m not sure. How long do you think?” he asks the others.

“I’ll just put ‘um’” says Big. “Now we need you to put your paws on here.” She holds out a tray of black mud.

Each Whippersnapper queues up and presses their paws in the black mud until there is a line of sixteen different sized paw prints in the tray.

“Thank you, thank you,” bustle the badgers. Big stands up on her back legs and clears her throat.

“You may now enter. Greetings.”

The Whippersnappers look around uncertainly.

“No,” huffs Big and points to hole in the ceiling. “Not here. Up there.”

Leading up the back rocky wall are vines and roots.

“Hurry up!” says Small and twitches his nose. “I’m just about to win!”

The four friends climb quickly until they reach the top.

Far below them, Small does a jig of joy as he plays the six of hearts and wins the game.

Chapter 14: Long live the King!

At the top of the hole, the four Snappers stand and look around with their mouths open and eyes wide. They are in a tall room with words written on the wall. Vel reads.

“This one says, ‘To work hard is a badger’s life.’ And this one says, ‘A stick is a stick until it is a tool.’ And that one says, ‘Badger of the month.’”

A huge old badger with big eyebrows approaches them. He looks the little Snappers up and down. He speaks slowly and loudly.

“Very well. All guests must meet the King. “Very well. Follow me!” He turns and walks quickly away.

The four friends run to keep up.

The huge badger leads them through winding tunnels cut deep into the earth. He takes them into a very grand room with a big flat stone at the end. On the flat stone is a large chair with pictures carved into the sides. The walls are covered in flower petals; blue, red, and gold. Behind the stone is a curtain made of purple velvet.

The old badger clears his throat. “Wait here. The King will join you imminently. Very well.”

“I’m sorry,” interrupts Vel, “what does imminently mean?”

The huge badger tuts. “Very well. Just wait here.” He bows low to the curtain and walks backwards from the room.

Then the curtain moves and a small rabbit in a long black and white cloak rolls out in a magnificent throne. He is wearing a crown made of red berries and holly. He speaks in a high voice.

“I am King of the badgers. How can I help you?”

“I’m sorry, but aren’t you a rabbit?” says Boo.

“Shhhhh!” says the rabbit, his eyes darting left and right. “Don’t let the badgers hear you!”

“Don’t they know you’re a rabbit?” asks Vel.

“Badgers can’t see very well,” continues the rabbit. “I was lost one day and came here. I made a cloak from old badger hair and they thought I was a badger.”

“But how did you become King?” asks Vel.

“I don’t know really. I had some ideas about tunnels and things, and they liked the ideas. So, they all decided I should be King. I’ve been here ever since.”

“But what will happen if they find out you are not a badger?” asks Boo.

The rabbit shivers. “I don’t want to think about it.”

Just then the huge old badger comes back in. “Very well, my King, are you ready to show the guests around?”

“Yes, yes, of course,” says the little rabbit and rolls his magnificent throne forwards. He gives the four Snappers a look that means, please don’t say anything!

The four Snaps follow the King and the big old badger out of the room and into the amazing underground kingdom.

Chapter 15: Badgers, badgers, badgers

The kingdom of the badgers is full of strange wooden machines, moving and whirring, lights blinking on and off, long slides with flowing water, strange tubes with sluggish green liquids, wheels and giant containers, piles of strange objects, hollowed out rocks full of fire, and tens of badgers. Badgers running here and there. Badgers climbing and banging and chopping and scraping and lifting and pushing and pulling.

“Oh my!” says Vel, her voice hushed, her top tail quivering from side to side.

The King whirls them up ladders and scaffolding, along platforms and through corridors full of clanking, spinning, hammering, and sawing. From time to time he stops to point out something special.

“This pulls water from the surface and this uses tiny stones to clean the water, so it is good to drink.”

“This removes the sharp bits from moss. And this takes soft moss to sleeping areas where another machine squashes the moss into fine bedding.”

“This is where we make warm wind to blow around fur to dry badgers wet from the rain.”

“This helps keep badger teeth clean and claws sharp. It is also very good for ear scrubbing.”

As well as explaining the things they pass, the King nods to badgers and offers words of encouragement as he sweeps through the Kingdom.

“Good job, Able Konk!”

“Great hammering, Clever Sim.”

“Keep it up, Dreamy Pult.”

Suddenly the King stops in front of a big wooden tube pointing up at the muddy ceiling of the giant cavern. He strokes the tube lightly with one tiny paw.

“And this is my best invention yet. When you look through this end, clever bits of glass make what you look at much bigger. Here, try,” he says.

Fex looks through first. “I don’t see anything,” he says. “No, wait, there is something wriggling around.”

“What is that?” says Beck when it is his turn.

“Isn’t it obvious?” says the King. “This is our amazing worm-watching tube. We can see everything the worms do on the ceiling.”

The Whippersnappers ooh and aah and swish their top tails up and down.

“Why don’t you take it outside and look up?” asks Velamsund, her top tail darting from side to side. “Imagine! You could see the moon so much bigger.”

“What an interesting idea,” says the King. “Hold on a moment.”

He turns and says in a commanding voice, “Listen to your King badgers. This Whippersnapper suggests that we take the amazing worm-watching tube outside and look at the moon. Badgers, let me hear your voice!”

All the badgers shout at once; some shouting “yes” some shouting “no” and some shouting “maybe”. Dreamy Pult answers after all the others with a quiet, “What was that?”

The King listens very carefully with his head to one side, his nose and ears twitching in fierce concentration. Finally, he announces, “By a seven-badger majority, the answer is Yes. Badgers! To work!”

Chapter 16: The Amazing Worm-Watching Tube

Heave ho! The badgers drag and push the amazing worm-watching tube up onto the hill. It is nighttime. The stars are out, and the moon is full and round.

Heave ho! The badgers point the amazing worm-watching tube at the moon.

“You may look first,” says the King to Velamsund. “Even though I am King, it is your idea.”

So Vel looks. She puts her eye to the end of the tube and suddenly her head is full of bright white light. The moon is beautiful! Looking through the amazing tube feels like walking on the surface of the moon itself. For now, through the tube, she can see the moon is not just a circle of light in the sky. No, the moon is a ball, as real and as solid as the floor of the forest.

Maybe there are even Whippersnappers up there on the moon, looking down at me through their own amazing worm-watching tubes, thinks Velamsund.

The King, of course, is next, and then the other three Whippersnappers. After them, one by one, with many “oohs” and “aahs” the badgers take their turns to look through the tube.

Beck hears a small noise. He looks around. In the darkness he can see pairs of yellow eyes. A big wolf pads from the darkness towards them. Beck’s bottom tail flicks from side to side. He has never talked to a wolf but has heard some scary stories about them. The wolf walks up to him and speaks.

“What is that?” he says and licks Beck’s face. “What are you doing? Can I have a go?”

Beck swallows a deep breath. “You need to ask the King of the badgers,” says Beck, wiping his face. He points the King out to the wolf.

“I can’t speak Badger,” says the wolf.

“I can help,” says Beck. “You speak in Wolf and I will tell the King what you say in Badger.”

The wolf speaks to the King and the Whippersnappers translate and then the other wolves come over and one by one they look through the amazing tube at the beautiful big moon.

When everybody has looked through the tube, the wolves start to sing to the moon. Well, the wolves say it is singing, but to be honest it sounds more like shouting. But that doesn’t stop everybody joining in. So, the Whippersnappers and the badgers join the wolves, and they all sing to the moon. When the song is finished the King of the badgers asks why the Whippersnappers have come to the secret underground kingdom.

The Whippersnappers explain and the badgers talk in small whispering groups.

Finally, the King twitches his nose and says, “You need cold. Extreme cold. That is how icicles stay on the branches. The cold holds them there. You must go and see Jimly of the North. She lives in the mountain by the sea. She is the most magical and the most strange of all. She might be able to help you.”

“But we will never get there in time for the deep winter party!” says Fex and covers his eyes with his top tail.

“We can take you,” the first wolf says. “You have shown us our lovely moon so big and bright. We will take you close to the mountain. Listen, I’ll tell you how.”

Chapter 17: Being true is being right

While the wolf is talking to the badgers and the three Snaps, Vel walks quietly up to the King and says in a small voice, “I think you should tell the badgers who you really are. Don’t be scared. What is your real name?”

“Well,” says the little rabbit dressed in the long heavy black and white cloak, “before I came here, I was called Flipsy. But I love being badger King! What happens if they are angry?”

“I don’t know,” says Vel. “But I think being true is being right.”

The huge old badger is standing nearby. Vel waves at him. He comes over.

The little rabbit King looks at the grass. He is shaking.

“The King has something to tell you,” says Vel, and strokes the rabbit’s back to help him.

“Very well. Yes, my King,” says the badger in a deep voice.

“I am a rabbit. My name is Flipsy,” says the King.

“I cannot hear you, my King. Very well. My ears are old.” The huge old badger leans his head closer to the rabbit.

The little rabbit looks into the big badger’s eyes. He blinks back a tear.

“I am a rabbit. I am not a badger. I am not your King. My name is Flipsy.”

Other badgers are coming closer now. They are standing and looking at the little rabbit.

“Flipsy?” says the big old badger and takes a step forward. “Flipsy?” he rolls the word around his big badger mouth and his big badger teeth. And then he spins around to face the other badgers.

“Our King has a name! Very well! Oh, wonderful day! Our King has a name and his name is Flipsy! Long live King Flipsy of the Badgers!”

All the badgers stand on their back legs and shout happily at the dark sky, “Long Live King Flipsy! Long live King Flipsy!”

The little rabbit rolls his magnificent throne closer to the big old badger so he is looking up into his face.

“But didn’t you hear the first bit? I’m a rabbit, dressed like a badger. This is not my fur. It is a cloak I made from your old hair, so I smell like a badger! But I am just a rabbit!”

“Yes, my King! Very well! And you are the best King we have ever had. So many wonderful ideas and you are so kind to every badger. I am happy you choose to wear my hair as a cloak. Very well! I will cut more hair so we can make a new cloak. This one is a bit old now.”

“You knew he was a rabbit all the time?” asks Fex.

“Yes, yes. Very well. A little rabbit in old badger hair does not make a badger. But he is our King. Long live King Flipsy!” he calls again, and all the badgers joyfully wave their front paws in the air.

King Flipsy bows low. He wipes his eyes with his front paws.

“Badgers, I tell you this,” he says in a voice that gets stronger with every word. “I will be your King for as long as you like. And I will do my best to serve you very well,” he sniffs loudly at the end.

The big old badger puts an arm around his little shoulders. “And we will serve you, our King. Very well. Long live the King!”

Other badgers make short speeches. Able Konk recites a poem entitled ‘The Summer-Spring March of Goodness’ which confuses everyone. Small, Medium and Big do a complicated dance based on the life of a bumblebee and Dreamy Pult forgets what he is going to say but bows low as gracefully as a sunflower bending towards light.

The wolves take another turn looking through the amazing worm-watching tube at the moon again and soon it is nearly dawn.

King Flipsy gives Boo, Beck and Fex a hug and then holds Vel tightly.

“Thank you,” he whispers into Vel’s ear. Vel nods and gives him a nose kiss.

And then, each Whippersnapper climbs onto the back of a wolf and holds on tight. And with a last wave to the badgers, they speed into darkness.

Chapter 18: Running the night

The wolf pack runs through the Great North Forest. Fast. So fast. Trees rush by in a blur. The four friends hold on tightly to soft fur as they bump up and down.

And then they are by the sea. As one, the Wolves run into the shallow water, churning the white foam of small waves as they break on the shore. Water splashes around them as they speed across silver sands. Saltwater spray stings the Whippersnappers’ eyes which they happily wipe away with their top tails.

“What an adventure!” yells Fex to Vel.

“I can’t hear you!” she yells back.

“Woo hoo!” scream Boo and Beck together.

Eventually, they turn away from the sea and back into the dark forest. Long shadows and soft night sounds play and dance. Up and down. Down and up. The Whippersnappers are safe on the wolves. Snapper tails and paws twined in warm fur hold them safe and tight. It has been a long and tiring day. And one by one, rocked by the movement of the running wolves, they fall asleep

.As the orange sun swims up into the sky, they reach the foot of an enormous mountain. The little Snaps yawn and stretch and climb down from the wolves’ strong backs.

The wolves say goodbye, the Snaps say thank you, and once again the four friends are alone.

“Big mountain!” says Beck, his mouth open and his eyes wide.

“So big!” says Fex in a small voice.

“Can we really climb this?” asks Vel.

“Of course we can,” says Boo confidently. But her top tail is shaking.

“We have to try,” says Beck.

So, the Whippersnappers start the long climb.

Rocks and ice. Ice and rocks. As they climb higher, the trees get smaller and smaller. Soon there is nothing green to see. The Whippersnappers shiver and wrap their tails close. This is a strange place of no color, and the more they climb, the colder it is.

Wind blows sharp bits of snow into their eyes.

Wind whistles and pulls at their ears and tails.

Wind pushes them up and pulls them down.

The four young friends stop to eat the last of the cheese and sweet dark bread Batly packed for them in Vel’s bag. They have been climbing all day.

Above them are big black birds, circling and riding the wind.

“Are we going the right way to meet Jimly of the North?” calls out Boo, but the birds just answer – “Caw, caw, caw!”

The other Whippersnappers try all the different languages of the forest, but the answer from the swooping black birds is always the same.

“Caw, caw, caw!”

“What is a Jimly anyway?” asks Boo.

“I don’t know,” says Vel.

“Maybe it’s a monster like Batly the bear told us about,” says Beck, his top tail quivering.

“Maybe it’s going to eat us!” says Fex. “And it’s all my fault!”

“The King of the Badgers would not have sent us here to be eaten,” says Boo confidently, but her bottom tail shakes with a bit more than cold.

“And if Flipsy is brave enough to tell the badgers he is a rabbit, we can be brave enough to meet Jimly of the North,” says Vel.

The sun shimmers across the sky and then starts to dip to gold and red. As its light dims and softens the Whippersnappers shiver and rub their arms with their paws.

“There is no wood to burn,” says Beck.

“Trees don’t grow on mountains this high up,” says Vel.

“How can we sleep here?” says Boo. “It’s so cold.”

“Look,” says Fex, his top tail jumping straight up to point.

“I see it!” says Vel and starts to run.

Chapter 19: The palace of ice and snow

A wonderful palace of ice and snow topped with enormous green and purple gemstones! So high it looks like it touches the moon. So bright the little Snaps half close their eyes to see. So beautiful they hold their breath. This must be the home of the great Jimly!

The four young Snaps walk through massive gray doors carved with dancing mice and garlands of roses.

Inside the huge palace are intricate ice sculptures and pictures on the shining walls. The floor is tiled with beautiful slabs of thick pink ice. Frozen rivers of water flow across the ceiling. The Whippersnappers stand in the middle of the giant room and turn slowly, their top tails swishing from side to side.

A noise above them. A rush of wind. A very large black shape falls towards them and then stands. Golden yellow beak as sharp as a terrible bear claw. Eyes red like the ripest berry. Feathers so black they shine purple and blue. Wings wide and beating slowly, pushing a gentle icy wind to ruffle the Whippersnapper’s fur.

The beak opens wide. Breath like billowing smoke clouds.

“I am Jimly of the North! Any one fancy a cuppa?”

Chapter 20: Jimly of the North

“You are the biggest bird I have ever seen!” says Vel, her voice small.

“Cheers mate,” says Jimly. “But I am loads of things.”

The little Snaps are confused.

“Bunch of muppets!” continues the big black bird, “I can be whatever I want. Sorted”

And then the black bird turns into a giant white bear. The bear roars, “I can be Björnskung, Guvnor of the ice bears.”

And then the bear turns into a giant lizard as big as a tree with teeth longer than a Whippersnapper’s top tail. “Or K-Maximus, the Giant Wind-Shaker of the well ancient.”

And then the gigantic lizard turns into a kind of big Snapper with no tails. It has tiny ears and white fur on its head and chin but nowhere else. It is wearing a purple robe and a colourful shirt. “Or I can be Jack Frost of the hairless monkeys who make stuff. Sweet as”

And then the big hairless monkey thing turns into a small white mouse with a twitchy nose, a long pink tail and a big purple cloak.

“But this is the one I proper love. Jimly, the magical snow mouse of the North. It’s well sweet because my purple cloak is magic, which makes work easier. No palaver.”

“What work?” asks Vel politely.

“Don’t you know anything numpty?” Jimly shrugs. “The speed of winter, kissing ice, freezing stuff; that sort of thing. You know, having a laugh.”

Chapter 21: A hot bath

“I see you are cold little muppets,” says Jimly, the magical snow mouse of the North. “You look well knackered. How about a hot bath?”

“We are not muppets. What is a muppet? And what is a numpty?” Asks Vel.

“I think just by asking you prove me right,” laughs Jimly. “You’re all a bunch of numpty muppets. Don’t take the mick, just go with it.”

Jimly spins around, her cloak flying; ice spraying out. The ice makes a bath big enough for twenty Whippersnappers. It is full of steaming hot water.

The four young Snaps strip quickly and jump into the hot water. Then, being Whippersnappers, they start inventing games. Games of jumping, games of splashing and games seeing who can blow the biggest bubbles.

Jimly sits and watches them, delicately picking on a plate of nuts and frozen berries.

The hot water warms the little Snappers, but they are very hungry.

Jimly twitches her tail and giant plates of strange frozen fruits, warm mushroom stews, crunchy breads, and strong cheeses appear on a big table made of clear ice. The seats are made of black ice and are so tall Vel’s feet cannot reach the floor.

Jimly sits on a tall golden cushion at the head of the ice table.

While they munch mushrooms, consume carrots, tear through treacle and devour dates, the Whippersnappers tell Jimly of the North about King Flipsy and the Secret Underground Kingdom of the Badgers, the amazing worm-watching tube and riding on the wolves through the salty waters.

Jimly tells them stupendous stories of giant lizards from the ancient past. She talks about the world outside the forest - of giant metal birds that carry hairless monkeys; the strange monkeys that make things. Of cats and sheep and chocolate cakes. Of wigs and bricks and rocket ships. Of things the Snaps cannot hold clearly in their minds. But the stories are so good, it doesn’t matter.

After eating, the Whippersnapper’s eyes are heavy, and their bellies are full. Jimly twitches her nose and the softest beds made of snow and warm white fur appear. The four Snapper friends snuggle down and cover themselves with blankets so smooth they feel like spider silk.

Jimly twitches her nose again and the palace becomes dark.

The silver moon slides from behind a cloud and shines down on the palace. Its soft white light trickles through the ice walls to bathe the Whippersnappers in a low glow to brighten their dreams.

Chapter 22: Jimly’s wish

As soon as they wake up, the Whippersnappers jump back into the hot water of the big bath. The hot water is so much fun even Velamsund forgets to write yesterday’s story in her journal.

Boo jumps on Beck. Beck splashes Fex. Fex climbs out and jumps in with his bottom tail around his knees and makes a giant wave. Vel dives down to the bottom and sees how long she can hold her breath.

Jimly, the magical snow mouse of the North, swishes her tail and more wonderful food appears on the table.

“This is well good breakfast from the world of the hairless monkeys!” And as they eat, Jimly tells them more amazing stories and describes the food they eat with strange words like – bagels, bread fruit, blueberry muffins, pizza and pancakes. The Snaps soon forget the names but will never forget the tastes!

Jimly clears her throat. “I know why you little numpties have come to me. I know what happened to the ice-tree. Well ropey. Proper dodgy. My black bird mates have been following you. You were bang out of order to break the ice-tree, Fex. You were showing off. Being all that.”

Fex wraps his top tail around his eyes in shame and then pops another strange frozen yellow fruit into his mouth. So delicious!

“But you have been decent geezers to come and find me. And you helped King Flipsy speak true. And I don’t want your party messed up because of one mistake. So, I will help you out. But I want something in return. I do you a solid. You do me a solid. Get it?”

The four Snaps look at each other.

“I… I think so,” says Vel uncertainly.

Boo speaks next. “But what can we possibly do for you? I mean… you can change shape and everything. You’re amazing!”

“It’s true,” says Jimly and rubs her big mouse ears, “I am sweet as. But I do have a wish. I wish to sing where others can hear me. So, if I can sing at the party, I will sort the tree. Are we agreed?”

“Agreed,” answer the Whippersnappers.

Chapter 23: Flying home to Hemved

Jimly turns back into the giant black bird. Jimly is much bigger than the owl, so it is easy to ride on her back. She flies even higher, so the Whippersnappers can see the forest stretching far and wide until it reaches the very curve of the horizon. From this high, thinks Velamsund, the edge of the world looks round. Maybe this world is like the moon; a big ball floating in the sky.

The Snaps drop party invitations to all of their new friends. It is polite to say thank you to others that help you.

They land next to the musical ice tree. Jimly turns back into a magical snow mouse. The little Snappers watch as Jimly opens her magical purple cloak. She starts to spin round and round. She shakes her tail like it’s wet, but it’s not droplets of water that fly out, but tiny pieces of ice. Soon, ice is swirling around Jimly, like wind picking up leaves and turning them ever so quickly. And then Jimly pulls her tiny mouse paws together in a clap in front of her twitching nose and the spiraling ice pieces fly out towards the tree.

Wherever the ice pieces hit, they stick to the tree, forming long delicate icicles; big wide icicles, icicles as thin as hair and icicles that twist into amazing shapes and patterns. And when she is finished, the musical ice tree is even more splendid than it was before. Icicles like stars and comet tails, dazzling and bright.

She is just in time! The sun dips and all the other Whippersnappers walk into the clearing carrying food and drink for the party.

Chapter 24: The deep winter party

The party begins. Kikkix, the Master Musician leaps from branch to branch playing the icicles. The music is so pure and so sweet that everybody starts to dance. She really is a master musician!

Fex whispers in Vel’s ear, “I’ve got a lot to learn.”

And then Batly the bear and her ill-mannered cubs arrive. The big bear is dragging a sled piled high with succulent foods and, of course, lots of terribly strong cheese.

“Hello! Hello, you silly smelly Snappers!” says one of the cubs.

“I’ve got better places to be!” says the other and sticks out her tongue.

The wolves arrive next. At first the other Whippersnappers are afraid, but when they see Boo and Beck jump onto the biggest wolf’s back and start to scratch playfully behind his ears everyone relaxes and lets their top tails stop shaking.

When the badgers march into the clearing, the other Whippersnappers “ooh” and “aah”. It is so rare to see a badger outside of their secret kingdom.

King Flipsy is helped down from the back of the big old badger and Abel Kunk carries him to his amazing rolling throne. The King hugs his four new friends. He hugs Velamsund last.

Flipsy says, “Last night we saw an orange ball in the sky, like the moon but smaller and with rings around it. We will call it ‘Velamsund’ in your honor.”

Vel curls her tail over her ears, her cheeks burning red. “Thank you!” she says.

“Very well. Very well. Very well!” says the big old badger and smiles from ear to ear.

And then come some beetles who love hide-and-seek and river rats who jump and roll. The grumpy raven flies in carrying more colored stones and Allen the beaver brings his four kits, each carrying bits of wood to help build a fire. And then – “Squirrel attack!”

The four squirrels have been hiding in a tree and suddenly nuts and berries fly down on the Whippersnappers. They fight back bravely until a draw is called.

The owl stands on a small rock and shows his head trick again, and again and then again. Everyone claps politely.

Soon the clearing around the musical ice tree is so full of new friends that it is hard to dance. Black birds are perched in the trees, watching and giggling “caw, caw, Caw!” as the Whippersnappers dance and bang into bears, beavers, wolves, badgers and Flipsy the King of the badgers in a splendid new cloak.

And now it is time for Jimly the magical snow mouse of the North to sing her song. Everybody waits quietly for her to begin. Jimly spins around, her purple robe a whirling fan, and once again is the giant black bird. She opens her magnificent beak and starts to sing. Skreeeeek! Straaaaaack! Criiiiiiick!

The Whippersnappers don’t know what to do. So, quietly, they wrap their top tails around their ears so Jimly’s song is not quite so loud. She can make the most beautiful patterns in ice, but she cannot make beautiful music!

Never mind. The food is fantastic, the dancing is wild, and it is the best deep winter party that anyone can remember.

Chapter 25: I wish you good night

As the galaxy spins on a needle of night.

And the stars ebb and flow to the unseen song.

I feel in my branches the Whippersnappers falling asleep.

The ill-mannered cubs have stopped teasing. The cooking pots have gone cold, and I can hear new friends talking quietly into the night; sharing adventures, swapping jokes and adding to the stories of the Great North Forest.

Boo and Beck are snoring like bears. Some friends were too tired to go home so stayed over. It was a bit of a squeeze, but they managed somehow. Tomorrow will be more squirrel attacks and mayhem, but tonight is all about dreams and letting too much food settle in warm bellies.

Good night Boo and Beck.

Vel started to write up her journal but fell asleep before she could finish. She was so tired she forgot to pull the blankets up. Fortunately, owls don’t sleep much at night so her blankets are soon in the right place. Good night Velamsund.

And Fex, well Fex didn’t make it to bed but that was ok because he has a very warm green night gown. He left the blind up on his window so he could count the stars and count how lucky he is to have such good friends to help him when things go wrong. And now he is dreaming again. In his dreams … well, sometimes dreams are best left unspoken.

Good night Fex.

A lot has happened in four days. Tomorrow, the four little Snaps; Fex, Boo, Beck and Velamsund, will have lots more to write about in their journals. But until then, let’s let them sleep.

I can feel the wind pushing my branches to creak and moan. Snow is falling softly on my leaves and above me in the dark sky, the Northern green lights play in the highest air, moving as playful current between the shimmering silver stars.

I have lived for thousands of years. I have seen the universe move and grow. And tonight, in my canopy and between my roots, Whippersnappers will snore their way through thoughts and dreams.

It is time for all sturdy souls with happy hearts and twitchy tails to soundly slumber.

I wish you, good night.