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A Seaside Legend

Prologue

You have probably been to Sunnyrock-on-Sea at some point. In summer you probably dug sandcastles on the warm sand, jumped over the towering waves and hunted for crabs in the rockpools. When you went there, there was the ice cream van where you begged for two scoops of your favourite flavour. You probably got taken to the Minnie’s Gallery by your grandparents and got told: “Look with your eyes, not with your hands!” It’s nice there… in the summer.

 

While in winter, you probably felt the bitter wind whip your cheeks as you fight the rain on the treacherous cliffs. You should try visiting when the streets are deserted or when a thick blanket of snow is covering the village. Very few people visit at that time of year. Even the locals keep away from the beach…  and some say, they have a good reason.

 

Chapter 1 – The Legend

My name is Samuel, Samuel Lemon, but most people call me Sam. I work at Minnie’s Gallery! I am the caretaker: I dust the artefacts, polish the glass cases and mop the floor. Someone once told me that the lady who owns it, Mrs Dove, is a maniac! I don’t see her much though… I sleep in a little pod in the attic which has a warm fireplace to keep me warm. It’s cold and lonely at night but during the day the gallery is packed with tourists so there is plenty to keep me busy. It’s quieter in winter, some days there are no visits at all. 

 

A girl bangs on the window. “Let me in!” She hisses. I stand there, mouth open, wondering what I should do. It’s pitch black outside and the Gallery has been closed for three hours! She shivered as I scramble to the window. Heaving it open, she tumbles in and lands in a heap on the floor. She looks up at me with bulging emerald eyes. Suddenly, she leaps to her feet and hurries towards me – I back away. “Hide me.” She whispers.

 

Before I continue with the story, I better mention something about this town… It happened many decades ago so nobody really remembers many details. The legends tell of a gigantic sea-monster that hides among the rocks and swallows you whole if you come too near. They say that it was a type of mander, a thundermander to be exact, that haunts your dreams and sends clouds of thunder over your house. No one knows what it smells like, no one has got near enough to catch the scent and make it back alive. Apparently, it cries at night, longing for a companion. At that time, the locals locked their doors and drew their curtains at the sign of any strange noise or movement.

 

Some say that it was in pain. Some say that it was lonely. Some say that it was a cruel beast that deserves no pity. I haven’t heard nor seen it during any storms, when the world is silent and the whistling of the wind stings your ears.

 

“Why do you need to hide?” I hissed back at her.

“I’ve seen it,” she replied, “Draw the curtains and stay on your guard!”

Chapter one – The Beginning

It had been a long time since the Great Battle of Bork was fought, yet trouble was beginning to stir once again…

At last, Buckle, Belt and Loop descended down the hill while watching the small village of Bork fade into the distnace. It was time.

Early that morning a ragged owl had swept over bork and landed gracefully on Buckle’s back before dropping a tiny piece of parchment on the floor and swooping away agian. Buckle, Belt and Loop huddled round the piece of parchment with a terrified look written accross their faces. There were no wordes on the parchment, just a symbol. A dangerous sybol. A black infinity sign with a large red X was written on it, in – what looked like – berry juice. That only meant one thing… Mort (a bloodhound who battled Bork in late 17th century) was back and nobody was safe. They had to make it to Mort before Mort made it to them, it looked like he already had a head start though. There was a famous legend of where Mort lived, no knew it was true but it was all the information they had. Nobody even knew what Mort looked like.

Now, it’s all up to these three. Buckle, who was a small, beige rabbit with big, floppy ears and scruffy fur, held an ancient map in front of them. On the map there was a complicated route that would take them through the most dangerous parts of the island. Belt, a tall rabbit with jet-black fur, large feet and glistening amber eyes, lit a large lantern as they sun fell behind the mountain. Loop, a brainy, white rabbit, studied the map carefully. It would take them days to complete the journey. They had to cross the huge River Stone, climb  Mount Rough, scramble through dense forests and pass… Freaky Fogs… The trail on the map came to an abrupt stop just before the Freaky Fogs (the most dreaded place which is feared by everyone on the island of Borstonn). The rabbits glanced at one another but didn’t say anything.

Clutching the ancient map, they continued their journey. Loop trailed behind them, searching for anything that could be used for self-defence. Clinging in a tight bundle, they crossed the rope bridge that took them from one side of the River stone to the other. The travelling was long and painful and in no time at all their stomachs were rumbling and their eyes were drooping. Everyone was freezing and wishing that they were back in Bork, huddling round a fire and eating fresh stew. As they came into a forest Belt colapsed into a large pile of leaves and begged them to rest here. It did not take much begging.

For dinner they ate berries off a nearby bush and plucked other fruits from trees. Loop handed out sausages and slices of bread as Buckle lit a fire in the center of a circle of tree stumps. After an eventful day, they were all exhausted so as soon as they had eaten, they fell right asleep.

As Buckle drifted in and out of sleep, his mind swirled with thoughts, questions and dreams. What if they never found Mort? What is he was already at Bork and attacking his home? A tear slid out the corner of his eye as, once again, he fell asleep.

What is happy?

What are happy?

A seagull with a half eaten sausage roll, a bee pollinating and an artist drawing an abstract painting.

What are sad?

A grey cloud in a dark sky, a film with a bad ending and a lonely child.

 

What are lonely?

A picture collecting dust in a corner, a single leaf on a tree and someone with no friends or family.

What are busy?

A city on a weekend, Christmas shops in winter and a flock of birds.

 

What are calm?

An owl hooting into the night, trees on a warm day and a feather falling to the ground.

What are crazy?

A dog madly chasing his tail, a big party and a massive thunderstorm.

 

What are light?

A feather, a butterfly’s wing and leaves falling off trees.

What are heavy?

Guilt pushing on your shoulders, a storm and a roast chicken for dinner.

 

What are forgotten?

An old teddy bear, a quote you promised to remember.

What are worth remembering?

Old friends, good memories and your favourite books.

 

What are warm?

Smoke coming rising from a chimney, fresh bread and a summer’s day.

What are cold?

Little hands in the snow, an icy roof and a mean heart.

 

What are exciting?

Playing with your friends, reading a book and learning something new.

What are boring?

Sitting alone doing nothing, tidying your bedroom and having to self isolate.

What is happy?

What is happy?

A seagull with a half eaten sausage roll, a bee pollinating and an artist drawing an abstract painting.

What is sad?

A grey cloud in a dark sky, a film with a bad ending and a lonely child.

 

What is lonely?

A picture collecting dust in a corner, a single leaf on a tree and someone with no friends or family.

What is busy?

A city on a weekend, Christmas shops and a flock of birds.

 

What is calm?

An owl hooting into the night, trees on a warm day and a feather falling to the ground.

What is crazy?

A dog madly chasing his tail, a big party and a massive thunderstorm.

 

What is light?

A feather, a butterfly’s wing and leaves falling of trees.

What is heavy?

Guilt pushing on your shoulders, a storm and a roast chicken.

 

What is forgotten?

An old teddy bear, a quote you promised to remember.

What is worth remembering?

Old friends, good memories and your favourite books.

 

What is warm?

Smoke coming rising from a chimney, fresh bread and a summer’s day.

What is cold?

Little hands in the snow, and icy roof and a mean heart.

 

What is exciting?

Playing with your friends, reading a book and learning something new.

What is boring?

Sitting alone doing nothing, tidying your bedroom and having to self isolate.

But I have…

I have never ridden a camel across the Sahara Desert

but I have ridden a dirty-brown horse across the lushes green moors.

 

I have never climbed Mount Everest and then picked a fight with a massive Yeti

but I have climbed up a hill and petted a soft, ginger cat that purred with delight.

 

I have never flown in a rocket to the moon and gazed out at the stars as we glided smoothly through the galaxy

but I have flown in an aeroplane and imagined flying outside as we soared gracefully through the fluffy clouds.

 

I have never seen a witch that cackled in the shadows of the moon

but I have laughed evilly as i conjured up my plan to win a game.

The Mist Dragon

The mist dragon isn’t really heard of but how else do you think we aren’t surrounded or even suffocated in mist! Well throughout this, you can become a expert on them!!

Firstly, the dragon is pale white and almost impossible to see (yes, even when your on a plane and in a cloud!) Also, there’s only been 1 person in history to meet one. (Not over zoom or teams!) Rumour is that he’s one now after not touching a specific dark blue spot which ia sat on the tip on its’ nose!They temd to live in clouds as you probably got earlier with lilac blue wings probably as big as a double bed! It’s absouloute favourite food is adults, children and them on a skyship! Sorry back to the subject, so if you touch the dark blue spot on its’ nose, you won’t be one yourself. Let me tell you I promise that is true (no that still happens but I want to see one myself) since im a profesional scientist on them!!