Day 13: Oak or lime (tilia) treesOak trees in their splendid variety definitely show up in mythology on a regular basis. Standing alone or in a forest, their spreading branches inspire us, as do the leaves and acorns responding to the seasons. Today
thegreyarea brings us a tale of one such mythical (perhaps not?) oak.
thegreyarea's warning: As my dear readers will surely infer from the title, this story features several mentions to an alcoholic beverage.
Rum
The great tree felt something hit an exposed root. Instantly she became alert, fearing that something might have crossed through the several layers of magic that shielded her from the World. It has been some time since humans threatened her kind, however many worse things came into being, some new, some very old. Could any of them reach her?
Yet she couldn't sense any danger, and her shields seemed intact. Maybe one of the small beings that inhabited her made a mistake and fell, finishing its short life? It happened before. But no, she couldn't taste blood in her roots. It was... alcohol! And a lot of it.
She extended her senses towards the place where the little mammals stored most of their things... There weren't many around. Actually she could feel just one, and she could sense despair... Cautiously she probed, caring not to damage that delicate mind, and soon found what she wanted. No reason to worry, but now she was curious about how the story will end, and how it began. She dig deeper in the little mind until the first memories of that day...---
Grey woke up as someone knocked at his door. He hastily tried to arrange his head's fur and rushed to the entrance, wondering who could be up knocking so early.
He opened it and found Mirasol, looking happy as a sunny day. "Hi Grey! Good to see you!"
"Hi! Glad to see you too!" Then he remembered it was Midsummer. "All's ready for the party? Can't wait to taste the cookies!"
"The kitchen is almost ready. Actually I'm on my way to help Merlin with the cookies. But I'm a little late, and he asked me to bring rum. Could you please do it for me?"
"Of course! I had no idea that rum was part of the recipe. Is it only for the special Midsummer cookies?"
"Silly, you know that's a secret, right? Can't tell you. Nevertheless the rum is very important. Now, will you be a nice squirrel and fetch a bottle for me? I still have lots of things to set up."
"I'll just comb my fur and head straight to the warehouse!"
"Great! We still have some hours before the rum is needed, but please don't forget. Bye!" She went down the alley, humming some song.
---
Grey checked his shoulder bag, making sure he got all the basics. Book, comb, water and a small bag of cookies. Perfect! He added an empty bottle for the rum and was ready to go.
It would be easy. Just a small trip to the warehouse, then up to the kitchen to deliver the bottle. And then finding a nice spot to spend the rest of the holiday reading until the party. He always loved Midsummer!
Upon leaving the cabin Grey took a moment to enjoy the view. His home could be a bit away from the central area, but it was on a high place, and he would never grow tired of that amazing view over Oak Town, with all the houses, alleys and stairways spreading over the large branches of the Great Tree.
Dawn hasn't arrived yet, and the street lights were still on. The network of suspended walkways crossing between branches made the view over the town even more beautiful, like a giant glittering spiderweb. At the center, right over the main trunk, a patch of intense light marked the Forum's location. Grey squinted to see the small figures that were decorating the ample amphitheatre for the party. Too far to distinguish anyone, he knew, and it was time to move on.
---
Grey ran down the alley until the start of the branch. Better not wait for the elevator, he thought, welcoming the opportunity to exercise. His mirror had been complaining that a certain squirrel had gained at least 30g lately, maybe more!
So he took the stairway that descended along the trunk, and after several levels arrived at the warehouse floor, a large ring of platforms and buildings that encircled the trunk just under the lower branches. Anyone could easily spend hours searching for something there, and at such early hours on a holiday no one would be around to help. Luckily that wasn't a problem for Grey. After working there for three years he knew exactly where alcoholic beverages were stored.
He reached the desired area and climbed to a higher place for a better view. Took him less than a minute to locate a large barrel labelled "RUM", next to an entrance.
As Grey turned to get down his tail hit something. A broom, he saw, nothing serious. However it fell over a lever, and that lever released a set of pulleys, allowing a box to fall over the next platform. He took a deep breath. The box seemed intact, and hopefully nothing was broken. Luck was on his side.
In the next second the structure under the box made a loud noise and collapsed, dropping over a line of barrels on the floor. The last one rolled until it hit the rum barrel, that in turn rolled, slowly, through the door, and kept rolling until it broke the guardrail and fell.
Grey, paralysed, watched the events unfold. He felt his heart inside that barrel, falling towards the roots, far below. Only a full minute after the distant crash his mind started to work again. The first thought was simple: "I'm screwed!"
---
This time he called the elevator. What would he tell to Mirasol, to everybody? "Sorry, there will be no party this year"? Maybe "Apologies, I couldn't take care of my big fat tail and spoiled everything"? A squirrel party without cookies was no party!
Grey's thoughts were very dark while the machine slowly moved upwards. A disaster! People would never forget nor forgive him! He even felt a brief headache, like something entering his head! It disappeared as fast as it came. He never had a headache before, but all things considered it wasn't a surprise.
The elevator stopped with a clang. Time to move and face the consequences, he thought, looking at the big watch over the kitchen entrance.
A young squirrel came out. "Already thinking on the party, Grey? Still some hours to go!"
He was so distracted it took him a moment to reply "Oh, hi Ran. Yes... I mean no, I don't..." And suddenly a thought hit! Hours! He might have time to avoid disaster!
Gray gave him a big hug. "Thank you so much, Ran!"
He stood there, surprised. "Err... What's up, Grey? Are you ok?"
"Yes, yes!" He started to run. "I'll explain later. Must go now!"
---
Grey felt a new hope as the elevator climbed. Someone in Oak Town would surely have rum! If only he was looking for ale... It would be so easy!
At the top he even took a minute to delight his eyes on the beams of light filtered through the higher leaves. Morning has come, and he needed to focus! Just find that bottle!
However he couldn't simply knock at every door. It would take too long and, worst, alert everybody about the problem. Asking the right person was the key, and he already had one squirrel in mind.
Arriving at the Forum Grey easily found him, up at the amphitheatre border, always attentive to everything. "JoB! How nice to see you!"
The big squirrel looked at him. "Hello Grey! Up so early on a
holiday?"
He knew that JoB already supposed there was a problem, but would be too polite to ask. "I'm searching for something for a friend, and... well, since you always know so many things..."
He raised an eyebrow. "And what that
thing might be?"
"Well... rum! I need a bottle of rum!" And felt his cheeks turning red.
"Hum... I see... Suppose I can't ask why, right?" He was silent for a while. "I'm afraid I can't recall anyone having one of these. As you know most squirrels don't drink, and rum isn't exactly popular... I guess we might have some in the warehouse. Have you checked there?"
Grey gulped. "Err... Yes, I... I've just been there, but it seems the rum is over."
"Then I can't help you, I'm afraid." He pointed down. "Try asking Wave. She might know."
"Oh, good idea! Thanks anyway." Grey walked down the large steps to the center of the Forum and found Wave surrounded by kids. There was some commotion, and she was wearing her hat, which meant things were serious.
Grey waited and after two minutes everything was settled. Wave saw him and removed the hat. "Hi Grey! What are you doing here? Wanna help? We have a lot to do!"
"I'd love to, but I need to do something first."
"I hope you're not in trouble... Yet you do look like someone that accidentally broke an expensive vase!"
Damn, was that so obvious? He just wanted to run, but there's no other way.
"I need... a bottle... of run."
Her eyes widened. "Isn't it a bit early for that?"
Before the conversation attracted everyone's attention he took a step closer and muttered. "I don't want to drink it! It's for a friend! Some recipe that needs it."
She looked unconvinced, and Grey felt pierced by her eyes, until she opened a large smile. "Just jokin', dear! I believe you! But I'm afraid I can't help. Try asking Róisín, she might know."
"Great idea! Thanks!" He was already running. How hasn't him thought about asking Róisín before? She knew so many things, and so many people too!
Grey used the walkway to cross to the next branch, caring not to look down. It was a vertiginous drop to the mass of roots below.
Róisín lived in a steep area, with houses grouped around small platforms connected by a funicular and several stairways. After the hundredth step he regretted choosing the stairs, promising himself that if there was a party he would not eat as many cookies as last year!
He feared finding Róisín surrounded, as usual, by squirrels of all ages. Everyone wanted to drink from that well of knowledge! However this time Grey was luck and found her alone, leaving her house. "Hello Róisín. Remember me?"
"Of course! Grey, isn't it? Two... or maybe three seasons ago? My basic magic course. And you did have some talent for that!" She kept walking. "I'm on my way to a class. Would you accompany me there? How are you doing?"
They walked together while he thought how to bring it up. Better go straight to the point.
"Róisín, I need a bottle of rum. It's for a recipe, but it's also a... surprise, and I can't go around asking everybody. I supposed you might know, or even had some."
"Well, let me think... no, I don't recall anyone. Wait, I had a bottle, some time ago! I gave it, as a gift, to Merlin. He appreciates that. You can ask him."
Grey felt his hopes falling like the barrel before. "Anyone else?"
"Try Crumpite. He and Merlin are good friends. I've heard they share many tastes."
"Thank you so much! Do you know where he might be?"
"Down there at the lake, probably. He told me some eggs would be hatching today. If I were your age I'd take a glider suit. It's the fastest way."
A glider! Mielikki help him! He wasn't a flying squirrel! She was right, of course, but he never flew from such a high point, only small jumps to lower branches when he was younger.
Nevertheless Grey decided to take his chances. He couldn't wait to leave that problem behind. He located a hanging platform and borrowed a suit, fixing in on wrists and ankles. Then he approached the border, prayed to Mielikki, Ilmatar* and the Great Tree, took a deep breath and jumped.
---
The little squirrel was interesting. Clumsy, but filled with good intentions. She felt, however, that his story would end soon. He clearly had no experience, and his descent was too fast. Her roots would soon taste his blood... But she was curious to see if he could find the rum, and he did preyed to her! So she focused energy, heating the air...---
Too fast! He was going to die! No way to slow down before hitting the mass of roots that covered the ground. Grey closed his eyes and got ready for the impact, wishing it was brief and painless. The worst was to go after failing his friends, everybody!
Then he felt a warm wind against his body. A thermal current! A quite strong one! He twisted and bent, and finally managed to use the ascending wind to reduce his speed, landing without any grace but blissfully intact!
Grey removed the suit, still shaken and incredulous. It was a miracle to be alive! He spotted someone coming, walking along a tortuous root. He's been on the ground many times, but the huge mass of visible roots never ceased to amaze him. No one could tell that underneath them, and the tree's immense girth, there was a small island. It just looked like the Great Oak stood directly over the placid water.
And now he could see who's coming. He didn't need do go looking for Crumpite after all.
"Grey! It's really you! I didn't know that you could fly so well! That manoeuvrer at the end was rad! And risky!"
"Well, I don't know how I did it. I guess Mielikki and Ilmatar were looking for me..." He felt a sting in the back of his head and turned. There's no one behind him, just the oak. "...or maybe the Great Tree blessed me with luck!"
Then he remembered the reason for that mad moment. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but Róisín suggested that you could have a bottle of rum, and I'm quite pressed to find one."
"Hey, no problem! Actually I had one, but gave it to Merlin, maybe two years ago. Oh, don't be sad! Listen, there's already a lot of people on the other side, enjoying the holiday and playing with the ducks. Why don't you go ask them?"
He didn't like the sound of it. "Thanks, but I'd rather not go asking everybody. It's... a surprise." He was starting to believe that nothing could be done.
Crumpite put a hand on his shoulder. "Look, some are your friends. I saw Jitter playing on the water. And Vulpes was riding one of my ducks. I'm sure you can trust them."
Seeing his friends sounded good, and Grey managed a half-hearted smile.
"Good, good! You go, I have to check a nest over there. Several eggs are hatching. Soon we will have a new batch of ducks."
He left Crumpite, walked towards the trunk and got around it. On the opposite side several squirrels enjoyed the water on small groups, while others rode ducks. Three were even making a race! He just wanted to be that happy!
His friends saw him and waved. Grey waved back and sat on the root, watching. Nellie, Keep Looking and many others were playing keep away, using a nut as a ball, and Vulpes was racing, trying hard to sustain himself over a duck. Jitter came out of the water and sat by his side, dripping. He checked if no one was close enough to listen and told her the whole story. She asked him a few questions and stood there, thinking while a small puddle grew around her.
Moments later she smiled. "Grey, I have an idea! Yesterday I was with Alkia and Molly at the Lehto, helping Vulpes with his hives, when a group of humans arrived. I'm sure they were going to spend the night there."
"And how that can help me?"
"Because one of them had a bag, and inside there was a bottle of rum!"
---
Sure, it was Midsummer, but the lake's water was pretty cold at his feet. Grey waved at Vulpes and he came, riding a duck. "Grey! What's up?"
"A lot, friend. I'll tell you later. Right now I really need to borrow your duck."
He slid along the duck's side into the water, splashing it all over Grey and making him shudder. "Here, have it pal. But you got to tell me that story later, at the party." He winked and patted him.
"Sure!" Grey refrained to mention his doubts on that matter and climbed the duck, grabbing gently its neck and whispering. "Please, I need you to take me to Joensuu's Lehto, as fast as you can."
It emitted a soft quack and Grey held tighter as the duck swam away from the margin, opened its wings and accelerated. Soon they were airborne, heading towards the mist that perpetually encircled the Great Tree's territory. The duck was flying really fast, and Grey was glad he didn't had to speak the magical words that would let they pass through the barrier. Every squirrel knew well that ducks and swans, for some unexplained reason, where the only beings allowed to cross without the proper passwords. Everything else would simply be diverted. Those trying to leave would magically exit the mist heading back to the tree, and anything coming from outside would go around the area and reach the opposite side of the lake without ever seeing the enormous oak in the middle.
---
Soon they arrived at the Lehto. Grey asked the duck to wait, and gave him a cookie from his bag as reward. He ran to the clearing where the cabins stood, and climbed on the nearest tree. It was early in the morning, but the humans were already outside, preparing breakfast.
Good, he thought. It meant that he could go inside without being noticed.
Grey ran over a branch. Those trees were big, and old, but looked so small compared with the one were he lived. Anyway he was careful, because they were pretty high anyway, and he already had enough falling experience for the day.
He jumped from the branch to the cabin's roof. From that point he could see that the humans were on the front. He descended on the opposite side and found a half-open window. Now to find that bag.
He walked around cautiously, trying to make no sound, until he finally saw the bag Jitter described. And for the second time in the day he felt his heart fell to the floor.
There was a cat sleeping next to the bag! It looked young, and not very large, but big enough to eat a squirrel, no doubt!
Grey stood there, hidden over the cupboard, thinking. He was just a few steps from saving that crazy day. And then he remembered how that happened back at the warehouse, and got an idea!
He returned outside. There it was, in the back porch, lying against the wall. A broom, just like the one he knocked down earlier, but enormous, human-sized. Grey easily climbed the uneven planks, reached the tip of the handle and pushed it with all his strength.
The broom made a lot of noise when it hit the floor, as Grey expected. He got back inside, just in time to see the cat slowly walking out, still drowsy, attracted by the sound.
Grey reached the open bag, and there was the bottle, just as Jitter described. Now just a bit of magic.
The human-made bottle was huge, taller than a squirrel, and he needed to shrink it. He took his bottle of water, put it next to the big bottle and used a charcoal to draw the symbols. Then he recited the words.
Nothing happened! What had he done wrong? He tried again, without success. He checked his bottle. Empty! He already drank it, and he couldn't exchange an empty thing for a full one. Grey recalled Róisín's teachings. "Magic needs balance.". He searched his bag. Well, that would have to do.
Grey put the bag of cookies next to the huge bottle and recited the words. This time it worked! The bottle shrank as the cookies grew enormous! He took the now squirrel-sized bottle, closed tightly the cap and put it in his bag. The relieved squirrel was just about to cross the window when a large human entered the cabin and walked towards the bag. He reached for it and seemed puzzled, looking around as in search of something, or someone.
Grey just had time to slip outside. He ran as fast as he could. Luckily the cat was nowhere to be seen. He jumped on the duck and soon they were flying back home.
---
He knocked at the Kitchen's door and waited. Soon Mirasol opened it, and he was overwhelmed by the intense smell of baking cookies. "Grey! What took you so long? Where's the rum?" She didn't look angry, tough, just a bit annoyed. "Merlin have been asking me for it the whole morning!"
He took the bottle from his bag. "Here. Now please tell me that we will have cookies for the party."
"Oh, of course we will! We already made some!"
"You already... But... How? Wasn't it part of the recipe?"
"What? No! The cookies have many things, but no alcohol."
Grey felt his head spinning. All that... for nothing!
"Come in, I'll give you a cookie. But let me take care of this before." She ran towards Merlin, that stood next to a large cauldron, looking quite unhappy. His eyes widened and a wide smile came to his face when he saw the bottle. Then the old squirrel opened it and took a large sip.
Soon she was back. "Do you know this is the only day in the whole year when Merlin drinks alcohol? And rum is his beverage of choice. That's why it's so important to him."
Grey was out of words.
"Look, I'm sorry. I see the way I spoke this morning misled you. I hope it wasn't very bad. Can you forgive me? Please?"
"I... Sure. I should have..."
"Great! Thank you! Oh, here's your cookie!"
It was hot, and the smell invaded his senses. He ate it faster than he should, and felt much better, as if the day's madness has been just a bad dream. "Wow, that was delicious! Can I have another?"
"Not now! We have a lot to do. You can eat them at the party!" She gently pushed him towards the door. "But I'll save a small bag for you. Now go."
He saw boxes filled with small chunks of some dark ingredient. "And what's that? You make the crunchy bits out of it?"
"Shush! I already told you I can't tell! It's a secret! Go! See you at the party!" She pushed him outside and closed the door.
Grey started walking, still a bit dizzy. He sat on some leaves, watching the lake. What a whacky morning! Reaching for his book, a new idea crossed his mind.
"I should try writing down this story. Maybe people would like to read it!"
---
The Great Oak softly disconnected from the little mind. These squirrels surely have exciting moments in their short lives! She would remain attentive over this one. Now she would rest a bit until they started the party. She felt a bit drowsy... Then she remembered the broken barrel. Maybe it's from all that rum. She let her conscience drift to a comfortable slumber, aware that, had her a mouth, she would be smiling.---
"Hummm... Those are delicious, Mikkel!" Sigrun looked really satisfied, and the main reason for her smile was the small, half-eaten cookie on her hand. "How careful of you to save these amazing cookies for our first safe breakfast!"
"Glad you liked it. I do enjoy providing a small surprise here and there."
"You must show me where you bought those! Or find the recipe! We could be rich selling cookies like these!"
"I'll see what I can do about that, but I'm afraid the recipe is a secret."
"Hum... Fine! We talk about it later. Now be nice and give me another. Changing subject, anyone had strange dreams last night?** Mine were... Hey pipsqueak! Stop! Hands out of the bag! You already ate three!"
_______________________________
Notes
* Ilmatar is a Finnish spirit of air.
** Shameless reference to my previous story for the 2020 advent calendar, that also happens when our heroes were at the Lehto. Therefore I'd assume that we can see Jitter, Alkia and Molly, in their squirrel shapes, on the first panel of
page 317 
More Notes
I wanted to include everybody in the story, but of course we are too many for that.
My apologies to those that weren't mentioned. Please consider that each of you were there too, happily playing on the water.
Also my apologies to all those that had parts of this story, because I didn't ask for permission. I thought about that, but feared to spoil the surprise... I hope you don't mind.
Special thanks to Mirasol. Her position as "Squirrel-cookie-chef" was the starting inspiration for all this. And my apologies for putting her on a secondary position on the kitchen, but old Merlin wouldn't accept otherwise (he threatened to turn me in a squirrel...)
Even More Notes
If you drink do so in moderation. Don't drink and drive (not even ducks).
Grey's feats were performed by a trained professional. Do not try to reproduce them.
No squirrels, ducks, trees or brooms were harmed in the making of this story.
Any resemblance with actual minnions is entirely intentional.
