I asked last blog about what readers would like to read. The offer still stands – comment with some story prompts or suggest a character name. Or a topic- the past, the future, the present. Or even ask about my writing, books etc.
In honour of Susan Berger commenting (check out her time travel books at https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-B.-James/author/B00I4DG022?) I created the following story. It is set in the world of Druid’s Portal and fits neatly into the next book in the series – Boudicca. In this part the young Druid Phelan used the Arwen Pendant in an ill-fated trip that plunges himself, his family, and the future in great danger.
Gwendolyn the time travelling hedgehog
The small prickly brown creature snuffled along the forest path, looking for more of the tasty grubs that lived only under the oak trees. It had no concept of oak but a scent, no concept of searching except for a gnawing hunger in its belly. Instinct drove her for she was bearing young. A new litter to be born in the spring when the land warmed and leaves were fresh and juicy. She snapped up a grasshopper and munched it, snorting happily as she followed the path deeper into the forest.
Vibrations up ahead, regular. She paused, backing slowly into the grass. It could be anything, but it sounded like one of the tall two-legged creatures. She shrank back further, remembering the loss of her mate to one of them. She remained still, only her bright brown eyes flicking indicated her fear.
The noise stopped and she was lifted into the air.
“I won’t hurt you, hedgepig,” a noise boomed. She curled around herself, seeking to protect her babies from harm. The man was dressed in a brown robe, the hem stained with mud. A few oak leaves and twigs were matted in his hair. Scars of battle ran down his damaged face, but his brown eyes – so like hers – looked at her kindly.
“I have a task tonight, hedgepig.” He carried her along the path, his voice soft in song. A soothing chant that reminded her of the forest, of the wind in the grass.
“I’ll take you to the clearing, I know your kind are always rootling around oak trees for beetles and such. It will save you a walk in the rain.”
Her nose twitched as the first drops fell, but he covered her with a sleeve, and she nestled into him. He smelled of the forest, of soil rich with tasty bugs, of leaves that rotted into mulch, of all the growing things that had no names.
The man reached a clearing, for she could see the sky, the dawn light breaking. He put her down and dug carefully around at a tree root. She snuffled close by, looking out for worms. He dug a shiny thing from the soil, sitting down with it in his lap. She looked at him, nose twitching.
A wind rose up in the glade as the man’s voice raised in a chant. She dug her claws into the ground, but a darkness fell around them, darkness with the light of stars within. A gnawing and gnashing of teeth surrounded her. There was danger here. She shrank into herself, rolling into a ball. The man cried out and she saw him no more.
A grey mist surrounded her, gradually warming into sunshine. Birds called, and there was a very good smell in the air. Unfamiliar, but it tasted of honey and of berries warmed in the sun.
“What do we have here?” A soft voice, much softer than the man. Like a breeze in the forest, the softness of a moth landing on a flower.
“An innocent one drawn into my domain by chance.” The Goddess Arwen bent to pick her up, and she gazed into the silver glow of a goddess. The goddess of the Druids, worshipped by the man of the forest. The protector of the creatures that lived there.
A soft hand stroked her nose.
Concepts blazed within her, words appeared in her mind, chased by thoughts she had never had. The past and her lost mate all rolled into one emotion of pain and then vanished as the gentle hand soothed her. The future opened up, a future of black roads and the death of her kind. So many. She sniffed and gazed at the goddess with sadness in her heart.
“I know little one. But if you choose, one small creature such as yourself can help.”
“Help?” A strange new idea.
“Yes. But you need a name. “Gwendolyn the White.”
“But I am not white, I am brown like all my kind,” she whispered.
“Will you help your kindred far into the future?” Arwen asked.
“Yes.”
“Then you are Gwendolyn the White, saviour of the small creatures due to be lost before their time.”
A silver mist surrounded her, soaking into her quills, her feet, and inside, till she felt her babies squirm and wriggle. They too were part of this new magic. She opened her eyes and understood many things.
“I will go now, I have a job to do.”
Arwen nodded, smiling. “It soothes my heart that such blessings are still within my power. By such actions may my deeds be forgiven.” She faded into the silver mist, leaving a small dark burrow behind.
Gwendolyn sniffed it hesitantly. The dark hole smell of asphalt, of concrete, and the air was rank with car fumes. Many things had changed at the other end of this burrow.
A small squeak alerted her, and she dived into the burrow. Darkness carried her forward, the stars were the only light. But she had not lost any of her senses, and she navigated the time portal as easily as if it were a forest path bright with moonlight.
“Come,” she grunted. A small family of hedgehogs clustered by the road, noses whiffling as the cars sped past. There would be no chance for them if they crossed. They gazed at her as she glowed white, her eyes pearly with wisdom.
As they followed her into the burrow, she thought about home and the grubs under the oak trees.
Ahead was the oak tree of home. She nosed the place where the druid had been sitting, but she knew he was gone into that place of danger. She glanced up at the night sky and wished him well.
Around her grunted the new family, already rootling up grubs and worms for the babies.
She snorted happily at them and returned to the burrow.
There were many more creatures that needed her help.
About Cindy
I write in a few different genres including romance, science fiction and fantasy. My SMP series Druid’s Portal is a time travel action adventure romance series set in Roman Britain. The third exciting novel in the series is now in the editing stage – Boudicca. Roman Britain at its most bloody, and yet love will be found in the darkest and most dangerous of times. Hit me up if you would like to get a copy before publication and review it, or review copies of the first two in the series.
Check out my books and short story collections on Amazon. Many are free, and all of them are page turners guaranteed to help you escape the everyday.
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thank you. Thank you. Thank you! I believe Gwendolyn has a great future. I really enjoyed reading that. Blessings
Glad you liked it – and even gladder you made the suggestion as I really enjoyed writing it.
This is A wonderful spring story!
thank you. It was an enjoyable thing to write.
This is A wonderful spring story!
Who could not admire your heroine, Gwendylon the White? Thank you for sharing.