A cold, damp morning. Mist rose over the swamp.
A soap bubble drifted above it, floating gently on the breath of the wind. Through the thick grey fog, it noticed a tiny red dot moving below. It appeared, then disappeared, then jumped again. Quick. Bouncy. The bubble grew curious and began to watch more closely.
Not far away, a second shape moved through the mist. Much larger. A fluffy red tail brushed against the sleepy bushes, shaking dew from their leaves. The little red dot seemed to be chasing it.
The wind was kind. No rush. The bubble kept watching.
Suddenly, the red dot burst out of the fog. It leaped high into the air, and for one brief moment, the bubble saw a tiny creature holding a small branch of northern berry in its hand. The creature pushed off a fern leaf like a spring, flew far up and forward, and dove straight into the thick wet greenery.
A heartbeat later, a fox burst out of the same bushes. A branch of red berries hung from its mouth.
The little creature caught up with the fox from behind. It reached forward and touched the fox's tail with the branch of northern berries.
The fox stopped mid step. Its fur shimmered. Its legs grew shorter. Its tail curled into a soft reddish cap. Within a single breath, the fox was gone. In its place stood a small, perfect chanterelle mushroom. Golden. Plump. Almost glowing.
The creature picked up the fallen berry branch, tucked it under its arm, and disappeared into the mist.
Then the wind shifted. Suddenly. Harsh. It grabbed the bubble and threw it away, faster and faster. The bubble tumbled through the air, spinning, struggling. In the chaos, it glanced back one last time.
The mushroom trembled. Then it stretched, grew fur, and turned back into a very confused fox. The animal blinked, looked around, shook its head, and trotted off as if nothing had happened.
The bubble flew on, carried by the changing wind. It never knew exactly what it had seen. But it never forgot.
A soap bubble drifted above it, floating gently on the breath of the wind. Through the thick grey fog, it noticed a tiny red dot moving below. It appeared, then disappeared, then jumped again. Quick. Bouncy. The bubble grew curious and began to watch more closely.
Not far away, a second shape moved through the mist. Much larger. A fluffy red tail brushed against the sleepy bushes, shaking dew from their leaves. The little red dot seemed to be chasing it.
The wind was kind. No rush. The bubble kept watching.
Suddenly, the red dot burst out of the fog. It leaped high into the air, and for one brief moment, the bubble saw a tiny creature holding a small branch of northern berry in its hand. The creature pushed off a fern leaf like a spring, flew far up and forward, and dove straight into the thick wet greenery.
A heartbeat later, a fox burst out of the same bushes. A branch of red berries hung from its mouth.
The little creature caught up with the fox from behind. It reached forward and touched the fox's tail with the branch of northern berries.
The fox stopped mid step. Its fur shimmered. Its legs grew shorter. Its tail curled into a soft reddish cap. Within a single breath, the fox was gone. In its place stood a small, perfect chanterelle mushroom. Golden. Plump. Almost glowing.
The creature picked up the fallen berry branch, tucked it under its arm, and disappeared into the mist.
Then the wind shifted. Suddenly. Harsh. It grabbed the bubble and threw it away, faster and faster. The bubble tumbled through the air, spinning, struggling. In the chaos, it glanced back one last time.
The mushroom trembled. Then it stretched, grew fur, and turned back into a very confused fox. The animal blinked, looked around, shook its head, and trotted off as if nothing had happened.
The bubble flew on, carried by the changing wind. It never knew exactly what it had seen. But it never forgot.
Tilda Publishing
The Guardian of the Northern Berry
Drop a Coin in the Well
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