Animal Spell

CHAPTER I

The Water Spouter  

Alone wolf dog wandered a river valley filled with mist. How will I survive without a pack? he wondered. His legs felt unsteady, and hunger gnawed  his stomach. 

Be careful! warned a passing sandpiper. The canine veered, then stopped to rest by a slanting rock. In a field nearby,  a mixed flock of sheep and goats eyed him warily.

The canine was just dozing off when he heard a roaring, thumping sound that ended in a screech.  

Watch out! screeched a red hawk from high above. A dragon’s come!

Through the fog the wolf dog spied a giant gray beast stepping into the river

The group of sheep and goats shifted uneasily. Out of his mouth is something long and thick like a snake, baaed a ram.  

Around his head, large bat wings are flapping, a goat brayed.

And he’s got five legs! an ewe declared.

"Whatever he is, he’s a big, big one," said the sandpiper.

Piper, why don’t you go down and take a closer look? asked the ram.

The sandpiper flitted to the river and reported back. His mouth has only got two teeth.

That’s good, good news, baaed the sheep.

But they’re the two longest teeth I’ve ever seen!

That’s baad, baad news, brayed the goats.

What about that fifth leg? asked the ewe.

It’s a nose that can whack you in a flash! Piper answered. You see, it’s  an elephant.

The wolf dog finally spoke up. My pack leader told me elephants only eat plants.

Where is your pack? questioned a goat.  

Is my name, Loner? wondered the wolf dog. The sheep have already pegged me! I didn’t tell them that my pack left me behind.

The valley animals waited, wondering what the great beast would do. In the heat of the day, he dipped his snout in the river and shot up geysers. A rainbow arched from his great white tusks to his tail.

He’s a Water Spouter! the sandpiper named.

The sheep and goats chanted:

This dragon has no fire, but shoots jets of water!

He doesn’t eat animals, but knocks over trees!

The elephant knocked over trees, feeding on their leaves and leaving them in tatters. With his two-fingered trunk, he stripped locust pods and ate their sweet pulp. After eating he sounded a trumpet that shook the valley. Last, he lay under a palm, wafting his ears and rumbling contentedly, blowing air out of his forehead.

The Water Spouter was peaceable, except when a group of primates neared. Then he would butt their trees and cause them to scream:

Tree knocker! Tree buster! 

Stay away, or we’ll throw whatever! 

The excitement almost made Loner forget his hunger. He tried to hunt, but was too slow to catch anything. He scavenged for fallback foods: plant roots, bird eggs, and insects by the water’s edge.

Exhausted, the wolf dog lay by a log topped with ferns near the elephant’s palm. He put his head between his paws and let his tongue loll out. He had not slept long before a voice hissed, Get out! You’re in our territory!

A rabbit-sized creature with two small tusks confronted him. One hyrax was not a threat, but the wolf dog scented a dozen more in the background. He moved further out and lay behind a large, exposed root. Loner was wondering how he was going to survive when he remembered the words of a pack mate. You never know how help will come. Don’t give up!

The next morning, the wolf dog left the river valley and roamed the grasslands. He skirted a pack of jackals, a leopard sleeping in a tree, and vipers half-hidden in the grass. Too many dangers and not enough water, the wolf dog realized, and he headed back to the river valley.

Loner settled amid a clump of rocks, further out from the elephant’s palm. No one bothered him there, and he slept, dreaming that a two-legged creature was petting his head.

The wind changed, and the wolf dog woke, scenting a lion in the elephant’s palm. The Water Spouter was flinging his trunk, trying to shoo the great cat away.  

Loner moaned under his breath. What bad luck! Is anywhere safe?

The sandpiper, who had alighted nearby, chirped. No need to worry. Shaggy won’t bother you. Besides, he eats mostly fish.

The wolf dog eyed the sandpiper.

No need to worry about those pesky hyraxes, either. The Water Spouter warned them about bothering strays.

Loner felt a stirring of hope. When he looked back toward the palm, he saw the great beasts were gone. Curious, he followed the elephant-lion scent toward the river bank. He found the Water Spouter foraging among bullrushes and the lion nearby slapping water and catching fish.

The wolf dog stepped into the water downstream and tried to catch fish, but failed miserably. How will I ever get enough to eat? he asked himself.  

You need your own kind to help you, Piper advised.

The next morning Loner was surprised to see the lion back in the elephant’s palm.

I should tell you, I don’t need any help, Spouter was telling him. You’ve just left your pride, but I’ve been on my own for a long while.

The Water Spouter told a story about a faraway journey. The wolf dog imagined traveling with the elephant—crossing deserts, climbing snow-capped mountains, and visiting the secretive forest elephants. There were mysterious beings too: a dragon who breathed out poisonous dust,  a golden animal whose fiery breath brought things to life, and a Light Being who could change your shape.

When the elephant finished, Shaggy asked how he had crossed the desert.

Use your nose to find water and don’t panic when you feel like you’re melting from the heat. Learn to eat a little and try new things. How’s this for starters? he asked, tossing a carob pod the lion’s way.

Shaggy ate the seed-fruit. 

It’s not lion food, but there’s plenty of it. Tubers are good too. Are you planning a desert journey? asked the elephant,  but the lion didn’t say.

Days passed and the dry season came upon them. A wind blew grit from the desert that got under your skin. In the middle of the day, the valley animals retreated to low lying spots, and Loner stayed in a rock shelter.  

The elephant dug a large mud well, which caused the primates to chant:

The Spouter likes to lie in the mud and muck!

Isn’t it time he cleaned himself up?

Sneaking up from behind, the apes started to grab at the elephant’s tail. After a few  ended up bedraggled in the water, the troop changed their tune.

The Spouter lies in the mud and muck,

But he doesn’t fool around.

Pull his tail and his trunk

Will  turn you upside down!

Late one afternoon after the desert winds subsided, the wolf dog  ventured out of his shelter. He overheard the elephant complaining to the lion. Those apes are always screaming and throwing things. I wish you’d scare them off.

When Shaggy remained silent, the Spouter went on, A dark-maned lion came looking for you the other day.

That would be a brother from my old pride, Shaggy informed.

There was a lioness wondering about you.

That would be my mother.

Loner’s heart sank. Lions go with lions, and sheep with sheep.

I stuck up for you though, the Spouter went on. I told them you don’t hang out with day monkeys, and that you have a powerful dawn roar. Do you feel the energy at dawn that lifts you off the ground?

Are you saying that an elephant can fly? asked Shaggy.

Well, it’s not by flapping my ears. One day, you will feel the power of dawn.

Loner left, discouraged. What good is it to learn about flying when you can’t find enough to eat?

A series of howls stopped the wolf dog in his tracks. Imagining he would soon be nuzzling pack mates, he spied them watering in a stream. Loner came up to greet them, but their leader snarled, No room for strays! Besides, you smell funny.

Loner backed off, lingering a distance away. However, one pack member, named Silver, approached, wanting to know about the elephant.

He likes to trumpet, Loner shared, and his forehead makes low vibrating sounds. He can be fierce, but he’s mostly peaceful. I can take you to him.

Silver hesitated, but it was a chance to see the giant creature up close.

Among the river reeds, the two came upon the elephant. His ears were spread and his trunk raised in alarm. Be off, vipers! he was trumpeting.

Two horned vipers, their heads expanded, had raised their heads. What’s this? What’s this? they hissed. You don’t have fire!

The Spouter flattened them with a blast of air.

Their scales sizzling, the snakes slithered up to the elephant’s great padded toes.

The vipers raised their hoods and tensed to strike, but a lightning bat of the Spouter’s trunk hurled them away.

Our brother, the Great Lizard, will get you! said the vipers, before disappearing.

When Silver left to rejoin her pack, the wolf dog felt more alone than ever. I don’t have any real friends, he thought. The Spouter just puts up with me. Piper only likes to warn me. I met another wolf dog, but she was only interested in the elephant.

The lone wolf dog retreated to his rock shelter. His mind filled with scattered images: the desert wind catching fire, Tree Dwellers tossing him in the air, and the Spouter’s water blasting him.

Loner didn’t know how much time had passed when he woke. Hunger called him, but he didn’t feel like eating. He was wondering what had come over him when he heard a low voice. Come deeper, it said.

Loner peered into the darkness. Deeper within, the cave walls glistened with wet. Forms wavered and swirled, but nothing took shape.

The wolf dog stilled, hearing soft tinkling from a spring which caused him to lose track of time. Who are you? he asked.

Loner felt a dark presence, but heard no answer.

After that, the wolf dog heard crunching sounds from above. It’s time to go outside, he decided.

Loner found the elephant gnawing on salt rock and rumbling.

If only I had fire, blast!

I’d burn the snakes and dragons, fast!

If only I had fire!

The wolf dog’s ears keened when he heard a grating sound come from higher up. A rabbit-sized creature with two small tusks was on a cliff, hanging sideways with suction feet.

Little Tusker! I’m glad you’re here, greeted the