2nd Napkin 28

Ebonius rushed furiously out to the canyon’s edge and let out a few gut-wrenching screams of frustration. After the deafening echoes stopped coming back to him, it became eerily silent. Slowly and gradually, the silence was interrupted by a soft whimpering below him.

2nd Napkin 27

Meanwhile, back in Ebonius’ lair …“What is wrong with this stupid stick!?!” shouted Ebonius furiously. “Why won’t it take to the stone? I need my scepter! I finally have all the pieces, now why is this not working!?” Then, in his fury and frustration, he stormed out of the lair.

2nd Napkin 26

As the three friends made their way out of the forest, Chester said, “Hedgie, should I be looking for clues?” “You should always be on the lookout for clues when you are on an adventure, Chester, but I already know where we are going because the staff is calling me,” said Hedgie.

2nd Napkin 25

Hedgie was not exactly sure what direction Abercrombee headed, but he knew he was going after Ebonius. “I can tell that you are getting ready to go on an adventure. Yes,” said Chester. “So, I am coming with you.” “Me too,” said Mezzo. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, my friends. Let’s get ready and go,” said Hedgie.

2nd Napkin 24

The next day, the animals were shocked to find Abercrombee missing. “That’s odd. How could he have slipped out past our guard,” said Bandy. “And there are no tracks or any trace at all of how he left, or what direction he went,” said Chipper. “I think I know,” said Hedgie.

2nd Napkin 23

Chipper helped to calm Mezzo down. And for the next few days, much healing occurred and things started to get back to normal in the clearing. Abercrombee explained that Ebonius was correct. He and Soot cut off his paw to steal the scepter away from him many years ago.

2nd Napkin 22

The clearing was buzzing with activity as the scouts returned with the wounded squirrels and began to work on them and finish getting Hedgie bandaged up. Mezzo was furious and it was all Bandy could do to prevent her from chasing out after Ebonius.

2nd Napkin 21

“Well, I got what I came for, so I must now bid you all the fondest of farewells,” said Ebonius. And with that, Ebonius and the black jacket rats vanished into the forest. “Quickly, everyone! We must stop that bleeding!” cried Bandy. “Chipper, get your scouts and go check on the sentinels.”

[ The gray marker was running out of juice. KD ~j~ ]

2nd Napkin 20

“Ebonius, please, I’m begging you, don’t do this! I am so so sorry for what I’ve done to you,” cried Abercrombee. “Well, I suppose that you will also be sorry for what is about to happen to your prickly friend. You are responsible for what happens today because of your decision many years ago,” said Ebonius. Then Ebonius raised his sword and sliced off Hedgie’s right paw to get the staff away from him. “No!” cried Abercrombee.

2nd Napkin 19

“If this belongs to you, Ebonius, here, take it. I thought it belonged to Abernas …I mean, Abercrombee,” said Hedgie. As Hedgie walked toward Ebonius and handed the staff to him, it began to quiver rapidly and it tingled in his paw. “Give it to me, you impudent possum!” ordered Ebonius. Then Ebonius snatched the staff, but to his surprise, Hedgie came with it.

2nd Napkin 18

“This is exactly what happened to me many years ago, isn’t it, father,” said Ebonius. “Ebonius, please …I am so very sorry …please don’t do this,” pleaded Abercrombee. “It was my magic scepter and you and that vile brother of mine stole it from me! And I have to live with the mark that proves it!”

2nd Napkin 17

Suddenly, the staff magically leapt up off the floor into Hedgie’s right paw. “Well, this looks all too familiar, wouldn’t you say, father?” said the rat. “Ebonius, please!” cried Abercrombee. “I don’t know what is happening here!” cried Hedgie. “Well I do!” shouted Ebonius.

2nd Napkin 16

“Please Ebonius, this is between you and me …” pleaded Abercrombee. “Not anymore old rat. You brought them into this and now they are going to suffer like me!” said the rat. “Your sentinels have already felt my sting.” “No! You didn’t!” exclaimed Hedgie. “Yes, I did,” said the rat. “And you must be the impertinent pincushion who pilfered my staff.”

2nd Napkin 15

Everyone suddenly turned around and saw a large black jacket rat with a few others standing around him. “Ebonius, please, don’t hurt my friends …” pleaded Abercrombee. “Friends?! Friends?! You never had a friend in your life, you mean old sewer rat!” sneered the large rat.

2nd Napkin 14

“He told me he was the Changemaster and that some things can’t change and others can. He said I could not change my cruel past, but that now I could be a Changeling for good,” Abernasty continued. “He gave me a new name, Abercrombee, and then I felt like I had a second chance. So then I went in search for the person whom I felt I had most wronged …” “And that would be me,” said a voice from behind.

[ If you look back on 2nd Napkin 6, you will see some shadowy figures in the trees following Hedgie and Mezzo. KD ~j~ ]

2nd Napkin 13

Over the next few days, as Abernasty was recovering, he told his new friends what happened to him after Soot died, “I wandered and wandered in utter despair, thinking about my horrible, cruel life and the pain and misery that I had brought into the world. I was crushed and hopeless … and then, … I heard his voice.”

2nd Napkin 12

“Ebony … no … Ebonius, my son … no …” Abernasty continued. Hedgie noticed that the staff began to quiver and then it fell over on the ground. “What was that all about, Hedgie?” asked Chester. “Well, I think we’re going to find out that Soot had a brother,” said Hedgie.

2nd Napkin 11

Finally, after many days of gentle care and Hedgie’s natural healing methods, Abernasty began to show signs of life again. One morning, Hedgie was sleeping at his bedside and was awakened when he started to speak. “Eh … eh … ebony …” said Abernasty.

2nd Napkin 10

Hedgie labored tirelessly making ointments for the wound and sealing up the end of Abernasty’s arm. All the while, he kept wondering who would have done such a horrible thing because it was so obviously a sword wound and not an accidental severing.

Shakespeare

My daughter ran across this and we thought it would be appropriate to share as a weekend entry. A hedgehog showed up in Shakespeare's A Midsummer-Night's Dream, Act II Scene II Another Part of the Wood.


The Fairies sing.

You spotted snakes with double tongue,

Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;

Newts, and blind-worms, do no wrong;

Come not near our fairy queen.

Sing in our sweet lullaby;

Lulla, lulla, lullaby; lulla, lulla, lullaby:

Never harm,

Nor spell, nor charm,

Come our lovely lady nigh;

So, good night, with lullaby.

Weaving spiders come not here;

Hence, you long-legg’d spinners, hence!

Beetles black, approach not near;

Worm nor snail, do no offense.

[ Woodland fairies play an important role in this second napkin story. KD ~j~ ]

2nd Napkin 9

“I need to get to work right away! I am afraid it might be too late!” said Hedgie. So Hedgie began to give everyone a task. They gathered supplies, re-bandaged wounds, and helped Hedgie take care of the difficult task of trying to repair Abernasty’s forearm.

2nd Napkin 8

“It is good to see you again, Hedgie,” said Bandy. “Welcome back to this side of the forest. Unfortunately, we have quite a dilemma on our paws.”

2nd Napkin 7

When Hedgie and Mezzo arrived at the other side of the forest, someone was there who was very eager to greet his dear friend. “Oh, Hedgie, it is so very great to see you again. Yes,” said Chester.

[ Happy Read Across America Day!  KD~j~ ]

http://www.nea.org/readacross

2nd Napkin 6

“Oh, my!” said Hedgie. “That’s just awful!” “Yes, and the real concern back in the forest is about who would do such a horrible thing,” said Mezzo. “Yes, I agree. We are going to have to be on the alert,” said Hedgie. Suddenly, the staff began to quiver slightly in Hedgie’s paw.