Synopsis
There are 31 chapters, 574 pages and 129,383 words. Three Trees is a contemporary Wind In The Willows type-of-story where the characters are woodland creatures. Creatures congregate in a large cornfield where in the center are three mighty oak trees. Nobles, (the wisest creatures of the woodland) are sat on the bough of an oak tree and tell everyone that Ron and Reg crow twins have returned to this area. Four seasons ago the crow twins and their raven gang distributed bark tablets (ecstasy) into the woodland. Leah butterfly died because she took a bark tablet at her coming-of-age birthday party.
The crow twins know of a passage, that leads from the wild wood straight to Three Trees. They want the sap from the trees as it is the most powerful sap of all and the story is of their endeavors to get it. Al and Capone jackdaws, Bonnie and Clyde feral ferrets and Stallone pipistrelle bat are just several of the numerous key characters there are in the story.
There is an anti-drug theme and such as AIDS (Animal In Dire Straits) and homosexuality are covered in a tasteful and inoffensive way. Three Trees can be read by all age groups.
ONE
A thin cloud slowly moved across the face of a full moon but barely hindered moonlight from touching the ground. All was calm and still except for the odd cloud that moved across the sky and a faint breeze that stirred, but failed to even move a leaf.
Over a field of corn flew a barn owl, its flight precise, as it flew through the moonlit air with perfect ease. Two pipistrelle bats were out in the night, flying together over the cornfield. The barn owl flew to an oak tree and settled down on the bough of a branch that faced the moon, then so did the two pipistrelle bats. The oak tree was one of three in the center of a large cornfield that was surrounded by woodland.
The moon shone bright, suspended in space, and a wonder to behold by all the woodland creatures. They revered the moon and to them it was a magical thing. It put light onto darkness and it could not be felt and unlike the sun it did not blind when looked at. The moon was a commanding presence, but gentle in its approach.
The woodland became alive with creatures in motion. All the woodland creatures were on the move, except those who were too ill or infirm to travel. The sounds of nature filled the moonlit air with a harmonious din and the insects chatted profusely in swarms of vibrant movement. Non-nocturnal creatures were also out, the day-birds flying very slowly in small groups and each group led by a pipistrelle bat.
“Woh-woh-woh, slow down a little,” came somewhat wearily from Hogarth hedgehog.
Robert and Abbi rabbits stopped and looked back at Hogarth and so did all the other creatures in close proximity.
“Let’s have a rest for a short while,” suggested Robert.
Everyone had a rest so Hogarth could catch up.
Three moths named Charlotte, Constance and Mildred flew overhead, then slowed down to an eventual stop, their wings going, beak and claws to keep their bodies stationary in mid-air.
“Is everything alright down there?” asked Charlotte who was beside her elder sister Constance. Next to Constance was their adoptive niece Mildred.
“No problem,” replied Darren adder. “We’re just waiting for Hogarth to catch up, that’s all.”
Wesley and Willamena weasels looked at each other and Wesley moved his head slowly from side-to-side as if in disgust at something or someone.
“Don’t you say anything,” said Willamena with a serious look on her face. “Understand?” came out as a threat that enforced the severity of her expression.
“Well the old fool shouldn’t have come along,” was just heard by Willamena. “We’d have been at Three Trees ages ago if it wasn’t for him.”
“Stop moaning.”
“Alright Wesley?” asked Mildred who had swooped down low so she was the same level with Wesley’s eyes.
“Fine,” returned Wesley with an appreciative smile. “Things couldn’t be better.”
“We’re just waiting for Hogarth to catch up,” said Willamena.
“Good things come to those who wait,” said Wesley sarcastically.
Mildred was a bit unsure about Wesley’s remark.
“So how are you and Mathew getting on? Are we going to be hearing wedding yells at Three Trees sometime in the not too distant future?” asked Wesley semi-seriously.
Mildred’s face dropped a little and she let out a little breath. “You know how it is?” was more of a statement than a question.
Wesley and Willamena gave each other a smile.
“I’ll get off,” came quickly from Mildred and shot up quickly to join her elderly aunts.
“Good old Hogarth my foot,” muttered Wesley under his breath, saying nothing else because a threatening look from Willamena prevented him from doing so.
The moon looked as if it was glowing, spreading its light everywhere and it seemed to have increased in size. The stars twinkled like reflective sunlight-dazzle on the smooth surface of a clear pond, and the breeze had hushed itself to stillness and silence. The sounds in the woodland were prolific, of different creatures chatting to each other as they headed for the cornfield at Three Trees where they knew three Nobles were waiting to speak to them.
“Things are happening tonight,” commented Boris spider shaking off a sticky grain of soil from his fourth leg.
“I can only agree with you there Boris,” said Darren with a series of quick little nods. “When was the last time we saw the starling squadron out at night?”
Boris gave a thoughtful “Hmm,” followed by a confident-sounding, “It must be at least- “
“Four seasons ago hiss,” broke in Ken grass snake.
“It will be,” agreed Darren with a series of adamant nods.
Boris gave Darren a somewhat fearful look and said with a low sounding voice so only those in very close proximity could hear him. “Of course that was the time Ron crow did what he did to Hogarth when the crow twins and raven gang tried to take over the mallard duck pond.”
“Yeah, bad news that hiss,” said Ken with a serious expression on his face.
Boris nodded. “But all creatures, or most, are out tonight so there’s bound to be some accidents,” he said casting quick glances at Ken and Darren who both agreed.
“But still it seems stran-”
“Argh!” came from some distance away. It was Mike mistlethrush flying into a branch and injuring his right wing. A starling flew down, guided by a pipistrelle bat, and positioned Mike’s good wing over its back so the starling could ferry Mike to the woodland hospital. A pipistrelle bat led the way, its echo system relaying a message to another pipistrelle bat to inform the hospital staff of the casualty.
“You’re right Boris hiss,” said Ken and Darren could only agree.
Most of the woodland creatures had entered the cornfield, moving between the rows and taking great care not to disturb the corn. The moon lit up everywhere and the cornfield looked golden coloured, a flat surface that resembled a smooth carpet of soft golden leaves.
The air was alive with small swarms of insects. Hector insect was in charge of all the woodland insects and spoke on their behalf if there was anything important to say. Hector had been at Three Trees long before all the other insects and the three Nobles had told him why they wanted all the woodland creatures here. Hector was very worried and he knew that all the woodland creatures would be too when they knew the reason why they had been summoned to Three Trees.
Noble Arnold barn owl was sat between the two Noble pipistrelle bats named Pip and Stella. The reason they were Nobles was because Arnold was wise; Pip because he possessed a brilliant intellect and Stella because she was knowledgeable on woodland lore. There were nine other Noble creatures but this moonlit night, Arnold, Pip and Stella were in command of all the woodland creatures, including the other nine Nobles who were already there at Three Trees. Hector was one of the other Nobles and the reason he was a Noble was because he was a brilliant mathematician.
The three oak trees were older than all the other woodland trees and were...
