Adventurers

You don’t have to believe in magic. After all, what we call magic is really just an illusion we don’t understand.

This story is a little bit of science and a whole lot of imagination. I hope you enjoy it.

Your Adventure Awaits

It all started the day the students went on their trip to explore the park.  Little did they know that this was to become their mission to save the entire forest. It wasn’t just an ordinary “walk in the park.”

The sun was shining – not a cloud in the sky – when, suddenly, the shelter began to shake. The sky darkened and the wind blew cold.

With a clap of thunder, she came out of nowhere.

The students clung to each other in fear, not understanding what had just happened.

“I am Storm!” she bellowed.  I’ve come to take control of everything here – and that includes you whimpering children.”

One parent stepped forward to demand she leave, but, before they could get out a single word, Storm pointed her staff in his direction and he froze in place.

“Do NOT try to defy me!” shouted Storm.

No one knew what to do, but just as quickly as Storm appeared, another figure burst into the shelter and the skies cleared .

“Not today, Storm!” the figure shouted back at her.

“I am Nikoness, the Wizard of the Woods, protector of the forest and all that lives here. Be gone, and leave these people alone!”

With a wave of his hand, the parent sat down as if nothing had happened, and Storm disappeared.

“I’m not finished here!” were her parting words. “Just you wait. This forest WILL be mine! And – if you stay, YOU will all be mine, too!”

Before Nikoness could speak, from off in the distance, Storm could be heard shouting to the wind, “I WANT those rings!”

 Everyone looked at each other. Rings? What rings?

And that is how the adventure began. One the children would never forget.

After the tears stopped and everyone thanked Nikoness,  they all wondered what was next.

Nikoness began handing a ring to each child –  explaining as he went, “Do not worry,” said Nikoness. “In the hands of smart, kind, and caring children, these rings are special because they have their own kind of magic and will allow you to speak with the Dwellers, too. That’s what all the things that live here are called. 

“Storm is a greedy, nasty wizard, jealous of the Dwellers, and, with these rings she can turn the them against each other, keeping them too busy fighting with each other to see that Storm has taken control of the woods for herself.”

“She knows the Dwellers work together to make the woods a wonderful place for everyone to explore and enjoy.  Working together is what makes their magic strong and good, keeping the woods alive. “

When you visit the park, you will become an Adventurer, and you must do your part to protect the woods.

If you speak with enough different living things, together, you may be able to find the Ringmaster, and the rings can be safely hidden away – saving the forest.

How many magical living things must you find before the Ringmaster will appear? It depends – often on the time of year or weather. You won’t see everything shown in the guidebook or on the website, but that’s okay.

Some things appear for years, some for months, some for weeks, some for a day, some for a minute, some for a few seconds, and some will appear and be gone in a flash, so there’s no way of promising you will see them all.

If you look very carefully, maybe, just maybe, you will come to see the magic of the forest – the same way Nikoness does … an always changing land to explore.

The end – Or is it?

Unfortunately, from time-to-time, the Ringmaster forgets where the rings are hidden.  When this happens, the rings lose their power, and new Adventurers must begin searching the woods again, bringing new magical rings to be hidden by a new Ringmaster.

You are now an Adventurer.  The Ringmaster could be almost any living thing in the forest – or even your backyard, schoolground, or other park. Continue discovering many new and interesting things as you explore.

Make the adventure your own. Have fun as you learn about – and protect – the living things around you.

Remember: Look, but be VERY careful what you touch! Something may look harmless, but everything has a way of protecting itself – even if you don’t know what that way is – or see what it is. And look out for Storm.