Twig Stories ~ Book excerpt, Chapter 1-3 Leaf & the Long Ice

Twig Stories, Vol. 3 Leaf & the Long Ice

Twig Stories, Vol. 3 Leaf & the Long Ice

CHAPTER ONE

Buds The wolverine escaped the gray wolves only to be trapped in the tunnels
at the glaciers edge. She had splashed through streams of melted ice, and skidded from one blue tube to another. Now she realized there was no way out. Young but shrewd, Musty was not afraid. She backed into a low cave, and quieted her heavy panting. Only one howler at a time could attack her here, and she was a ferocious fighter. Musty imagined the pack tracking her to this one place of safety with its narrow opening. How one might crawl, its belly pressed to the ice so it could wedge its body inside. How its fangs would gleam in the dark. Musty held back a deep, snarling growl, and listened. Theyll never make it this far. But these howlers were excited by the hunt these tall, gangly wolves wearing shaggy coats that sparkled with snow stirred by alpine winds. Nose to ice, eyes narrowed, they sprinted into the glaciers maze of tunnels. They padded over scratches made by Mustys claws, and discovered where she hid. One wolf snarled at the rest to stay back, and flattened itself on the ice, seeking the pungent scent of the wolverine. A moment later there was a sickening CRACK! as the glacier shifted. Massive icicles showered Musty, and stabbed the howler. Startled yelps echoed within the tunnel as the other wolves scrambled away. At a distance, the pack paced back and forth, waiting and watching. Then the glistening pile of spears fell away. The injured howler staggered backwards, and shook the blood from its back. The pack returned to sniff and paw half-heartedly at the crystal debris, but their prey was now beyond reach, so they trotted back to the brilliant light of day at the tunnels gaping mouth. A distant, lone howl from the forest far below the glacier greeted them. For a time, the pack joined in. Then they grew silent. The howlers crossed sheets of glittering ice, and vanished. Back in the tunnel, Musty clawed her way out. Far below Echo Peak, an impish, stick creature named Leaf looked up, startled by the mournful call of the howlers. The glare from the white, glistening glacier on the massive mountains tip blinded him, so he
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shielded his eyes, and squinted to see better. A moment later, the cries of the howlers faded away. Leaf did not fear them because he was a Twig. Since he was no taller than a blue jay, it was easy to hide in the fern-like fronds of ancient cedar and hemlock, or be overlooked within their gnarled roots. And he usually smelled like bark or dirt, anyway. Leaf stood ankle-deep in the cool pond, and studied his toes thoughtfully. He had mashed them deep into the mud, so he could no longer see how curly and root-like they grew. He wriggled each one. At once, bubbles rose to the surface, grew into rainbow-spattered balls, and burst. They made a very satisfying burp! Leaf grinned. Hey, Leaf! Watch us! Watch us jump! screeched two annoying voices from a cliff high above Leaf. The shouts broke Leafs concentration. He looked up, and scowled. On the edge of the cliff, where the water fell, his younger brothers - twin buds - waved and shouted to get his attention. Teeny leaves had just begun to sprout all over their stick bodies. Their leafy hair had not even uncurled yet, so their heads were covered with knob-like bulbs. I never stop looking at you! Leaf yelled back. Buddy and Burba werent sprouts any more. Still, they demanded a lot of attention. The twins had grown so much since the cold season. Its because of Mummas earth-stew and this hot season sun, Leaf decided. The twins now stood chest high to him even though their bellies hadnt lost their bulby look. Yet Mumma still thought of the buds as young shoots, and so it was Leafs job to take care of them while Mumma, Pappo, and Fern were off on their journey to the gorge. Mist swirled high in the air, and all around the falls. At the top of the cliff a flat, granite boulder jutted out, and split the flow of the water in half. The water unwound like two ribbons. Their lacy splashes murmured fssshhhfsshh as they billowed up, and sank into the pond. Watch us! shouted Buddy and Burba, their voices shrill and irritating. Leaf searched for his brothers. At last, he spotted their eyes peeking through the mist. Tiny hands appeared beside grins as the twins tried to swirl the mist away so their big brother could see them better. Two orange eyes sparkled like fire. Theres Burba, groaned Leaf. Why do I always feel like Im sitting on a bristle burr when I see him? Next to Burba blinked two large, golden eyes above a delighted smile. And theres Buddy, Leaf grinned at his favorite twin bud.
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The twins jostled each other on the granite slab to be near the edge, but Leaf didnt worry about them. He had tied pine cones around them to keep them afloat should they fall. The hot season had begun so early the scales of the cones had already opened and cracked from the heat, their seeds cast out long ago. Leaf had crushed the scales on one side, and tied the cones with tough honeysuckle vines around the buds bellies, so now the twins perched on the slab like fat, bristly cones waving arms and legs. Behind them, a curious cluster of sticks, mud, and stones stretched out between granite cliffs rising on each side of the waterfall. It was an enormous beaver dam built by a colony of goliath chompers friends of Pappo. A few seasons ago, the chompers had built this dam, and saved Leafs home, the Old Seeder. The ancient tree had almost drowned when the river called the Rushing Waters had flooded. Now only a pretty stream slipped out under the dam. Behind the dam, a turquoise colored lake filled a deep valley in the mountains, and spread out along the slopes of Echo Peak. Near the lakeshore beaver lodges dotted the surface. It was an unusual place for a chomper colony an alpine lake but these goliath chompers were loyal friends. Leaf was grateful the colony had made their home here for the chompers kept the dam strong. Watch! Watch us! Buddy and Burba screeched again. Leaf forced his green, almond-shaped eyes into round circles, stared at the twins with exaggerated interest, waved, and nodded. Bright green leaves his unruly hair hung over his eyes. He brushed the leaves aside, and shouted, Go on then! Im watching! Buddy and Burba stepped to the edge of the slab, held out their arms, and spun circles on the slippery granite. Look at us! they yelled. Buddys giggles floated with the mist. Then, with an unexpected side-step, Burba slipped behind Buddy, and shoved him hard. Buddy tumbled off the slab. With a shocked look on his face, he disappeared headfirst into the waterfall. Leaf sucked in his breath. That Burba! He might snap Buddy in half like that! With a gleeful shout, Burba jumped into the waterfall, and popped up beside Buddy, who bobbed around coughing in the middle of the pool. Burba laughed and laughed. Ripples carried them to the bank where Leaf stood waiting.
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Did ja like my new trick, Leaf? Did ja? yelled Burba. Leaf scowled. Get out! Get out now! He dragged the twins up onto the muddy embankment. He untied the vines, and threw the cones into the pond. Buddy scooted onto a flat rock. Burba stood in the mud, wearing a stubborn smirk. Leaf turned to Burba, placed his hands on his hips, and frowned. That was dangerous, he growled. Burba scooped up a handful of mud, and threw it as hard as he could at Leaf. Then play with us! he shrieked. Leaf ducked. Stop it, Burba! How da ya know its me? Burba cried out with an evil sparkle in his eyes. We look the same, ya know. Ya dont know its me! I bet you think Im Buddy! How do ya know Im not Buddy! I could not be me, you know! Buddy giggled. He had a gurgling sort of voice, and usually grinned and blinked a lot whenever he spoke. Leaf knows dat ya not me, ya silly. Ya cant fool Leaf. Burba sneered, Youre just mad, Leaf, cause Fern got to go with Mumma and Pappo, and you havta stay here, and take care of us! He scooped up another handful of mud. In a sing-song cadence, he marched around in a circle, and chanted, Fern gets to see Star! Fern gets to see Star! And you doonnnt! With an off-balanced whirl, he threw the mud ball so hard he tumbled headfirst into the pond. The mud ball smacked Leafs belly, and splattered on his face. Thats it! Leaf sprang over, and caught Burbas arm. He dragged him deeper into the pond, and dunked him. Burba fought Leafs grip. He clawed at his fist, but Leaf dunked him again, and again. At last Leaf was satisfied, and he let him go. Sopping wet and spluttering, Burba scampered on top of the rock, and sat beside Buddy, who watched Leaf with an anxious expression. Stay there! Leaf ordered. He crossed his arms, planted his feet apart, and blocked Burbas path back to the mud and the pond. What a slimerslug! Leaf thought, but he didnt say it. Burba was right. I should have gone to the gorge, not Fern! But Pappo had told him it was Ferns turn to have an adventure, and so Leaf was stuck taking care of the buds. They were too much trouble to take anywhere. Bored to brittles by buds in a too hot season. Time for your nap! Leaf declared. No! The buds blurted out with a unified shout of defiance.
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Leaf scowled, and then issued a dare. All right, then. No sapsuckers! Ill eat them all myself! He marched off at once on a path that wandered between enormous trees. Come on, both of you, whoever you are! he yelled over his shoulder. I might even tell you the story about Pappo and the rover on the Long Ice. If you race me to the Old Seeder, I promise to tell an extra long story! With a surprising burst of speed, the buds shot past Leaf. They hopped over sun-spotted ferns, and ducked under flat-topped mushrooms. In no time at all, the twins reached the wandering roots of their home, a massive, towering tree the Old Seeder the tallest tree in the forest. Burba shouted, Ill get to the knothole first! He shoved Buddy into the moss between the roots, leapt on the trunk, grasped the deep furrows in the bark, and scuttled up the Old Seeder as fast as a beetle escapes a woodpecker. Leaf pulled Buddy from the soggy moss, and brushed him off. He gave him a quick kiss on his head. Go on now, Buddy. It doesnt matter whos first it only matters who climbs the best. Ill be right behind you. Danks, Leaf, burbled Buddy with a hopeful expression. Im best, right? With slow and painstaking movements, Buddy picked his route hesitantly like a praying mantis walks swaying back and forth, and never looking back. Being afraid to climb was a funny way for a Twig to be, but Buddy grew dizzy when he looked down from their knothole, and so he preferred to stay inside. Half-way up the trunk, they reached a weird-looking knothole. It was huge, twisted, and looked like the fierce face of a grizzly. Stuck in its center was a small door with a round window. Just outside the knothole, Burba hung over the side of their porch-branch, and smirked at his brothers progress. Finally, Buddy pulled himself up on the branch, and blew a relieved spit-bubble. Im here! he announced proudly. Great! muttered Burba. Come on, Leaf. We wanna hear about the rover! Pappo and the rover! As Leaf opened the door, the twins dove through the knothole, and tumbled across their large hollow, which was stuffed full of moss chairs, woven flax rugs, and sun-spotted pillows. They snatched sapsuckers and berry cakes from the cupboards, and shoved them in their mouths at the same time.

Twig Stories, Vol. 3 Leaf & the Long Ice

Leaf enjoyed a moment alone by the door. There was a cool breeze from the glaciers of Echo Peak. The view is awesome this high up! Leaf could see the twinkle of the waterfall and the turquoise lake behind the chomper dam. He gazed at the rolling Blue Mountains on the other side of the Wide Valley, and smiled, remembering his friends, Rustle and Feather, and their adventure together. And, of course, the goliath chompers had built a gigantic dam over there, too, but since the horrible flood, the colony had moved here. The wide valley! The popper fields! Now that was a journey! Leaf sighed. He stood on tiptoe, and tried to spot the gray, burned trees of the North Forest and the deep gorge where his friends Star and Moon lived, but it was too far away. The vast forest only turned to a drifting, green haze on the horizon. Leaf shivered at the memory of being chased by swarms of barkbiters, but then he laughed when he thought of the brightly feathered Cappynuts twins. I bet Ruffle and Tuffle are having fun guarding the South Forest from barkbiters! Come on, Leaf! yelled Burba. The twins sat by the cupboards with expectant expressions, and globs of sapsuckers stuck on their fingers. Yes, yes. A story, Leaf said with a resigned shrug. A long one. He grabbed some blue petals, dipped them in an acorn filled with water, and tossed them to the twins. They patted their faces, dropped the petals to the floor, and rushed down a narrow tunnel that led to their own small hollow. Burba trampled on Buddys feet as he squeezed past so he could be first in bed. On the headboards of their large, rocking baskets Mumma had woven a chipmunk for Buddy, and a porcupine for Burba. In their hollow, sunbeams pierced tiny knotholes, and crisscrossed through golden dust stirred by the buds scampering feet. Fluffy dandelion heads skittered across the floor. A collection of Twig Branch dolls made from different trees like hemlock and maple sat on shelves dug out of the soft, scented cedar. The buds lay on their bellies, and bunched their soft, leaf-woven quilt-covies tight against their chins, ready to be frightened out of their wits. Leaf sat cross-legged on the golden-grained floor. He grinned wickedly. Ready? With wide eyes golden and orange and nervous grins, the buds nodded.

Twig Stories, Vol. 3 Leaf & the Long Ice

CHAPTER TWO

Pappo and the Rover Now, stop fussing around, Leaf frowned at Burba, who had decided
to pull Buddys covie out from under his brothers head, and use it for his own pillow. Leaf grabbed Buddys covie, and returned it. He waited until the buds lay still, and then with a deep dramatic declaration, began, Pappo and the Ferocious Rover. The blue jays grew silent on the limbs outside the small knotholes of the twins hollow, as if to listen to Leafs story, although it was time for their nap, too. In the last cold season, when you two buds still drooled all over yourselves, Pappo decided to go on a wandering trek, as most Twigs do at one time or another. You know that Echo Peak is covered by a thick, gigantic snow blanket called the Long Ice. Well, Pappo had heard the Long Ice was melting, so he wanted to see this for himself. He gathered his hunting tools his flax-woven rope, his whistletube, and his walking stick, you know, his saver. He had just found a new gemstone in the creek, so he tied it in the savers knothole. The stone was golden like the sunbeams it caught. He packed his shoulder straps pock ets with mashcakes and cappynuts, and kissed Mumma goodbye. If I remember right, Pappo also tickled you two a little before he left. Leaf winked at the twins, and they giggled. Well, anyway, Pappo hiked past the lake through a ravine to a zigzagging trail up a cliff that leads to Echo Peak. He climbed far up the mountain to where only scrubby, twisted pine trees grow. Its a wonder they grow at all because the dirt is blown away by the wind, and the air is almost too thin to breathe. At last, Pappo stood in the rubble of jagged rocks below the edge of a towering wall of blue ice. Twirling waterfalls splashed out of blue tubes in the wall, and giant slabs fell away. They crashed into pieces, and were so heavy they crushed rocks into shards. Leaf scrunched around to get more comfortable on the floor, and then continued. Its beautiful up there, too. Sparkling crystals float in the air like dandydum fluff. The magnificent ridgerunners with long, white hair

Twig Stories, Vol. 3 Leaf & the Long Ice

and sharp, black horns live on the ridge in the middle of the Long Ice, and breathe clouds that float on the tip of Echo Peak. Didnt Pappo freeze? asked Buddy. His eyes were wide with concern. Burba snorted. Embarrassed, Buddy examined his fingers at once. Remember, Twigs dont get cold like other creatures, Buddy, Leaf answered. A Twig must be stuck in the ice for a long time to freeze. Remember when Pappo stuck Mook in the ice? Anyway, Twigs love the snow! You can run and jump in it, slide down tubes, and build havens! But now, Leaf held up a finger and waggled it. You must be quiet so I can tell the story. Buddy nodded, solemn-faced. So, anyway, at last Pappo rested on a boulder, and watched the wall of ice crumble, and melt into the waterfalls, and was sad. He knew what he had heard was true. The Long Ice was melting. Now that he had seen it for himself, Pappo decided to go back home. The twins pulled their covies over their heads, knowing the best part of the story came next. Well, before he trekked back down Echo Peak, Pappo needed to sleep, so he found an old bristlecone pine tree, and crawled into its roots, and fell asleep. He dreamed of stars falling like snow. A weird, clawing noise woke him up. There was a strange, smell like wet dirt, too. Pappo did not recognize it as any creature he knew. The beast snuffled around, and scratched the bark. Suddenly, a big, black nose stuck between the roots where Pappo hid, and sniffed his foot, so Pappo kicked it, and then as fast as he could he crawled out, ran around the old tree, and dove into the roots on the other side. Then, like Twigs do, he pressed against the wood, and pretended to be the tree. He stood there with his eyes half-closed, twisted and motionless. Buddy blurted out happily, Twigs are sticks so dey can do dat! Shhhh! Burba hissed. Leaf went on. But the beast was not tricked! Even though it was huge, it bounced sideways like a chippie over the rocks to where Pappo hid, and stared right at him. Pappo was scared, but was pretty sure he was invisible, except for his golden eyes, so he didnt blink or move. He just stared right back at it. The beasts coat was dark brown, thick and shaggy, all the way down to its long, bushy tail. It had huge, flat paws with scary claws that gripped the
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rocks. A white, T-shaped mark crossed its chest, and its eyes were black like stones from the darkest cave. It looked at Pappo like this! Leaf swung his head back and forth, and with a cruel expression, glared at the twins. Buddy gasped, Oooh! Was dat a rover? Yes, Leaf slapped his knee. It was a rover! Do you remember why they call them rovers? Buddy shook his head, even though he had heard this story many times before. Burba sneered at his brother, and replied, Cause theyre always movin around! Yes, Leaf agreed. Rovers roam all over the place all the time. They wander from mountain to mountain, and they never get lost, either. In one night, they could climb straight over the top of Echo Peak, straight down the other side, and back over, if they want. Most of the time, they bounce around like excited chippies. Rovers live deep under the snow in cold tunnels, and thats where their kits are born, too. They are ferocious! They can kill just about anything! Ooooh! Buddy cooed with admiration. Burba nodded, unimpressed. Go on, Leaf! Tell the rest. So anyway, Pappo hid in the roots, and for a little while the beast stared right at Pappo like it was suspicious, but not sure he was there. Finally, the rover bounded away to a boulder near the edge of the Long Ice. It popped out with a white, fuzzy kit gripped tight in its teeth. She carried the kit out into the rubble of rocks, set it down, and licked it all over. Thats when Pappo realized the rover was a mum! But then something terrible happened! Buddy hopped into Burbas basket, and pulled his covie over both their heads. His golden eyes squeezed shut, and even Burbas blinked like he was worried. The scariest part had come. Leaf lowered his voice and scrunched closer as if to protect the twins from what was going to happen next. Pappo saw gray shadows moving over the rocks. The shadows were like a spiders web that floats in the breeze, silent and graceful, but attached to a deadly creature. Four howlers appeared right beside Pappo. They spread out in a wide circle to trap the rover mum from all sides.

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Pappo screamed a warning, but it was too late. At that very s ame moment, the rover mum caught sight of the howler pack. Frantic, she grabbed her kit in her mouth, and bounced back and forth over the rocks, looking for a way to escape. The howlers pressed her in a tight circle, creeping closer and closer. Even with her kit hanging from her mouth, the howlers were scared of her, because none wanted to be the first to attack. The rover mums vicious growl was horrible to hear the closer the howlers came. Her snarl frightened Pappo so much he nearly ran away. Ooh! What happened? Buddy blurted out. Burba whacked him. Listen, and youll find out, nuthead! No names, said Leaf. He glared at Burba. Are you gonna be still or not? The buds nodded. All right, then. The howlers knew the rover would not let go of its kit, and so she could not fight them. Soon they had her surrounded! Buddy cried out, terrified, Oh my curlin toes! Did Pappo save dem? Oh, be quiet! yelled Burba. Shh, shh, Leaf patted Buddys head. Its almost over. Oh, brother, Burba snorted with disgust. Yeh, they all die! Oh no dey dont, Buddy retorted. I just forgot. Can we go on now? asked Leaf. He frowned at Burba. So anyway, the howlers crept closer. Suddenly, the rover exploded with fury, and leapt straight at the packs leader, and threw it to the ground! Then she slashed two other howlers. They squealed, and ran away, but came back. The rover charged another howler, but still, the circle of howlers grew tighter. All of a sudden, the mum whipped her head, and tossed her kit over the heads of the howlers. The kit tumbled through the air, and landed on the rocks in front of Pappo. The howlers didnt have time to think about the kit, because the rover mum slammed into the pack again, ripping and shredding and clawing and snarling. Fur and hair and blood flew all over the place! Pappo was so shocked and afraid he just stared at the kit. The tiny thing tried to crawl, but was so young, it just slipped, and hit its chin on the rocks. So it lay there mewing and crying. Pappo didnt know what to do, but he knew he must do something to save the poor creature. So he jumped from the roots, ran to the kit, grabbed hold of one of its ears, and started to drag it back in the tree. All

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the time there was a horrible battle going on between the rover and the howlers. Horrible growls, horrible biting, horrible slashing Ooooooh! screamed Buddy, and buried his head under his covie. Burba kicked his brother. Sit up, you scaredy-slug! Leaf rolled his eyes. Listen, Buddy, this is the best part! Wait til I finish tellin you! Oh, dats all right, Leaf, cried out Buddy from under his covie. Ya dont havta tell me anymore! Go on! shouted Burba, hoping to drown out Buddys whimpers. No, Buddys right. I dont have to tell all the bloody parts. Burba glowered at Buddy. Buddy peeked out, greatly relieved. Leaf stretched his legs, and smiled. So anyway, Pappo almost got the kit in the roots, but he couldnt make it. One of the howlers saw them. It crouched down, ready to leap on the kit! Now, how did Pappo save the kit? Leaf asked. Pappo knew he must do something because the kits mum was fighting the howlers, and he was just standing there with the kits ear in his hands. So Pappo did what all Twigs do. They keep their sap flowing in their head, and think of something! Leaf winked at the twins. Pappo yanked out his saver from his back strap. He stuck it in the ground, and caught a sunray with the gemstone. He swung the beam right at the howler, and scorched its nose! The howler yelped in pain, scrambled backwards, and took off running down the mountain! Pappo grabbed the kits ear again, and tried to drag it back in the roots, but the kit started hollering and wailing. Worried, he was hurting it, he let go of its ear, and petted it. It kept wailing, so he kissed its nose and eyes, and murmured, Dont worry, little friend. Youll be all right. Im your friend. I dont want to hurt you. All this time, there was a terrible fight going on between the rover and the howler pack. The teeny kit hushed up. It licked Pappos faced, and stared at him with crossed-eyes. Pappo kissed it all over its fuzzy face again and again. It was soooo sweet! Ugh! grunted Burba. All at once, Pappo realized it was as silent as butterfly wings. He looked up, terribly afraid, for he had forgotten all about the howlers. But it wasnt a howler that stood before him. It was the rover mum! She stood just a few paces away, all hunched over with her hair bristling on
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her shoulders, staring at him,. Blood dripped from her teeth. Big patches of hair hung from her side, and her claws were stuffed with clumps of gray hair. Behind her the rocks were red with splashed blood. But the howlers were gone. The rover mum won the fight. But now she wanted her kit! The rover snarled at Pappo with a vicious gleam in her eyes. She thought Pappo was stealing her kit, and the only reason she hadnt killed him was because Pappo still had his arms wrapped around it. Pappos legs went weak, and his hands trembled like leaves in a whipping wind. He let go of the kit right away, and stumbled back into the roots. All the time the rover stared at him, her eyes furious. But instead of attacking Pappo, she limped to her kit, and nuzzled it. Pappo hid in the roots. The rover stared at the tree for a little while. Maybe she thought Pappo ran away because she couldnt see him anymore. Anyway, her kit started mewing, so she picked it up, gave the tree one last glare, almost like she could see Pappo, and then padded away with the kit swinging back and forth in her mouth. Whered it go? asked Buddy. To the Long Ice, you nuthead! growled Burba. Thats enough, Burba, Leaf frowned. Dont call names. Now, time to nap you two! Immediately, Burba sat up. Take us to play in the snow, Leaf! Take us to play in the snow on the Long Ice! Time for nap! Leaf glared at Burba. No! Only if you promise to take us to play in the snow! demanded Burba. Buddy looked back and forth from Leaf to Burba and back again with a worried expression. It was usually awful when they argued. Burba chanted and bounced up and down in his basket. Take us to play in the snow, Leaf! Take us to play in the snow! Leaf clapped his hands, Time for nap, Burba! Thats enough or no sapsuckers! Ever! Burba thought about that for a moment. With a sour glance at Leaf, he lay down with his feet on his pillow, and glowered at the dusty sunbeams crisscrossing the hollow. Leaf lifted Buddy back into his own basket, and tucked his covie around him. He stood watching over the twins with a stern expression, and his arms folded across his chest. He waited until he was sure they had curled
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up in their baskets, and napped. Once he heard their soft, steady breathing, he tip-toed to the larger hollow in the Old Seeder. Time for me to nap, too, he sighed as he headed for his own moss bed. But as Leaf slipped away, Burba peeked over the edge of his basket.

CHAPTER THREE

Slipping Away High above the Old Seeder, and far up the steep slopes of Echo Peak,
an old stick creature knelt at the edge of a vast glacier, and pressed his gnarled ear against glittering, blue ice. With crooked jerky fingers, he untied his cap, and laid it beside him. Two black tips of mountain goat horns poked through the cap one slanted forward, the other backwards, and they twinkled in the brilliant sunlight. The twinkles reflected in the old Twigs ruby-colored eyes. Stringy, orange leaves grew from the back of his head, and brushed against his shoulders. The leaves were frozen, crinkled, and tangled. The long, white coat he wore was made of goat hair white tufts hed found stuck in granite crevices, and sewn together with thick, flaxen thread. The patchwork coat had deep pockets, and bone pieces for buttons. The folds of the coat crumpled around his knees as he knelt. Sandals were tied to his ankles with grass straps. Sharp pinecone scales, more thorns than scales, stuck through the worn soles, and kept him from slipping on the ice. He was a Willow Twig named Mantru, and like all Willow Twigs, he was very tall for a Twig as tall as cat tails that grow in marshes. Mantru closed his eyes, and concentrated on listening. He could hear water rushing far below, flowing through a crystal blue tube in the Long Ice. A shiver in the ice, and a low rumble startled the old hermit, and he looked up. Further up the glacier, a ragged, granite ridge soared into the blue sky. A topmost curl of snow had tumbled off an outcrop, and its tip had landed with a thud far below in a snowdrift blown against the cliff. Falling rocks chased the tip to the bottom, and sounded like they grumbled as they fell.

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Oh, sufferin sun and miserable moon! Mantru muttered. Its melting. Melting everywhere. Crystals clung to his eyelashes like frozen tears. From pools on the surface of the ancient glacier, a relentless waterfall of meltwater drilled through the ice pack to the granite underneath. The water squeezed beneath the glacier, and carried its crushing weight like a worm drags bits of soil on its way to the surface. The stream forced its way under the glacier to the edge near Mantru, and spilled out onto jagged rocks and a misshapen bristlecone pine tree twisted by alpine winds. Mantru whispered, I cant believe the Long Ice is melting. All at once with a terrible shudder, a piece of the glacier split away weakened by the hot sun. The old Twig gasped as a slab beneath him jerked sideways. A long crack zigzagged behind him, and water gushed up from the tear. The slab lurched, and tossed him into the air. When he landed, Mantru seized his cap with both hands, raised it high above his head, and slammed the goat horns deep in the ice. He hung on, braced himself, and rode the slab downhill. At first the slab moved in slow motion, and floated on top of the slush, but then it gained speed as it surfed on the icy flow. Whoaaaa! Stop! Mantru shouted. The thunderous rumble of a watery, slushy avalanche drowned out his cry. He bounced up and down, but held on to his horn-cap, and it held fast. His orange hair was blown straight up by the wintry blast, and his hairy coat flapped open like wings behind him. His willowy body whipped back and forth, but did not break. The slide rushed over the glaciers edge, and folded like a blanket falling to the floor. Behind it, a thin, wide waterfall fell over the edge of the glacier. Mantru vanished, smothered in a slushy wrinkle, and frozen under an icy lump in an instant. Echo Peak uttered a soft sigh. Far from the avalanche, in the warm hollow of their haven, Burba sat up, and poked his sleepy brother. Buddy, I wanna go see snow. Dont you wanna see snow, too? Burba asked. Lets go to the Long Ice, and play in the snow before it melts. Buddy yawned, rolled away, and answered, Oh, Burba. Leaf wont take us dere.

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I know he wont, said Burba. Lets go by ourselves! Hes taking a nap, anyway. Well be back before he even wakes up. Its not so far away, you know. Its not? Buddy asked. He sat up. No. Its not far at all, Burba reassured him. We can see the snow from here cant we? Come on. All we have to do is follow the path u p to Echo Peak. The snow is right up there. Burba pointed at a knothole above their heads. Buddy stared at the knothole, doubtful. We gotta see it before its all gone, Buddy! Burba urged. Its melting, remember. Next season itll all be gone! Buddy scrunched up his nose, deep in thought. At last he blinked, grinned, and replied, Well, all right den. Lets go right now! Burba slid over the edge of his basket, and held a finger to his lips. Shhhh! Dont wake up Leaf. Buddy hesitated. He pointed to the limp leaf-covers in their cradles. We cant leave our covies. Burba shook his head. No, Buddy, were not sprouts. We dont need em anymore, and besides theyre leaves! We cant hide in the snow under a bunch of green leaves. A hookbeak might see us! He slashed the air with imaginary eagle talons, and grimaced in exaggerated horror. Buddy shook his head. No, we gotta take dem. He grabbed his covie, and slipped his head through a hole in the corner. Oh, fine then. With a snort of contempt, Burba grabbed his tattered covie, and tied it around his neck. The twins tiptoed through their tunnel, and peeked out into the family hollow. The largest room in the Old Seeder was crowded with mosscovered chairs, and lit by the rays of the afternoon sun streaming in through high knotholes. The twins tiptoed to the havens door, which Leaf had propped-open to catch the breeze. Leafs rhythmic breathing drifted from his hollow far down another winding tunnel in the trees trunk. Burba grinned and winked at Buddy. Buddy winked back. The buds hopped to the branch outside, and at once backed down the tree trunk. They gripped the soft bark with fingers and toes until they could plop onto fat, puffy mushrooms. At once, they trotted down the deer path that tunneled through the forests shadows like a worm tube through soft earth.

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Twig Stories, Vol. 3 Leaf & the Long Ice

The sleepy blue jays ruffled their feathers, peeked through the fronds of the Old Seeder, and watched as Buddy and Burba slipped away.

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