(A Continuing Saga of Jubbly Shrubbery-vina 9/7/00)There once was a wicked little faerie named vina. She was mischeivous and known throughout the land for her tricks. She could smile as innocent as a babyfae all the while plotting to pinch your toes. She was friendly, and always in search of new tricks. On this particular evening she had decided to go to the mushroom patches. Her friend Mukktar had told her of a wonderful place in the fields, called Boubliwae, where fairies and Porridge Twits danced and sang among the bulbous heads swaying in the wind. This was a good night, thought vina. The moon was high and full in the sky, and the fields were alive with movement and colour and sound. As she approached the beautiful but dangerous jubbly shrubbery she wished Mukktar was with her now, he said there was a trick to passing through, and she could not remember what it was. And was there any truth to the rumours of ogres in the woods that had grown tired of the fae merrimaking at dusk and wanted some peace and quiet? vina couldn't think of that now. Now she had to get through this jubbly shrubbery. She knew the path to the stream would be just on the other side and Boubliwae past the moss rock, downstream just a bit. She could vaguely hear them singing, something about fungus and mold?! vina could hardly contain herself,they were so near!!! Where was Mukktar when she needed him? Now on to the shrubbery........

(A Continuinhg Saga of Jubbly Shrubbery-Clubdub da Ogre 9/8/00) DRAT AND BEBOTHER!!! STINKING MUSIC! BLASTED BRIGHT MOON! ME NOT GETTIN' SLEEPY SLEEP! YRRGGHH....STOP YER SINGING!!ENUF!ME SQUASH EM!THEN EM MAKE SQUEAKY SQUEAK!!HAR! HAR! HAR!ME CLUBDUB NEED TO FIND ME CLUB...(much head scratchin')AH, ME NO NEED STINKIN CLUB! JUST SQUASHIN FER-FOLK ME AM...ON TO THE SHRUB GOES CLUBDUB! (much noise making and tromping)AH THE SHRUB! WAIT! ME SEE SOMEN MOVE IN THE WOOD? What does Cluabdub see? Will Vina make it to the shrub afore Clubdub? Or, Will Vina just fo 'squeaky squeak'?

(A Continuing Saga-Vina 9/8/00) Vina, glowing with anticipation over the prospect of gathering with her fellow fae, was more determined than ever to make it through the jubbly shrubbery. Jubbly shrubbery, indeed, she thought. How can something so beautiful be so dangerous? At that moment she heard a thud, followed shortly by another thud and another. What doth approach? She flew high into the air for a faeries eye view, but to her surprise saw nothing but the thick, luscious shrubbery, now, to get through it. Landing on a comfy toadstool to collect her thoughts, vina heard the thuds again, closer this time. An unhappy grumbling came to her ears, something about sleeeeeep, must have....What creature could this be? What poor tormented creature would be thudding through the forest at this hour? Why didn't he just get some sleep, thought vina,instead of making a raucous for the whole forest to hear. Well, 'tis none of my concern, I must join the others! With that, vina went poking about the shrubbery, the entrance must be here somewhere. All the while unaware, the ogres were coming....

(Clubdub ggod show-Tember 9/10/00) Thud******* Thud***** Thud****........ and a shake and rattle of a weary head - what awakens a slumbering Tember from her nest of leaves and Porridge Bird feathers? Still half asleep and unable to attend to much glamour she nestles further into the nest to hide until she can make sense of all the ruckus. The surroundings leaves have not yet matched the colors of her garb and garland to sheild her from passing intruders. "A few more weeks and some colder air shall make it easier for me to hide" thought Tember, placing a delicate hand to her burndish leafy hair ornamentation. Her true faerie name (well not her TRUE true name - c'mon we know not to do that!)being "September Leaves" affords her the right to assume the firey countenance regardless of the season. Yet it not help much to make her invisible when the vegetation still wears the colours of the shamrock. Laying quite still, the *thud* *thud* *thud* *thud* passes leaving her shaking like a leaf. (no pun intented) Not usually frightened, Tember wonders why she shivers and feels so vulnerable. Could it be the dream she had of fungus and mold? Or the threat of "squeaky squeak" heard in the distance? Nevertheless, it is time to pile up the feathers and leaves and snuggle back down to blissfull dreams...andcarefree......sleeeeeeeeeeep...................

(continuing jubbly...Vina 9/11/00) vina was feeling peckish, it being early evening, and she had not stopped to snack all day. Looking for a nice spot to rest, she pulled out her pouch to munch on lovely bits of petals and a few fresh strawberries. mmmmmmmm...fresh berries, her favorate treat. She knew that with the cold coming, she wouldn't have many more fresh berries this season. But, she has them now! And with a laugh she tossed herself onto a big pile of nice crunchy leaves.."What, What!?", and indignant voice cried. "Whats all this then!? What yer doin'? After my Porridge Feathers,ay?" "What? Twit Plumes? Of course not! It is I, vina! Sorry for the trample! I am searching for the way to Boubliwae, can ye help me?" September Leaves didn't much like the look of this flibberty gibbit faerie, and especially did not like her rude awakening. She did, however, know the way to Boubliwae, and perhaps this vina might share a delicious strawberry ot two for her trouble? "Aha! Its me berries ye spy! Well, eat hearty then! Have 2 or 3, and lets be on our way! What do they call ye then? "asked vina. "MMMMMMM,delicious! My name is September Leaves and in case you didn't realize, I WAS napping! and if you.."Napping!! No time for napping, silly fae! Don't you hear them singing Tember? They're there! Don't you want to join them?" "Yes, there are many wonderful spirits down in Boubliwae, you've never been? "retorted September Leaves. "No, my dear friend, Mukktar told me of a trick to get there, but I can't remember what it is, and Mukktar is visiting the elders!" "TRICK!" Hee hee. Tember laughed and howled and made quite a site of herself in doing so. Vina felt her face grow hot. What was this silly fae laughing at? Tember continued, "There's no trick! (teehee) You can't get there by flight, Boubliwae is covered from sight overhead, but, you simply crawl through the jubbly shrubbery to the other side, follow the stream to the..."Yes, to the big rock with the moss! I know, but he said there was a .." vina realized her dear friend had been the one doing the tricking. Wait until she sees him again, she muttered...all this trouble..." "What?" asked Tember. "Not a thing" replied vina, now very anxious to get through. Tember told her about how the shrubbery contained thorns that can hurt faerie wings, and other reasons it was dangerous. As if on cue the thuds started again, louder and with more force than ever! "Hurry!" cried vina, as Tember made her way through the shrubbery. THUD THUD The ground was shaking, and Tember and vina were both petrified. Vina, close behind Tember could see her emerge from the shrubbery and the stream was in sight! Heaving herself through the jumble of leaves and briar was no small task, suddenly the shrub shook violently and vina lost her breath. There she was covered from head to toe in the bramble, with only one small foot visible...

(continuing Jubbly... Tember 9/11/00) As Vina tried to tumbled out of the thick shrub she was blinded by a bright beam of light and whopped upside the head by tremendous wings that flew hurredly over yonder tall trees. "What the...?" mummbled Vina still squinting from the flash that could be seen fading away. "Griffin", said Tember with a shrug as if it were no surprise to her. "Battled with a few - they're actually quite an amusing breed." "But where did that flash come from? And what are you hiding behind your back?" Vina was now wondering just what was the tale of this sly little fae. Tember sighs wondering if she should share her glamour secrets with a new - shall we be so bold as to call her "friend" so soon upon meeting. There are many tricksters here as we have seen. She holds out a clenched fist and slowly opens it to reveal three sparkling acorns. Vina reaches for them but they are snatched back quicker than they were offered. "Humph - How were the berries?" Vina finds an angle for barter. Surely the tasty berries are worth help in finding Boubliwae AND the possession of one acorn. Tember does, after all, have three of them. Tember rolls her eyes in a way that says "she must be joking" and then pats her stomach, remembering how yummy breakfast was. "Ay - you drive a hard bargin, young fae. But it does seem that with all the treachery that has befallen us that I should keep on ye side of good.....but think not that I will fall for trickery. First let us seal the deal of kinship with a hardy wing pat." Vina and Tember carefully touch each others gossimer wings which fold tightly upon release."Ok - I entrust you with but one of my magic acorns but use it well for Crystalmyst is a few night's journey to collect more and my supply runneth low. "Vina smiles with appreciation - or is it an impish grin with pride of getting what she wanted. Nay - do not the happy dance of sweet victorty yet, fair Vina. There be rules and secrets to have the acorns do thy bidding. Having not the know - worthless they are to ye. "You must hold the 'corn in the hand that faces East and...." THUD THUD THUD........."Yea - to yonder branch we should take flight....." points Vina. But there is no movement, no flutter of delicate faerie wings for a wing pat to envoke trust causes temporary stillness of the wings.........silly fae with very poor timing. THUD THUD THUD and "CLUBDUB want to squeaky squeak...."