STORIES
How The Terrapin Lost It's Shell
Many full moons ago, before Sheritra the Goddess of belonging had chosen her name; the Ray became a Turtle and then it became a Terrapin and then a Tortoise. This occurred on a stormy night when the eggs (which are round and pale just like the moon) were hatching on the beach. The clouds obscured the view of Selene the beautiful moon, and she could not guide her little creatures back to the ocean, so they grew up on the land and their flippers turned into feet. From that time, on the day before hatching, the Sun God Ra shines extra hard, to make certain that the Storm God does not block him and Selene’s light from the Tortoises. He sent his yellow rays to the island where the Tortoises were to burn the clouds away; however, some of the Tortoises became so hot as they tried to go back to the sea to cool down. Some lagged behind, did not make it to the waves, and so came to live in the stream, the pond or the swamp. The mother Turtle could not see for the sunlight and she did not realise that as she laid each of her eggs, the Hawk was flying down to take them, because there were no clouds around and he had spotted her laying. The Hawk could not eat all the eggs and dropped some onto the Turtle’s back making a pattern on her shell. One little Terrapin fell onto its back and could not turn over again, how he struggled trying to right himself, he waved his flippers about madly so soon the Sea God gave him a wave to wash him over. The big wave washed him all the way up the beach and straight into the jaws of a Crocodile who was so shocked he snapped his mouth shut breaking the little Terrapin’s shell into a dozen pieces. The Hawk had been feeling guilty so agreed to put the shell together again using his beak, some Pearls, Abalone and Anemone glue from the windy rock pool. When he had finished mending the Terrapin’s shell it was even more beautiful than before as the moonlight reflected off the pearls. The Terrapin did eventually lose it’s shell as the glue from the Anemone did not last forever, but it also grew fingers and became known as the New Terrapin shortened later to Newt after it had made friends with the Adder who had issues with his nose and tail, but that’s another tale.
Bat Cat
One dark night a black cat called Blackie was out hunting. He came accross a thicketed area and couldn't get around it. He decided that he would try and get through it as he knew that Ratties lair was on the other side. He wanted to take the Rat back to his home for a gift to his owners, So he plucked up his courage and attempted to struggle into the thick bushy area. He didn't like getting his fur ruffled so it took quite some effort. When he was half way through, he was bitten by a Gnat that had flown off the Rat's fur because he wanted to protect the Rat as he believed that killing was wrong. Blackie forced his way through the undergrowth and eventually emerged from the other side where there was some lovely green grass. Now it happens that Blackie the cat was good friends with the Bat, who's name was Battie, as they were both night hunters. Battie swooped down and detected the Gnat with his ears and ate him as he was hungry and ready for a meal. Blackie was very thankful to the Bat and they were even better friends because of it. Battie also didn't believe in killing unless it was for food so he asked Blackie not to kill the Rat as there had been enough death for one night. Blackie agreed because he knew that at home there was some nice food for him so he turned around and made his way back through the dense area of the garden which was easier this time because he had made a path through on his way. Nobody knows Gnats name as he keeps it a secret because he is very mysterious. Blackie got home and had some chicken dinner and they all stayed friends that night.
(c) John Cook