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5.
Prin, The Dog of Treem
"Oh,
I'm so sorry," a girl's voice cried, and the fluff
ball began to lick Mika's face.
Mika
started to laugh. "That's all right!"
That
is how Mika met Prin, the Dog of the Princess of
Treem. When she told Mika her story she cried so
hard and so long that they were all soaked, and
puddles started to form beneath them.
"You
see, in Treem" she explained, "every boy and girl
has a Dog born at exactly the same time as they
are. And they never leave each other's sides. Well,
I am the Princess' Dog, and her Protector, and the
Walborks have separated us, and I gave her my Collar
to protect her from them, for her Bracelet had fallen
off, and they captured me, but I got away, and now,
and now I'll never be able to find her again..."
Mika
and Clarisse comforted her and told her that they
too were lost, and if they all traveled together,
surely they would all find their ways home. And
so, with one last sniffle, and after they had dried
themselves off in the afternoon sun, they were ready
to begin their travels together.
"Well,
climb on," Prin said to her two new friends.
"You
mean ride you, Prin? I couldn't do that!"
"Of
course you can silly. Everyone in Treem does. Why
I'd be offended if you didn't."
 And so, reluctantly, Mika climbed atop Prin's
fluffy back, and Clarisse flew up to rest on the
soft fur of her head, and laughing, they set off.
Along
the way Prin told them stories Treem, and no, she
had never heard of Gumba, but she was sure her Majesty
the King of Treem would tell Mika should they, or
rather, when they found Treem. And then
in a quiet voice she told them of the wild Walborks
that lived in these woods. "The Collars and Bracelets
of Treem are the only things that will keep them
away. And we are without any protection at all."
Prin shivered and looked carefully around them.
After that they were all a little afraid as they
walked along, telling stories and singing songs
to overcome their fears.
One
morning when Mika awoke, Clarisse, chirping, gave
him a flute made of a wild reed she had whittled
with her beak. "You have given me back my happy
song," she said. "It's the least I can give you."
Mika thanked her with tears in his eyes, and the
three travelers' spirits had never been more lifted.
That
very day, flying high up above, the Travelers saw
tiny blue specks painted on the sky. Clarisse was
the first to notice them, and though she felt happy
at first, she started to feel sad, and tried her
best to pretend they weren't there. But they grew
closer and closer, and soon the other two noticed
a distant melody drifting on the breeze. Dozens
of blue birds fluttered just above the trees around
them. The three travelers knew they were Clarisse's
Flock, come to find her.
Mika
and Prin looked at Clarisse with teary eyes. It
was time to part. The three travelers hugged each
other, then Clarisse turned and chirped an answer
to the calling birds. She looked to her friends
one last time, then flew up with the Flock. Mika
and Prin watched the birds disappearing into the
distance and they felt a little happy and a little
sad as they continued on their own journeys.
 
Table
of Contents
story
& illustrations © 1981-2013 Robert Alan Silverstein
pforpeace@aol.com
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