The morning air was frigid, the wind whipping through the village with a bitter chill. It was an unusual cold, cutting sharply through the usual calm, and the villagers bundled up, huddling in their coats and scarves as they went about their morning routines.
But despite the extra layers, the villagers couldn't ignore the unusual strength of the wind. The elder, watching from his seat near the well, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, sensing something more in the icy gusts. To him, this was more than just a random weather change. It was a warning.
Nearby, a couple of villagers exchanged worried glances, voicing their concerns to the elder.
"The wind's too strong," muttered one of them. "And it's been pulling at the trees by the waterfall. What if a few of them fall over?"
The elder nodded, his voice calm but thoughtful. "The forest is restless. If those trees fall, it could block the flow to the waterfall that feeds our well. Water might become scarce soon."
The villagers shared uneasy looks, the implications sinking in. The village well was their primary water source, and if anything happened to the flow… well, they'd be in a difficult situation, to say the least.
Hidden nearby, Blue listened closely, catching every word of the conversation. The cold wind pricked at his scales, but he ignored it, focusing on what the elder had said. Trees falling near the waterfall, blocking the water flow? Blue clicked his pincers thoughtfully. That could mean trouble for the village, and it sounded like it might already be happening.
Making a mental note, he scurried off toward the well, the icy wind nearly pushing him off balance with each step. But he pressed on, his curiosity—and perhaps a sense of duty—urging him forward.
Not long after, Wobbles joined him, wobbling against the force of the wind, their squishy body jiggling as they tried to stay upright. "What are we doing, Blue?" they asked, their voice soft but eager.
"We need to check the well," Blue replied, doing his best to shield himself from the gusts. "The villagers are worried about the water. If it's running low, it could mean trouble for them."
Wobbles didn't fully understand what wells did, but they wobbled happily, ready to help. Together, they made their way to the well, Blue doing his best to climb up its stone edge with Wobbles's help. Wobbles pressed their soft, wobbly body against him, keeping him from slipping off as the wind howled around them.
Finally, Blue reached the top, peering down into the dark depths of the well. His little heart sank as he saw the water level far below, much lower than it should be. He remembered the elder's words about the fallen trees possibly blocking the waterfall.
As he looked into the well, the faint memories of his old life resurfaced—images of his granddaughter flashed before his eyes, then memories of Mira and the other children in the village. They relied on this water; they depended on it. A sense of responsibility surged through him.
"We're going to fix this," he said, a fierce determination in his voice.
Wobbles wobbled beside him, curious but trusting. "I don't know much about wells… but I'll help!"
Blue took a deep breath, his tail curling in thought. "Alright. Looks like the water level's safe enough down there for us to go in. We're small enough to check out what's blocking the flow, so let's do it."
Wobbles didn't hesitate. They wobbled their way to the stone edge and, without the slightest sign of fear, flopped right over, dropping down into the well with a soft plop as they landed in the water below. Blue's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting Wobbles to jump so eagerly.
He took a breath, gathering his nerves, and followed, landing right on top of Wobbles with a splash. Wobbles giggled, their whole body jiggling from the impact, which earned a quiet chuckle from Blue. They were an unusual team, but somehow, they worked.
Blue glanced around, his eyes adjusting to the dim light at the bottom of the well. Just as he'd suspected, there was a small, narrow hole leading off to one side, where the water was supposed to flow into the well. It looked like they could both fit through, though it'd be a bit of a squeeze.
"Alright, Wobbles," Blue said, pointing toward the hole, "let's see where that leads."
Wobbles nodded enthusiastically, their squishy body bouncing as they wobbled toward the opening. Blue followed close behind, feeling a new sense of purpose. Together, they slipped through the narrow passage, the water flowing steadily around them as they pressed forward, determined to fix whatever was blocking the well's water supply.
It was an odd mission for a tiny scorpion and a slime, but Blue didn't care. He'd found his purpose, and he wouldn't stop until he saw it through.