The chill in the air was almost biting, and the wind whipped through the trees, making the branches sway ominously. Blue clung tightly to Wobbles as they pushed forward through the narrow water passage, his thoughts racing. They'd seen the water level continue to drop, and Blue knew the villagers were growing worried. They needed to figure out what was blocking the water source, and fast.
"Blue," Wobbles asked softly, wobbling in the rushing stream, "why is there so little water?"
Blue clicked his pincers thoughtfully. "Something must be blocking the water from flowing into the well. If we're lucky, maybe we can fix it." He glanced around and urged, "Come on, let's hurry."
Wobbles wobbled faster, and Blue clung onto his squishy body as they zipped through the passage. Despite being a slime, Wobbles had surprising speed, gliding through the narrow tunnel with ease.
Soon, they reached the end of the tunnel, and as they emerged, Blue felt his little heart sink. On the other side was a lake, but it was almost completely dried up. Only a few scattered puddles remained, evidence that water had once flowed freely here.
Blue took a deep breath, feeling a sense of urgency. This lake should have been brimming with water, enough to supply the village well. But something was clearly wrong.
He began inspecting the area, his eyes scanning every detail. He noticed that near the muddy banks, footprints marked the ground. They were too large to be human, and their shape was strange, leaving clawed impressions in the mud.
"Something big has been here…" he murmured, glancing over at Wobbles, who was wobbling beside him, equally puzzled.
Suddenly, Wobbles called out, wobbling eagerly. "Blue! Over here!"
Blue scuttled over to where Wobbles was, and his eyes widened at the sight. A massive tree had toppled over, its thick branches blocking what seemed to be a large part of the lake. Behind it, water was dammed up, pooling on the other side but unable to flow down to where it was needed.
"This… this is what's blocking the water," Blue muttered, his pincers tapping as he processed the situation.
Wobbles bounced around the large tree, clearly trying to understand the obstruction. But the tree was far too massive for them to handle. Wobbles, seeing Blue's worry, wobbled back to his side and asked, "What do we do, Blue?"
Blue took a deep breath, his mind racing. What could they do? They were small—just a scorpion and a slime. They didn't have the strength or size to move a tree this big, let alone clear the path for the water.
He thought about the villagers. Maybe he could somehow lead them here, show them the tree. But he hesitated, thinking of the dangers. The wind was fierce, and the path through the forest could be treacherous, especially with the risk of more trees falling. And if they got lost or hurt, he'd never forgive himself.
Lost in thought, Blue felt a small wobble against his side. Wobbles was gently nudging him, their usual bubbly spirit still strong despite the situation.
"What should we do, Blue?" Wobbles asked softly, sensing his friend's worry.
Blue felt a warmth of gratitude for his friend's support. "Thanks, Wobbles," he said, calming down. "You're right. We need a plan to help the villagers. If we can't move the tree ourselves, maybe we can at least show the villagers what's going on."
Wobbles wobbled, eager to help in any way possible, though their wobbly "thinking" pose showed they were just as unsure about how to move a tree as Blue was. Blue clicked his pincers in a reassuring way. "It's okay, Wobbles. Thanks for trying. Let's head back."
Together, they made their way back through the narrow passage, battling the gusts of wind as they emerged from the well into the village once again.
.
As Blue and Wobbles scuttled around the village, they attracted curious glances from the villagers. A few people couldn't help but stop and watch as the two small creatures hurried from place to place, checking houses, glancing up at villagers, then returning to the well.
"What are those two up to?" one villager wondered aloud, watching Blue wave his pincers in an exaggerated manner at Wobbles.
"Looks like they're… communicating?" another mused, scratching their head. "It's like they're planning something."
Some of the villagers found the little antics of Blue and Wobbles adorable, a comforting sight in the face of the strange, biting wind. Others saw it as a simple, innocent distraction—a bit of comic relief amidst their worries. They chuckled, guessing that the creatures were simply playing around, trying to amuse each other.
However, as the wind continued to blow stronger, some villagers grew more concerned. If these tiny creatures were working toward something, what could it be? And could it help the village in any way?
.
Mina pressed her face against the window, her eyes wide with wonder as she watched Blue and Wobbles dart around the village. She wanted nothing more than to go outside and play with them, but her mother had firmly said no.
"It's too windy out there, Mina," her mother warned gently. "It's not safe."
Mina pouted, crossing her arms. Her father, noticing her disappointment, tried to cheer her up, telling her stories of his own childhood adventures. But his words faltered when he noticed a tiny figure waving from outside their window.
"Look! It's Blue!" Mina's face lit up as she reached out, her little fingers brushing against the window. Her father chuckled, lifting her so she could see clearly. He cracked the window open just enough for Blue to slip inside, shielding him from the cold wind outside.
Blue scuttled into the house, giving a little wave with his pincers, and Mina greeted him with a delighted squeal. Her father watched in amusement as Blue tapped his pincers against the wooden window frame, creating a series of faint scratches.
"What's he doing?" Mina's mother asked, noticing her husband and daughter staring intently at Blue.
Mina leaned closer, studying the tiny carvings and taps with fascination. Slowly, a pattern emerged—a simple map, drawn in scratches on the wood. Mina's eyes widened as she put the pieces together.
"There's a big tree blocking the water!" she exclaimed, pointing at the rough little drawing of the village, a path through the forest, and a wobbly mark for the fallen tree.
Her father peered closer, his eyes widening as he began to understand. Blue had drawn a map showing the village, the forest, and the lake, with a large tree blocking the flow of water. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he set Mina down, quickly pulling on his coat and hat.
Mina's mother looked at him, concerned. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going to inform the village elder," he replied, smiling down at Mina. "It looks like your little friend is here to help us."
Before he left, he looked back at Blue, then at Mina, his smile growing softer. "You've made a good friend, Mina. Be proud of him."
As her father left, Mina turned back to Blue, her face lighting up with admiration. She climbed onto a nearby stool to be level with him. "Thank you, Blue! You're very brave."
Blue gave her a little wave, and then, with a hint of pride, reached out and gently booped her nose with his pincer. Mina giggled, delighted by the tiny gesture.
Mina's mother, watching the scene, smiled warmly. She reached out and gently placed a hand on Blue's back. "Thank you, little one," she murmured, her voice full of gratitude.
Blue, feeling both proud and slightly embarrassed, gave what could only be described as a tiny salute with his pincers.
.
The elder sat quietly by his fire, mulling over the strange happenings in the forest. When Mina's father burst in, breathless and eager, the elder listened intently as he explained Blue's map and the fallen tree blocking the water source.
The elder chuckled, a warm and grateful smile spreading across his face. "Who would have thought? A scorpion, of all creatures, has brought us this message. It seems we've been blessed by a small but mighty messenger."
As he thanked the goddess beyond the stars for sending this unusual helper, he gathered the villagers, preparing to address the water shortage with newfound hope. Blue had given them the chance they needed, and the village was ready to act.