A Tail of Woe 2

I stand alone in a mossy clearing. Above me hang the branches of ancient elms and gnarly oaks. Pockets of dappled sunlight filter through the canopy and dance upon the ground before me. Echoes of melodious birdsong descend from the boughs, accompanied by the background rustle of scampering squirrels and hurrying hedgehogs. To my delight a warm and gentle breeze stirs, bringing with it the heady scent of lilies and… cat breath?

‘Thump!’ I receive an almighty blow to the chest. ‘Thump!’ Another.

Befuddled by this phantom assault, I look around in the hope of finding an explanation. In the distance, through the thicket and brush, I hear a voice. Although it’s out of place in this enchanted forest it does seem rather familiar and I know I must listen. Whilst deep in concentration, a most odoriferous wave of warm pungent air blindsides me. Cat breath. Again. In the forest?

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The full version of this story is available in
'BERGAMOT, EARL OF GREY' VOLUME 1. 

A Rant and a Ramble

This week I received a visit from my cousin, Lord Bramble. Bramble is not a real ‘Lord’ by the way! I feel I should point that out. You see, our family titles are simply acronyms for our various occupations and talents. Whilst I am an Earl (Environmental Appreciation of Rural Lands), Bramble is a Lord (Latent Obsessive Rambling Disorder). Simply put, he likes to wander.
    
We’ve been friends since childhood, where we spent many weekends foraging andexploring the woodland around our village. Rummaging through the densest undergrowth and the thickest hedgerows, we became quite skilled at sourcing sweet treats and Bramble had a real knack for finding the juiciest berries, however well concealed. It was on one of these jaunts that everything changed.

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The full version of this story is available in
'BERGAMOT, EARL OF GREY' VOLUME 1.