The Water Sprites

Water sprites at play Water Sprites are strange creatures. Just as ordinary sprites prefer to be dry and occasionally take a dip. So water sprites prefer to be wet and occasionally hop about getting dry.
Lector Reading
One of them, Lector, also liked to read, especially stories about their ancestors and The Water Dragon. After the events of this story Lector began to write about the Water Dragon.
 
 

If you have come straight to this story you can catch up on our hero (tree) sprite Bobby later
 

The river was dryBobby decided that after all he didn't care much for the fairies who had taken him to their "cupboards" after his ordeal with the witch. After a day and a night with them fussing over Rex  while giving him (Bobby) second best, especially giving him a damp floor to sleep on instead of the posh bed that Rex had, he had become decidedly republican. So, first thing the next morning, he sneaked back to where he had seen the water sprites. They were neither floating nor hopping but were very distressed because where once their river had been gushing, it was now just a trickle. And they had difficulty keeping wet.                 Two just lay looking at it sadly.

Blast and DamHow did this happen? said the ever considerate Bobby. It turned out that the wicked witch had been up to her tricks again. When she had got free she couldn't reek revenge on the fairies who had disposed of her, because they were more powerful, so she rushed about the river shouting Dam! Dam! Dam!. Of course what she had meant to shout was Damn!, Damn! Damn!, but she was no good at spelling. However she was good at making spells, so inevitably the river was dammed. And since she also shouted Blast! too, it was dammed by a great blast of rock which no one could possibly move. No one? queried Bobby.


Then Lector piped up, even though the others tried to prevent him with many shushes. The Water Dragon could move the rocks.  There was a big gasp from all the other water sprites. Summoning all his composure, the Senior water sprite said: Take no notice. That's just a legend, there's no dragon really. Yes there is, yes there is, yes there is! said the Lector, puffing himself up so that he looked as if he might burst. And I know where he lives. There was another gasp from the assembled sprites and they chorused together: You can't go there. Show me  said our hero bravely and with great nonchalance as if visiting dragons was a common occurrence in his small life.  Not likely chorused everyone. Tell me where then. But the dragon hasn't been awake for years and years. Then I shall wake him. Another gasp. And Lector found his voice again and said. Go along the river until you reach the weeping rock. The dragon's cave is next door. Very well I shall go and speak to him. The water sprites were impressed by Bobby's cool aplomb and broke into spontaneous applause, except for the Senior one of course who sulked. Bobby beamed but, as our hero set off, he began to wonder what he was doing and he began to feel just a little less confident.

The Weeping Rock and Dragon's Cave His knees were knockingWhen he reached the weeping rock, he could hear a knocking noise and wondered what it was and became alarmed less it should waken the dragon before he was ready. Then he looked at his shadow in the water and saw that the noise he could hear was from his own knees.

They were knocking something alarming. Alarmed were they and alarmed was he. Why had he so foolishly volunteered to visit the Dragon?


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