Torn World Muse Fusion

Is now open!

My first work from a prompt is is a brief excerpt from a book published in the Empire that I just made up:  Moon Myths of Assimilated Peoples of the Empire, and is titled Birash and Darash.  It includes a few paragraphs of folklore and a 5-stanza children's song.

I'm hoping it will be approved as canon!

As the first piece I've written today, I'll offer to post it here for just $5.

Please leave a note in the Paypal screen if you want to sponsor a specific thing, or I'll assume it is a general donation for my Torn World Muse Fusion efforts.

And check the comments to the torn world post linked above, from time to time all day, to see what others are writing! We're planning on running at least until midnight EST.

Torn World Muse Fusion

Is now open!

My first work from a prompt is is a brief excerpt from a book published in the Empire that I just made up:  Moon Myths of Assimilated Peoples of the Empire, and is titled Birash and Darash.  It includes a few paragraphs of folklore and a 5-stanza children's song.

I'm hoping it will be approved as canon!

As the first piece I've written today, I'll offer to post it here for just $5.

Please leave a note in the Paypal screen if you want to sponsor a specific thing, or I'll assume it is a general donation for my Torn World Muse Fusion efforts.

And check the comments to the torn world post linked above, from time to time all day, to see what others are writing! We're planning on running at least until midnight EST.

Torn World: Building a Home

So far, I've written two short stories, Alligator's First Midsummer Dance (available to be sponsored for $10) and Building a Home. I also wrote a children's song based on one tribe's myths regarding Torn World's three moons (available to be sponsored for $5).

This story was prompted by haunted_blood  and allykat , and sponsored by allykat 

Thank you, allykat !

It will be submitted to the Canon Board, and edited per their recommendations before appearing in final form on the Torn World website.
________________________

Building a Home

By Deirde M. Murphy

Dini was playing with his nephew, Filor, in the children’s park near his boyfriend’s office. It had rained earlier, and the little boy was building houses in the sanded play-area. “Come on, Uncle Dini, you make one too!”

Dini looked across the street where Lalya, worked. It was lunchtime, but Lalya hadn’t come out of the building.

“Come on!”

“All right.” Dini got down on his knees, and started packing wet sand into one of the buckets.

“What are you doing?”

“Building a house. Like you asked.” Dini turned the bucket upside down and thumped it soundly before lifting it back up carefully, to leave a molded tower of sand in front of him.

“But houses aren’t round!”

“Why not?” Dini started drawing windows and a door on his sand-house.

“Because. Houses are square.” The boy motioned to his own lopsided effort, which he’d built up a shovel at a time, and which was twice as long as it was deep.

“It looks to me like your house is rectangular.”

Filor frowned. “It’s better than yours. At least it isn’t round.”

Dini sat back. “I thought you wanted me to build houses with you?” He spotted Lalya coming out of the office building, and smiled, quietly enjoying the view. Lalya was tall, with broad shoulders and a neatly-trimmed beard that made him look deliciously masculine.

“That one would never get a license!—hey, aren’t you listening to me?” Filor turned, and saw Lalya. “Uncle Lalya—isn’t my house better? That round thing would never get a license, would it?”

Lalya walked over in his pristine trousers and high-necked red shirt, his licensing bureau vest looking more like fashion than uniform on his fit frame. Carefully, from the side of the sand, Lalya bent over to view their work. “Oh, that round one is unusual. Round is allowed by the licenses, but the construction is more expensive, and you need a special inspection. I’m not sure the square one there—“

“Rectangular!” Filor protested.

Dini envied Lalya his masculine good looks, no matter how useful his own, more androgynous looks were in his chosen profession.

Lalya nodded. “Pardon me. You’re quite right. I’m not sure if the rectangular one would pass inspection either, right now. Those walls don’t look very steady. How about if I borrow your Uncle for a bit, and give you a chance to fix it up before I play inspector?”

“All right.”

Dini stood up and brushed off his knees, and they strolled over to a bench to sit together, barely touching. Despite the reforms, some people remained uncomfortable with same-gender couples.

“He’s really cute.” Lalya smiled over at the boy, who was hurriedly fixing things up. At six, he already knew it wasn’t every day that an Imperial Inspector offered to finish up an inspection after a problem had been fixed.

“Yeah, he is. Sometimes, I wish—“

“We could adopt!” Lalya spoke softly, taking his hand.

“If we moved to Affabreidalam, sure.” Dini felt his shoulders rounding in discouragement.

“No, here. We could marry—“

“Sure, if one of us gets licensed as a woman.”

“But you play a woman onstage every night!” Lalya looked confused.

“As part of an all-male company. If I change my license, I’d have to get a different job, and I like this one. I’m understudy to the lead in two different productions. I’m so close to getting a lead part myself, I can taste it.”

“But I see you with little Filor—you want that just as much.”

Dini couldn’t meet Lalya’s eyes.

“I know it’s true. And—the idea has grown on me. I’d like to be a father too.”

Filor finished the house and looked up. Lalya gave him a gesture of approval, and called, “Do you want me to inspect the whole housing project at once?”

“Huh?”

Dini smiled at the boy. “Lalya is asking if you want to build more houses, and have them all inspected at the same time.”

“Sure!”

When the boy’s focus was again on his work, Lalya patted Dini’s hand. “I don’t think that came out right. I—I didn’t think about the fact that you’re in an all male company. That was stupid of me, I know how licenses work. It’s just—and it’s not logical—well, I’ve been thinking of you as Laishlenar Company’s leading woman for months, and wondering when they would open their eyes and realize what a gem they have working for them. It just seemed natural to think of you as the woman. But I wouldn’t ask you to give up your career.”

Dini sighed. “I know that. I just—well, you’re right. I really would like to be a parent. I just wish the reforms had gone further, and taken gender out of the picture.”

“At least they went as far as they did.” Layla rifled his hand through his beard thoughtfully. “What if I got re-licensed as a woman?”

Dini spluttered at the involuntary vision of the very masculine Layla decked out in a dress. Or a negligee, though that second thought had possibilities.

“What, you don’t think I’d make a good woman?”

Dini, imagining Layla trying to do a female role, started to laugh, but stopped as what Layla had said really started t sink in. “You mean—I mean— Are you really proposing to me?”

Layla blushed. “Well, it’s just paperwork. That’s half of my job, you know, finding ways to license the things that people want and need, when the obvious license won’t work. And people don’t care about your gender when they buy licenses—”

“Marriage isn’t just paperwork!”

“From a licensing perspective—“

Dini placed a finger on his lover’s lips to get his attention. “You’d really do that, get licensed as a woman, just to marry me?”

Layla met his eyes. “I would.”

Dini leapt up and spun the larger man around, kissing him on the lips right there in front of all the children and their mothers. Filor looked up, startled. Dini smiled at the boy. “He’s—she’s—um” The heck with trying to figure out which gender pronoun to use, he thought. “We’re getting married!”

The boy looked longingly at his half-completed second sand-house. “Do you have the license yet?”

That sobered Dini—it would doubtless take months to get the licenses in order. “Not yet.”

“Good. Then I can finish this housing project first.”

Dini and Layla both laughed, and he noticed that several of the mothers laughed too.

They sat back down on the bench to make plans for their new life, and their new home. They didn’t get far before Layla’s lunch break ended, because most of the women drifted over to congratulate them, one or two at a time.

Finally, they made a dinner date to continue the discussion. “But I’ll start the paperwork for the licenses right away—gender, marriage, reproduction, and adoption.” Layla smiled, “Am I missing anything?”

“I know you—you’ll research the regulations to be sure no matter what I say!” Dini couldn’t stop grinning. He’d have to wear out the grin before the show tonight; his bit in the evening’s show part was a bitter spinster. Oh, well, he’d have makeup to help.

Layla was smiling too. “True. It’s why I’m so valued in this job. My bosses don’t have to second-guess my work, and the customers are happy—well, as happy as possible—too.” He kissed Dini’s hand, his beard tickling Dini’s skin.

“You don’t have to shave off the beard, do you?”

Layla shrugged. “I’ll research the regulations, but I don’t think so. And if I do, it’s worth it.” He turned, and bent to inspect the sand houses. “Excellent, excellent. Do you have your licenses?”

The boy nodded and held out his empty hand.

Layla flourished an invisible pen and left four signatures, approving Dini’s round house along with Filor’s two complete and one incomplete buildings.

“Thank you Inspector.” The boy bowed politely.

“Keep up the good work, Contractor Filor, we need houses for our newly-married families.” He turned and winked at Dini, and left.

Filor walked over to Dini. “He even approved your house!”

Dini beamed down at the boy. “Yes, he did.”

“The broker can handle them now, and find families for them. And I’m hungry. Could you make me a sandwich?”

“Of course I can.”

“Yay!” Filor took Dini’s hand and led him out of the park.
___________________

Back to the story I'm writing about a winter hunt, riding snow-unicorns.

Author's Note:  The licensing system is a combination of how the Empire makes sure people doing something are qualified to do so (how often have people wished that parents got training before the kid arrived?) and this government's system of taxation.  Yes, there's licenses for just about everything, but there's no income taxes or sales tax!

As to the theater, the empire has all-male companies, all-female companies, and mixed companies, probably as a result of the many smaller, splinter cultures that developed during the sundered times.  The actors who play the other gender in the single-gender troupes are often heterosexual. 

This story was written in response to a prompt asking to see a story about a homosexual couple in the Empire who is facing (or has faced) this particular bureaucratic challenge in order to become parents.

You can find out more about Torn World at tornworld.net.

Torn World: Building a Home

So far, I've written two short stories, Alligator's First Midsummer Dance (available to be sponsored for $10) and Building a Home. I also wrote a children's song based on one tribe's myths regarding Torn World's three moons (available to be sponsored for $5).

This story was prompted by haunted_blood  and allykat , and sponsored by allykat 

Thank you, allykat !

It will be submitted to the Canon Board, and edited per their recommendations before appearing in final form on the Torn World website.
________________________

Building a Home

By Deirde M. Murphy

Dini was playing with his nephew, Filor, in the children’s park near his boyfriend’s office. It had rained earlier, and the little boy was building houses in the sanded play-area. “Come on, Uncle Dini, you make one too!”

Dini looked across the street where Lalya, worked. It was lunchtime, but Lalya hadn’t come out of the building.

“Come on!”

“All right.” Dini got down on his knees, and started packing wet sand into one of the buckets.

“What are you doing?”

“Building a house. Like you asked.” Dini turned the bucket upside down and thumped it soundly before lifting it back up carefully, to leave a molded tower of sand in front of him.

“But houses aren’t round!”

“Why not?” Dini started drawing windows and a door on his sand-house.

“Because. Houses are square.” The boy motioned to his own lopsided effort, which he’d built up a shovel at a time, and which was twice as long as it was deep.

“It looks to me like your house is rectangular.”

Filor frowned. “It’s better than yours. At least it isn’t round.”

Dini sat back. “I thought you wanted me to build houses with you?” He spotted Lalya coming out of the office building, and smiled, quietly enjoying the view. Lalya was tall, with broad shoulders and a neatly-trimmed beard that made him look deliciously masculine.

“That one would never get a license!—hey, aren’t you listening to me?” Filor turned, and saw Lalya. “Uncle Lalya—isn’t my house better? That round thing would never get a license, would it?”

Lalya walked over in his pristine trousers and high-necked red shirt, his licensing bureau vest looking more like fashion than uniform on his fit frame. Carefully, from the side of the sand, Lalya bent over to view their work. “Oh, that round one is unusual. Round is allowed by the licenses, but the construction is more expensive, and you need a special inspection. I’m not sure the square one there—“

“Rectangular!” Filor protested.

Dini envied Lalya his masculine good looks, no matter how useful his own, more androgynous looks were in his chosen profession.

Lalya nodded. “Pardon me. You’re quite right. I’m not sure if the rectangular one would pass inspection either, right now. Those walls don’t look very steady. How about if I borrow your Uncle for a bit, and give you a chance to fix it up before I play inspector?”

“All right.”

Dini stood up and brushed off his knees, and they strolled over to a bench to sit together, barely touching. Despite the reforms, some people remained uncomfortable with same-gender couples.

“He’s really cute.” Lalya smiled over at the boy, who was hurriedly fixing things up. At six, he already knew it wasn’t every day that an Imperial Inspector offered to finish up an inspection after a problem had been fixed.

“Yeah, he is. Sometimes, I wish—“

“We could adopt!” Lalya spoke softly, taking his hand.

“If we moved to Affabreidalam, sure.” Dini felt his shoulders rounding in discouragement.

“No, here. We could marry—“

“Sure, if one of us gets licensed as a woman.”

“But you play a woman onstage every night!” Lalya looked confused.

“As part of an all-male company. If I change my license, I’d have to get a different job, and I like this one. I’m understudy to the lead in two different productions. I’m so close to getting a lead part myself, I can taste it.”

“But I see you with little Filor—you want that just as much.”

Dini couldn’t meet Lalya’s eyes.

“I know it’s true. And—the idea has grown on me. I’d like to be a father too.”

Filor finished the house and looked up. Lalya gave him a gesture of approval, and called, “Do you want me to inspect the whole housing project at once?”

“Huh?”

Dini smiled at the boy. “Lalya is asking if you want to build more houses, and have them all inspected at the same time.”

“Sure!”

When the boy’s focus was again on his work, Lalya patted Dini’s hand. “I don’t think that came out right. I—I didn’t think about the fact that you’re in an all male company. That was stupid of me, I know how licenses work. It’s just—and it’s not logical—well, I’ve been thinking of you as Laishlenar Company’s leading woman for months, and wondering when they would open their eyes and realize what a gem they have working for them. It just seemed natural to think of you as the woman. But I wouldn’t ask you to give up your career.”

Dini sighed. “I know that. I just—well, you’re right. I really would like to be a parent. I just wish the reforms had gone further, and taken gender out of the picture.”

“At least they went as far as they did.” Layla rifled his hand through his beard thoughtfully. “What if I got re-licensed as a woman?”

Dini spluttered at the involuntary vision of the very masculine Layla decked out in a dress. Or a negligee, though that second thought had possibilities.

“What, you don’t think I’d make a good woman?”

Dini, imagining Layla trying to do a female role, started to laugh, but stopped as what Layla had said really started t sink in. “You mean—I mean— Are you really proposing to me?”

Layla blushed. “Well, it’s just paperwork. That’s half of my job, you know, finding ways to license the things that people want and need, when the obvious license won’t work. And people don’t care about your gender when they buy licenses—”

“Marriage isn’t just paperwork!”

“From a licensing perspective—“

Dini placed a finger on his lover’s lips to get his attention. “You’d really do that, get licensed as a woman, just to marry me?”

Layla met his eyes. “I would.”

Dini leapt up and spun the larger man around, kissing him on the lips right there in front of all the children and their mothers. Filor looked up, startled. Dini smiled at the boy. “He’s—she’s—um” The heck with trying to figure out which gender pronoun to use, he thought. “We’re getting married!”

The boy looked longingly at his half-completed second sand-house. “Do you have the license yet?”

That sobered Dini—it would doubtless take months to get the licenses in order. “Not yet.”

“Good. Then I can finish this housing project first.”

Dini and Layla both laughed, and he noticed that several of the mothers laughed too.

They sat back down on the bench to make plans for their new life, and their new home. They didn’t get far before Layla’s lunch break ended, because most of the women drifted over to congratulate them, one or two at a time.

Finally, they made a dinner date to continue the discussion. “But I’ll start the paperwork for the licenses right away—gender, marriage, reproduction, and adoption.” Layla smiled, “Am I missing anything?”

“I know you—you’ll research the regulations to be sure no matter what I say!” Dini couldn’t stop grinning. He’d have to wear out the grin before the show tonight; his bit in the evening’s show part was a bitter spinster. Oh, well, he’d have makeup to help.

Layla was smiling too. “True. It’s why I’m so valued in this job. My bosses don’t have to second-guess my work, and the customers are happy—well, as happy as possible—too.” He kissed Dini’s hand, his beard tickling Dini’s skin.

“You don’t have to shave off the beard, do you?”

Layla shrugged. “I’ll research the regulations, but I don’t think so. And if I do, it’s worth it.” He turned, and bent to inspect the sand houses. “Excellent, excellent. Do you have your licenses?”

The boy nodded and held out his empty hand.

Layla flourished an invisible pen and left four signatures, approving Dini’s round house along with Filor’s two complete and one incomplete buildings.

“Thank you Inspector.” The boy bowed politely.

“Keep up the good work, Contractor Filor, we need houses for our newly-married families.” He turned and winked at Dini, and left.

Filor walked over to Dini. “He even approved your house!”

Dini beamed down at the boy. “Yes, he did.”

“The broker can handle them now, and find families for them. And I’m hungry. Could you make me a sandwich?”

“Of course I can.”

“Yay!” Filor took Dini’s hand and led him out of the park.
___________________

Back to the story I'm writing about a winter hunt, riding snow-unicorns.

Author's Note:  The licensing system is a combination of how the Empire makes sure people doing something are qualified to do so (how often have people wished that parents got training before the kid arrived?) and this government's system of taxation.  Yes, there's licenses for just about everything, but there's no income taxes or sales tax!

As to the theater, the empire has all-male companies, all-female companies, and mixed companies, probably as a result of the many smaller, splinter cultures that developed during the sundered times.  The actors who play the other gender in the single-gender troupes are often heterosexual. 

This story was written in response to a prompt asking to see a story about a homosexual couple in the Empire who is facing (or has faced) this particular bureaucratic challenge in order to become parents.

You can find out more about Torn World at tornworld.net.

Torn World: Alligator's First Midsummer Dance

And another of my stories written today is sponsored! I'm taking a moment to post it before I return to writing.  This one was prompted by  kelkyag and sponsored by Mikka.

Thank you both!
_________________________

Alligator’s First Midsummer Dance

By Deirdre M. Murphy

It was Summer Solstice in the Riilass Swamps, and the animals were dancing in celebration. Skycat was dancing with Squirrel on a branch and Duck with Heron in the water. Gull and Woodpecker and many other birds were dancing in the sky, and Mouse was dancing on Turtle’s back. Everyone was having a great time until Alligator swam up. Then they all stopped and flew or scampered away from the water. Even Turtle strove to hurry.

“Where are you all going?” said Alligator.

“We’re getting out of the way of your big jaws!” said Skycat.

“And teeth” said Duck, her eyes very wide.

“It’s Solstice—I want to join the dance.”

Water Snake slithered up onto a tree. “You don’t dance. You eat.”

Alligator drew himself ponderously up onto the shore by Turtle, who doubled his efforts to get away from the water and under a stout bramble-bush. “I dance better than Turtle, here.”

But all the animals drew away from him.

He looked at each one. “Please? Won’t anyone dance with me?”

“And have you eat us? Alligator, we’re not that stupid.” The animals all shook their heads.

“Skycat? Surely you are brave enough to dance with me on Solstice! You were riding on my head just the other day.”

“But you’ve been mad at me ever since, and your teeth are long.”

“I forgive you!

But Skycat would not be moved. “I like dancing up here in the branches. You’re too heavy to climb up here.”

“Won’t anyone dance with me? I promise I won’t eat you.”

“Do you think we can trust him?” Woodpecker asked.

“Not even with the whole swamp to bear witness.” Duck answered.

“I—If someone will dance with me, I won’t eat you or your kind, ever again.”

Plover flew down, settling on a branch just out of reach. “Do you make that a solemn promise? With the whole swamp listening?”

“Yes! If you will dance with me, I promise to never again eat a plover. “

She cocked her head, trying to judge his sincerity.

“If I break this promise, may these hookworms triple in size!”

Now everyone knew how much hookworms plagued Alligator, since he simply was not agile enough to do more than try to scrape them off on rocks. And while the ones on his hide were bad, the ones in his mouth were worse—his teeth just weren’t angled right to for him to spit out a rock again if he tried to use it to bash the worms off.

Everyone started talking. “Really?” “Maybe he does mean it!” “Don’t trust him, Plover!”

But Plover said, “I accept.”

Skycat darted down her branch to stare at Plover. “Are you certain?”

Plover nodded firmly. “If Alligator means what he says, then my children and sisters and their children will all be safe from him, forever. And if not, my sisters will name many children after me, and sing of Alligator’s perfidy forever. It’s worth the risk.” She rose into the air.

“Thank you, Plover! Thank you. Thank you!” Alligator smiled, and tried a few steps, but ended flopping awkwardly on his belly in the mud.

Plover rose into the air. “You can dance in the water, Alligator, and I will dance on your back.”

“That sounds good to me!” Alligator slid into the water, and Plover landed on his head, and started to dance, but Alligator swung his head around, and she had to dart back into the air.

She looked at him suspiciously, noting that his mouth was mostly closed. “What was that, Alligator?”

“I’m sorry. The hook worm by my front tooth bit deeper, and it hurts. I wish there was some way to get it out.”

“Prop your head on the bank, open your mouth, and let me have a look.”

Alligator did as she said, and she hopped down to the ground right beside his mouth. All the watching birds and animals watched closely, holding their breath to see what would happen.

“That’s a big one all right. It looks delicious!”

“It—what? You could eat it?”

“Open your mouth and hold still, you dummy! Or you’ll be foresworn.”

“Huh? Oh, sorry.” Alligator squirmed. “Give me a minute here.” Then he opened his mouth wide, and wider still, and finally stopped.

Plover hopped right to his lip, ignoring the quivering of his mouth, and snatched that hookworm right out of there and ate it. Then she hopped back out again. “Done.”

Alligator closed his mouth, then swished some water through it. “That’s so much better. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome! Let’s dance now.”

Alligator and Plover started dancing, in the middle of the water. Slowly, as the other animals got over the novelty, they returned to dancing as well, though it took Turtle a while to get back out from under the bramble-bush. The whole Riilass Swamp had a wonderful Solstice.

And not only did Plover gain safety for her kind from Alligator forevermore, she also found them an extra source of food.

Torn World: Alligator's First Midsummer Dance

And another of my stories written today is sponsored! I'm taking a moment to post it before I return to writing.  This one was prompted by  kelkyag and sponsored by Mikka.

Thank you both!
_________________________

Alligator’s First Midsummer Dance

By Deirdre M. Murphy

It was Summer Solstice in the Riilass Swamps, and the animals were dancing in celebration. Skycat was dancing with Squirrel on a branch and Duck with Heron in the water. Gull and Woodpecker and many other birds were dancing in the sky, and Mouse was dancing on Turtle’s back. Everyone was having a great time until Alligator swam up. Then they all stopped and flew or scampered away from the water. Even Turtle strove to hurry.

“Where are you all going?” said Alligator.

“We’re getting out of the way of your big jaws!” said Skycat.

“And teeth” said Duck, her eyes very wide.

“It’s Solstice—I want to join the dance.”

Water Snake slithered up onto a tree. “You don’t dance. You eat.”

Alligator drew himself ponderously up onto the shore by Turtle, who doubled his efforts to get away from the water and under a stout bramble-bush. “I dance better than Turtle, here.”

But all the animals drew away from him.

He looked at each one. “Please? Won’t anyone dance with me?”

“And have you eat us? Alligator, we’re not that stupid.” The animals all shook their heads.

“Skycat? Surely you are brave enough to dance with me on Solstice! You were riding on my head just the other day.”

“But you’ve been mad at me ever since, and your teeth are long.”

“I forgive you!

But Skycat would not be moved. “I like dancing up here in the branches. You’re too heavy to climb up here.”

“Won’t anyone dance with me? I promise I won’t eat you.”

“Do you think we can trust him?” Woodpecker asked.

“Not even with the whole swamp to bear witness.” Duck answered.

“I—If someone will dance with me, I won’t eat you or your kind, ever again.”

Plover flew down, settling on a branch just out of reach. “Do you make that a solemn promise? With the whole swamp listening?”

“Yes! If you will dance with me, I promise to never again eat a plover. “

She cocked her head, trying to judge his sincerity.

“If I break this promise, may these hookworms triple in size!”

Now everyone knew how much hookworms plagued Alligator, since he simply was not agile enough to do more than try to scrape them off on rocks. And while the ones on his hide were bad, the ones in his mouth were worse—his teeth just weren’t angled right to for him to spit out a rock again if he tried to use it to bash the worms off.

Everyone started talking. “Really?” “Maybe he does mean it!” “Don’t trust him, Plover!”

But Plover said, “I accept.”

Skycat darted down her branch to stare at Plover. “Are you certain?”

Plover nodded firmly. “If Alligator means what he says, then my children and sisters and their children will all be safe from him, forever. And if not, my sisters will name many children after me, and sing of Alligator’s perfidy forever. It’s worth the risk.” She rose into the air.

“Thank you, Plover! Thank you. Thank you!” Alligator smiled, and tried a few steps, but ended flopping awkwardly on his belly in the mud.

Plover rose into the air. “You can dance in the water, Alligator, and I will dance on your back.”

“That sounds good to me!” Alligator slid into the water, and Plover landed on his head, and started to dance, but Alligator swung his head around, and she had to dart back into the air.

She looked at him suspiciously, noting that his mouth was mostly closed. “What was that, Alligator?”

“I’m sorry. The hook worm by my front tooth bit deeper, and it hurts. I wish there was some way to get it out.”

“Prop your head on the bank, open your mouth, and let me have a look.”

Alligator did as she said, and she hopped down to the ground right beside his mouth. All the watching birds and animals watched closely, holding their breath to see what would happen.

“That’s a big one all right. It looks delicious!”

“It—what? You could eat it?”

“Open your mouth and hold still, you dummy! Or you’ll be foresworn.”

“Huh? Oh, sorry.” Alligator squirmed. “Give me a minute here.” Then he opened his mouth wide, and wider still, and finally stopped.

Plover hopped right to his lip, ignoring the quivering of his mouth, and snatched that hookworm right out of there and ate it. Then she hopped back out again. “Done.”

Alligator closed his mouth, then swished some water through it. “That’s so much better. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome! Let’s dance now.”

Alligator and Plover started dancing, in the middle of the water. Slowly, as the other animals got over the novelty, they returned to dancing as well, though it took Turtle a while to get back out from under the bramble-bush. The whole Riilass Swamp had a wonderful Solstice.

And not only did Plover gain safety for her kind from Alligator forevermore, she also found them an extra source of food.