#dreaming

"Oh! It's like when the moon is a croissant! Only two of them. That makes me hungry. Moon crossiant with moon cheese..." A giggle. "But we're going the right way..."

At the word 'cheese' there is a rumble... and the rocks break free , but thery're not rocks, theyr'e lumps of green cheese!

Snow gasps "It's a Cheederlanche! RUN, Friend, Run! "

"Close your eyes!"

She covers her eyes saying "See no evil monkey pose go!"

And he lightly grabs her by the scruff, plops on his back and takes off with all the haste that a speedy pup with Quicksilver can rustle up - which can be pretty darn speedy!

The Cheese falls, yelling "PACKERS! WOOOO!" "Go, Wisconsin!"

And smashes against the ground...behind them.

But they make it clear, Snow says "I am seeing the evil now" And lowers her hands from her eyes and looks "SO much cheese, it is like Sir Vali's jokes had a gather."

A huff and puff to catch his breath and get his two feet back under him. "Do you think it's wrong to eat that cheese?" Tempted.

"It's smashed now, so it would be lceaing the place up yes?"

"You're RIGHT. But... we should get to the Curing Tree first." A touch reluctant, but then he realizes, "And on the way back we'll have more room to carry cheese, and won't have to carry it as far!"

"You are SMART, Friend Connor. It must be the fur" A nod and she turns to go towaards the Curing tree

A beaming smile, and he trots along after her!

directions follow they find the smaller trail off shooting, forcing them to move one at a time rather even if they werent' doing it before

"You can hold onto my tail if you want." He offers, as he carefully makes his way down the trail.

"We are fine, we need stay off the Silver.." Snow says "It is a rule, not to be lured off.. such trickery that..."

that's when they see the small banana tree off the silver to the left.

And Snow's eyes get very large "Ba...na..nas"

"Oop!" And he reaches for Snow to take hold if he can. "Remember why we're here! It's a sneaky squirrel trap again!"

"I have... uh..." Rustling through his pockets. "Shortbread cookies left, and we'll have cheese soon, and I bet as soon as Kerri gets well, she'll make a pie... a Banana pie! Oh, or banana pudding maybe."

"Oh..." Snow sighs "But the banana tree looks so LONELY, friend Connor?" Depsite her protests, she is guided back to the path.

Good thing they cover each other

"It does, but maybe we can throw some seeds off the path on the way back. And a new tree will keep it company. And maaaybe if it keeps growing, someday it will reach a branch where we can reach it!"

He offers Snow a cookie - small consolation, but maybe it will help.

It does, but sulky monkey

They travel down the path, winding..ignoring banana trees... lovely lovely banana trees

Connor tells Snow a knock-knock joke about fruit, and suggests that she can share it with 'Friend Dagmar' later! (Knock knock! Who's there? Banana? Banana Who? (repeat ad nausuem) Knock knock! Who's there? Orange? Orange WHO?! Orange you glad I didn't say Banana?)

Snow laughs "It's a good joke because it has fruit in it!"

Her mood lifted.

Which is something pooka are good at

They see other temptations. A brand new pupster bike with lightning decals. A Watermelon the size of a small car. A Brand new X Box..

but they resist these obvious decoys.. mostly by taking turns yanking each other along.

Until they come to the part of the path where the tanglegrabs are! Oh the plants seem to ignore the silver, and to pass through them means to get grabbed or hauled. The way appears to be blocked!

He tugs at an ear thoughtfully. "Those tangles look formid- formamidabid... those look tough." He licks a finger and holds in in the air to see if he can feel which way the wind is blowing... then asks Snow, "Which way IS South, anyways?"

The wind is not blowing at all.

Snow says "Let me test." She calls out in different directions, over and over "Hello!"

Connor waits a moment or two, but then starts fidgeting. He's not GOOD at waiting...

"Howdy" Says one direction. "konnichiwa" Says another direction, "Ho ho ho" Says another, and then the last direction straight down the trod says 'Hey, Y'all!"

"That is south!" Snow surmises pointing where Hey Y'all came from

He calls in that direction, hands cupped around his mouth, "Oh, yooooooo-hoooooo. Is there a nice south wind that way, the kind that would ring all the southern belles?

A warm breeze blows, sometimes all you have to do is ask, and the breeze grows stronger, blowing on them, but it also clears the tangles!

His tail wags and he eagerly lifts his nose to the wind, liking a good gust! "Thank yoooooooooou!" He howls back into the breeze.

"Ain't no trouble!" The voice says

and they move on...

Connor takes the first few tentative steps forward to make sure that the tangles are truly gone, before waving Snow ahead. He has a few last pieces of fruit - a handful of blueberries and an apple - in reserve, if needed!

And find the tree! Just like they were supposed to. This tree seems like an old man too, but rather than a face, it's almost like the shape of a body under the bark, leaning down, sad, and he plays harmonica like sounds as the wind blows. Fantastic fruits adorn him... and the energy feels wonderful from those fruits despite his sadness.

"It is the fruits of healing! Gather them all and I will test them to make sure they are good!"

that from Snow, of course