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HOPPER THE HARE ( DAY 7, LETTER H)

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SANGEETHA KAMATH

                           CHAPTER 7

                   HOPPER THE HARE 

The forest was a merry jamboree, its heartbeat pulsing through the drowsy autumn air. Pale sunbeams filtered through the tree tops casting scattered pools of gold dimes among the underbrush. 

Hopper, the Hare bounded along a mossy path, his big, curious eyes scanning the earth for edible treasures on the way.

He jostled through a curtain of ferns, and there it was in the sun-drenched clearing–Wild rhubarb rising through the cluster of foliage, its ruby-red stalks tiny lanterns in the shade. He set to work, snipping the best ones, the tart scent of the juice filling the air.

Hopper’s nose twitched with excitement – rhubarb season was the best! He sniffed out another patch, plucked a bunch of them and loaded his wheelbarrow.

Next, he spotted a cluster of juicy mushrooms, their caps velvet-soft, the colour of moonlight. Hopper's paws worked swiftly as he uprooted them, one by one, tucking them by the dozen into the woven basket on his wheelbarrow. 

The distant burble of a brook urged him to work faster. Hopper's thoughts turned to the Bears'. He was eager to visit Papa Koala today. They'd all listen to stories around the fireplace, and he would get a treat of his favourite—a warm bowl of the Bears’ famous honey-apple-oat mush as breakfast.

Maybe they'd talk about the legend of the Locke Jewel – an unfinished story from the last time they met. Papa Koala knew how to keep the suspense.

Hopper patted his wheelbarrow, now laden with the forest goodies. Time to head to the Bears'.

Hopper burst into the Bears' house, his paws skidding to a halt as he spotted a human sitting by the fireplace. The sudden appearance of a stranger sent his senses on high alert.

The human looked up from her tea, startled. "Oh!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. "I wasn't expecting... um, anyone." She smiled uncertainly, taking in Hopper's wild appearance. What an adorable little rabbit!

Hopper's fur bristled, his eyes fixed warily on Goldwynn. What was a human doing here? This was the Bears' house!

Goldwynn set her cup down, her movements slow and gentle. "Hi," she said softly, as if speaking to a skittish animal. "I'm Goldwynn. What a dear lil thing you are!"

Hopper's ears flopped, but he didn't respond. He was too busy sizing her up, wondering what her deal was. Where was Papa Koala?

Goldwynn's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she watched Hopper's cautious stance. She leaned forward slightly, her voice friendly.

Hopper's gaze flicked to the door, then back to Goldwynn. He didn't trust this human. He took a tiny step forward, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air.

Goldwynn smiled, interpreting his move as an invitation. "Want some tea?" she asked, reaching for a tiny cup on the table. "It's herbal. Tastes like flowers.”

Hopper's ears perked up at the mention of tea, but he hesitated, unsure about taking anything from this stranger. His gaze drifted to the wheelbarrow he'd left outside, laden with rhubarb and mushrooms. Maybe he should just grab his stuff and scram.

Goldwynn followed his gaze, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, you brought gifts! Rhubarb and... are those mooncaps?" She rose from her seat, curiosity getting the better of her. "Mind if I take a look?”

Goldwynn approached his wheelbarrow, her eyes shining with interest. She crouched beside it, gently touching a velvet-soft mushroom cap. "Mooncaps! I've only read about these.”

Hopper's guard dropped slightly, intrigued by her knowledge. He nodded, his big eyes watching as she carefully examined the rhubarb stalks.

“Papa Koala loves rhubarbs.”

Goldwynn nearly fell back on her haunches, as she put out an arm to steady herself. A talking animal!

Hopper glanced at the house, then back at Goldwynn, his paws fidgeting with uncertainty.His gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at Goldwynn. "Who are you and what are you doing here, in the Bears' house?" he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Goldwynn narrated the happenings of the previous day and how she broke into the Locke mansion to search for the elusive Locke jewel, rolled out through a tunnel and out here in the wild.

Hopper's eyes snapped to hers, his pupils dilating with interest. The Locke Jewel? What did she know? He took a step closer, his paws quiet on the wooden floor. 

"The Locke Jewel?", his eyes widened, his voice barely above a whisper. "What do you know about it?”

Goldwynn chuckled, interpreting his hesitation. "No tricks, I promise. I just love legends and I have one about the Locke Jewel… It belonged to my ancestors.”

Goldwynn leaned in, as Hopper's voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. "Papa Koala's been telling me bits and pieces of the Locke jewel. Sounds like we have a treasure hunt on our hands…”

He turned thoughtful. "Papa Koala says it's hidden deep in the forest, guarded by strong magic. 

To Be Continued...

Image Courtesy: Pinterest 

This post is part of the Blogchatter A2Z Challenge 2026.

https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogrolls/hopper-the-hare-day-7-letter-h


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