Glen Friends

Jessie ran as fast as she could through the woods and into the clearing.  "Help, someone! anyone! help!"
Flutterby appeared first, "What's the matter Jessie?"
"Oh flutterby, you must help me! Uni and I were playing by the pond and he fell into the mud at the south end."
"Oh no!" Flutterby shouted. "The mud is as bad as quicksand.
I will go get help right away!"
"Bring everyone you can find and hurry! I'm going back to calm him down, he was pretty upset."1

Jessie ran back through the woods to the pond, she could see
Uni thrashing and swaying his head back and forth. The Sapphire he always wore in his horn sparkled in the setting sunlight. Jessie ran to his side.
"Don't worry Uni, flutterby is going to get help. We'll get you out."
"Oh Jess..I'm sorry...I know better than to follow you without watching where I'm going!!"
"That's okay Uni, it was my fault, I know better than to fly over the pond, especially when you are chasing me."2

"It's okay Jess, as long as I get out of here, I promise, I'll never follow you without watching the ground again."
"And I promise never to fly where you can't run" Jessie said.3

"Ahoy!" Dan the dragonfly fly overhead. He landed on the tip of Uni's horn. "Fine mess you got into this time my friend" he
said shaking his head and fluttering his wings.4

"You always did have a knack for stating the obvious" Clara said as she lumbered up, sparks coming from her mouth as she spit out the words.5

"Hello beautiful" Dan replied. Flying out of reach.6

As expected Clara blew him a kiss, along with a small flame.7

"One of these days you are going to miss, and sing his wings off" Arnie admonished.8

Everyone stopped. Arnie was in charge. He was the head elf. And he was keeper of all of the animals in Magic Fern Glen.9

"Now, Dan, you and the rest of the "air-force" take this rope
and tie it around Uni's belly. Take these other pieces and
tie one to each leg."10

Everyone did as they were told. Soon the fireflies, dragonflies,and butterflies had Uni tied as instructed by Arnie.11

"Now, I'll tie this rope to Clara's tail. Air-force, pick up the ropes on his legs. On the count of three, you fly up and Clara will pull. Uni....you don't move!! just let them lift you up and pull you out."12

"Got it!" everyone cried.13

"One, Two, Three!"14

The air-force flew straight up and Clara took a step forward.
There was a loud "slurp" as Uni came up and out of the mud.15

"Air-force, follow Clara." Arnie shouted.16

Clara took another step and Uni was moving towards the shore,
dragging hooves through the mud. Clara lumbered on, until Uni was standing, wobbly legs on ground.17

The airforce let go of the ropes, and without being told, untied the ropes.18

"Good job everyone." Arnie said.19

Everyone remained silent. They knew Arnie wasn't finished. It was his job to make sure that no one got hurt in the glen.
"Now" he continued "what did we learn from this?"20

"That we should always be careful around the pond." Jessie said, lowering her head.21

"We should always watch where we're going." Uni said.22

"We always play with a partner, in case something happens." Jess said.23

"We also learned," Clara said, "that if we listen to Arnie, he knows how to help."24

"And" Arnie added "We learned, that with a little help from our friends, we can get out of the messes we get ourselves into!"25

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