Sandy Backstory p3

As time went on, she grew more and more curious and eventually started exploring the entire farmland and the area around it. Jarring jellies and jams was boring work. The woods were far more exciting!

Didi wasn't the only one who had an interest in exploring though. There was another 'shrew, who on this particular day was out in the woods charting some trees in her personal journal. The young shrew was sitting on a tree branch to get a better look at the forest when she thought she heard a sound. She paused in her writing, her ears swiveling back and forth to find the source of the noise. A twig snapped overhead and she glanced upwards.

“Hi, I'm Didi!” said the younger Sandshrew. The Sandshrew with the journal leaped back in surprise, her mouth opening wide but not uttering a sound. The little shrew was hanging upside-down from a branch as if it were nothing! “What's your name?” she asked. The older 'shrew was silent for a few moments, trying to think of what to say.

“It's Cabbage,” she said, trying to relax a little from the shock of seeing another 'shrew appear out of seemingly nowhere.

“Cabbage? That's what my mam cooks for dinner sometimes. It's yucky!” Didi said, dropping down to the same branch as Cabbage. The older 'shrew blinked, but no longer appeared surprised. “But you don't look yucky. You look really nice! What's that book thing? Is that a diary? What are you writing about? Can I see? I promise I won't tell anyone. I'm good at keeping secrets. We can be friends!”

“Uh... It's not a diary,” Cabbage replied slowly, moving away from the trunk of the tree. She opened one of the page of the leatherbound book to reveal a roughly drawn map inside. Didi's eyes widened in awe.

“A map! Wow! That's so cool! What are you mapping? Are you mapping this forest? Can I help?! I'm good at exploring! We can do it together, as friends!” Didi babbled excitedly.

“O-oh. Well, as long as you don't get in the way I guess you can help,” the older Sandshrew said, closing the book and tucking it in her bag.

“Yaaaay! Oh I can't wait! Where are we going to go first?” Didi asked, jumping up and down. The branch wobbled and Cabbage took a step back towards the trunk to steady herself. Was Didi really not worried that she might fall?

“Ok, calm down. Look, it's nearly sunset. I have to get home, and you should too,” She said, offering a hand to the younger Sandshrew.

“Aw, poopy. Can we go tomorrow? I really really want to go exploring with you, Cabbage!” Didi said, pouting a little.

“I promise we can go tomorrow,” she replied gently, coaxing the little shrew down the tree trunk and to the ground safely below. As she guided the little 'shrew back home, she began to wonder “what have I gotten myself into?”

Cabbage belongs to ~Ryytikki