QUESTIONS Choose the best answer.
1. What is the meaning of “lonesome”? (Paragraph 1, Line 1) A. gruesome B. lonely C. loner D. troublesome
2. These words best describe “rare”, except A. scarce B. sparse C. limited D. frequent
3. What is the meaning of “longevity”? A. long life B. strong gravity C. prolonged negativity D. positivity
4. These words can replace “companion”, except A. company B. associate C. partner D. escort
5. Which word best describes “occasionally?” A. frequently B. often C. sometimes D. regularly
6. What is the meaning of “stir” in the first paragraph, line 6? A. peace B. fuss C. twirl D. twist
7. What is the antonym of “humongous”? A. minute B. humour C. fungus D. enormous
8. What does “staple” mean in the first paragraph, line 6? A. a stationery
B. favourite C. main D. common
9. Which word can replace “effortlessly” in paragraph 1, line 8? A. reluctantly B. lazy C. enthusiastically D. easily
10. What is the antonym of “amuse”? A. entertain B. depress C. delight D. please
11. These words best describe “inhabited”, except A. live B. tenant C. occupy D. habitat 12. Which word has the same meaning as “tiny” in paragraph 2, line 15? A. significant B. minute
C. single D. independent
13. What is the meaning of “serene” in paragraph 2, line 16? A. happy B. big C. serenade D. peaceful
14. Which word can replace “diligent” in paragraph 2, line 16? A. intelligent B. cooperative C. hardworking D. independent
15. Which word best describes “leisure”? A. relaxation B. closure C. working D. hunting
16. What is the synonym of “isolated” in paragraph 3, line 26? A. desolated B. praised C. seek attention
D. outlying
17. What is the meaning of “guilt-ridden” in paragraph 3, line 27? A. regret B. resentment C. hate D. guilty
18. What is the antonym of “forbidden” in paragraph 4, line 36? A. dangerous B. restricted C. forgiven D. legal
19. What is the meaning of “barricade” in paragraph 5, line 50? A. mansion B. bar C. renegade D. barrier
20. What is the synonym of “splurted” in paragraph 6, line 57? A. spleen B. splendid C. splatter D. splash
The Children of Wood Chapter 1 Once upon a time, in a far, far away country, was a toy maker named Matteo who made beautiful and exquisite toys. His toys were intricate and lifelike, from the simplest of birds to the most complicated clockwork mouse. Far and wide, this humble toy maker’s toys are coveted by everyone in the land. But it was hard to find him, as he stayed beneath the meadows, behind the great Oak Tree, beyond the Babbling Creek, in a little cottage made of cider. He only made his way to the town’s market once every fortnight, where his steady mare pulls his wagon full of beautiful toys. As he sells his toys to children, the lonely toy maker longs for one. While his hands are busy tinkering with gears and fabric and he finds joy in making others happy, he had no one to come home to, which slowly made him sad. One night, after weeks of toiling, he made 2 beautiful lifelike puppets to keep him company. A boy and a girl, made out of willow and maple wood respectively, lifelike but never to breathe. He kept them on the mantle, overlooking his work station, watching them with eyes full of longing. One night, a typhoon struck the peaceful valley. Gusts after gust of wind ravaged the trees, uprooting the weaker bushes and tumbling them into the creek. Stray branches and rocks flew haphazardly, cracking windows and damaging properties in the small town. All activity of the active town came to a halt, as it’s inhabitant took shelter from the terrifying typhoon; the toymaker did the same. On the second night of the typhoon, as gales of wind whipped and whirled between the trees, a knock was heard coming from the toy maker’s door. Behind it, an old shivering lady, with her cloak whirled wildly behind her, asking for shelter. “Please, kind sir, spare little old me some food and shelter.” She pleaded, a shaky exhale coming out as gasps from the bitter cold raging behind her. “I cannot offer you money right now, but I promise you, I will make sure I’ll pay you back for this! Please, help me!” Without hesitation, the kind toy maker opened his arms, and his home, to the hapless old lady who was taking short, shuddering breaths. He made way to his firewood reserve and took some wood to be fed to the fireplace, as means to warm her up. He scoured his tiny home for a blanket, and wrapped it around the old lady, keeping her snug from the icy cold coming from her unfortunate journey. He made her soup and took good care of her for 3 nights, as the typhoon ravaged the valley. When the typhoon left, it was also time for the old lady to leave the toy maker’s little cottage. With a flourish, she chucked off the shawl around her, revealing her true identity. Standing tall and proud before the shell-shocked toymaker was no longer a hunched old woman, but a beautiful lady with sharp eyes, a straight back and a slender waist. The mesmerizing lady took his hand into hers and smiled kindly. “You have been kind, humble toymaker, to this old lady who had nothing to offer you. I am Penina, the Witch of The South, from the Apennine Mountains. I take this form to hinder burglars and robbers from attacking me, and was on my way to Sicila when the typhoon hit. I was fortunate to have found your home, and that you were willing to take a stranger like me in.
I promised you I will pay you back, so tell me your deepest desires.” She explained, a gentle smile on her ruby red lips. The toy maker was lost for words as he took in her explanation. Pausing in hesitation, his eyes trailed over to the two puppets on the mantle. He gulped. Could his wish really be fulfilled? “I would like to have children. I would like them to be alive.” He pointed to his most precious creations. She made her way and picked one up. “I can do that.” She answered, confident and willing. “No. I mean, I’d like both to be alive.” He reaffirmed. Her face changed from confident to hesitant. “One child, I can give you. But another? I might need something from you.” She explained, putting back the puppet next to its twin. “Anything, Penina.” He groused, feeling closer than ever to his greatest wish. She hesitated. “I need your heart, Matteo. It’s a powerful spell that I can’t do without it, considering that I am breathing life to 2.” She finally explained, looking him in the eyes. “Take it. I’ll do anything.” He said, final in his decision. With a nod, she reached a slender hand straight into his chest, before pulling out gently a pulsing red glow. Breathing a spell under her breath, she split the glow into two, and carefully placed one on each puppet’s wooden chest. The toy maker watched in awe as she smothered her glowing palm on top of their abdomen, sealing the remnants of his heart into his puppets. Penina cradled both puppets in her arms, the last whispers of her spell coming fast and dying fast. A hush fell upon the two humans, before being broken by the gentle first breaths taken by the two puppets. Two pairs of glimmering azure eyes blinked sleepily from Penina’s arms. She transferred both of them to Matteo, who was looking at them full of wonder in his eyes. “Now listen carefully. There is only one rule to this spell: Do not separate them. Ever. Do you understand?” She explained, a little chuffed from performing such a powerful spell. She saw him meekly nod, his attention still taken by the two waking puppets stirring in his arms. She sighed, before turning her back to gather her things. Reaching for the door, she paused when a hand took her own. “Thank you.” The toy maker grimly said. Penina smiled gently. “Take care.” She replied. Before the little cottage disappeared behind the dense foliage of the woods, Penina took one last look at it, an unsettling feeling pooling low in her gut. The toy maker stopped smiling after she took his heart for the spell.
Chapter 2 The boy Marionette was named Willow, as he was made of the wood of his namesake. Dressed like a little sailor, Willow was small but strong, standing slim and tall at 16 inches, lifting tool boxes and heavy gears with ease. He spent his time working with the toy maker, aiding him whenever the older man needed help. Willow would follow the toy maker whenever he must leave for town, setting up his horse and shop to sell the toys he made. His sister was named Maple, as she was made from the wood of her namesake. Dressed in reds, the colour of maple leaves in the fall, she was slim and slender, creative and graceful, hardworking and kind, and spent her time helping the toy maker around the cottage. She had a voice rivalling an angel. She would help Willow feed the horse, do the chores and even design new toys for the toy maker. Maple loved painting, and would often be found with a paintbrush, painting details on to the toy makers various toys. All the characteristics of the kind toy maker was apparent in the two marionettes. Tiny but beautiful in their own way, the two was definitely a sight to behold whenever they came to town. The town children would be delighted to see the two in action, and sometimes ask them to play, but they would always refuse. Instead, the two siblings would make puppet shows, starring themselves, to make the children happy. It was obvious they echoed the sentiment of the toy maker’s heart in their actions. They were also a hit among the older inhabitants of the town. Their beauty and lifelike figure was a great way to reel in more customers for the toy shop. Soon, they were attracting more custom jobs from eager parents willing to spend a pretty penny to have the same lifelike marionettes as Willow and Maple. Business was booming, and since the toymaker had a lot of custom orders to do, visits to the town became scarce and rare. Matteo on the other, became hollow and empty. The lack of his heart meant that he constantly felt empty and never fulfilled, which made him try to fill the gaping hole in his soul with money and fame. It never helped, but the now empty toy maker didn’t stop trying. There was no love between him and his most precious creations, even though just a while ago he had wanted children. He tried, but without a heart, he couldn’t even feel happy that they were finally in his life. So, he delved himself into work and money, painfully and diligently trying to feel an ounce of joy that he used to while making toys to make others happy. One day, a gilded carriage, made of the best fir wood and speckled with the most flawless of diamonds stopped before the toy maker’s little cottage. Maple, who was sweeping the fallen leaves off the small garden saw the magnificent ride, pulled by a smartly dressed horseman and his majestic black mare, with a white star upon it’s forehead. Entranced, she moved towards it in hopes to welcome the stranger. With a soft creak, the door of the carriage opened. Slowly and steadily out came a stout man with the largest pot belly Maple has ever seen. The man wore a long coat buttons at the middle, knee breeches, hose, and buckled shoes. His sleeves were loose and cuffed, showing the undershirt underneath. His hair was worn long and curled, falling over his shoulders to reach his wide hips. She gaped openly at the grand stranger before her, and promptly called out to welcome him.
“Good day, kind sir. What brings you into these parts of the woods?” She bowed before asking, coming closer to the large man. He looked around, eyes roaming at the source of the voice until it landed on her. His eyes widened. “It is you who has spoken? Yes? Incredible!” He clapped his hand, amazed at the fine work. “I heard of rumours of a toy maker who made toys so lifelike, they speak and talk like we do! I never thought the rumours were true!” He screeched, delighted at his findings. “Yes, that is my father. Would you like to see him? My father is inside.” She asked, pointing to the cottage. After a terse nod, she led the stranger into the little cottage, leaving behind the gilded carriage and its majestic mare. “Father, someone is here to see you.” She called, leading the grand man into the open space of the cottage. Every shelf was covered with toys of every kind. A cuckoo clock chimed from the tallest shelf, a monkey screeched from the lower shelf, and a gaggle of wooden ducks quacked noisily together in another corner of the home. A door swung open, and emerging from the depths was the toy maker, surprised to see none other than the Grand Duke of the South standing tall and intimidating behind his tiny daughter. “Why, your highness!” Matteo realized, hurriedly bowing his head. Maple joined Willow behind the kitchen, watching the scene unfold, curious and excited. “What brings Your Grace this far into the Valley?” He asked politely, while the Duke gave a cursory glance around his surroundings. “I was told of a toy maker who made toys so lifelike, they move and talk like a real one. I came to find a gift for my son.” He explained, taking a seat in the small living room. Matteo followed suit and glanced towards his children, signalling action. “I’m going to fetch some water to make the tea.” Said Maple to Willow, moving to grab the pail hanging near the back door. “Brother, please fetch the biscuits. They’re next to the bread box, and the tray is below the wash basin. I’ll be back soon.” She rushed, leaving in a hurry. Willow stoked the fire to prepare for the tea and served the biscuits on a plate. He then placed them on the tray and made way to the living room, where the Duke and his father was browsing the toys on the shelves. “Do you have anything that is small?” Asked the Duke. Matteo moved to a chest of drawers, pulling open one to reveal the daintiest of his collection. A globe, no bigger than his hand swirled on its own axis. Its content, a blue jay in its nest, stirred and bopped in its glass cage. “Pretty, but too fragile. Anything more solid?” Asked the Duke, unimpressed and unconvinced. Matteo moved to a large chest and rooted around. After a bit of searching, he procured a larger toy, one as large as his stocky arm, of a mechanical soldier that could walk automatically. “Better, but…” The Duke hesitated, a hand coming up to stroke his sharp chin. In the corner of his eyes, he saw Willow, placing the tray on to the table, arms lifted high to push it on to the top. The larger man watched, fascinated at how strong the boy was. “I would like that one instead.” The Duke pointed to Willow, eyes gleaming in delight.
Chapter 3 When Maple came back to the cottage, heaving a pail of water on her shoulders, the beautiful carriage was gone, along with the peculiar Duke and his majestic horse. She came through the door, confused at the feeling of loss that suddenly overcame her. “Willow?” She called, looking for her brother, a stinging ache building from the crevices of her heart. “Willow, Brother, where are you?” She called once more, looking for her missing brother in the kitchen, and then the living room. She saw the toy maker kneeling on the floor, a bag filled with something heavy before him. “Father? What is that?” She came approaching the toy maker, her tiny had reaching out to her father’s back. She moved closer to the mysterious bag, and took hold of one of the ties. With a tug, the tie unravelled and from the bag, hundreds upon hundreds of gold coins cascaded onto the floor. She gasped. “Good heavens! Look at this father! Willow! Come see!” She screeched excitedly, before noticing the bodily flinch that came from her father. She paled, coming into realization. “Willow? Where are you?” She called once more, glancing at the bag of gold and her still father, unmoving and crouched on his knees. Willow didn’t answer. Willow usually answers when called, she had thought. Where is he? “Father, you couldn’t have…” She gasped, terrified of the thought that her beloved father would sell his own children. She backed away, fast strides breaking into a run as she frantically searched the house for her missing brother. Tears started forming in her azure eyes, staining wet the maple wood that is her cheeks. She stopped looking, knowing that he’s long gone, along with the gilded carriage and the black mare. Crying, she stomped over, angry and betrayed at her father. “How could you!” She bawled, fury apparent in her voice. Her tiny fists came to swing at his breeches, useless against the older man. “It was for the Duke, my child. He offered –” He started, trying to explain, before being interrupted by another flurry of fists. “No amount of money could have warranted this!” She screeched, fists pounding as hard as she could. Matteo sighed and picked her up, holding down her struggling form. “It was for a better cause. Look, we’ll never work another day in our lives, with this! We’ll live in the town that you love so much, and you’ll have friends there. We’ll eat like kings, have our own manor, be happy than we are here! Can’t you see that, child?” She hushed, surprised and taken aback. “Father, we were happy. I was happy this way. Now that Willow is gone, I’ll be unhappy forever!” She cried once more. “Father, please, if you truly love us, please go and get him back! Please father!” She pleaded, watching Matteo look longingly at the bag of gold. It was then that she knew. “If you are not going to bring him back, then I will!” She shrieked, breaking away from his hold and running away from her father. “Maple!” He called out, trying to catch his escaping daughter. It was already too late.
Chapter 4 Maple felt like she’s been running and running for the longest time. She knew where she had to go, and the Apennine’s Mountains were no easy feat to pass. She needed to pass the Wailing Woods, cross the Babbling Creek and pass Troy’s Gorge to get to Willow, in just 4 days. She had already spent a whole day walking to the town, where her true journey starts. She rested near the fountain where she used to sell toys with her family, looking at her haggard self in the reflection of the water. She looked tired. Her beautiful golden hair that was sleek and straight were now messy and dirty. Her beautiful clothes were torn and muddy from the trek. Her shoes were all broken. She looked like a doll no one wanted, and began to cry. In her sadness, she sang sadly, her voice ringing clear, echoing around the plaza surrounding the water fountain. Her voice carried and took the attention of the people of the town, and slowly, one child after another began singing along to her sad song. It wasn’t until a coin was tossed in her direction that she realized a mass of people had gathered to watch the sad doll sing. “Are you alright?” Asked a child, curious hands coming in to touch her wooden cheeks. “You look so dirty! Come here and let me clean you up! I do this very well, and all my dolls love me for it!” she said, happy to put Maple on her lap and start brushing out the tangles in her hair. “Your clothes look filthy! I don’t have a doll dress this fancy, but I do have a clean one! I’ll go get it!” Said another girl, running away to retrieve the item. “And I have some old rubber boots from my soldier. I don’t think he minds if I gave them to you!” Said another boy. Maple was overwhelmed by the kindness shown to her by the town’s people. Before long, Maple’s dirty hair was cleaned and tied into a decorated pony tail, and her filthy clothes changes into comfortable ones made of linen. On her foot was a pair of sturdy rubber boots that squeaked as she walked. She was also given a pouch with some essentials, some food and a few gold coins. She bid her farewells soon after, thankful at the kindness that was shown by the townspeople. Hitching a ride with a farmer that was heading in her direction, she parted ways with them with a tearful wave, hoping one day she’ll see them again. She knew she has to hurry. Her chest had hurt more than it did the day before. Time was running out. She got off the farmer’s wagon before reaching the woods that lead to the Babbling Creek. Tall thorny trees blocked her way, and beyond it, she couldn’t see very far. She could hear the sound of trickling water, and she knew that it was the right way. She was an hour into the woods when something white caught her attention. She hesitated, wondering if she should be deviating from her path. It wasn’t until a pained whimper coming from the object that she made her decision; she moved towards it. Upon further inspection, the white thing that caught her eyes was a small bunny with an injured back leg. Maple gasped in horror at the deep thorn that was embedded into it’s flesh, ugly and festering. The poor white bunny shivered in pain, unable to move and awaiting death.
Maple couldn’t allow it. With gentle coos, Maple was ready to pull the thorn out. She was about to wrench it out when a voice interrupted her. “That’s not going to help, you know.” Said a voice, soft and sultry, coming from above her. Maple looked around. “Who’s there?” She called, suddenly aware of how dark the Wailing Woods were. “That thorn is poisoned, you know. It’s useless to save him now. Might as well just move on with your journey, child.” The voice chided. “I am not going to give up! He’s still alive. And as long as he is, I’ll keep going at it. If you’re not going to help him, I will!” Maple yelled, determined to help the poor bunny. With a soft coo and a prayer under her breath, Maple wrenched the offending thorn out and immediately staunched the blood flowing. Within minutes, she got the leg bandaged and hauled the bunny on her shoulders, determined to move on with her journey and deposit it off at a safe place. “You are so stubborn.” Said a voice, directly behind her. She ignored it, eyes on the thorny path before her. “It’ll get you in trouble, you know.” From above her, a brown fox with a glistening brown coat dropped directly before her, startling her enough to make her stumble. She blinked, confused, before righting herself and marching onwards. “Please leave me alone, Mr Fox. I have nothing to offer you.” She said, hard and polite at the same time. Pulling closer the injured bunny, she walked around the fox and went on. She knew he was following her when she could hear his paws crunching on the fallen leaves behind her. “Please stop following me, Mr Fox.” She said out loud, stubbornly continuing her stride. “Oh but I must. I can’t leave my dinner walking off without me, now can I?” He said, a low chuckle coming from behind her. She felt herself shudder in fear. “You can’t eat me. I am made of wood.” She said, hastening her steps. “I’m not talking about you.” He replied. With a flash, the fox pounced on her, knocking away the bunny from her back. He hovered over her, jaws open and growling and his two paws kept her pinned on the ground. With a lash, the fox’s paw came and slashed at her, nicking the fine wood over Maple’s arms and legs. He hissed in pain at the contact; it was like slashing at a rock! Using the brief moment’s advantage, Maple twisted over and took the chance to flee. She grabbed the bunny and heaved it over her shoulder, immediately scrambling into a run. A hand grabbed her rubber boots and she went down, hard. She groaned in pain, as once again, the fox pinned her using his paws. He opened his maw and growled, aiming his muzzle at her slender neck when all of a sudden, he paused, ears twitching in bewilderment. The next thing Maple knew, the fox was kicked off her by a very strong bunny leg, and another rabbit was helping her up. The dirty fox struggled to get up, as more rabbits came to pound their paws on it. He growled once more, sharp and sudden, startling the bunnies around. Using that moment of hesitation, he fled into the woods.
Maple fell into the arms of a fluffy bunny, watching the injured bunny she saved hauled away by its worried mother. Tired and aching, she closed her eyes.
Chapter 5 Maple woke up to the sound of trickling water, feeling warm and snug in the embrace of a soft bed. Her azure eyes flickered open, to the view of a dark den, and something moving below her. She felt aching and sore, as her joints creaked a little as she roused herself from the bed that was moving gently below her. As her eyes focused, she realized she’s lying on a huddle of bunnies. Gently, as not to wake them, she tiptoed out of the den, following a light at the end that burned brighter as she got closer. She gasped. It was the largest rabbit den she had ever seen. “Ah, you’re awake, child. Good evening.” Said a bunny to her left. He was a big rabbit, with a grey coat and a short fluffy tail. She nodded, loss at words at the sight before her. The older rabbit hopped over to a table of sorts, made from rock. Laid in a wonderful spread, the table had assortment of food and snacks for her to munch on. He took a baby carrot and munched on it, offering a plate at her. “Have at it, girl! You looked famished!” He said warmly. She nodded, finally able to speak. “Thank you, sir. But, where am I?” She asked, picking up a poppy seed bun and inspecting it, before popping it into her mouth. The buttery bread melted in her mouth, a heavenly taste she had never encountered before. “This is Bunny Hollow, underneath the Wailing Woods. The Lupollo family has lived here for many generations. I am Gio, and you have saved Ivan, my son, from being eaten by that dreaded fox.” He explained, gathering Maple up to his bosom for a tight hug. “I don’t know how I could repay you. I’ve lost one too many children to his maws and I don’t know what I would do if I had lost another.” He said, sadness tinging into his voice. Maple’s heart ached. “I know the feeling. I’ve lost my brother too. Now I’m out to find him and bring him back.” She said, a growing lump in her throat, the sadness infectious. She refrained herself from crying as she felt him hug her a little more tightly. “Can I get your help in crossing the Creek? I need to go to the South, and I have to cross the Creek.” She said after he released her from his embrace. He thought about it for a while, his furry muzzle twitching as he thought, before nodding. “I have someone who can help.” “Gianna, Gepetto! Come here!” He called, his foot thumping into the ground, echoing in the den. Shortly after, two bunnies came into a crash before their father, eager to help. “Yes father!” They called in unison. Gio smiled proudly. “Girl—I’m sorry, what was your name?” He turned to her. “It’s Maple, sir.” “Ah yes, Maple, these are my twins. Gianna and Gepetto. Gianna, Gepetto, this is Maple. She’s the one who saved Ivan.” He introduced, a smile on his twitchy nose. “Take her to water bank. Ready a boat for her, I’ll go get Mama and pack her things.” He said, turning tail and moving to the next room.
The two bunnies hopped to it, leading her to the hole they came from. As they travelled the short distance, the two curious bunnies marvelled at her wooden skin. “Wow Maple, is that really wood?” Gianna asked, fawning over the shine on her skin. “I’ve never seen any human like this!” “Me neither,” Said Gepetto. “It’s too bad that your arm is a little dented.” He pointed to a nick that was on her arm. Maple eyed it, sad that her perfect shine is now flawed by a dent. She remembered the scuffle she had with the fox, which resulted into the various nicks that now littered her arms and legs. She sighed, smiling back once more. “It’s alright. It’s just a scratch. I’m thankful I’m still alive. My neck would have been gone if it wasn’t for Mr Lupollo’s perfect timing.” She chuckled nervously, touching her unharmed neck. The two bunnies paused in their hop, looking at her with wide eyes. “And we are thankful you were there to save Ivan. We heard from him, you know. That you didn’t give up on him, even when threatened by the fox. I can’t believe you would do such a selfless thing for a complete stranger. We owe you our brother’s life.” Gianna said, holding Maple’s wooden hands. “And hopefully, this boat is enough to pay you back.” Said Gepetto, as he pushed a part the door to reveal a splendid little boat, fashioned out of corn leaves. “Help me pull this to the bank, and you’ll soon get through the Babbling Creek and be with your brother in no time. Maple smiled gratefully at the two bunnies and rolled up her sleeves. It was time to get back to work. An hour later, the boat was docked at the side of the bank, Gio and his family members already waiting for her deport. Maple hugged each member of the Lupollo family, even little Ivan, and climbed into the boat. “Thank you so much, Mr Lupollo!” Maple said, feeling the boat rock gently with the flow of the water. “I will never forget you!” She waved, as the boat gently flowed down the creek. “We won’t forget you too Maple! Hope you bring your brother back home, safe and sound!” Gio said, waving back, watching her disappear into the horizon. He smiled at his wife Rosa, who was holding her baby tightly in her arms. She looked him in the eyes, nose twitching agitatedly. “That child… Will she be alright?” She asked, worry colouring her tone as she watch the boat vanish from her sight. Gio petted her twitching nose lovingly. “I hope so.” He answered. If she noticed the doubtful tone in his voice, she said nothing about it.
Chapter 6 Head under water, her wooden figure soaked to the core, threatening to put out the glow in her already heaving chest. Her own self, weighted down by wet wood, wet clothes and her rubber boots, dragging into the deeper depths of the Babbling Creek—No, it was now a Raging River, and she’s sinking, fast. How did it all go south so quickly? She had thought, useless and unmoving, as the cold seeped into her core, rapidly reaching her glow. She thought back to her departure from the Lupollo’s. It had gone fine for about a few hours, and the boat was sailing smoothly. She was making good time on her journey and thought of the many things she would do to get her brother back. Maple never saw it coming, the submerged jagged trunk that was in the water. It tore at the bottom of the boat, and that’s when everything fell apart: Her boat, her plans to make it in time, and all of her belongings, into the cold, raging waters. She had wanted to see Willow again. She had wanted to bring him back, take him to Lupollo’s and meet with the bunny family. She wanted to tell him of all the adventures she had while looking for him. She wanted to go back home, to Matteo, to the toy maker’s cottage and live happily with her family like she used to. Oh what’s the use? She had thought. Her father does not love her. She still has so far to go. She couldn’t even pass the Babbling Creek, and now she’s forever doomed to stay in the deep dark riverbed, never to see her brother again. Maybe he’s happier there, without her. Maybe he’s okay, she thought sadly. Maple closed her eyes, feeling the chill seep into her glow. A strong pulse, stinging and hot warmed her, quickly, like a zing of lightning. Confused, she opened her eyes, realizing her surrounding was not so dark anymore. Once more, the pulse came back, warming her immediately, to the point that she’s boiling hot, filling her with energy. She knew then, that her brother was there to help. She couldn’t give up now! Looking around the now brighter riverbed, she swam to the nearest bank and started climbing the rocky surface. Wade after wade, she climbed, the water becoming clearer and calmer, until she was finally surfacing and floating on her own. She breathed a sigh of relief, before flopping over to the dryer side of the banks. The sun felt good on her soaked skin, and she knew she was going to need a few hours before she could move easily. The wood was starting to expand, and it was going to be hard walking while wet. She crawled slowly to the nearest tree, heaving heavily as she hauled her heavy body to its shades, its long leaves almost touching the ground. She looked up. It was a Willow tree. She felt hot tears welling in her eyes, but she was too tired to cry. She fell asleep under the shade of her brother’s namesake, calm and content for the moment, the chill from the cold slowly going away to make way for a brighter, more joyous glow that warmed her from within. It was love.
Chapter 7 Maple rubbed her aching chest. It’s been 3 days since she ran away from home, and the ache in her chest was only growing stronger. She knew she had to hurry. When she woke up from under the willow tree, her soaked skin was already dry, although her core was still a little damp. Her clothes were no longer wet, but her boots were still filled with water. She fixed it easily by upturning it, pouring out river water and tiny pebbles onto the ground below. Her hinges and joints were becoming rusty from the exposure to sunlight and water, which only made the urge to hurry even more urgent. Rooting around the riverbank, she found remnants of her boat, mangled but still recognizable. She followed the trail of green fibres and soon found her bag full of her belongings, damp but still salvageable. She munched on some carrots and cabbage bits before tying her bag onto her waist and continuing her journey. As she walked, she hummed, her heavy heart making way to joyful tunes, and her beautiful voice carrying over to attract small animals and birds to trill along to her song. Soon, there was a harmony of crickets, mice and birds following on her journey, each and everyone of them unable to pull away from the hopeful ditty she sang. Long tailed tits and spotted swifts flew over Maple’s head, making way screeching along to the harmony from the growing troop. Until a strike of thunder broke the song, and every bird and animal in her troop was startled away. Maple was surprised herself, the rest of her song dying quickly in her throat. The sky became darker. The wind began to howl. Maple suddenly felt self-conscious, that she was walking in this path alone, with no familiar faces to help her here. A seed of doubt began to grow. She kept walking, her strides consistent but hesitant. The sun began to set. The rain began to fall. She fashioned a rain coat using a huge leaf she found on the ground, eager to keep her wooden parts covered from the rain. It’s not going to help if she got wet again, or if her joints began rusting at a faster rate. For that, she collected the oils from a lemon rind she found, and cold pressing it to extract the oil to lather on her joints using a technique she learned from her father. It procured a small amount, but enough to last her the journey. The rain waged on, threatening to blow her away. An hour of threading through the mud, she finally reached the Troy’s Gorge. Troy’s Gorge was a deep cleft between two jagged cliffs, connected by a dilapidated rope bridge that has seen better days. Just beyond the gorge, fenced by lush trees, was the Duke’s Manor. She was so close! Filled with hope, she broke into a run, the rain whipping her face be damned, her fear of falling into the great abyss below be damned! She was so close! Her squeaky boots echoed down the empty gorge, and with a rumble, the ground shook below her, almost causing her to stumble into the deep end. She stopped in her tracks, as a huge troll crawled out from a crevice in the cliff.
“WHO GOES THERE? I CAN HEAR YOUR BOOTS.” The troll screeched, his loud booming voice echoed like the thunder of the lightning storm raging around them. Maple held her breath, cursing softly at her squeaky boots. She took them off immediately as she hid behind a rock. “ODD. I SWEAR I COULD HEAR SOMEONE. BUT I CANNOT SMELL THEM.” The troll said, as if in conversation with someone. The ground shook as the troll moved to lay himself before the bridge. “I’LL STAY HERE AND MAKE SURE NO ONE COMES.” He continued. “TRUST ME, I WOULDN’T FALL ASLEEP. I’LL KEEP MY EYES OPEN. I WOULDN’T EVEN BLINK! BESIDES, IT’S A BIT TOO COLD TO SLEEP IN THE RAIN.” He said, laughing. Maple isn’t sure if it was kind or cruel, but she doesn’t like the sound of that. She wagered her option. She could just come forward and ask the troll to let her pass. But it might not go the way she wanted, and she might be devoured this way. She could also sing a lullaby to lull the troll to sleep, but Maple was convinced there’s another troll below guarding the other side. The troll isn’t crazy enough to talk to himself, now would he? Taking her chance, she cleared her throat and started to sing a soft lullaby. Her beautiful voice mingled with the drips of the rain, making a lovely and soothing soundtrack. Shortly after, she heard him snore. Squeaky boots in hand, she ran past the troll, her song never stopping from her lips. She was finally on the bridge! The wood she stepped on was worn and rotting, and with every plank she stepped on it got more and more fragile. She kept her hands tightly gripping the ropes which was weathered and wearing thin, in case any thing happened. She moved, quickly and carefully, across the bridge; Quickly, to avoid waking the troll, and carefully, to avoid falling to her death. She was almost there, she had thought. She was so close, she had thought. She quickened her pace, and with one wrong step, the wood below her feet gave way, sending half of her down, while the other dangled precariously on the ropes. She stopped singing. “HUH? HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING OVER THERE?!” The troll roared, the ground shaking as he made his way near the edge of the cliff. It only shook the bridge more, her hands slipping slowly from the ropes. She was so close. She was so close! She could see it, the tops of the Duke’s Manor, just over the woods beyond the cliff! Willow is right there! She could see it, she could feel it! Determined and desperate, she swung her other hand onto the weathered rope, the rain making it even more slicker and harder to keep her grip. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed hold tightly, and like a monkey, started to shimmy across the rope. “Hey! What are you doing? Stop!” A feminine voice yelled from the direction of the cliff. “The bridge is magic, you’ll fall if you don’t stop!” She yelled again. Maple was too stubborn to listen, too desperate to get to the other side. She was too close… “Stop!” The voice yelled again, panic coming across clearer through the pouring rain. Maple kept going, even though she had thought the voice sounded familiar. The rope felt hot under her fingers. She heard a snap, and then she was falling.
Chapter 8 “Maple, sweetheart, wake up.” She stirred, feeling weaker than she was before. Her joints were aching, her head was pounding, and her chest was one fire. She groaned, burying herself deeper into the warmth cocooning her. “Thank heavens! Matteo separated you, didn’t he. Look at you, my poor child.” She cooed sadly, a warm palm stroking Maple’s water stained cheeks. Maple slowly opened her weary eyes, looking onto the face of someone familiar. She was snuggled deeply in the arms of a very familiar person. “Who… who are you?” She asked, her arms coming up to grasp the woman’s cloak. “Why do you look so familiar?” She asked once more, searching her limited memory for this specific familiar face. “It’s me, Penina. I put the spell on you and your brother, and breathed life to your wooden body.” She explained kindly, gently stroking her head. “You are my mother?” Maple asked, weaker by the minute. A pained smile cracked over Penina’s tender face. “I guess you are, my child. I’m so sorry your father never loved you. It was my mistake to take his heart and break it into two.” Maple nodded, understanding and guilty. It wasn’t her fault. She tried sitting up from her perch on Penina, but found it hard to move. “What?” She tried once more. “What’s happening? Why can’t I move?” Maple asked, panic slowly coming back, making way to the stinging pain that lance through her chest. She felt it. Penina’s face darkened considerably. “Forgive me, my child. The spell is unravelling. You were both separated for far too long. If we don’t get you to your brother soon, you’ll both return to being wooden puppets. We’re almost there, I promise you, so hold on.” She said, hiccupping slightly at the weight of her sad emotions. Maple breathed a sigh of relief. She felt the movements of the carriage she was in, comforting her knowing that she’s getting closer and closer. “When I made you, Maple, it was a spell that needed love. What made you tick and walk and run was the love and longing your father had towards you, split and shared between you and your brother.” Penina said softly, comforting her child. She placed a kiss on her forehead, before continuing. “I knew it was risky to take his whole heart. I thought you both deserved all of his love, and by doing so, doomed all three of you to live in suffering.” Penina sobbed quietly, her eyes teary and filled with guilt. “Forgive me, my child. Forgive me for damning you from the start. Please know that even without his heart, your father loved you enough to give away his most precious possession to bring you into this world. Forgive him for selling your brother, as all he wanted was to fill the hole left from his missing heart.” Maple slowly took her mother’s hand in her own. “Can I call you Mother?” she asked shyly. Penina nodded, fat tears rolling down her cheeks with the motion. “I’ve always wanted a mother. Thank you.” She smiled up at her mother, content even though her glow was dying away. She couldn’t feel her legs.
Chapter 9 It felt like an eternity for the carriage to reach the Duke’s Manor. Maple spent the time speaking quietly of her adventures while living with her father, of the adventures she had with Willow, and the puppet shows she had staged with him. She spoke fondly of the valley she used to forage in, of every animal she encountered, and of every toy she painted. She spoke fondly of her dispassionate father, of her favourite customers, of her songs she sang. She was finishing her story of her long adventure to reunite with her brother when the carriage came to a halt. “What’s this? Another puppet? That’s just great! The one I got from the fraud toy maker seemed to be broken! He’s stopped moving all of a sudden! No! Stop! Where are you going? Guards, stop—” A loud zap broke the silence in the room, and suddenly Maple was picked up from the carriage and rushed into the manor. “What? What’s going on?” She called out weakly, hands scrabbling to hold on tight to her mother’s cloak. Penina adjusted her grip on Maple, tucking her closer as she felt her daughter shiver in her arms. “We’re meeting your brother.” “We are?” Maple asked, feeling herself becoming hazy and heavy. “Yes. We’re here.” Penina stopped in front of the large gilded door, knowing her daughter’s other half was just beyond them. With a gentle push, she opened them with a soft creak. On an elegant nightstand, in a lavishly decorated glass jar, Maple saw her brother curled into a foetal position, struggling to take a breath. He looked worse for wear, and she knew she looked just as bad, but the relief and happiness that she felt gave her the strength to let go of her mother’s cloak, climb up the nightstand and knock on the glass jar herself. Every step she took felt like walking on thorns, no different than the ones in the Wailing Woods. Her body felt weighted down, like she was still sinking into the deep end of the Babbling Creek. Heaving her body to climb the nightstand felt like slipping off the rope bridge, constantly fearing that she’ll fall into the deep dark abyss when she’s already this close. But she made it. Heaving heavily, she rested her aching head on the glass, the wood making a gentle thud sound against the glass. Willow roused, cloudy azure eyes searching, lighting up a tad bit brighter when it met another familiar pair. He smiled tiredly, using the last of his strength to sit up and meet her halfway. Separated by a thin piece of glass, but finally reunited, Penina watched tearfully as their glow became dimmer. “Hello, sister.” Willow breathed heavily, a content smile on his lips as he mirrored her position. He closed his eyes, glad to see her again. “Hello, brother.” She replied, smiling just as brightly. She let the stress of the 4 day journey melt off her shoulders. She let every worry she had, of how haggard she had looked compared to her brother, how terrified she had been, how doubtful she had been, to make way for the relief to fully take her. Maple closed her eyes.
Chapter 10 Once upon a time, in a far, far away country, was a toy maker who made beautiful and exquisite toys. His toys were intricate and lifelike, from the simplest of birds to the most complicated clockwork mouse. He made a pair of marionettes from the finest of maple and willow wood respectively, and wished with all his kind heart that they would be alive and be his children, someone he could love and live with to keep him company. One day, a witch who was caught in a devastating typhoon came to him for help, and in return, she gave him what he wanted. She breathed life into the two puppets using a very powerful spell and the help of the toy maker’s heart. She split the heart into two, and embedded it into the puppets before leaving them. She warned the toy maker never to separate them, but it was no use. The now empty and heartless toy maker tried to fill the hole in his heart with work, money and fame, so much that he sold his son to a travelling Duke. Enraged, her daughter went on a perilous journey, through thorny woods, raging waters and jagged canyons in four days to bring back her brother, battling dangerous monsters, harsh weather conditions, and even herself. Saved by the witch at the very last minute, she made it to her brother’s side. Separated by a sheet of glass, the magic unravelled due to long exposure apart, and they returned back to wooden puppets. The witch, regretful of her actions, took them in her care, vowing to never pry them apart. She travels the valley telling stories of the pair of siblings, keeping their memories alive. The toy maker lived on in a luxurious home, but was never happy. The Duke’s memories were erased, and he had no recollection of ever meeting the puppets or the toy maker at all. No one got their happy ending, but look at the bright side, at last the two siblings are finally together. Forever.
The Child of Wood Answer these questions. Question 1 In chapter 1, which word cannot replace the word “ravage”? A. B. C. D.
Destroy Ruin Wreck Aid
Question 2 In chapter 1, which word has the same meaning as the word “scoured”? A. B. C. D.
Dirty Ignore Searched Rust
Question 3 In chapter 2, which word could not replace the word “inhabitants”? A. B. C. D.
Dweller Commoner Citizen Foreigner
Question 4 In chapter 2, which word below has the same meaning as the word “stout”? A. B. C. D.
Fat Thin Lean Skinny
Question 5 In chapter 3, which word below has the same meaning as the word “peculiar”? A. B. C. D.
Common Strange Usual General