by Bill Tiepelman
Fallβs Fiery Duo: Phoenix and Dragon in Autumn Water
It was a perfect autumn day in the enchanted forestβthe kind where the trees shed their golden leaves, squirrels planned their tiny revolutions, and somewhere, a centaur was probably wondering if he could pull off skinny jeans. In the middle of all this, a young phoenix named Blaze was making a ruckus, splashing around in the forest pond like it was his personal birdbath. Blaze wasnβt alone. His partner in crime, a baby dragon named Scorch, was right there with him. Scorch, despite having the scales of a dragon, was terrified of fireβironic, considering he lived with a walking bonfire like Blaze. But today, it wasnβt fire he had to worry about. No, today was all about causing as much watery chaos as possible. βLast one to splash the biggest leaf has to clean the otherβs nest for a month!β Blaze shouted, his fiery wings sending water droplets and a couple of startled frogs flying in all directions. Scorch puffed up his tiny chest. βI donβt even have a nest, you overgrown feather duster! And good luck beating meβIβm part water dragon!β he bragged, which was technically true. He had a cousin who swam once. The same cousin also peed in the pond, but no one talked about that. The Splash Showdown Blaze eyed the giant maple leaf floating nearby. His beak curled into a grin. βPrepare to be dethroned, lizard breath!β With a screech, Blaze flapped his wings with all his might, launching himself into the air. A blur of fiery feathers shot toward the leaf, his wings glowing against the autumn sky. The leaf, in all its golden glory, was about to be obliterated by the splash of the century. Exceptβ¦ Blaze didnβt account for the fact that wet feathers are slippery. Mid-flight, his wings gave out, and the phoenix plummeted. He hit the water with an epic belly-flop that sent ripples across the pond, a wave of water shooting up and drenching Scorch from snout to tail. Blaze emerged, sputtering, his feathers plastered to his body like a soggy chicken. βNice one, Blaze! Maybe next time aim for the water instead of trying to fly through it!β Scorch roared with laughter, his wings flapping in delight. Blaze shot him a glare, but with his drenched appearance, it wasnβt exactly intimidating. Scorch's Big Moment Feeling cocky, Scorch decided to show Blaze how itβs done. He flapped his wings and paddled toward the floating maple leaf. βWatch and learn, Blaze. This is how a real dragon does it!β He smirked as he prepared to unleash a tidal wave with his own splash. He pumped his tiny wings, took a deep breath, and dove. What he didnβt realize was that there was a rather sizeable fish in the pondβone that had taken a particular interest in Scorchβs wiggling tail. Just as Scorch was about to dive, the fish chomped down on his tail with an audible snap. The baby dragon yelped, his dive turning into a flailing mess of wings, tail, and water. He spun in circles, trying to shake off the fish, his attempts only managing to launch him into a spectacular, but very undignified, belly-flop of his own. Blaze burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the forest. βWell, well! Looks like youβve got your own problems to deal with now, Scales McFlop!β Chaos Ensues The fish, perhaps thinking this was all a game, continued to chase Scorch, nibbling at his tail every time he tried to take flight. Scorch screeched and flailed, sending sprays of water everywhere. By now, the pond had become a battlefield of flailing limbs, fire-colored feathers, and the occasional fiery sneeze from Blaze, who was too busy laughing to care about getting wet again. At one point, a pair of ducksβclearly annoyed by the ruckusβdecided theyβd had enough and waddled over to investigate. They honked indignantly, but when Blaze turned to sneeze and accidentally lit one of the ducksβ tails on fire, they quickly decided that retreat was the better option. The Aftermath Eventually, the fish got bored, Scorch managed to paddle away to safety, and Blaze, still soaked, was wheezing from laughing too hard. They both floated in the water, surrounded by the drifting leaves of autumn, their chaotic energy finally subdued for the moment. βThat wasβ¦ actually pretty fun,β Scorch admitted, still shaking water from his scales. βBut next time, we leave the fish out of it.β βDeal,β Blaze agreed, smoothing down his soggy feathers. βAnd maybe next time, you can actually manage to splash a leaf without getting eaten by a fish.β Scorch rolled his eyes. βYeah, yeah, laugh it up, featherbrain.β He paused and grinned. βBut at least I didnβt almost set a duck on fire.β Blaze froze. βWaitβ¦ whereβs the duck?β They both looked to the shore where the ducks had fled. In the distance, a faint trail of smoke could be seen disappearing into the forest. βLetβs, uhβ¦ letβs just pretend we didnβt see that,β Blaze suggested. Scorch nodded. βAgreed.β And with that, the fiery duo floated there, enjoying the crisp autumn air and deciding that maybe next time, theyβd pick a pond without such feisty fishβor flammable wildlife. Β Β Bring the Magic of Blaze and Scorch to Your Home! If you laughed along with Blaze and Scorchβs chaotic splash in the autumn pond, why not bring some of that magical mischief into your own life? Check out these delightful products featuring the duo from "Fall's Fiery Duo": Tapestry β Transform your space with a stunning tapestry of Blaze and Scorch, perfect for adding a touch of autumn magic to any room. Fleece Blanket β Snuggle up with a cozy blanket featuring your favorite fiery duo. Whether youβre enjoying a book or planning your next splash, Blaze and Scorch will keep you warm. Jigsaw Puzzle β Piece together the autumn adventure with this vibrant puzzle, capturing Blaze and Scorchβs playful moment in the enchanted pond. Tote Bag β Take Blaze and Scorch with you wherever you go with this colorful tote bag. Whether youβre heading to the library or off on an adventure, theyβll be right by your side. Donβt miss your chance to bring home a little piece of Blaze and Scorchβs magical world. Perfect for gifts, decor, or just indulging your love for all things whimsical and fiery!