by Bill Tiepelman
Riding the Flamewing Through Fall
In the heart of the Emberwood Forest, where the leaves burned brighter than the sunset and the air smelled of cinnamon and mischief, there lived a gnome named Bramble Knickerbocker. Known as the βRascal of the Redwoods,β Brambleβs favorite pastime was finding new ways to spice up the already chaotic forest. Today, however, he wasnβt working alone. He had a secret weaponβa small but fiery leaf dragon named Flamewing. βAll right, Flamey,β Bramble said, adjusting his spectacles as he clambered onto the dragonβs back. βToday, weβre going to turn this forest upside down. Imagine it: squirrels scrambling, acorns flying, and me, the undisputed king of autumn pranks!β Flamewing snorted, a puff of golden sparks escaping from his nostrils. He flicked his tail, scattering a flurry of maple leaves behind him. Bramble took that as a yes. βGood lad,β he said, patting the dragonβs glowing, leaf-like scales. βNow, letβs get to work!β The Plan The first stop on Brambleβs list was the Acorn Harvest Festival, a beloved event where woodland creatures competed to see who could gather the most acorns. It was a serious affairβtoo serious for Brambleβs liking. βLetβs liven things up, shall we?β he said, steering Flamewing toward the clearing where the competition was in full swing. Squirrels darted between the trees, stuffing their cheeks with acorns, while badgers and foxes dragged baskets overflowing with the nutty bounty. Bramble reached into his satchel and pulled out a handful of enchanted acorns heβd βborrowedβ from a particularly gullible wizard. βThese babies will sprout dancing mushrooms when they hit the ground,β he explained to Flamewing. βHilarious, right?β Before the dragon could protest, Bramble hurled the acorns into the clearing. They landed with soft thuds, and within seconds, bright orange mushrooms popped up, swaying and twirling to an invisible tune. The squirrels froze mid-chew, their eyes wide. Then the mushrooms started singingβbadly. βπ΅ Acorns, acorns, tasty and round, plant us here and weβll dance on the ground! π΅β Chaos erupted. Squirrels screeched and abandoned their hoards. A badger tripped over his basket, scattering acorns everywhere, while a fox attempted to bite one of the mushrooms, only to recoil in horror as it belted out an off-key solo. βThis is gold!β Bramble cackled, holding onto Flamewingβs neck as the dragon hovered above the scene. βLetβs see the council top that for entertainment!β The Autumn Blaze The next stop was the Leaf Carving Contest, a tradition where woodland artists transformed fallen leaves into intricate works of art. Bramble had always found it a bit dullβtoo much concentration, not enough pandemonium. Naturally, he had a plan to fix that. Flamewing landed softly near the contest, his wings scattering a shower of glowing leaves. The contestants looked up, briefly distracted by the dragonβs radiant entrance. βDonβt mind us,β Bramble called, tipping his hat. βJust passing through!β As the carvers returned to their work, Bramble reached into his satchel again and pulled out a small vial of βWhirlwind Dust.β With a wicked grin, he uncorked the vial and tossed the contents into the air. A gust of wind whooshed through the clearing, sending leavesβand half-finished carvingsβspiraling into the sky. βMy masterpiece!β a hedgehog cried, leaping after a particularly elaborate oak leaf. A raccoon clung to his table, trying to shield his work from the mini tornado, while a deer watched in resigned silence as her entire collection was carried away. βThis might be my best work yet,β Bramble said, watching the chaos unfold. Flamewing, however, was less impressed. He swatted Bramble with his tail, nearly knocking him off the saddle. βAll right, all right,β Bramble muttered, rubbing his side. βIβll dial it back. Happy now?β The Grand Finale The final stop on their tour of mayhem was the Emberwood Great Feast, a grand picnic where every creature brought their finest autumn delicacies. Bramble had no intention of ruining the feastβhe wasnβt a monsterβbut he couldnβt resist adding a little flair. βWatch and learn, Flamey,β he said, pulling out a jar of βSparkling Spice,β a harmless (but highly dramatic) seasoning that made food glow and emit tiny fireworks. He sprinkled it over the pies, soups, and roasted nuts while the feast-goers were distracted by a singing troupe of chipmunks. When the first fox took a bite of glowing pumpkin pie, his eyes widened in surprise. A burst of tiny fireworks exploded from his mouth, lighting up the table. Soon, the entire feast was a sparkling, crackling spectacle. Laughter filled the clearing as creatures sampled the enchanted dishes, delighted by the unexpected display. βNow this,β Bramble said, leaning back in the saddle, βis how you end a day of mischief.β The Aftermath As the sun set over Emberwood, Bramble and Flamewing lounged on a mossy hill, watching the golden light fade into twilight. βYouβve got to admit,β Bramble said, tossing Flamewing a candied acorn, βthat was a pretty spectacular day.β The dragon crunched the acorn thoughtfully, then let out a puff of smoke that Bramble chose to interpret as approval. βSee?β Bramble said, grinning. βYouβre starting to appreciate my genius.β Just then, a familiar voice echoed through the forest. βBRAMBLE KNICKERBOCKER!β It was Elder Maple, head of the forest council, and she did not sound pleased. βTime to go!β Bramble said, leaping onto Flamewingβs back. The dragon took off, his fiery wings scattering leaves in every direction. As they soared into the night, Bramble couldnβt help but laugh. Mischief, magic, and a touch of chaosβwhat more could a gnome ask for? Β Β Bring the Magic of Autumn Home Love Bramble and Flamewingβs mischievous autumn adventure? Bring the vibrant spirit of their tale into your home with our exclusive collection of stunning products: Tapestries: Add warmth and whimsy to your walls with this radiant autumn design. Metal Prints: Perfect for showcasing the brilliance of Bramble and Flamewing in sleek, modern style. Puzzles: Piece together the magic of this autumn escapade with a fun, family-friendly puzzle. Fleece Blankets: Cozy up this fall with a soft, vibrant blanket inspired by this enchanting scene. Start your collection today and let Bramble and Flamewingβs fiery adventure bring a touch of magic to your space!