by Bill Tiepelman
The Gnome and the Harvest Crown Stag
Deep in the Emberwood Forest, where the air shimmered with golden sunlight and the crunch of leaves filled the air, a gnome named Wimble Leafwhistle was up to no good. Wimble, known as the βAcorn Ace,β had a reputation for turning the most serene woodland events into chaotic spectacles. His partner in these escapades? A regal stag named Chestnut, whose magnificent antlers were draped with garlands of acorns, autumn leaves, and berries. βAll right, Chestnut,β Wimble said, perched on the stagβs back and adjusting his oversized red hat. βToday, weβre going to show this forest what true artistry looks like. Forget your boring autumn traditionsβthis yearβs Harvest Festival will go down in history!β Chestnut gave a skeptical snort, his breath puffing in the crisp autumn air. But Wimble, as always, ignored him. He had plans. Big, ridiculous plans. The Festival Scene The Harvest Festival was the grandest event in Emberwood. Woodland creatures gathered under the Great Oak to showcase their finest acorns, pies, and decorations. Squirrels chattered excitedly as they displayed acorn sculptures. Hedgehogs offered steaming mugs of mulled cider. Even the ever-grumpy badgers had baked pumpkin tarts for the occasion. Wimble and Chestnut made their entrance with all the subtlety of a falling oak tree. The gnome had tied tiny bells to the stagβs antlers, which jingled loudly as they trotted into the clearing. Chestnutβs antlers sparkled with dew, and Wimble had even strapped a lantern to his saddle for dramatic effect. βMake way!β Wimble called, waving dramatically. βThe Harvest Crown Stag and his loyal squire have arrived!β The crowd turned to stare, their chatter dying down. Elder Maple, the no-nonsense squirrel who presided over the festival, narrowed her eyes. βWimble,β she said slowly, βwhat are you up to?β βUp to? Me?β Wimble asked, feigning innocence. βIβm simply here to add a touch of class to your humble gathering.β He tugged on Chestnutβs reins, and the stag reluctantly pranced forward, shaking his decorated antlers. The acorns dangling from the garlands clinked together like tiny bells. The Acorn Contest Wimbleβs first target was the Great Acorn Contest, a competition where squirrels showcased their most impressive acorn collections. The entries were neatly arranged on a long table, each acorn polished to a glossy shine. Wimble leaned over to inspect them, his beard twitching with mischief. βVery nice, very nice,β he said, picking up a particularly large acorn. βBut wouldnβt it be more... exciting if they moved?β Before anyone could stop him, he sprinkled a handful of enchanted βJitter Dustβ over the table. The acorns quivered, then sprouted tiny legs and began scuttling around like frantic beetles. The squirrels shrieked, diving after their runaway acorns. Elder Maple glared at Wimble. βReally?β she demanded. βWhat?β Wimble said, grinning. βTheyβre more fun this way!β The Pie Tasting Next up was the Pie Tasting Competition, a highlight of the festival. Hedgehogs, foxes, and even a family of otters had brought their finest baked goods to be judged. Wimble, of course, had no intention of letting this go smoothly. As the judges began sampling the pies, Wimble leaned over to Chestnut. βWatch this,β he whispered, pulling a tiny vial from his pocket. The label read: βPeppery Pop Powder.β With a flick of his wrist, he sprinkled the powder over the pies. Moments later, the judges took their next bitesβand immediately began hiccuping tiny flames. The fox judge yelped, fanning his tongue, while the hedgehog rolled on the ground, sending sparks flying. βFiery flavor!β Wimble declared, clapping his hands. βA bold choice!β Chestnut groaned, shaking his head as the chaos unfolded. The Antler Parade The grand finale of the festival was the Antler Parade, where the forestβs deer displayed their elaborately decorated antlers. Chestnut, with his dazzling crown of acorns and leaves, was a clear favoriteβuntil Wimble decided to βenhanceβ the competition. βHold still,β Wimble said, climbing onto Chestnutβs head and sprinkling a few enchanted berries onto the garlands. The berries began to glow, casting a shimmering red light that lit up the entire clearing. βBehold!β Wimble cried as Chestnut stepped into the parade ring. The crowd gasped in aweβbut their admiration quickly turned to confusion as the berries began to pop like fireworks. Bright sparks shot into the air, startling the other deer. One buck bolted, scattering ribbons everywhere, while a doe tripped over her own garland. βWIMBLE!β Elder Maple shouted, shaking her tiny fists. βYouβve gone too far this time!β βToo far?β Wimble said, feigning shock. βThis is art!β The Escape Realizing he was about to be chased out of the festival (again), Wimble tugged on Chestnutβs reins. βTime to go, buddy!β he said. The stag snorted, clearly unimpressed, but took off at a gallop, his glowing antlers lighting their path through the forest. Behind them, Elder Maple shouted, βYouβre banned from the festival for life, Wimble!β βPromises, promises!β Wimble called over his shoulder, laughing. The Aftermath Later that evening, as they rested under a golden maple tree, Wimble patted Chestnutβs side. βYouβve got to admit, we stole the show,β he said, grinning. The stag rolled his eyes but didnβt protest. βNext year,β Wimble continued, βweβll need to go even bigger. Maybe... enchanted pumpkins? What do you think?β Chestnut let out a long, weary sigh, but Wimble took it as agreement. βKnew youβd be on board,β he said, leaning back against the tree. As the golden leaves drifted down around them, Wimble smiled to himself. Chaos, laughter, and a touch of magicβjust another perfect day in the Emberwood Forest. Β Β Bring the Magic of Autumn Home Love Wimble and Chestnutβs mischievous autumn adventure? Capture the vibrant charm and whimsy of their story with our exclusive collection of products inspired by this enchanting tale: Wood Prints: Add a rustic touch to your home decor with this beautifully vibrant scene on wood. Tapestries: Transform your walls into an autumn wonderland with this magical design. Puzzles: Enjoy piecing together the fun of Wimble and Chestnutβs whimsical adventure. Tote Bags: Carry the charm of this magical woodland ride with you wherever you go. Start your collection today and let Wimble and Chestnut bring the beauty and mischief of autumn into your life!