Speaker 1: Yea. Hello. My name's Josephine and this is the Animal
Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.
There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,
with a third premium only story every Friday. Oscar is
from Leeds in the UK, and he would like a
story featuring a vampire, bat and an angler fish. You
can learn more about these creatures in the animal facts
after the story. Okay, are you ready? That's good, then
I'll begin vampire in training. Ah, good evening, said the
female vampire. Thank you for meeting me. She was talking
to a young vampire who had arrived through the darkness.
He looked nervous. Um, are you the vampire that's going
to help me? He asked, that's right, smiled the female vampire,
showing off a pair of sharp pointed teeth. The name's Fran,
so you must be Oscar. The young vampire nodded. I
think I've got a lot to learn about being a vampire,
he said. Oh, it's easy enough, said Fran. The first
rule to remember is to stay out of sunlight, otherwise
you'll turn to dust. That's why we're doing your training
in a dark forest. At night. No danger of any
dusty accidents here, I see, nodded Oscar. Is this going
to be like school in a way, said Fran. I'll
teach you how to do some things that will help
you be a better vampire, like someone once taught me,
although that was nearly two hundred years ago. Now you're
two hundred years old, gasped Oscar. It will take a
few years, yes, said Fran. Wow, said Oscar. Will I
get to be over two hundred if you can stay
out of the sunlight, then yes, smiled Fran. It's very
hard for a vampire to die, so the chances of
you seeing a few centuries are rather good. Now, enough
chit chat, is time for your first lesson, Okay, said Oscar,
standing up straight. I think I'm ready. That's good, said
Fran approvingly. Now all vampires can turn themselves into a
vampire bat. The first try can be difficult, but once
you've done it, you'll find it really easy. You'll soon
be flying in and out of windows with ease. Being
a vampire bat is one of the most essential things
a vampire can do, all right, said Oscar slowly. But
how do I do it? I try to imagine what
a vampire bat looks like, explained Fran. I think of
those sharp teeth, compact body, and the flappy parts extending outwards.
Once I have those elements fixed in my head, I
will my body to change shape like this. In an instant,
Fran was fluttering around in circles above Oscar's head. See
nothing hard about that. Now go on, it's your turn, okay,
said Oscar with a firm nod. I can do this.
Sharp teeth, compact body, flappy parts extending outwards. Make sure
to picture them in your mind, said Fran as she
did another loop. Then, when you're ready transform. Oscar felt
the sensation of his body altering its shape. He was
doing it. He was changing. With a splat, he landed
on the dry pine needles carpeting the forest floor. Have
I done it? He asked, wriggling around. He was flapping
with all of his might, but didn't seem to be
able to get off of the ground. And why are
you shining that light in my eyes? That's not me,
said Fran, sounding stunned. That's you. Why aren't I flying?
Grunted Oscar as he continued to flap furiously. My wings
look really tiny, oh, Oscar, said Fran as she did
a couple of circuits of his struggling body. Something's gone
terribly wrong wrong, asked Oscar, trying to duck his head
away from the brightness, but wherever he turned, the light
seemed to follow him. Is my vampire bat not very good?
It's not so much that it isn't good, said Fran diplomatically.
It's more that it isn't a vampire bat at all, Oscar.
Dear boy, there's only one way to tell you this.
You've turned yourself into an angler fish. An angler fish,
yelped Oscar in surprise. That's not even close to a bat.
I think I can see where it might have gone wrong, though,
said Fran, as she landed upside down on the trunk
of a tree. I said to think of sharp teeth,
a compact body, and flappy parts extending outwards. Well, anglerfish
have sharp teeth, a compact body, and flappy parts extending outwards,
although their flappy parts are their fins, not wings. Oh
what a mess, wailed Oscar as he rolled about in
the pine needles. This is hopeless. I can barely move.
I'm useless now now, cautioned Fran. Remember this was your
first try, and I said that the first time is difficult.
Have you heard of Dracula The first time he turned
into a vampire bat, he forgot the wings and ended
up falling down three hundred castle steps like a little
furry bouncing ball. It happens. But what do I do?
Oscar asked quietly. Change back, said Fran, matter of factly.
Just imagine your normal body and transform. A second later,
Fran was stood beside the tree, back to normal, although
now she towered over the wriggling body of Oscar. Now
you do it, she said, o k said Oscar, sounding determined,
with a grim look on his face. He pictured what
he was supposed to look like and concentrated hard at transforming.
Nothing happened. As soon as you're ready, just change, said
Fran helpfully. I'm trying, gurgled Oscar. It should be easy,
added Fran. But it's not, grunted Oscar. After a minute
or two of straining, he slumped forward, exhausted. I can't
do it, oh my, said Fran, looking worried. This has
never happened before. I'm stuck. Stuck as an angler fish,
shouted Oscar. I'm not sure what to do, fretted Fran
as she nervously rubbed a fang with her forefinger. Oh wait,
I have something. She ferreted in her coat pocket and
pulled out a small, leather bound book. It was very old.
What's that, asked Oscar. It's called be a better vampire.
Top tips and fascinating facts she read. There might be
something in here that can help us. Trouble is, it's
so dark in these woods. I can barely see the writing.
Use my light, suggested Oscar, flexing the glowing stalk that
protruded from his head. Ah good idea, said Fran, and
knelt down beside him. She began flicking through the pages.
See anything, he asked? Hopefully Not yet, said Fran. Ah
transformations here it is, it says most vampires can master
three basic transformations, vampire, bat, wolf, and fog. What about
an anglerfish, whimpered Oscar. There's more, said Fran. Elder vampires
or vampires of supreme power have been known to master
further transformations, mastering such hideous forms as giant rat, deadly serpent,
and monstrosities from the deep. That last bits me yelped Oscar.
Anglerfish are from the deep ocean. But I don't understand,
said Fran. You're not supposed to be able to do this.
You're a new vampire, not an elder vampire. I'm two
hundred years old, and even I can't manage more than
vampire bat, wolf and fog. But does it say how
to turn back? Asked Oscar. No it doesn't, said Fran,
closing the book. Sorry, then I really am stuck. Oscar wailed.
We may have a bigger problem than you being a
balloon shaped blob. Warned Fran. It will be morning soon.
Oh no, groaned Oscar. Sunlight. That's right, nodded Fran. We're
a long way from the nearest place to hide. I
didn't think that was a problem when I arranged for
you to meet me here. I thought that as vampire bats,
we'd make short work of the journey back. Can't you
still do that? Asked Oscar? And maybe carry me I
can try, said Fran. With a shrug of her shoulders.
She transformed again, flapping madly in her vampire bat form. Unfortunately,
she was smaller than him and wasn't quite sure where
to get a grip on the oddly shaped fish. In desperation,
she closed her feet around the length of his light
stalk pulling upwards. Ow ow owl, screeched Oscar. That hurts.
I'll try your tail instead, said Fran. Luckily that didn't
hurt at all, but Oscar was clearly too heavy for
the bat's tiny wings. Fran gave up, changing back again
to pant on the ground beside him. Well that didn't work, Uck,
Could you carry me like you are now, wondered Oscar.
I guess I'll have to, replied Fran. But it will
be slow progressed through these trees. I'm worried we won't
make it before the sun comes up. We'd better get started, then,
said Oscar. So Fran scooped up the angler fish and
off they went. It was certainly a help having the
light on Oscar's head to guide their way. That at
least allowed them to travel a little faster, but it
was painfully obvious to both of them whenever they caught
a glimpse of the sky through the branches, that the
new day had almost arrived. We're not going to make it,
said Fran, sounding defeated. In another ten minutes or so,
the sun will have risen, and you know what that means.
Oscar nodded, we'll be turned to dust. Hopefully, by staying
under the cover of the trees, we can buy ourselves
a bit more time, said Fran, trying to remain positive,
which was why when they stumbled upon the shores of
a wide, dark lake, Fran turned aside to stay in
the gloom. Wait, said Oscar. Suddenly I have an idea.
There's no time, said Fran, stumbling to a stop. The
sun's nearly up. But the lake, we can use it,
said Oscar. It looks deep. We could swim to the
bottom and hide from the sunlight there. But Oscar, I
can't follow you down there, she answered, visibly sagging. You'll
be okay, but I still need to hide. Even if
I was to turn into a vampire bat now, I
won't make it back home. I'm as good as dust.
Then change into an anglerfish, too, insisted Oscar. Your book
said elder vampires and vampires of supreme power can do that.
That must be you. I hardly think so, said Fran.
I'm not that special. Have you even tried, he asked.
Fran sighed in truth, no, I haven't. She looked across
the lake towards the horizon that was now bright. Although
the sun still hadn't quite appeared very well, she said,
striding out onto the lake shore. I've got nothing to lose.
I'm sure if I can do it, then you can,
said Oscar supportively. All you need to do is think
of those sharp teeth, compact body, and the flappy part
extending outwards. But think of those flappy parts being fins,
not wings. Okay, said Fran with a firm nod. I
can do this. Sharp teeth, compact body, flappy parts extending outwards,
fins not wings. Make sure to picture them in your mind,
said Oscar. From her arms, he cast a nervous look
to where the sun was on the brink of making
them permanent dust piles. Then when you're ready transform, Here
goes said Fran, screwing up her face tight. As the
very edge of the sun appeared to announce the new day,
Fran felt the sensation of her body altering its shape.
She was doing it, she was changing. Suddenly Oscar was falling,
tumbling into the lake water with a splash. He quickly
righted himself, straining to look back to shore and fearing
all he'd see was a scattering of dust where Fran
had stood, But instead all he got was a face
full of light, but not some light. It was Fran
successfully transformed into an angler fish. Quickly, she urged, let's
swim as deep as we can. The lake bottom was
indeed dark and murky, next to no light from above
made it this far down. I hope I've not been
too much trouble, said Oscar nervously trouble, laughed Fran. This
is the most fun I've had in over a hundred years.
I bet no vampire has ever been down here before.
By the light of their head stalks, two giggling vampire
anglerfish swam on animal fat. Vampire bats are found in
Central and South America, where they feed mainly on large mammals.
They approach their food source by landing on the ground
and crawling forward. Then they'll make a tiny bite, licking
up the blood to feed themselves. We've made our anglerfish
in the story large and round, but in real life
only female anglerfish are this size. Male anglerfish are much
much smaller and will fuse themselves to a female like
a parasite. Thank you for your great suggestions, Oscar. We
hope you enjoyed the story, and thank you to all
of you across the world for listening to it. Join
us next time for another great animal tail. Good Bye,