Speaker 1: Yeah, Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,
where you suggest the animal for us to write a
story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand
new animal story here just for you. There are now
over one hundred extra stories on the Animal Tales premium service.
Find out how to listen to them by visiting Animaltales
dot uk and remember, for a tiny fee, they're all
advert free. Esther is from Manchester in the UK and
she would like a story with a dragonfly and a firefly.
You can learn more about these creatures in the Animal
Facts after the story. Now, settle back, relax, and a
pond life cacophony. Night had fallen over Beechwood Pond. The
ducks had settled in their nests, the tadpoles were snoozing
beneath a sunken log, and a lone dragonfly named Esther
was choosing a reed to rest upon. Esther had lived
in the pond her whole life, from nymph to adult.
She loved how the sunlight made the water sparkle and
marveled at the flowers that colored the pond's banks. Esther
had become good friends with many of the creatures, including
the ducks, the heron, and even a couple of kingfishers.
The pond was in her mind perfect well almost. Esther
landed on her reed, settled, then closed her eyes. But
instead of enjoying a good night's sleep, Esther's rest was
in interrupted by a bright, flashing light. Oh not again,
grumbled Esther. Wearily. She looked up to confront the culprit.
Despite the darkness, the source of the light was easy
to see. Knox. Esther cried, you're doing it again. Will
you please turn that light off? It disturbs everyone's sleep.
I've told you before, argued the little firefly. I can't
turn it off. It's my butt, it's what it does. Well,
your flashing butt is keeping me awake again, Esther complained,
can't you go and glow somewhere else? I have as
much right to be here as you do. A rumped Knox.
If you have a problem, then I suggest it's you
who should move. Grumbling, Esther tied a blade of grass
over her eyes as a blindfold, all the time wondering
why Knox had to be so difficult. Knox also loved
the pond. He liked how peaceful it was and how
the stars reflected in the water. It meant that there
were twice as many. His friends were the bats, frogs,
and owls that visited throughout the night. Then, when the
first rays of sunshine peeked over the horizon, Knox would
huddle amongst the leaves of a large fern, where he
felt safe and hidden. It was the perfect life, except
for one little thing. After a busy night, Knox was
just burying his head and closing his eyes when he
was disturbed by a very loud, buzzing sound. Oh not again,
he grumbled, as he climbed from the fern to have
a word with the offender. The source of the noise
was easy to locate, Ester, Knox cried, you're doing it again.
Your wings are too loud for us nocturnal creatures. Trying
to rest. The dragonfly came to an abrupt stop above him,
her wings beating furiously to keep her steady. I've told
you before, argued the dragonfly. My wings allowed because they're special.
They're what keep me in the air. Well, your special
wings are stopping me from sleeping, Knox complained, can't you
buzz about somewhere else? Muttering, Knocks buried deep down into
the fern, holding clumps of moss over his ears. He
didn't understand why Esther had to be so frustrating. This,
it turned out, was life at the pond. The dragonflies
constant buzzing grated on the firefly, and the firefly shiny
behind irritated the dragonfly, But neither one of them wanted
to leave the pond, and neither one was willing to stop. Then,
one day, while the sun was setting the nighttime animals
began to stir, Esther was just thinking about taking herself
off to bed when a bright light started flickering amongst
the evening shadows. Your light knocks, Esther cried as she
flew over. You're doing it again, Well, so are you.
The firefly responded, You're creating a dreadful buzz. This pond
would be so much better without your glowing bottom waking
us up, Esther stated, And I think it would be
better without your noisy wings. Knox replied, I've had enough,
snap to the dragonfly, this has gone on long enough,
boomed the firefly. It was looking as if this was
going to be their worst argument yet, but before either
of them could say another word, they were interrupted by
a loud croaking. Who it was by far the loudest,
most teeth clattering sound either of them had ever heard.
What was that, shrieked Esther in surprise. Ohoh, came the
noise again. It was so loud that it had stopped
every animal across the pond. Is that a frog? Asked Esther.
I know the frogs, said Knox, but that doesn't sound
like one to me. Who it wasn't hard to find
the source of the ear shattering noise. Sat on a
rock in the middle of the pond was an enormous toad.
He was lumpy and warty and brown, with a large,
downturned mouth. The two black eyes on the top of
his head blinked slightly out of sink with each other. Ohoh.
Esther watched as the surrounding animals began to move away,
hands held over their ears. This can't be good, she said.
Our toads are daytime or nighttime animal, worried Knox. Ohoh.
Esther could see pond skaters and newts scrambling to get away.
He's scaring everyone off, Esther said, the pond's going to
end up deserted. I'm going to have to talk to
him then, I'd better come with you, said Knox. Esther
was used to animals hearing her coming, but the toad
didn't appear to take any notice of her. Excuse me,
she called out politely, excuse me up here. The toad
lifted his head slowly and said what you're being awfully loud?
Esther pointed out, please, could you keep it down a bit?
Many of us go to bed around now. No, answered
the toad, but spluttered Esther, the other animals I don't care,
snorted the toad, cutting her off. Toads croak. I like
to croak, so I'll croak whenever I want to. Do
you mind me asking if that's during the day, wondered Knox.
You see some of us sleep when the sun is up.
I croak whenever I feel like it, said the toad,
whether that's the middle of the day or the middle
of the night. I will croak as loudly as I like. Now,
go away, but tried Knox, But the toad wasn't listening.
I said, go away, The toad repeated, I like it
here and I aim to stay, so stop bugging me,
cause I've got a way of dealing with pests. Esther
gulped and erh, what is that exactly? I eat em?
Said the toad, and his long, sticky tongue shot out
of his enormous mouth towards Esther. Fortunately, she was both
fast and nimble, allowing her to dodge out of the
way and drag the firefly with her. The pair of
them took shelter in reeds as the toad continued his noise.
What do we do, Knox asked, his voice full of worry.
That rude amphibian is ruining the pond. We'll have to
get in to leave. Esther reasoned, although I'm not sure
how it looks like everyone's leaving, fretted Knox. They can't
stand it. That's not fair, said Esther. Let's gather them up.
Maybe together we can work out what to do. The
toad remained on his rock throughout the night, illuminated by
a large round moon. He was feeling very pleased with
himself and his new home. This pond, he decided, was
perfect for him. Yes, this would do quite nicely. Ooh,
he boomed contentedly. But in reply, from out of the
darkness came a different sound. It sounded like frogs ribbiting.
They weren't even half as loud as he was, but
altogether they were causing quite a stir. Well, the toad
wasn't having that. He puffed out his chest and croaked,
just to show them who was boss. Frustratingly, this didn't
shut the frogs up. In fact, if anything, things got
a little noisier. The frogs, it seemed, had been joined
by the buzzing of the pond's insects. Right, I'll show
you lot, said the sour faced toad. He gave another
thundering Ohoh, that should do it, except it didn't. Now
there were ducks quacking too angrily. The toad did another
roaring whoh. In return, splashing fish were added to the
ribbiting frogs, buzzing insects, and quacking ducks. Will you lot
be quiet, the toad shouted. This lock was spoiling his fun.
He'd have to try again, as loud as possible, Oh,
he blasted. Now there were owls hooting too, and bats chirruping,
and foxes barking. What was going on? For a moment,
the toad was speechless. Don't you like the sounds of
the pond, asked esther as she zipped past. You the
toad spat it was you that put them up to this. Well,
I warned you what I'd do to annoying bugs. His long,
sticky tongue shot towards her, but Esther was ready. She
looped up and over his head, forcing the large toad
to shuffle around. Just you try that again, he sneered
at the dragonfly, so Esther flew closer. Got you, grinned
the toad nastily, preparing to let fly with his tongue.
This time, he was certain he'd catch her. But as
he opened his mouth, something bright and dazzling filled his vision.
The glowing bottom of a firefly. Take that, Knox said,
shining his light brighter than he'd ever shone it before.
The toad desperately tried to cover his eyes, his vision
filled with spots. Ah, you rotten firefly, the toad bellowed,
I can't see worse Still, the racket being made by
the pond's animals had become a deafening wall of noise,
disorientating him. Flailing wildly, the toad lost his footing on
the rock and fell forward into the water. And now
a new sound filled the air, that of laughter. The
pond animals were laughing at him, spluttering and splashing. The
toad found it all too much here, said Esther. I'll
lead you to the pond's edge. Meekly, the toad allowed
her to help. Once there, the toad didn't look so
sure of himself as he crawled out on to land,
rubbing his ears and eyes. I'm going to find myself
another pond, he complained. This one's too much for me,
and off he crawled into the darkness. Has he gone,
asked Knox. I think so, said Esther. In the end,
the pond can't have been what he was looking for.
I think he can't have been looking properly, said the firefly,
because this pond is perfect. That's what I was thinking,
agreed Esther. You know he was being rather selfish, wasn't,
he pointed out Knox. He was, nodded Esther, and I
guess that's not the best way to behave when you're
sharing a space with other animals. About that, said Knox,
I want to apologize if my glow causes you bother
during the night, I'll try to be more careful in future.
It should be me that apologizes, said Esther. You're a firefly,
of course you need to glow, but I could be
more careful where I fly. I understand they're not everyone
likes the sound of my wings. They're not that bad,
admitted Knox. I think that maybe you and I just
need to be a little more tolerant, agreed, said Esther.
It's a good idea to try to think of others.
Then I'll tell you what said Knox. You settle down
here to sleep, and I'll do my best to avoid
this spot to night, and I'll put on my sleep mask.
Esther added as she plucked a blade of grass. We
can show every one that the pond is for every one,
Which was how the dragon fly and the firefly finally
found peace. Some might say that they'd even found a friend,
and of all, Esther finally got a good night's sleep.
Animal fact, dragonflies have been around since the Jurassic period,
with related species going back even further in time. They
are amazing predators, capable of astonishing acrobatic feats and speed.
Their enormous eyes give them all round vision, with most
of their brain turned over to processing what they see,
allowing them to navigate through a high speed world. Fireflies
aren't flies at all, but beetles. Sometimes called lightning bugs
or glowworms. Their light is created via bioluminescence in their abdomens.
They use flashes and steady glows to attract a mate.
Thank you for your suggestions, Esther. We hope that you
all enjoyed the story. Wherever you're listening in the world,
make sure you join us next time for another great
animal tale. Good Bye,