Speaker 1: Hell yeah, 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.
Please continue to share Animal Tales with your friends and
leave us reviews where you can. Sebastian is from Congleton
in the UK and he is asked for a story
featuring a highland cow, a sloth bear, and an otter.
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 the trials of the Black Forest. For Sebasti,
most days were much the same. The highland cow would
graze in his field. He would stand by the fence.
He would watch the world go by. It was peaceful,
but it was also lonesome. Sebastian's field was on the
edge of the wasteland, a vast barren area of dry
dust and rock, almost entirely empty of plant life. Not
even the birds and insects liked to go there. Any
trees were long dead, dotting the landscape with their pale
white limbs. A small handful of animals did live out
there somewhere, but they were dangerous and nasty. For some reason,
humans kept wanting to enter the wasteland. It was always
the same sort of people, knights, indented armor, warriors with
sharpened swords, here with bows and hooded cloaks. These adventurers
would come to the wasteland with hopes to cross it,
and for some reason they always wanted Sebastian's help. They
wouldn't ask, of course. Instead they would enter his field,
catch him with a rope, then ride into the wasteland
while sat upon his back. This was frustrating for Sebastian,
although once the adventurer reached the dark forest beyond the wasteland,
they would set him free to wander home again. The
Highland cow had done this so many times that he
knew the wastelands very well, every dead tree, hidden pit
and pool of quicksand he knew the best trails to
follow and the worst. Even so, he always let the
adventurers choose the way. Just because they had caught him
didn't mean he needed to make life easier for them.
To day had been one of those days, meaning Sebastian
was again walking the wasteland with a new adventurer on
his shaggy back. She was grasping his fur tightly as
they neared the edges of the dark Forest. Have you
done this before? Asked the adventurer out of the blue.
Sebastian was taken aback. No adventurer had ever spoken to
him before. Quite a lot, actually, he replied, Why do
you ask? This seems to be quite a simple trial.
She continued, I understand that most people are able to
complete it trial. Sebastian repeated, what do you mean the
three trials of the Black Forest, The adventurer said, as
if it was obvious, pointing to the tree line ahead
of them. Any adventurer who can complete the three trials
is granted a wish by the Wizard of the Woods.
At least that's how the story goes. This was all
news to Sebastian. What exactly does this first trial require?
He asked? Catch the bull of the barren land, that's you,
she said, helpfully, and ride you across the waste land
before nightfall. Well I never knew that all this time
I've been a starring role in a trial, said the
amazed Highland cow. What did the other two involve? The
woman was happy to explain. The second trial is to
navigate the caves of the beast without getting caught, and
the third is to outsmart the river guardian by crossing
the river. When all that's done, you get to meet
the wizard for your wish, apparently, and you're going to
try to do this, Sebastian asked. Oh, yes, only the
bravest can complete all three, the adventurer said, as they
neared the trees. Supposedly, not everyone makes it, but I'm
going to just you wait, I'm going to wish for
treasure beyond my wildest dreams. Sebastian rounded a fallen tree
to stop at the very edge of the wasteland, allowing
the adventurer to slip down from his back. Thanks for
your help, she said, you can go home now, and
so Sebastian walked home. It occurs to me, thought Sebastian
as he walked that, despite being cow, I have successfully
completed the first trial more times than I can count,
and that makes me wonder if I shouldn't have a
go at the other two. He was still thinking about
it when he got back to his field, and again
when he woke up the next morning. I'm going to
give it a try, he decided at last, and so
back out into the waste land he went. The first
trial for him, at least, was easy. He reached the
tree line in record time, then stopped as he considered
his next step. I can do this, said the Highland cow, positively,
taking a deep breath. Sebastian walked beneath the trees. Unsurprisingly,
the black forest was dark, although Sebastian was able to
follow a path worn down by years of adventurers feet.
He followed this until the trees parted, revealing a gaping
cave in a wall of rock. This was trial too
navigate the caves of the beast. He had to do
so without getting caught. Immediately, the Highland cow identified a problem.
There was an animal asleep just inside the mouth of
the cave. Could this be the beast? If so, it
seemed unlikely he could sneak past without being noticed. He'd
fail instantly. The beast appeared to be some kind of
shaggy black bear. Sebastian had no desire to fight a bear,
and he was too big to sneak around. He would
need to find another way. Sebastian, being a smart and
thoughtful cow searched the surrounding area for a solution, eventually
coming across a bees nest suspended from a low branch.
Hoping his thick, shaggy coat would protect him from any
angry bees, he knocked the nest to the floor with
his horns, then rolled it to where the bear slept.
What's going on, griped the bear as she stirred, what
are you doing? I would like safe passage through the
caves in return for the honey in this bee's nest.
Sebastian replied, as sloth bears do like a bit of honey,
said the bear, with a lick of her lips. But
why would a cow want passage through the caves? I'm
trying to complete the trials, explained Sebastian. What trials, asked
the sloth bear as she licked up some of the
escaping honey. So Sebastistian explained everything. Do you mean to
tell me that all those people have been stomping through
my home on some kind of quest? Said the slothbaar angrily,
without so much as I please or a thank you?
I should complain to some one, then come with me,
Sebastian suggested, you could mention it to the wizard and
asked him to change the second trial to something else
good idea. The sloth bear agreed, wait there while I
finished this delicious honey. Once done, the sloth bear led
the way, meaning Sebastian successfully navigated the caves faster than
any one had ever done before. He'd now completed the
second trial. They exited the caves in a part of
the forest where the trees grew less thickly. Continue along
the ancient path, Sebastian could soon hear rushing water ahead.
It was a river cutting through the forest. It was
a deep, fast moving obstacle with no obvious way to cross.
The path appeared to continue on the far bank, but
it was too wide to jump and the water too
fast to swim. This is the third trial, explained the
highland cow, out smart the river guardian. Somehow we have
to cross over. I don't see a river guardian, said
the sloth bear as she looked about. As she spoke,
a sleek, brown animal climbed onto the bank before them.
It was a river otter, and he eyed them with suspicion.
Are you the river guardian? Sebastian asked, I am replied
the otter. For a moment, I thought you were more adventurers.
They're always bothering me. Ah, yes, about that, said Sebastian, cautiously.
Have you heard about the three trials before? Of course,
I have, said the otter, surprising them both. They don't
call me the River Guardian for nothing, you know. I
ask each adventurer three riddles, and each one they get
right lifts a stepping stone out of the river's depths.
If they get them all right, they can cross. If
they get just one wrong, they get washed away, and
I win. Fancy that, cried the sloth bear. You seem
to know all about it, whereas this cow and myself
have been included without anyone bothering to ask. It's why
we're going to complete the trials and talk to the Wizard,
Sebastian explained to the otter. Talk to the Wizard, repeated
the otter. I don't want to miss out on that,
not if the two of you from the other trials
are getting to go, I'll come along if you don't mind.
And to show willing, he flicked his tail and the
row of stepping stones emerged, allowing them to cross safely.
Once across. Sebastian took a moment to look back. He'd
somehow completed all three trials, although not in the way
he was supposed to, no doubt. Nonetheless, all they had
to do now was find the wizard. The path sloped
upwards through the trees, taking them on a long walk
to the top of a hill. Here they found a
large circle of tall, ancient standing stones. Is this where
we'll find the wizard, asked the sloth bear. I've no idea,
confessed Sebastian, before calling out a hello. There was a rumble,
The sky darkened and lightning flashed as a man in
long green robes and a pointy hat appeared in the
middle of the circle. Greetings, adventurers, the Wizard of the
Woods said, in a booming voice. You have passed the
three trials of the Black Forest, and now hang on
a minute. You're not adventurers, You're a bunch of animals.
The dramatic clouds faded to let the sun through again,
leaving the Wizard looking disappointed. He'd wasted his dramatic entrance
on a highland cow, a sloth bear, and an otter.
But we did complete the trials. Sebastian said, fair and square,
sort of, So we'd like our wishes, please, The sloth
bear demanded. Wait a moment, the Wizard said, his eyes narrowing.
You three are part of the trials, we are, admitted
the Highland Cow. But at least two of us weren't
even aware we were until to day. I did, said
the otter, raising a paw. Oh yes, said the wizard,
looking guilty. I uh, I apologize, So I suppose I
should perhaps grant you each your wish. I wish that
the second trial is changed so it leaves me in peace,
the sloth bear said. The Wizard nodded, granted. He said,
I wish to write my own riddle instead of using
the ones you gave me, said the otter. The Wizard nodded, granted,
he said, and what would the cow like? Sebastian shifted
uncomfortably under everyone's gaze. Um, I'm not sure, he admitted.
I don't really want anything. I just wanted to see
what this was all about. Well, now that you do,
does it change anything, the wizard asked. Sebastian thought about it,
about how the otter wanted a change and the sloth
bear wanted peace, and made his decision. It was two
weeks later when the next adventurer reached the edge of
the wasteland. Once upon a time he'd have had to
enter Sebastian's field and capture him with a rope, but
this time things were different. Sebastian was waiting for him,
his long horned head poking out of a small information booth.
Good morning, said Sebastian. I'm here to help you cross
the barren lands. Am I supposed to ride you? The
adventurer asked, Oh no. Sebastian replied, I'll be staying right
here in my field where the grass is green. So
how do you help? Asked the adventurer. I've got maps
showing the safest route, smiled the Highland cow. Would you
like to buy one? Animal facts? Highland cows have impressive horns, which,
in their native Scotland, are an excellent tool for clearing
snow to reveal the plants underneath. Female cows have thinner
horns with a more obvious upward curve. Sloth bears feed
mainly on ants and termites, and have unusually long lower lips,
which allow them to suck up the insects. They're also
partial to a bit of fruit as well. Potters feed
mostly on fish, but they'll also eat frogs and other amphibians.
Crustaceans such as crayfish and shellfish such as clams. Worms,
insects and eggs also form part of their diet, and
they have even been known to take the young of beavers.
Thank you for your suggestion, Sebastian. We hope you enjoyed
the tale, and thank you to all of you across
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Join us next time for another great animal tale. Good Bye,