William Barnhill

Somewhere in the English countryside,
RYEFIELD, an American opossum, FLYTONGUE,
a Yorkshire toad and BLACKWING, a Scottish
raven, head to a pond to enjoy a summer
morning. While at the pond they are
approached by a Frog King named
LONGSWIMMER on behalf of the spirit of the
living earth, The Great Awareness. The Frog
King tells them that humans are killing
animals and nature. He asks for their help to
turn the tide and solve the situation.

After much convincing, help from the small,
unlikely group of animals is enlisted
and they are sent on a seemingly impossible
quest that, if successful, will save the world
from an environmental apocalypse.

Leaving behind the peace and tranquility of
their valley, they embark on the dangerous
mission to find and unite the pieces of an
ancient stone. Legend has it, that when all the
pieces are united and placed upon the oracle
of the ancients, animals will be able to once
again communicate with humans. Only then can
Longswimmer and his band of enlistees warn
humans of their bad ways and the impending
doom.

After narrowly escaping hounds and horse
riders during a fox hunt the travelers soon
learn that not all animals wish the plan to
succeed. In a cave on top of Black Mountain
they are attacked by the evil, Bat Queen
BLOODFANG who, along with the BOSS ROACH,
seek to wipe out humans and gain control of
the world. Ryefield, Flytongue and Blackwing
run for their lives after saving a fox named
RUNNINGFIRE from the clutches of the evil
queen bat.

The fox joins their group and together they
head to The Hill of the White Horse to search
for a piece of the stone. There amongst
ancient, Celtic ruins they encounter bats, rats
and roaches. The bats, rodents and insects
are driven away by mysterious spirits that
haunt the ruins. The spirit of the GREEN
LADY gives them one of the stones and a clue
to find another.

Once again they must travel on and make a
late night crossing through a fog shrouded
village where they barely escape death at the
jaws of Malacon the hound. The following
morning, during a driving rain storm, they
arrive at an old abbey where the final piece of
stone is rumored to be hidden. After a
dangerous encounter with the vicar of the
abbey they travel deep below the old building
inside catacombs. There they find the final
piece of stone but pay a heavy price, loosing
their friend the fox during a battle with rats
and roaches.

Longswimmer meets up with the group, and with
incantations unites the stone pieces and sends them on
their way to find the oracle of the ancients. They travel
on across the moors and spend the night on top of a
rabbit's warren. Here, they learn from Bloodfang that
the fox is alive and she is holding him captive at a castle
a day's journey away. Bloodfang tells them that they can
save the fox's life if they give up the stone.

The next day they make for the castle to free their
friend but unfortunately loose the stone and almost
their lives by falling into an unseen bog. Autumnleaf
comes up with a plan to trick the queen bat by
exchanging a fake stone for the fox. During a powerful
thunder storm they arrive at the castle. Autumnleaf's
plan almost succeeds, however, Bloodfang soon
discovers the trickery. Hordes of bats, rats and roaches
descend upon them and an epic battle ensues. After an
intense fight the queen bat is killed but unfortunately
Blackwing also looses her life in the mayhem.

The following morning the sun rises upon a grieving
group of animals atop the castle walls. Suddenly
Longswimmer, leading a large contingent of frogs,
enters the castle walls with the stone that they
recovered from the bog. Longswimmer solemnly places
the stone upon the oracle, which is hidden within the
castle walls. Green sparks fly out and around the world
to all stone circle sights and the power of the Great
Awareness is transferred to everyone and everything
living thing on the planet.

Animals can now talk with humans and show them the
right way to live, avoiding extinction. Ryefield,
Autumnleaf, Flytongue and Runningfire return home to
a hero's welcome. Longswimmer goes to the United
Nations to represent the animal kingdom. All over the
world animals are speaking out and humans are
listening.