Disclaimer: I do not own the word "Wicket", it is owned by Isaac Spratt.
The Bells
Once upon a time, there once was a massive forest. And in the very center of this forest, was a tall tower. This tower stood high and mighty and watched over the forest from above. In this tower starting from the bottom floor to the 2nd most high floor, were every tree imaginable. And every single one of these trees were eternally young. At the very top floor, was a pair of great bells. A red bell and a gold bell. It is stated that if someone were to ring these two bells, disaster would struck.
Outside of the massive forest, there lived a shepherd named, Nicholas, who lived in a town called, Canteshire, a small, quaint village. Nicholas lived on a small ranch, along with 2 cats, 5 chickens, 8 pigs, and 9 sheep. He would herd the sheep outside to graze the fields, and at the end of the day, he would herd them back inside. Nicholas loved the town, and was loved by everyone who lived there.
One day, as he was herding his sheep back inside, he noticed that there was only 8 sheep that made it inside. Wondering where his sheep had gone, the shepherd walked out to the fields and began searching.
As he was searching, he stumbled upon tracks that led straight into the forest. Thinking that his sheep had gotten lost looking for grass, he ventured forth. As he was walking, he noticed a path that the tracks were following, so he decided to follow them.
Time went on, as Nicholas followed the path. As he was about to give up, he suddenly found himself just outside a tower of magnificent height. Seeing that the path and tracks led straight into the tower, he walked inside. As he ventured throughout the tower, he was most surprised to see hundreds of different trees living and growing inside the tower.
When he got to the top floor, he found his sheep staring at the bells hanging from the ceiling. Nicholas gazed upon the bells and desired to hear them. So he pulled the lever, and listened as the bells sounded and echoed majestically. Then, the sheep moved its gaze from the bells to the shepherd and spoke.
"Why have you done this?",asked the sheep,"This beauty harms the innocent."
Wondering what his sheep meant, and surprised that it could speak, Nicholas decided to leave the tower. However, when he walked outside, he found the entire forest to be in flames. In horror, he fled the forest to his ranch in Canteshire, hoping that everyone was alright.
When he got to the village, he stood solemnly, for the town and townsfolk, were split asunder. Children and families cried out inside their cottages, as a great fire consumed them all. In just a few moments, there was nothing left of the town, but ashes.
Heart-stricken, Nicholas walked back to the tower, and decided to live in seclusion with his last sheep in the tower for the rest of his life.
Some say that on the night of the harvest moon, he would once again ring the bells and hear their resonant grand chimes. Each time he did so, a disaster would struck the next day.