Hey there, and welcome back to A Visitor to the Willows. I've had some fun writing this, and I hope I got some of the characters in character. I also have one thing to say about my OC: When it comes to Bear's voice, I imagine him sounding like Roger Clark using his Arthur Morgan voice.

Uploading Date: September 15, 2023

The Riverbank

Down by the river, spring had already started before the Wild Wood. Animals had begun emerging from their hibernating dens, grateful that winter was over until the end of the year. Birds were out twittering fresh spring songs to their neighbors. After being frozen for months, the river was finally free to gurgle and rush by the land again.

By a familiar house by the river, the Rat and the Mole were busy in the former's home. Rat had decided to make lunch for when Badger and Toad would come around; whatever was left over would be used on a picnic on the Riverbank. Mole assisted him the best he could. He knew where everything from teapots and spoons was, for he had spent a few months at this house before returning to Mole End.

"Spring is always my favorite season," said Mole as he opened a window to let some fresh air and sunlight in. "I'm not sure I'm so fond of spring cleaning, though."

"I thought you'd be used to it by now," said Rat as he was gathering items for tea. "Just remember, we managed to spiffy your home up again."

Mole smiled at the thought. "Yes, I know. I'm glad to have friends to help me with tougher tasks like moving furniture for dusting."

Then Rat, forgetting himself, sighed and opened the kitchen window. He took in a breath of fresh, comfortable spring air and let it out with contentment. "Spring is my favorite too, Mole," he said. "Whenever spring comes, the river gets unfrozen, free once again until next winter. I'd love to be back on the boat any time, rowing my worries away."

"I'm sure the river feels the same way, Ratty," Mole assured his friend.

Knock-knock, the front door went suddenly.

"Moley, can you check the door quick?" called Rat as he set down some teacups and the teapot on the table. "I have to start brewing the tea now."

"All right," said Mole. He brought over a tray of unbaked scones to put over the fire. "But I want to start baking those scones as soon as possible."

"I'll keep an eye on your scones," Rat reassured him. "Now go check on the door."

Mole nodded and placed the tray of scones on the kitchen counter. While Rat was putting those scones over the fire, Mole headed to the front door and peeked out of the peephole.

"Ratty! It's Badger!" Mole called to Rat. "He's come over with...oh my." He removed his glasses and rubbed them with a handkerchief before putting them on again.

"What's the matter, Mole?" Rat called from the kitchen.

"Badger is here," reported Mole. "But I don't recognize the other fellow."

"What's he look like?" asked Rat.

"He's bigger than Badger, and he's got black fur like me," said Mole.

"Well, see them in, Moley," said Rat. "And help yourself to some tea once you're done before you continue the scones."

So Mole headed to the front door and opened it up. Badger had already reached the front door, as well as his new friend behind him. This large black-furred animal's head nearly scraped the ceiling, and he rubbed his head as if he had bumped against a chandelier. His clothes made him look like a hermit from somewhere far away from society, from the torn pants to the cowboy hat on top of his head.

"Hello, Badger," Mole greeted his Wild Wood friend.

"Hello, Mole," said Badger with warmth in his gruff voice. "I apologize if I was late in arriving, Rat."

"No, you're not late," said Rat, who had come to greet Badger. "No one's ever late when they come by my house. And who's your friend?"

"Howdy. I'm Bear," said the stranger, tipping his hat. "I've come from America for a short visit. Badger's told me about you fellers. Mole and Rat, ain't it?"

"I took longer than usual to get here because I was meeting Bear," said Badger. "He had saved young Billy Rabbit from those wretched weasels. They were ready to take his money when Bear came by."

Rat sighed in mock despair. "Some animals never learn."

"I wish the weasels could leave other animals alone for a while," said Mole. "And change their ways for good."

"Well, a leopard never changes its spots," said Bear. "But I gave those varmints a lesson in pickin' on kids."

"Anyone who can send the weasels off on their way has my respect," said Rat, and he and Bear shook paws. "Come sit down, both of you. I've got tea ready, and Mole has scones getting made."

"What're scones?" Bear asked.

"They're delicious desserts. I'm quite fond of making them," said Mole. "Try one, and you'll see."

So they began settling down. Since Rat was the house host, he brought out the tea and snacks and had to return to the kitchen to make the ham sandwiches. In the meantime, Bear sat with Badger and Mole, all three sharing the muffins and talking. Badger and Mole told him about the famous Mr. Toad and his adventurous fads - or, as Badger would call them, "obsessions."

Suddenly, as Rat brought in the sandwiches, a loud POOP POOP! rang in the air. That brought the other animals' focus on what was outside.

"Oh, it's Toad. I know that motorcar horn anywhere," Mole remarked.

"Does he always have to announce his arrivals with that wretched noise?" Badger grumbled as he nibbled on a sandwich. "Vain, foolish creature."

Mole pushed back his chair and started heading towards the door. "I'll go let him in."

"No, no, Moley, you don't have to," said Rat. "I'll get the door this time. You finish the scones and then enjoy the tea and cake with Badger and Bear."

And that was what Mole did. Once the scones were finished, he pulled them out of the oven and set them on a plate to cool down. Once the scones were done cooling, Mole offered one to Bear as he had said he would. Bear took a bite from it and found himself liking the taste. It was like biscuits back home, though it was stuffed with preserved jam.

The other three animals had settled down when Rat escorted Toad into his home. Toad was decked in what he called 'safari' clothing, as he heard that great hunters would wear in the jungles of Africa and India. But he didn't care for the odd looks his friends gave him.

"Hello, you fellows!" Toad greeted his friends one by one. "I was just telling Ratty here about my latest hobby."

"Now I wish I could forget all he said," muttered Rat.

Toad looked briefly at him before continuing. "Well, I've taken up bird-watching. Otter was watching for herons and kingfishers, so I asked him for a few pointers on where to find them. It's the only thing!"

"Oh, Toad," groaned Mole and Rat together.

"Bird-watching is at least a reasonable... past time," said Badger. "It contains no foolishness, recklessness, or disregard for the law. It is nothing but observing birds in their natural habitat, peace, and quiet."

"I'll have you know that just this morning, as I was having breakfast, I spotted a scarce bird right outside the dining room window with beautiful tail feathers," said Toad. "I tell you, those feathers looked like a rainbow splashed them. So, I have decided to dub it the Roly Poly Bird. It must have flown in from Africa."

At this, Bear snorted with amusement. "Then come let me know, partner. I want to draw that bird sometime."

Toad looked at Bear for the first time, blinking a few times. "So, who's this fellow? He doesn't look like he's from around here."

"You're right about that, partner," said Bear. "I'm Bear, and I've come from America for a short trip. So you must be the famous Mr. Toad."

Immediately, Toad shook Bear's paw. "Oh yes," he said with a chuckle, "people must've heard about me, even from America."

"Yeah, your friends told me all about you. They even told me about your fads, silly as they are."

"Yes, they are, aren't - " Then Toad stopped when he realized what Bear was saying. "I say, steady on! We just met, and you're becoming as bad as these fellows when it comes to critics."

"Of course, I remember one of your 'past times' being from America," said Badger. "One of those tinning machines, I take it?"

"It was a 'canning' machine," said Toad. "That's how they said it in America."

"Yeah," replied Bear. "Like 'hampers'. Heck, you Brits have a smorgasbord of breakfast in your hampers. We Americans have only dirty laundry in ours!"

That got Toad laughing. "Say, you're right! Though it's odd and funny to hear similar words in different cultures, like our differences in hampers."

"Great minds think alike, as my dear old father used to say," Badger added. "Or, in this case, great cultures think alike."

"Come on, Toad, and have lunch with us," said Rat. "There are some first-rate sandwiches in here and scones; Mole's already brought them out of the oven."

"Scones, you say?" Toad repeated, his large eyes shining at the mention of the dessert. "Don't mind if I do!"

Bear looked out the window, munching on his sandwich. Outside, the river was teeming with early spring. Dragonflies dipped here and there on the water's surface, their wings beating rapidly. A kingfisher was diving beneath the surface and reemerged with a large fish in its beak. It landed on a low-hanging tree branch and began its lunch.

"Looks like a nice river you've made a home by, Rat," Bear remarked as he looked back inside.

"Of course. It's the only thing," said Rat, beaming with pride for his home. He walked over to the window and looked at the river, its water shining from the sunlight. "The river is my whole world, and I don't want any other. What it doesn't have isn't worth having, and what it doesn't know isn't worth knowing. Whether in summer or winter, spring or autumn...it has its fun and excitement."

Bear smiled. "That's just how I feel about the mountains," he said, taking a bite out of his sandwich. "I love to watch the seasons changin' them yearly in eastern Tennessee. Now, I don't think I could handle livin' somewhere with a missin' season; I hate havin' to keep bein' cool during the fall and winter after having just been done with summer."

"Talk about homes," Toad interjected. "Bear, my new friend, you should check out Toad Hall. It's the best home on the Riverbank or just about anywhere."

"It is," said Badger. "I have no desire to live in such a huge house, but Toad Hall is one of the best homes I've seen. Toad's father was a close friend of mine, and he would always invite me over on Sundays. So I can vouch for Toad on this one."

Toad couldn't help but smile at that.

"So, where do Mole and Badger live?" Bear asked.

"I live in Mole End," said Mole. "Nothing feels as good as coming home underground after a busy day on the surface. Dig a tunnel and a new den if you like expanding your home. And if you feel like shrinking it down, you stop up a tunnel."

"Precisely. That is exactly right, Mole, just as I had told you before," added Badger with a hint of pride. "The oak tree I live under has been home to my father and his father before him. My family has lived in the Wild Wood since the Roman Empire expanded to Great Britain; I even had the deed from Julius Caesar himself."

...

Hours passed, and the four friends and Bear decided to head outside. Rat demonstrated the basics of boating to Bear, but he needed to figure out the newcomer being in his boat. Like Badger, Bear was a large animal and probably wasn't used to being on the water.

They had decided to bring over what was left of their lunch and spend it outside. They made it a short picnic, just as Rat had wanted. The four British animals and the American Bear had a good time of it, eating, sipping ginger beer, and swapping stories.

When Bear finished sketching his new friends, he noticed the sky was getting darker. The air was getting cooler from the approaching night, which was getting shorter as spring continued. The singing of birds was replaced by crickets chirping, and the only light on right now was from the rising moon.

"Looks like it's getting late," remarked Rat. "So, Bear, where will you sleep?"

"I'd welcome you," said Mole. "But I'm not sure there's enough space for an animal your size, Bear. Maybe Ratty or my cousin Auboron, but..."

"Ah, that's okay," said Bear. "I am a big critter, after all."

"He can take up residence in Toad Hall," suggested Toad. "I've got plenty of room to house a poor soul like you."

Bear chuckled and waved a paw. "Nah, but thanks for offerin', Toad. I'll go with Badger. After all, nothin' beats life in the woods." Then he looked at Badger and added, "That is if you're okay with that."

"I was just ready to ask if you would come to stay in my home, Bear," said Badger. "I would be delighted to house an American guest."

"Well, all right," said Toad. "I'd like for my friends to be happy. But I promise you, Bear, you don't know what you're missing!"

Rat snickered as he leaned in towards Mole. "And that's a bad thing?"

Toad spluttered at this remark, but he was civil enough as he joined the others in bidding goodnight to Badger and Bear. The two large mammals picked up their walking sticks and headed toward the dark Wild Wood.

To be continued...