A long long time ago there lived a small girl named Oona, she lived in a little house on the shores of a little lake. The lake was just one of dozens that spotted the landscape. She lived in that house with her Mumma, her Dadda and her little cat Muffy. Life was simple Daddy spent his days out chopping wood to trade whilst mummy tended to the vegetables and herbs all whilst looking after Oona.

‘Oona! Come here little one’ said Mumma

‘I’m here, I’m here’ said Oona jumping out from a hiding spot, Muffy circling her legs.

‘Can you go and get me some herbs from the garden? The little purple ones?’

Oona sprang into action rushing out the door. The garden was big… really big, apples to the left, cabbages to the right, strawberries, onions, oranges and more. She spotted the area where all of the herbs were growing and made her way over.

‘There you are!’ she bend down an pulled out a big handful of the purple flowers… ‘Mandragoline!’ she squeaked remembering its name, ‘Good for… what ales you?’ She smiled thinking of a funny joke her Dadda told the night before. On her way back to the house she noticed Muffy looking out across the lake. It was still summer but the days were growing shorter and soon enough winter would arrive. ‘Come on Muffy, lets get inside and see if there’s any food we can steal whilst Mumma is cooking’. It never took more than the slightest mention of food to get that cats attention.

‘Here you go Mummy the Mandrago…’ she trailed off

‘Mandragoline my girl, one of the tastiest herbs you will ever use when cooking’ said Mumma. ‘You remember that’

‘Cooking!? No way! There are too many adventures to be had Mumma, this winter Muffy and I are going straight to the centre of the lake’

‘The centre of the lake you say’ Mummy smiled ‘Well, that does sound like an adventure, but at the moment you have chores to do, and don’t you even think about sneaking some food for that cat, she is fed well enough’

‘Yes Mumma’ signed Oona.

A second later the front door creaked open, Oona, Mumma and Muffy all turned.

‘Well hello my girls’, a large bearded man strode through the door face darkened with a days dust.

‘Dadda!!’ yelled Oona, she ran up and flung herself in his direct.

‘Woah there’ Dadda quickly dropped some of the firewood he was holding to make sure Oona landed in his arms. ‘I’m glad to see you too!’

‘Daddy - she’s been a handful today, but she’s helped me in the garden and that Muffy lounged around as well’ Mummy smiled warmly.

— TBC