One Chocolate Bar’s Worth Of Adventuring Advice

20250930

Prompt from DailyPrompt.com

If you follow that river, you will find it splits around a small island.
On the island you will find a lone willow tree, its bark scarred from three lifetimes of lightning strikes.
Beneath the willow, you will find a foxglove whose flowers never open.
If you dig up the foxglove you will find its roots wind down, down, for it grew out of a skull.
If you pick up the skull you will find it talks. Though, only in the Old Tongue. And you’ll likely have to clear its mouth before you can make out the words.
But if you do, and you can understand, it will tell you it was a prince who was murdered by covetous advisers and beg you to bring it to the cave in the east so it can be avenged.
If you follow its instructions you will find out it is a liar and it will laugh as the ogre eats you. It laughs in the Old Tongue, but I suspect you will understand just fine.
Instead I recommend you dig in its left eye socket until you find an acorn.
If you do, the skull will tell you that the acorn is a trap and that putting it in the hole in the willow’s trunk will turn you to stone.
If you try this you will find it is true. For it is a foolish cursed skull that always lies.
Instead, put the acorn in your pocket. Leave the skull beneath the willow. And keep following the river.
Ignore the ferry, the riddling frog, and the enticing, perfect-for-climbing tree. Those lead to very different adventures. The acorn will not help you there.
If you manage to keep to the river you will find a waterfall. A small one, four feet and a hand tall. You will need to stoop to climb inside. And you must close your eyes, and still have the acorn in your pocket.
I also recommend a good waterproof coat. But if you don’t have one already it’s too late to get one; you will find the acorn gone from your pocket by the time you get home. Adventure is a fickle thing.
If you close your eyes and have the acorn in your pocket and climb into the smooth dark stone behind the waterfall you will find yourself in a cave with a riddling frog.
It is not the same riddling frog you saw perched on that sunken log. They are cousins. Do not comment on the resemblance. You will find they’re both touchy about people getting them confused.
Unless you would like your adventure to end there, eaten alive by a critter the size of your palm. I imagine that is quite an experience. If you find it enticing then enrage the frog.
If you are so inclined you can find many ways to do this. One I will mention is giving the answer to the riddles before she finishes telling them.
Frogs cannot abide cheaters.
So I recommend listening politely, and pretending to think hard, before giving these answers:
A candle. (Yes, I know. There’s a reason she tells that one first.)
A dandelion.
Scissors. (Are you a good actor? If you are, please pretend to be stumped by this one. Briefly. Do not say that you give up, or any such. But she’s very proud of that riddle and will be pleased by you finding it difficult.)
Once you are safely past the frog you will find the tunnel opens up and you can walk comfortably. Unless you are uncomfortable in the dark. And I suppose wet clothes might not be comfortable. But at least it’s quicker than crawling.
Are you allergic to cats? If so, I recommend keeping your left hand on the wall and following it. You will have to deal with slugs on that path, but surely you aren’t allergic to cats and slugs?
If you prefer cats to slugs (I won’t judge either way) then follow the right wall. The cats are very friendly. Unless you’re wet from the waterfall in which case you will find yourself snubbed.
Oh, and the big tabby tom is… his opinions were formed in another time, shall we say. On the last of his nine lives and bitter. Pay no heed to anything cutting he says to you. It will almost certainly be unfounded. And even if it isn’t, it won’t be as bad as he claims.
Actually, looking at you, it might be best to pick the slugs. They don’t judge. But it’s your adventure.
Once you are past your chosen fork and you find where the paths rejoin, you are almost there.
Keep the rest of your snacks safe. Especially - what flavour are those crisps? Yes, you’ll want to have those on you when you meet my older sister. She’ll give you directions from there.
Of course, you can also carry on your walk, and go home as normal. Your path is yours to choose. Either way, thank you for the chocolate.

Prompt was “Beneath the willow, you will find…”