Heckler and Ludwig

Chapter I

Once upon a time
there were two gnomes who lived deep in the heart of a dark,
unwelcoming forest. One was named Heckler, and one was named Ludwig.
They lived in a cave inside a giant rock knoll.

One day, Heckler was
fishing. As usual, his strangely shaped pipe was in his mouth, a thin
ribbon of smoke twirling away with the wind. He wore his patched hood
on his head, the end of which bobbed when his head moved. This was
probably from the excess amount of dirt and bugs and whatnot that had
collected in his hood. Suddenly he felt a jerk on his line.
Struggling upright, the gnome began playing the fish wildly. He
nearly lost his pole as the fish pulled away, but finally he landed
what happened to be a large piece of wood that had become attacked to
the string by a twig. Heckler angrily threw it in the river.

“So I guess
this is it – happily ever after. What now? Does nothing come
after this?” contemplated Ludwig.

“Well, we
could always use that spell-book Matilda gave us and become
enchanters again,” said Heckler.

Ludwig grinned and
exhaled through his snub nose in a sort of chuckling snort.
Straightening up from his leaning position against the oak tree, he
walked over and fished about in their haversack. Producing the old,
leather-bound tome, he walked over and handed it to Heckler. But then
he picked up his staff and slung the sack at his back again. “I’m
sorry, friend. I can’t do that.” The gnome put his hand
on Heckler’s shoulder. “May we meet again. Now I must say
goodbye.” Ludwig buckled on his sword. “Farewell.”
He walked off north, waving over his shoulder.

“Where are you
going?” called Heckler.

“To find
someone.”

THE END