Velma and the Intruder: Mucklewood Adventures

by Brian Chalmers

Overview

It’s seven months before the escape of the aviary birds (book 1) and the latest generation of fox cubs from Mucklewood emerge from their earth to explore the world around them for the first time. Just a couple of months forward from this happy event and the entire Muckle skulk face challenges to their recent acceptance with the ‘United Mucklewood Friendship Society’ when they come under suspicion for the strange disappearance of some animals from the forest. A mysterious intruder threatens to tarnish the good reputation of the Muckle skulk and to present a potential risk to their own safety. The mother and two older sisters of the Muckle cubs have suspicions and questions of their own about one of their family members who left them when she was a young adult during an invasion of a rival skulk. Why did she leave at a time when they needed her most? Where is she now? Could she have any knowledge of or part in the increasingly disturbing events at Mucklewood forest? And, as she is the cubs’ older sister, should they be told about Velma? A lesson is applied from the Bible with accompanying Bible verses at the end of each chapter.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781914273483
Publisher:	John Ritchie Ltd Christian Publications
Publication date:	11/06/2023
Series:	The Mucklewood Adventures
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.38(w) x 7.88(h) x 0.12(d)
Age Range:	5 - 12 Years

About the Author

Brian Chalmers lives in the North East of Scotland with his wife Ruthanna and their three daughters. He has been actively involved in children's work for many years, is the editor of Our Treasury children's magazine and works as a freelance graphic designer.

Read an Excerpt

“What makes a true hero?” asked a young tod to his growing family. “Being brave,” yelped one of the female cubs. Her father acknowledged her answer with an inkling of a nod - the kind you’d miss if you blinked. “Maybe … standing up for others,” suggested another, less emphatically. She received the same unintentional treatment from her father, and her dismay soon turned into annoyance at herself. Father looked over to the other two cubs. One of them was lying in the long grass and popped his head up to offer his contribution - though he was more interested in a Peacock butterfly he disturbed at that moment. “Not giving in,” he said in a detached way whilst failing to capture the fluttering escape artist in the process. This was followed with an answer from the most patient and thoughtful of the four cubs. “Being true to yourself,” she offered, softly, and yet with an air of certainty. There was a deafening silence for a few moments as their father processed the answers. The deep humming of a passing dragonfly, in a strange sort of a way, seemed to amplify the silence even more. “Being true to yourself,” Father repeated, like the sound of a delayed echo which had taken on a completely different form from its source. “They were all good answers,” he assured them, “but being true to yourself embraces everything: being brave, standing up for others who need your help and not giving up without a fight. Yes,” Father affirmed, “a true hero is someone who is true to themselves.” Embarrassed at the attention she was presently receiving, the patient cub leapt high into the air and pounced forward in front of her siblings whilst yelping out a series of teasing barks before scampering down the hill at great pace. Her small bushy tail soon disappeared out of view from the three intrigued cubs. The chase was on, and her cunning distraction worked perfectly. Friction averted!