Can't it EVER be easy?

After solving the riddle Princess Dori went through the new passageway. It was gloomy but she could see light at the end. Unfortunately, when she got there it was barred by a gate - and the key was on the other side!
Try as she might she could not squeeze through the bars. I have got to cut back on the bacon treats when I get home! she thought wryly. HOW am I gonna get those keys?

That's it!

Princess Dori thought and thought and thought some more.
A soft breeze blew down the stairwell, ruffling her soft fur like a caress.
"Have you ssolved it?" The little snake asked.  "We hassn't got all day, you know"
The breeze grew stronger as if it too were hurrying her along.
Wingless flutters,Mouthless mutters Dori recited to herself. Wait a minute! I have it!!
It's the wind!! 
YESSSSSS! the little snake cried. The word was picked up by the other snakes Yessss, yessss, yessss It echoed around the pit blending into the sound of a stone doorway opening on the other side. 

Ssstill at the sssnakes!

 

YOU SHALL NOT PASS! one snake thundered in his slithery voice. 

Well, at least you shall not pass until you answer the riddle, that is. 

Riddle? I like riddles! Bring it on, snake! Princess Dori was eager to move onward and find her Ducklin!

The snake pulled himself up and asked:

Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
Toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.

Of course!

Slowly the duo crept down the stairway. They could see something moving at the bottom. What could be down there?

SNAKES!! squeaked Tynee as he scurried back up the stairs.
Why'd it have to be snakes? Princess Dori said as she found a friendly looking one. Anything else Tynee could have handled - but not snakes!

Down we go!

I wonder where these blasted stairs will lead us?? Maybe there is something nice at the bottom!

Recap

(tech issues worked around and the story continues tomorrow!)
A brief recap of the story thus far....

 Princess Dori had an emergency meeting with her duck subjects. It appeared one of them had gone wandering and was missing! She went with Tynee to the place where Ducklin disappeared and found a mysterious vine which took her to a strange new place.

When we left her she was beginning her decent into the unknown, still in search of her missing duck!

Paws for Tech Issues

We'll be back hopefully this afternoon!

Duckie & the Beanstalk: Down, down, down

After a moment to build up her courage, Princess Dori hopped up and began her decent.
What lay at the bottom of the stairs? A dungeon? Treasure? CATS??!?

Duckie and the Beanstalk: Travel onward!

The odd doorway led them to a fenced in tunnel. There was only one way to go - forward! (well, unless they wanted to leave again but that wouldn't help Duckie would it!!?)

At last the tunnel ended - right at the edge of a set of stairs!
I hate these things! the Princess muttered. But I must find Ducklin!

Duckie & the Beanstalk: Where are we?

The vines gently lifted Princess Dori up. Up up up they went until at last they came to a odd path with a doorway at the end. As soon as her paws hit the path the vines withdrew, leaving the two alone.
Well, I guess we go through there then! Dori said with a shake of her head.

Duckie & the Beanstalk: Beam me up!

What a battle it was! First the vine would be wrapped around the Princess and then she would have the vine trapped beneath her. Poor Tynee just stood by and quacked encouragement to his Princess - he was definitely no warrior like she was! Fur and leaves flew everywhere!

Finally, the vine seemed to give up. It withdrew all its tendrils except for one. That one small appendage approached Princess Dori and made a bobbing motion - almost like a bow.

That's better, said the Princess. Now take me to my missing duck!

Tynee thought it better not to mention that the vine had done a rather nice trim on the Princess' generally unruly hair.