Ruby the Rabbit Rides a Raft E-Book

Kelly Johnson

• Herausgeber: Kelly Johnson
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 110

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

Ruby the rabbit, filled with curiosity and a gentle longing for adventure, wakes to a golden morning in Meadowbrook and feels a special spark urging her beyond her familiar routines. Though she has always loved exploring the riverbank, she has never dared to follow the river to the grand sparkling waterfall her friends speak of with awe. But today something shifts inside hercourage begins to bloom. As she wanders along the rivers edge, soaking in the scents of moss and wildflowers and the soft melody of birdsong, she discovers a cluster of floating logs and suddenly imagines building her very own raft. Inspired by the shimmering water and the promise of meeting new river friends like turtles, otters, and beavers, Ruby begins crafting her raft with sticks, vines, and determination. Through trial, error, and growing confidence, she ties each knot with care, fueled by dreams of gliding down the river toward the waterfall and discovering what she is truly capable of. By the time she balances on a steady log and feels the gentle sway beneath her paws, Ruby knows without doubt that today she will step beyond the meadow and let her bravery carry her into a brand-new adventure.

Leseprobe

IMPRESSUM

Ruby the Rabbit Rides a Raft

Author: Kelly Johnson

© 2025 Kelly Johnson.

All rights reserved.

Author: Kelly Johnson

Contact: 903 W Woodland Ave, Kokomo, IN 46902

Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer

This eBook is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Ruby’s Big Idea

Chapter 2: The Raft Building Begins

Chapter 3: First Paddle, First Splash

Chapter 4: River Adventures

Chapter 5: A Surprising Storm

Chapter 6: Meeting River Friends

Chapter 7: The Floating Meadow

Chapter 8: Trouble on the Rapids

Chapter 9: The Sparkling Waterfall

Chapter 10: Homeward Bound

Ruby the Rabbit Rides a Raft

By: Kelly Johnson

Chapter 1: Ruby’s Big Idea

Ruby the rabbit woke to the golden glow of morning sunlight streaming through the leafy branches above her cozy burrow in Meadowbrook. The sun painted delicate patterns on the mossy floor, dappling her soft fur with warm flecks that made her quiver with delight. The air smelled sweet and earthy, a gentle mixture of damp moss, wildflowers, and the rich scent of tilled soil. Around her, the meadow hummed with life: birds chirped tunefully from the treetops, flitting from branch to branch with flashes of bright feathers; the soft rustle of grass whispered as a gentle breeze passed through, carrying the faint perfume of clover and morning dew; and the distant gurgle of the river murmured like a secret, inviting her to explore its winding paths. Ruby stretched her tiny paws, wriggled her twitching nose, and quivered her soft ears, feeling a thrill ripple through her chest. Today felt different—special somehow—as if the morning itself were nudging her toward a bold, new adventure.

Ever since she was small, Ruby had loved exploring the river that ran past Meadowbrook. She remembered hopping carefully along its banks, marveling at the way the sunlight made the water sparkle like scattered gems. She had crouched to watch minnows dart beneath the surface, tiny silver flashes flicking in the rippling currents, and had sat for long stretches under the willows, watching dragonflies flit across lily pads, their delicate wings catching the light like stained glass. She knew the river intimately: the gentle bends where the water slowed and pooled in mirrored patches, the shallow stretches where smooth stones jutted out inviting her to hop across, and the tiny waterfalls that sent sparkling mist dancing into the air. Yet despite this familiarity, she had always remained close to the meadow’s edge, fearful of drifting too far, afraid of losing sight of the soft, safe grass under her paws.

But this morning, something stirred in her heart. Perhaps it was the glint of sunlight on the water or the whisper of the river calling her name, but Ruby felt a daring spark ignite inside her. What if I tried something new? she thought, ears twitching with excitement. What if I see the river all the way to the waterfall my friends always talk about? The idea filled her with a mixture of nervousness and wonder, and she imagined the adventure that might await: the gentle sway of a raft beneath her paws, the thrill of floating past familiar bends into unknown stretches, and the chance to meet new friends along the way.

Her little paws itched to move, and she wiggled her nose as though testing the very air for courage. She could already picture the logs drifting in the current, the vines she could use to tie them together, and the broad leaves that might serve as a paddle. The river, which had once seemed like a calm, unchanging neighbor, now appeared as a winding path of possibility, sparkling and alive with adventure. Ruby’s heart thumped with anticipation, and she let out a soft, determined squeak. Today is the day, she whispered to herself. Today, I’m going to try something I’ve never done before.

With that thought, Ruby hopped to the edge of the river, peering at the glimmering water as it flowed past her paws. Sunlight danced across the surface, turning ripples into tiny, shimmering jewels. Dragonflies skimmed across the current, and somewhere in the reeds, the gentle plop of a fish breaking the surface echoed faintly. The river seemed to pulse with life, calling her forward, promising challenges and wonders she had never imagined. Her ears perked, her quills bristled with excitement, and a smile spread across her little face. She felt ready.

For the first time, Ruby understood that adventures weren’t just about seeing new places—they were about discovering what she could do, testing her courage, and learning to trust her own paws. Today, she would step beyond the familiar meadow, follow the river’s winding path, and find out just how far her dreams—and her bravery—could take her.

Today, however, her imagination sparked with something new—a dream she had tucked away for months, shimmering just out of reach like a hidden treasure in the back of her mind. She longed to see the big sparkling waterfall her friends had whispered about, a place where rainbows arched gracefully over rushing water and mist hung in the air like a delicate veil of diamonds. Ruby pictured the roar of the water, deep and powerful, echoing through the trees and bouncing off the rocky cliffs, and the cool, refreshing spray tickling her whiskers as she floated gently along on her own little raft. She imagined the sunlight catching the water’s surface, scattering tiny prisms of color across the river, and the sensation of gliding over smooth currents with nothing but the river beneath her paws. A smile spread across her face, her heart thumping with a mix of excitement and nervous anticipation, and her ears twitched as if sharing in her own eagerness.

As she hopped along the riverbank, her paws sinking slightly into the soft, dew-kissed earth, Ruby felt the gentle morning sunlight warm her fur, seeping through the delicate canopy of leaves overhead. The cool river breeze ruffled her whiskers and carried with it the subtle scent of wet moss, wildflowers, and the earthy tang of the riverbank. Birds called to each other from the trees above, their bright, cheerful songs weaving a melody that seemed to cheer her on. Somewhere nearby, a frog croaked lazily, and the soft babble of the river blended with the rustle of leaves to create a soothing, ever-present symphony. Every sight, sound, and smell seemed to whisper possibilities, encouraging her to dream bigger, imagine further, and dare to take the first step.

Then her eyes caught sight of something unusual: a cluster of logs floating together near the bend. They bobbed gently in the current, brushing against each other with soft clinks and creaks, as though they were alive, nudging her closer with an invisible hand. Tiny ripples spread outward from each collision, glittering in the sunlight like silver threads dancing across the water. Ruby’s little heart skipped a beat, a thrill rushing through her quills from nose to tail. She leaned forward slightly, ears flicking with curiosity, and imagined the logs lined up as a makeshift raft, carrying her safely down the river toward the waterfall she had dreamed of for so long.

A brilliant idea flashed through her mind, bright and dazzling. Her whiskers quivered with anticipation, and she hopped closer to the water’s edge, paws skimming the cool surface as she examined each log. Some were smooth and straight, polished by months of river currents, while others were gnarled and knotted, twisted into unique shapes by time and water. Each log seemed to have a personality, some bobbing sturdily, others teetering uncertainly, and Ruby could almost hear them whispering in the gentle rush of the current, inviting her to imagine, to build, and to try something new.

Her mind raced with possibilities. Could she tie them together with vines? Would they hold her weight? How would she steer through the bends and rapids she had watched so carefully from the riverbank? The questions buzzed like a swarm of playful bees, but instead of making her nervous, they sparked a thrill that coursed through her tiny body. The river, once just a familiar neighbor she had observed from the safety of the meadow, now seemed like a vast, sparkling world full of promise and adventure. Ruby’s paws itched to start, her tail flicked with excitement, and a determined gleam shone in her eyes. Today, she decided, she would step beyond the familiar, trust her instincts, and let the river carry her to something extraordinary.

“A raft!” she whispered, her voice trembling with excitement. Her whiskers quivered and her ears perked high. I can tie these logs together and sail down the river all the way to the waterfall! I can really do it! She pictured herself balanced carefully atop the logs, water lapping around her tiny paws, her leaf-shaped paddle slicing through the gentle current. She imagined the sunlight glittering on the rippling water, dancing across the raft, and the soft spray misting her fur as she glided along.

Her mind leapt ahead to the friends she might meet along the way, and a spark of excitement made her whiskers twitch. She pictured a wise old turtle sunbathing lazily on a smooth, warm river rock, blinking slowly and nodding thoughtfully as she passed, perhaps sharing a word of advice or a gentle warning. She imagined playful otters twisting and turning in the water, their sleek bodies glinting in the sunlight as they splashed and chirped with joy, encouraging her onward with their infectious energy. Maybe she would even spot a busy family of beavers, meticulously constructing a dam, their little paws patting down sticks and mud with rhythmic precision, murmuring to one another in quiet, organized chatter. The thought of these encounters made her heart flutter with anticipation; the river seemed alive with friends she had yet to meet, all waiting to be discovered. Her ears twitched with eagerness, and her paws felt almost itchy with the desire to leap forward, to begin her grand adventure. With a small, determined nod to herself, she whispered, “I can do this.”

With newfound determination, Ruby hopped closer to the logs, her nose twitching as she sniffed the air, taking in the earthy scent of wet wood, moss, and river water. Her eyes scanned each piece carefully, memorizing their shapes and sizes. Some logs were smooth and polished by years of flowing water, their surfaces gleaming faintly in the morning sun, while others were gnarled and rough, knotted and pocked with bumps that gave them character and texture. She tested each one with gentle nudges of her paw, feeling how it floated and tilted, noting the differences. “This one is steady… that one wobbles too much…” she muttered to herself, already sketching a mental map of how they might fit together.

Ruby gathered sticks and vines from the nearby riverbank, her paws sinking slightly into the damp earth as she worked. She rolled each piece between her tiny claws, testing its strength and flexibility, listening to the soft snap of twigs and the gentle rustle of vines. Some sticks were smooth and straight, glinting with a golden sheen from the sun, while others were gnarled and crooked, twisted into curious shapes by years of river currents. The vines smelled faintly of wet moss and earth, their surfaces slick with dew and river mist. Ruby twisted and tied the vines experimentally, looping them over sticks and weaving them into small braids, imagining how each knot would hold her raft together against the tug of the flowing water.

Some sticks snapped under the tension, sending tiny shards tumbling into the grass, and some vines unraveled just as she thought she had them secure. She paused, quivering slightly, her little quills prickling with frustration, but she didn’t give up. Each setback was a puzzle, a challenge to solve, a lesson in patience and persistence. She examined what had gone wrong, adjusted her technique, and tried again, twisting, tying, and tightening until each connection felt solid. She wove sticks across the logs, testing angles and lengths, imagining the water sliding beneath her creation, anticipating the way it would push against each log and knot as she floated down the river. Her mind hummed with possibilities, each adjustment a small victory.

Questions buzzed through her mind like a swarm of playful bees. How long should the raft be? Will it hold me if I tip to one side? How will I steer through the bends and rapids? Can I paddle well enough to reach the waterfall? Each question sparked a thrill of anticipation rather than fear. They were challenges to rise to, mysteries to solve, steps along the path toward the adventure she had dreamed of for so long. Ruby imagined the river as a ribbon of silver, sparkling under the sunlight, carrying her forward into a world full of surprises, new friends, and lessons waiting to be learned.