"Inspired by this adorable picture that I found on tumblr of all places! I just loved Over the Garden Wall, but I've had little desire to write fanfiction for it. I just don't think that I could ever add anything to improve this wonderful story. It is absolutely beautiful." -Casey
Picture by modmad
Wirt walked on with renewed determination now that he didn’t have to worry about any loose shoelaces. They had stuck around the benefit concert until the animal students had to break for lunch. Gregory had wanted to stick around, but Wirt had insisted that they had to move onward. He didn’t like the look of those dark clouds gathering in the distance.
“Do you think Adelaide would like Potatoes and Molasses?” Greg asked as they walked. “Maybe we can teach her about it when we get there!”
“We’re not bothering Adelaide with your silly song,” Wirt stated. “Once we get there, I’m going to handle all the talking.”
“Sure,” Beatrice confirmed with a roll of her eyes.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Wirt asked with a small frown.
“Oh, nothing,” the little bird sighed.
Wirt opened his mouth to argue further, but stopped short when a drop of water splashed down onto his nose. He stopped in tracks and looked up towards the sky. It was actually much darker than it should have been for mid afternoon and now the boy could see that it was because of the dark clouds overhead.
“Wirt, why did you---Ahhh!” Beatrice gasped as a few drops of rain splashed over her wings. “Oh! No, no, no! I have flying in the rain!”
The blue bird began circling around the boys frantically as the rain really started falling in earnest. The frog that Gregory had been holding in his arms hopped free and began leaping around them as well.
“Uh—Quick! Under the trees!” Wirt urged as he ran from the path and ducked into the forest. Greg and Beatrice both chased after him, but they really weren’t much better off with the sparse leaves that autumn had left behind.
Wirt crouched down and threw his arms up over his head, but there really wasn’t any avoiding the sudden downpour. “Hurry! To the tent!” Gregory shouted as he nearly tackled his brother to the ground. Wirt put his arms out before him to keep his balance and soon found that Greg was cuddled up beside him underneath his long cape. “Greg! What are you---” he started to protest, but then Beatrice landed at his feet shaking her feathers dry. “Whew! I knew you had to be good for something,” she said as she wiped her brow.
Wirt now found himself trapped in his kneeling position with his arms raised up before him as his so called friends tacking shelter under his cape. To add to his discomfort, Grag’s frog hopped onto his shoulder and began croaking happily under the heavy shower.
“I hope you realize that this is a very temporary solution,” Wirt said.
“Well, you’ll never catch me flying in bad weather!” Beatrice announced.
“Wait! Did you hear that?” he asked suddenly. There was the distinct sound of a horse trotting down the road before them and possibly even the rattling sound of a carriage or wagon.
Wirt jumped to his feet and ran back to the dirt road, leaving the others out in the rain again. Sure enough there was a horse drawn wagon coming towards them. The young man began waving his arms frantically and shouting for the driver to stop.
The man driving saw them and reined in his horse as he approached. “What are you kids doing out here in the woods?” he asked nervously. “Don’t you know it’s dangerous out here?”
“We’re looking for Adelaide of the pasture, the good woman of the woods,” Wirt replied. “Can you help us to find her?”
“Yes, yes! Just climb in!” the man insisted, looking around apprehensively.
“Greg! Come on!” Wirt order as he quickly climbed into the back of the wagon where there was little more than a huge pile of hay and a couple of geese. Greg climbed up after him with his frog in hand and barely made it before the driver set off again. Wirt pulled his brother up and they both ducked into the hay to get out of the rain.
Over the Garden Wall (C) Patrick McHale
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