Contortionist

Little known fact: Lemmings can turn around completely in their skin... just like hamsters, and other loose fitting skinned rodents.
The actual wonder was turning around and then squeezing out thru the leg hole... which was no easy matter!
Mice have a much easier time at this!

Shake the boot

Stu gave a good swift kick with his foot and the mud pack popped off... like taking off a gym sock that you've been wearing all week.

Mud Mummy

The mud covering Stu finally hardened and he couldn't move.
He fell forward onto the ground.
Great.
From where Stu was laying he could not see Lenny... but heard him when he fell over.

Terror on the Trail

Stu and Lenny clumsily bumbled thru the brush looking for cover.
The truth was... they could stop anywhere and pose as giant lemming-shaped dirt clods.
The forest animals scrambled as they bounded along.

Tougher than it looks

The Mud Lemmings inched toward the side of the puddle.
It was amazing how the 'gumbo-mud' stuck to their fur... and how nearly impossible it was to move quickly when covered with it from head to toe.

Mud Monsters

Stu and Lenny slowly lifted their heads up out of the mire...
... it was a scene from a horror movie. The Blob returns.

Splash Landing

You've never seen anything like it in your life.
Two lemmings hitting a mud puddle at terminal velocity.
Inconceivable!

Cannonball!!!!!!

Stu and Lenny decided to take the plunge!
Stu yelled Bonzaaaaaaiiii and Lenny yelled Geranamooooo.... neither heard the other but could see that they were indeed yelling something!

Long Ways Down

Stu looked straight down the tree.
Waaaaaay down there appeared to be a fairly sizable mud puddle.
What could Stu be thinking?

Soft Landing

They couldn't have planned it better.
The flying lemmings had a remarkably soft landing in a nearby tree.
Lenny landed rather precariously wedged on a limb and wondered if he should move or not...

Launch

Flying thru the air with the greatest of ease...

Spring Board

They both hit the end of the limb at the same time.
The limb flexed down like an enormous spring board.
Stu looked ahead for an appropriate landing spot... but realized he had absolutely no clue how far to guestimate their eminent launch.

Limb Sprints

Stu jumped thru the opening and over Lenny... he was determined to get away from the owl.
He picked up speed as he approached the end of the limb... Lenny was right behind him!

Out on a Limb

Lenny was extremely happy that there was a limb directly below the open window.
Stu had an owl on his heels so he didn't have time to waste...

Scrambled Lemming

Stu didn't waste any time... he helped Lenny to his feet and pushed him thru an open window.
As he pushed and shoved... it didn't occur to him that he was hundreds of feet above the ground and that there may be something to Lenny's yelping!

Reflections

Stu looked deeper into the giant pearl... an image slowly appeared.
He could see a... a.... an OWL... and it wasn't deep in the pearl.. it was a reflection of the owl that had returned for his lunch!

Dizzy

Lenny laid on the floor a minute while his head spun.
His vision slowly came into focus and he looked over at Stu who was still staring at the giant pearl.

Woof

Stu picked up the pearl and couldn't believe his eyes.
It seemed to grow in size even as he picked it up.

Treasure Found

While Lenny slowly recovered... Stu took a look around and noticed something....
Lenny's head had crushed open an oyster and a fairly large pearl rolled out onto the floor.

Rude Awakening

After much sawing and sweat... Stu finally cut thru the rope.
Gravity did it's job.
Lenny fell and impacted the floor exactly like a feather doesn't.
His head made a horrible hollow sound on the floor.
Stu hoped that the 'cracking' sound was possibly due to hitting some oysters.

No Time to Lose

Stu quickly went to work sawing the ropes that bound Lenny's feet.
He found an oyster with a very sharp edge that did the job quite well.
He would have Lenny free in a matter of seconds...

It Worked!!!

The owl left his perch in the tree and followed the oyster to the ground!
Stu just bought himself some time... how much, noone knew.

Diversion

Stu carefully picked up an oyster and tossed it out a nearby opening.
He figured this would catch the owl's attention and possibly cause him to go investigate.
One thing he hadn't counted on was the fact that he was well near the top of a huge tree and the sound of an oyster hitting the ground a hundred feet below would be imperceivable.
Dang.

Owl on the Sill

Stu slowly glanced around the rest of the room... it was a mess... mostly oyster shells on the floor.
There was some curious items here and there that Stu would need to investigate further... but not yet.
The owl was perched on a nearby window sill... thankfully looking out at the landscape.

Lenny?!

Stu nearly blurted out when he caught sight of Lenny hanging upside down on a rope.
He thought for sure he was being eaten by the owl by now. Lenny looked like he was still alive.

At the Top

Stu, head still throbbing from the oyster bombs, finally reached the top.
He carefully raised his head enough to get a good look around.
There was a scratching sound coming from nearby... but Stu couldn't yet pinpoint its direction.

Direct Hit

Stu heard a slight whistling sound about half a second before impact.
Two oysters bounced off his noggin and nearly caused him to fall.
He was careful NOT to yelp in pain... he was nearly to the top.

Climb the Chute

Stu began climbing up the oyster chute.
It was pretty slow going since there were not very many decent hand-holds.
All the while he was wondering when another oyster was going to come his way.