Galwin and Barlet discussed the aspects of finding out about his heritage and family, as the Toodle children zigged and zagged, running to the front and sniffing the air as their snouts moved their whiskers up and down, then ran back around the trio of Galwin, Barlet, and Shesha, chattering as little mopsies do, when at play. As they finally reached the crest of the road. As they came to the top of the hill they could see the expanse of the expanse of Wunderlingshire Township below.

All of them stopped and gasped. It was always a sight to see for the Mopsies, however, for Galwin, it was the first time ever that he had been to Wunderlingshire Township, and it struck him to wonder why it was called a Township at all…

Below, he could see the stacks of smoke billowing into the sky from tall towers, inside the high and heavy walls. The walls themselves were esaily viewable as standing at least 100 feet high, and thick with stone and steel. There was a walkway at the top, which showed soldiers walking back and forth and turrets of some kind with guns and flags proudly displayed for all to see. This was indeed a formidable fortress, which would be forboding and intimidating to anyone who would approach.

“We’ve just arrived,
for what we’ve strived!
Into the Lions den to venture,
to being another adventure!” stated Barlet to break the silence of awe amongst the group at the top of the hill.

Galwin couldn’t believe the size of the city and he had to wonder if the wall around the city was to keep intruders out, or to keep the citizens in, though as the wall sat, he didn’t suppose that it really mattered. The began the walk down the hill, when Barlet said to Galwin,
“do you have the papers that you’ll need?
For the guards at the gate to read?
as they’ll never let you pass,
without your citizenship assessed!”

Well Galwin had no idea what that mean, as he’d not had any need of papers, or identification, and indeed had no idea whom he was, and thought he was the only one of his kind, prior to the very moment when Barlet informed him that indeed he was not the only one. He stated so to Barlet, which returned a “hmmm” and “ahhhh” pronounciation, which was interrupted by Sesha,
“well its obvious to see,
that a gollup indeed to look see,
that no one will wonder at all,
and no false pretense will befall!”

To which Barlet nodded and waved a hand to dismiss his intial question.

Now the size of Wunderlingshire was indeed misleading from the crest of the hill as they seemed to walk and walk and walk without coming any closer to the massive walls as seen from the distance. Instead the Walls just seemed to climb higher in the sky and grow wider from side to side, blackening out the horizon. As they came closer they could make out the expanse of cloud that covered and surround the sky around Wunderlingshire, and it was difficult to discern whether it was from the stacks which billowed out smoke, or from the gathering of clouds themselves also desiring to be a part of the grandeur of Wunderlingshire Township, although as they came closer over the next few hours, Galwin wondered why anyone would desire to be involved with such a forboding darkness, and fear as this township was indeed instilling within his fragile simple heart.

Even Meedee, Ceedee and Needee had become quieter clinging more closely to Barlet and Sesha rather than zigging and zagging up ahead to smell the air with their snouts, no longer eager to move their whiskers up and down. Little Needee clung very tightly to Galwins hands, almost making them numb with the strength of the sqeeze.

There was something familiar about this place though, thought Galwin, yet it did not bring back feelings of joy and peace, rather instead he felt feelings of sadness and a longing to return to the simple life of his little hedge, once again, desiring to live a life of solitude, away from this growing structure in front of him.

It struck him as a prison, or container of sorts, and not a sprawling sophisticated metropolis, as he had always imagined it would be. He realized that his first responsibility would be to find lodging for the night, and stated, “Barlet, do you have a place within the walls which you use as lodging?”

Barlet looked a little downcast at the question, and said,
“well yes my friend we do indeed,
have such a place to rest and feed,
but we are not a proper kind,
so only 2nd class we’ll find.

However, you are Galwin Hedgerow now,
a gollups right they will bestow,
upon you to have what you wish,
the bestest bed, the bestest dish.

We will i’m sad to say so true,
have seperate lodgings me and you.”

Well Galwin wasn’t at all happy about this and stated, quite simply, well we will just have to lodge together, and I will lodge with you then, as I have no experience in this Township, and am afraid that your guidance will greatly help me to avoid trouble of all kinds. Is there something we can do about that then?”

Barlets face lit up yet worry was in his eyes as he said,
“I’m pleased in deed of what you state,
however, warnings first i must itterate,
that what you choose will cause some tension,
are you prepared for snubbed descension?”

Now Galwin, was not a timid gollup, as gollups obviously were not timid based upon the structure before him, however, even to Galwin, the walls seemed more frightened then brave, as he lived under a hedge and did not have a wall around it, not being afraid of mixed company, though not having mixed company prior to this day.

“Well, i have no idea what awaits us in Wunderlingshire Township, but I do know that I have grown very fond of you all in such a short time, and simply do not know my way around as well and I do have enough sense to know that it is likely that i will difficulty towards discovering who and what i am, without your guidance and trust to guide me” to which little Needee Toodle clasped his hand in an adorable squeeze of glee toward this little statement.

So it was decided, that they would lodge together, no matter what the events, or circiumstances which were about to occur.

to be continued…