Revisiting The Wind in the Willows

But with Monsters!

I’m really exited to share a new horror/adventure short story that can be shared with the whole family. It is set in the world of the classic story, The Wind in the Willows.

I’ve been writing all things horror, monsters, comics, and sci-fi on substack for over a year and having a blast. Looking back to my first monster post this weekend made me want to share this previously unpublished story about one of my favorite creatures from Monster of the Week.

My first monster post here on Substack was Amhuluk. Amhuluk is a water monster from American Folklore, specifically from the Kalapuyas in the Pacific Northwest. You can read more about the creature here if desired. Around the same time as that post, I wrote a wonderful cli-fi horror adventure short story set in the world of The Wind in the Willows inspired by Amhuluk and fueled by my love for nature and anger at the forces fighting to destroy her.

I originally wrote this story to be part of a HWA middle grade horror anthology. The stories for the anthology needed to be set in public domain children’s classics. The story made it to the top group of writers but got edited out at the end because it didn’t quite fit in with the others. I’ve finally decided that it fits in here with you all. In the near future, I plan to rework and expand this story without The Wind in the Willows characters and publish it at some point as a book. However, first, I want it to live here as it was originally written. I absolutely love writing in the world Kenneth Grahame. It was a really inspiring creative exercise. This story will be available to all subscribers for a week. After that, it will only be available to paid subscribers, so please read, comment, and share this week.

Rat and Mole on their river illustrated by E H Shepard.

I also explore how nature might solve this climate problem for us if we don’t get our act together in my original trilogy, Plastic Girl. If that’s your jam, please go check it out. It’s available anywhere you get your books.

And, now, please settle in and prepare to re-enter the world of The Wind in the Willows but this time with a few monsters.

A Monster on Mole’s Hill

I want you solemnly to repeat,

Before your friends here…

you are sorry for what you’ve done,

And you see the folly of it all.

-Badger to Toad, The Wind in the Willows

Map from The Wind in the Willows

Mole, eyes watering and nose clogged from the yellowish smoke filling her home, scrubbed the soot covering every inch of the kitchen, chattering curses at the grime that returned moments after she removed it. She tossed her rag, wrapped a red bandana around her nose, and indignantly clawed her way to the surface.

She gulped for fresh air, only to be greeted by more noxious smog. She stumbled to the muddy riverbank, her vision poor enough without this haze. Their mighty river was a ghost of what it had been. Most of the water had dried up, taking with it the frogs, the fish, and the rest of the life. Only little puddles existed, here and there, filled with mosquito larvae. Of course, those pests still thrived.

She spotted Rat slumped on his moored boat next to his hovel. Mole hopped from rock to rock across the dry riverbed to avoid getting her feet stuck in the muddy spots. Rat didn’t look up when he greeted her. “Mole, why are you out on this terrible day?”

“It’s no better underground.” Mole lowered next to him, placing her tiny feet on the oars. “Didn’t the river used to be grand?”

Rat lit up as he rambled about the ol’ river filled with fresh water, tadpoles, dragonflies skimming the surface…

“And Otter…” Mole squeaked, finishing Rat’s thought, and then trailing off because animal etiquette strictly forbids bringing up friends who had left too quickly. Mole stood in a huff and dusted herself off. “It’s time we did something about this madness.”

Rat pulled himself up and gazed out at the bits of manmade trash along the river – plastic bottles, straws, chip bags, and an occasional diaper. Rat crinkled up his nose. “What can we do?”

“I have just the thing, but first, we need to get Toad.” Mole tightened her bandana with purpose, and Rat knew best not to argue when she carried herself this way.

When they arrived at Toad’s home, he was packing up the sidekick of his motorbike with essential items.

“What crazy thing is he running after now?” Rat muttered.

“Soon, it will be my crazy thing he runs after,” Mole said as she confidently stalked over to Toad. “Toad, where are you going?”

“The city’s the only place for me these days. The river and woods are dying,” Toad chirped, upbeat, ready for a new adventure.

“They’re dead because of the city,” Rat snarled.

“City’s still the only place with food, cars, planes, motorbikes. All the things I love.”

Mole looked as if Toad had slapped her in the face. “You’d leave us for the city?”

“What else would you have me do?” Toad pleaded.

“Join us on a thrilling adventure,” Mole challenged.

Toad stopped packing. “Tell me about this adventure.”

“Save the river,” Mole stated.

“Save the river? How?” Rat sputtered.

“There is a tale of a terrifying creature that has been passed down for generations by the underground folk. A ferocious monster that used to rule the rivers, lakes, ponds, and woods around this mountain.”

“I don’t believe in monsters,” Toad snorted.

“If you knew what was good for you, you’d believe in this one. This monster is known as Amhuluk, and he drowns everything in his path. He can put out these fires and bring water back to the river. He’s done it before.”

“You’ve lost your mind.” Toad shook his head and resumed packing.

“I have not. Amhuluk disappeared when humans dried up his favorite lake, but the underground folk say he lives in a hidden lair at the top of the mountain. If we find him, he can help us.”

“That’s pure fantasy. I’m off to the city.” Toad jumped onto his bike, slipping on his red racing helmet.

Rat’s eyes narrowed as rage rose from his belly. “We’ve suffered all your nonsense schemes, and you won’t join us?”

“Sorry, old friend. I’m too afraid of the fires. You need to join me, not go chasing monsters.”

“If you leave, we won’t be here for you when you come back,” Rat rasped.

“There isn’t going to be a here for me to come back to.” Toad blinked dumbly.

Mole sniffed. “You’re breaking our hearts.”

Toad revved his motor and tore away, shouting over his shoulder, “I’ll be in the park by the pond if you change your minds.”

After gathering their supplies, Mole and Rat trudged along the riverbank. The path’s incline steepened and became more and more cluttered with fallen trees and overgrown bushes. Luckily, they were small and maneuvered the terrain quickly and without injury. A full day passed without running into any weasels, stouts, or foxes. For that, they counted themselves very fortunate indeed.

“Mole, what makes you so certain about this monster?”

“Two nights ago, I traveled deeper into the woods than I ever had, and I spied a pack of spotted dogs.”

“What do spotted dogs have to do with anything?”

“Amhuluk travels with three savage spotted dogs. Sometimes they roam the woods on their own. Other times they morph into his body and travel as spots on his fur. They are an omen of his presence.”

“And you’re sure the dogs you saw are his?”

“When they got close, my skin went cold and blue as if I was drowned. If they had been regular dogs, I wouldn’t have felt the touch of Amhuluk.”

From behind them, a gravelly voice rang out. “Looks like we’ll finally eat this week, boys.”

Rat whispered, “Stay close.”

They turned to face three weasels, all thin, hair matted. The scrawniest one had mange. “We don’t want any trouble,” Rat said as he started up the path. Mole followed, too scared to speak.

The biggest weasel jumped in front of them, baring his razor-sharp teeth and flipping his tail. “Then you should’ve stayed off our path. My crew’s terribly hungry, you see.”

The weasel lunged at Rat who dodged and rolled, grabbing a stick as he rose back to his feet. The weasel turned its attention to Mole, jumping on top of her and bending down to take a bite out of her head. Rat slammed the stick into the weasel’s head, knocking him off Mole. The weasel howled. The other two jumped Rat from behind, the one with mange cackling as the other snapped at Rat’s arm, breaking the skin. The largest weasel grabbed Mole’s leg dragging her toward the others. “We’ll feast tonight!” Rat struggled to keep the weasel’s teeth from his flesh, kicking the mangy one in the face.

A squeal sounded as the weasel dragging Mole was whipped back into the muddy riverbed.

“I’m on your path, do you care to take a bite out of ME?” a dangerous voice bellowed. The weasel on top of Rat hissed when he made eye contact with the fearsome Mr. Badger glowering down at him. He fled into the woods, calling after his mangy buddy. “Run, ya idiot!”

The biggest weasel, now covered in sludge, staggered up the bank, sneering. “Our path. Our food.”

“Your path, is it? Off with ya or I’ll feast on you.”

The weasel sized up Badger and snarled, finally running off after the others. Rat pulled himself up, clutching his arm. Mole checked the wound and released a sigh of relief. “Thank goodness, it’s not deep. Thank you, Badger. You surely saved us.”

“What are you doing so far up the mountain, especially with the fire coming?” Badger barked.

“Mole has a plan to save the river. Why don’t we share a meal, and she’ll explain it?”

“Save the river? A meal? Yes, those are things that interest me greatly.”

While the group nibbled on bits of old cheese, berries, and dried minnows, Mole told Amhuluk’s story.

“Long ago, these forests were filled with sabretooths, dire wolves, and other monstrous creatures. Amhuluk ruled the waterways while humans struggled to survive with their spears. They surprised Amhuluk one night by lighting a fire on their own. He had never seen man wield fire, and they weren’t very good at it. When their fires raged out of control, he was forced to flood the area, drowning many but saving others from the flames.

There was a human girl who lived by the lake who was gentle and intelligent. She would play for hours at the shore. Amhuluk would watch her, keeping low enough in the water to stay concealed. One day, she stared into the water right where he was hiding, and she saw him. Instead of running, she stepped closer and talked to him. She would show him items like a rock, grass, a stick, and so on, saying the name of each item as they went. This continued for years, and he felt something toward this little creature he had never felt before.

His old nemesis started as a spark on the other end of the vast, ancient forest. It slithered its way through the trees, tiny wisps of smoke at first, and then grew into massive billowing clouds as red flames jumped from one bunch of long grass to another, then rolled across the fallen trees, and slowly crept up the living ones. Growing until it was the largest fire giant ever seen. The birds, insects, mammals, and humans fled. They sped toward the lake with the fire giant barreling behind them. The little girl pleaded for Amhuluk’s help. He rose from the depths, growing larger, knowing that if he defeated the fire giant, his friend would die, and if he did not, she would also die. He hardened his heart as he pulled the lake water up until he floated within a 50-foot wall. He released the giant wave across the beach and into the forest, over the fleeing creatures, dousing the flames. The smoke and steam were blinding as he rose wave after wave in mortal battle with the fire giant. Finally, the giant retreated leaving the land around the lake a scorched, muddy disaster. Amhuluk opened his giant claw. His friend lay peacefully within it, drowned. He turned his back on the horror, blaming humans that he now knew what heartache felt like.”

Rat and Badger stared at Mole, rapt, as she finished. “He has put out their fires before. We will find him and convince him to do it again.”

“If you find this monster, you’ll need backup. I’m coming.”

“Then you believe it could work?” Mole looked grateful at Badger.

“I don’t have a better idea,” Badger said wistfully as he stared at the dry riverbed through the haze. “So, monster hunting it is.”

Rat clocked the sun directly above them. “If we keep moving, we’ll be halfway up the mountain by nightfall.”

The sun had set hours ago but the group didn’t stop to set up camp, only continued to traverse the mountain, their breath visible as the temperature dropped.

Unearthly howls rang nearby, startling the group.

 “That doesn’t sound like any animal I’ve ever heard,” Rat hissed.

Badger ushered the two behind a large tree when he spotted three wolf-shaped shadows.

“We need to circle back and come up a different way,” Badger directed.

Mole pulled away. “If they’re Amhuluk’s dogs, we must follow them.”

Rat’s eyes bulged. “Follow them?”

“That’s why we’re here.” Mole crept toward the beasts, Rat and Badger close behind her. As they got near, the moonlight peeking through the forest’s thick canopy illuminated these giant dogs, and their spots became clear.

“Look at the spots,” Mole whispered.

The snarling dogs circled something small. One of them pounced and a horrible squeal rang out. Blood dripped from its teeth, and the biggest weasel from earlier hung limply in its jaws. “Oh, Mr. Weasel,” Mole gasped, covering her eyes.

“Guess it’s not their path after all,” Rat whispered, scornfully.

From a safe distance, they tracked the dogs up the mountain, watching them consume everything in their path. As dawn approached, Badger mumbled, “How many poor bunnies can they ravage?”

The feral dogs stopped outside a giant rock formation. As the sun slipped from behind the summit in the distance, an entrance to a cave materialized. Each lowered their heads, dropping a bloodied rabbit from their jaws at the cave’s threshold. The largest dog sniffed the air and growled as it turned to lock eyes with Mole. She gasped and grabbed Rat’s arm as Rat grabbed Badger’s, all of them staggering back, too exhausted to flee. The beast flashed its very long and sharp teeth, green eyes gleaming, as it stalked toward the trembling creatures. Badger lunged in front of Rat and Mole, shielding them. “Stay behi—”

Badger’s words trailed off, and his jaw dropped. His arm shook as he pointed at the cave’s entrance. A long crocodile-shaped snout, ten feet long and four feet tall, scooped up the mangled rabbits in one gulp. Its jagged teeth pulverized the bones and flesh of the bunnies in seconds, a rough black tongue licking thin scaly lips. Fiery, yellow eyes narrowed as the beast’s head pushed out of the entrance, revealing two spiraled horns protruding from its crown, followed by a long neck that rose above them, pushed up by a massive, green and pink, fury body with a long thick tail ending in a sharp thagomizer. 

The monstrous dogs, dwarfed by this devil dragon, turned and lowered their bodies to the ground as the beast continued to grow. Mole peeked around Badger’s body, unable to take her eyes off the magnitude and horror of the expanding creature.

“Amhuluk,” she whispered.

Two dogs became translucent and morphed into spots on Amhuluk’s fur. The third and largest stalked to the monster’s side, acting as a sentry. Amhuluk licked his lips and turned his gaze to Badger.

“They’re going to make a meal of us if we don’t act quickly,” Badger hissed.

Amhuluk pierced them with his stony gaze, calculating. Mole fortified herself and stepped out from behind Badger. Rat reached after her. “Are you mad?”

“We must try!” She batted Rat’s hand away and scurried toward the monster. “Great Amhuluk. I’m Mole. This is Rat and Badger. We must speak to you.”

The dog released an unsettling growl as Amhuluk lowered his neck until his fiery eyes were as close to Mole’s as they could be. A voice that sounded like raging waters sent ripples across Mole’s flesh, nearly knocking her back. The chill and acidic stench of his breath raised the hairs on all their arms, making them nauseous and short of breath. “Lies. You have come to steal my horns. I have drowned children for this crime. I will drown you, too.”

“We are not here for your horns. Not that they aren’t worthy of stealing. We just aren’t thieves. We’re here to ask you to save the river and stop the fires.”

Amhuluk laughed scornfully. “What makes you think I would get involved?”

Rat regained his courage and jumped to Mole’s side, stammering, “because you are a river monster, and humans have destroyed your river.”

Amhuluk glared at him. “Humans are too weak to destroy my mighty river.”

“Just how long have you been hiding in your cave?” Rat flailed his arms, flummoxed. “Humans are destroying all the rivers, and the lakes, and the oceans. The forests are ablaze all around us. There’s hardly any food or places to hide from the toxic air. Humans are plenty strong.”

“I’m not hiding!” Amhuluk roared as he lifted his head.

“They’re destroying everything,” Mole pleaded. “Please help.”

Amhuluk gave a quick nod to the remaining dog who promptly pounced atop Badger. “Dare take a bite, and I’ll make you choke on it!” Badger clawed back. Mole and Rat lunged at the dog but were kicked to the ground. Badger was efficiently dragged into the cave, bloodied and beaten.

“Thank you for your offering. Now, leave this place and never return.” Amhuluk shrank and slithered into the cave. “Or I will devour you.” Mole dashed after him, Rat right on her heels.

“Let him go!” Mole shouted into the cave, her voice echoing back.

Rat leaned into the darkness, placing a gentle hand on Mole’s shoulder. There were no signs of Amhuluk, the dogs, or Badger. “You saw what they did to the bunnies—”

“Badger’s gonna outlive us all. We’ll find him.” Mole stepped over the cave’s threshold. The pitch-black of the cave swallowed up all light, and Mole’s senses came alive. She preferred the dark. She could feel and hear everything so much more clearly. “You hear that dripping?”

“It’s water.” Rat sniffed the air. “I can smell it.”

“They’ll be where the water is.”

The sound of water led them through the cave’s tunnel as it curved back and forth depositing them into a large cavern, the heart of the mountain. Rat and Mole staggered back. Before them, stood a vast underground lake that went on and on. Water trickled down the walls on both sides.

“It’s magnificent,” Mole murmured.

Rat frowned. “And big. There’s no way to walk around it.”

“We could swim?”

“Too dangerous. We have no idea how far it goes, and you’re not a great swimmer.”

“We wait?”

“Badger doesn’t have time for waiting.” Rat touched his chin, formulating a plan. “There may be a way.”

Back in the forest, Rat stood over a partially rotted branch. “We hollow it out and fill it with damp moss. It should make a boat. You start digging, and I’ll find the moss.”

Soon, they stood over a fine canoe and two oars. Rat nodded, proudly. “This will do.”

As they hauled the canoe through the tunnels, eerie howls began echoing off every corner from every direction. Mole frantically searched the darkness. “It’s like they’re all around us.”

Rat slid the canoe into the lake, holding it with one shaky hand. The boat wobbled but remained afloat. Rat scooped up the oars and gently stepped into the canoe, and it still didn’t sink. Rat’s whoop echoed through the chambers. Mole shushed him as she shot a fearful glance across the lake.

He offered her his hand as she stepped onto the vessel. It wasn’t their river, but Mole could feel Rat relaxing with each row, at home on the water despite the danger. The lake was vast, and they rowed for several hours before spotting the other side.

“It’s the sho…” Mole’s eyes widened as her words trailed off. Rat lost the grip of his oar and barely caught it before it fell into the lake. On the rocky shore, towering over them was Amhuluk, even larger than before. The cavern was at least a hundred feet tall, and his head came close to the ceiling.

“Oh my,” was all Mole could muster.

Rat resumed rowing. “At least there’s no dogs.” The closer they got, the more terrifying Amhuluk’s ghoulish face became, watching them with the coldness of a river snake. “No matter what happens, Mole, we tried to fix things, and I’m glad I’m here with you.”

“I’m glad, too.” Mole struggled to keep her voice from cracking.

Their canoe bumped the edge of the slick rock. Rat spotted movement behind one of Amhuluk’s legs. He pointed. “It’s Badger!”

Mole clasped her hands in joy.

“My friends, I knew you’d come,” Badger rasped.

“I believed you would be too afraid.” Amhuluk’s voice sent pebbles cascading down the cavern’s walls.

“We made a wager.” Badger grinned, hobbling toward Mole and Rat who rushed to him.

“It seems I have underestimated rodents.” Amhuluk lunged into the lake. His fur transformed to glimmering pink and green scales. He grew even larger as his body submerged. Mole, Rat, and Badger stood drenched, watching Amhuluk disappear completely.

“What kind of wager?” Rat asked.

“He said if you came, he’d see about the river before he ate us.”

Mole squeezed Badger. “You did it!”

“You two did the hard part. You came after me.” Badger wrapped his arms around his friends as they helped him aboard the canoe.

Amhuluk stuck his head back above the surface, his eyes glowing. “I’m not patient or known for keeping my word, so I wouldn’t dilly dally.”

Once outside, Amhuluk led them along the last stretch to the top of the mountain. “I will see if what you have told me is true. Then, I will decide who to eat.”

At the summit, Amhuluk gazed over the valley, his yellow eyes turning black. Raging wildfires in the shapes of flaming giants slowly charged toward them from two directions. In the center was a debris-covered, brown snake that was once his proud river. Further past that was the city full of its factories and cars emitting fumes.

“They never could control their fires,” Amhuluk spat, eyes narrowing.

“Will you help us?” Mole glanced up at him.

“First, you will help me.” Amhuluk started back down the mountain.

“What could we possibly do to help him?” Badger whispered.

The east side of the cave was covered in hardened mud and debris that had barreled down the mountain after the last great fire. Amhuluk nodded at the mess. “Clear this and dig a tunnel to my lake. I’ll do the rest.”

Badger nodded, hands on his hips. “This, we can do.”

“Let’s hope you can. One creature can’t fix this damage alone, not even the most powerful river monster.” Amhuluk turned to head back to his lake, the ground shaking. “A warning—the last time I did this, many drowned and I could not save them, not even the child I cared for. And I’m rather indifferent toward your lot.”

Hours went by as they cleared the debris and dug through the mud. When they finally arrived at the stone wall, they searched until they discovered hard clay. Badger glanced at his claws designed just for this type of work and grinned. “We can get through that.”

They methodically dug a tunnel. The soil became wetter and wetter the closer they got to the underground lake. Small streams of water formed, splashing them. Soon, the soil rumbled and bulged.

“The wall’s giving! Run!” Rat barked. They scurried out as waterspouts shot through the rock and dirt. Soon, water gushed behind them. Mr. Badger was too slow, and it swallowed him. Rat grabbed Mole’s hand, and they ran faster. They jumped to the side as they emerged. Rat clutched onto a branch of a fallen tree, the water forcing his body forward. Mole scurried over him, grabbing his hand and pulling him over the branch.

Amhuluk blasted out of the tunnel, the full force of his massive lake behind him. He roared, and it sounded like a thousand waterfalls crashing down. He stood on his hind legs, growing to his full height, his arms up, controlling the water, raising it into a giant tsunami. His eyes flashed an angry yellowish green. Amhuluk’s voice boomed, “To save the river, everything and everyone will be destroyed. Is this what you want?”

Mole held onto Rat. “Our friend, Toad…”

“I will spare no one.”

Mole nodded. “Save the river.”

He grinned a toothy, terrifying smile and released the tsunami. It rolled down the mountains, crushing and drowning everything in its path. He released wave after wave for hours until he finally jumped into the wild waters and surfed toward the city to ensure there were no survivors, no one left who could light a match to burn down the world ever again. Mole and Rat had awoken a ravenous spirit after its long hibernation. Amhuluk had many lakes, rivers, and ponds to restore, scores to drown, and a war to wage with the fire giants. He would not sleep until water ruled again.

“Did we do the right thing?” Mole whispered.

Rat nodded. “We did the only thing. We saved our river.”

Badger stumbled up behind them, spitting water and gasping. He steadied himself on Rat’s shoulder. “I think we’re due a picnic, don’t you?”

Mole laughed, wiped the tears from her eyes, and threw her arms around her two friends. “A picnic would be just the thing.”