Secret pond

Nestled deep inside the Dover Forest is a hidden aquatic sanctuary. It had only been discovered about a week or so ago, but word had quickly spread, and within hours, the first aquatic tourists arrived.

The origins of the pond are unclear but it is speculated to be the result of a little-understood phenomenon known as 'ponding' which is believed to occur during heavy downpours. Rumour holds that the intrepid explorers who discovered the pond were a pair of chickens on a mysterious quest, but the visitors here are less concerned with the history of the pond and are more attracted by its features and ephemeral nature — it could disappear at any time. Visitors have therefore come from across the land to seize this time-limited opportunity to bask in the turquoise waters, surrounded by water lilies under the cool shade of the emerald canopy.

It takes no small amount of effort to keep the place neat and tidy whilst preserving the natural ambience that draws so many visitors, but it's all in a day's work for Walter Hans, caretaker and gardener. Despite his many duties, throughout the day, Hans personally scurries around the pond via the service lily pads, picking up litter and the occasional leaf falling from the canopy. He is usually shadowed by the two young interns he recently recruited to help him in coping with the increasing traffic.

Besides the visitors to the pond who are busy unwinding, disconnecting from their worldly obligations, and reconnecting with themselves, there are also others at the pond who have taken advantage of the business opportunities that have arisen as a result of the pond's popularity.

Some members of the nearby otter clan have begun providing an Uber Buoyant and Energetic Rides (UBER) service for the aquatic residents of the nearby ponds, lakes, and other water bodies. These aquatic residents, including catfish and koi fish, have eagerly taken advantage of the UBER service to explore beyond their local water body, and especially to get to and from the pond.

The advent of the UBER service has put some pressure on the more well-established Generally Roaming Airborne Birds (GRAB) service operated by the Herons. At the moment, the Herons have managed to retain the large population of red-eared terrapins as loyal customers. As is well known, a terrapin is a ground-living creature and it is impossible to live closer to the ground without being under it. Terrapins therefore naturally enjoy the rush of flying through the air in manner they can otherwise realistically do only once, and consequently prefer to soar above than to be awkwardly gripped whilst traversing uneven ground.

The otters have an undeniable advantage though — they can transport larger and heavier creatures, such as catfish and the occasional elderly giant goldfish. And some passengers prefer the kind of quiet ride that is only possible when your ride operator has their mouth full.

It may be that two services will eventually peacefully co-exist, serving two slightly different markets, with the Herons focusing on longer-distance travel and smaller and lighter passengers and the otters being the preferred choice for shorter-distance travel and larger passengers.