SQ #10 -- Final Mystery Cache

Trapped for what seemed like years in the evil Gypsy's house, little Scruffy finally managed to escape. And he did so with a clue -- a map to the ancient lands of his ancestors. AURORA ISLAND!

It took no time at all for little Scruffy to lash together a raft and a sturdy sail. And with that he packed up all the supplies he could find and set sail. A storm rolled in shortly after. The gale winds ripped the sail and tore the map into shreds, blowing pieces everywhere, but little scruffy was able to retrieve them all. Now it would be harder to find the island, little Scruffy thought.

Before the break of dawn the next day, Scruffy found himself washed ashore in a strange land. But where was he? The only way to find out was to piece together the puzzle. But every time little Scruffy connected two pieces in the murky darkness, the naughty wind blew the shreds, changing the map's configuration. Oh, what a cruel joke nature played! After hours of work, the puzzle was solved. There was no way to glue the pieces together, however. He'd have to make sure he committed the map to memory.

Following the map little Scruffy came to a natural bridge. But half way across the mud slick rocks the ocean tide rose, trapping poor Scruffy on a boulder. It was either sink or swim, and swim Scruffy did with all his might but he was then trapped on the eerie island. Could it be Aurora? It definitely didn't at all look like the beautiful island of myth. Trudging through the swampy sand little Scruffy finally came to the X on the map. And a treasure was soon found. It was a vast amount of riches left for anyone to find. But Scruffy wasn't interested in riches. He was interested in Aurora Island? Scruffy's journey came to an end with no answers. At that moment a beautiful eagle swooped down and sat beside Scruffy. It was clear to the eagle that the little skunk was not happy and asked what could possibly be troubling a fine, handsome youth. "Oh, I have come ever so far to find the first island and I have nothing to show for it but trinkets," little Scruffy said. Then the little Skunk told the eagle of his adventure: the grumpy oyster, the lumberjack, the gypsy, the gardens and the caverns of doom.

The eagle looked at the treasure and then reverted her eyes to the skunk. "You have taken a journey like no other," said the eagle. "In any journey we test our abilities. We learn our strength of body and mind." Nobody has gone as far as you and perhaps nobody else ever will. And for that, you should be proud."

"But what about Aurora Island?" Scruffy wanted to know.

"What guided you through your hardships, Little skunk?" The eagle smiled. "It was faith. Without faith there is nothing." Scruffy was not impressed with the pish posh. As he watched the eagle fly away he couldn't imagine going through hardship without reaching his goal. It was all in naught, little Scruffy thought. He would have to go home defeated.

But as the early morning sun began to rise over the horizon bathing the island in a golden glow, the little skunk pondered the eagles words. And with the first rays of the sun, he closed his eyes and could see.