Fino is questing! Episode 1/25

It was an evening towards the end of October. In the dusk of the quiet country­side where the air had the scent of pump­kins and the chilly breeze whispered secrets of the approach­ing night, a small, un­assuming figure darted through the shadows. His name was Tobias, a cheer­ful little mouse with a penchant for adventure. He was accompanied by his friend, a Black Lovable Labrador called Fino.

Fino is questing! Episode 2/25

Tobias's eyes grew wide with excitement as he saw some­thing that didn't quite fit the serene picture of the country­side. There, in the middle of the lane, lay a dark blue umbrella with gold stars scattered across its fabric like a constell­ation. His curiosity piqued, he scurried towards it.
"Tobias, wait!" Fino called out, with a hint of anxiety, hurry­ing after his friend, and grasp­ing Tobias’s paw.

Fino is questing! Episode 3/25

But the little mouse was too eager for anything to stop him. He scampered closer to the umbrella, reach­ing out excited­ly with his free paw. As his furry paw­tip grazed the cool metal handle, the world began to spin. The ground beneath them shifted, and sudden­ly they were no longer in the comfort of the familiar lane.

Fino is questing! Episode 4/25

When the spinning finally ceased, Tobias and Fino found them­selves atop a float­ing island that gently sway­ed in the cool breeze, majestic clouds swirl­ing around them. They had been whisk­ed away by the time-traveling device conceal­ed within the seeming­ly ordinary parasol. Laughing with glee, Tobias flung his arms wide. “Can you believe this, Fino? We’re on an island cloud!”
The island was a marvel of steam­punk invention, complete with brass gears and billow­ing steam vents. Wind-chimes made from tiny brass pieces tinkled mysteriously.

Fino is questing! Episode 5/25

Just as they began to take in their surroundings, the little island lurched and began its descent, land­ing soft­ly on a warm, inviting beach pepper­ed with palm trees. Rope bridges link­ing their little island to others sway­ed gently.
Tobias and Fino looked around in wonder, try­ing to make sense of their surroundings. “It's a tropical paradise!” Fino exclaimed. “This is a bit scary, isn't it? How did we get here?"
Tobias was made of sterner stuff. "Perhaps it'll take us back now," he declared stoutly. "It's an ad­vent­ure! But I don't think we should leave our island in case it takes off without us." They both sat and enjoy­ed the balmy sea air. Then the umbrella started humming! "Take the handle, Fino, or you'll be left behind!”

Fino is questing! Episode 6/25

As they grasped the umbrella tightly, they suddenly found them­selves being lifted into the air by a steam­punk hot air balloon. With a slow whoosh, they rose into the bright ceru­lean sky. Below, the world trans­formed, revealing sprawl­ing fields and bustling towns.

Fino is questing! Episode 7/25

They found themselves in the middle of a very busy and noisy bazaar, with street sellers calling out to passers by, and all around were the spicy aromas of food cook­ing on fires. The two pets looked wist­fully at the dis­plays of dumplings, cauli­flower mezze and layer­ed pastries filled with nuts and drip­ping with honey. They were very hungry. "Is this Greece, do you think?" asked Fino. "That's baklava." Tobias gasped. "Oh! Look at that on the stall over there! It's Turkish Delight! We must be in Turkey!"
The friendly stall holder laughed. "We call it lokum!" he said. "Here, try it! Don't worry, it's free!" He gave them a generous portion of lokum and the grate­ful pets thanked him warmly. It was a truly delicious sweet treat. Brushing icing sugar off them­selves, they wandered to the out­skirts of the market and came across a fayton for hire, tended by a Sassy Radish. "Hello, little fellows!" she called out to them. "Would you like a guided tour? Hop on board!"
"Thank you, but we can't stop. We're time travellers!" responded Tobias cheekily.
"So am I," said the Radish, with a wink.

Fino is questing! Episode 8/25

The umbrella hummed again! They found themselves in what was un­mistakably 1900s America. A nearby general store declared it was on Route 66. Next to it was a quaint garage with its large wood­en doors swinging lazily. Inside, a gleam­ing auto­mobile shone like a jewel. Tobias squeaked with joy, “A vintage car! How magnificent!”

Fino is questing! Episode 9/25

Outside was an old general store, its sign creaking gently in the breeze. The window dis­play was filled with arti­facts of the past: rock candy, penny loafers, and an assort­ment of antique toys that made their hearts flutter with nostalgia. A bell jingled merrily as they push­ed open the door, and the scent of fresh apple cider waft­ed out to greet them. A reminder that Hallow­een was approach­ing was the presence of a tray of toffee apples. Both pets were very hungry and the shop­keeper accept­ed their golden moles for half a dozen toffee apples.