A haven for fans of Robert C. O'Brien's book, Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH,
and the Don Bluth movie based on it, The Secret of NIMH.
Thorn Valley main site • deviantArt group • Twitter
The Secret of NIMH - Animal Rescue with Martin and Timmy (fanfic)
In the Brisby home, Timmy was slowly recovering from his pneumonia. Still, his big brother, Martin, wanted to hang out with him.
“Hey, Timmy,” Martin said, “Want to watch a movie?”
Timmy nodded, his cheeks still flushed from the warmth of his blanket. He scanned the small selection of movies they had in their home and pointed to a classic adventure film.
“That one,” he said, his voice still raspy from coughing.
Martin popped the VHS tape into the player and they settled down on the couch, Timmy’s legs dangling over the side as he curled up under the warmth of a blanket. The movie began with a group of intrepid explorers venturing into an ancient temple, seeking a long-lost treasure. Timmy’s eyes widened in excitement as the adventure unfolded before him.
“Wow, Martin,” he whispered, “This is amazing!”
Martin smiled at his younger brother, glad to see him enjoying the movie. He leaned back against the cushions, his tail twitching with excitement. As the plot thickened, and the explorers faced danger after danger, Timmy’s eyes grew wide with anticipation.
“Look, Martin!” he exclaimed, pointing at the screen. “They found the treasure!”
Martin glanced at the TV, a grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, I guess they did,” he said, his tail thumping against the couch. “That’s amazing!”
The movie continued to captivate both brothers, with twists and turns that kept them on the edge of their seats. As the credits began to roll, Timmy turned to Martin, his eyes shining with excitement. “That was the best movie ever!” he exclaimed.
Martin smiled, “Yeah, it was pretty good. I’m glad you enjoyed it, Timmy.”
Timmy nodded, his whiskers twitching in agreement. “It made me forget how sick I felt for a while,” he said, his voice still hoarse from coughing.
“Well, you’ve been doing a great job of getting better,” Martin reassured him. “Mom, Cynthia, Teresa, and I are really proud of you.”
Timmy blushed with embarrassment but smiled gratefully at his brother. “Thanks, Martin,” he said softly. “I feel a lot better now.”
The two brothers settled down for the night, each lost in their own thoughts. As Timmy drifted off to sleep, he couldn’t help but think about the movie they had watched. It had been so exciting and thrilling, it had almost felt like he was part of the adventure.
Martin lay awake for a while longer, his mind wandering back to the day Timmy had gotten sick. He remembered how scared he had been when he found his little brother coughing uncontrollably. He was grateful that Mrs. Brisby had known what to do and had helped Timmy get better.
As he thought about his mother, Martin couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration for her. She was always so strong and capable, taking care of the family and making sure everyone was safe and healthy. He knew that she had been through a lot in her life, but she never let that stop her from being the best mother she could be.
The next morning, Timmy woke up feeling much better. The warmth of his blanket and the comfort of his home had helped him get a good night’s sleep. As he sat up and stretched, he noticed that the sun was shining brightly outside. He couldn’t wait to go outside and explore the world around him.
Martin was already up, making himself some breakfast. He glanced over at Timmy and smiled. “Good morning, little brother,” he said cheerfully. “Feeling any better today?”
Timmy nodded vigorously, his tail wagging with excitement. “I feel great, Martin!” he exclaimed. “Can we go exploring today?”
Martin grinned at his enthusiastic brother. “Sure, Timmy,” he said. “Let’s go have an adventure.”
They left the burrow and emerged into the bright sunshine. The air was crisp and fresh, and Timmy took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the sweet scent of grass and earth. He looked around at the vast green meadow, his eyes wide with wonder.
Martin led the way, hopping nimbly over the tall grasses. Timmy struggled to keep up, his little legs moving as fast as they could. They passed by a small stream, where Martin stopped to take a drink. Timmy watched as the clear water rippled over his brother’s fur, fascinated by the way the light reflected off of it.
“Hey, Martin,” he said, his voice still slightly hoarse from coughing. “What’s that over there?”
Martin followed Timmy’s gaze to a cluster of tall flowers swaying gently in the breeze. As they drew closer, he noticed tiny insects buzzing around them. “Those are dragonflies, Timmy,” he explained. “They’re really interesting creatures. They can fly really fast and they eat other insects.”
Timmy’s eyes widened in amazement. “Can we catch one?” he asked eagerly.
Martin chuckled. “I don’t think so, Timmy. They’re too fast for us.” He looked around, spotting a patch of wild strawberries growing nearby. “Hey, look! Wild strawberries!”
Timmy’s eyes lit up at the sight of the small, sweet berries. “Can we pick some, Martin?”
Martin nodded, hopping over to the patch. He carefully plucked a few of the ripe berries and offered them to Timmy. “Here you go, little brother. They’re really good.”
Timmy took the berries gratefully, popping them into his mouth. The sweet juice ran down his chin, and he licked it off with a satisfied sigh. “Thank you, Martin,” he said, handing his brother a berry. “These are the best!”
Martin smiled, taking the berry and popping it into his mouth. “You’re welcome, little brother,” he said, his voice muffled by the berry. “Let’s go explore some more.”
The two brothers continued their adventure, hopping over logs and darting between trees. They came across a small pond, where Martin showed Timmy how to skip stones across the water. As they watched the ripples spread outwards, Timmy asked, “Martin, can we make a boat?”
Martin laughed. “Maybe someday, Timmy. But for now, let’s enjoy the pond as it is.”
They continued their adventure, exploring the woods and fields around them. As the day grew longer, they began to feel hungry. Martin led Timmy back to their burrow, where Mrs. Brisby had prepared a warm meal of vegetables and berries.
“Mama, this is delicious!” Timmy exclaimed, his belly full and content.
Mrs. Brisby smiled at her two boys. “Thank you, dear ones. It’s good to see you both looking so well.”
After dinner, the family gathered in their cozy burrow, sharing stories and laughter. As the night grew darker, Timmy drifted off to sleep, dreaming of their adventures in the woods. Martin stayed awake for a while longer, watching over his little brother. He couldn’t help but feel grateful for their family and the life they shared together.
The next day, Timmy awoke feeling refreshed and eager for more adventures. He bounded out of bed, his tail wagging excitedly. “Good morning, Martin!” he exclaimed, his voice full of energy. “Let’s go explore the forest again!”
Martin smiled at his little brother, knowing how much he loved exploring. “Sure, Timmy,” he replied, stretching his limbs. “But let’s not forget to be careful and stay close to home.”
Together, they hopped out of the burrow and into the cool morning air. The sun was shining brightly, casting long shadows across the grassy field. In the distance, they could hear the chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
“Look, Martin!” Timmy exclaimed, pointing towards a cluster of tall trees. “What are those?”
Martin squinted his eyes, trying to make out the shape of the objects in the distance. “Those look like trees, Timmy. But they’re taller than any trees we’ve seen before.”
Timmy’s eyes widened with excitement. “Let’s go see them, Martin!” He began to hop towards the trees, his little legs carrying him faster than usual.
Martin followed his brother, keeping a careful eye on him. As they drew closer to the trees, they realized that they were indeed much taller than any they had seen before. The trunks were thick and gnarled, and the branches stretched out like giant arms, reaching towards the sky.
“Wow, Martin,” Timmy breathed, “These trees must be really old!”
Martin nodded, admiring the towering giants. “Yeah, they’re definitely older than any trees we’ve seen around our home.”
As they drew closer, Timmy noticed something moving in the branches of one of the trees. “Martin, look! There’s something up there!”
Martin followed Timmy’s gaze and saw a small creature fluttering from branch to branch. He squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look. “It’s a bird! A baby bird!”
Timmy’s eyes widened with excitement. “Can we help it, Martin?”
Martin nodded, his heart racing with anticipation. “I think we should try, Timmy. We need to be careful not to scare it, though.”
Together, they crept closer to the tree, their furry bodies brushing against the rough bark. As they peered up into the branches, they saw the baby bird, its tiny body trembling with fear. It was clear that it had fallen from its nest and was unable to fly back up.
Martin looked at Timmy, his eyes filled with determination. “We have to help it, Timmy,” he whispered. “It can’t survive on the ground like this.”
Together, they climbed up the tree, their small bodies struggling against the rough bark. As they reached the branch where the baby bird was perched, Martin gently scooped it up in his paws. The baby bird squawked softly, its tiny heart pounding against its tiny ribcage.
“It’s okay, little one,” Martin whispered soothingly. “We’re here to help you.”
Timmy looked on with admiration as his older brother carefully cradled the baby bird in his paws. He could see the concern in Martin’s eyes as he examined the bird, trying to determine if it was injured.
“It seems okay, Timmy,” Martin whispered, his voice filled with relief. “But we still need to get it back to its nest.”
The two brothers carefully climbed back down the tree, their furry bodies slick with sweat from the exertion. As they reached the ground, they looked around, trying to spot the nest. It wasn’t long before they found it, perched high up in the branches of a nearby tree.
“It’s over there, Timmy,” Martin said, pointing to the tree. “But we have to be really careful not to disturb the nest or the other baby birds.”
Together, they approached the tree, their hearts pounding with excitement and nervousness. As they got closer, they could see the tiny bodies of baby birds moving inside the nest.
“Be careful, Martin,” Timmy whispered, his eyes wide with fear. “We don’t want to hurt the other baby birds.”
Martin nodded, his tail swishing nervously. He took a deep breath and slowly climbed up the tree, his tiny paws and feet gripping the rough bark. Timmy followed close behind, his heart pounding with excitement and fear. As they reached the nest, they saw several other baby birds peeping out from the folds of the leaves.
“Be very quiet, Timmy,” Martin whispered, his voice barely audible. “We don’t want to scare the other baby birds.”
Together, they carefully placed the rescued bird into the nest. Its tiny body relaxed into the warmth of the leaves, and the other baby birds began to peep and chirp excitedly. Timmy’s heart swelled with pride at their success.
Martin looked at his brother with a smile. “We did it, Timmy,” he said, his voice filled with wonder. “We saved that baby bird.”
Together, they climbed down the tree, their hearts still racing with excitement. As they walked back to their burrow, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. They had saved a life and made a difference in the world, no matter how small.
The next day, as they were playing by the river, they spotted a tiny creature struggling to swim. It was a frog, trying to cross the water to find a new home. Without hesitation, they decided to help.
Martin carefully scooped up the frog in his paws and carried it to the nearest tree. They climbed up, their small bodies gripping the rough bark. At the top, Martin gently placed the frog on a high branch, out of harm’s way.
“There you go, little guy,” Martin said, patting the branch. “You’re safe now.”
As they climbed back down the tree, Timmy couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride. “We really did save that frog, Martin,” he said, grinning ear to ear.
Martin nodded, his tail wagging with excitement. “Yeah, and who knows? Maybe we’ll find another animal in need of help someday.”
Timmy’s eyes lit up at the thought. “Like a lost puppy?” he asked eagerly.
Martin nodded. “Exactly like that. And who knows? Maybe we’ll find a real puppy one day.”
As they continued to play by the river, they heard a faint meowing sound coming from the bushes. They both stopped what they were doing and looked towards the sound. Martin’s eyes widened with excitement as he saw a small, fluffy puppy peeking out from behind a bush.
“Timmy, look!” he exclaimed, pointing towards the puppy. “It looks like someone left their puppy here!”
Timmy’s eyes widened with excitement, his heart pounding against his chest. “Can we keep it, Martin?” he asked eagerly.
Martin hesitated for a moment, his tail swishing back and forth uncertainly. “I don’t know, Timmy. We should probably try to find its owner first.” He knelt down beside his brother, his ears perked up as they listened to the puppy’s whimpers.
As they approached the bushes, the puppy’s tail wagged excitedly, its little body trembling with fear and excitement. Martin scooped up the puppy in his arms, feeling its warm, fluffy fur against his skin. The puppy licked his face affectionately, its tiny tongue darting around.
“It’s okay, little one,” Martin whispered softly, stroking the puppy’s head. “We’re here to help you.”
Timmy watched in awe as his older brother cradled the puppy in his arms, his heart swelling with pride. He knew that Martin was always ready to lend a helping hand, whether it was for an injured bird or a lost puppy.
As they made their way back to their burrow, they discussed what to do next. They couldn’t keep the puppy, as their mother would never allow it, but they also couldn’t just leave it there. They had to find its owner or take it to a shelter where it would be cared for.
“We could ask some of our friends if they know of a shelter,” Martin suggested.
Timmy nodded, his eyes shining with hope. “Yeah, maybe someone will know.”
As they arrived back at their burrow, they noticed their mother, Mrs. Brisby, watching them from the doorway. She could see the excitement in their eyes and the puppy in Martin’s arms.
“What have you two found?” she asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Martin looked up at his mother, his eyes shining with excitement. “We found a puppy, Mom,” he said, holding the fluffy little creature in his arms. “We were by the river when we heard it whimpering, and we found it hiding behind a bush.”
Mrs. Brisby’s eyes widened in surprise. “A puppy? How did it get all the way out here?” she asked, her mind racing with possibilities.
“We don’t know, Mom,” Martin replied, his eyes still shining with excitement. “But we can’t just leave it here.”
Mrs. Brisby nodded thoughtfully. “You’re right, Martin. We can’t keep it here, either. We’ll have to find its owner or take it to a shelter where it can be cared for.” She paused for a moment, her whiskers twitching as she considered their options. “I’ll ask some of the other mice I know if they know of any shelters nearby. In the meantime, you two should make sure the puppy is comfortable and safe.”
As Martin and Timmy settled down to play with the puppy, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of responsibility. They knew that they had to find the puppy’s family, and they also knew that it was going to be a lot of work. But they were determined to help the little creature, and they knew that together, they could make a difference.
The next day, Mrs. Brisby came home with some good news. She had spoken to a friend of hers who ran a local animal shelter, and they had agreed to take in the puppy until its family could be found. Martin and Timmy were thrilled at the news, and they couldn’t wait to take the puppy to its new home.
As they approached the shelter, they could already hear the excited barking of the other dogs. The shelter was a bustling place, with cats meowing, birds chirping, and all sorts of animals running around. Martin and Timmy felt a little overwhelmed at first, but the friendly staff quickly introduced themselves and showed them where to take the puppy.
The puppy, named Timmy by Martin and Timmy, was quickly examined by the veterinarian and deemed healthy. The staff explained that they would try to find the puppy’s family through their microchip or by placing ads in local newspapers. In the meantime, they would take care of Timmy and make sure he was comfortable.
Martin and Timmy visited Timmy every day after school, spending hours playing with him and teaching him how to behave like a good pet. They showed him where he could go potty, taught him basic commands, and even helped him learn some tricks.
One day, as they were playing fetch with a stick, they noticed a small bird hopping around the yard. It was clear that the bird was injured, and they quickly rushed to its aid. Martin carefully picked up the bird and brought it inside, where they found a small cardboard box with a note that read “Please take care of us. We’re orphans.”
Inside the box, they found three baby birds, each one smaller than their pinky finger. Martin and Timmy knew they had to help them, so they gathered some soft cloth, warm water, and a small amount of birdseed. They gently cleaned the baby birds and warmed them up, making sure they were comfortable and safe.
As they nursed the baby birds back to health, they realized that they needed to teach them how to fly. They found a small, enclosed area outside, away from predators, and set up a small platform for the birds to practice on. They spent hours each day, encouraging the birds to flap their wings and jump off the platform.
One day, after several attempts, one of the baby birds successfully flew off the platform. Martin and Timmy cheered as they watched the tiny bird soar through the sky. They knew then that their hard work had paid off.
As the days went by, the other two baby birds also learned to fly, and they were released back into the wild. Martin and Timmy felt a sense of accomplishment and pride in their efforts. They had not only helped the baby birds but also discovered the joy of caring for animals.
Their visits to the shelter became more frequent, and they soon became familiar faces among the staff and other volunteers. They spent their free time socializing with the animals, playing with them, and even helping to clean their cages.
One day, as they were walking past the bird enclosures, they noticed a small bird with a broken wing. The bird was huddled in a corner, its feathers ruffled and its eyes filled with fear. Without hesitation, Martin and Timmy rushed to its aid.
They gently picked up the bird and brought it to their secret hideout, a small shed in the corner of the park. They carefully examined the bird, trying to determine the severity of its injuries. After a thorough inspection, they realized that the bird’s wing was not just broken but severely damaged.
Martin looked at Timmy with determination in his eyes. “We have to help this bird,” he said firmly. “We can’t just leave it like this.”
Timmy nodded, his heart racing with excitement. “What should we do, Martin?” he asked eagerly.
Martin thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. “We need to find a safe place for it,” he said finally. “Somewhere where it can rest and not be bothered by other animals.”
They spent the next hour searching the area, eventually finding a small tree with a low-hanging branch. It seemed perfect for their new feathered friend. They carefully placed the injured bird in the crook of the branch and watched as it slowly settled down.
As they made their way back home, Martin and Timmy couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. They had helped a helpless creature and given it a chance at life. They shared high fives and hugs, their hearts filled with joy.
“We sure make a great team, don’t we, Martin?” Timmy asked happily. Martin rubbed Timmy’s head and smiled. “We sure do, little bro. We sure do.”
Martin and Timmy hugged once more. “I’m so glad we’re related, Martin,” said Timmy. “And I’m lucky because I have the best big brother ever.”
Martin blushed a little. “Aw, Timmy, you’re my best little brother too,” he said, ruffling Timmy’s hair affectionately. “We definitely make a great team, don’t we?”
Some Secret of Nimh art that I've done over the past month. I've been wanting to draw theses characters for a long time now, especially Nicodemus: his and the Great Owl's designs are TOP TIER!
A collaboration piece that I recently did with my good friend Gerry McGrory that features Mrs. Brisby in a beautiful folklorico dress. Along are some alternative versions that he did alongside mine.
stormborns
izzy806
romaincrisis
origamiaround
turnnoffyourmind
snowghoul
dededos
