With great numbers and the weight of those numbers, the rats had almost overcome the four-legged fighters that had waited onshore. The rats’ slashing attacks on the flanks of the advancing animals had been defeated. Still, they had come on, where water moccasins, rattle snakes, and others had waited as the second line of defense.
Then, the rats had hesitated with the bellows of Biff sounding across the swamp. Unexpectedly, their attacks began to break apart. First, large groups hesitated, then broke in different directions. Then, smaller groups began to rush back and forth, all coordination lost.
“What has happened?,” Biff asked.
As Buttons and the great leader of the rats had disappeared, the rats themselves became more and more confused. The young wolf limped forward, bleeding from many cuts and slashes. He shook his head, blood spraying from a torn ear.
“Where is she? I followed but lost her when attacked.” His eyes were tired, but greater still was the worry which tore at him. Ms. Lucie fluttered about above them, her calls to hawks and blackbirds, to morning doves and crows went unanswered. None knew where Buttons had gone.
The creatures of the forest and field fell back momentarily, the heart of the defense gone. But if Buttons had been lost, so too was the rat leader. Even more than the loss of Buttons, the evil presence that gave the great horde of rats their cunning and persistence was now gone. They were ripe for attack from all sides, and Ssserek lost no time in giving the order. The Great Wolf leader, the Earl, advanced directly ahead, with younger wolves flanking his every movement. The heads of snapping turtles and water moccasins appeared in the midst of the swimming rats, doing great damage and causing great turmoil. From the air, hawks and kestrels swept down upon the rats gathering on the trunks of trees. The rats were swept into the water, where serpents, turtles, raccoons, and others waited.
Sally stood alone, drooping with fatigue and worry. She could not sense Buttons, her ears, nose, and eyes finding no evidence of her. She sagged, her left rear leg badly bitten and bleeding. Her ears bled from many bites, but to these and other wounds she paid no heed. Where was Buttons? She turned and twisted, testing the air for any indication of Buttons. But there was none. Butttons might have disappeared from the earth for all the winds could tell. Sally sat, and turning her nose to the air, emitted a low moan which began deep in her chest and slowly grew as it rose. Others began to take up the call even as they fought. Sally crumpled to the earth, bereft of hope, her breath coming in short, painful gasps.
Ssserek’s head swept back and forth as he viewed the carnage taking place before him. In his many years, he had never witnessed anything like it. But he was worried. His small friends had gone. Most importantly, the impertinent Buttons had disappeared. She with her great joy in life, her zest for adventure, her inquisitive nose, and very sharp teeth. She, the small dog with all the questions. Where could she have gone? What had happened? Never before in his long life had he cared for any one creature as he had the two small dogs. He had conquered his most basic instincts and his patience had increased immeasurably as had his joy in life. He sighed, deeply.
Ms. Lucie had regained some of her usual composure, sitting above Ssserek’s head, watching him with concern. Serpents such as Ssserek and his kind could be terrors at the best of times. But she had come to appreciate his wit, his insights, and his increasing love for the forest and field. She crooned softly in her throat. She was about to take flight when her thoughts were interrupted by a splashing sound.
Ssserek looked to the swamp with shock. Below, Rarebit huffed and puffed in disbelief, then he croaked in a harsh deep voice. “She comes, I believe, but many more rats also come. More help is needed.”
“She comes, she comes,” Ssserek almost pleaded.
Even as his hopes rose, the swamp seemed to have taken on a new life of its own. It moved as one, heaving and tossing as though in a storm. Then quickly, all too quickly, the moving mass resolved itself into individual rats, in as great numbers as before.
Those standing onshore shuddered. This was too much. They had fought so hard, but there were too many. This time they couldn’t win.
Sssserek moved to the water’s edge, his eyes intent upon the approaching mass directly moving toward him. He swung back to Sally. “Bugle again. We must have the hogs and peccaries. Bugle for Milo, the moose. We need their strength now more than ever. Hurry.”
Sally did as she was asked, but she couldn’t face another attack. Her voice was nearly gone as she finished, and fell rather than sitting, slumping to the ground, anger in her eyes and agony in her heart. She almost fainted, but would not. She would go down, just as Buttons had. The world seemed to whirl around her even as the first rats reached the shore. Their eyes glittered, and the first shadows of evening ominously fell across the trees.
The rats stopped, waiting for the others to catch up. Then, as their ranks filled and began to crowd the water’s edge, they moved as one. Their eyes were upon Ssserek and Sally. The two had to die first. Then the others at the shore. And then, those within the forest. No matter how many it took, they would be victorious.
The wolves attacked with the bobcats and rarely seen lynx and others filling spaces being quickly created by the crawling mass of rats. The fight could not last much longer.
Suddenly, everyone stopped. The earth began to tremble beneath their feet. Help was coming. And it did. In a great mass of huge bodies. The wild hogs had regrouped. They stormed into the mass of rats, broad shoulder to broad shoulder, their heads lowered as before, sweeping mud and dead rats into the air.
The smaller peccaries followed. The attack was ferocious, the hogs and peccaries utterly fearless. But their numbers were too small and they began to tire also.
Then came Milo, the moose. Young and a friend of Buttons and Sally, he had quickly escaped from the grazing field of the zoo. Milo was moving swifly as only a moose can; nothing had stood in his way or barred his path. All were swept aside. Quickly sizing up the situation, he moved into the shallow water and bore down on the masses of rats swimming to shore. They stood no chance against his great strength and his huge antlers still covered with spring’s first felt. Rats, water, reeds, and weeds were thrown skyward to fall in disorganized masses of rats entangled in the mess of water vegetation. Through them he went, then back, and back again, until only masses of struggling rats were to be seen and taken at the leisure of the waiting wolves and their comrades-in-arms.
Milo moved toward shore, a dripping mass of water reeds tangling from his antlers. The glare in his eyes softened as he saw his friends. Then worry replaced his pleasure. So many were absent. He shook himself. His head rose as he bellowed his triumph and sadness.
Rarebit issued from the dense thickets that stood before the forest. “Listen, Lucie, listen to the hawks.”
She turned her head and did as requested, not hearing the lack of proper address. Then, she, too, vaulted into the air, and her small figure disappeared into the distance, moving with haste toward the deep swamp.
Biff arrived in a spray of sand and bits of grass. He was smiling, his one good eye beaming proudly. He wanted to swat something, anything, but glancing at Ssserek, he quickly sat and waited for events. His grin was infectious as he poked Sally in the ribs. She groaned and slowly lifted her head, her eyes bleary with pain and sadness. What was this? This great oaf of a bear grinning at a time like this? Her foggy mind slowly regained some degree of understanding, and she, too, slowly sat, leaning against the broad rump of the young bear. She began to grin, too.
Then Sally bugled in relief and joy, the gathering wolves and coyotes adding howls and yipping calls of joy also. Sally snapped at the tail of Biff, and then she and the bear began to race around, yipping and yelling, chasing one another’s tail.
Ssserek lost his temper. Rising to his greatest height, his shout froze the young animals in their tracks.
“What’s going on? Tell me immediately, or so help me . . .”
He gasped for breath. He, S
sserek, the most incredible serpent the field had ever seen, the irascible, the all-knowing Ssserek, was at a loss for words.
Sally turned to the swamp. Something was moving toward the shore. It lay low in the water. Floating below the many birds came Delph, the gator, his bellow of greeting crossing the water to welcoming friends. Delph chortled. He guffawed, his grin rippled to and fro across his great snout. His eyes shone with brilliance, and then nearly crossed as he attempted to view his passenger.
Ssserek flopped to the ground. This was too much. Sally bugled in greeting as she spied the well-shaped head she knew so well.
Standing as tall as her short legs allowed, Buttons stood behind Delph’s eyes, and her greetings to serpent, winged animals, and all the creatures rose into the air. Delph’s elongated figure swept onto the beach, and lowering his head to the sand, Buttons disembarked. She turned to Delph, who slowly closed one eye. She then carefully gave him a long, slurruping kiss. Delph hummed in deep contentment.
Buttons than approached Ssserek, and her nod of greeting took in both the great wolf, Ms. Lucie above them, and the serpent. A large water moccasin followed closely behind, and his nod was to Sally, whose smile now included everyone on the beach.
Delph was opening his mouth when a large broad paw descended on his head, not for the first time. His swiveled up to spy Biff comfortably ensconced on the sand.
Buttons raced to meet Sally, careful not to bump her too hard. They nosed each other, nudged one another, walked around and around for several seconds until they were satisfied that the other was still intact, if somewhat more worn and torn than expected. But they were young; they would heal fast. And besides, it was time to go to Ssserek and Ms. Lucie who waited, their patience wearing a bit thin, though they were pleased at the actions of the two.
Buttons ran to Ssserek, the magnificent, who was slowly recuperating. He took it all in, and in his turn, turned an eye to Ms. Lucie, who smiled and shook her head as though to say, “Well, here we go again.”
Buttons skidded to a stop in front of Ssserek who was rising to his usual imposing stance, his head erect and gazing directly over the crowd that was gathering on the beach.
“Gee, Ssserek, are you OK?” Buttons blurted out, and her worried appearance clearly demonstrated her concern.
Ssserek looked at her, aghast. He OK? He, the great Ssserek, worried, concerned? What did she think he was?
Then, he stopped and pondered the situation. The rats were in full retreat, the shell-clad denizens of the deep swamp and the hawks hurrying the rats on their unwelcome way. There had been a great loss of life and unexpected heroism from the most unlikely sources. Many had run, losing their heads completely; it had not been a pretty sight, but certainly it was not unexpected. Courage had been the standard for the day, and that was what had to be emphasized. Still, there were issues that had to be addressed, not the least being the activities of this small dog.
For his part, Rarebit sat quietly, slowly shaking his head. It was all too much. The disastrous attack of the rats, then the sudden loss of the small Scottish terrier was almost more than he could bear. Now, with her reappearance, even Ssserek was at a loss for words. Rarebit looked to Ssserek as the Earl quietly sat down behind Sally.
Ms. Lucie was proud of the animals sitting below her. She was thoroughly proud of the winged creatures, for their part had been essential, and much bravery and courage had been shown. She, too, looked at Ssserek, who had remained silent much longer than she would have anticipated. She turned to him also.
His voice was soft; still, it carried to all participants. His gaze was primarily for the two dogs. Sally was thoroughly fatigued, though she tried not to show it. Buttons was hurt. She limped, and her normally glossy coat was in tatters. She had fought fiercely, moreso for her size than possibly anyone there with the exception of Biff, the bear.
“First, what happened? Your unexpected loss nearly turned the table against the field and forest.”
His gaze was soft and turned fully on Buttons, who sat before him totally fatigued. He could guess, but there was little need for her head drooped again and again, each time she caught herself before falling completely down.
She looked at Ssserek, and turning saw her many friends waiting expectantly. She stood and spoke clearly, though occasionally a word was blurred with fatigue.
“I smelled him. Their leader. And I apologize, Ssserek. You told me not to go off by myself as I did, but I lost my temper. I knew where he was, coming from a different direction than we thought. He was not with the main body of rats which you fought here. He told me as he laughed at me. They were coming to encircle us, to get into the woods where they could establish themselves. I followed him, as you know. I could hear Biff’s bellowing behind me. I wasn’t needed here.”
Her head sagged, and she shivered as she recalled the sequence of events. Sally moved beside her, holding her up by leaning against her.
Buttons went on. “I followed him onto the tree trunks, and across the small bits of water to the grassy island. There we fought. I needed help, but Biff couldn’t come because there were so many against him. So I just went for him. He finally went into the water, and I slipped as I followed. He dove under the water, and I couldn’t see him. And then, he had me by the foot and began to drag me down.”
She stopped, and moved toward the shore where Biff waited. A water moccasin was curled to one side. Pausing before Biff, she lowered her head, and then she carefully licked one curving claw.
His eyes were large and dark as she said, “You were very brave, and I’m sorry I worried about you so I went too far out. I . . . I couldn’t help it. I had to.”
Biff snuffled, and then grinned his infectious best. His parents nodded briefly as they sat in the shadows of the great moss-covered trees. They were proud, of course, but other bears had participated and done marvelously well. But like their great friends to the north, they loved their solitude too well to be burdened with honors. Contentment covered them as the congregation began to break up.
“You were the brave one. I just had a good time pounding the water into froth and a few rats with it.”
His good nature could not have allowed him any criticism of the brave act he had witnessed, and he could only make light of his incredible feats. Biff chuckled, and shaking his head sent, water spraying in all directions. Nudging Delph with one large paw almost turned the alligator topsy-turvy, and then Delph had to laugh also.
Buttons stood nose-to-nose with Delph, the gator. His eyes almost crossed in his attempt to watch the small dog. Turning to Ssserek and Ms. Lucie, she continued her story.
“As I felt myself go under, suddenly the rat let go of my foot. Then, suddenly I was pushed to the top, almost sailing into the air as I sprawled on top of Delph. He had found me. As you know, he has a knack for finding rats, and . . .” She stopped to smile at the gator who lay beaming in the warmth of the praise.
“And a taste for them, as you know.” Delph gently belched, glancing in apology at Ssserek, whose expression never changed, though he would have liked to grin, himself.
“The rest, you know. Delph brought me here, knowing how upset you all were. I do apologize to you all.” She sighed as she sat abruptly, fatigue and battle wounds overcoming her remaining strength.
The Earl and his clan of wolves who had fought so hard came then to say their goodbyes. Others followed, both large and small creatures of the forest and field. The raccoons and otters, among her best friends, remained a bit longer, but then they, too, had to leave. Many were the birds who fluttered above her, whistling their praise and thanks. Then, they, too, were gone. The deer and the peccaries, large and small hogs, cats and bobcats, they too followed in their profuse thanks and praise. Milo munched placidly at the torn weeds, ignoring the rats floating about. Then, he, too, said his goodbyes and departed for the quiet and comfort of the grazing field. Many were the praises heaped on him as he moved past the other creatures. He smiled to himself. Only for Buttons.
Her small tongue on his thick lower lip was all the thanks he required.
Then, at last, the beach was silent, only Ms. Lucie and Ssserek watching as the two dogs made their way to a comfortable tussock of dry grass. There, they would tend to their wounds and speak briefly of the day.
The large figure of Biff was only a dark blur against the forest, his vigil underway. Off-shore, the cigar-shaped figure of Delph could be seen cruising up and down slowly. No one would approach the beach from that direction.
Buttons groaned as she curled up against the warm body of Sally. “No more nightmares, Sally,” she murmured as the yellow moon rose over the Great Forest and Field.
The End
Mommy Kitty
Where she had come from, no one ever knew. None asked, and she talked very little about her background. One day, she had suddenly appeared, staying first at one home and then another. She took from one food bowl and then another. Most of the creatures, all pets of men, didn’t care. They had more than enough. One small nondescript tabby cat made no difference to them. Occasionally, one of the dogs could be heard barking as they chased her away, but she would be back. When they weren’t looking, of course.
But it was different with Buttons. She made it very clear that an interloper would not be tolerated. Buttons was even smaller than the cat, and possibly younger. The small Scottie still had her baby teeth, but she never hesitated to use them as everyone knew. Particularly Sally, whom Buttons had just met. They had become very close friends very quickly and fought long and furious battles, only now and then actually nipping one another. Their teeth were very sharp, as puppies’ teeth are. So care was the word of the day. Have fun. Lots of it. Rough and tumble, but no hurting.
The Adventures of Button Page 10
