Bubbles and Lost Dreams
Read by Rachel Lynn Anderice
Written by Karen Backway
Chapter 11 - Meeting Moon
Billy and Abby returned to the base of the ridge as quickly as possible. The sticky Quillza at the den entrance had plodded into hiding.
Radar was scouting for more Quillza and Spunky was waiting impatiently.
“Molly is taken, carried away by the scruff of her neck, presumably by one of your friends. A great big golden-cream colored dog trotted up the tunnel shortly after your howl,” explained Billy. “I suspect he or she intended to return your howl, but then The Quillza appeared.”
“It was brilliant Spunky. Billy set up a trip-fling-thingy to throw honey balls at anything that tried to get into the cave,” explained Abby.
“What is the best way to communicate with your friend?” asked Billy.
“I’m not sure it was my friend,” argued Spunky. “They would not have been rough with her if she used his or her name.”
“She called him sir,” clarified Billy.
“Oh dear, do you think she might be with wolves, Spunky?” cried Abby. “Do you think they will hurt her?” And Abby started crying again.
“No Abby. All we know is that the big dog picked her up by the scruff of the neck and carried her away, much like a Mama dog carries a puppy. I truly believe Molly is not hurt,” explained Billy. “In fact, I believe Molly was taken for her own protection. And Spunky, I imagine, being alone in The Champlain Ridges for many months, might make one a bit gruff, when suddenly approached by a stranger, however sweet.”
Radar returned, “The badgers are afoot but far from here. It looks like they might have teamed up with The Quillza.”
Abby sobbed louder, hearing this news from Radar.
“Oh Radar, this is dreadful, just dreadful. Molly might be captured by a wolf, and now The Quillza are teaming up with the badgers.”
“For now we need a place to stay for the night, out of sight of The Quillza,” suggested Billy and he led them to a nearby cave, one or two turns into the lower tunnels.
Spunky was very calm. It seemed one of his lost friends had been found and Molly might actually be with him or her.
“We should go to the ravine in the morning,” announced Abby confidently. And with that she stopped crying and curled up under Spunky’s ear. She knew Molly was safe.
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Molly knew to relax when being carried by the scruff of your neck. So she relaxed as much as possible, until the great big dog stopped and put her down.
“Who are you? And how do you know about this cave? Why did you lead The Quillza here?” demanded the huge dog.
Molly listened, very calm.
“You look just like Spunky, though he doesn’t talk nearly as much. He prefers to roll in the grass or splash in the creek,” said Molly, smiling. “You must be Moon. It’s very nice to meet you. I am Molly.”
“How do you know my name?” grunted Moon.
“Spunky told me, of course, silly,” Molly answered with a bit of a giggle.
Moon sat on his haunches filled with sadness.
“No one but Spunky calls me Moon,” said Moon. “He disappeared without a trace after the great fire.”
“That is what he thinks about you,” replied Molly. “I am very sorry about The Quillza. I wanted to stop you from ruining a trap we had set for them at the entrance of the cave. You would have been covered in honey, if…” but Moon interrupted. “We? Who is we? There were more of you?”
