Bubbles and Lost Dreams
Read by Rachel Lynn Anderice
Written by Karen Backway
Chapter 2 - A Haunting Howl
The next day Molly and Abby visited Bizzie and Missus with Mama Owl.
“Let’s take a tour of the new land the basket magic has created,” hooted Mama Owl.
“Welcome, friends. Welcome,” said Bizzie, welcoming the visitors to the beaver lodge and pond. “We are so glad you have come,” said Missus. “The Lost Field is beautiful now and many new neighbors have moved in along the new river. A fox family moved in just a bit down river and there are lots of chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits and birds. And the bees have a new hive near the waterfalls.”
“WooHoo, delightful, delightful,” cheered Mama Owl. After hearing all the news, Mama Owl, Molly and Abby on her back, flew over to The Twin Rainbow Falls.
“The Lost Fields are so beautiful now,” said Molly. “Is there anything we can do to heal The Hills? They look so sad.”
“Not that I am aware of,” said Mama Owl. “It takes a very long time for land to heal after a fire.”
“Can we fly over The Hills a little?” Molly pleaded. “Maybe there are little pockets of life returning.”
Mama Owl flew over The Hills and beyond The Champlain Gate. The Hills remained black and desolate with no sign of life.
“This place takes my purr away,” said Abby sadly. “Let’s leave this haunting land.”
As Mama Owl turned to leave, they heard a howl that echoed off the ridge, slowly fading.
“That sounded a lot like Spunky’s howl when he thought we were missing,” said Molly. “It’s so sad.”
Mama Owl flew closer to The Ridges to explore a little, but there was nothing to be seen. “Very odd,” she thought. “Very odd indeed.”
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Spunky was waiting for Molly and Abby back at the clearing by the creek.
“Woohoo, see you again soon friends,” said Mama and she flew away, back to her ridge.
“Spark was by,” Spunky said. “She left these - one for Abbs and one for Molls.”
Spunky handed each cat a tiny button earring the shape of a bubble, each with a tiny rainbow trapped inside.
“Oh! How beautiful!” they squealed. As they clasped their earring in place, each bubble button sparkled, magically.
“Oh Spunky, you should see The Twin Rainbow Falls. It’s beautiful, the water is crystal clear and the lost field is full of colorful bushes in a sea of purple flowers. Bizzie and Missus have finished their dam and their lodges. And there are lots of new neighbors, squirrels and chipmunks and rabbits, and a fox family too. It's all so lovely,” Molly and Abby commented, interrupting each other constantly.
“But The Hills and The Ridges are so sad. It’s gloomy and gray even in the sunshine,” said Molly.
“Why go there?” asked Spunky. “Not safe.”
“We wanted to see if there were any pockets of life,” said Molly. “And if the bicycle basket magic might be able to heal it, like it did with the lost fields.”
“But Mama Owl doesn’t think it’s possible,” commented Abby. “We were just about to leave, when we heard a very sad howl echo along the ridge.”
Almost immediately, Spunky teared up, his heart breaking.
“A howl? From the ridge?” asked Spunky, a huge tear falling.
“Oh Spunky, we’re sorry! What is it?” cried Molly, running close to give Spunky a snuggle-hug.
“What do you think the howl means?” asked Abby, joining the snuggle-hug.
