Bubbles and Lost Dreams
Read by Rachel Lynn Anderice
Written by Karen Backway
Chapter 6 - A Returned Howl
They woke the next morning to an eagle screech.
“I wonder if that’s Galen, the forest eagle?” thought Abby but he never appeared.
“What’s the plan for today Spunky?” asked Radar.
“To not get lost,” answered Spunky. “Molls where did you hear the howl?”
“Beyond the gates, but close to the ridge,” answered Molly.
“When did you hear the howl?” asked Spunky.
“Late afternoon but before dark,” answered Molly.
“We need to move slow and safe now,” said Spunky. “Q not far.”
“The Champlain Gate is behind us. We have left the safety of the forest,” said Radar. “Let’s stay hidden as best we can high on the ridge as it follows the river through the hills,” said Radar. “Then we have a view and are less likely to get lost.”
“Good plan,” agreed Spunky. “Not get lost.”
“Tell us about your friends, Spunky,” suggested Radar. “The ones we are looking for.”
“My lost friends, she is Shine and he is Moon. Two big dogs, just like me,” said Spunky. “They are a pair. We three are best friends. I was hit with a quill. When I woke, they were gone, lost since the fire.”
“Maybe you could howl Spunky and see if a howl is returned,” suggested Radar.
“Not yet, not safe,” answered Spunky.
The group trotted along the top of the ridge moving deeper into The Champlain Hills. Occasionally, they would hear an eagle screech and echo along the ridge, but otherwise, the land was silent. Even the river rushing over smoothed rocks seemed to be getting quieter.
“I don’t know about you Spunky, but it’s too quiet,” whispered Radar. “There is no activity at all, not even a mouse has scurried by.”
“I thought the same,” answered Spunky. “The Q are near.”
“Hmm. How do we fight them without honey?” asked Radar.
“Can’t. We must be safe, hide as we can,” answered Spunky.
Just as the sun was beginning to set, they heard a howl in the distance echo through the ridges. Spunky answered with a howl. And after a short pause, again, a howl.
“Ah! How wonderful Spunky! Do you think it's your friends? How far away do you think they are? Can we find them tonight?” Abby asked in a flurry of excitement.
“Not sure,” said Spunky as he looked at his pendant. It was clear. “We should find a safe place to sleep soon. Big risk. My howl may give us up to the Q, if they are near.”
Radar found a den near the top of the ridge a few turns off the main path. Spunky was restless, or excited, or worried, he did not know which. An answered howl seemed too good to be true.
Spunky woke before dawn and sat quietly listening to the pouring rain. Spunky was heartened by the returned howl, though it sounded far away. He did not want to take Molly and Abby deeper into The Hills and Ridges.
