The Legend of Thunderfoot by Bill Wallace

Author:Bill Wallace
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

Chapter 13

Rocket got a head start. He ran first, then yelled, “Go!”

It caught Thunder off guard. It made him mad. But as he chased after Rocket, the anger turned toward himself. He should have expected it from a bird like Rocket. He should have been ready.

They raced up the bank of the dry streambed. There were fallen branches and thick brush near the water. Thunder tripped a couple of times, but he didn’t fall. Still, by the time they crossed the stream and started up the far side, he was way behind.

Once on the soft sand, with nothing to stumble over, he started gaining. He’d never run so hard in his life. Never wanted anything more badly than he wanted to beat this loudmouthed, obnoxious bird.

Thunder’s nose was almost touching Rocket’s tail when they reached the rocks and boulders that formed the dam. There he fell behind once more. His stupid feet slipped and stumbled on the uneven surface. He hated his feet!

Once on the sand he gained quickly. The sound of his heart pounded inside his head. It was almost as loud as the sound of his huge feet thundering on the dirt. There was no time to glance up and see if Agile’eka, Speedette, and Brisk were watching. He knew they were. He ran harder.

Rocket’s tail feathers brushed against Thunder’s wing when he caught up with him. They were side by side. Neck and neck. Beak to beak.

Watching from the corner of his eye, he felt a sudden burst of energy when he passed the other bird. He’d never felt so strong. So fast. He was winning! He was going to make it back to the rocks—first!

He was so intent on winning, Thunder thought about nothing else—saw nothing else—but the finish line. It was a second or two before he realized Rocket was no longer chasing him. There wasn’t the slightest sound of his quick little feet. Rocket was gone.

Just like him, Thunder said to himself. He knew he was losing, so he probably stopped to preen his feathers. Either that, or he’s pretending to be sick so he’ll have an excuse.

Thunder glanced back. To his surprise, Rocket was still running, only he was running in the wrong direction. He was racing back toward the dam. Thunder was almost to the rocks. But there was no one to cheer him on. No Agile’eka. No Speedette. No Brisk.

A movement caught his eye. It came from behind one of the rocks. A black nose wiggled when it sniffed the air. Then Thunder saw brown fur on a long snout. Two sharp ears. Brown eyes. And the biggest, broadest head he’d ever seen.

Coyote!

Thunder was too close to stop. Just as the coyote leaped from its hiding place, he dodged to his right. There was only about ten yards of open ground, then the canyon walls rose straight up. He could never make it ahead of the coyote. So he turned right again.

The thing was huge! Close! Heavy paws almost shook the ground as the coyote closed in on the roadrunner.

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