The Dreaded Cliff by Terry Nichols

Author:Terry Nichols
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Artemesia Publishing, LLC
Published: 2020-09-15T00:44:10+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A SPLENDID PLAN

“Yes, I do have a plan.” Flora was believing she actually had a plan. “Dayana, did you see the owl? Is it still where we left it?” The owl had to be around. They had left it to recover in the clearing past the grove of sagebrush.

“Don’t know. I was afraid to go near the place. It must be hungry by now, and I don’t want to take any chances.”

Just then a humming, stickery mound munched and snuffled his way to the three animals.

“Paco!” Dayana and Flora welcomed their grown-up porcupine friend.

“Ah, the court jester and the court entertainer are here!” King Cyrus stomped his hind foot.

Paco stopped humming and chomping. He waddled toward the spread of luscious twigs and bark. “Mmm.” Slobber dribbled from Paco’s chattering mouth as he looked over the ready-made feast.

“Not so fast, Paco,” said Dayana. “Flora has a splendid plan to get herself home, and for some reason, she needs all this stuff. So you simply need to curb your appetite.”

All three animals looked at Flora. A crisp breeze filled her lungs and ruffled her fur.

“Okay, here’s the plan.” Her friends huddled around as she told them exactly what they needed to do.

“But Flora,” said Dayana, “this is impossible. I’ve never heard of such a thing, never. And how will the most important part ever succeed?” She was talking about the owl. The plan couldn’t work without him. Paco nodded his head and whapped his tail, planting quills in the ground.

“This calls for a royal decree,” King Cyrus said. They all turned and watched him strut back and forth, nose piercing the sky. “Flora has proven herself to be brave and shrewd. The general populace, meaning all those present, will assist with this daring and splendid plan, and they will do so with skill and loyalty.”

Flora beamed. Although her plan to get back to the jangly-crate seemed impossible, King Cyrus, Dayana, and Paco would all help her to make it work. Gathering her team of workers, Flora waved her paws and barked orders.

“Alright then, hold on to that bark there, Paco. Dayana, pull that piece this way. Your kinkiness, er, your kindness, King Cyrus, add that twig over there and tie that piece nice and tight. See, you can use that yucca plant fiber. That’s it! Don’t eat that twig, Paco, can’t you wait a little longer? Oh, alright, eat the twig, but keep working. Dayana, you need to untangle your ear from that bunch of bark. That’s right, your muskiness, er, your manliness, I mean your mushiness, oh bother, you have to twist that grass just so and pass that piece underneath and over like this, see?” Flora scurried about, directing the placement of every particle until it was perfect.

Determined, they continued working, even as the wind puffed, shaking the leaves of the cottonwood trees. Moving around kept them warm, despite the growing chill. At times the sky flashed in the pitchy darkness.

They all knew when they had satisfied the King’s decree and they now crouched around their work.

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