The Squirrel Squire by Erik DeLeo

Author:Erik DeLeo [DeLeo, Erik]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ED Publishing

11

The Confined

The complex rose from the ground like huge, square stones of brown mixed with red and beige. Crowds of giants milled around, their noisy, scattered energy spoiling the surrounding calm.

Wanting to avoid the boisterous activity, Puff made his way around to the far side of the structures. This was only his second time here. The first, now but a memory, was with Sir Pattercloud, who briefly introduced him to a few of The Confined. Puff didn’t like seeing animals in cages, but the knight sometimes sought their council.

In fits and bursts, he got closer, snaking his way along intertwined branches. He was hoping the animals were willing to talk to him, because Puff needed information. He needed to find the Knight Champion. And he needed to do it quickly.

There were clusters of trees inside the complex, but Puff moved outside, making his way along the perimeter, navigating toward a ring of evergreens surrounding a circle of granite boulders at the rear. There was a stretch of open grass between the last tree and the pines, so Puff made a mad dash for it and stopped underneath a fir tree, panting heavily.

Once he regained his breath, he scanned the area. There weren’t any obvious dangers, so Puff crawled on his belly, hidden under the needles of the evergreens, over to the edge of the stones encircling the enclosure. Inside were two mammoth animals covered in brown fur.

“Psssst,” said Puff in hushed tones. Neither creature heard him. He said it again, but louder. Still nothing. In frustration, Puff raised his voice. “HELLO!”

“Did you hear something, Veronica?”

“No, Betty. Are you sure you’re not imagining things?”

“I’m pretty sure.”

“Maybe it’s the wind?”

“I’m not the wind!” insisted Puff.

“The wind almost sounds like a squirrel, Veronica.”

“It’s higher pitched than normal, if it is indeed a squirrel.”

“I am a squirrel,” replied Puff. The two Confined lazily turned around and looked up. They spied Puff, who was perched on top of a large rock. The one named Veronica stood up on her hind legs to get a better look.

“Well, hello there, Mr. Squirrel. What are you doing loitering around the grizzly bear pen? It’s certainly no place for a squirrel, especially one that doesn’t have a name.”

“My name is Puff. I’m the squire to Sir Pattercloud. I met you one time, very briefly.”

“Do we know any squirrels?” asked Veronica to Betty. “Besides Puff here, supposedly?”

“No, we don’t,” replied Betty to Veronica. She scratched her chin with a very mean looking claw. “Wait a moment, on second thought, I think we may know one. He would come when he was a bit down. What was his name?”

“Sir Pattercloud?!?” yelled down Puff, not believing Sir Pattercloud could have ever felt down. “Are you sure that’s him?”

“Oh, well this one certainly was. Had his moments, that one. Would worry about his squire or something. Unfortunately, we don’t know any ‘sirs’ I’m afraid,” said Veronica.

“Although we do know a ‘Patter-something. Forgot the rest of the name,” added Betty

“Pattercloud! His name is Pattercloud!” Puff was exasperated.

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