And Sara began to tell her new friends how she came to be in their forest.

"You see the world is very large, as I had been taught, but I forgot that and wandered away from the great mountains which the very few dragons in the world inhabit. My lessons were very complete, of course, and I thought I knew it all." She sighed, "But, I didn't.

She went on as the creatures of the forest and field listened. Sara continued, "I started out heading east. Well, anyway, so I thought, but..." She looked at b.u.t.tons, who smiled encouragingly. Sara smiled back, and taking a deep breath, went on. "I got out over water, sooner than I should have if I were truly heading east."

b.u.t.tons stepped forward. "And of course, you weren't. Right?"

Sara giggled a little, blushing as she nodded. "I'm not very good at directions, you see. I went on for a very long time, getting very tired before I sighted land."

"Ours, right?" Iggy interposed.

"Well, yes and no. You see I still had ways to go, long ways before I landed here. Not many open areas at first, and I was frightened."

As Sara went on to tell of her trip across the eastern part of the United States, b.u.t.tons looked at Sally, who in turn, glanced at Iggy and Biff. The latter pair slowly approached Sara once again. Respectfully this time. Iggy gently placed one very small paw on one of Sara's forelegs, as b.u.t.tons whispered something into Biff's ear.

"Don't you worry. b.u.t.tons will figure it out."

Iggy placed himself between b.u.t.tons and the small dragon as Biff turned away and scurried into the forest, rapidly disappearing into its depths. Iggy fastened his keen eyes on the black dog. "So, what's wrong, huh?"

"Look, it's simple. You can't have fire on demand without something to set it off. Right?"

"Yeah, if you say so," muttered Iggy.

"And, you've got to have something that burns. Right?"

"Well, sure," said Iggy, beginning to brighten up. "Boy, that's pretty good, b.u.t.tons. Always thinking."

Sara suddenly fanned her wings as a crashing sound came clearly to those crowded around the hill. Clearly agitated, she began to rise to her tallest when Iggy grabbed at one forepaw.

"Easy, Sara, easy. It's just Biff, the bear. Never did learn to go around when he could smash straight through."

b.u.t.tons and Sally quickly reaffirmed Iggy's impression, and Sara was settling down when Biff came crashing into the clearing, dragging a blackened bag behind. Plopping the bag at b.u.t.tons's feet, he had to stop for a moment as he was panting hard. "Got it," grinned Biff. I brought the whole bag. Easier that way."

Sara was rapidly glancing from one speaker to the other as the discussion went on. Her eyebrows were rising higher and higher.

The bear grinned hugely. "There. How do you like that?"

It was b.u.t.tons's turn to grin as she said, "Knew you could do it. Any problems?"

"Nope. In and out so fast no one ever knew I was around." He looked skyward, not mentioning the door on the old barn that he had ripped from its rusty hinges, gazing about so that b.u.t.tons couldn't detect anything amiss.

Sally coughed, taking b.u.t.tons's attention from the bear.

b.u.t.tons raised first one eyebrow and then the other, but said no more on that topic. "Sure, OK. So much for that."

She turned to Sara. "How do you like coal?"

"Huh?" responded the dragon. She looked from the bag to b.u.t.tons to Iggy and back to the bear. "Well, I've never had any."

As Biff began to tear at the bag, Sara poked b.u.t.tons with her muzzle. "Just what is it?"

"Fire stuff." b.u.t.tons's eyes were wide and innocent as she commented, "All you do is chew it up, build up some gas, and blow it out. After we've lit your pilot light, of course."

Sara looked hard and long at the small black dog, but could detect no sign of doubt. However, she recognized the hushed and expectant audience were becoming increasingly restless. To her credit, she was game, and taking a very deep breath, said, "OK, but..."

Sally smiled broadly. "Don't worry. All dragons have to breathe fire. You will, too."

The hawks and hummingbirds all exchanged nervous glances. "Fire? Here?" In the Great Forest? Nothing terrified all creatures of wood and field more than fire.

Just what was the black dog up to now? Yet, for all their fears, they trusted her implicitly. They hunkered down, each in their own way, waiting. It was not easy though and some fearful mutterings could be heard within the forest.

Small black blocks spilled onto the ground as Biff finished opening the bag.

"There's your coal. Now, chew up a couple of the briquets." b.u.t.tons and Sally waited to see what Sara would do.

The small dragon sniffed at the coal and pushed one briquet tentatively around with her nose. She glanced at b.u.t.tons and then at Biff. Iggy pushed into the fore so that he stood directly in front of the dragon with Biff. Iggy had gone and returned. He nodded to b.u.t.tons and gave a quick grin. In his paws was a small stick with a bright red rounded tip. Sara had never seen a match before.

Sara picked picked up one briquet and slowly moved it around her mouth. Her words were somewhat garbled as she addrssed the crowd in general, "Not very tasty, you know." Her words were somewhat garbled as she addrssed the crowd in general, "Not very tasty, you know."

Sara looked to the sky as though in silent prayer. Then, doing as she was bid, she began to chew, slowly grinding the charcoal.

"Chew it up fine," cautioned b.u.t.tons. "It'll make gas better that way."

Sara did as she was bade, and continued chewing the coal into smaller and smaller bits and then swallowed.

Iggy watched the lump move down her throat. "Wow, she did it," he breathed out in hushed admiration.

Sara's eyes seemed to cross for a moment as she savored the aftertaste. "Oh my," she said. "It's sort of heavy in there, you know."

"That's all right," soothed b.u.t.tons. "The gas will be along shortly. Just let it perk."

"Gosh, I don't know about this," burped Sara. Her eyes began to wander as she contemplated the bubbling sensations which were beginning to emanate from her innards. "Are you sure?" she burbled.

"You're doing fine," b.u.t.tons rea.s.sured her As events were clearly coming to a head, all the small woodland creatures began to gather more closely around the small group. Birds vied for better perches and a better view.

Sara groaned and many were the sympathetic groans echoing her obvious discomfiture. Sara dropped to the ground and rolled around, her paws pressed to her stomach, as rumbling sounds issued from her partially open mouth. More groans came from the surrounding forest, and Biff, the bear hugged his big belly in wide-eyed empathy.

"Oh, my, my poor stomach," Sara moaned. "I feel like I'm going to explode. Oh my, oh me."

"Wow," Iggy commiserated, "oh, wow!"

b.u.t.tons stepped closer. "Easy now, Sara. It will be alright. You'll get used to it. You just have to learn to control the right amount each time."

Iggy piped in, "Yeh, you'll see. Nothing to it."

Biff shook his head and smiled rea.s.suringly at the dragon. He knew no words were going to help too much at this point in time. He waited.

As Sara burped once again, b.u.t.tons said, "OK, you're just about there. Now, listen carefully. Just take a deep breath and we'll light your pilot light. You concentrate on keeping it lit. Just a little flame, remember."

Sara moaned and her eyes crossed as she gazed at her friends, who seemed to waver about her. "I'll try."

She did as she was told, carefully sitting erect as she took a slow and deep breath. b.u.t.tons motioned to Iggy to light the match, for that was what she had sent him for. Only the very facile squirrel could manage a match. She wouldn't trust the racc.o.o.n twins who had just appeared at the edge of the crowd, or the river otters who would more than likely set everything aflame.

Iggy struck the match against a stone placed before Sara for that purpose. But Sara had held her breath as long as she could, and the inner rumblings were crescendoing at a faster and faster pace.

The match blazed into life, and there were many ohs and ahs from the surrounding crowd. Iggy triumphantly held it up, carefully placing it before Sara's nose.

She belched.

There is not a word for the explosive burst which escaped Sara. The erupting gases billowed out and around Iggy. There was a tremendous blast, as gas and flame united. Iggy disappeared into a cloud of flame and smoke. Creatures cried aloud and fled in all directions. b.u.t.tons, Sally, and Biff tumbled down the hill, coming to rest on their respective backsides.

They all glanced quickly at Sara who remained where she was, but now with a marveling gaze on her face.

And Iggy?

Well, he, too, stood exactly where he was, still holding the match, but a badly charred and crumpling match. Gone were his whiskers, his pride and joy, his well-kept though ragged whiskers. Now, only a few stubby remains could be seen, sticking out of his blackened and soot-covered features.

He gazed around, breathing carefully and slowly. He looked at the small dragon who was beginning to grin in spite of her inner turmoil. He glanced around for b.u.t.tons and Sally, who were sitting up with Biff.

Iggy felt his sides and face, sought out his ears, which, like his nose, were frazzled and blackened, and rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Then, placing a paw to nose, he sneezed and reeled backwards, tumbling down the hill to come to rest at b.u.t.tons's feet.

b.u.t.tons laughed as Iggy got to his feet. Iggy frowned, and then he, too, laughed. He leaped aright, holding one paw over his chest and the other in the air, a salute, and he announced, "Our dragon is lit."

Just then, everyone turned as they became aware of the sound of pounding hooves and the thunderous approach of Boomer, the young bison. The Great Forest filled with the sound of his heavy hooves. .h.i.tting the ground. There could be no mistake as the earth seemed to bounce as the sounds approached. And, obviously, he was in a hurry, for as they looked up, his figure could be seen tearing through brush, bushes, and everything else in his way as he raced toward the small group.

Iggy sat up to better view the racing bison. "Wow, oh, wow, I wonder what's up. He never hurries that way."

Sally glanced hurriedly from Biff to b.u.t.tons. Iggy was right, the small bison was literally tearing his way to them, brush and bush flying from his heels, the dust rising in small whirlwinds.

He skidded to a stop in front of b.u.t.tons, the dust rising as it did around Iggy and Biff, only to settle on all of them, causing much coughing and glares as it settled. The bison was puffing heavily, having come some distance. Taking a deep breath, he blurted out, "The White Mustang is missing. The rats have him. The herd is frantic and don't know what to do. And..." He would have continued with his staccato delivery, but b.u.t.tons interrupted.

"Easy, Boomer. Catch your breath. What do you mean 'the White Mustang is missing'?"

The young colt who was born to the herd was the latest to bear that name, only one White Mustang being born into the herd every few decades, representing the strength and freedom of all creatures, never to be broken to halter or saddle. b.u.t.tons and Sally, the only creatures having any relationship to man, had been proud to be present at his birth and knew how important he was to the horse herds of Oklahoma.

Boomer's sides heaved with the exertion of his race across the field and forest, but slowly brought himself under control.

"It's awful. What they did." He looked at each one in turn, his great brown eyes tearing up even as he spoke. None could recall the young bison ever being so badly disturbed.

Sally approached him, and sitting, peered long and hard into his sad eyes. "Out with it, Boomer. What happened?" Her ears were pulled back against her head in her mounting anger and concern.

Having overcome their initial fright over Sara's first flame, birds and other animals of the forest had slowly regained their positions around the glade. They now moved closer, their anxiety clearly rising as they listened.

Boomer, the bison continued, "It was the rats. We haven't heard anything in so long a time, we'd forgotten." He sighed, his flanks heaving with suppressed emotion. "They attacked the mare late this morning as she returned from feeding. Two attacked her forelegs, biting her hard enough to partially cripple her." His voice became steely. "It cost the two rats their lives, but it was enough to slow her." He sighed again, more loudly as he recalled the events of that terrible moment.

"Several other rats led the poor, frightened colt away." Boomer raised his head, looking long and hard at the Great Forest. He would have sobbed for the lost colt, but he was too proud.

"Frightened as he was, they couldn't make him leave his mother without nipping at him continuously. The birds and creatures in the trees saw it all. He would have fought, puny as his new legs were, but he didn't have the strength, and there were too many. They hara.s.sed him constantly. Never let him get near his frantic mother. She lost sight of them very quickly." b.u.t.tons broke in. "Look, Boomer, where did they take him? Surely, the birds could have seen."

"Yes, they did see. The birds saw it all, but only to the swamp." As an afterthought, he added, "Silly birds, they were too terrified to follow any further."

He sagged, his strength ebbing for a short while as his friends looked on.

"Easy, easy, Boomer. We're with you," b.u.t.tons spoke the minds of all there.

"Where was the herd?" queried Iggy, his eyes large in his head as he thought of the repercussions. "They must have heard."

Boomer looked at his small friend, Iggy, who was standing on his hind legs to get that little bit closer. The bison smiled briefly, "Yes, the cries of the mare could be heard, but the colt was gone before the stallions arrived. They tore the forest apart in their anger and would have attempted to cross the swamp by themselves. Fortunately, they were stopped."

Biff huffed and puffed at the news. "Well," he said, "what happened? Who could stop them? Even we, bears would have been hard-pressed against the herd."

b.u.t.tons smiled. "I can guess. Delph, the gator, right?" She glanced from one to the other, her eyes saying much for the strength and support of her friends.

"Well, it was Delph, the alligator who stopped the first rush into the swamp. But he couldn't have held them back, not even in his own domain. The stallions were furious beyond sense or fear."

Sally glanced at b.u.t.tons, and both nodded in turn. There could only be one creature who could stand up to the stallions and have any chance of coming out of it alive.

"Ssserek, the snake," they said in unison.

Boomer shuffled his hooves. "Ya, ya, it was Ssserek. Boy, did he bring those stallions to a complete stop. They practically ran over one another in their hurry to get away from him as he rose from the water at Delph's side. What a sight that was." He grinned at the recollection.

"It had been impressive, all the great stallions roaring in their anger as they entered the water, the first appearance of Delph as he porpoised into view like a superpowered submarine. The angrier young ones would have attacked the alligator, but then, suddenly and unexpectedly, there was the incredible head of Ssserek, turning from side to side as he glared at them. His hiss of anger stopped them cold in their tracks. Their anger cooled real quick in his presence and Ssserek sent me to find you."

Everyone started to speak at the same time, suggestions flying from the creatures now crowding around the hill. The noise was growing rapidly in volume, and angry words could be heard.

Everything stopped when b.u.t.tons barked, "Hold it, everyone. Just take it easy. We're all going to have work together!" Then, properly hushed, they all gathered around the small Scottie, forming a semicircle of close friends, waiting for her next words.

At first, Sara had sat totally puzzled by the sudden flurry of activity with the arrival of Boomer, the bison. But Iggy had sidled up close to her and whispered hurried explanations into her appreciative ear as the bison had explained the situation as well as telling the small dragon about the swamp, Delph, the alligator, and Ssserek the great rattlesnake. Sara's eyes grew larger as b.u.t.tons spoke again.

"First, we're going to need greater numbers and strength and size if we are to move across the swamp. The horses are too big and could never make it through the deep muck however much they might try."

"Ah, b.u.t.tons," Boomer interrupted softly. "I already told Milo, the moose as I pa.s.sed the zoo. He was under his favorite tree as usual."

b.u.t.tons grinned at Sally, then answered Boomer. "You did fine. I know of no one better able to handle the swamp. Boomer grinned broadly at the praise.

b.u.t.tons quickly organized her forest friends. "I want Elmer, the Saint Bernard. He can swim all day. She looked into the trees, seeking out a particular hummingbird. "Pip, where are you," she yipped.

The smallest and brightest of hummingbirds suddenly appeared above her head, turning upside down, the better to watch the Scottie.

"Now, remember this long enough to get them to the swamp in time," b.u.t.tons admonished the smallest of birds. "Tell Elmer where to meet us and then go find Rarebit, the frog. No one knows the swamp better than him. Now, off with you."

Pip would have responded in his usual hurried fashion, but knew all too well the importance of the White Mustang to the great horse herds and to the forest and field in general. He simply disappeared so quickly and went about his business.