b.u.t.tons was small and scared. Terror was beginning to grow deep inside. But she ignored it as she stared into the red eyes before her. She would not back down, but attack him she did, even biting him on his foreleg. But he was big and strong. Still, he squealed. And then they were all on her, or at least that's how it felt. He shouted them into order before she knew what was going on. He limped over to her, slowly walking around. She tried to turn to face him, but two big rats wouldn't let go of her, each holding onto a shoulder. Their teeth, sharp and strong, hurt. But she didn't say anything; she wouldn't give them any satisfaction. Then at his command, they began to race in at her, several at a time, nipping her as they did so. She fought back, returning bite for bite, until she could no longer move, her muscles twitching with fatigue. She sat, but would not go down on all four, turning her head back and forth, daring as best she could any who would approach her again.

Hurting all over, the terror inside grew until she thought she would faint from it alone. The rats, too, were tired of their game, though their laughter never let up. The King Rat had sat off to one side, watching, and then returned to face her.

"Bite me, will you!" He chuckled to himself, as though it were all a joke. She thought it was to himself and the others. "No, fun though this has been, I think there's a better way in which to make an impression on one so young and ferocious.

"Do it it now now!" He suddenly shouted at the two large rats. They grabbed her again, this time by either side of her neck as another grabbed her tail. There was a terrible pain. And then, they were all laughing at her, pointing at her tail.

Her tail hung limply, broken in several places, blood dripping to the brown earth. She turned and turned again, trying to see it, but could not. Then she ran, bursting through the crowd of rats, their laughter filling her head, their eyes again whirling in the air. She ran and ran. But whether it was from the rats or her broken and bleeding tail, she could not tell.

b.u.t.tons lay on her side, her legs twitching, her ears laid back against her smooth, rounded head. She whimpered in her sleep, and then began to snarl as a small red-and-white beagle rushed up the hill. It was Sally, and she stopped abruptly as she saw her best friend beginning to snarl. Sally moved forward quietly, until she stood beside b.u.t.tons. The beagle was worried, worried about her best friend and what was happening elsewhere. Well, first things first.

Sally gently nudged b.u.t.tons, poking her in the side, very gently at first, and then with greater urgency, whuffing as she did so. b.u.t.tons's legs stopped, pawing the air, and her breath came more slowly. The Scottie dog's ears perked up, and then her eyes opened. Then she leaped to her feet, snarling at Sally as though she still confronted the rat. But as full consciousness returned, she dropped her head, shame rushing over her like a blanket of fear. Trembling, she looked at her best friend, Sally. Seeing her for the first time, b.u.t.tons spoke.

"Oh, Sally, it's so awful, so terribly awful. Every time. Every time I sleep, he's there, laughing at me as they did that awful day the rats caught me." She sighed deeply. "That day."

Sally knew exactly what b.u.t.tons was speaking about, as b.u.t.tons had told her many times what had happened.

"That awful day, Sally. When they broke my tail."

She would not look backward, knowing all too well what she would see. A broken and twisted tail. It was hateful. And it had been painful, as the evil, grinning Great Rat leader made sure.

Sally nudged her, shoulder to shoulder, rubbing her head against b.u.t.tons's head. There was nothing to be said, Sally knew that, and did what she did best-quietly rea.s.sure her best friend with her presence, her gentle touch.

b.u.t.tons stood, and, taking a deep breath, said, "I won't forget. But, he will not beat me. Not even in my dreams." She looked hard at Sally. "I'm sorry to always be such a nuisance. But, but, well..."

Sally grinned. This was more like it. b.u.t.tons would recover fully from the dream. And, in time, to get on with more problems.

Slowly, b.u.t.tons stopped shivering as Sally walked shoulder to shoulder with her, rea.s.suring her again and again. Sally was slightly taller than b.u.t.tons, and whereas Sally had slender legs which one day would carry her swiftly wherever she went, b.u.t.tons was stocky, and for a female Scottie, broad in the shoulders. Both were young and greatly appreciated by the inhabitants of the field and forest for their adventurous spirits and their ability to deal with problems others could not manage. Being young, their spirits were typically high and sometimes mischievous. b.u.t.tons recovered quickly. Clearly, Sally was deeply concerned about something. Something that would test both spirit and mind. Nightmares would have to wait.

b.u.t.tons turned to Sally, questions in her eyes.

Sally nodded and then answered without being asked. "We have real problems. Well, anyway, the otters do. Something terrible has happened. They need us. Now."

Wasting no time for further discussion, both headed south towards the running river which lay at the edge of the Great Forest. Sally and b.u.t.tons broke through the forest brambles and up to the edge of the river. Two very large adult otters watched them from the opposite bank, sitting upright so nothing escaped their attention. Although the otter parents were very careful in the education of their young, playtime was theirs alone. But today, things were different, and b.u.t.tons and Sally had immediately sensed it. Something was wrong.

They turned and moved parallel to the river, several of the younger otters matching the two dogs' pace easily in the water. Reaching the dam of the beaver tribe, they carefully made their way across, being particularly careful to disturb nothing. The beavers tolerated the two, but were short-tempered at the best of times. And this was not a good time. The sense of wrong and terrible deeds hung heavily in the early morning sun which filtered through the overhanging branches.

b.u.t.tons and Sally approached the elder otters cautiously. Although very good friends with one of the younger otters, Dodger, this was no time for games. Dodger sat at one side, his silence a warning greater than action or words. He simply stared at his two friends as they approached shoulder to shoulder, inseparable friends. The two, Scottie and beagle, stopped short of the two magnificent otters. Sleek and immaculately groomed as they were, they frowned, and the larger male actually bared fangs, something that b.u.t.tons and Sally had never witnessed before in all of their many visits and many pranks among their good friends, the young otters.

The female of the pair simply stated in muted tones, "One of the small ones disappeared two days ago."

b.u.t.tons and Sally gasped. Sally blurted out, "You mean one of them drowned? Haven't you looked downstream? That's terrible."

The older and larger male dropped to all fours, glaring at the small beagle, his eyes burning into the beagle's. "No, that's not what's meant. One of them was taken. Taken right out of the den, at night, when his father and mother were absent for a few minutes."

It was Sally's turn to frown with horror and disbelief. Never in her experience had anything like it ever happened. She couldn't believe it and wanted to know more.

b.u.t.tons stared in fascinated horror also, not knowing what to do. She glanced over at Dodger who still sat, quietly watching the two. He had not moved forward.

"Surely," thought the beagle to herself, "he cannot believe we had anything to do with it."

But this was a ghastly occurrence. The otters were jealously protective of their young who freely roamed the river and its banks, oftentimes in the presence of the two dogs. Their parents had never interfered before, though it was quite uncommon for any other creatures to join the otters in ramblings along the river.

Stepping before the elders, both dogs nodded as b.u.t.tons carefully and respectfully addressed them. "Obviously, something terrible has happened. We will do what we can to help resolve the situation."

The two elders sat upright again, and surveyed the two with sharp eyes and keen wits. They needed all the help they could muster, but these two young dogs. That was a matter for due consideration, but both knew there was no time for that. They quickly made up their minds.

"Quickly follow us." The two elders moved off, followed by b.u.t.tons and Sally, glancing worriedly at one another. Dodger and two young otters followed at a distance, curiosity and fear making them watch the forest more carefully than ever before.

A muskrat slowly moved out of his den as they pa.s.sed. He peered suspiciously at the group and chirped a short question, and then moved in line behind the small group.

Their goal lay at the far end of the row of dens, and both b.u.t.tons and Sally immediately moved forward to survey the surrounding wood which was quite close. The otters had stopped and allowed the two dogs to investigate on their own. They knew that while their own noses were very good, these two excelled.

Sally moved toward the wood as b.u.t.tons carefully slipped into the den, closely followed by the two inhabitants who immediately placed themselves before their newborn. They intently watched every move, their muscles bunched in anxiety.

b.u.t.tons slowly circ.u.mnavigated the deep and comfortable den, ignoring the parents guarding their newest litter, now smaller by the absence of one. Her nose close to the ground, she slowly moved about, stopping and sniffing more closely at displaced leaves. There was a musty odor. A feeling of fear began to grow in the midst of her belly, slowing growing as she continued to move about.

Yes. There it was again, nearer the litter. Stronger, too. The sensation of evil crawled up her spine, the hackles rising involuntarily along her back. The otter parents sensed something was wrong, but could not identify it. The small dog's composure was rapidly disappearing as she moved toward the litter.

The parents glanced at one another as b.u.t.tons moved past them, not seeing the two in her concentration. She sniffed once, and then slowly took a deep breath, containing within it the sweet odor of the newborn otters and something else. She gently nudged a newborn to one side and sniffed deeply again.

b.u.t.tons's eyes were large in her head as she turned to meet the worried expressions of parents and the elder otters who had moved in to observe the Scottie's actions. b.u.t.tons had dropped her head to the ground once again after the first glance.

Stiff-legged, she moved by the otters, her nose following a trail neither otter nor dog could see, but one which was all to clear to the keen nose of b.u.t.tons, who was beginning to tremble with deep emotion. That emotion was becoming increasingly evident to the worried otters.

b.u.t.tons left the den and turned to the wood as Sally reappeared. She, too, like b.u.t.tons, was gripped by emotion and almost slipped into the river in her anxiety to reach her best friend.

The elder male otter wore streaks of silver fur on his face. His features were blank, and he said nothing. As the two dogs reached one another, his lips slowly curled upward and backward, baring large, white fangs. The normally smooth features became increasingly gaunt and fearful as the emotions emanating from the two dogs closed around him. The hair on his nape slowly rose as he moved forward to sit beside b.u.t.tons and Sally.

Sally turned to him, having to sit so that she could more clearly see his features. "Sir, b.u.t.tons knows what happened. She immediately recognized the smell."

The large otter raised himself to scan the wood, and then quickly lowered himself to all fours and moved toward b.u.t.tons who was sniffing audibly, scanning back and forth, anxiety clearly written in her quick side-to-side movements. Her small feet were a blur of movement as she covered the ground about the den and between den and forest. She was snarling and her fangs were clearly visible. Anger and fear were readily evident.

As the otter's approach caught her attention, she stopped. Though small, her defiance and anger were admirable. He paused as she slowly relaxed and the glitter in her eyes ebbed.

"You smell better than we, even after two suns have moved by. What is it that so disturbs you, little one?" The elder otter's head moved to and fro, seeking to find what disturbed the small Scottie. "Please, it is our river and our young who are endangered. Share with us what you have found."

His voice was low. Nice things were not happening. The otters moved closer to hear better. Sally waited for b.u.t.tons to speak.

b.u.t.tons looked up and at the same time began to tremble. She then moved further from the group of young ones. Turning, she addressed the elder otter. Her voice was taut and closely controlled.

She hissed, "The rat. He is back." She could say no more at the moment as her strength almost gave out, Sally's shoulder giving her more confidence than b.u.t.tons felt.

The elder knew the young dog in front of him was fearless and to see her fear made him shiver inwardly. There was more here than he and his group had suspected, and he began to wonder if he had made a mistake in not making the loss of a young one more widely known. But nothing had ever disturbed his group's peace. The River Running was always there and had been the same in his memory. Now, something of which he knew nothing was intruding itself. He looked back at the row of dens along the riverbank. This was his home, nothing could be allowed to disturb it. But he felt helpless, only the two stalwart dogs standing between his clan and a danger unknown.

He turned and lifted his silver snout to the sky and whistled a pure, rich sound that carried to all corners of the river and its inhabitants. Peremptorily, he summed the other elders. They needed to know. Noses and then eyes, followed by the sleek bodies of young and elder otters emerged from the many dens. Some slithered into the water to swiftly make their way upstream, others simply ran as never before, their supple bodies moving gracefully in their leaping, scrambling rush to answer the sudden and unexpected summons. They gathered around, on all sides, shoving and pushing to be near their leader.

Others came as well. Muskrat and beaver moved more slowly, but they got there. Deer peered with frightened eyes from dense thickets as a small bear rolled into view, splashing into the river. Birds appeared in the sky and settled on nearby limbs of bush and tree. Even a rabbit or two dared to move into the sunlight, their long ears twitching to and fro to catch the least word.

As the many animals swarmed about the elder, he motioned them to silence, indicating by a nod where they were to sit.

Sally moved alongside b.u.t.tons and pressed next to her friend's side. The elder looked down on the two dogs.

His voice was low and his fear and worry showed clearly on his aged features. There were many, and not all young, who shivered at his appearance. "b.u.t.tons," he asked, "what is it? What's wrong? Who is this rat?"

b.u.t.tons moved forward to stand before the elder, her head high, her eyes flashing in anger. Her tone was firm and her words carried to all inhabitants of the forest, field, and river present at that fateful moment.

"It is The Rat." She stopped momentarily to reconsider. "No, it is the rats, all of them. And, there are many, indeed. This is not the first time they have entered the forest, but always before it has been unknown, except to a few. They are many and they are evil, cruel, and strong. They will dare anything. As you have suffered, so will others."

At this announcement, there was a sudden rush of words from other creatures of the forest. A squirrel who sat on a limb of a tree overhanging the river cried out. "My little one. He disappeared several days ago. Oh, oh, oh," she wailed, unable to say more. Birds ruffled wings angrily, their sharp words coming like spears, stabbing at the crowded river creatures. "My eggs were stolen... Oh, my babies. Last week, it happened, our nest was robbed also..." And so it went, until the elder otter whistled them all into silence.

b.u.t.tons looked around and up at the trees. "Yes, that is what they will do. They will steal eggs and young ones. They fear nothing or no one when in great numbers. We are all threatened. All creatures of the forest and field, and, yes, river, too."

She stopped as several birds and other forest creatures hurried away to spread the word, and, more importantly, to protect their nests and dens. Nothing could stop them, and neither Sally nor b.u.t.tons could had they wanted to.

The elder otter looked down on the small dog. "How do you know all this? How did you come by such evil news?"

b.u.t.tons shuddered, her recurrent nightmares very fresh in her mind. Sally nudged her.

"Go on, tell them. They all need to know."

b.u.t.tons looked at her closest friend and gulped, her insides churning. Then in a clear voice which broke only once, she told of her meeting with King Rat and his evil and cruel minions. She left nothing out. She described his cruel and vicious minions, their mean and twisted souls, their l.u.s.t to kill and destroy. She told of the attack and said little of her attack and defense, though many could supply what was unsaid as they watched the anguish and pain of the small and brave Scottie. She relived the pain of her tail being broken and bloodied. She told of the many days that followed as her tail healed, the slow healing that left her tail curled against her rounded rump, ugly and twisted, never again to joyously fly above her back as she dashed through the forest.

She finished, "I remember his odor as though he were standing in front of me..." She sighed and looked about her.

Angry words came from all directions. Words of fear also were there, and doubt. The otters began to gather around their elder as other creatures began to do the same. Sally and b.u.t.tons looked at one another, and then b.u.t.tons took a deep breath. She did not want to say it, but it was necessary.

"There is no time for each clan to act by themselves. They will take all of us. All. One by one in the stealth and darkness of night, or during the day, if they must. Do you understand? No one can stand aside." She stepped to a higher k.n.o.b of the slopes of the river. "First," b.u.t.tons said, "we warn everyone on the river."

She looked to the young Dodger, the otter. "Off you go, take some friends. If you see Ms. Lucie, let her know everything immediately. She and the other birds see more of what pa.s.ses in the forest than anyone else, though they don't share much information with us."

b.u.t.tons and Sally glanced at the otters and then were off to the shallow ford below the dam. Over their shoulder, they shouted, "We've got to find Ssserek!"

Before Dodger had time to answer or approach the elders, the two pups had disappeared into the forest.

Dodger quickly moved toward the eldest of the elders, and sitting quietly, coughed gently to catch their attention. The eldest was silver from snout to shoulders, and he turned slowly. His eyes were deep brown, and within their depths lay much experience, knowledge, and were it known, humor.

"Well, Dodger, get on with it. We don't have all day."

Dodger was taken by surprise. "Get, get, get," he stuttered.

"On with it," replied the eldest. "Get your group together and get the message out. We serve the river, you know. No dallying. Move!"

He chuckled as Dodger grinned back in sudden comprehension.

Then Dodger moved with the lithe quickness of his kind, rapidly gathering his peers around him. Then, they all moved, some up the river, some down. There was urgency in their swiftness, but no stumbling or fumbling. They knew what had to be done. Like b.u.t.tons and Sally. They had a message to carry, and they would.

Even as Dodger disappeared into the depths of the river, Sally's bugling could be heard in the distance, calling all creatures to Ssserek's rock. As b.u.t.tons and Sally made their way through the forest, now and again they stopped so that Sally could catch her breath before sending out her piercing bugle. It was not long before reached the clearing in which Ssserek's rock was to be found. They hurried to the top to find both Ssserek and Ms. Lucie, a small sparrow of great wisdom and experience, waiting for them.

b.u.t.tons wasted no time but rushed up the small k.n.o.b of a hill to the great flat stone on top. Ssserek lay coiled up, with Ms. Lucie perched comfortably on one as she and Ssserek spoke. Both looked down on the two pups as they appeared. b.u.t.tons breathlessly spoke to the two.

"Ssserek, we need your help, both of you. The rats are out. We must stop them."

"Easy, my little one, Ms. Lucie and I were just discussing the recent depredations in the forest and field when we heard Sally's summoning bugle. Well done."

"But, Ssserek, you will help, won't you?" b.u.t.tons's tone was desperate. Under normal circ.u.mstances, Ssserek, the great serpent spent his time alone. Few creatures dare approach the rattlesnake; fewer still had any desire to do so, although all recognized his great knowledge. b.u.t.tons and Sally were the only two creatures who were to be found in his presence on any given day.

The great snake sighed. He and Ms. Lucie were just discussing the matter for both knew of the intrusion of the rats. Ssserek, of all creatures, knew them well, having met them at night as they crept about on their nefarious deeds. None survived such meetings, but it was not in his nature to pursue the matter further. The snake clan stayed to itself, having little commerce with others. He paused as he gazed down on the two small dogs, his eyes staring past them as he thought of his first meeting with b.u.t.tons. He sighed a second time. There would be no saying no to this smallest of Scotties.

As b.u.t.tons began to bounce back and forth before him, Ssserek smiled slowly. He sighed for the third, and last, time.

Ms. Lucie smiled to herself, recognizing the interplay taking place before her. b.u.t.tons's boundless energy transmitted itself to everyone around her. Ssserek was needed and b.u.t.tons was the only one who could engage his fullest attention at such a time.

Ssserek lifted his head, looking about as other creatures began to make their way into the clearing. He looked at b.u.t.tons and Sally, b.u.t.tons moving back and forth in her ceaseless and youthful impatience.

"Yesssss," he said slowly, "I will help. I have met them. What will you have me do?"

b.u.t.tons and Sally leaped upon him, joy in their voices. They turned to view the many animals slowly filling the clearing. Deer, rodent, and birds. Their leaders came, grudgingly in some cases, but they came. Soon, all were in deep conversation as b.u.t.tons and Sally spoke of the happenings along the river. Ssserek and Ms. Lucie spoke and everyone listened. Ssserek's concern was far greater than anyone knew. He spoke of the Great Swamp, the dark depths of which held Rat Island, until recently the only gathering place for the rat clan.Few could approach it and live. Fewer still wanted to see it, or its inhabitants.

Many of the larger creatures moved away from the clearing. Certainly, they had nothing to fear from rats, but the urgency in b.u.t.tons' voice kept them near. They would at least listen before going their own way. This was no concern of theirs.

Three woverines slowly moved forward, Their long coats brushed the ground with each step. The largest and the one with grayest snout led and then moved in front, parting the other creatures like a dreadnaught of old. He paused, and bowing to Ssserek, raised his head. He spoke quietly as was his habit, but his words carried to all. "We are few in number, but we know the rats for what they are. We fight!"

Ssserek nodded and went on.

"The message must go out. Everyone must know, creatures small and large, for the rats would not hesitate to attack even the larger creatures if the rats were in large numbers.''

As Ssserek and Ms. Lucie spoke, all listened. Ms. Lucie represented all birds, and her message was most urgent. She must know what was going on. Although most birds had little to do with those who walked on four legs, their vision was keen and they must share their sightings.

And so the message went out far and wide, b.u.t.tons and Sally leading the way throughout the day and into the night.

Across the fields and the Great Forest, even across the Great Swamp itself, the message went out. Deep into the forest and swamp it went. All small creatures, rodents, and others gathered and talked. They had the most to fear.

The birds, at Ms. Lucie's encouragement, became increasingly involved and their patrols could be seen pa.s.sing to and fro overhead. Squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, field mice, and others watched and listened. Nights were long and the usual rustlings and movements were quieted.

All the wild hogs and peccaries, Biff the bear and his kin, the deer, and others soon became more involved. No one could be left out. None were.

Still, even with the best of watchfulness, the depredations against the young ones continued. The soft chirruping call for a lost young one could be heard each morning. Even the birds in their nests were not immune. Ducks, geese, and other water birds suffered the greatest losses, their precious eggs disappearing with regularity. Fox, ferret, and coyote began to patrol the edges of ponds, their appet.i.tes whetted on an anger never before experienced, honed by the carnage about them.

b.u.t.tons and Sally were everywhere, speaking to everyone they met. Natural enemies must come together. The attacks were tearing the very fabric of the forest, field, and river apart. The loss of young ones would deplete the forest and field of all life. The loss of beavers threatened water supplies of the herds of mustangs and other larger animals. Small pools of once clean and clear water were being fouled by the rats. Diseases heretofore unknown were beginning to appear.

Rodents of the fields, like the water birds, suffered untold deaths. Even fawns had been attacked by increasingly larger groups of rats who would suddenly leap upon the sleeping creature in the still of the night, ripping the life from the young before the doe could react. Rabbits were pursued into their complex warrens, prairie dog towns disappeared, and increasingly, bold, single rats could be seen during the day, insolently sitting in open areas, sunning themselves where once the young innocently played.

Nightly, b.u.t.tons and Sally patrolled the fields to listen to the messages and words being pa.s.sed across the land. Even their keen ears could not pick up the pa.s.sage of small feet and hungry, red eyes that moved closer and closer to the Great Field.

Then one day, they were moving toward the forest along a well-known trail when suddenly their pa.s.sage was blocked by the enormous figure of their friend, Biff, the black bear.

He woofed gently as his short-sighted eyes peered down at them. He knew them well, but still his bulk prevented their movement forward along the trail.