Poppy and Ereth (14 page)

F
OR FIVE DAYS
the fire raged, roared, and ravaged Dimwood Forest, and then gradually died away.

On the sixth day curls of smoke continued to trickle upward like whispered memories, while the charred trees stood like tall, crooked skeletons. Nothing moved. The earth was burnt over black. The land was silent and hot. Dimwood Forest was no more.

On the seventh day rain began to fall. It fell softly, as if the sky were kissing the earth.

I
T TOOK A FULL MONTH
for the smoldering ground that had been Dimwood Forest to cool. Gradually, the mice began to emerge from the bat cave. Though there were those who went elsewhere, some made their way back to the places they had once lived. Slowly, their lives resumed.

Among those who returned to the forest area were Poppy and her immediate family. And Ereth.

The old porcupine was pleased that Poppy had not died, pleased that he did not have to smile anymore, pleased that he was free to swear again, pleased to know where he had a life's supply of salt.

One day Poppy was sitting on a rock surveying the fire's destruction when Bounder appeared quite suddenly and sat down before her. “Glad to see you're okay,” he said.

“You too,” returned Poppy. “Bounder, I can't thank you
enough. That was quite a ride.”

“It sure was,” said the fox.

“Were your children all right?” asked Poppy.

“Sure. A little singed, but fine. Yours?”

“Very much so. Thanks to you, everyone was saved.”

“Glad to hear it.” Bounder stood up. “Hey, mouse,” he said with a toothy grin, “I'll catch you next time.” He turned and trotted away. Just before he took a bend in the path, he looked back, winked, wagged his tail, and then went on.

Poppy never saw Bounder again.

 

It was a week later, twilight. The air was sweet and dew laden. The sun, setting in the west, filled the cloud-laced sky with strokes of purple and orange. Poppy and Ereth sat atop Bannock Hill. Spruce was with them. For a long while they sat in silence. Then suddenly Poppy cried, “Ereth, Spruce, look over there!”

Spruce looked where Poppy pointed, but the porcupine only muttered, “Toasted tiddlywinks on toast. I don't feel like looking at anything.”

“No, really, Ereth. You
must
look,” insisted Poppy, and she scampered a few feet. “Please come over here!” Spruce joined her.

With a loud grunt, Ereth heaved himself up and waddled reluctantly to where Poppy was peering down at the ground. “What is it?” he demanded.

“Just look!” she insisted.

Ereth and Spruce stared where Poppy was pointing. A tiny green shoot no more than an inch high had pushed up through the blackened earth.

“Things are starting to grow again,” cried Poppy.

“Does that mean the whole forest will come back?” asked Spruce.

“I think so,” said Poppy.

“So what?” muttered Ereth. “You won't be here.”

“Ereth,” said Poppy, “how many times do I have to tell you? I need to go to another place for a while. I want to see what else there is in the world before I get too old. And Spruce said he would come with me.”

“Why Spruce?” demanded Ereth.

“‘A mouse has to do what a mouse has to do,'” Spruce said.

“That's not you talking, that's Ragweed,” Ereth grumbled. “Always Ragweed.”

“Grandma says you should come too,” said Spruce.

Ereth turned to Poppy. “Why can't you stay here?” he demanded.

“Because when I visited the bat cave I learned that there's a whole lot beyond Dimwood Forest. I want to see even more.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“Ereth,” returned Poppy, “with the forest gone, the bats can't find enough insects to live on. They've found a new home in an old mine in another forest some miles from here. I'm going with them.”

“You're not a bat,” said Ereth.

“I like bats,” said Spruce. “They're fun. Luci takes me flying all the time. We're best friends. We're going
to have adventures.”

“Ereth,” said Poppy, “it's like what Oldwing said. As long as you try, you're young. Now, it's twilight. Luci will be here in a few moments to take me. I wish you would come with us.”

“Uncle Ereth, the bats offered to take you too,” said Spruce.

Ereth shook his head. “I'll never fly again.”

“Walk, then,” said Poppy. “I've told you how to get there. It's not that far. Go straight north.”

“I'm too old to move,” Ereth objected. “Anyway, there's all that salt you found for me. I'd be a fool to leave that.”

“Then, Ereth, at least promise me that you'll visit.”

“Greedy green geese! I'm not promising anything to anyone.”

“Then, my dear, dear friend, we have to say good-bye.”

“I said good-bye to you once,” cried Ereth. “I don't intend to say it again!”

“Then…what else can we say?” asked Poppy, her eyes filling with tears.

“Nothing!” snapped Ereth. “Just go. Forget about me. I'll forget you, too. Have yourself a grand old time. So will I.”

Poppy peered up into Ereth's face. “Oh, Ereth, I do love you,” she said. “You really have been the best of friends. Thank you for always being you.”

“Just go!” shouted the porcupine.

Even as they stared at each other, Luci and another bat arrived in a flutter of wings.

“Miss Poppy!” cried Luci. “Spruce! We're here. Are you ready?”

“Almost,” said Poppy. She stood up on her rear toes and gave Ereth a kiss on the tip of his nose. “Good-bye, my dear, dear friend,” she said. “I will always miss you!”

“Go away!” yelled Ereth, and he turned his prickly back on her.

“I will,” said Poppy. To Luci she said, “I'm ready.”

“Bye, Mr. Ereth,” called Luci. “If you change your mind, you can come too. We'll take you.” She giggled. “Belly up!”

“Never!” growled Ereth.

Poppy lay down. Luci hovered over her, gripped her back as gently as she could, and lifted her in the air. The other bat did the same to Spruce.

“Good-bye, Ereth,” Poppy called down as she and Luci circled upward. “Good-bye!”

“Good-bye, Uncle Ereth!” called Spruce.

And off they flew.

Ereth turned and stared after Poppy, watching as she headed north, then disappeared into the sky. The old porcupine shifted about and gazed in the direction of the bat cave, where all that salt was waiting for him—enough
salt for the rest of his life. Ten lives.

He shut his eyes and lifted a paw to touch the tip of his nose.

Suddenly Ereth opened his eyes and bellowed, “Baggy buffalo boxers! Poppy! Spruce! You tiny tuffs of tinsel wits! Wait! I've changed my mind. I'm coming too!”

And the porcupine began to run in a northerly direction.

I
CE
L
EAF

A green summer leaf
Embraced by the frozen ice
Keeps memories warm