The Adventures of Caleb and Luke (In Progress)

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1. The Fox & the Chicken2

Just two old hounds staring at the moon, well Luke was anyway, Caleb was asleep, with one eye sorta open. Luke didn’t know what he was starin at, or didn’t remember anyway, Luke was old, you see, and didn’t remember yesterday, or even today, or ten minutes ago, even for a dog he was old, and if he could remember he’d remember Caleb when he was a pup, and Caleb was old now too, you see. Anyway, they was looking at the moon, which was full, and it was after all summertime and it was warm and all, and Caleb was half asleep, which he was mostly anyway, being lazy as he was, even during the day, especially now that it was warm, and he didn’t have to bother getting up and stirring about, which he had to when it was cold, cause he got all stiff and stuff. In the summer he could wake up for a time and walk over to the to creek or the trough and get a drink, old Luke a following cause Luke knew though he couldn’t remember that Caleb wouldn’t just get up and go somewhere for no good reason. Sometimes though Caleb wouldn’t make it back from the waterin hole, just plopping down where he was and heading back to sleep, as it was easier to do right there instead of way over there, which after all was a good piece to go just to lay back down again. Luke would think about it awhile, ruminating so to speak like the Folk in the big house were like to do, then he’d sit and scratch a flea or two, real slow cause he couldn’t move like he used to do and then he’d lay down too. But they was looking at the moon, or Luke thought he was, though he didn’t know it, and all of a sudden he goes “Yup” like he’d thought of somethin, which woke up Caleb, and all the young hounds in the pen, who started to baying to beat the band, cause the moon was up and they thought they was supposed to do that, and Caleb went ”mmmph”, and looked Luke square in the eye, cause Luke didn’t often have much to say, being quiet on top of being old and all, “Chicken”, was all he said,  and that got Caleb stirred cause chicken was one of his most favorite things. 3

Mornings he’d get up, or as up as he ever got and watch them clucking and pecking about the yard, staring back at him with their one eye, cocking their head and turning to looking at him with the other eye clucking and pecking just a little more, cause they didn’t trust him, not at all. Thing was though now he had to get up and think about it some, cause once you got to thinking bout chickens there was just no getting around it, he figured old Luke had done it on purpose, waking him up get him thinking bout chickens, get him stirred up so he had to at least go get a drink at the trough, which was the nearest, but not as good as the creek, which was a good bit farther away, oh, a powerful lot of thinking went on since Luke woke him up, cause he was remembering when he was just a pup and him and Luke had wandered off from the pack  because they were not, on top of everything else very good hunting dogs. Caleb being lazy anyway, as you know, and Luke was already old and slow, and couldn’t remember what they was doing out there anyway, and they came upon a little farm with a whole yard full of chickens, with none of the Folks about and Caleb not knowing what came over him went bursting in running, running like he didn’t know what, and he didn’t, cause there was some kind of madness in him, and old Luke sitting there watching him, getting after another flea or two, and finally after making a terrible mess a knocking over broom, and buckets and mops, scattering chickens everywhere, he snatched one up in his strong young  jaws and went running off  to the woods, old Luke sighed, got up and stretched and went amblin off after him, being old and all, he wasn’t in no hurry.4

Now, unbeknownst to them old hounds at the time, and for a long time thereafter, and never known to Caleb, Luke wouldn’t have remembered anyhow, there was a young Fox watching all these goings on from the edge of the woods, he spent a lot time there a watchin and a waiting for a chance to get one of them chickens, a time or two he’d snatched one up real quiet like and went runnin off, he had to be careful, as the Folk was apt to be watchin for him and would come a runnin out with that gun of his a shootin and cursin, most times he was pretty careful and that didn’t happen but there was a time or two when it did and it was pretty terryfyin. 5

That Fox didn’t have a name, not one I ever learned anyway, and I probably couldn’t have pronounced it anyway, it being in Fox and all, them havin their own language bout things as they were wild critters and didn’t have much to do with farm things, cept for stealing a chicken or two here and there. He did have a wife though, we’d call her a wife, they was always together and had youngins and all, which was why he was stealing them chickens in the first place, them being more or less easy pickens, and them youngins always yapping bout being hungry and all. They was right nearby when all this was a going on, but you wouldn’t ever know, since she was really shy and didn’t like being seen at all, Fox didn’t even know for sure where she was and he was right there, when Caleb and Luke went blundering by on their way to God knows where with chicken feathers flying and the hounds in the distance howling, and bout this time the Folk rushing out with gun in hand making loud noises with his mouth bout murder and thieves and the gun going off, and his own pups yipping and yelling about chickens and things.6

“Just mice today, boys,” he said, which wasn’t too accurate cause two of his pups were girls, and off he disappeared into the woods in the wink of an eye. Now as he was amblin along one of his favorite paths a snatching this chipmunk or that mouse that wasn’t too careful,  he got to thinking bout them two hounds with that chicken, that’s the way foxes are being clever, they was always thinking bout things, sometimes when they shouldn’t be, anyway he was wonderin just what they might be up to carryin that chicken around so he decides to cut around and come out back on top them a little ways further down.7

Now bout this time young Caleb’s gettin tired, the madness dying down a bit and he finds himself in the woods with a chicken in his mouth and old Luke a amblin up behind. So he sits a spell, and old Luke never one to miss an opportunity sits a spell as well, as there seemed to be time to get after another flea or two, and he wasn’t in no hurry any way, and Caleb was a sittin there, lookin really stupid with that chicken in his mouth and the feathers still floatin around, Luke figured that with all this walking he might as well lay down a while as Caleb didn’t seem to have any idea what he was a doin anyway. So, he did, right there on one of Fox’s paths, though if you asked him he’d swear he didn’t know it, as he wasn’t much of a hunting dog, not right then anyway, but that’s another story that I might get to after while.8

Caleb put the chicken down, real careful, opening his mouth real slow when he got it on the ground, not really sure, I guess, what that dead chicken was going to do. It didn’t do much so he sat down on his butt with his legs sticking out in front of him, and his tongue a hangin out and looked at it for a while, decidin what to do, I suppose.  About this time Fox arrived, popping his head real careful over the rise to see what them dumb dogs was doing. Not much, he surmised taking in the scene, so he laid down with his head between his paws bein real patient as he wasn’t so stupid as to go rushin in there and try snatchin that chicken out from under their nose, though he smiled at the notion, as he was always thinkin, but being sly he figured somethin might happen or be caused to happen that might change things a bit.9

Now, after all this Caleb was a bit winded, all this rushin about being contrary to his natural nature and all, and he was a mite confused about what he should do with this chicken, whether he should eat it or not, things like that, but being really out of his nature and more or less lost in these woods. though he figured he could find his way home having his nose and all, and the chicken laying there and all warm and all and old Luke passed out on the path, well, it was just too much to think about so he proceeded to dig a hole to put that chicken in.10

Well, as you might imagine Fox’s ears stood straight up at that, seeing that big old dog a digging away and the dirt flying out between his legs.11

Caleb was a figuring that he leave this chicken here, and come back for it after a bit, after he got rested up, and got his mind back on its general paths, where things was calm and all, so he was digging that hole as fast as he could go so he’d be done and could rest awhile before heading back home. Luke about this time was a wakin up, being pelted with dirt by some crazy dog will do that for you, and he looked at Caleb like he was crazy, which he was somewhat at the time, and he gave him his sternest look and went amblin off toward home, cause even though he was more or less lost in these woods, he knew his way home, even knew if you had asked him, that Fox was watching them, and where he was, though he probably wouldn’t remember tommorow, or even in ten minutes, but he knew deep down inside, and he didn’t care much about that chicken, but he knew it was suppertime, and he knew he had to get to his proper place afore the sun went down to keep the warmth in the ground, that being important to a restful night. So, he goes amblin off, after giving Caleb that awful look like I said, and Caleb still digging away, looks up and sees him going grabs his chicken up and starts stuffing it in the hole and covering it up real quick, cause he don‘t like being in the woods alone, not being much of a huntin dog at all, and not having any idea that Fox is watching him just above the hole.12

And Fox now he‘s all a tremble seeing what‘s going on, every muscle he‘s got just twitchin as he waits for those dumb dogs to get down the hill and make the bend towards home. “Free Chicken tonight”, he’s thinking, as them dogs make that bend and turn towards home, as soon as they do he’s off that rise, and plucks that chicken from the hole, and up the hill and into the woods, and just as soon as he does he’s tackled by his kids, a snatchin that chicken off.13

Well, he sits down agrinnin cause he don’t like chicken all that much, being all the trouble that they are, preferring mouse and chipmunk and other furry things, but the little ones did, and it had been after all a long day.14

And that’s the story of how Caleb got woke up, and got to thinking, and was a long time gettin back to sleep, though Luke was soon a snoring after the young ones settled down and slept contentedly until the sun was well up the next morning. 15

2. Ashley16

Sometime you just got to make allowances for the way things are. Sometimes its just hard.17

Now the day that Caleb lost that chicken, and Fox got his dinner, something else happened at the farm that would for many a night keep Caleb awake in the times to come.18

When Caleb and Luke got home that day, they found the farm all atwitter, seems the Folk had brought a puppy home, having gone out and paid cash dollar for her, she was what they called a collie, and she came all wrapped up in ribbons and bows.19

When they came draggin in, all  hang me down and tired, they found that girl a runnin free and getting into everything, the hounds were all back home, just frenzied as could be, watching this pup bouncing in and out of everything.20

Even Hiram the pig was not above her curiosity, and if you must know he found it all very undignified, though he was covered in mud and grime, and was almost as bad as Caleb was about getting up and doing anything, but there she was a bitin at his tail, and yapping in his face, and this was just not done, old Hiram had his space, no-one, no-one disturbed him as he was a mite short tempered and awful awful big. But she did.21

Caleb and Luke was a headed toward their spot, Caleb figured he’d sleep for a week, or at least until tomorrow, he was still thinking about that chicken, not knowing about Fox already stealing it, though Fox might have objected to that word, though I think he’d have smiled when he did. Luke, of course had already forgotten about all that, he was headed for his spot as the sun was almost gone and he was a mite putout what with all the hubbub that had already occurred, and not quite aware of the breaking storm just ahead.22

Just as they reached their spot, and prepared to settle down, Ashley lost interest in tormenting Hiram, as he was agettin awful mad and did not quite know what to do, oh he was gruntin and groanin, and spinnin around, and Ash was runnin in and out and all round yippin and nippin at his knees and tail, grabbin at his whiskers, till Hiram was all out of breath and quite beside himself, if you could say that about a hog who took up all of his pen as it was. Anyway, she saw Caleb and Luke and ran over to introduce herself, she was always that way, never waiting to be introduced but rushing over to offer you her paw, bowing, and cavorting as if she’d known you all along. and you were the best friend she ever had. And you were, at least as long she was with you, which was never long as she always off to find something new, until she met Bo, but that’s a ways yet and will have to wait.23

Now Caleb was generally the pleasant sort, always willing to walk with you a ways, exchange a pleasantry or two, and if it had been any other day but this, with all the excitement that he had, all the running that he’d done, all the sleep he’d lost, that most of all, well things might have been different, he might have even ran about for a time, as it was he growled, even Luke was surprised, and Ashley, swelled up big, and got all this hurt on her face, and ran away to what would become her place in times to come when things weren’t right, or she just wanted to be by herself, just a place under the old wood porch, a place just big enough for her, a place that was dark and cool, and in time came to smell of her, one of her  pink ribbons snagged that day, as she lost it in her distress, it hung there for a long long time, finally losing its color in the wind and rain and snow. Later on, Bo found it, and took it home, but everyone knew it was gone.24

Caleb was dismayed, and sat back on his butt his back legs sticking out in front of him, his tongue a hanging out. Old Luke was the hero that day, stepping up his pace from amble just a bit, he wandered over where she was laid down and put his big old head upon his paws and just looked at her until she ventured out, instantly herself again, much to old Luke’s chagrin, as she danced all over him.25

Well, the sun was goin down, and the Folks, well they called her in, much to Luke’s relief, and she had a spot in there too, the big window where she could keep her eye on things, she always looked sad in there a looking out, but not that day, she was happy as could be.26

3. Bo27

Now when Bo was six weeks old, he could still fit in the palm of your hand, he got a mite bigger after that, but times were hard startin out. He was born under under the old covered bridge, and his momma was sick when he came into the world, he had a couple brothers, and a sister but they were called home after a day or two, and his momma did the best she could for him, getting scraps and bones the Folk left lying about, but she was sick, and she got worse and one day, she didn’t come home, and he was all alone.28

A little Folk found him, he’d been fishing along the bank with an old willow stick, and heard this crying sound. Oh, but Bo was fierce when he was found, a growling and showing his tiny teeth. He was wild and wanted no truck with anyone. Well that little Folk wasn’t scared, and plucked him up wrapped in his handkerchief and took him home. Bo’s luck changed that day, though no one was too sure about that as he wandered in and out of here for a couple of days, until the food they gave him took hold, and he got up and started exploring the new world he found himself in, oh he was still surly and wouldn’t let anyone near him, matter of fact the only one that could do anything with him was that little Folk, and it stayed that way for a long time. Mighta been the way he came into the world, or it just might have been his nature, but he didn’t trust much, and never would, at least until Ashley, and then that too was gone.29

He was the only dog around, and other than the little Folk, and his folk there was only the cat, Penny, and she was meaner than he was so he left her pretty much alone as he learned early what her claws could do if he got too close. She was ginger colored and awful fat, and she was queen of all she surveyed, and no matter how big Bo got, and no matter how many fights he got into with other critters round about in the times to come she was always more than his match, and other than that little Folk she was the only friend he had a growin up.30

Bo was curious, always learnin bout things the hard way, mostly by blundering into things and banging his head. Stoves for instance, if he  didn’t get kicked he was forever sticking his nose into those smells, and getting his whiskers burnt, and then he he’d walk around for a couple days smelling of burnt hair. After a while he learned, but he never did really understand why he couldn’t get at those smells, and get that food that he knew was there. If there was cooking going on he was there, or somewhere near waiting for the food to come out, cause you know early on, I think it was the early days that haunted him, and the lack of food was something that was always on his mind.31

Pillows, now, and curtains, and rugs that weren’t nailed down, were the things that got him banished to the world outside. His Little Folks Momma was a pleasant sort, the kind you wish you knew, with a pleasant word for everyone, and always a morsel in her hand, young Bo almost trusted her, but then things got out of hand, cause when Bo was left alone his curiosity got the better of him, like them pillows, just what the heck was inside, turned out to be feathers, or them curtains what kept them standing up, not a lot,  he found. “Oh, he won’t get into much”, she said herself, aheadin out the door, young Bo a sittin there his eyes all big with wonderin if they’d be comin home, he knew what it was like to be alone, and it scared him some. 32

But there he was, all alone, and nothing much to do. He looked out the window some, but that wasn’t a lot of fun, and he needed something just to keep him entertained, oh you may surmise the rest, how he found those pillows and decided to look inside, and the curtains, well they hid the world outside a bit, besides just standin there, so he rearranged a bit, that’s all.33

Now when the Folks came and they found the feathers everywhere, and curtains redesigned as rugs and ripped and torn a bit, to boot, well Bo, was off to outside, and a whole new, brand new world. Oh, she sighed, and that little Folk he cried, and that ginger cat came home, came wandering in, into the middle of the chaos and sat and licked her paws as if she knew it all along. 34

That first night, all alone in the shed, angry and hurt and not understanding what had happened to him, or really knowing what he‘d done; the mice a poppin up and grinnin at him, the occasional possum comin through their favorite hole along their favorite route, their eyes catchin a piece of light in the darkness. It all gave him a fright and he cried all night long. He had his water and his bowl, but he knocked them over a scratchin at the door, and almost broke his nose stickin it in the cracks and smellin at the world outside. Oh, he knocked over the paint, and the jars of different things that were there upon the shelves, the rakes and things, well everything went down, and when the morning came, the little Folk found him right there in the middle of the mess he’d made, his tail a beating fast, and just as happy as could be, and you know he was in trouble again, but between the two of them it didn’t matter much.35

4. Hiram’s Escapade36

Now, Hiram was out of sorts, much put upon, his dignity impinged,37

his usual nap interrupted, why all sorts of things were annoying him, though he really couldn’t have said why though it most probably had to do with that new dog and her invasion of his sovereign domain, embarrassing him, you know. Majesty is like that, always careful of itself less someone gets to thinking that they’re just as good as you. Well, Ashley, didn’t know all that, but Hiram was not about to let it go, as he rummaged and grunted about his pen, revenge upon his mind. There is, however, something you should know, pigs is pretty smart, and Hiram, for all his tiny eyes and big nose was just as smart as any, and something else too, that might be of interest seems when it comes to eating, well to a pig, specially a big one like Hiram, everything else takes second place, even an affront to one’s dignity, which at the time was all Hiram was a thinkin about. And to tell the truth he was a thinkin pretty hard about it all, so hard that he decided he was leavin home. To that end, he cleared away the hole he’d been makin for years, nothin like a little foresight in a hog, he’d really not thought about using it, it was there, just in case, but one doesn’t like to miss a meal, so like I said, it was there just in case. So, Hiram was a sittin there, his back legs sticking out in front of him, like Caleb was apt to do, a starin at the hole, the moon was not yet up, and things were quiet about the yards, even the hounds were fast asleep, all the chickens had their heads stuck in their wings, and only the mice were up and about a carrying away the corn and hayseed lying about. They had their own concerns, and weren’t much interested in what Hiram was doing, anyway.38

And Hiram was a squeezing through that hole, he’d determined he was leavin home. There was a bit of crashing and bending of boards, not quite enough to wake those lazy dogs, though they stirred and Hiram had to stop a moment to catch his breath as the hole wasn’t quite so big as he had thought, though it may be that he had grown a bit since he’d last worked on it, being lazy as he was he often just put it off, just to catch another nap or two.39

But anyway, after a bit more gruntin and a scrape or two he made it through, and there he was a standin free, a bit of dirt stuck up his nose. Now, there was two things old Hiram hadn’t counted on in all his calculations and his plots, one was the potato patch just across the cattle path, and the other was a smart young pup, who wasn’t sleeping too well in her brand new home. Hiram blew that piece of dirt out of his nose and sucked in some new air filled with the smell of them potato plants, a smell he knew all too well, having spent a lot of rainy days in his pen with the aroma driftin past. And like I said everything was second to a big old hog when it came to eating, and he was off as quick as he could go across that cattle path and down that row of taters, plowing them up just as pretty as you please.40

Ashley, wasn’t sleeping well, everything was new you see. They’d given her a pretty basket and some toys, but really, they weren’t hers as yet and she was restless as could be. Tossing and turning, her eyes wide open yet, her head upon her paws, and up and down at each tiny sound, it’s no wonder she heard the cracking of the boards, faint though it was from where she was, oh quick as a wink she was in the window looking out, knowing something wasn’t right, but not quite sure what, but she was looking hard. She couldn’t see quite so good as a cat, who wouldn’t have cared anyway, but she could see pretty good, and she saw old Hiram go, and start diggin up that patch. Oh, up and down she’d go, a yippin as she went, her tiny barks a mighty sound in that big old silent house. The hounds outside began to howl, they woke young Caleb up, even Luke got up and looked around, and lights came on, and Folks they stirred, and Hiram kept on plowin up that field, oblivious to it all. Well, they opened the door, and Little Ashley was a blur across the yard, barking and yippin in an exited way she went barrelin into that old hog who was halfway down that tater patch by now.41

They went and got him, and took him home, and patched up that hole, and scolded him some, not much you can do to a wayward pig, you know, and things got settled down. Ashley, of course was much put upon, oh, smiles, and praises, and a brand new bone all of which spoiled her some, and that would cause her trouble of course in times to come.42

Thing was, young Caleb missed his sleep again, and old Luke, well he just smiled.43

5. Caleb goes to retrieve his chicken44

Well, after a time the sun came up, as it is wont to do, and things started stirrin bout the yard, pretty much as usual, the chickens a huntin and pecking, the hounds bouncin about their pen a yappin at everything. Old Luke was up and about stretchin his tired old bones, and makin his usual rounds, a heidy ho to Hiram, and once around the barn, a disdainful look at all the hounds, who were always happy to see him, and back to his spot for a spell.45

Well, now Caleb usually would tag along while Luke made his round, but this mornin he was still fast asleep, with his legs stuck up in the air, all the doings of the day just past had taken their toll and he had a lot of sleep to catch up on, but you know that won’t last.46

Ashley came bounding out, and brought with her the instant uproar of her presence, naturally fastening on Caleb’s snoring form for her affections she woke him up, with nips and yips, and bounding back and forth, and off she darted to see what Hiram was doing and off and on and all about she woke the sleepy farm.47

Caleb groaned and rolled awake, and struggled up and off and headed to the creek without even thinking that it was the long way round. There wasn’t nothing much in his head as yet, the fog hadn’t cleared you know.48

It’s the way it is you know when nothing’s worrying at you and you just go along letting the days trip away. But a drink and a moments peace can do wonders, and it wasn’t long before the thought of that chicken justa laying in that hole began to percolate inside that lazy head of his, and he sat up straight and determined he should go and bring that chicken home. Now old Luke’s a watchin all this, and it’s almost like he could see the wheels a turnin in that dumb dog’s head, at any rate he knew that somethin was a goin on, cause you know he didn’t remember much, or so he said.  Anyway, he determined he would keep an eye on Caleb just to see what he did. 49

Caleb scratched a flea or two that had gotten lodged about his ear, and he sat and figured for a while, that chicken running around inside his empty head, another scratch or two, and up he gets and off he goes. Luke shambles to his feet, and gets his amble up and rolling and shortly follows along, as Caleb heads across the creek and down the meadow towards the wood.50

Now you might surmise if you’ve been paying attention that there’s a pair of young eyes about that don’t miss much, and she’s wondering just what’s goin on, these two old hounds a marchin off with somethin on their minds.51

Well, you know, she’s goin to follow along but there’s just one problem though, the creek, she’s never been wet in her life, cept for bath’s and she don’t like them much. Well, nothing for it she thinks and leaps, alas a little short and her back end gets all wet. She’s furious, first shaking this back leg, then that then shaking all around, all the time watching those two two old hounds getting farther and farther down the lane. “oh, drat,” she thinks, now complicated by a burr, fallen from a bush on the edge of the creek. And off she goes, after them two hounds, just now the at  the edges of the wood. Her glossy coat ripples in the wind as she runs, her tail streams out behind, too late, too late, the hounds disappear in the darkness of the wood.52

She pulled up short and looked around, a chipmunk on a stump yapped at her, the way they do, all quick and fast and disappeared, causing her to start and take a backward step, and an awkward yip at being startled thataway. A couple cautious step towards the stump, then she got brave and marched all the way round looking for that surly little knave, who barked again from the edge of the wood and just as quickly as before vanished into the darkness just beyond the trees.53

While all this was goin on, of course, them two hounds were still marching through the woods, headed for that buried chicken, by this time, Caleb was afigurin he’d just eat that chicken whole when they got there, as his stomach was grOwlin and he’d missed breakfast in his haste anyhow. Old Luke’s thoughts were his own, you know, as he ambled along, not rememberin much leaves a lot of room, but still old Luke was pretty old and had already thought most things, and really didn’t need to go through it all again. “Cides like I said a while ago, he figured Caleb wouldn’t just get up and go off somewhere without some reason of his own and he was there to tag along. 54

Now, in the summer like it was, and specially in the morning the woods was full of noisy things, the birds a singin at each other in the trees, a woodpecker here and there a banging away at some ancient tree, a blue jay screechin at some sleepy Owl who wouldn’t move away, the squirrels darting here and there, gettin ready for winter already, saving this and that. Yup, just about all the critters were round about abusy with the things they do on a summer day when the the sun is out, and nothing much is doing to disturb their tranquility.55

As Ashley was about to find out, cause she was determined to find them hounds. Now you probably know how dark an old wood can get even on a fine summer day, and all those sounds can be pretty frightenin to a youngin who’s never been alone before, let alone, alone in the woods where she’s never been before, and it wasn’t long before Ashley was coming to regret her decision to follow those hounds down thisaway All the different smells were confusing, and those of Luke and Caleb, which she already knew well, were just one of the many that assailed her, and added to her confusion. 56

Now one of the things about Ash was that once she made up her mind about something, it was fixed. Nothing, was going to change it, she was going to see it through no matter what, so on she went, somewhat cautiously as you might imagine, but on nonetheless.57

Now, the boys had come up on that hole where Caleb had put his chicken, and of course, had found it empty. And Caleb was sniffing all around, but not being no hunting dog he didn’t know what he found, so he just sat down, his stomach growling and his breakfast missed for sure. He was a mite put out. Old Luke was a scratching fleas, debating in his head about all this activity, and looking at that empty hole. I suspect but I ain’t too sure that he knew about that Fox, and how he took that chicken, cause if you was a dog and had any nose at all the smell of that fox would have been all around that hole. Caleb of course didn’t know, he just wasn’t born with that gift.58

Luke got done a scratchin after that flea, figuring I suppose that there was nothing much more to be done here got up and started off towards home. This time it was Caleb following along, sorely disappointed as he was, he walked real slow, conservin his energy I suppose.59

Ash was sorting things out, finding them in the different scents she found, cautiously walking along, her fright lessened a bit by all the things she saw. Bad things mostly happen sudden; seems like before you even know it things get turned upside down. There were a lot things she didn’t know about out here, and one of them was skunks, and the first one that she met didn’t like her one bit, and sprayed her down before she even had a chance to make his acquaintance, which was the way she generally went about things as you know, but in the woods that mostly didn’t work. With skunks, it’s best to go the long way round anyhow, if you see ‘em quick enough.60

‘Bout this time, the boys came round the bend, a headin home you know, poor Ash, stinking of skunk, aghast at what had happened, goes running for their protection, the skunk having done his work goes marching off his tail proudly in the air, and of course, Caleb and Luke wanted nothing to do with him, or with Ash for that matter as she stunk. So they gave her a wide berth and tried to go around, but that didn’t work as she was so happy to see them that she jumped all over them and pretty soon they all smelled of skunk, and that’s the way were when they all came draggin home.61

Well, Ash got that hated bath, several in fact, but it was still a few days before she smelled anywhere near as good as the day when she first arrived.62

And the Boys? Well they just stank for a few days, and the hounds in the pen laughed and jumped and just generally had a good time with it all until the smell went away pretty much on its own.63

6. The Deer64

Now then, Bo was a growin up, the days turned the seasons round, and Bo got bigger. 65

Some months after his adventure in the shed Bo was finding himself at loose ends, just restless I guess, as a young dog will get when there’s nothing much to do cept waiting on your Folk to come back from wherever he goes,66

Long about this time he was laying on the porch one day, Penny was up on the banister starin at him as though he was this awful worm, but that just the way she was so he didn’t pay her too much mind being pretty much used to her by now. He had been all about the meadows, making the acquaintance of some its denizens, the rabbits that he chased around till he was too tired anymore, and the field mice he tried to dig out of what he was beginning to think were endless holes cause he hadn’t caught one yet. 67

Now, it looked as though it was about to rain, dark clouds were gatherin and there were streaks of light and the sound of distant thunder, young Bo rises and stretches, a quick feint but she still gets his whiskers and settles back with her cold gold eyes straight at him, she settles a bit. Bo’s a bit different than when we saw him last, filled out, not quite what he would be in a while,  but nearly ready, whole lot bigger than that teacup pup we saw, Penny’s still fat. 68

Getting dark, too. Penny flew through the door. Bo figured he’d take a look around, and walked down off the porch. Standing there he caught a scent, a scent he did not know, but strong it was and powerful and it led him off, down towards the meadow and the glens.69

He followed the scent, drunk, I’m afraid. He saw it, on a little rise, and with no thought at all, charged.  The deer turned, it’s antlers catching in a flash of lightning, at first it thought to stand it’s ground, but  it turned and ran, bounding away, thinking the dog would turn around, but it didn’t it kept doggedly on. So through the night they ran, through the rain and thunder through meadow and forest and glen and back again. The deer began to tire, and turned to face this dog that wouldn’t leave.70

And this was an, old old challenge, drifting back in time. Bo felt it in his bones, as things felt that do not change from the beginning of the world.71

“Whoooooo” said the Owl in the middle of all this. “I’m very busy here you know.” Bo and the deer looked up at the same time. “Oh, well, there are no evil souls.”72

Owls are wise you know, some of them I think are ancient wizards, who chose to be Owls so that they could become better wizards, but that’s probably not true, so I’ll just say they were wise. There were never any wizards anyway, I’m told.73

Well, the deer was tired, and Bo clear startled out of his reverie, was just staring at the Owl. 74

“Who”, said the Owl, and flew off.75

Our two antagonists squared off and turned to face each other, but the heart was gone, they turned and walked away.76

Bo walked awhile as he was a bit winded, and trying to balance all the things that had just happened, and after a while he turned into a lope towards home. When he came into the yard in the gray dawn, all was quiet, Folks should be stirring soon, Bo went up on the porch and fell instantly to sleep.77

7.  “Old Grandad”78

Now nothing thing out there in the forest is more mean tempered than the groundhogs roundabout, and none of them was meaner than ‘old grandad’ who lived on a hill just a little ways from the farm that he defended as though he was a famous king with lots of knights and errand boys; but it was just him up on that hill a running to and fro just about all day long checking for invaders.79

One of Caleb's favorite things was to head on out of a summer evening just to irritate the old fellow. He could bark at him all evening long cause he wouldn‘t come down off that hill. Luke would come along, plenty of time to get after fleas, while Caleb tormented the groundhog. 80

Luke was a getting after fleas when he saw movement in the trees just across the way, up against the hill, well old Luke peered a little harder, while he upped and loped a little closer, finally seeing that it was a kitten and it was headed in the wrong direction, now old luke’s strides were long when he got to moving and in no time at all, but a long time, indeed, for old Lute, who was beginning to think he’d never get there, Luke had scooped it up.81

Now how that kitten got there is anyone’s guess. her momma mighta been a stray, or even a wild one as there were a few hereabouts, they weren’t something you would want to meet in the dark. But there was she was soaking wet in old Luke’s mouth. Caleb left off barkin for a while and came over to more or less to inquire, sticking his busted nose in there, he sniffed and declared “squirrel“, Luke gave him one of those looks, all stern and all. Caleb shook himself and went on back to  barkin at ‘old grandad”.82

Luke stood there a figgerin; and he figgered that if he left the poor little wet thing out here, well it wasn’t goin to last too long, so he figgered he’d take it home, and sat down to get some stubborn flea that had alighted somewhere in the neighborhood of the middle of his ear.  He stood there fidgeting a bit, considering, in his ruminating mode. Well, Caleb was still barkin so Lute laid down and tried to lick that kitten dry.83

And that’s how Old Luke found a daughter. He named her Kitten and they were together for a long time.84

8.  The Fire85

Bo was down at the creek a trying to catch salamanders, they were tasty if you could catch one, and Bo was a trying awful hard. Catching salamanders had a trick if you was a dog, you stomped right by them so they’d jump, and then you’d catch them in your mouth. It worked pretty well at times, but at others them salamanders just didn’t want to cooperate.86

Bo’s little Folk called him just about then, and Bo was off like a shot towards the house, arriving almost before the echo of the boy’s voice had faded. “Bo“, he said real stern, “we’re a going off, you stay and guard the house.”, and so Bo accepted his responsibility, and sat down wagging his tail, while the boy went off with his Folks.87

After a while he smells something burning, there in the house, 88

so he goes to investigate, and finds something burning in the stove. In he goes with his nose and gets it burned and its hotter than he’s ever seen, and he doesn’t know what to do. He tries to grab a leg thinking he’d drag it outside, but it’s hot down there and the stove wiggles precariously, cause it was really old, and had stood there a long time.89

Just then Penny came charging thru chasing an errant mouse. It startled him, and he leaped out of the way, bumped the stove and it began to wobble and presently fell down right on half a cord of wood.90

Well, that started an awful blaze, and soon the whole place was on fire, while Bo and Penny sat there in the yard. It was said, though this is just a rumor, that the mouse perished in the fire. 91

9. Ashley’s first Ribbon, and how it got washed away.92

The county fair was on, and the Folks took Ashley there. She won a ribbon in the first go round, only because the gray old lady judge thought her too frisky and therefore flighty, but really she was just young and excited at the changes in the world just about everywhere today. 93

That was as far as she went that day, though, a third in her round. Well, she was young and there would be other shows the Folk said fondly, cause they knew her better than most, and certainly better than that old gray judge. Ashley wasn’t disappointed she was thrilled. 94

When they got back home, she showed it off to everyone, only Kitten seemed impressed, and Hiram with his weak eyes thought it was food and tried to bite it off. Caleb went back to sleep, old Luke sniffed politely, then all of a sudden lets out a mighty roar and goes pounding toward the barn. Well, Ashley is so aghast that she falls on her behind, and was for just a moment most undignified, but then she was up and gone flowing to the barn and she found Luke just growling and slavering and looking terrible fierce at a raccoon in the corn. That old coon was in the wrong a stealing that corn, and he didn’t want to tangle with that dog, slavering at him and all. And now another one come bustin thru, he drops his corn dives straight for the crack, and wiggles through; his tail catching just a bit before it disappears. Well I guess Ashley didn’t pause to think because she was right behind, her tail a catching just a bit as well.95

Luke said ”Drat”, and went pounding out the door as there was no way he coulda got thru that crack. 96

‘Bout this time Caleb was a getting up and he sees Luke go pounding round the barn barkin his alarm, so he goes loping after him, just to see what was goin on.97

Ashley was after that coon when it reached the creek and just went jumping in, which she wasn’t about to do and when she came skidding to a halt her brand new ribbon snagged, and caught and went flying off landing in the creek.98

The coon climbed out on the other side just as Luke came pouncing up.  He saw the coon on the other side of the creek goin as fast a ‘coon could possibly go he could towards the woods, so Luke sat down to get after a flea or two and catch his wind, he was old after all. Ashley sat and watched her ribbon driftin down the creek, a little sad, I think as she watched it disappear into the gathering darkness.99

10. Bo faces some changes100

After the fire, everything got turned around. The Folks, they had to move away. They gathered up what was left in the rubble, those few things the fire did not touch, times like these, it seems, the things that are left are never the things you really hoped to find, but are just as important since they are all you have.101

His Folk had to move to town as they had no home anymore, and Bo had to go and live with a neighbor who had a place just down the road, as there was no place for a half wild dog in that little town where things were mostly done quite regular, and things that happened out of the ordinary were greatly frowned upon. If there one was thing about Bo that you could say, it was that he was not quite ordinary.102

The day came when it all changed, Penny in a box, the cart filled with all the things left over from the awful blaze, his little Folk a crying, though he was being brave, and Bo with a collar on, and a leash that his new Folk had put on him, just in case, you know.103

They went off down the lane, and Bo a watching as they went till his new Folk tugged on him as it was time to go. Bo didn’t want to, and sat there like an old stump, while his new Folk tugged on him and cursed. After a while of course he got up and followed along there being nothing else to do it seemed. The day was dark and gray, and it threatened to rain, though it didn’t then, it being only a promise in the sky about things to come.104

Bo heard Owl down on the edge of the wood asking questions like he does, and he listened to his new Folk whistlin as they walked along. It wasn’t far to his new home, which was just an old shanty on the edge of the creek, where his new Folk lived alone. He’d fixed a place for Bo, some sticks, and old bark roof, some water and some food. He tied Bo to the stake he’d driven in, and went on about his business which wasn’t really business I don’t suppose but something else to do, and left young Bo alone.105

It had been a long while since Bo wasn’t happy, his life since he’d been found couldn’t have been much better for a foundling dog that started life so terribly close to not being here at all. The collar chafed at him, and the rope would only let him go so far. What he wanted, of course, was to follow his Folk down the lane, or for them to come back up and get him, as, really he didn’t like this awful place that didn’t have any the things he loved.106

The day wore on all gray and dark, with Bo a chafing on that old rope, and pretty soon it started getting dark, and cold. Now Bo had been tugging on that old rope all day, straining this way and that, and after a time it broke, and Bo went charging up the lane, the broken rope trailing out behind.107

With things at home all gone, Bo really had no place to go, other than to follow the cart up the lane towards town, and that was the only idea he had.  His little Folk would be waiting for him. He didn’t exactly know where he was, but he knew he could find him.108

So he set off down the lane, trailing that old frayed rope, with a light step, though the night was dark, and still held the promise of rain. It was long after dark when he came to the edges of the town, and everything was different here from what he knew in the meadows and the fields, the smells were strong and covered everything. It smelled of Folk and all their goings on.109

It smelled of smoke, and it smelled of old, it smelled of death, and dying things, it smelled of dark things which wandered in the dark. The old frayed rope he trailed caught on everything, there were eyes that looked out from the cracks in walls, and lonely lights in cold dark halls.110

“What ho”, He heard, jerking to a stop a again, a large and burly Folk a tugging on his rope and grinning at him, a gold tooth in the middle of his big old face just gleaming in the dark. “No starveling you, I’ll warrant.”111

Before Bo knew what was going on he was being dragged down the street, that big old folk a hummin as he went, just dragging Bo along.112

Bo planted his feet and he twisted and he turned, he growled and snarled and leaped about, all to no avail he just kept getting dragged along.113

They came upon a building where there were lots of Folk about. the fellow bent and tied that rope about a nearby post, “I’ll be back, young sir,” he said, “dragging you about has given me this thirst, I’ll just nip in for a pint, if you don’t mind; you behave yourself”. And off he goes through the door and out of sight, and Bo is stuck there still tugging on the rope.114

Bo kept twisting and turning, pulling on that rope with all his might. The collar that Bo wore had been used before and was old and dried, and though it had served its purpose up to this point it finally parted and Bo found himself sitting rather stupidly in the street quite free of all those constraints that had held him throughout this long day. He got up and leapt away.115

11. Ashley and Kitten have an adventure116

Caleb was a little slow you know, and by the time he’d caught up to Luke and all the goings on that old raccoon was already gone, and if someone hadn’t told he’d have never known at all just what all was going on.117

Luke was a sitting there a scratchin at a flea, that had climbed up into the middle of his head, and had settled down to stay awhile, and kitten was a rovin in and out all around, apurrin as she went, and Luke tried to keep one eye on her, as his foot kept get getting in the way of the other one, and Ashley was mourning the loss of her ribbon.  118

With all the excitement she was restless, the day had been eventful that was sure, with fairs and raccoons and all, and losing her ribbon on top of everything else, well, she decided to go for a walk, just along the stream, perhaps, just to watch her ribbon float, catching in the eddies and rolling along. So, she started off, and Kitten seeing her go, went too, stalking butterflies in the tall grass, and sneaking up on sparrows who weren’t surprised at all. 119

After a while they came to a bridge at the very edge of the farm. There was a story about that bridge that of course they didn’t know. It was built by a young Folk who had lost his lover here a long long time ago. A time when things were more unsettled, and things more fell than groundhogs roamed about in the meadows and the glens. Great Armies roamed the land, with great kings in splendid raiment ordering them about.120

And here, along this tiny creek, a battle raged, and many of the great folk died. In the middle of this pageantry and carnage two young folk fell in love, though they came from different sides, though that don’t matter much when you are talking about love, which is a very powerful force in the world, and goes back to the beginning of things like Bo and that deer. 121

It has been said that she was a princess, who had taken up her father’s war after he was struck down by a madness that cut him off from the things that were real, and in the end his mind just stopped one day, and she was left to carry on.122

He was just a soldier, a member of the cavalry, young but already bitter at the things he’d seen.123

They met one night when he was on patrol, and she was returning to her camp after meeting with her generals about the coming battle. She had sent her escort on ahead to order the troops, and prepare, she wanted some time to herself, I think, before the dice were thrown upon the battlefield, and as lovers do they met, when her horse stumbled in the darkness and she fell and hurt her leg. When he found her, she was much like Bo when the little Folk found him, but her teeth was a long and wicked sword that glimmered in the dark, he calmed her fears, and as lovers find when time is short, the moments become eternities, and dawn becomes the enemy.124

The enemy came, after they had talked and touched the whole night long, and when the sun touched the edges of the sky they parted, each to their separate way. 125

He did not return to the army but rode away. And that day, as the battle raged, she fell, pierced by an arrow that took her life away.126

In the years that followed he built the bridge, he built it slow and careful, it was all of her that he could ever know. Some say that within the bridge he put a note, though what it says, or exactly where it is no-one knows.127

Ashley had raced ahead of her ribbon, and stood upon the bridge waiting for it to pass. As she waited, she was overcome by a wave of sadness and a sense of loss, and when the ribbon finally passed she hardly noticed it at all.128

Kitten caught a butterfly, but she let it go.129

12.  Bo gets into a scrap130

Bo was pounding down the road, he’d had about all he could stand of town. What with all the indignities he had suffered today, I don’t suppose he was paying a lot of attention to where he was a going because he suddenly found himself in a dead end alley, and the only thing in there was a bunch of busted up old crates and some skinny alley cats. He couldn’t have told you how many there were, as everything happened so fast, the cats a leaping out of everywhere all at once landing on his back, scratching up his nose and slicing at his ears, he through them off, but they’d just come back, and he couldn’t move cause they seemed to be everywhere, he was tasting blood from his scratched up nose, and one of his back legs all of a sudden didn’t seem to be working right, he got lucky then snatched one up, and heard it crunch when he bit down on it, and he threw it up against a wall, the others backed away at that, leaping up just out of reach, a hissing and scowling at him. “These cats are not like Penny, not at all,” he thought somewhat unnecessarily.131

He was standing there panting, and all of a sudden the remaining cats went scampering up the wall, through windows and cracks, and things got quiet. Bo gathered himself up, that back leg still not working right, and turned to get himself out of there. There was a shadow on the ground in front of him, and when he looked up he saw a big old ugly dog who snarled, he had a scar across one empty eye, and an ear clear split in two, he was snarling and spit dripped from his jaws, and formed a puddle on the ground.132

Bo backed up a bit, and tried to shake some life into that leg that wasn’t working right, but it was just hanging there, and that dog was coming on. They leaped at each other, jaws both snapping, and Bo got a tear along his ear, he quickly turned sinking his teeth into the mongrels back, the fellow howled and through him off, and he rolled into the wall, before he could get back up, what with that leg and all, he was buried by a wall of hound trying for his throat, Bo escaped and hobbled up, catching his breath by backing up, the other dog turned and leaped, and Bo caught him by the throat, and nothing in the world was going to make him let go, and after a bit that big old dog went silent, and his legs began to quit, and he settled to the ground with a soft moan and Bo a hanging on.133

Things got really quiet then, and Bo let go, looking around to make sure there were no more surprises, and then he started backing up, and when he made the street, he left that town with the firm intention of never coming back.134

13. Kitten’s Adventure135

Luke and Caleb moved awful slow, and to a kitten well, that’s just mostly intolerable, as there at least a zillion things to do in every second of every day. Kitten hadn’t totalled it up like that of course; all she knew was that them two just moped along when there were things that needed to be done.136

It was getting late in Fall and cold winds were blowing just about everyday, the folk had gathered the harvest in, Hiram mostly snored, and the chickens that she loved to chase mostly stayed indoors.  Ashley, too, being spoiled, preferred her window to the air, besides the mud got stuck between her toes, and she had to take the time to pick it out before she went back inside. 137

This morning the ground was white with frost, and there were little flakes of snow drifting in the air. Kitten was curled up in a ball, tucked in nice and warm, between old Luke’s legs, and when she woke it was quiet on the farm. Up she got and stretched, her nose up in the air, and as she did, just about every morning, and this morning being no exception, she climbed atop old Luke and started prancing up and down, her claws a digging in his hair. Luke groaned and came awake, and with his eyes half open he turned his head and tried to give her his most awful stare and failed. He gave it up and laid his head back down and just let her prance around. 138

Now she had her harder chore, getting Caleb up from wherever he went when he went to sleep which was a long way off at least, and probably not cold. She clambered down off Luke; who was mighty glad she did; though he missed the warm spot that she made; and climbed up on Caleb’s head, and began to purr. It took Caleb awhile to come back from where he was to where most of us are just asleep, so Kitten stretched out her front paws, unsheathed her claws and pulled his eyes open and peered in them to see just where he was. As usual, he was a long way off, so she stood up and arched her back, and started prancing on his head. After a while Caleb shook himself and settled back again. Kitten turned around and laid back down again, she reached out with her paw, and put it on his nose, waited just a moment, then stretched out her claws and dug in, Caleb came awake at that and tossed her in the air, she landed on her feet and started dancing round that sleepy dog.139

Old Luke had struggled up, every paw he had pointing in a different direction. He was trying to get just one to work to scratch a flea or two, though in the cold. They, too, were still asleep. His head was down, he’d drag it up, but it just fell back down again. His front paws started sliding, he was falling down, Kitten had her eye on him, and went racing through, which caused Luke to straighten up, and finally come awake.140

Caleb tried to peer down his face at his stinging nose, but his eyes weren’t ready for such a delicate task, nor was he in a general way ready to accept a state of mind in which he was awake. He knew from past experience that if he were to lie back down Kitten would attack him, and even through the fog of his current state he could see her eyes upon him, waiting, like some terrible demon from his most horrible dream, just a fearsome little pixie denying him the sweetness of his other land. A place where it was not cold and chicken leapt into the pot all on their own. He groaned. He struggled to his feet, the fog streaming from his damaged nose. He looked about in acute despair, the frosted ground, the snow fluttering from the sky, the cold, oh, worst of all the blasted cold. He shook himself from head to toe, and blinked, and blinked again, and headed out for the water trough, only to find it frozen solid, and there was no solace for his soul. With a heavy sigh, he shook himself again, and headed for the creek.141

Luke heaved himself up and followed along, his big old paws crunching the frost, leaving warm prints along his usual path. Kitten scampered ahead, oblivious to the cold, and lightly drifting snow. A quick drink, and off she went, to rouse old Hiram, who just blinked at her, then into the chicken house to create an uproar, then a dance about the hounds pen to them stirring once again, and back again, just in time sit to beside old Luke while he got his morning drink, before his morning round. When he finished he settled back, and scratched a pesky flea, who had despite the cold awakened just to torment him. Caleb too, had finished his morning ritual and was sitting quietly; his eyes were rather vacant. When Luke arose to begin his morning round, Caleb rather absently got up to go along. Kitten this morning didn’t go. She was looking out across the meadow, dreaming I suppose of the wide world beyond, and all the mysteries that it held. 142

The creek was frozen over in a couple places, and dotted with softly falling snow. Kitten carefully picked her way down to the first frozen space and gingerly stepped out onto the ice, she stood quietly for a moment then leapt for the other side, landing softly in the middle of a tuft of old dry grass, barely disturbing the snow that clung to it. She sniffed the air, her tail straight up and twitching ever so slightly, then she stepped out cautiously into the meadow. The sounds of the farm slowly receded as she made her way ever farther into this new and unknown world.143

Her caution soon turned to wonder, as each step brought something new to her, a field mouse stuck his head up and peered at her, she pounced but he was gone, retreating deep into his hole, having a nasty surprise was something he did not enjoy before he even gathered up breakfast. Kitten sat and watched awhile cleaning her front paws, but it didn’t take her long to realize that that mouse was not going to stick his head back up again. She wandered on, through the tall grass, barely disturbing the snow sniffing carefully at each new scent, alert for each new sound.144

It was that chipmunk on his stump who alerted everyone, his tiny barks like shots in the cold new winter dawn, a blue jay started squawking and everyone knew that something was coming toward that quiet wood.145

Things slowed down around Kitten as if the world changed to a different rhythm where the falling snow barely moved at all, and the barks of that tiny chipmunk seemed to last for minutes, echoing back and forth around the meadow. The blue jay’s squawks were symphonies filled with harmonies and melodies, and the gentle rustling of the trees was an undertone to all these things a going on. Kitten hunkered down in that tall grass and just mostly disappeared, so quiet she became, the only things a moving were her eyes.146

The chipmunk on his stump had his arms wrapped around an acorn and was peering awful hard when that kitten disappeared, he tapped his foot, and danced a bit not certain where she went, his barks got all uncertain, and his acorn got heavier to hold, but he wasn’t about to let it go because to a chipmunk that acorn was like gold when it was getting cold. He started backing up, and tripped and fell and went rolling off that stump, his acorn went flying off, and he had to stop a moment to see which way it had gone.147

I suppose it’s that rhythm in the world, a current flowing through everything. All the kittens that had ever been inside of her right then, creeping towards that stump as she watched that chipmunk falling, the scampering around, as he frantically searched for his lost acorn, how everything got all bunched up inside and how she leapt, just right, when that chipmunk was distracted.148

She landed with her claws full out plunging in his back; her jaws closed on his neck. The chipmunk yelped and twisted, and if Kitten had been just a older, maybe just a little stronger she would have held on, but in her excitement she let go, for just an instant, perhaps she hoped to get a better grip, perhaps she wanted the game to last a little longer as most of her kind do, no matter, in that instant that chipmunk was gone, scampering towards the wood just as fast as he could, which was pretty fast as he was scared and all. Dumbfounded, Kitten watched him go, then quickly in pursuit she went, just as he ducked down his hole.149

The blue jay was dancing in his tree, leaping about from limb to limb, squawking as he went, and all the sighs within the branches were whispering, and for kitten things went back to normal, as she stopped to clean her paws, and after a moment turned towards home.150

14. Bo has some of his hurts attended to151

It was deep in the night now and the threatening sky had moved out and the stars were shining hard and bright, Bo’s leg was bothering him and he had to hop along. His ear stung, and all the nicks and scrapes were painful too. He had made his way back to the old house, but there was nothing there. There was a shallow cave he knew, that was not far from the creek, a place to rest at least, and it wasn’t very far. When he arrived dawn was just breaking, and he laid down in the cool cave, exhausted from all that had happened, and not a little bewildered by the changes the last few days had brought into his life.152

He examined his leg and licked it clean, and fell into an exhausted sleep When he awoke, he found that the stars were out again, and that the night was clear and bright. He was thirsty, first of all, and he hadn’t eaten for a while. He struggled up and made his way down to the creek, his leg stiff and aching. 153

He was about to get a drink from the creek, when he heard something hit the ground behind him, as quickly as he could he turned around, a sharp pain shot through his injured leg, and he fell heavily upon it. After a moment as the pain faded, he noticed a freshly killed chipmunk lying on the ground, he quickly picked it up and swallowed it; in his hunger not particularly concerned about the niceties of manners. He looked quickly around, suspecting that something would come looking for its dinner, but nothing stirred. He continued with his drink, and then made his way painfully back to his little cave. He tried to lie down, but his various injuries made it impossible, he ached even more now than when he had first arrived.154

He was still hungry, and so unable to rest he hobbled back down to the creek, searching along its bank for something further to eat, he munched on some different grasses, and tried to catch a frog, which exhausted him and only annoyed the frog. He snapped up a spider, and at a dragonfly. He settled in to get another drink, when once again he heard a sound behind him, once again finding another chipmunk when he turned. He quickly gobbled it up, alert to any possible intrusions. Quickly finishing he made his once with his immediate concerns satisfied. He once again cleaned his leg, and then fell fast asleep.155

When he awoke, it was just past dawn, gray with a hint of cold within the air. When he went to move, his injured leg felt stiff, though the pain had lessened somewhat, when he looked around to tend to it, he found it covered with a variety of different grasses, moistened and mixed with some sort of fragrant oil.156

“Leave that alone,’ he heard a voice say, and when he looked up he saw an old Folk with a long gray beard standing in front of him holding a small brown bowl in his hands, “drink this,” he said, bending down and placing the bowl in front of him.  Bo licked it up greedily, it was not water but some sort of warm soup, which spread through him quickly quelling the pains that were still throbbing within him. He stirred, trying to rise, but the old man laid a hand on him and he settled back.157

Probably, be best if you stay put a couple days, young fellow”, he said smiling, “anyway, with that potion, you’ll be pretty quiet for a while. Now, if it’s alright with you I’ll get back to business,” and with that, he gave Bo a final pat on the head, and went striding off into the woods. Once again, Bo went to stir but now, nothing worked, and his eyes got heavy, and soon he was sound asleep again.158

In his sleep he was coursing once again with the deer, through the forest and the glen, through the quiet dales, nothing mattered but the running, and the pursuit. Everything was once again right with the world, and with him. Yet just as he would relax, just as the rhythm of the chase would take him, the scene would change and he would once again be in the alley with the hot breath of that dog on his face, suffocating him, and the contorted faces of the cats would be above him hissing and screaming.159

From far away he heard, “Easy now, it’s alright, every thing is alright now, rest easy.” and he fell back into a dark and dreamless sleep.160