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Chapter Eight: Carol Returns

Lilli gulped and she felt Lulu’s hand reach for hers. Suddenly, they heard a cracking sound, like footsteps. A bush rustled nearby, and everyone held their breath. Suddenly a voice ran out. “Were you really going to leave me, Lilli? Lulu? Come now, that’s just insulting.” Everyone breathed as Carol’s humorous face appeared.

“Ha-ha-ha-ha! Carol, you gave us quite the scare! Ha-ha-ha! Well, we are quite delighted to see you!” Lulu said with a wide grin. Unfortunately, no one else thought it was very funny at all.

“Carol, where have you been? Are you alright? Oh, I’m so sorry for not stopping to look for you.” Lilli half shouted as she hugged Carol in a most earnest fashion.

“It’s alright.” Carol replied with a gentle smile. “I tripped on a root in the ground, and I could no longer hear BL, so I had to find my way out. I was very confused, probably why it took me so long to get here, you know.”

“I’m just happy you’re alright, dear.” Juney said with an air of mother-like worry in her tone of voice. “Oh, though I did not show it, I was very worried indeed.” Carol nodded.

“You know, I kind of like it here. Mainly because of the simple fact that the idea of talking animals is very strange and wonderful, you know?” Carol said.

The two beavers gave each other a sidewise glance and seemed to grimace slightly.  But Juney shook it off and said “How about something to eat? I brought bread and goose-butter.”

“What’s goose-butter?” Lulu asked.

“Oh,” said Butterlean. “It’s a jelly made of gooseberries.”

All three girls nodded.  They ate the bread and jelly, and soon Butterlean said that they needed to go to sleep, but they were all lost and would have to make the journey home later. Lilli snuggled up to Kumarain in a corner.  Everyone else curled up in various places, and Butterlou slept with his mother.

“Kumarain,” Lilli said softly. A little squiggle of movement came from the little beaver. “Kumarain, tell me about your…parents.” Lilli asked.

“What is there to hear?” Kumarain answered her.

“Well, just tell me about them. They seemed nervous earlier, is there something wrong?”

Kumarain shifted uncomfortably. “Mama and Papa…they…no, I can’t say.”

“Please,” Lilli persuaded. “Just tell me.”

Chapter Nine: The Beaver Family’s Secret

Kumarain clutched Lilli’s hand and led her away from the others. “Now I’ll tell you.”

“Tell me what?” Lilli asked.

“What I am about to tell you.” Kumarain returned. “One day some animals in black hoods came to our house, and behind them were animals with red hoods, behind them were a troop of green hooded animals. We could hear them marching! Bang! Bang! Boom! Anyway, the ringleader that had a hood that was dark red and green came up to Papa and said ‘You! You have great potential.’ Of course Papa could not say anything, he was too stunned. Then the ringleader continued. ‘You shall tell me if any humans come. You shall bring them to me, and I will deal with them accordingly.’ The ringleader said. He then handed Papa his address and left saying this: ‘Don’t let me down, you will regret it.’ Mama and Papa were so terrified, they could barely speak! Butterlou and I dashed upstairs and looked out our window to watch the animals leave, but they were already gone! It was amazing, and terrifying. But, you cannot tell Mama and Papa I told you this! I’m not sure if they wanted anyone to know. But, if anything goes wrong, please remember that Mama and Papa have orders, and they will be taken prisoner if they do not obey… the ringleader sent us a letter saying so.” Kumarain finished and she looked up at Lilli’s worried eyes in earnest, trying to read her thoughts.

“Thank you, Kumarain. Would it be alright if I told my sister and Carol?” she asked and Kumarain nodded, confirming that she could. They returned to the camp, and Lilli listened to the soft breathing of the little beaver, but could get no sleep herself. She wondered how they could return home, and if the beavers were planning an unpleasant surprise.