Reaching out, Cregga took Wugger upon her lap. “That’s very kind of you, sir, but there are lots of different kinds of mending, broken hearts, bad memories, hasty tempers and departed friends. All of these need seeing to before the peace and the seasons grow upon us like soft moss and smooth all the edges of war away, so that you may sleep safe and calm in your beds at night.”

Rimrose sat holding Janglur and Ellayo’s paws. She sniffed, unable to check the tear that strayed from her eye. “If only our Song were here. Where d’you suppose she an’ her young friends are now?”

Cregga lifted her head in the direction of the squirrelwife’s voice. “I have dreamed that they will be back before the autumn leaves come down. Don’t worry. Wherever your daughter and Dann are, and young Dippler too, I’ll wager they’re either impressin’ somebeast with their good manners or giving a fine account of themselves. Those three are a tribute to their upbringing, wherever they are!”

30

30

It was night at the margin of the watermeadow. Dann lay crushed beneath the rotten elm trunk, listening to the noise above. It became so loud that he was able to whisper to his friends, “I wonder what all the din’s about?”

Dippler spat out dead leaves and grit. “We ain’t foolin’ nobeast, mate. Our tracks lead right to this tree. I bet they’re doin’ some kind o’ victory dance up there, prob’ly gettin’ the cookpot ready fer us!”

Burble was inclined to agree with his shrew friend. “Yiss yiss, sad but true, I say. Still, I think it’d be better gettin’ captured by some ould reptiles than layin’ under this rotten stinkin’ thing all night. It’s worser’n when we was hidin’ up the creek from the River’eads. Wait, what’s that?”

Dann listened carefully. “Silence, that’s what it is, Burb, silence. Maybe they didn’t know we were here after all. What d’you think, shall we go out an’ take a look?”

Dippler started scrabbling at the soggy loam to free himself. “Anythin’s better’n this. Lead the way, Dann!”

The dried-up streambed was deserted save for the carcasses of several reptiles. The three friends hurried off into the undergrowth, where they sat wiping themselves down and breathing the sweet night air gratefully. Burble tugged a woodlouse from his fur. “Away with ye, wriggly thing, I ain’t no rotten treetrunk. Well, ’tis thanks to whoever drove the reptiles off back there, yiss yiss, a thousand thanks!”

“Ach, save yer thanks, laddie, there may still be some o’ they sleethery reptails aboot!”

An osprey emerged from the bushes. Surveying them with a distinct twinkle in his rather fierce eyes, he raised his beak and called, “O’er here. They’re sair bedraggled an’ stinky tae, but they’re o’er here!”