The old squirrel threw up her paws in mock despair. “Oh go on, you great white tripehound, but don’t go drainin’ the pond. Leave some for others.”

They all sat at the edge of the pool as Urthwyte sucked in great noisy gulps of water like a thirsty babe.

Loambudd shook her head. “Look at him, the son of one of the greatest badger warriors ever to put paw on grass. Ah, but it’s not all his fault.”

Urthwyte raised his dripping white snout from the water. “I’m hungry. It’s well past lunchtime, Nin.”

The old squirrel tugged his ear sharply. “Tell me a time when you’re not hungry, you big scoffbag.”

She turned to the three friends. “I suppose you’re all hungry too? D’you want lunch?”

Pikkle bowed gracefully and kissed her wrinkled paw. “Feed us, O beautiful one, and we’re yours forever!”

“Oh go on with you, longshanks.” She cuffed the young hare’s ear lightly. “I can see you’d take more feedin’ than a whole army, just by lookin’ at yeh.”

Loambudd stood up and beckoned them. “Follow me. You’ll have to put a move on, though. I put a leek and mushroom pastie in the oven before Ashnin called. I just hope it hasn’t burned.”

*   *   *

The two badgers and the squirrel lived a short distance from the pool in a beautiful natural cave. Mara looked about admiringly. It was spacious and well ventilated; two long windows had been carved through the rock, which stood like a hump in the forest. Flowers and trailing plants decorated the windowsills, woven rush matting carpeted the cave and there were several large seats carved from dead logs. These were spread with soft barkcloth covers. The rock had been carved in one corner to form a fireplace and a wide oven. In the center of the cave was a fine table of rock slab adorned with bowls of fruit.

They washed their paws in a trough by the entrance and sat round the table as Urthwyte and Loambudd brought the food. Pikkle’s eyes lit up and Tubgutt gave a small growl of anticipation. A crisp salad of fennel, hazelnuts, young dandelions and scallions was placed on the table, followed by a giant-sized leek and mushroom pastie, its steaming golden crust adorned with watercress. A large pitcher of cherry cordial and beakers came next, with cold mint-flavored springwater standing by in another jug. Apples baked in honey with dollops of yellow kingcup cream topped the whole thing off, with a wide, flat, sugared plumcake standing by as an extra.

Ashnin and Loambudd ate sparingly, encouraging the younger creatures to have as much as they liked—though little encouragement was needed. Mara ate steadily, but Pikkle, Tubgutt and Urthwyte went at it as though they were facing a ten-season famine.