Roscoe nodded, but Clementine remembered Paco’s last wish. “Sire, please put this daisy in your pocket. We were asked to deliver it to the field mice back home.”

“Who–?”

“Paco, Sire,” Roscoe softly replied.

Benjamin gently took the white daisy from the pig’s mouth and put it in his pocket. They didn’t look back at the old barn as they walked out of the meadow and through the tree row to the abandoned, grass-covered road. Benjamin and his two friends headed west. They walked quietly until they reached the stone bridge that the creek passed under. An empty, lonesome feeling settled over them as they crossed the large stones.

“I can’t help thinking how different everything was just a few hours ago when we came here,” Clementine said.

“I know. It’s just us three now,” Roscoe said.

Benjamin bent and touched them. “My dog would’ve been so proud of you two.” They smiled weakly. He looked farther down the bright moonlit path outlined by the row of dark trees. “You guys don’t suppose this old road might lead us home, do you?”

Roscoe considered it. “It’s worth a try. At least it heads in the right direction.”

“Considering what we’ve seen already, this old road looks good at the moment,” Clementine added.

They walked down the western path a long while, not saying a word, just looking at the trees in the moonlight and listening to the cicadas sing. A few newer trees starting to grow in the roadsides caught Benjamin by surprise in the dark.

“Pretty night,” Roscoe said looking up. “Tomorrow night we’ll have a full moon.”

“And our kingdom will be safe,” Clementine added.

“Yes. Yes, it will.”

“So,” Benjamin said softly. “Who is going to be your next king?” Clementine sighed. “We don’t even know where to begin looking for King Pugsly’s heir, but it would be nice if–” The ground started to tremble.

“Do you feel that?” Benjamin asked in alarm. The shaking seemed to come from far away, but was approaching them.

“Sounds like a lot of something heading our way!”

A large herd of deer sprinted out of the trees and the three jumped out of the way.

“Run!” a deer shouted. “Get away! It’s coming!” The herd leaped and ran wildly past them. A fawn tripped over a large rock in the road. Its mother helped it up.

“Excuse me,” Roscoe yelled. “Can you tell us what’s going on?” The frightened doe nudged her fawn. “Please. We have a long way to travel,” Clementine pleaded.

“Run! Run as far away as you can!” The exhausted deer said, “It’s already gotten one of us!” Mother and fawn rejoined the fleeing herd. The three friends stood bewildered.