Benjamin tried to make sense of it all. “And my dog, Pugsly, was your leader?”

“Yes, and a very good one at that.”

“So…who killed him?”

“Snakes. Our king was bitten by a snake.”

Benjamin thought about the terror his dog must have gone through. “This morning in the cave that mouse was telling you that Pugsly had been assassinated?”

“Yes, the mouse found the king after he had been bitten. It happened last night, far away in the pastures.”

“So that’s where he went,” Benjamin thought aloud. “King Pugsly wouldn’t tell him what he was doing out there, but the mouse did everything he could to save him.”

Benjamin’s face was sad. “My parents found him lying outside the garage this morning.”

Paco looked over at the corner of Benjamin’s house. “We were told that is where he died. The mouse passed out beside him.”

“Paco, I’m so sorry Pugs…King Pugsly died. He was the best friend I ever had.”

“He was my cousin.”

The boy’s eyes lit up. “Your cousin? How–but you two look nothing alike.”

Paco smiled. “I’m sure your cousin doesn’t look anything like you.”

“Well, now that you mention it…”

Paco stretched. “Benjamin, there is much more to tell you, but not tonight. Can you come back to our kingdom tomorrow morning? I assume you know the way in.”

The boy smiled. “Yes, okay, Paco. I’ll be there. It’s just… I don’t want to scare all your friends again.”

“I’ll let them know that you aren’t as scary as you look.” Benjamin laughed. “Thanks.”

“Our kingdom will soon find out how important you are to us.”

“Me? Why am I important?”

“Tomorrow morning–” As the rat-terrier ran down the driveway, Benjamin heard his faint “Your Majesty!”

Paco jumped into the fox den. Too tired to think anymore, Benjamin sneaked back inside the house and crawled into bed. “My dog was a king.” He looked at the collar around his wrist and smiled. “What would that make me?” Benjamin closed his tired eyes and quickly fell asleep.

Paco entered the cave in time for a memorial service. The old badger stood before the crowd of animals gathered around the still pool. “This kingdom was blessed by our fallen leader, and with him we are one big family. Through him, we will persevere–”

“We’re all gonna die!” a frightened rat shouted. Others felt the same.

“Silence! Have some respect for our king!”

“Who will tell us what to do now? That human?” a gopher cried.

“I moved here to live in peace, not be eaten by that monster!” a black cat bawled. Everyone started screeching hysterically.

Paco stayed quiet in the back. This wasn’t the time to bring up his meeting with the boy. A group of turkeys spoke of fleeing the kingdom. Some goats talked about returning to their farm. Hopelessness prevailed.