“You’re our king now,” the peacock’s voice cracked. “You have to protect us.”

“Your dog would have done it for us,” squeaked a chipmunk.

Benjamin felt overcome by guilt. He saw their fear.

“I’m sorry…but I can’t…” He turned slowly and made his way toward the tunnel.

None of the creatures followed him out. They knew their last hope had abandoned them. He could hear them talking in the hall. Paco took the floor. “Calm down everyone! We’re not dead yet, okay? Don’t give up hope. There has to be another way. We three will still go to kill Farangis and his army.”

“And get killed yourselves!” someone yelled.

“Well, what other choice do we have?” Paco was frustrated.

“King Pugsly’s no longer with us and we can’t just sit here and wait for them to attack.”

Benjamin heard the faint echo of crying and moaning behind him. He stopped and listened. He thought about how their king had waited for him by the door everyday when he got off the school bus. He thought how every night at dinner their king had sat on the floor next to his chair, giving him the cutest face so he would drop some food. Many special memories of their king passed through his mind. His eyes filled with tears.

If Pugsly cared that much about these animals, so should I. He turned around.

“Come on, guys. Things will be fine. Don’t give up on us yet!” Clementine said.

“Don’t cry,” Roscoe consoled a family of sobbing moles.

Benjamin walked into the cavern. Every face turned to him. “If my best friend, Pugsly, believed in protecting you,” he smiled, “then so do I.”

The room erupted in cheers. Mice hugged cats and beavers slapped tails with otters. The celebration could be heard from the hole in the ceiling for a great distance. Benjamin imagined Pugsly smiling at him at that moment.

The teary-eyed rat-terrier approached his king. “Young man, we are all indebted to you. Words will never express how much this means to us.”

Roscoe and Clementine leaned against Benjamin’s legs. He bent to pet them.

“Your Majesty,” Paco said, “we leave tomorrow morning. If we time it right, we’ll attack Farangis a day earlier than he plans to attack us. Now go home and get your rest, My King. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

“I will, Paco,” Benjamin said, patting his head.

“And make sure you bring everything you need for our trip. Do you have any weapons, Sire?”

Benjamin thought for a second. “I think I can find something that will help us.”

“And food!” Clementine said. “Can you please bring food for us?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he smiled. “I’ll raid the fridge and cabinets in the morning.”

The pig looked disturbed. “I’m sorry, My King, did you say ma’am?”

“Uh, yeah.”

“I-I’m actually a boy.”