Opening the drawer under the microwave he found and tested the flashlight. It was dead and he saw no extra batteries. “Maybe they have one.” He laughed at that. Now for the weapons. He headed downstairs to his bedroom closet. He stretched the backpack open wide and dumped in the whole sack of fireworks. Then he grabbed a lighter from the top of his dresser and flicked it with his thumb. A flame popped up. He quickly put on his shoes and took one last trip through the house to see if he had forgotten anything. Oh, my cell phone! He spotted it on the kitchen table and put it in his pocket. Stepping out the door he noticed gray rain clouds stretching across the late-morning sky.

A slight mist hit his face as he walked down the driveway.

“Oh, I hope it doesn’t rain the whole time.”

The mood inside the kingdom was one of anticipation.

All the animals had gathered to bid their three heroes goodbye.

“Where’s the king? Is he going to come?” a nervous skunk asked as his tail flicked up and down. Those nearby quickly distanced themselves.

“Relax, Bob, he said he’d be here this morning and it’s still morning,” Paco replied.

“You’re braver than I could ever be,” a groundhog said to Clementine while patting his hoof.

“Don’t be silly, Charlie. All I’m going to do is kill a giant snake!” Clementine gasped when he realized what he’d said.

Some billy goats were talking to Roscoe. “Roscoe, I’m ashamed to say it, but I used to make fun of you every time you fainted.”

“Me, too,” said another.

“But I couldn’t respect you any more than I do now. You’re more goat than I am.”

A field mouse walked up behind Paco with her two children. “Excuse me, Paco?”

He turned. “Hello, Abigail.”

“You know my husband, Edward, hasn’t come back for two days now.”

“Yes, my dear. I’m hoping for the best,” he said somberly.

“But there’s something I haven’t told you.” She looked frightened and Paco leaned in. “I think he was working with the snakes.”

Paco shook his head in disbelief. “Abigail, I hardly think Edward could have–”

“No, listen! One evening last week Edward was acting strangely, like he wanted to tell me something. I tried to get it out of him but he just told me that everything was going to be fine. Paco, I know Farangis has something to do with his disappearance.”

“Abigail, I promise you everything will be fine.”

Abigail’s daughter wiped at the tears on her face. “Mr. Paco, please bring back our daddy.” His eyes started to tear up as well. The little mouse held a white daisy in both her hands. “I gave Daddy one of these when he left us.” Her brother started to cry.