“It sure was, Roscoe. I’m glad King Benjamin…and Paco were here with us.” Clementine’s attempt to sound convincing was pathetic. Roscoe nonchalantly stomped on his hoof. “Ouch!”

“What do you think that bull snake was doing out here?” Benjamin asked.

“One of Farangis’s scouts, no doubt,” Paco said, “probably sent to look for our kingdom–or who knows what else.”

“Do you think he was the only one?” Clementine asked.

“I’m sure Farangis has many of his followers searching the area.”

“Why doesn’t he come with them?” Benjamin asked.

“I’m guessing he’s waiting for the big attack. From what little I’ve heard about him, he doesn’t like anyone seeing him until right before he kills them. He remains mysterious. He’s done it well for many years.” The pig and goat gulped.

• • • • •

AS THE AFTERNOON wore on, Roscoe’s neck became irritated from the grass heads continually poking him. “King Benjamin, can you see any sign of Persly’s Woods?”

The boy squinted. “I think I see trees up ahead.” He checked behind him–he could no longer see their starting point. A bit farther on a dark shadow zoomed across the tall yellow grass.

“Someone’s here!” Benjamin said. They sniffed around.

The shadow moved over them and they looked up. A buzzard circled above.

“I hope he’s not waiting on one of us to die,” Roscoe said.

“Paco, do you think he’s spying on us?” Clementine asked.

“Whether he is or isn’t, we’ve already been spotted. Let’s keep moving.” They walked a little farther.

“Any sign of that nasty buzzard, King Benjamin?” Roscoe asked.

Benjamin saw a black dot high in the air. “He’s way ahead of us.” He scanned the pasture before them. “Hey, I can see the forest now. It shouldn’t be much farther!”

The landscape started to change. The ground became rockier and the evergreen trees scarcer. Tall grass and weeds grew around the large flat bed of limestone rock that covered part of the ground.

Clementine ferociously sniffed the air with his long black snout. “Blackberries!” he shouted with joy and took off running. Benjamin looked at the spot where he was headed, but it was already too late. “Aaaagh! Oink! Yeowww!” he screamed in agony as his portly body jammed in a giant thorn bush. “They’re in me, they’re in me!”

The others ran to him. “Don’t move,” Paco said, working on a rescue plan.

“I’m sure not going any farther!”

“You should really keep your voice down, Clementine,” the goat said to the pig’s helpless behind. “The others back in the kingdom will think we’re in trouble.”

“Shut up and get me out of here!!!”

“Sire, could you give us a hand and pull this poor pig out?” Paco asked.