The commotion caught Clack’s attention. Malcolm tossed the rock behind the crow. Caw! Clack squawked and took off toward Malcolm. The raccoon’s eyes locked on the collar as he leaped off the branch as high as he could. The crow felt the tug on his neck. Malcolm’s hands gripped the collar and held on for dear life. Clack, flapping his wings to the point of exhaustion, descended toward a raucous crowd of crows pecking Isaac. When he touched the ground, Malcolm punched his face and yanked off the collar.

“I’m over here, Malcolm!” Isaac called from the middle of the pack. Malcolm punched and scratched his way through until he found his brother lying on the ground. He grabbed Isaac and, despite being pecked and flogged himself, pulled him up.

Caw! “Get off the ground!” a voice called from above. “It’s coming! It’s coming!” The frantic crow flew over the tree. “They say it’s in the woods to the east!”

The crows cawed madly and flew into the sky. “It’s coming! Fly for your lives!”

Malcolm wrapped Isaac’s arm around his shoulders as they now stood alone. “Are you alright?”

“Did you get the collar?” Isaac winced as he coughed.

Malcolm held it up. The sunlight caught the silvery blue tag. “I’m more concerned about you. Are you badly hurt?”

“About the same as the last time I scrapped with forty crows.”

“I hope whatever the boss gets is worth the trouble we went through for this.”

“I’m sure it’s invaluable, little brother. The boss wouldn’t risk our lives for something stupid. But what do you suppose got those crows all riled up?”

“I don’t know! Those dumb birds get excited over the littlest things.”

• • • • •

THE TINY MOUSE STOOD in the tall bluestem grass of the pasture, rolling in the wind like ocean waves.

“Squeak, come inside! It’s too dangerous for us out here!”

“I’m waiting for Dad to come back.”

“Son, we need to be patient…. Where’s your sister? Where’s Tippy?!”

“In the hall.” He started to cry. “Mom, she thinks the snakes took Dad from us.” Abigail couldn’t look her son in the eye. “And I’m starting to believe maybe she’s right.”

Abigail took him in her arms. “Don’t give up hope. Remember what Paco said.”

He rubbed his eyes with his little fists. “He promised everything would be fine.”

“And it will, my friends.” A groundhog walked up behind them, accompanied by a mallard. “Paco, Roscoe, and Clementine won’t let us down.”

“Don’t forget about King Benjamin,” Squeak added, then his face turned pale. “Mom!”

The others followed his gaze. “Everybody stay still!” the groundhog whispered, shaking. It was too late. The circling buzzard squawked, then dove toward them.

“Run!” the mallard shouted.