A buzzard landed without warning on the open sill. The surprise caused the snakes below to stir and hiss louder. “My-My Lord?” he said, exhausted.

“Baron, why do you disssturb my ressst?”

Another gasping buzzard flew onto the sill next to Baron. Its tired body waddled back and forth, then fell into the darkness. Slithering bodies in the hay gathered to one side of the room. Baron heard a few grunts and screams from his unfortunate partner. It was now silent beneath the lone messenger, nervously waiting on the sill.

Baron gulped, trying to keep his composure as all eyes stared at him from the darkness below. “My Lord, Mordacai, Cain, and I were flying over Persly’s Woods this afternoon after we talked with a gang of raccoons. As we flew over the trees giving your warning, Mordacai and I looked back. Cain had disappeared! All we saw were feathers floating to the trees below.” The only response was hissing. It made him uncomfortable. “My Lord, you…you weren’t by any chance in the woods today, were you?”

“Hisssssssss. Baron, are you asking that because one of my servants was eaten?”

“N-n-no, My Lord,” the buzzard stuttered. “M-M-M-Master, forgive me but that’s the third buzzard over the past two weeks and…I thought maybe you….got Cain.”

“Hissssssss. Now why would I want to hurt one my faithful ssservantsss, Baron?”

The bird felt dizzy imagining Mordacai somewhere below him in the darkness. “Forgive me, My Lord. T-Talk is going around that y-you’re eating the buzzards.”

“Me? Hissssssss.” There was a hint of amusement in the great snake’s voice.

“W-well, y-yes, My Lord. What creature in the f-forest is more c-callous than y-you?”

“And who sssaysss thisss?”

“Uh…Sebastian, My Lord.”

“I sssenssse mutiny. Ah, Baron. I can tell you’re lying to me.”

The buzzard tried to take off but large jaws wrapped around the lower half of his body and yanked him into the darkness, onto an unfamiliar surface. He sensed the long bodies slithering around him and knew it would soon be over…hopefully quickly.

Benjamin and the others were frightened by the screams coming from the barn.

“Well…” Roscoe couldn’t think of anything to say.

They all crouched behind a large hedge tree, unable to act.

“I guess we should come up with a plan,” Paco said without confidence. No one spoke. Even Malcolm had never been involved in an operation this big. “King Benjamin, are your weapons ready?”

“I almost forgot about them!” He felt around inside the backpack. He grabbed a lukewarm, rubbery chunk and pulled it out. “Would anybody like the rest of this old lettuce?” The sight of food eased the tension.

“Oh yes, absolutely, Your Majesty,” Clementine said. Benjamin tore it in half and fed him and Roscoe. “Malcolm, I have a tomato.”

“I would love that, King Benjamin.” The raccoon took it from the boy’s hand.