8 Lions and Tigers and Teratorns!

Chapter 8 LIONS AND TIGERS AND TERATORNS! Judy pointed to a clearing ahead. A wide stream flowed from the bottom of a huge wall of ice. The ice wall was wedged into a rock canyon. meep… "Ice dam!" said Thudd. "Ice dam melting! Make stream!" Capybaras were drinking from the stream. Some were pawing the snow and nibbling bushes. "Cheese Louise!" said Judy. "This is what Uncle Al warned us about! Let's get these giant guinea pigs moving and get out of here—fast!"

Skeeeek! Skeeeek! The sound came from the sky. "What's that?" asked Beeper. They all looked up. High above the clearing, gigantic birds were circling. meep… "Teratorn bird," said Thudd. "Biggest bird that ever fly. Long as two cars from tip of wing to tip of wing. Teratorn weigh more than Uncle Al." Two of the teratorn birds swooped down. The capybaras scattered. "We've got to round them up," said Andrew. "We'll be kinda like cowboys," said Beeper. Judy rolled her eyes. "More like guinea pig boys," she said. "Let's get down off of Max," said Andrew. "Judy, you first." "Great," said Judy, creeping to the top of Max's head.

Max understood. He wrapped his trunk around Judy's waist and gently lowered her down. Beeper and Andrew followed. "We'll get behind the capys," said Andrew, "one of us on each side." AGGGRRRRAAAAAGHHH! A thunderous roar echoed off the canyon cliffs. From the corner of his eye, Andrew caught a flash of tan on a ledge of the canyon. "Yikes!" screamed Judy, catching sight of it, too. Crouched in the rocks was a giant cat with two huge curving teeth. meep… "Saber-toothed tiger!" said Thudd. AGGGRRRRAAAAAGHHH! Suddenly two more cats sprang down from a higher ledge. These cats were even bigger than the saber-toothed tiger, but without the gigantic teeth. meep… "Lions!" squeaked Thudd.

"Hoo boy!" said Beeper. "I didn't know there were lions in America!" Judy shivered. "I've seen lions in Africa, but these are bigger! We can't run, because they're faster than we are. We can't even turn our backs on them. Turning your back on a lion or a tiger says, 'Eat me!'"

They all stood very still and kept their eyes on the cats. The big cats crouched and flicked their tails. They were watching, too. The teratorns were circling high in the sky. "How about if we jump into the stream?" said Beeper. "Cats hate water." Judy shook her head. "Tigers love to swim," she said. "Maybe these cats do, too. Do you know, Thudd?" meep… "Nobody know," said Thudd. "I've got an idea," said Andrew. "Let's throw some of the fur stuff we're wearing at the cats. Maybe that will keep them busy while we escape." Judy patted Andrew's shoulder. "It's your idea," said Judy. "So you get to take off your warm, furry stuff." Andrew unwrapped the fur scarf around his neck and handed it to Judy. "You're the best at throwing," he said.

Judy dangled the piece between her fingers. "Look at the size of those cats," she said. "They won't even notice this." Andrew took off the big piece of fur wrapped around his waist. Judy nodded. "That's more like it," she said. "You can have this, too," said Beeper, handing Judy a long, ragged strip of fur. "I'd rather be cold than chewed." The cats were watching them. Their growls rumbled through the chilly air. The teratorns swooped lower. Judy wrapped the fur into a ball and threw it toward the cats. It landed on a ledge below the snarling animals. They jumped down and pounced on it. Judy ripped a big chunk of fur into small pieces and tossed them on the ground. The teratorns began to swoop down and snatch them up. "Woofers!" said Andrew. "Let's round up these giant guinea pigs and go!"