2 THE REUNION

CHAPTER 2 THE REUNION Roz and Brightbill, mother and son, were eager to catch up, and they immediately started talking about all that had happened over the winter. But their conversation was interrupted by the sound of little claws scampering through the treetops. A tiny voice was muttering, "Brightbill's back Brightbill's back Brightbill's back!" Then a squirrel came bounding out to the tip of a branch. "Hello, Chitchat!" said Brightbill to the squirrel. "How have you been?" But Chitchat had come a long way, and she was out of breath. Wind rushed from her mouth, and she held up her paw as if to say, "Hang on a minute." When she was ready, the squirrel unleashed the following flurry of words: "Brightbill I'm so glad you're home I always worry about you when you're gone which is silly because I know you're clever and tough and I'm also clever and tough so I hope you don't worry about me oh right you asked how I've been well I have some very exciting

news which is that I am now a mother can you believe it I have three young kits and I can't wait for you to meet them.…" Chitchat jabbered on and on. And on. And the squirrel's jabbering voice caught the attention of nearby creatures. Fink, the fox, crept out from the bushes. Mr. and Mrs. Beaver climbed up from the pond. Swooper, the owl, flew down to a log. More and more animals emerged from the forest, smiling and laughing, eager to reunite with their old friend Brightbill. And then a screechy voice called out from afar. The voice was repeating something, over and over, but nobody could make out the words. Roz and the animals hurried to the edge of the forest just as a seagull named Gale appeared in the sky. She was frantically squawking and flapping toward them. Gulls were rarely seen so far inland. Something had to be wrong. And as Gale flew nearer, her words became clear. "Help! Help! Help!"