The Adventures of Button (27 page)

Toby took two quick bounds and was in the water, reaching beneath the surface as Iggy emerged atop Sara’s nicely rounded skull, her small ears deceptively laid back along her head.

Toby’s nose almost met Sara’s directly on as he, too, rose from the water, decaying rottening vegetation hanging from his nose.

Sara could only giggle as she nodded in agreement, almost sending Iggy once again into the swamp.

“And, you must be Toby. Nice to meet you. Iggy has such tales to tell about you two. I’m most honored.”

Toby could only mutter as Sara rose slowly from the swamp, Iggy’s arms tightly clamped about her neck. She was impressive, even disheveled as she was. The young bobcat backed slowly up the beach, never taking his eyes from the form of Sara whose bright eyes and smile had totally captivated him.

Toby was even more impressed as Ssserek and Delph approached and slowly bowed.

“Good evening, Princess Sarandra. Once again, you have come to our rescue.”

Delph pushed forward. Like the others, he loved the young princess. But he was, after all, an alligator. In this case, he spoke for all.

“Princess.” His voice was filled with worry and deep anxiety. He knew both Buttons and Sally so well.

Sara placed one soft paw on Delph’s head. “Not to worry, great friend to our Buttons and Sally. Our beagle recovers slowly, but will do well.”

She looked around. “Indeed, we need to be underway if we are to return before sunset.”

She beckoned to Cross-eye, “Come, my feline friend. You fight like a bobcat, almost.”

Cross-eye smiled and grinned at his close friend. He displayed the claws upon his right paw. Wide for a tomcat, they in no way matched his friend’s. “Well, if I chew his down a bit, I might make it.” He grinned once again.

Cross-eye approached Sara as Toby was about to respond. Turning, he said to Toby, “Well, friend, you can hold on to me. Come on.”

With that and a supple leap, he sat upon Sara’s shoulders, just behind Iggy, who was grinning hugely, enjoying the scene as he did.

Toby began to back away, but found himself leaning against Ssserek who raised one eyebrow.

“Uh, guess you’re right,” he grinned as he quickly regained some composure. He was soon beside Cross-eye, and the two felines hugged Sara as best they could for they quickly found out that however sharp their claws, they could barely get a grip on her soft fur.

Cross-eye winked as they took flight. He had known. Nonetheless, like Toby, his stomach took off as they rose almost too quickly and could not meet Toby’s sickish grin for several moments.

Ssserek heaved a sigh of relief. With the two cats and Iggy out of the way, it was only necessary to have Buttons mount behind Delph’s eye knobs, and they were off.

Above them, JW flew to and fro, announcing the great news to all the creatures of the Great Swamp. Ssserek could only smile as Delph and Buttons traded jokes. If JW had appeared to play a slightly greater-than-great role in the whole affair, why not? He deserved it.

Soon, they were approaching Brokenleaf Beach upon which Sally was now resting among Sara and those who came with her. It would be several weeks before she could again roam the field and forest. It was Iggy who spotted the snake and alligator with Buttons sound asleep between Delph’s eye knobs as he wandered toward the beach.

He had turned to watch Sara as she spoke with his friends. Normally, the small squirrel would have been miffed, if not outright jealous, at such a sight. Not now. He felt so happy seeing her again. His heart was full of her as he rambled down the beech. Spotting JW who stood watch alone at water’s edge, Iggy strolled up, and leaning against the highly surprised crow, murmured, “Some day, old friend, huh?”

JW only nodded. He wanted to say something that would put the impudent scamp in his place. Instead, he simply nodded, “Indeed, indeed!”

The End