The Rightful Heir (23 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY

T
HE HEAT OF THE AFTERNOON SUN
made the tall bluestem grass brittle and itchy. Belshak
and his pack scanned the pasture hungrily, knowing that, at some point, travelers would make their way across the fields. One of the coyotes fell over from exhaustion. Those nearest were quick to react, rushing to their fallen
friend
with crazed eyes. The coyote jumped to his feet. “I'm not dead yet! Go eat someone else!” He mustered a fierce growl and the others backed off.

“When are these
delicious
creatures coming, Belshak?” an irritated voice asked.

“Be patient! Once we've eaten you'll be complaining you ate too much.” The pack laughed. “Remember, if we spot them going into the forest, we let them through.” Some of the starving coyotes howled. “When they come out of the forest,
then
we attack. Be patient!”

Their ears turned east, toward a faint yelping and howling. They prepared for an attack. Out of the thorn bushes and evergreens emerged another pack of coyotes, looking even skinnier and hungrier. The small leader stepped forward, his gray eyes bloodshot from exhaustion. Belshak stood his ground, growling deeply at his opponent.

“Oh,
shut up
, Belshak. We're not here to fight with you. We're here to eat!”

“Eat
what?!
Have you looked around lately, Dampier?” The two coyotes stared each other down.

“The word is that one of Farangis's rattlesnakes tipped you off on some creatures leaving the forest.”

“That is
our
food, not yours!” Belshak snarled. Dampier's pack took a step back.

“From the way it sounds, there will be plenty for us all. We're only thirty more guests at your dinner…oh
mighty
Belshak.” Dampier bowed down, and his pack followed. “Accept us into your pack and we will no longer be enemies. We will serve you,” the leader humbly offered. The wild gray hair sticking up along Belshak's back began to lower. “All we ask is that you let us eat with you. We haven't eaten in days.”

Belshak took a moment to consider. His pack of forty were mostly his family. On the other hand, having thirty more coyotes under him served his greedy desire for power. Some of his own coyotes growled uneasily at the new rivals. “I will kill all of you if you disobey me!” Belshak barked.

“Oh, thank you, Belshak. You are our master.” The brown coyote groveled on the ground and pressed his dry, black nose into the grass. “Yes…you are our leader.”

“On your feet,” Belshak commanded. “We need to watch for them.” The group of over seventy ravenous coyotes moved on, surveying the edge of Persly's Woods for their smorgasbord of traveling creatures.

R
OSCOE WALKED ON,
not in any hurry to get where he was going. He didn't even know where that was and wasn't really paying much attention. His mind wandered. He was disappointed in Clementine and depressed about his dad. He was saddest of all about the change in leadership he knew was coming to the kingdom. Benjamin would no longer be his king.

What purpose do I have with my cousins?
he wondered.
Will Zebulon try to kill me again?
He didn't know the answers to any of
his questions, only that it was his dad's dying wish for him to reunite the families—just as his dad was asked to do many years before.

T
HE MOOD IN THE CAVE
was somber after the Snapper retreated. Everyone had to face the reality of an even bigger snake wandering the forest. Even Felix felt unsure about returning to Persly's Woods. The thought of an enormous snake slithering around gave him chills.

“I guess I should get home, guys,” Benjamin sighed. “My mom is expecting me.”

“I…I really wish you could join us, Sire,” Clementine said, and Benjamin looked sympathetic. “It doesn't seem right that neither Roscoe nor you will be with us.”

“Nor Paco,” Benjamin said softly.

“Yeah…nor Paco,” the pig agreed solemnly.

“How's Squeak doing?”

“He's awake, but he's in
big
trouble!” a skunk said. “His mom found out what he did and took him outside to have a little…
talk.”
Benjamin felt guilty.

Felix stepped forward. “Alright, Clementine, who's coming with us?”

“I am!” Malcolm patted Clementine's bristly back.

“Me, too! But…what exactly is it we're doing?” Jonah asked, a little embarrassed.

“We're going into Persly's Woods to bring back a thousand of my friends. They've decided it's safer to live here in the kingdom,” Felix replied.

“A thousand? Wow!” Jonah smiled at the thought of that many creatures bowing down to him. “Well, then, they'll get to meet their king!”

Mac pushed Jonah aside and walked past him. “Yeah, they'll get to meet me!”

“You?” Jonah said defensively.

“Of course.
Since I'm the rightful heir, they should meet me!”

“Don't you have to go home,
little
brother? You belong to a family, don't you?”

Mac was quiet for a moment, thinking of Jessica and her parents. “I-I can go if I want to. I guess you don't have to worry about that, do you? Did you ever have a home?” Jonah looked at the ground, unable to answer. “Zeus, are you coming along?”

“I suppose someone will need to protect you, Sire.” Zeus smiled.

“Anyone else?” Clementine asked the creatures that filled the hall. They all turned away and acted like they were busy.

“Fair ‘nuff,” Felix said, “This is more than enough to help.”

“I suggest we eat a big meal before we leave, gentlemen,” Clementine said. “We won't have the luxury of King Benjamin's bag of goodies with us this time.”

“Sounds good. What are we
having?” Mac asked hungrily.

“Grain.” Clementine didn't notice the pug's disgusted look, nor Zeus's.

Benjamin smiled a little wistfully. “Please be safe, you guys. I'm sorry I can't go. I guess you won't need me much longer, anyway.” Saddened, he turned to go.

The old badger approached him. “We'll make room for our new members, Sire. There's plenty of space in the back caverns.” He pointed a claw at the dark holes in the back.

“Oh…good.” The boy didn't know what else to say as the badger ran off to join the soon-to-be-travelers.

Malcolm left the group and caught up with Benjamin as he walked through the dark tunnel. “Sire, are you in here?”

“Yeah, I'm still here.” His voice echoed.

“It's awfully dark, Your Majesty. I can't see where I'm going.”

“Hold on, I'll
be right there.” Benjamin joined him in the darkness. “What is it, Malcolm?”

“Sire, I don't know how to put this, but if I don't make it back I want you to know that I was faithful to you all along.”

The boy knelt to pet his bristly fur. “Thanks, Malcolm.”

“And…I don't think the others realize the kind of monster that's in those woods.”

“Only Clementine, Roscoe,” Benjamin paused in remembrance, “…Paco, and I have seen anything close to it. If this thing is bigger than Farangis, then the whole land has a huge problem on its hands.”

Malcolm took a deep breath. “We need to kill it, Sire. We know where it drinks, and we can use that to our advantage!” The boy was silent. “King Benjamin…do you still have any of those fire weapons?”

“No… but I think I know where I can get more.” The raccoon wasn't able to see the boy's eyebrows raise.

“I will help you kill this monster anyway I can. Goodbye, King Benjamin.”

“Goodbye, Malcolm.”

Benjamin continued on and came out the hole in the fox den. The sun hid behind some long clouds. The air was a little cooler. He walked up the driveway feeling a little bitter about not going on the journey. He understood why Felix felt he shouldn't go. Obviously the forest creatures would react strongly to a human as their king, but he could protect them. Another giant snake was out there! And from the sound of it, it was much bigger, and probably more fierce, than Farangis.

His mom heard the front door open from the kitchen. “Benjamin!!!”

“Oh, no…” He sighed and took off the bracelet, putting it in his back pocket. He would rather have faced that giant snake.

“Get in here,
now
!”

He felt
lightheaded as he walked to meet certain punishment. “Hi, Mom.”

“Where were you today?”

“Well… I…”

“Don't try to lie to me, Benjamin! I just got a phone call from Mrs. Dyer saying she missed you in class today. She called to give you your homework assignment.” Her arms were folded stiffly as she stood there, staring down her son.

Benjamin didn't know what to do…luckily, his body did. Carol watched her son's face change from scared…to sad…to awash in tears. He cried. He cried like he'd never cried before. Falling to his knees, he hunched over and rested his palms on the cold linoleum of the kitchen floor while Carol tried to stand firm. Finally she broke down.