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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The Adventures of Thunder & Avalanche Laws of Nature
10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36
List of illustrations 37 Needle in a Haystack: cover 38 Too Cute
Kittens: title page 39
Mountain Lily: opposite 40 Forked Road: next 41
Flowerful Field: next after next 42 Home: table of contents
43
Mountain Kittens: page one 44 Balcony Sunrise: two/three 45
Natural Kingdom: four/five 46
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Balanced Breakfast: six/seven 47 Dancing Plants: eight/nine
48
Mousin Around: ten/eleven 49 Duck Pond: twelve/thirteen 50
Butterfly Creek: fourteen/fifteen 51 Climbing Kitties:
sixteen/seventeen 52
Neighborhood Dogs: eighteen/nineteen 53 Elk Meadow:
twenty/twenty-one 54 Storm Ridge: twenty-two/three 55
Lightning Strike: twenty-four/five 56 True North:
twenty-six/seven 57
Foxtrot: twenty-eight/nine 58 Rocky Outlook: thirty/thirty-one
59 Mountain Lair: thirty-two/three 60
Rolling Downhill: thirty-four/five 61 Leap of Faith:
thirty-six/seven 62
Healing Waters: thirty-eight/nine 63 Sleepy Signs:
forty/forty-one 64
Coyote Ridge: forty-two/three 65 Raccoon Bridge: forty-four/five
66 Courage Bump: forty-six/seven 67
Cornered Coyotes: forty-eight/nine 68 Landslide Avalanche:
fifty/fifty-one 69
Bough Echo: fifty-two/three 70 Somersault Fun: fifty-four/five
71 River Learning: fifty-six/seven 72
Downstairs Bears: fifty-eight/nine 73 Birdseye View:
sixty/sixty-one 74
Sunset Beginning: sixty-two/three 75 Golden Spot: about me
76
Nobodys Portrait: credits 77 78
Cast of Characters 79 80
Animals are a grounding force. They are concrete emblems of
symbiosis in the world. 81 Wilderness has long served humanity in
silence, sharing wisdom. Throughout history, 82
people have strived to possess the higher states of wild
creatures by acting like 83 beasts, but life belongs to one family
that shares the experience of birth and death. 84
We choose our own direction and purpose on earth as lessons are
arranged to help us 85 understand the specific mysteries arising
in, around, and through the present. 86 Learning happens when we
embrace others in all shapes, sizes, and abilities. 87
88 Pocket Mice are extremely humble, considering the importance
of their role as 89
mediator between the surface world and underworld. Fond of
burrowing, mice emerge 90 from the ground and represent one of the
basic building blocks essential to life. 91
Predators of all shapes and sizes depend on this tiny animal to
survive. Few know 92 about mouse dreams, but mice fantasize of
climbing wind currents like eagles and 93
surfing ocean waves like dolphins. Until then, they gather seeds
and tunnel elaborate 94 pathways underground allowing water to
meander and nourish roots. They have 95
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helped human beings gain wisdom throughout history by acting as
agents of creative 96 thought. Their primary purpose is expanding
consciousness inside all living beings 97
everywhere. 98 99
Magpies are viewed as guardians at the gateway to the spirit
world. Their varied 100 expressions speak volumes as they click,
clack, caw, yak, sing, and soar. They can be 101 opportunistic in
their behavior. Like the coyote, they are known to trick others,
not to 102
teach a lesson but rather to generate confusion. Through their
knowledge of the 103 nature of cosmic laws, magpies can multiply
and are given power over some animals. 104
They do not care whether anyone listens to their conversations,
or if people watch 105 them go about their business when they are
around. They are extremely self-serving. 106
When they are not foraging for food, they are usually out
socializing with friends. 107 108
Black Crows and magpies flock together. Local groups usually
meet at sunrise and 109 map out a strategy for the morning. They
are great scavengers and natural leaders. 110
They can be bold and bossy but can also be challenged and learn
from their mistakes. 111 Not only do crows use tools to complete
tasks but they also work together to lead 112
predator and prey into crossing paths. Their birds eye view
allows them to see 113 forward to the outcome of a series of
events, usually before the lower terrestrial 114
animals do, and they manipulate the scene to their benefit.
Crows are teachers that 115 love a good joke. They enjoy being
local. Their squawk echoes across empty space. 116
117 Red Foxes are clever and focused. They are playful and
friendly like dogs but not as 118 trusting as their canine cousins.
Pups usually live in the den and form a pack while 119
they learn to hunt. If their range is plentiful, they will set
out on their own when they 120 are old enough. Their orange fur
relates to their enthusiastic and playful personalities. 121
Being kissed by a fox for a moment in a frozen gaze is intense
because they are 122 messengers. They will say a lot without moving
or speaking. Most of the time, foxes 123
will rush by as if driven to another destination. Timid, they
skitter away at the first 124 impulse of fear. 125
126 Mallard Ducks possess the ability to walk on the ground,
swim in the water, and fly in 127 the sky using only their bodies.
Masters of the physical world, they display confidence 128
as they waddle about. Some cultures view the duck as sacred
because of all the 129 lessons they teach. Like geese, they are
migratory and are able to travel to many 130 places teaching many
things. Among the lessons that ducks display are classes on 131
how to be graceful during easy and difficult times, how to shed
confusing and 132 destructive emotions, and how hard work fosters a
humble respect for creation. Ducks 133
enjoy socializing with each other. 134 135
Chickadees have a big personality despite their tiny size. Their
bravery and curiosity 136 around larger animals in the forest
brings levity to their interactions. They always 137
travel together in pairs or in groups, usually warbling,
cheeping, and chortling 138 chirrups to keep track of everyone
along the way. 139
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140 Red-winged Blackbirds, like all avian beings, assist in
acquiring wisdom because they 141 are able to navigate a higher
physical plane. Highly protective of their territory, these 142
birds develop societies and devoutly defend their communities.
Their unmistakable 143 vocal oak-a-lee rings out during dusk and
dawn and can be heard from the cottontails 144
down by the pond in summer. 145 146
Cackling Geese gather together before they migrate. Their sense
of direction is only 147 rivaled by their strength as they tear
their trail through the air. When they are not in 148 the sky, they
are usually socializing in large gaggles next to water. After they
nestle 149
into all the nooks and crannies nearby, families snuggle during
the night. Their iconic 150 V in the sky points us to being
conscious of creation. Geese are directional guides. 151
152 American Robins are morning spirits capable of radiating the
sun. Their red breast 153
symbolizes the source illuminating the day ahead. Their beak
represents its rays 154 shining forth. Robins not only tweet truth,
they can point to prophetic visions once 155
their spell of awakening has been cast. They can predict
specific future circumstances 156 for anyone. Robins are also a
perfect union of earth and sky, eating worms from 157
underground and then using the energy to fly. They are
dependable witnesses 158 attending the beginning of each day.
159
160 Butterflies, because of their metamorphic powers, represent
a strength possessed 161
from rocks to trees, and on through to animals and humans, that
is, they can change 162 on the spot. This ability to be in the
moment, alert and awake while also being able to 163
change, is a powerful tool. In the present, anything, something,
nothing, or 164 everything can happen. The butterfly spirit is
always stirring emotions, spinning its 165
insides to gold, even if the external world is stuck or
seesawing to and fro. Creation 166 offers us many opportunities to
advance along the same arc as the butterfly. 167
168 Dogs are the friendliest and most helpful of all beings.
They will bark, whimper, 169 whine, yip, yap, and yelp trying to
communicate with people. Their loyalty and 170
affection overflows in boundless joy. Like all canines, they are
predators. They have a 171 strong sense of independence and a basic
instinct to hunt. Dogs have their own form 172 of communication
they use among themselves, one where they do not have to work 173
so hard to be understood. They are smart and perceptive and can
serve as valuable 174
companions. Once a bond is formed with a human being, they will
view protection as 175 their primary responsibility. It is no
wonder their name is an anagram for a singular 176
term given by many to describe the creator of all things. 177
178
Hummingbirds can appear angelic as they suspend in the air to
feed. Thumping at 179 1,200 beats per minute, the hum of a
hummingbirds heart is a direct example of the 180
amount of effort needed to harmonize with creation. Viewers are
offered endless 181 insight into the infinite detail of the natural
world as these birds make gardens sing, 182 while they decide which
flower perfectly fits their needle-like nose. The ring of their
183
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tiny wings nearby can remind listeners to look in often on other
peoples hearts and 184 minds. 185
186 Beavers create habitat by building mammoth waterworks
projects. The scope of these 187 tasks is enough to alter the flow
of rivers and form new streams where many animals 188 gather to
sup. Beavers create robust regions of activity in the forest by
raising sacred 189
lodges with views over rippling reflections of stars underneath
an ever-evolving 190 cosmic swirl. They show us that all the
resources we need have been provided on 191 earth. These hydro
engineers use their ingenuity to change the course of water in
192
ways that foster growth. 193 194
Grasshoppers are a symbol of fertility, but can quickly shift to
a sign of destruction if 195 their swarm is not grounded in
stability. This duality between creation and destruction 196 gives
the grasshopper power. When the earth is in balance, these insects
are seen as 197
messengers bringing good news. During these times, grasshoppers
are associated 198 with innovation, self-expression, and abundance.
Intimately associated with the 199
moon, these tiny insects have influenced human beings in
profound ways since they 200 first met long ago. 201
202 Raccoons are shy animals with incredible coordination. Their
masked face is a symbol 203
of the divide between our social and true selves. The social
self is the personality 204 projected outward and the true self is
the one located inside. The raccoon stares at us 205
from behind a mask saying that the whole animal kingdom shares
in a parallel 206 experience, one where inner and outer worlds run
alongside each other and mix in a 207 helical dance. Raccoons are
reminders that discovery and coordination are traits that 208
evolve from regular practice. 209 210
Woodpeckers create a bridge between the animal and plant
kingdoms with the rhythm 211 of their beats. The sound of their
beak ratta-tatta-tapping on trees pulses through the 212 forest,
and the resonance awakens listeners to the profound opportunities
around. In 213
the woods, every step is a new door to open once a flow is
found. Woodpeckers are 214 knocking. The world they open is one of
universal kinship. 215
216 Elk communicate the hidden language of nature. They are
tribal creatures whose 217
generosity knows no bounds. Protection and preservation are
primary to the herd. The 218 elks strength is enough to overpower
any fear associated with competition. The 219
antlers on the males are used for the purpose of defense but
their shape also shows a 220 deep connection to plants. Similar to
timber in shape and hue, they represent the 221 networks run by elk
in the woods. The movement of their migration installs tracks
222
similar to plant shoots. One makes lateral trails and the other
reaches skyward. None 223 of this arrangement is by chance. It is a
result of an intelligent design that evolves as 224
it is observed. Highly adaptive, elk flow down chutes through
ravines dozens at a 225 time, like water dropping in torrents of
flesh and bone, leaving no trace except for a 226
path to follow through the trees. 227
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228 Coyotes are great teachers. Their chorus of howls, shrieks,
yawps, and screams echo 229
in our imaginations as much as they do around the mountain
forest at night. Their 230 lessons have power and a lasting effect.
The coyotes intelligence comes from their 231
continual movement of intersecting loops over the landscape.
Knowledge of place 232 gives them power. 233
234 Wolves are teachers, too. They use strategies to hunt,
migrate, and find dens. Highly 235 social creatures, they live in
packs. They use touch, vocal intonations, body gestures, 236
and eye contact to express themselves. Wolves will continue
their efforts to relay a 237 message until the receiver accepts
receipt. Then, it will engage and enlarge its word. 238
For this reason, wolves are associated with loyalty and the
heart. They are friendly, 239 compassionate, and generous to those
who win their trust, but once the pack no 240
longer serves its needs, a lone wolf will set out on its own and
watch over the forest. 241 242
Black Bears are powerful animals. The color of their fur can be
brown, cinnamon, or in 243 rare cases, white. Bears hibernate in
hollow trees, rock crevices, in burrows 244
underground, or in arrangements of fallen trees and brush that
will protect them from 245 the cold of winter. For more than half
the year, bears walk in the dream world. This is 246
a very special ability. To those who listen and learn, the bear
shows a way of life in 247 harmony with the cosmos. It is no wonder
that the stars in the sky arrange 248
themselves in both big and small versions of this terrestrial
bruin. 249 250
Mountain Lions, also known as cougars, are great witnesses.
Members of the feline 251 family, cougars are curious and
independent by nature. They gather in groups called 252
prides and stay mostly out of sight. Their silent nobility as
they watch from lofty 253 perches is an iconic symbol of judgment.
This power of observation is their gift. Great 254 stalkers with
incredible coordination, they use the environment as an advantage
when 255
pursuing their prey. 256 257
Golden Eagles symbolize the flight of the spirit as it overcomes
all challenges holding 258 it back. The ascendancy of this bird in
the sky commands respect from all other 259
animals, even the bipedal beings below. Descendants of the
thunderbird in Native 260 American myths, these animals control the
rain. They steer the clouds as they see fit, 261 stirring storms by
flapping their wings and creating rippling rings of rising wind.
True 262 freedom is formed in the steady glide of flight and is
filed away in each fiber of their 263 feathers. They circle peaks
observing with a watchful eye, protecting all individuals 264
equally. They are tasked with keeping the earth in balance by
harmonizing evolution. 265 Seeing this august ace is a good time to
send off a prayer of gratitude for creation. 266
They show us the choice all beings have to pursue their own
path. Golden eagles 267 demonstrate a vision of composure and
dignity we all can grasp through our journey 268
inside the spirals of life. 269 270
One 271
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Mountain Kittens 272 273
Two 274 A Rocky Adventure 275
276 Three 277 Home 278
279 Dedicated to everyone still alive. 280
281 Mountain Kittens 282
283 High up in the mountains where the land touches the sky and
the wind whispers its 284
secrets between the branches of the evergreens lived two kitties
named Thunder and 285 Avalanche. During the spring thaw one year, a
man was hiking alone in the forest and 286
saw the pair huddled together in an old, hollow tree stump. They
were young, brand 287 new in the world. Alone, hungry, and
frightened, the kittens looked up at the large 288
beast, which tilted its head at them and smiled. Avalanche was a
Siberian breed with 289 sky blue eyes and dirty white fur. Thunder
was an American Shorthair with a brown 290
coat and apple green eyes. Right away, they liked the man and
trusted him and 291 followed him home. 292
293 Once they were fed a bowl of warm broth inside the house, it
did not take the two 294
friends long to launch into a rollicking bout of chase and
wrestle. They were always 295 together and they loved to play every
day, especially outdoors. They spent most of 296
their time exploring the forest and meeting all of the animals.
To the curious kittens, 297 their new home was perfect. They had a
safe place to stay at night and an endless 298
yard in front of them to explore. They grew quickly in those
first few months. 299 300
To some of the smaller creatures around the house, the cats were
vicious predators. 301 The young companions were excellent hunters.
To them, it was a game. They were 302
immature and unaware that they were not supposed to hunt outside
if they lived 303 indoors. The mountains were patient though and
waited for a particular lesson to line 304 up perfectly for the
pair. On one of their adventures deep into the forest, their usual
305
role was reversed, and Thunder and Avalanche became prey, two
happy hounds 306 humbled in the hunt. The lesson was needed so they
could become part of the forest 307
family. 308 309
The callow kittens had no one to teach them the laws of nature.
The man sometimes 310 tried to describe the framework to the cats
but he had trouble explaining how it 311
worked. They had to discover on their own how all of the animals
worked together to 312 sustain their societies on the planet.
313
314
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The ingenuous duo loved to watch the sky when its hues of pinks
were fused 315 together. Before it rose, the rays from the sun
split into a spectrum of colors, and 316
pastel shades of light reflected across the heavens. From the
upstairs balcony, they 317 could see the mountains recast in the
clouds as they lingered, slowly drifting over the 318 morning. The
impression was weak and washed, and bubbled in bits as it was
strewn 319
across the canvas, swept aside by a blend of blues. 320 321
The two friends liked to pretend that the sky was a movie
screen, and they loved to 322 watch the opening scene. All of the
animals were stars, everything was part of the 323 production, and
the whole forest was the stage. Each individual actor responded to
324
the affairs set in motion by all of the other characters as the
day proceeded. 325 Overhead on some mornings, little puffy clouds
rode the crests and troughs and lit up 326
and bandied about in imaginations. Some took classic shapes of
clichd heroes as 327 they drifted over the landscape while others
morphed into miscellaneous ambiguous 328
bodies. Sometimes the beings in the sky fell and all the animals
ran away and hid. 329 Each day, the young kittens sat upstairs and
watched the morning overcome night. 330
331 The curious companions usually stayed close to home at
first. Their favorite spot was 332
down by the pond. They liked to sit in the grass behind the
cottontails and listen to 333 the ducks. One of the bunch that
lived in the surrounding brush was really good at 334
telling jokes. During their morning social, it always made the
other birds come apart 335 at the seams laughing. 336
337 The pair made a lot of friends as they were learning the
laws of nature. The other 338 animals were very forgiving when the
wide-eyed, young ones made mistakes, but 339
there were rules everyone had to follow. Actions always caused
effects that rippled 340 out into the forest and the surrounding
mountains. 341
342 The kitties felt safe now because they could spend the night
indoors. The man kept 343
them inside when he was away, but as soon as he returned and
opened the door, 344 they were ready to bounce. They would ricochet
off the furniture, hurdle over him 345
kneeling in the doorway with open arms, and leap to freedom
outside. 346 347
Whenever it rained and they had to stay inside, the kitties used
the whole house to 348 play. Their roost was not big but it felt
huge to the small kittens. There were two 349
floors. The lower level was one large room with a window facing
south and a round 350 fireplace in the center. A set of stairs led
to a loft with a bed and balcony. 351
352 The man who looked after Thunder and Avalanche gave his new
friends plenty of 353 healthy food and clean water. Each kitten had
a bowl of agreeable kibbles, ample 354
enough for them to climb inside and be buried in the bits. The
man also kept a few 355 toy mice around for the kitties to play
with, but usually, his new friends preferred a 356 rollicking game
of tag up and down the stairs. The two kitties received their names
357
shortly after they arrived because of the noises they made
ripping through the house 358
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during their frolicsome fun. Their games always sounded like a
rumbling thunderstorm 359 or a roaring avalanche as they rolled
over the indoor terrain. 360
361 They liked to nap during the day on the couch in front of
the window, and at night, 362
preferred to sleep in the bed. They always nuzzled up against
the man, who was 363 usually awake working before sunrise. 364
365 Their home was located up in the mountains more than a mile
and a half in the sky. 366
The air was always clean and the rivers, which started nearby on
the mountain, 367 flickered white and gold in the summer. For six
months, the ponds and creeks 368
charmed viewers with rippling bands of color under spinning
leaves and wispy clouds. 369 For the other six months, beauty lay
still and silent, shimmering and sparkling like a 370
blanket of snow. 371 372
On some mornings, the man built a fire in the den. The flames
would dance together 373 with his singsong sounds as he tried to
make the beginning of each day lively. 374
Sometimes the fire popped startling the kitties, and they darted
into the kitchen and 375 jumped onto the counter looking for
attention from the man. He would pat them on 376
their heads and help them simmer down while continuing to
arrange the meal. There 377 was always plenty of tenderness for
everyone. 378
379 One day while the man was preparing chow, he poured himself
a glass of water and 380 drank half of it. He placed the cup next
to the stove and kept cooking. Seeing it as 381
half-full, Avalanche sprung onto the counter and went over to
have a drink. She 382 stretched her neck down and began lapping up
the fresh water, but when she went to 383
pull her head out, she was stuck. The young kitten began to
panic and shake back 384 and forth, but the man quickly stopped her
and helped her break free without 385
shattering the glass. Once her friend was safe, Thunder nearly
fell off the counter 386 laughing. Embarrassed by her folly,
Avalanche tackled her pal and the two tumbled to 387
the floor. 388 389
The very next morning after the sun came up and the dew on the
grass started to 390 evaporate, the two pals jumped through the
open window downstairs and headed 391
outside to play. The leaves on the flowers in the yard were
dancing as the wind 392 rustled along the ground. 393
394 The two friends did not notice their shadows that were
stretched long from the rising 395 sun. It appeared as though a
jaguar was stalking each mouser. The plants grew tall 396 during
the summer, and the two kitties were able to hide in the long
stalks of grass 397
and spy on the other animals. The pair liked to travel next to
the creek and drink 398 water straight from the stream as they
ducked in and out of the lanky turf. 399
400
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The young kittens simply thought that plants were kind. The two
friends were already 401 learning how the flora in the forest
produced food and shelter for everyone. To them, 402
trees were the most humble and generous of all living beings on
earth. 403 404
While the pair was exploring along the creek on this particular
morning, they thought 405 they heard a voice calling to them. When
they spun around, no one was there. Only a 406
stand of three trees was waving in the breeze. Avalanche
approached one of the 407 swaying trio and pressed into its soft
bark with her claws. Thunder followed by 408
scratching anothers trunk. In an instant, as though the branches
of the three reached 409 down to swoop up the two fledglings, like
a mother lifting children into her arms, the 410
two friends learned that day how to climb trees. 411 412
That afternoon while they were exploring along the stream, the
young pupils found a 413 mouse burrow in a rock wall around a
garden. Several mice were living there. 414
415 The kitties were excited about the idea of bringing home a
small pet of their own. 416
They wanted to catch a mouse to play with inside the house. One
of the little rodents 417 that occupied a den near the top of the
wall was cowering in a cranny. The naive 418 predator reached one
paw down and stretched out its claws, clenching dirt while 419
grasping air. Thunder was focused on Avalanche and she did not
notice the other 420 frightened mice in the garden. One very close
to her was looking for a way to flee 421
while a hover of hummingbirds suckled garden blossoms above. 422
423
Avalanche called Thunder over to help when the mouse proved too
difficult to catch by 424 herself. The two friends took turns using
their sharp nails to rake through the dirt 425
trying to drag the tiny creature from its den. 426 427
The other mice saw an opportunity to go and they fled. The
cornered rodent popped 428 its head out, attempting to split with
the others from its nest, but Avalanche swatted 429
it down with her paw. The terrified mouse panicked and bolted.
Avalanche hopped 430 down from the rocks, maintained perfect
balance, and grabbed it in her mouth. She 431 ran toward the house.
Thunder followed close behind. When they reached the front 432
door, the predator let go of its prey, and the two sat nearby
waiting for it to wake up. 433 434
The man arrived home from work and saw the two kitties standing
over a dead 435 mouse. They were taking turns trying to nudge their
catch back to life, first rolling it 436 over with their paws and
then tossing it willy-nilly into the air. None of their efforts
437
were successful. 438 439
When the man approached, the cats stopped playing. He picked up
the deceased 440 animal and placed it under a spruce tree nearby
before going in to prepare supper. 441 Thunder and Avalanche ran
around chasing the lustrous insects a bit longer before 442
going inside for the night. 443 444
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While they were all eating supper together, the man tried to
explain to the kittens 445 that there was no reason for them to
hunt in the forest as part of a game. He went on 446
to say that there were always bigger animals out looking for
food while the smaller 447 ones were searching for prey. Most
predators were hunted, he said. The web of life 448
included everyone, even cats and human beings. Then the man
smiled and scratched 449 behind each of his friends ears. The two
furry felines swished their tails back and 450
forth weaving them together like two rivers meandering to the
sea. 451 452
They were brand new to the mystery of the mountain forest and
had not even met all 453 of the animals yet, so it was a good
lesson for them to hear, even if the man 454
stumbled through its complexity. After supper, the man told the
kitties a long story 455 about how the earth was created to produce
many kinds of plants and animals in 456
every shape and size. He said that lifeforms evolved over time
to fit a specific task 457 and explained how each one had to find
its purpose to be able to apply itself in ways 458 that kept the
forest healthy and vibrant. He proposed that all beings were
intelligent 459 and free and that there were laws to nature.
Thunder and Avalanche listened as he 460
outlined a few more traits he thought were in everyone and
everything, everywhere. 461 462
Both kittens continued listening with interest as the man
suggested they figure out 463 why the other animals in the forest
lived and acted in certain ways. Then, he rolled 464
their whiskers between his fingers and patted their heads. 465
466
Before bed, the noisy neophytes played their regular game of tag
and tore through 467 the house. Booms punctuated the bout as they
knocked into things on the split-level 468
set. The man smiled as he read his book by the fire. Soon,
though, everyone grew 469 tired and went to sleep. 470
471 A Rocky Adventure 472
473 The next morning as the opening strings of light embarked
upon their arc over the 474 horizon, Thunder and Avalanche sprung
through the mistakenly left open window 475
downstairs and hopped out into the morning. The early birds were
already tending to 476 their tasks in the forest when the two
felines joined the vibratory wave and rolled into 477
the swollen stages of broken twilight. The young ruffians
usually only ruffled a few 478 feathers as they reveled in the
enfolding dawn. The time just before the sun entered 479
the scene was their favorite. 480 481
When daylight broke, a bevy of birds was twittering around the
pond. Hummingbirds 482 were sipping nectar from the flowers and
woodpeckers were hammering out lofty tree 483
homes. Magpies were squawking in the aspens and robins went
about looking for 484 worms in the grass. Chickadees fluttered
through the evergreens and ducks swam in 485
the pond. Red-winged blackbirds were calling oak-a-lee from the
cottontails while 486 birds of prey circled high above in the winds
keeping score on the actors in various 487
scenes below. 488
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489 Before heading down to the pond, the pair went over to the
spot where the man 490
placed the dead rodent. They did not find it there. A bit later
on, when another mouse 491 jumped joyously across their path, the
two froze. Remembering the woven web of life 492
from the mans story the night before, they watched the
skittering critter scuttle 493 safely away. 494
495 Riding on a wind current high overhead, a golden eagle
spotted the little kittens on 496
the ground. The raptor ripped free from the runnel of wind and
rode a warm updraft. 497 It began spiraling down, bouncing in
bursts, peering at its prey. The predator was 498
trying to determine if Thunder was small enough to carry away.
Closer to the pond, 499 several red-winged blackbirds became
territorial and swept sideways above Avalanche 500
in shapes of figure eights. 501 502
The two friends decided to leave the pond and explore along the
creek for a stretch. 503 They loved to travel along the rivulets
where so many other animals lived and played. 504
They liked sitting in the brush attending to current business.
505 506
The kitties hopped over the narrow band of water and walked
along the rocks next to 507 the stream on the other side. There
were many grasshoppers and butterflies 508
everywhere. The two young friends chased after several
shimmering sprites into the 509 fields. Thunder was so focused
trying to catch one of the critters, as it flit hither and 510
thither, that she climbed a tree and ran out on a branch while
chasing after the 511 elusive insect. She stopped just before the
limb narrowed, but momentum and gravity 512
asserted themselves, and she fell through the boughs. Avalanche
looked like a furry 513 white frog bobbing in the grassy waves
following a grasshopper. The playful pals 514
continued pouncing as they haphazardly jounced about. 515
516
The pair ran the rill a bit more before heading away from the
watershed and toward a 517 stand of aspen trees. A group of robins
was resting in the branches after foraging for 518
worms all morning. Some barking started in the distance and the
kitties looked up. 519 Their ears rotated back and forth like
mini-satellite dishes trying to get a signal to pin 520
down the exact location of the young, rambunctious woofs. More
yapping echoed 521 through the trees again and gave them a chance
to recognize the source. These three 522
dogs were their closest neighbors and liked to start a game of
chase whenever they 523 saw the two playmates. 524
525 Thunder and Avalanche decided it would be fun to practice
climbing trees in case they 526 were found. After preparing a plan,
the kitties took off in opposite directions. They ran 527
rival ovals before leaping into a stand of trees. They ripped up
the trunks, gripping 528 tightly into the soft bark with their
claws. Once safely perched in the branches, they 529
sat and looked around. 530 531
-
The family of robins had flown away when the cats burst into the
boughs and a group 532 of magpies and crows was arriving. The
attending flock was squawking wildly about 533 the weather, so
Thunder and Avalanche did not hear the dogs when the trio started
534
barking again. The young duo hid among the sprigs and listened
to the clutch. 535 536
The magpies were in favor of pushing on but the crows thought
the sky overhead 537 signaled a fast approaching storm. The kittens
watched as the magpie tiding 538
overcame the crow muster in the debate. One magpie noticed the
team behind the 539 leaves after the squalls from the squabble
stalled and alerted the others. A cacophony 540
of caws erupted and the birds throbbed in the branches. It was
not long before 541 everyone departed the scene. 542
543 By the time the covey split and the kitties were back on
dirt, Thunder and Avalanche 544
had forgotten all about the distant woofs. They were caught
completely off-guard 545 when the dogs appeared directly in front
of them. 546
547 The quintet sprang into action. Thunder tore through the
forest like a bolt of lightning. 548 Avalanche broke free away from
her pal. One dog chased each kitty on their separate, 549 opposing
arcs. The third canine sat in the middle and watched as the quartet
traced a 550
circular crossing course. The playful companions winked at the
midpoint when their 551 paths linked, and the dogs in pursuit
crashed into each other. The pair was pleased 552
with their plan. 553 554
When they reached the spot where they had practiced their leaps,
the kitties vaulted 555 into the stand of trees and raced all the
way to the top. The two tree huggers 556
balanced in the branches while their limbs swayed on the thin
arms. The rowdy 557 hounds woofed, pawed, and tried to grip the
chalky bark on the trunk. 558
559 After an hour or so, the dogs left and went home. The two
kitties came down from the 560
trees and looked around. All the birds were gone too and the
forest was quiet now. 561 The cats talked about the dogs while they
walked up another ridge. Once they 562
reached the top, they looked over an expansive valley. The
kitties observed several 563 families of elk playing and grazing
below. The tribe ebbed through the green grass 564
surfing the swells. 565 566
A lone, playful coyote was also watching the herd from the
opposite ridge. None in the 567 group noticed the trickster, so the
coyote decided to teach the gang a lesson. It 568
skittered down into the valley, crossed the stream, slinked
between the tall stalks of 569 grass, and nipped the backside of a
calf. The startled sort quickly roused to defensive 570
positions. The bulls advanced toward the coyote, lowering their
antlers, stomping 571 their hooves, and snorting while kicking
tufts of grass and dirt up in the air. The cows 572 gathered the
calves together and circled them. Proud of its trick, the coyote
retreated 573
a few steps and began boasting. The young canid nodded its head
up and down and 574 pranced around yipping at the clan before
vanishing. 575
-
576 The elk continued grazing as the clouds above started to
look like a mob of sheep 577
migrating across the sky. Once the band of vapor blocked out the
sun, the tribe 578 gathered and one of the large bulls spoke to the
others before they all walked away 579 quietly into the forest in a
single-file line. Curious, the young kittens ventured down 580
into the meadow to investigate. 581 582
They walked over to the stream that ran through the valley and
drank some water. 583 Thick clouds billowed overhead and the sky
bubbled infinite shades of grey. The two 584 looked around before
one found the scent of the canine trickster. Both felines sniffed
585 the scene. They knew coyotes and dogs were similar, but they
also knew coyotes ran 586
in packs and dogs lived in houses. The pair made a plan for what
to do if a troupe 587 ever found them and started a real chase for
game. 588
589 The weather worsened and the kitties scooted ahead and
crossed another stream. The 590
storm clouds rose above the mountains and an orange glow began
to fill the air. The 591 weight of the clouds crashing together
created friction, and sparks flickered inside the 592
bubbling bumps in the sky. 593 594
Just as the last patches of blue were fading to maroon, one of
the bubblers popped 595 and began to spill into the others. The
ripples shifted the nearby clouds, and elephant 596 top hats burst
unrehearsed. The sky above the kitties started tending worse after
one 597
cloud glowed. Its white light was snuffed and washed grey. As
the mist lingered and 598 shuffled in the sky, seesaw winds formed
along the ground and ruffled the fur on the 599
friends. 600 601
Thunder and Avalanche were looking for shelter when the first
raindrops began to fall. 602 They laughed and continued playing
while trying to dodge each drop until lightning 603
flashed and sent them bolting for cover under an evergreen. The
earth shook under 604 the kittens, and a deep rumble filled the
valley as the sound rolled over the terrain. 605
The clouds gurgled and a deluge of oversized beads was jiggled
loose from above. The 606 pair would have to face the fast-moving
storm right where they were. 607
608 Just then, an incandescent glow filled the scene and
lightning struck. The sky 609
crackled. The bolt burst the immediate air molecules shattering
them to bits, and then 610 a loud boom resounded across the coulee
and echoed off the surrounding hills. The 611
ground under the evergreen where the two were trembling shook
and rattled. The sky 612 lit up again and thunder flooded the
ravine. The frightened kittens shuddered as they 613 huddled
together. Another flash lit and hit a rock near the two. Tiny
flecks of ore shot 614
out in every direction. 615 616
The rain fell in sheets, and each evergreen needle above the
crouching companions 617 was like a faucet of running water raining
down on them. With each gust of wind, the 618
-
kitties were blitzed with an avalanche of water from the side.
There was nowhere else 619 for them to go. They held tightly onto
each other. No one was coming to help. 620
621 Just then, the fur on Thunder and Avalanche began to rise.
Before either knew what 622
happened, the air crackled and lightning pounded an aspen tree
directly next to them. 623 Each kitty was jolted into the prickly
verdant vegetation. 624
625 The sound from the lightning bolt, as it dissolved into an
adjacent branch, boomed 626
before rebounding across the crumpled hills. The limb burst into
flames and broke free 627 and fell to the ground before rain
dissolved the embers and smoke billowed upward. 628
The two friends crouched close to the trunk of the tree,
frightened by each flash. In a 629 panic, Thunder darted out into
the forest in the squall without any thought at all to 630
which way she went. Avalanche followed her best friend into the
storm. 631 632
The clouds cleared just as quickly as they had arrived. The
remaining rain stayed in 633 the sky as a hanging shelf of colored
virga scowling down at the kitties. In the 634
distance, the clouds were dissolving along the horizon. Both
agreed it was time to go 635 home, if only they knew which way to
go. 636
637 The two friends talked and traced the path of their
adventure. They had gone past 638
duck pond and along the creek, past their favorite three
climbing trees and through 639 elk meadow. They were now in
unfamiliar territory and further from home than they 640
had ever been before. 641 642
It was already late in the afternoon and soon it would be dusk,
a dangerous time of 643 day for prey, a time when many beasts began
prowling the woods. Night was not a 644
good time for newcomers this far into the forest. 645 646
The kitties were growing restless. No answers came. They were
lost. Avalanche 647 looked like she had an idea, and when Thunder
asked to hear it, she suggested they 648 climb to the top of the
next ridge to get a better view. Thunder expressed hope, and
649
the stray crew set out still searching for a route home. 650
651
Near the top of their climb, the pair noticed a cave. The cats
were curious and went 652 over to peek inside. When they looked,
eight eyes stared back at them. Four hungry 653
fox kits were waiting for the tod and vixen to return home with
their supper. Two 654 came out to meet the kitties. They were the
same size as the young felines. Thunder 655 kept her distance and
meowed a greeting from behind her trembling whiskers to one 656
of the pups. It bounced back an excited reply, and the other
pair emerged to play. 657 658
It was not long before the adult foxes came back. The worried
mother had a dead 659 duck in its jaw, and once it saw the kitties
retreating, it quickly went to tend to the 660
kits. The adult male growled softly at Avalanche and watched
what the two would do. 661 662
-
One kitty looked confused and the other was acting irregular.
This was not the first 663 place the pair was scared but Thunder
was quivering. In a flash, she shot down the 664 hill and up a
tree. Avalanche stayed only long enough until Thunder was clear,
then 665
she raced to catch up to her pal. 666 667
The restless one surprised her friend by dropping from a tree
unexpectedly when the 668 two rendezvoused in the valley. Both knew
they needed to climb one of the 669
surrounding hills to see the way home, but there was only one
other mound nearby, 670 and the path up to the top looked steep and
rocky. 671
672 It was well into the afternoon when the friends started
their climb up the ridge. 673
Blending in perfectly with the rocks a bit further up along the
trail, two mountain lions 674 sat on opposing perches watching the
kittens. They saw them struggling over the 675
rough and uneven rocks as they approached. In spots, the
boulders changed to 676 smaller stones called scree. The loose
footing made it difficult for the kitties to keep 677 their
balance. At times, it looked as if they were about to slip and
fall, tumbling and 678
breaking into a million pieces on the way down. 679 680
The larger felines sat still as the smaller ones approached. The
cougars were crouched 681 with their ears erect and eyes focused on
the unsuspecting prey. Without moving, 682
they steadily stalked the two tyros. 683 684
Sensing discord, Thunder and Avalanche stopped. They felt
something was wrong, but 685 neither kitty saw or heard anything so
they continued climbing. This time, there were 686 no neighborhood
dogs around. Only a trio of crows clicked and cawed into the empty
687
valley below. 688 689
Thunder slipped on the loose rocks and several of them slid down
the slope. A few 690 picked up speed as they fell. Both kitties
froze and watched as the bits ricocheted off 691
sticks and stones. A few of the smaller ones smashed to pieces.
One of the kitties 692 joked and said she would not be as quiet on
her way down. The other laughed 693
nervously as the two trekked on. 694 695
The lost kittens climbed carefully across the scarp before
finding a place to rest their 696 paws near the last seep of water.
The kitties glanced up at the trail ahead and only 697 rocks
remained. The air twinkled nearby as the companions supped a few
sips. The 698 sky was just beginning to mix its colors into night.
Not a single pinhole had poked 699
through the canvas yet when the two restarted their ascent. 700
701
At first, the tots did not spot the predators gazing directly
down at their prey. An 702 immature cub was playing around on a
pile of rocks above the two adult cougars. The 703 opportunity to
view this encounter as an eagle was unique, so the mother lion
joined 704
its cub. 705 706
-
Avalanche skipped a few steps near the top as the rocks became
smaller and less 707 jagged. She hastened her gait once she thought
she found a lane to a view. Thunder 708 tried to remain balanced on
the choppy turf as she struggled to keep up with her pal. 709 Near
the top, the fleeter one waited for the other to catch up. The pair
found a perch 710
next to a ginormous rock in the shade and looked carefully at
the path ahead. 711 712
The male lion was now directly above them and was tracking the
two from only a few 713 feet away. Lured by the appeal of the
interaction, the female cougar moved higher up, 714
closer to its kitten to see the hunt unhidden. The cub was now
showing its teeth and 715 shrieking into the sky, imagining a whole
kingdom to rule over in its mind. 716
717 Both kitties gasped and froze when they looked up and saw
the two large cats and 718
their cub. The male cougar snarled. Thunder shrunk. Avalanche
arched her back and 719 the predator stood and straightened its
spine. Avalanche recognized her 720
miscalculation and quickly deflated. The two kitties had never
met a mountain lion 721 before. None of the cats were sure what was
going to happen next. 722
723 The mountain lion delayed and swished its tail back and
forth when Thunder abruptly 724 bolted for the pass. A delicate
breeze blew and ruffled the fur on the predators paws 725 as it
followed the naif with its eyes. Avalanche sprung loose but Thunder
was already 726 gone, choosing to shoot over the pass. Before the
cougar could grasp the action, one 727
kitten had followed the other up and over the hill. 728 729
The cub stayed behind with the adult female cougar while the
bewildered lion shook 730 off its confusion, leapt from its perch,
and pursued the small prey. Two eagles circled 731
above the pile, patrolling patiently and surveying the score.
732 733
When the predator finally caught up to the cats, they were
halfway down. It reached 734 out its massive paw and swatted
Thunder, who was running at full speed, sending her 735
tumbling down the rest of the slope. 736 737
Avalanche stopped to watch her friend as she fell and was
promptly bumped down the 738 hill. She landed on an incline
cluttered with scree. She surfed the rocky wave all the 739
way to the grassy valley. The pair was down from the mound, but
Thunder was 740 scratched and bruised and in a dizzying daze in a
bush up against a stone. The male 741 cougar was still advancing.
Avalanche galloped toward her friend through the alpine 742
meadow looking for another way to help. 743 744
The cougar moved in on Thunder who was trying to shake off the
shock of her fall. 745 She was bleeding from one of her hind legs
and everything appeared blurry to her. 746
Thunder did not panic. She rose and fled with the lion tight on
her tail. She found the 747 nearest tree and clawed skyward.
748
749
-
The young feline slowed down once she reached the top. Thinking
her rival 750 outmatched, she paused and peered down. The cougar
was climbing, slinking with her 751
every step. It was not long before the predator roosted, right
beside her, ready to 752 seize its defenseless prey in the skinny
shoots. Avalanche looked up at the scene of 753
the two silhouettes in the dusky sky. There was no way for her
to help her friend from 754 where she was standing. 755
756 Thunders choices shrunk to one as she popped out onto the
nearest limb. She shot 757
along the flimsy twig, balancing her three uninjured legs on the
stick, as it flexed like 758 a vault under her weight. The mountain
lion added to the branchs spring by stepping 759
firmly on the fulcrum right before the kitten leapt. 760 761
Nighttime twinkled in the sky, and one star poked through the
dark canvas as though 762 one hundred million angels were taking a
photograph. Thunder landed in a 763
neighboring tree and gripped tightly into the new branch with
her claws. It swayed up 764 and down. A few drops of blood dripped
from her injured limb before she ripped 765
across the span of the tree to the next one, and the next, until
she was low enough to 766 leap from the boughs to the ground and
disappear into the forest. By the time the 767
mountain lion descended from the tree, the woods had grown quiet
again. Thunder 768 and Avalanche were gone. 769
770 It was almost an hour before the pair found each other. The
sun was set and twilight 771
was now rising in the mountains. A single star remained stuck in
the sky. Thunder 772 waddled over to greet Avalanche when she saw
her approaching. The two tottered 773 over to the edge of the brook
and lapped up some cool, clean water. After a drink, 774
they talked by the creek. 775 776
Thunder told Avalanche what happened in the tree. She was hurt.
Her hind leg was 777 cut. The scratches where the mountain lion had
swatted her were bleeding under her 778
fur. She told Avalanche she was having trouble walking, so the
two decided they 779 would rest a bit before continuing onwards.
780
781 They talked more about the coyotes that would arise and roam
the forest in packs. 782 They were still a long way from home and
both kitties only caught a glimpse of the 783
track back. Avalanche wanted more time to figure out their route
and her companion 784 needed to rest. At the very least, Thunder
needed her leg cleaned. The blood on her 785
fur would rub off on the leaves and grass as she brushed up
against them. Any 786 prowling predators would have a straight path
to the injured pal in the pair. 787
788 The two friends found a boulder and Avalanche helped Thunder
climb on top. They 789
settled in behind the branches of a nearby tree and nuzzled
safely among the shaking 790 leaves. There were thousands of them
standing watch over this section of the river 791 where the kitties
were resting. They had a clear view over the valley from on top of
792
-
the stone. Thunder smiled and closed her eyes for a few, while a
rabbit chewed on the 793 leaves of a bush nearby, before hopping
off for a spell and drifting to sleep. 794
795 Avalanche remained awake, looking carefully in the direction
she thought they should 796 go. She cleaned Thunders wound while
she searched for a way home. The rabbit was 797
gone. The pair was learning what it felt like to be perpetual
prey in the forest. 798 799
Avalanche did not attempt to wake her friend when she first
heard the foremost yips 800 in the distance. Thunders legs twitched
as her mind played out a chase scene in a 801
dream. Avalanche watched a curious set of balanced rocks, one on
top of the other, 802 three high, wavering in the light next to the
river. The stack arced like a bow, the top 803 rock resembling an
arrow. Its edges were worn. The reflection of the stochastic stack
804
of stones wrinkled in the rivers current. The light from the
rising orb was absorbed by 805 the air and diffused through a mild
mist. It shifted the arrows subtle shadows, and 806
Avalanche watched still for a stint. Then, as if seemingly spun
by an irresistible 807 impulse, she turned to see a wolf in front
of the moon, which was rising over the 808
neighboring ridgeline. 809 810
She immediately woke up her other half and tried to explain what
happened. Thunder 811 was excited when her friend told her about
finding the way home, but she became 812 frightened when the
faraway yapping kicked up again. She quickly swept the sleep 813
from her eyes and was ready to go in a jiffy. The pair would not be
able to hide for 814
long from any predators wandering in the woods. They needed to
get going right 815 away without delay, on the double to avoid any
serious trouble. 816
817 Avalanche helped her friend to the ground and the two
lionhearted beasts transitioned 818 to the tough slog ahead.
Thunders heart was thumping. Avalanche spoke in a steady 819
tone while she told her companion about the stack of stones and
the wolf in the 820 moon. Thunder shook her head not fully
understanding the details but despite being 821
puzzled, she was sure her friends certainty pointed the way
home. 822 823
The untested stars picked up the pace and moved quickly along
the ground. 824 Avalanche ran forward to check the trail and
boomeranged back to report what she 825
found. The pair skittered across the valley and into a thicker
set of trees. 826 827
Thunder hobbled along the track set by her friend through the
woods. Avalanche was 828 looping in and out of sight looking and
listening for danger. The pupils were pleased 829 with their
progress. They began to recognize the mix of familiar flora when
the pack 830
of coyotes discovered the boulder where the kitties rested. Loud
whoops of delight 831 rang out. In an instant, the hunt quickened.
832
833 There was no time to spare. Avalanche looked at Thunders leg
and noticed it had 834
opened up again. Her blood was rubbing off on the leaves and
grass that they passed. 835 She could see the pain in her friends
face, but the increased clamor from over the 836
-
crinkled hills spurred the pair onwards faster. The two knew the
frenzied fervor was a 837 result of the coyotes picking up their
trail at the rock. Avalanche looked down at the 838 ground around
Thunder and could trace their track all the way back and out of
sight. 839
It would not take the troupe long to find the duo. 840 841
The din from the coyotes meandered through the forest, not quite
like a pack 842 pursuing its prey, but more like a band bobbing and
swinging, sounding a distinct 843
tune, casting a specific hue designed to capture certain
creatures. Their steady lope, 844 compared to the zigzag of the
pair, allowed them to gain ground with frightening 845
speed. 846 847
Avalanche swept back and forth across the stream listening and
watching for the 848 coyotes, while Thunder staggered ahead to a
set of stones in the river suitable for 849 crossing. A mother
raccoon was guarding the rock bridge protecting its cubs while
850
they carefully crossed. Thunder was nearly in a panic. Not
considering any 851 consequences, she leapt from a boulder next to
the river. She saw the cubs on the 852
bridge just before she was pulled from the air by the sow. A
loud pop burst. Silence 853 quickly settled in the seriousness of
the situation. A raucous round of shrill howls filled 854
the void and the family of raccoons scampered away. 855 856
Panic gripped the pair underneath starlight that was a few
billion years old. They had 857 run out of room. 858
859 Thunders eyes leaked as she dragged herself across the rock
bridge and into the 860 river. Avalanche saw right away that her
friend needed help and jumped into the 861 water. Thunder hugged
her buddy like a bear. One towed the other up onto dry 862
ground. 863 864
The coyotes were in sight. The raccoons were long gone but the
grievous scene they 865 left behind was quickly filling with
confusion. A series of shrieks escalated along the 866
ground. They harmonized into a symphony that resonated out and
caused the nearby 867 air to vibrate. Thunders whole body began to
shake as the rattle from the underlying 868
hum kept pace like a drum. Avalanche put her head under Thunders
heart and 869 nudged her onwards. From above, a beautiful dance was
unfolding as the two hustled 870
toward home. 871 872
Thunder was dragging her broken leg behind her while Avalanche
cut in and out of 873 sight. The pair recognized the shrinking arc
of their track and stopped to plan the way 874 back as the
predators closed in on their prey. The band unified with a
collective howl 875
that rattled the hollow. 876 877
It was not long before the coyotes caught sight of the kitties.
They reacted in an 878 excited burst of raptured pursuit. Avalanche
told Thunder to hurry ahead. She said if 879
she stayed behind and distracted the pack, her friend would have
more time to hobble 880
-
home. Thunder recognized the plan as soon as Avalanche whispered
it in her ear. The 881 two winked at each other and Thunders eyes
teared. Avalanche held out her fist and 882
the two bumped paws before setting out to do their jobs. 883
884
Once Thunder was on her way home, Avalanche bounded with a
sagacious gait toward 885 the coyotes. The space between the posse
and Avalanche continued to shrink. The 886
lone kitten halted her charge once the coyotes began closing
their circle around her. 887 Avalanche found a comfortable seat in
the grass near her favorite stand of trees and 888
looked to see if her pal had made it home yet. The pack
tightened their grip as 889 Thunder entered the house. 890
891 Right away, the man raced outside. One kitty limped upstairs
to watch the other. The 892
mangy mob merged their mumbles as the alpha male orchestrated a
concert of 893 alluring tones. It wove the music with the troupes
tortured dance, trying to hypnotize 894
Avalanche. 895 896
The calm kitty saw the man approaching and motioned for the
scene to begin. A 897 single coyote lunged at the kittens neck. Two
others reached to grab her hind legs 898
with their jaws. Three more yawped and shrieked adding to the
fray. Avalanche 899 dodged each attack. The coyotes went berserk.
900
901 Twelve eyes flit in the night the way a ramble of
butterflies flickers about during the 902
day. The young kitten, whose fur washed grey in the moonlight,
watched them in 903 pairs. The pack snarled, their saliva dripping
into the earth. The sounds grew quieter 904
as the bunch pinched closer for the kill. 905 906
Just then, a grasshopper decided it was time to go and bounded
away, distracting half 907 the pack. Seeing her window, Avalanche
leapt into the boughs. 908
909 The bulk of the band pawed at the trunk, grasping at air,
while a few others hollered 910
at the stars and bellowed into the darkness. All six coyotes
continued bobbing around 911 on the ground through the bushes. None
noticed the man, who was now calling to his 912 friend. As he came
closer, one by one, the tricksters split up and disappeared into
the 913
night. The alpha looked over its shoulder to confirm the chase
was lost. 914 915
When he got to the stand of three trees, the man sat down and
leaned against one 916 and balanced out his breath before he looked
up to find his cat in the branches. The 917
moon lit up the surrounding space like a movie set. It did not
take long for Avalanche 918 to come down. The man stood up as she
descended before the pair went inside to find 919
Thunder. 920 921
They found her upstairs still sitting on the windowsill watching
the last canid 922 disappear. As soon as she saw Avalanche, she
leapt down and hugged and kissed her 923
pal. In a flurry of motions, gestures, and sounds, forgetting
all about her broken leg 924
-
for a moment, she told Avalanche that she saw her fly into the
air like an owl, perch 925 in the branches like a hawk, and rescue
her like an eagle. She told her she looked like 926
a wolf outlined against the sky. The two were so happy to be
reunited. 927 928
The coyotes were gone and the pair was safe but Thunder was
badly hurt. Her tears 929 of joy quickly turned to strain when she
realized what had happened and what needed 930
to be done so her leg could heal. 931 932
The man helped the battered kitten over to the sofa where he and
Avalanche looked 933 at her wounds. One of Thunders rear legs had
teeth marks in them and was broken. 934
He figured it must have snapped when something bit her. She also
had four scratches 935 across her hindquarters. All of them needed
to be cleaned and bandaged. One was 936
still bleeding and required three stitches. Avalanche sat next
to her friend on the bed. 937 She comforted her pal during the
operation by telling funny stories about imaginary 938
ventures. The man molded a cast for her leg and packed it with
plenty of padding so 939 Thunder would be comfortable while her leg
healed. 940
941 After the ordeal was complete, the man went downstairs to
make supper. Thunder sat 942 still on the bed and listened while
Avalanche explained how the stack of stones helped 943 her see that
she was courageous, wise, and powerful like a wolf. Thunder
understood. 944
She said they would need to learn more about the laws of nature,
and three coyotes 945 howled outside punctuating her words. 946
947 When the man brought two bowls of warm broth up to the loft,
both kitties jumped at 948
the sight. Thunders cast got tangled in the blankets and she
tumbled to the floor. 949 Avalanche quickly helped her up. The two
friends smashed their heads together as 950
they mowed through dinner. When they were done, the man went
downstairs and the 951 two listened to the coyotes. They watched
the shadows dance outside in the steady 952
starlight. The music and motion melded before permeating the
house. The two gentle 953 souls snuggled on the cozy bed and sunk
into a deep slumber. 954
955 Home 956
957 In just a few months it would be winter, the pond would be
frozen over, and 958
everything in the forest would be buried under several feet of
snow. Thunders leg 959 continued to heal during the last days of
summer while the pair went outside to play. 960
If the door or a window were open, the cats were usually out.
961 962
Thunder was nicknamed Pirate Kitty during this time because when
she walked across 963 the room, her cast thumped on the floor. She
was not able to bend her leg at all, and 964
found it difficult to walk at first, but she adjusted quickly.
Within a week, she was 965 playing tag with her friend around the
house. When they went outside, Thunder 966
pounded the ground and Avalanche still rolled over the terrain,
only now, there was 967 an exclamation point that popped behind
them. 968
-
969 The pair was proud of their adventure deep into the forest.
They not only broadened 970
their home base but they also learned valuable lessons about the
laws of nature. 971 972
The coyotes returned on some nights looking for food, but the
young prey learned to 973 be inside before dark. There was one dawg
that came around during the day scooping 974
up mice from the tall stalks around the pond. The two extras
slowly tried to make a 975 compeer of it. They always learned best
when they saw their abilities in others and 976
conducted themselves in ways to benefit everyone. 977 978
They usually stayed close to home outside. The sprightly moppets
were growing fond 979 of resting in the shade next to the creek
watching natures creations dance their way 980
down the current. The monsoon would soon conclude in the
mountains and a new 981 wave of storms from the northwest would
begin gusting in accumulated days of colder 982
fronts. 983 984
The valiant pair slept a lot on the couch while Thunders leg
healed. They watched the 985 clouds, each wave and each storm,
loving the livelong day. One night while the two 986
rested on the bed upstairs, four mice shot out into the room.
They performed a 987 number of acrobatic feats, trying to start a
game of chase with their young rivals. 988
That night, instead of a raucous ruckus, the cats sat, and the
lesson on the laws of 989 nature came full circle. Thunder and
Avalanche listened as a lone wolf howled 990
between flashes of light in the distance. 991 992
Early in the morning the next day, the two friends went out to
play just like they 993 usually did. Avalanche hopped onto a
boulder in the middle of a bourn past the pond. 994
She was pawing at a fish swimming near the surface. Thunder was
banging around 995 nearby while the colors of morning mixed with
night. She stopped to watch her pal, 996
who was balancing above the creature circling in an eddy just
below the rock. 997 Avalanche began tapping the top of the water,
but the fish quickly ended the game by 998
splashing her. The feline fell in the creek. The slow gyre
pulled her underwater, only 999 briefly, and then spit her out a
few feet away. 1000
1001 From just above the riverbed, the fish carefully watched
the cat as it swam 1002
submerged slightly below the surface. Avalanche was dog paddling
trying to keep her 1003 body afloat as the river carried her
downstream. Thunder hustled to the freshets 1004
edge and whumped alongside her plucky playmate, coaching her to
the bank. 1005 1006
Up ahead, the river angled around a large rock and the course
quickened, but 1007 Avalanche was able to pull herself out before
the bend. Thunder balanced on a plank 1008
of wood by the side of the stream and wobbled over to her
friend. When she was 1009 close enough, the soaked swimmer shook
her body and got her buddy all wet. 1010
Thunder responded by woofing and wiggling her rump like a dog.
Avalanche laughed 1011
-
and thumped her leg around in the grass making pirate noises.
The two tackled each 1012 other and rollicked in the turf next to
the rill. 1013
1014 Quiet settled over the house that evening. The wind rustled
through the trees, and a 1015
few crickets and frogs chirped and croaked in concert down by
the pond. One last 1016 group of chickadees flickered through the
spruce trees calling to each other on their 1017
way home, well past curfew. The water gurgled as it stirred in
the stream and its 1018 melody rambled through the woods. All of
the forest sounds blended together and 1019 lingered in the air
like a single verse of a poem before they invaded the house and
1020
settled as silence. 1021 1022
After seeing a color he liked streak across the sky, the man
went outside with his 1023 camera to capture it in a photograph.
The kitties were resting upstairs. 1024
1025 When he exited the house, a family of four bears entered.
The sow went straight to 1026
the refrigerator door and opened it. One of the cubs jumped up
onto the counter while 1027 the other waited patiently by its
mothers side. The boar busted in and stumped on 1028
the couch. 1029 1030
The noises downstairs woke Thunder and Avalanche as the cinnamon
colored bruin 1031 went through the items in the fridge. First it
threw melons, bananas, and apples into 1032
view. Then it grabbed the tomatoes, basil, and garlic and lobbed
them toward the 1033 couch before pitching out the peaches,
strawberries, and blueberries. It placed two 1034
jars on the countertop and was struggling to open one when its
cub knocked the other 1035 to the floor. The glass broke and
startled the boar. 1036
1037 The cubs moved in on the fruit and grunted while they
gorged. The sow stood on its 1038 hind legs and began examining the
contents of the freezer. Thunder and Avalanche 1039
jumped down from the bed and sidled up to the railing to get a
better view. They 1040 knew this crew from the neighborhood.
1041
1042 The mother bear took out the sticks of butter and ice cream
next and ripped off the 1043
wrappings. It threw a few clumps on the deck before ramming the
rest in its maw. It 1044 found three bags of sugar in the pantry
and dumped them onto the floor where its 1045 cubs were already
submerged in the cold creamy lumps. One cub held a paw to its
1046
head trying to thaw its own frozen melon. The other cub was
holding its tummy while 1047 it continued eating. Then, the sow
found the cereal and bread next to a few bags of 1048
nuts and jerky in front of four cans of brew. 1049 1050
The man was not back yet and his pals were beginning to giggle
upstairs. While the 1051 pair looked on, two mice ran out and
picked up a few crumbs from the kitchen floor. 1052
Right then, the sow bit into a can of the brew. Beer exploded
everywhere and the 1053 boar and sow burst out the door. The two
cubs stepped in a glob of jam and tracked 1054
-
their mini-paw prints across the floor. Two sets of eight jelly
footprints, sixteen in all, 1055 went over the couch and out the
window. 1056
1057 Silence again settled inside. Outside, the sky was glowing
orange along the distant 1058
skyline. Thunder and Avalanche went downstairs to see the mess
up close. Everything 1059 was all mixed up. 1060
1061 The pair went outside to see if they could catch a glimpse
of the bears or if they could 1062
spot the man coming back. They saw the two cubs down by the pond
washing their 1063 fur and getting a drink. 1064
1065 One coyote yawped from a nearby hill that was covered in
darkness. The howl 1066
resounded across the valley and both kitties felt a tremor. Two
more coyotes whipped 1067 up some scuttle and circled back up the
hill. Three more were now onboard as the 1068
symphony began to sound like it did before, and then it, too,
faded as silence 1069 ascended over the mountains. 1070
1071 In the morning, the two kitties went outside to play while
the man cleaned the house. 1072
Thunders leg healed and the pair was ready for more adventures
in no time. There 1073 was a new kindness between them, one that
made the two more aware and careful of 1074
all the beings in the forest. 1075 1076
The pair was always planning creative ventures. They liked to
wangle listeners to 1077 warble with them past the pond and down to
the river where the casts and themes in 1078
the scene were in constant motion. The actors were always
changing roles. 1079 1080
Thunder and Avalanche learned to be kind in the forest around
their home. When they 1081 went down to the river, they learned it
was best to practice being grateful and respect 1082
life. Only after they learned this lesson did the laws of nature
forge from these two 1083 souls one whole. 1084
1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090
1091 1092 1093 1094 1095
1096 1097 1098
-
1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111
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