Country Wisdom

 

Story Roots:

 

 

When a terrible storm washes out the forest’s wildlife, one Mississippi wolf/husky, who was staying in South America on a vacation trip, is forced out into an adventure-filled journey... to rescue the American wolves that face the HUGE storm as well. This storm is as big as half the Earth. She finds the most variable creatures and finds herself in the heart of a kind wolf named Tempo. The adventures go up and down... and the world takes a bit of the heroism as this husky, named Annabelle, saves both American continents. Who would have thought such a shy soul could save millions of people and animals?  

 

 

 

 

Chapter 1: Death Warning

 

 

 

 

All was peace that early September morning, as a young wild Husky cuddled up to her sister Milliona. Milliona was just awaking as she heard a loud gunshot. She jolted upright and nudged the husky. “Annabelle, up! Something’s trouble!” Annabelle sat up. “What trouble?” Without answering Milliona crept to the edge of their vacation cave. Startled, she fell back. Annabelle was about to bark and snarl at whatever startled her older sister, but Milliona growled lightly at Annabelle to be quiet. They hid behind a rock in the cave as a searching hand felt around. When it was gone and several minutes had passed Milliona said to Annabelle, “They’re gone. Let’s investigate.” They crept out the cave and they walked around, until they finally noticed two dead wolf bodies lying by the forest entrance. The two sisters gasped. “Mom! Dad!” Their parents had terrible wounds and they lay motionless. Milliona sadly bowed her head. And then, she raised it again to howl. Annabelle joined in sadly, and then they trotted off into the forest to find shelter.

 

 

They eventually found a small cave and hung out there for the night. Before they fell asleep a storm began to rage outside. They shifted and finally fell asleep.
In the morning an ugly possum awaked them. He snarled and snapped at them until they ran, yelping, outside into the rain. The rain was unbelievable. No, WORSE than unbelievable. You can’t even imagine! You could get soaked from head to toe in five seconds. They walked on in silence, missing their cave.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2: Stampeding North

 

 

 

 

The rain drove them on, and hunger led them as well. They could not tell if it was day or night, and each dawn they did not see the full sunrise. The only light was the lightning and the sun or moon shining weakly through the tree branches. Several days passed and they walked on, tired in so many ways, but hunger still dragged their bleeding paws forward. By noon that Tuesday, they were at the peak of exhaustion, and at 1:00 or so, they flopped down to sleep right where they were walking. Their ribs poked out and they were sick and mange ruffled their coats. They didn’t talk to each other, because they knew what the other was thinking. They were sad and they were wishing for their comfy cave and food and other things. But they trudged through the slop and mud and firm ground until finally the trees blocked out the rain. They collapsed onto the ground. They fell asleep.

 

 

Next morning rain still pelted the area. Milliona got up. “Annabelle, it’s time we go on. It’s too scary to stay here.” Annabelle nodded weakly and followed after her sister. Halfway to the prairie all sorts of animals erupted from the forest. “We must go! We must migrate! This rain will kill us! We must get to Canada! The whole South US will go up in water! Floods will kill us! Run! Run! Migrate to Canada! Floods will come!” They all screamed together and Milliona became lost in stampeding hooves, paws, and claws. Geese who couldn’t fly stampeded after. Milliona cried, “Annabelle! Where are you? Help!” Annabelle screamed from somewhere else in the mass of bodies, “I’m here! Watch out they might trample us! Sis, what’s going to happen? Save me!” Milliona had been pushed out of the mass of bodies and was in the sidelines, watching the mass. Then she bolted forward and looked for Annabelle, but a strike to her head, her back, and her tail killed her as the surging bodies cleared up. Annabelle had survived, and she slowed down and dropped out of the mass. She bounded back, only to see the limp body of Milliona lay on its side with its chin and upper lip ruffled by the pressure of it on the ground. Annabelle climbed on her older sister’s body, and licked Milliona’s ear, but Milliona did not move. Suddenly, Annabelle jumped off and headed after the stampede. She didn’t want to face this rain that continued to beat, and she wanted to avoid the flood. She galloped over the turf and she followed after these forest souls.

 

 

 

 

The mass was now heading out the forest exit and was making for the open land when the rain slowed and then stopped. Annabelle followed, and her stomach reminded her she was hungry. If she could pluck a deer fawn from the herd of varying animals she would be all filled up.

 

 

The evening thunder warned that the rain would return. The mass ran at an eager and fast pace, to get to cover before the rain sprouted again. Annabelle increased her pace with the pack of mostly deer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Annabelle snatched a fawn and ate it, then followed the pack as they moved on.

 

 

Eventually the rain lightened. They had been moving for four days and they stopped to graze and relax. Annabelle snatched a robin, a rabbit, and another fawn. She ate in calmness and then they slept for the night.

 

 

In the morning Annabelle continued to follow the herd. Then she heard a sharp whinny pierce the morning stillness that was in between the gentle hoof beats of the deer herd. A black stallion, the equine wildlife cop, crossed this land, his hooves clomping hollowly against the firm dirt. He cried out, “No further! No further! A landslide has taken the path away!” He turned on his hooves, keeping the animals back with natural herding skills. Annabelle spoke up, in a loud bark, “Sir! Sorry to go off subject but are the North Americans alright?” Annabelle had felt sorry for a while now that the North Americans would be hit by the storm on surprise. Back then there was no way of forecasting weather except looking at the sky! And this storm was mostly sudden and with no warning in the sky. The cop chuckled, and said, “They are alright, for the storm has not touched them. But we will need a brave warrior who knows traveling to warn them somehow. And I know a human family that all knows how to talk to animals.” Annabelle couldn’t help herself. Her cousin and the rest of her family were in Mississippi, in the southern part, so she quickly raised her head to howl that she really needed to go. The cop chuckled, and he shook his mane fiercely, laughing and bellowing deep in his throat. Annabelle thought it wasn’t funny. She growled, deeply. Two of the bigger wolf cops ran next to the equine cop, teeth bared and snarling. Annabelle stopped right away. The cop finally said, “Ok, I guess. I will send two toucan messengers and three real warriors with you. And one of my cops to make sure there is no large trouble or crime. And for fast traveling, I’ve gotten you a reasonable steed.”

 

 

He tossed his head in the direction of a high stepping, prancing gray horse. “Gus!” he said to the horse, and the gray pricked his ears. “Yes, sir?” The cop snorted lightly. “Make sure our hero doesn’t get hurt badly or dies. Understood?” Gus tossed his black mane that fell to his gray-splotched shoulders. “Got it.” Behind him the monkeys fastened the carriage to his bridle and harnessed pleasure saddle. The deer looked happy that Annabelle was leaving because of the two dead fawns that they had protected snatched by her. Annabelle jumped up onto the carriage’s soft plush seats, took the reins in her mouth and gave it a shake, and yelped, “Forward!” Gus took off in a steady-beated trot. The neighs and grunts and bellows and squawks and yelps behind her told they were bidding her a farewell. But lightning slashed the sky and it drizzled. Then Annabelle yelled over the thunder, “FOLLOW ME!” Annabelle felt sorry for the other animals and they obeyed, running after her. Annabelle yipped and gave the reins another shake and Gus went to a gallop.

 

 

They raced in the threatening loudness of the trumpeting thunder and the screams of the animals and the crack of the lightning. Gus slowed a bit and they continued on at a slow gallop, shaded by the trees as they entered a forest. The birds flew from the trees fearing the large caravan with all sorts of bird eaters. Gus galloped on until the dense forestry came and the dripping wet animals collapsed. Gus tossed his Shire head and lowered it to nap. Annabelle got off and two cops brought a fawn for her to eat, a fawn who had been dead already. Annabelle ate heartily, though she didn’t care for the taste, as she liked her food fresh. But it was better than nothing. Finally she climbed back into the carriage, shivered, and then lay down on the driver seat.

 

 

Rushing water sounds met Annabelle’s ears, and then when she was half awake she noticed she was in water halfway up her legs! The flood must have caught up to them in their sleep! She looked for Gus and he was struggling against the current to head north with the carriage in tow. He was screeching and calling in alarm. Annabelle unhooked him with flying paws then jumped onto his back, claws first. Gus screeched louder and pushed his body toward land, quickly. Annabelle held out her paw to the three cops and Tekita and Bert, the two toucans landed on Gus’ neck

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