Each species has its own way of showing respect for the dead. Zornova and the bison Tennial were caked with mud, for it was their custom to roll in a muddy bog in preparation for a funeral. Cawdor, along with the other ravens cried loudly from the tops of tall firs. Their dissonant laments cast a somber pall across the meadow and surrounding ridges. Wanda flitted about the meadow flowers until she was exhausted and landed on the uncomfortable thorns of a thistle pod, in the manner of grieving moths. As you may know raccoons, to honor the dead, sit still as though they were statues carved from stone. This is extremely difficult for raccoons. We always feel better when we are in motion; long periods of stillness lead to discomfort.
Skeezer, the oldest of the skunks, gave a shrill whistle; the ravens ceased their atonal dies ire, moths settled on thistle pods, and movement ceased; it was time for the ceremony. Soon stillness and quiet reigned in Willow Meadow and we were ready to begin.
For what seemed like hours, but was less than fifteen minutes, all of the animals assembled stopped moving and became respectfully quiet. Rutorina, Dozema’s daughter, began whistling an eerie and haunting dirge. Next, Zornova paced slowly up to a small hillock. She stared out over the crowd of animals filling the meadow, and she began her brief eulogy.
Dozema, the star dancer,
looks down upon us now
to give us the answer.
She knows now the life
after dark life, dark death
after duty and daily strife.
We too will also travel
to the life that follows
death upon the roadside gravel.
Dozema, the star dancer,
who saved the child
gives us the answer.
At the end of the eulogy all the birds flew up into the air. Each cried out creating a raucous cacophony of high-pitched sounds that enveloped us as it descended earthward. Small rodents, the ground squirrels, mice, and prairie dogs, skittered about in nervous and frenetic dances of jubilation until they fell exhausted upon the grassy field. The ungulates circled about the meadow five times then trailed out of Willow Meadow towards Shooting Star Meadow, where the celebration of joy would soon begin.
As the ungulates began to circle we noticed the smell of smoke. A few minutes later roiling, black, ash-laden smoke began to drift over the meadow. It was indeed a black day. As soon as Zornova stepped down from the hillock and the funeral was over Gondzor landed, for he had risen up with the other birds.
“Zornova!” cried Gondzor, “a vast fire is approaching. Right now it is coming slowly from the north, but as the wind picks up this afternoon it will gain speed. I have sent Quququic and the others to warn all those who live throughout the Geyser District. Jet has flown back to headquarters to inform Thimblewicket of the approaching danger. Thimblewicket has been instructed to find out as much as she can from other districts and Cruise will return soon with a long range scouting report.”
“Very good Gondzor,” replied Zornova. “Blinkers, stop wringing your paws. I need you to write messages to be sent to those in danger. Gondzor, I will head for the Geyser District Ranger Station; I want you to take charge in the outlying districts to the north since you can spread the word more quickly than I. Also, since the fire has already reached the northern part of the district you can take charge of the injured. Tennial can take charge of the east. Alexia, you can take charge of the west. Keeble, since you are also swift, you shall warn those who live in the path of the fire.”
Cruise, no longer molting, flew towards us just as Zornova completed her instructions. He reported that the fire extended over several thousand acres between the river and the highway. Zornova quickly dispatched her staff. Then, just as quickly, she dictated several messages for Menki, the eagle, to deliver to other district rangers. By the time Zornova had finished, the sky was almost completely black with smoke. It was time to leave.
Zornova stepped back up onto the hillock and bellowed for quiet, then she said “All of us must flee from this fire. All of you follow Keeble over Fir Cone ridge, and then keep going down the opposite slope towards the ranger station. Larger animals must give smaller and slower animals rides on their backs. Remain calm; there is plenty of time for all of us to escape to safety. We can stay ahead of the fire if we remain calm, if we don’t lose our heads.”
Zornova moved away from the hillock and began directing various animals to help each other. All who had come for Dozema’s funeral in Willow Meadow were soon moving towards Fir Cone Ridge in an orderly manner.
“Get up on my Back Blinkers, Zornova ordered, “we need to get to headquarters quickly.”
Soon I was bumping along while holding on to Zornova’s thick fur. I have never liked bison-back riding, but I’ve had to do it on several occasions when dire emergencies occurred. Three years ago, for instance, the bison Tennial fell into a mud hole and could not get out. Zornova raced to the scene with me holding onto her fur as tightly as I could. Then Zornova demonstrated that she could be quite resourceful. She shoved a log over to the edge of the mud hole with her head. Then I had to walk out on the log, tie the rope around both of Tennial’s horns and then walk back along the log. All was going well until Tennial lurched while I was on the log and I went flying up into the air, then splat right into the mud. Fortunately for me I landed near the edge, so I scrabbled out without assistance. Well I thought my fur would never be the same after that. Oh how was I ever going to wash out that sulfurous slime? Well anyway, Zornova pulled Tennial out, though it did take some time, for Tennial is a large bison.
“Blinkers, you can climb down now,” Zornova repeated.
Oh me, I must have closed my eyes again. I often do that when I go bison-back riding. I close my eyes so I won’t think about falling off. And when I close my eyes I don’t pay attention any more. And it has happened again, and Zornova is standing patiently in front of the Geyser District headquarters, waiting for me to climb down from her back. Oh I am such a scaredy-tourist. I am surely no thrill seeker, not me.
I followed Zornova up the steps, through the outer office into her large office. Though bison, in general, are afraid of fire (they tend to stampede), Zornova maintained her calm demeanor. She stood behind a large table scanning the reports scattered over most of its surface.
“Blinkers,” she said, “go check with Thimblewicket to find out if any new reports have come in since these arrived. Also, see if you can find Rittiticket so he can help Thimblewicket with the flurry of dispatches,” she added.
“Yes Zornova, I will certainly do that, I will check with Thimblewicket, I will find Rittiticket to help Thimblewicket. I will do all of what you say right away; I will do it this very instant, I will get right on it . . .”
“Blinkers!” Zornova bellowed.
She seldom roared. What could have put her out of sorts I wonder?
“Yes, Zornova,” I replied, trying not to let on how hurt I was that she had bellowed at me. “What do you want?”
“Blinkers you seem to be standing still when we have many urgent demands upon us.” Zornova spoke much more calmly now.
“Yes Zornova.” I had almost forgotten about the fire, Thimblewicket, Rittiticket and all that. I had not realized that I was wringing my paws again and that my feet had not moved even one inch closer to the door. “Oh, I am so sorry, I must apologize Zornova. I am so ashamed of myself, at a time like this, for acting as though my feet are nailed to the floor like I have.”
“Blinkers!”
I was finally able to move and I soon found that my legs had taken me down the hall to dispatch central. Thimblewicket thrust