Zornova limped over to the shore. She had cut her right foreleg badly and there was a steady flow of blood from several nasty looking wounds.
“Thank you, Blinkers,” she said wearily. “You have been a great help to me today.”
“Oh Zornova,” I responded, “you have saved the day for us! Without your resolve and calm head none of us would have made it this far. We are now safe at least. You stay here while I look for some lichen and spiders’ webs to staunch your wound. You need to rest more than any of us; you are the one who has worked so hard to get us to this haven of safety.”
I hurried off to hunt for medicinal herbs and other first aid materials among the large boulders on the island. It is called Beaver Island, because the southwest end has two white and gleaming tooth-shaped boulders. Moving from the boulders towards the northeast the island widens outward, forming a shape similar to a beaver’s body; then, both sides taper inward towards what would be the base of the beaver’s tail. From there, a flat and treeless tail-shaped extension stretches out into the lake. We had come ashore near the base of the tail. Soon I found the lichen and spiders’ webs I needed and headed back towards Zornova. Once the lichen and spiders’ webs were applied the bleeding slowed and then stopped completely. Fortunately, I had been able to find several herbs that would ease the pain caused by Zornova’s wounds. I remember her chewing them slowly, but I do not know what happened next, for exhaustion overcame me and I slept.
Flapping wings awakened me from sleep. It must have been morning, but the dawn, smoke-filled and murky, was difficult to differentiate from night. Gondzor circled as he slowed to land. Almost as soon as he touched down on the flat rocky surface he and Zornova were in a deep discussion about what faced us all. It was clear from their gestures and their facial expressions that they were both deeply concerned about the district and all who lived there. As they discussed the situation Zornova and Gondzor had walked out part way onto the treeless tail of Beaver Island. Gondzor did most of the talking. Zornova listened intently, nodding her head occasionally to acknowledge important facets of Gondzor’s report. Soon Gondzor motioned for me to come to them. Oh how my legs ached, and how hungry I was.
“Blinkers,” said Zornova, “the situation is not good. I cannot stay here any longer, for there are many who are in danger and many more who will soon need food and medical attention. You are to stay here until you are sent for. Gondzor tells me that the fire has not yet crossed the highway. It will soon be under control in this sector, but in the southwest part of Geyser District it is still burning out of control. I must go there immediately. Gondzor will help direct me from above. Assemble the skaggle of skunks for me and I will tell them what they need to know before I leave.”
“Yes Zornova,” I answered, before walking back stiffly, because my legs still ached, to find the skunks resting under some trees not far from the base of the tail.
“Come along all of you,” I announced, “Zornova must go now and she wishes to speak with you before she leaves.”
Moaning softly they padded out onto the beaver’s tail where Zornova and Gondzor awaited them. They arranged themselves according to rank and authority, and then waited quietly for Zornova to begin.
“All of you have been very brave,” she began. “You have followed my instructions and persevered under pressure. I must go now to take care of the many other refugees and those who have been injured. Blinkers will stay with you. If you have any needs Blinker’s will do his best to help you. I will send you information as often as I have couriers available. Though you are weary you must keep up hope. Farewell for now.”
Skeezer, since he was the eldest skunk present, replied. “All of us thank you for rescuing us. We would certainly be dead by now if you and Blinkers had not come to save us. We know that you are responsible for all who live in the Geyser District, so we do not need to detain you here. You have brought us to a safe haven, and for that we all thank you.”
Soon after Zornova and Gondzor left the island together I turned toward the skunks, all of whom looked a little dazed from their ordeal, and said, “You must all conserve energy and ration the food that is available on this small island. We may well be here for several days. You must not give in to worry, for Zornova and Gondzor will not abandon us. Skeezer, you shall be responsible for the rationing of food. Rutorina, you will keep lookout from the Beaver’s teeth, and warn us if the fire turns this way again. Everyone else should rest and stay quiet to conserve your energy.”
After so much hurrying on the previous day, time slackened its pace to a crawl. Smoke turned the usually bright reflections from the lake’s surface into a sooty, ominous looking brew. Ash filtered in on the wind and breathing became an effort interrupted by coughing. At first Spraybreath and Spritzer set about grooming themselves, plucking burrs and spiders’ webs from their fur. But they were soon discouraged because ash began to drift down upon them, recoating them with new layers of ash before they could remove the old layers of grime. Their inability to clean themselves left them despondent. Even though we were presently in little danger, we felt weighed down by the calamity and uncertainty.
On the day Zornova departed little happened. We spent our time resting and sleeping awakened only by fits of smoke-induced coughing. Skeezer oversaw the rationing of food for the skunks. Late in the afternoon, though it was difficult to be sure, with so little sun filtering through the smoke and ash, I waded into the shallows to wash my food. The water’s surface was gritty with ash and several small fish floated belly up. I could not get my food as clean as I liked. All of us were depressed in spirit and afraid of the news we might receive, about friends and family members hurt or killed by the flames. As I waded back towards the shore, I heard squealing and hissing coming from the island.
“No more food for you, Spraybreath,” shouted Skeezer.
“Get out of my way, you old geezer Skeezer,” Spraybreath yelled back.
“You little squirt you, I’ll teach you to sass me,” Skeezer bellowed back defiantly.
I hurried ashore to put an end to this dispute. Wouldn’t you know it, as soon as I take a break for lunch, some ruckus had to erupt.
“Skeezer, could you please tell me the cause of this dispute? This is not the time for arguing, or for snarling insults at one another; we must take care of each other,” I said as I approached the pair of sparring skunks.
“Just buzz off masked secretary,” snarled Spraybreath, before she turned to hiss and snarl at Skeezer.
“Well my goodness you are a rude one,” I replied, for I was determined not to let anger intrude. “Go ahead Skeezer, you give me your story, and then Spraybreath you can give me your version.”
“Thank you, Blinkers,” replied Skeezer with authority. “This little stink-tailed piglet is eating too much. This is the second time today she has gone foraging without my permission.”
“We can do without the name-calling, Skeezer,” I replied calmly. “Now Spraybreath, what have you to say?”
“Well old Skeezer keeps telling me what to do,” whined Spraybreath, no longer quite so defiant. “I’m hungry. I’m a growing skunk and I need to eat regularly.”
“Yes we understand Spraybreath, all of us are hungry,” I explained. “But we must ration our food so that we don’t starve and die. Now I want you Spraybreath to apologize to Skeezer, and then I want you Skeezer to apologize to Spraybreath. And I don’t want to hear any more name-calling. And Spraybreath, I want you to do as Skeezer says.”
After their mutual apologies the skunks calmed down and waddled back to the base of the beaver’s tail. Grubsy was on watch, but would soon return when Crooked Stripe took over as lookout. Just as Grubsy could be heard wheezing as he returned from watch duty, two large forms emerged from the deep water. From the silhouettes I could tell that two moose were approaching. Neither had antlers so they were both females. One was smaller and younger.
As they approached I called out to them, “Who are you?”
“Oh don’t be such a busybody Blinkers,” came