Speedwing made her way out of the fort and narrowly missed a rock thrown at her by a rat sentry as she flew over the wall. "Stupid bird," the rat thought to himself. He didn't think her much of a threat and was too lazy to report her, so Speedwing was, for the most part, unnoticed. She artfully darted through the forest until she came upon the clearing. Speedwing drew in her breath at he sight.

There, in the middle of the clearing, were the flowers Shyla had described. But her description did not d o them justice. It was beautiful. Shyla had called it a field of wildflowers, but it was much more than that; it was a glimpse of what the Garden of Eden must have looked like. There were green, flower-studded vines hanging down from the ring of trees surrounding the clearing. In the center, were the flowers. Cornflowers, daisies, buttercups, bluebonnets, pansies, sunflowers, orchids, impatients, and vincas. Hibiscus, wild, rose, and lilac bushes dotted the northern rim of the clearing. For a while, Speedwing just hovered there, drinking it all in; then she remembered the task at hand. "Rosebud," she called, her eyes scanning the flowers for any sign of movement, "Roooooooossebuuuuuuuuud." She heard nothing and saw no sign of life. She flitted down to the ground and began smelling the flowers and drinking their nectar "Ahhhh! *slurp* Mmm! Rosebud! Are you here? *sniff* Ahhhh! Rosebud!" Suddenly, she saw a huge shadow drift over her and the flowers.

Speedwing whirled around.

"Rosebud's a nappin' but you can leave a message with me if you want. Jolly good memory I have, wot wot." Speedwing just stood there, gaping at the strange hare. "Look like a regular lil' codfish with your mouth hanging open like that, you do. You're doin' a right good job of it too."

Speedwing shook herself out her trance and said, "Where is Rosebud? I must speak to her! I need her help. Quickly!"

"Steady on, mate. Like a told you, she's a nappin'. Nice long one too, wot wot."

"But you don't understand, Hare-"

"Ah-ah!" said the hare shaking his head, "Toodles is me name. What's yours chum?"

"Speedwing, but we have no time for this! Two otters have been captured by a fox captain and need our help, and Rosebud!"

"A fox, you say? Never liked the creatures myself, too clever and sneaky, wot wot. Now in this situation I think it might be alright to awake Rosebud from her nap don't you think? Yes I suppose it is," said the hare, answering his own question. So they aroused the skunk and Speedwing told them both the plan.

"I like it!" said Rosebud, "Let's go!"

"Tallyho!"