Chapter Six

The next day Surly and his friends began their most challenging and difficult task of their entire lives... raising a human child. Sure it wasn't easy, but it wasn't very boring either. Noah enjoyed living in the park so much that he began to think of himself as a park animal instead of a human boy.

Surly and Andie ended up becoming a mother and father figure to the human child, with Andie caring for Noah with loving motherly care and Surly supporting him like the fun and wonderful father figure he was in their classic 'Father and Son' bond. Buddy became his uncle figure and the rat did his best to care for Noah as best as he could and would often find himself playing with the boy's hair and tickling him to make him giggle.

The other members of the park also developed a loving relationship with Noah and had lots of fun with him in their own unique way. Mole took him on patrol to check on everyone in the park and used oversized sunglasses to shield his eyes from the sunlight, even if Noah thought they made him look a tad silly. The Bruisers made Noah the fourth Bruiser and taught him how to dig and all other things they love to do, namely how to goof off and pull pranks on others. Even Grayson allowed Noah to become his sidekick and help him with his 'Park Hero' activities, mostly showing off and grooming himself but Noah didn't mind, especially since he played a little prank with him by switching his 'cologne' with tree sap. It didn't hurt or anything but it did take hours to take off but Grayson didn't take it personally, especially since Noah said it could be helpful in case someone tried to trick him like that again.

For the last four whole weeks Noah's park life was pretty amazing and exciting and he thought that nothing could ever make his life any more better then it already was.

However one day everything changed.

It all began on a seemingly regular afternoon as Noah was curled up in his nest while some mice and chipmunks were bouncing on top of his tummy like a trampoline while the other park animals played with Noah's things, taking great care not to ruin them as some of them were gifts from his parents before their unfortunate deaths.

All of the sudden they heard a strange yet beautiful sound, the sound of a melody being played right outside the mill. Noah not only heard the beautiful melody with his own ears but his nose picked up the smell of something delicious right outside, making his tummy rumble loudly. He had missed lunch due to Andie and Surly being late with the food and right now that yummy smell was making his empty belly roar like crazy.

Before anyone knew it Noah had already found himself walking out of the mill and towards a group of gathered humans that were celebrating a party, a Hawaii themed party with tiki statues, flower decorations and painted pictures of tropical birds and animals decorating the area to make the guests feel like they were having a party on a tropical island all of their own. Noah was more interested in the big chocolate cake that was on the table and his stomach rumbled impatiently.

"Who are you?"

Noah yelped as he jumped and soon found himself face to face at a human face... in fact the most beautiful human face he had ever seen before. The girl had long black hair, blue eyes and wore a beautiful flower patterned dress with flowers in her hair and a smile on her pretty dimpled face.

"Hello, my name's Rose." the little girl said with a soft smile "Who are you?"

"N-N-Noah..." Noah stammered as his cheeks blushed bright red "Gosh, you're pretty."

"Well, I think your cute too." Rose said, making Noah blush brighter as he smiled and giggled.

Suddenly Noah's stomach rumbled very deeply, demanding food while Noah pushed down on it gently to make it stop growling. Rose giggled at the sight and took her hand into his as she said "How about we go over to the table and get you something to eat. I'll even let you have some of my birthday cake if you'd like."

"Gee, thanks." Noah said as he fallowed her out into the open.

Watching from the bushes was Jimmy and Johnny, who had tried to get Noah back but the boy was too smitten by Rose to even notice them and Jimmy said "Oh man, this is so not good!"

"Andie and Surly are not going to like this!" Johnny said as they ran back to the mill to tell the others what happened.

Soon Noah was having the time of his life, playing with all of the other human children and no adult even knew that there was an extra guest in their mist. Noah was having a blast, in fact the best time of his life! He was enjoying himself so much he didn't even notice that Surly and Andie had finally returned and once they saw Noah mingling with the humans they were shocked and scared for their child's life. If they knew he lived in the park, as well as had the power to talk to animals, then Noah would be in grave danger!

Without wasting a moment the pair dashed into action. Surly ran ahead and braved the incoming human feet and toys to reach the table where Noah and the other children were pigging out on the food and climbed up Noah's body until he reached the boy's shirt collar and whispered "Noah, Noah!"

Noah noticed Surly and was about to speak to him but was taken by surprise when one of the children shoved some more cake into his mouth, the action knocking Surly straight out of the boy's shirt and right into a sticky mess of leftover glue from the decorations. He struggled to rip the fake parrot off his back and when Noah picked him up and ripped it off his back, leaving some of his purple fur stuck to the paper, and the boy held him close as he said "Surly, are you okay?"

"Kid, it's time to go before someone asks for your home address!" Surly exclaimed, trying to ignore the pain of losing his fur to a 'glue trap'. Noah got up and left in a hurry before he saw Andie and dove into the bushes to talk to her.

"Oh Andie, I had such a blast! Rose's birthday is amazing and the food is fantastic and... and..." he stopped when he realized both Andie and Surly were glaring angrily at him and he said "Did I do something wrong?"

"You broke the rules we gave you!" Surly snapped "You mingled with humans, risked being discovered and taken back and I lost some fur on my body thanks to you!"

"But... but Rose... She was so beautiful..." Noah said.

"She's also a stranger, you don't know if you really can trust her! What if she tries to hurt you or humiliate you?" Andie asked "We told you never talk to strangers and never go anywhere with a stranger and you... you..." she stomped her foot in anger as she snapped at the boy "You are grounded mister, not only are you not allowed to leave the mill ever again but you go without supper tonight."

Noah was shocked by this but he felt responsible and sad for all of this so he sighed sadly and said "Okay, sorry Andie and Surly."

Before he left completely Rose caught up to him and said "Thanks for coming to my party Noah, I hope I see you again very soon."

"Probably not, I'm grounded." Noah said "I probably won't see you in a long time."

"Then take this with you." Rose said before giving him a stuffed animal that resembled an orange cat with a smiling face on it and a green and blue collar around it's neck "It's a hobby of mine... I hope you like him."

Noah took a good look at the cat and smiled before he said "Don't worry, I love him already."

Rose smiled before she kissed him, making him blush once more before she bid him good bye and left him alone with the squirrels. Noah turned to face them with the toy cat and asked "Can I keep him?"

Andie smiled, due to seeing Rose kissing Noah so sweetly and lovingly, and couldn't help but giggle as she said "Alright honey, you can keep him... but you are still grounded."

"And as long as you don't ask for a real cat, that toy's welcome back home." Surly said "Maybe it can keep you company in your nest tonight while you sleep."

"Yeah... and Rose... I hope I see her again." Noah said "I'd give anything to see her again."

Andie and Surly took Noah back to the mill, unaware that a familiar Cardinal was watching them and was flying back with newly gathered information to bring back to his master, meanwhile the humans found Surly's purple fur in the glue and were amazed to see real purple squirrel fur... but was it for real? They decided to send it to the nearest lab they could find to find out for sure. If the fur really was from a purple squirrel... Oakton would have a special treasure on their hands.