Over the Hedge: Second Generation

by starwars4life

Set 15 years after Midsummer Crises. The kids and young adult hedgies are now grown adults and must continue to carry out what their parents have taught them about heists, fun, friendship, love, and family. But will the problems they now encounter as parents and mates make the hedge family grow stronger and larger, or break apart and get smaller?

8. Plans and Bonding

Chapter 8: Plans and Bonding

Roaster yawns as he wakes up. Or rather, tries to yawn, but his mouth can only open about a centimeter or two before being forced shut by something on his mouth. This means something is really off, and he intends to find out by doing something his parents taught him called unleashing his "predator spirit." It's a state of mind and body when he used all his senses to feel his surroundings, like using The Force in those Star Wars movies the other three raccoons of the Quad Squad teases R3 about. Roaster begins this process by not stretching while yawning like he would normally do, because the fact that he can't yawn, coupled with what his others senses are feeding to his brain—a cold and hard surface he is lying on, the sound of artificial air flowing through vents, and smell of sterilized air mixed with the scents of other animals—means he is, as his movie-obsessed best friends would say, "Not in Kansas anymore." So he refrains from stretching and keeps his body in the same position as if he was still asleep. His ears remain at rest, his body remains prone to the surface he is on, and his breathing is slow and relaxed. And his eyes remain shut, with the exception of peeking his eyes slowly open to where he can make out the image of a muzzle around his muzzle before completely shutting them again.

He also remembers the drone had shot him with a tranquilizer, and since there is only one kind of humans who would put a tranq gun on a drone, he keeps up the act of pretending to be asleep.

Roaster ponders, "I'm most likely at Verm-Tech, and that means I'm being monitored by cameras and nearby humans." Proving what his siblings had proposed about him being more like Kale than either Percie and Boxer, Roaster chastises himself. "You should'a used ya's 'predator spirit' durin' the diversion you's caused. If you did, you's would'a been able to notice and dodge the drone's fire. Not ta mention you's got driven off by an old granny...talk about embarrassing."

Also like Kale, he is good at shutting himself up and refocusing, as he mentally retorts his previous thoughts with, "Ah, enough of dis mopey mumbo jumbo. Figure out where you's at, how many humans are around, and how ta get outta here."

He goes back to using all his senses (minus sight) to their fullest ability and discovers he is in a cage that is magnetized to a metal exam table like being at a veterinarian office, and that the smells of other animals have stopped just as the AC pauses its regular cycle. So he is the only animal in the room he is in, which is small, has a circular drain cover in the middle, as well as a two-way mirror that is also soundproof.

"Like an isolation cell at a prison," Roaster muses. "So no one ta help me escape, or talk to for info, or ta pass the time...In oth'a words: Boredom Central, USA."

Just as that last through passes through his head, he senses something that won't make his stay here so boring after all. It's the sound of human footsteps and voices entering the other side of the two-way mirror. Although the glass is soundproof, it is only soundproof for the human hearing spectrum, at 20 milimeters or 0.78 inches. In other words, it's not soundproof for canines. And even if the glass was 2 inches thick, sound waves for low-frequency noises such as rumbling or deep voices are very large and easily heard by even the average wolf such as Roaster. He keeps up the façade of being out cold from the tranquilizer as he eavesdrops.

Dilbert's voice: "Again, Chief Hank, thanks for allowing me to come here to serve as an advisor as we decide what to do with this wolf. Ah, there he is. Sleeping like a lazy, overfed bulldog."

Using his sense of smell, Roaster determines that Hank is an African American man in his early-50s.

Hank's voice: "I still don't know why you wanted all the extra precautions. The muzzle, the magnetized cage, the isolation room with soundproof glass, and cameras covering every angle without blind spots is a bit excessive if you ask me. Don't you think a normal wolf would be more than subdued from a regular tranq, much less your Verm-Tech designed amped-up one?"

Dilbert's voice: "Verm-Tech is paying a good deal of money for those amenities, so how about you enjoy the generous tip and let us get down to business?"

Hank's voice: "Like you said before, you're just an advisor. We'll handle this animal. C'mon folks, bring in that tracking collar."

More footsteps, and the sound of a buttons being pushed on a panel. Before the last digit is entered, Dilbert says, "If I were you, I wouldn't try wrapping that collar around his neck, or to even apply a clip-on tag by hand. Use the lance for the external tracker, or inject an internal one with a syringe."

Hank's voice: "This isn't the first wolf we've tagged, Mr. Stanton. And my staff can deal with one measly wolf."

Roaster thinking: " 'Measly?'! I'll show you's measly! As soon as you's get close enough..."

Dilbert's voice: "Need I remind you that this 'measly' wolf terrorized a park full of people, one of whom was armed with a taser and pepper spray. There's nothing measly about him."

Raoster thinking: "Never thought I'd say dis, but dat Verminator is speakin' my language. He gets me and respects me."

Hank's voice: "Duly noted." (To his two staff) "Now proceed as usual."

The code is re-typed, and the door slides open with a hiss, but Dilbert's sigh of dismay is loud enough to be heard over the noise. That sigh is what will probably end up saving Roaster's life, because it causes the teenage wolf to re-think his plans. He was originally going to attack the humans as soon as they try to put the tracking collar around his neck, but Roaster uses his father's-inherited intelligence to think twice.

The scent of a man and woman come closer, but Roaster keeps playing possum like Uncle Bernard and Great Aunt Heather would. The cage is opened, hands start to touch his fur, and the man says, "Okay fugly fido, this won't hurt a bit," and still, Roaster acts like a rag doll. He allows them to prod and touch him, to lift up his head, and even tolerates the oh so irritating feeling of the collar being misfitted around his neck.

Having no knowledge of this, the humans act as if this is another day at the store for them.

The woman asks her co-worker, "Need help with that?"

Man: "I'm good. Just...Can't...Quite...Get...The...Snap..."

Dilbert thinking: "Brace yourself. Here it comes!"

Snap! And the collar is comfortably secured around Roaster's neck. The cage is closed again and the man and woman start walking back to the door.

Hank turns to the wide-eyed, gaping-mouthed Dilbert to tell the young verminator, "See? Easy as sneezing."

Dilbert: "Impossible..."

Roaster thinking: "Ha! Wanted me to attack? Lookin' for an excuse ta prove dee other humans wrong? If I did somethin' stupid like that, then they would listen to you. But if I make you's look like da paranoid psycho you are, they'll send you's away. Mi familia is likely on dare way ta rescue me anyhow, so I just gotta play nice dog and bide my time."

Hank: "We here at animal control may not have any high-tech gizmos, but we do our jobs as close to perfect as possible."

Still in disbelief, Dilbert ponders, "I know the tranq dosage we used, it wears off after three hours. He should have been fully awake before we entered the room—" A thought passes through Dilbert's head and he relaxes. "Of course..."

Hank: "We'll send him to another state, deep in a forest, tens of miles away from any human settlements. We have staff monitoring the location of tagged animals 24/7, so if he does wander too close to a house or town, animal control will be called in to deal with him."

Dilbert thinking: "That fleabag thinks he's so smart..."

Hank: "Um, Mr. Stanton? Why're you giving a Cheshire cat grin?"

Dilbert drops the smile when he shakes his head left and right. "Because you and your wonderful staff have proven me wrong. You are professionals. You are competent workers. And the fact that you can accomplish things like this without fancy tech or gadgets means you're better than me, and all verminators."

Hank has only known Dilbert for about 20 minutes, but that's long enough for him to tell that something isn't right with the young man. Dilbert has tried to subtly demean animal control while simultaneously glorifying Verm-Tech between every breath since arriving at Animal Control HQ. This change of attitude toward animal control is too sudden, which is why Hank cautiously says, "Uh, thank you, Mr. Stanton."

Not wanting the verminator to creep him out anymore, Hank gets down to business by saying, "Now that the process of tagging an animal is finished, I bet you'd like to get back to Verm-Tech for your studies. I remember during my university days that Spring testing happens for all colleges next week." Extending his hand to shake Dilbert's, Hank continues, "It's been a pleasure having you here, and I again thank you for the generous compliments. But there's nothing else for you to do or see, so I trust you remember how to get to the front of the building where the parking lot is."

Dilbert: "But Chief Hank, I want you or a capable staff to give me a tour. I think there is much Verm-Tech can learn from your department. The night is still young, and I'm a night owl; used to eating a cheeseburger while studying at three in the morning."

Hank: "Well...I got other things to do, but can find someone else to fulfill your request."

Dilbert: "Thank you so much!"

Again, the verminator's enthusiasm is offsetting, but Hank won't have to worry about it much longer. "You're welcome."

Dilbert: "Lemme just take one last look at the wolf, and I'll follow you to your office."

Hank nods, Dilbert breathes in and out while looking at Roaster, and then turns around to tell Hank, "Lead the way, Chief."

The two leave, but Roaster's hearing had picked up what Dilbert softly whispered at he breathed out. The man had told the wolf, "I'm on to you."

Roaster also whispers out a reply when he breathes out of his nose. "So am I."

---

Seven buildings. Seven teams. The hedgies and their extended family and friends have strength in numbers and their varied abilities to aid them too. So, theoretically, this should be a cinch, but many challenges will keep it from being so.

First, they need to determine which building Roaster could be in. The animals best-suited for that would be the wolves whose keen sense of smell can determine the right place within at least 1 mile—with Kale being able to pick up a scent from quintuple times that. When he was little, Kale had a terrible sinus infection that lasted almost a full year; caused by his ultra-sensitive sense of smell. But after recovering from it, he could smell prey from two and a half miles away, even if powerful winds and water currents had interfered with the scent. The Bone-Chompers would often teasingly call Kale "Track" because he was good at tracking and nothing else, but that was just to that pack's impossible standards. When Kale betrayed the Bone-Chompers and joined the hedgies, not only did the "Track" name stop, but he also kept training his nose so as to keep the woods safe from predators. Because of this, he enhanced his already impressive two and a half mile smelling range into a whopping five miles!

But because some of the animal control buildings are more than 10 miles apart, and time (as they say) is of the essence, the otters suggested an ingenious plan: have the teenage black bear from the minks' first training session "assist" the hedgies in finding Roaster's scent.

Though a great plan, it does have a flaw. The bear lives in Vincent's old cave, far beyond the woods of the Elysian Fields Estates. And if the ursine is not in its cave, tracking it down will be a necessary, but lengthy task. Therefore, until Kale, Clara (whose abnormal strength will make for a short "negotiation"), and the ducks in Jeff's flock can locate the bear and call in where Roaster is, the seven teams will still go to the seven locations. The only plus side is that when they know the correct building, all teams can converge on one location. But that will take time.

The second main issue is that, while it's important to do reconnaissance of the buildings so break-in and break-out plans can be made, they can't take too long because every second wasted could mean Roaster is shipped somewhere beyond even a bear's sense of smell. Starting from the state of Oregon, RJ's parents and little sister spent 14 years searching every forest in the USA for their long-lost son and brother until finding him in Indiana, and no one wants to spend that long trying to get Roaster back. They will if they must, but it is going to be a royal pain in the tail. But if the animals don't spend enough time making a good plan, then they risk failing in their rescue altogether.

The third challenge is that even with the rest of the hedgies able to take leadership on par with Verne and RJ, the family's best planners and other key raiders have not fully recovered from the physical and emotional injuries suffered just a few hours ago. RJ, Mary, and Bernard are still sore from surviving the drone's self-destruction, Boxer and Bucky can't push their knife-wounded limbs too hard or the stitches will come undone, Stella and half the minks have used up all their spray, and are recovering from the injuries inflicted by the parents onto their kids, and Boombata and Nukalawa on the parents. On the plus side, the humans won't expect the animals to attempt a rescue so soon after the day's previous events, which gives them the element of surprise. And with the extended families and friends, they have more than enough animals, but those groups don't have as much heisting experience as the hedgies. They are green, and this rescue requires expert experience.

Every option, every approach, has a weakness. And one small weakness is all that's needed to make them fail. But as Mary so eloquently put, "How would that be different from any other heist?"

They will succeed. They have to.

Team 1 is Team Raccoon, made up of RJ, Roger, Aleshia, Riley, Ellie, Mordecai, Dexter, Bucky, Annie, Drake, R3, Bruce, Elan, Maddie, Skip, Rainer, Houston, Beverly, Brooke, and Alan.

Team 2 is Team Reptile, made up of Verne, Velma, Plushie, Meredith, Carolina, Jaqueline, Luke, Frances, Garrett, Sare, Gary, Jacoby, Stella, Jessie, Isabelle, Emma, Kylie, Robin, Nick, and AJ.

Team 3 is Team Possum, made up of Mary, Elroy, Heather, Tim, Zeke, Mira, Rebecca, Lizzy, De'Ausha, Damon, Grace, Boxer, Jacob, Miranda, Max, Hammy, Rachel, Mark, Melvin, Hubert, Stevie, Jude, Stratford, and Ike.

Team 4 is Team Skunk, made up of Ladarius, Niara, Amber, Maury, Luby, Eric, Elaina, Pat, Reagan, Aaron, Kay, Spike, Ty, Lyra, Delilah, Wendy, Christopher, Connie, and Ahniyah.

Team 5 is Team Porcupine, made up of Quillo, Bea, Emily, Lou, Penny, Owen, Caleb, Duke, Lucile, Camille, Frank, Scarlet, Sam, Isaac, Ralph, Scott, Albert, Cassie, and Chris.

Team 6 is Team Mustelid, made up of Boombata, Nukalawa, Amy, Jay, Eiyla, Rick, Kelly, Tiger, Percie, Richie, Chloe, Martha, Jack, Leslie, and Lauren.

Team 7 is Team Bat, made up of Marilyn, Lucas, Simon, Celine, Claire, Bert, Bernard, Gerald, Wyatt, Ro-J, María, George, Marty, Eloise, Sara, and Jordan.

As with regular heists, those who are too old, young, or injured will help with observations, but otherwise stay behind while the others do the main work.

All the teams are currently on their way to their designated buildings and have cell phones to contact each other. Once they are close enough, the hedgies should be able to pick up on Roaster's scent, or so Team 1 thought when they arrive at their destination. Rainer has the best sense of smell of any of the animals in that group, but isn't too familiar with Roaster's scent.

Rainer: "I wish I could help more."

RJ: "No problem, Rainer. How about you, Mordecai and Dexter? You pickin' up on Roaster?"

After taking a big sniff, the mouths of the father and son bats give a look of frustration and embarrassment.

Mordecai: "Sorry folks, but it smells too much like a hospital; bitter antiseptic with artificial fragrances used in cleaners and soaps."

Dexter: "Meaning we can't pick up any scent in there."

Bruce has the team's cell phone and pulls up the speed dial numbers. "I'll tell the other teams without wolves to expect this."

RJ: "Then let's gather some intel about the building itself."

Bucky and R3 say "On it," in unison, but Bucky seethes in a whisper as he bends over slightly to bring up the binoculars hanging from his neck. He continues to groan as he has to shift positions to take in as much details about the building as he can.

Bucky: "Okay, we got a flat—Unh—one story building about—Gragh—50 yards long. So it's one hundred and—Tsss—fifty feet."

Annie and Drake walk toward their father and are about to ask something until the next animal speaks.

Up in a nearby tree, with a better vantage point, R3 adds, "And 20 yards—or 60 feet— wide. So it'll be a lot of ground to cover if this is the building Roaster is in."

Bucky: "There's quite a number of—Ah—surveillance cameras on the outside. And we got lucky at the—Eeeee—pharmacy earlier today. Can't depend on lucky alone—Ow."

Annie puts a paw on Bucky's shoulder and says in an urgent tone, "Dad, please stop doing what you're doing if it's making you hurt."

Drake: "Y-yeah, let us take over for you."

Bucky: "Thanks kids."

Bucky hands them the binocs and each looks out an eyepiece. Just as they mentally question why everything is so small and far away, Alan says, "Um, you're looking in the wrong end," matter-of-factly.

With more rushed anxiety than embarrassment, Annie and Drake say, "Oops. Sorry," in unison. Not only that, but they drop the binoculars on the ground as they turn it so it can face the correct way.

Skip: "You kids okay?"

Ignoring his question, and the strange looks the others are giving them, Annie and Drake state the first thing they notice. Like before, their tones are full of anxiety.

Drake: "There's fenced-in patch of grass about one third of the building's length."

Annie: "Probably used for taking dogs out to do their business."

Houston: "True, but that doesn't help us know how to break in and break out."

Drake: "I—"

Annie: "We—"

Bucky (gentle and caring voice): "Kids, what's wrong? Really?"

Despite Bucky's tone, Drake and Annie now panic as they blurt out, "Please don't talk, dad! You'll hurt yourself more! Rest and let us do all the work!" If that weren't enough, their trembling paws causes the binocs to shake as they hold it.

Knowing their current mental state will be counterproductive, Aleshia puts a purple handkerchief over the binoculars, which vanishes into thin air when she pulls it up. They reappear in RJ's paws and he starts looking through them to make observations.

Annie and Drake both yell, "Hey! We were using that!" in anger.

This spout of rudeness actually works in Bucky's advantage because he is able to approach his distracted twins unnoticed. He puts an arm around each kids' shoulder and speaks with the same gentle and understanding voice tone before.

Bucky: "Annie..." (Kisses her forehead) "Drake..." (Kisses his forehead) "It's okay. I'm just—uhn—hurt, I'm not dying."

The twins breathe a sigh of relief, nuzzle Bucky's chest with their faces, and wrap their arms as far around him as they can without touching his back quills. The others also back up to give the three porcupines some space to work things out, but listen in closely just in case they need to intervene. Bucky is in a comfortable position so he is able to speak without making any pain noises.

Drake: "You didn't just get hurt, dad."

Annie: "You got hurt bad."

Bucky: "True, it's the worst I've ever gotten hurt on a heist, but I wouldn't say it's bad. Not even close. Trust me, I've seen family members get hurt much worse than a stab wound."

Annie: "But you never get hurt on a heist."

Drake: "Yeah. You're supposed to be the oldest, smartest, most carful, and coolest of your brothers."

Bucky chuckles and says in a light-hearted tone, "Heh-heh, I still am all those things." Now more serious he says, "But bad things can happen to the best of animals when we do dangerous things like what we did at the pharmacy. Luck and skill can't keep someone safe from harm forever."

The adults listening now have a perfect understanding of what Annie and Drake are going through, and figure it's time to back up Bucky so his twins can calm down faster.

Brooke: "Y'all thought you and your dad were invincible. That y'all were so skilled that nothing bad could ever happen. My little brother, Albert, thought he was that way until the fateful day that caused The Extreme's to break up."

Houston: "Like the day I got injured after fending off a stoat. Before then I never got a scratch while defeating predators. But that day taught me a valuable lesson that you two need to learn."

Elan: "No one is invincible or undefeatable."

Roger: "So now your eyes have been open to the harshness of reality."

Skip: "And reality can be una amante cruel."

Drake: " 'A cruel mistress.' "

Annie: "Yeah..."

Riley: "Like my magic show that went horribly wrong."

Elan: "Like the beating we got from Boombata and Nukalawa."

Maddie: "Or when I was defeated by Damon and Niara at the duel."

Mordecai is more than a physical health geek, he's also proficient at mental health. So he takes the conversation to a new direction that will make the twins feel more positive. "Despite all that's happened, you two are very lucky to have learned this life lesson from what happened to you father, instead of experiencing it first-hand. I sometimes wish my reality-check would have happened like yours, when I got injured by a hawk that tried to eat me."

Mordecai opens his left wing and shows three scars where his wing membrane meets his body. They look at if he had been stabbed by a screwdriver. Addressing Annie and Drake, Mordecai elaborates with, "I was your age when this happened. One of my bird friends said I was lucky that the hawk was only 10-years-old instead of an adult, and that my life was saved when it couldn't get its fourth back-facing claw gripped on me. I wriggled free and fell into a flying squirrel's home inside a tree knothole too small for the hawk to fit through. If I wasn't already is such good health and physical shape, I would have certainly died. Needless to say, I learned how quickly life could end for a bat like me."

Dexter: "Why have you never told me this story before daddy?! It's amazing!"

Skip looks at Mordecai and says in kindred excitement, "Tú también? Largo de aquí!" Looking at his audience he says, "That means, 'You too? Get outta here!' for you non-Spanish speakers. I survived a brush with death and learned of life's fragility too. See these scars?" He turns around and parts the fur on his back beneath his shoulders. The marks look like he was stabbed by multiple icepicks simultaneously. "Back in the Amazon, I was 24 when I was almost eaten by an anaconda. This one looked so old, fat, and lazy I thought it couldn't catch me if I jumped out of the water and got on land where it would be too slow. I thought wrong, because it caught me in its mouth in midair. For those who don't know, snakes never chew their food, they swallow it whole, so their teeth are meant to prevent prey from getting out of their mouths. And they breathe through a windpipe-like hole in their mouth's called a glottis as they eat.

"Anyway, once out of the water, it tried to take in some fresh air, but before it could do that and wrap its body around mine, I used my mouth to bite its glottis shut. It couldn't breathe so it spat me out, and I climbed up the first tree I could reach and stayed up there where I was safe."

Drake: "How were you safe? Can't all snakes climb trees?"

Skip: "Anacondas are the heaviest snakes in the world. Fully grown adults rarely climb trees, and are very slow when they do. My initial assumption about it being too old, fat, and lazy was true when the anaconda was on land."

Annie: "How'd you get back home and taken care of your injuries?"

Skip: "A toucan friend of mine heard me call for help and flew to my family's home. I told her what had happened to me, and my parents, sister, and brother came to me by jumping from tree to tree."

Bucky: "So you see, kids? Me getting a knife to the hip is nothing compared to what animals like Mordecai and Skip had been through. And it didn't happen to you, but to me. So count yourselves lucky."

Drake: "But what if you go on another heist and get hurt worse than this?"

Bucky: "That is always a possibility, son."

Annie: "So we should stay with you during all raids from now on. That way if something bad ever happens to you—"

Bucky: "—Annie, this world if full of dangers and risks. No matter how hard we try, how careful we plan things, and how cautious we are, there is no such thing as a 100 percent guaranteed safe world. But that does not mean you should live your life in fear. Often times, that happens because you can be your own worst enemy."

Roger feels he can really drive this home, and intervenes. "Here's what Bucky means. When my brother and I were only seven-years-old, your Uncle Rick was badly wounded by a Doberman pincher with military training on a heist. We were on observation patrol, and saw the whole thing and thought he would die. He fully recovered, but whenever he went on raids, I always feared he wouldn't come home. Tyler and I would find a stick and snap off little pieces at a time. We each believed if we would break off at least 10 pieces, our dad would not get hurt. Then one day, when we got to actually participate in a heist, were so busy raiding that we forgot to break a stick. Not only that, but that crazy woman Gladys Sharpe arrived in the house we were looting; fresh out of her verminator college training. And you know what happened?" (1)

Annie and Drake expect the worst, and nervously ask, "What...?" (1)

Roger: "Our dad didn't get a scratch. And we all escaped unharmed. And Tyler? He got free, delicious food fed to him by Gladys, so he was more than okay. From then on, we never had to break a stick for luck ever again." (1)

Bucky puts a paw on his twins' shoulder and concludes, "The main point that Roger and I are trying to tell you kids is, it's parents' job to worry about our kids, not the other way around." (1)

Bucky waits until his kids have relaxed and have small smiles on their faces—signs that that they understand all that's been said—before putting their minds more at ease. "And because I got injured today, I'm being carful by staying out here and keeping an eye on things. I'm not going in to rescue Roaster. That part is up to those who are not wounded."

Drake: "Thanks dad..." (Looks at the others) "And thanks all of you who spoke to us about this."

Annie: "We really needed that."

Those who spoke say, "You're welcome," in unison.

Note: (1)=Based on dialogue from the Arthur the Animated Series episode "April 9th." Copyright by Marc Brown, Kathy Waugh, PBS, and WGBH.

---

With Team 3, the opposite kind of conversation is happening, with Mira, Tim, and Zeke wanting to go along the rescue with their parents.

Mira: "You've shown and shared so many gwate stowies about your adventures that we wanna go on one with you too, mommy and daddy!"

Elory: "I'll say it before and I'll say it again, you three are too young and this could be very dangerous, even for grown-ups like me and Mary."

Mary: "You're safer with Grandmommy Heather."

Tim: "Aw, at least let us be in your pouch, mommy!"

Zeke: "Yeah! We'll keep super still and quiet."

Like always, Heather intervenes to save her daughter and Elroy from what would be a long and tiring argument.

Heather: "But if you, like, go with your parents, you wouldn't be able to participate in the rescue. But when you stay with me, I'll show you how to help with the raid."

Mira: "How we do that gwandmommy?"

Heather: "By, like, watching the outside of the building we'll eventually get to, and the humans outside who will be all, whatever, and using a radio" (Holds up said device) "to tell our family and friends where to go so they can avoid running into trouble."

Lizzy: "Just make sure you don't get distracted by seeing me in action, biological second-cousins. My mom has taught me so many cool gymnastics moves that you'll have to fight off your instinct to stare in amazement."

Jacob: "Nunca presumas de tus habilidades, joven."

Boxer: " 'Never brag about your skills, young one.' And forgive me, but do you say nothin' but philosophical phrases, Jacob?"

Jacob (crosses his arms and holds his head up high): "Soy lo que soy, y estoy orgulloso de ello."

Boxer: "Okay, Confucius, 'I am what I am, and am proud of it.' Pero el orgullo puede ser peligroso—But pride can be dangerous."

Rebecca: "No offense, Boxer, but that sounds like you and your family all the time."

Boxer leans his face close into Rebecca's and says, "I'm in no mood for wisecracks, Grande Chica. We've got to find my little brother and save him!" Having gotten the most serious matter out of his mouth, Boxer reverts back to his wolf vernacular. "And I's really hope our team is going to da building he's bein' held in. Iz'tha only way I can clear my mind'a stress. And if he's not in the building we's been assigned, I'm gonna need ta blow off some serious pent-up rage on the first human I see!"

Mark: "You wanna talk about rage? Try watching your mother be literally torn in half, AND losing your ability to glide like a flying squirrel should, within five minutes. And don't even get me started on how it felt for me to watch all the other flying squirrels have the time of their lives using their patagiums, and being so happy with their mothers.

"I'm saying this because, we've all experienced intense anger, but if you can't control it, you'll be a liability for this rescue."

Jude: "Like Mr. Nick was earlier today."

De'Ausha: "And somethin' I've taught my son" (pats Damon's head) "is that while the need for lettin' out anger is important, it's more important ta have a clear head."

Hammy: "But if your head is clear, where is there room for your brain?"

Rachel: "Hah! Good one, Hammy!"

Hammy: "It wasn't a joke."

Grace: "Clear as in calm and objective, Hammy."

Hammy: "Ohhhhh..."

Melvin: "Anyway, how far can you pick up on Roaster's scent, Boxer?"

Ike: "Get ready to have your mind blown, folks-who-don't-know yet! Tell 'em Boxer!"

Boxer: "Three-and-a-half miles. I inherited mi papá's super-sniffer, and he's been trainin' me how ta make it better."

Hubert whistles "Fyoo! Not even the wolf who killed my mate's dad could smell that far away, and that prick prided himself as being THE prime example of what wolves are fully capable of."

Hubert immediately regrets letting his mouth speak faster than his mind could work, because he just struck a chord deep into his daughter's heart. Fast on the rebound, he crouches next to Stevie whose face is scrunched in sorrow.

Hubert: "I-I'm sorry Stevie. You know I didn't mean to bring up your Big Daddy Alan's death instead of life."

Stevie: "I know, dad. I just really wish I could've gotten to meet Big Daddy Alan..."

Hubert: "Me too...From what Brooke has told me, he was the best beaver who ever lived. He was strong, noble, just, and devoted—everything a great mate and father should be."

Stevie's smile returns and she looks at her father with twinkling eyes. "Now that's what I wanna hear about Big Daddy Alan."

Miranda: "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm curious about how you can miss someone you've never met so much?"

Stevie: "Mom loved my Big Daddy Alan so much that she talked about him all the time, and still does today. She also has hundreds of pictures of him, and there's an amazing story to each. From those stories and pictures, she made him seem so real that it felt like he was always with me, and then the realization sets in that I never got to meet him, and my heart breaks..."

Hubert: "But like your mom and I teach you: we will be more inspired by the life he lived..."

Stevie: "...Than saddened over his death. Thanks again, dad."

Jacob: " 'Nuestros seres queridos nunca se han ido, mientras los mantengamos vivos en nuestros corazones.' "

Heather notices Boxer grimace at Jacob. To ensure another argument does not break out, she translates the phrase. " 'Our loved ones are never gone, as long as we keep them alive in our hearts.' That, totally, sounds just like the many words of comfort that got me through the death of my dad."

Zeke: "You had a daddy, gwandmommy?"

Heather: "Of course. I wouldn't, like, be here if I didn't have parents. Your great-grandfather's name was Ozzie. I'll share pictures and stories about him when we get home and have had some rest. But right now, let's focus on keeping a family whole."

Lizzy and Damon are currently in charge of the phone that has the GPS, so Heather asks, "How far are we, Lizzy and Damon?"

Lizzy: "Five miles away. Just another mile-and-a-half and Boxer will be able to pick up on Roaster's scent."

Miranda: "But isn't your family used to using scent-ridding spray like human hunters in order to avoid verminators who can smell y'all out?"

Stratford: "How does that have anything to do with Boxer being unable to smell his own brother?"

Miranda: "Because if you keep doing the same thing over and over again, your enemies will figure it out..."

Everyone stops in their tracks and stares at Miranda in surprise at first, but then dread. Not only has her explanation proven her raccoon-inherited intelligence, but it also adds a new challenge that makes having Boxer's super-sniffer on their team null and void. There's no telling what counter-measures Dilbert will use to throw off the hedgies.

The staring and getting lost in one's negatively-obsessing minds goes on for a good five seconds until Mary snaps everyone out of it by saying, "Pick up the pace, everyone!"

No more walking, now they jog or run.

---

With Verne and Velma in Team 2, there is already doubt of the success of their rescue mission. But remembering what the family has taught them over the years, it's often better to think disheartening words instead of speaking them.

Verne thinking: "We don't know if we're going to the right location where Roaster is, how much security guards there will be, what kind of defenses are set up, or what room he could be in...Still, it's no reason to give up hope. We are going to get him back."

There are also smaller doubts the other team members are going through, and these they don't keep to themselves. In particular, Nick can't take how he is having to help Robin walk with her arm around his shoulder. His mate is usually so strong and authoritative, always in charge, and ready to take on challenges with enthusiasm. But now, she looks and walks like a wreck, and he's too weak-willed to do her job for their family. Nick's insecurity was only made worse when AJ coldly refused to help carry Robin. He never said it, but Nick knows it's their son's way of getting back at his parents for the beatings they have given him. Apparently, AJ's earlier sympathy after his parents' defeat has been replaced with angst. What's worse is that Robin had offered no words of contradiction, and instead silently accepted the unspoken punishment.

Nick: "You sure you don't need to rest a bit, Robin? I don't want you to push yourself too hard after all you've been through today."

Robin: "I'll be fine, Nick. As long as I keep my mind focused on putting one foot in front of the other."

Nick: "But—"

Robin: "—And it's hard to do that if you keep questioning me."

Jacoby, being the Good Samaritan that he is, is currently helping guide Kylie. His father, Jake, was also a Good Samaritan, willing to drop whatever he was doing no matter how much was going on in his life, in order to help out someone in need. At first Jacoby was such a stickler for agendas and schedules—something his mother had ingrained in his mind at an early age—which he felt were ruined whenever Jake helped a fallen bird back into its nest, escort a lost animal back home, or protect an injured animal from getting attacked. However, it didn't take long for Jacoby to learn that the reward of doing kind things for others simply because it was the right thing to do was greater than keeping to a plan. Jacoby forgot about being so strict and unchanging and was taught him the importance of having a flexible mind. After all, as an animal, he has a lot of time on his paws, and can spare a few moments, minutes, or even hours doing what his father taught him.

So upon overhearing Nick's and Robin's conversation, Jacoby offers, "How about I help you, Robin?"

And Robin, being the stubborn, uncompromising female she is, says, "I said I'm fine."

Jacoby takes offense to how harshly Robin rejected him, and briefly reverts back to his mother's way of doing things by sounding stiff and not flexible too. "Okay. I just wanted ta offer ya help. You don't gotta be rude. A "No thank you" would've been betta."

Robin: "You try getting the snot kicked out of you by a honey badger and zorilla, almost die of snake venom, and walking to a building six miles away—all while people won't leave you alone with questions and offers you're not interested in!"

Velma: "That's enough, Robin. Don't start that kind of talk here. We are trying to save a member of our family who risked his life to save you."

Plushie: "That should mean something to you. If you have a heart, and took a vow to change your ways."

Robin's bitterness starts to leave after hearing Velma's and Plushie's words. But it immediately vanishes after she sees her son give her a scowl and shaking his head side to side in disapproval.

Robin: "You're right. I'm sorry. If it wasn't for Roaster, I wouldn't have gotten a second chance to become a better mate and mother."

Stella: "And you sho' don't wanna waste that chance."

Robin: "Yes. And if it weren't for me, he wouldn't have gotten captured. And I never got the chance to tell him thank you."

Meredith: "Don't say it like that. You sound like he's already gone. But we're gonna get him back. Right, Carolina?"

Carolina (salutes): "Right, mommy!"

Emma: "How much longer, Jessie?"

Although Jessie is the youngest of Gerald's and Miranda's children, she is already a prodigy with electronics. The phone she holds is one of her own custom design, built by ordering parts online (with stolen credit cards) and putting them together. It's like the best features of every cell phone model combined into one, and all without worrying about lawsuits from the manufacturer companies since it would be most absurd to try and sue an animal.

After looking at the part of the GPS that tells distance, Jessie says, "Two miles."

Frances: "I ha'vnt traveled this far in long time. My ol' bones feel young again."

Sare: "Did you exercise a lot when you lived in Africa?"

Frances: "I exercise ev'ry day, child. It keep me well."

Sare: "Same here. Maybe you can show me some of those African dance moves you taught Mr. Caleb, and I can show you some gymnastics."

Frances: "Sounds int'restin'."

Sare looks at Gary and says, "Too bad you're not a girl, 'cause gymnastics is the perfect way for you to stay in shape, maggot."

Gary is uncomfortable with what his sister just said, because on the one paw he wants to squabble with his sibling like usual and stick it to her by telling her that he can out-gymnastics her any time, anywhere. But on the other paw, he still doesn't want anyone to know how much he really practices the girl-centered sport of gymnastics. But that only lasts a nanosecond, because he focuses on the last thing Sare had said when he speaks.

Gary: " 'Maggot'?"

Sare: " 'Maggot? I said 'brother.' "

Garrett: "No, you called him maggot."

Right before Sare can show confusion, Jacqueline pipes in, "Heh-heh, you're just trying to sound like a drill sergeant, right Sare?"

Sare says, "Right," in a way that confirms she meant it like that all along. But in her mind, she questions, "Why did I think 'brother,' but say 'maggot'? I would never call any of my siblings that. And why didn't I hear myself say that?"

Emma's comments change the subject when the porcupine says, "With Sare's gymnastics, my quills, Isabelle's swimming and flexibility, Kylie's flight and sense of smell, the turtles' shells, the raccoons' intelligence, the lizards' speed and strength, and the skunks' and minks' spray, I'd say we have the team best-suited for getting Roaster home safe and sound." After finishing she rubs her EI necklace with her fingers, once again thankful that she can keep the memory of that great friend close to her heart as extra assurance.

Since children spend most of their time with their mothers after birth, Luke's voice does not have an African accent like his father's but is an American accent like his mother's. "But do we know if we're even going to the right place? What if he's not at the location and we just wasted all our time?"

Isabelle: "One," (nods yes) "we don't know if we're going to the right building. But two, we won't" (shakes head no) "be wasting our time, whether or not he is there, because our other teams have the same abilities as we do and are bound to find the right building."

Kylie, being the inquisitive girl she is, exposits, "But if he's not in our building, we'll have to travel all the way to where he really is. So how is our trip not a waste of time if he's not there?"

Isabelle: "Think of it this way, Kylie. We might lose the battle, but we'll win the war."

Kylie and Luke in unison: "But what if—?"

Verne: "Kids, let me tell you something my BN—or biological nephew—taught me. Instead of obsessing over negative things, try obsessing over positive things. They don't have to have any connection to our mission to save Roaster, and don't need any rhyme or reason. They can be as random and out-of-nowhere as possible."

Kylie: "Like reciting some scenes from my favorite TV shows along with my own commentary in my head?"

Duke: "Or remembering all the stories about Africa my father has told me?"

AJ looks at Robin and Nick to say, "How my parents are going to clean up their acts?", making sure his statement is as rhetorical as possible.

Verne: "Yes. Anything. And I think the adults need to do the same thing."

Everyone gets to it, and feels the anxiety decrease as they continue onward. Because they will need to save their positive mental energy for what is to come.

---

With Team 4, Ahniyah asks her granddaughter, "You have enough spray, Niara?"

Niara: "My chemical weapon? Yes. I didn't use too much while training, *Yawn* earlier."

Eric: "You sound sleepy."

Laderius: "Get some shut-eye, princess. We'll wake you up when it's time."

Laderius cradles her in his arms and addresses Eric as he explains, "She woke up fo' a 3AM trainin' session, then been goin' 90-to-nothin' all day."

Lyra: "But we're gonna need her if the building we're heading to is the one with Roaster."

Connie: "She might need some caffeine ta stay awake."

Elaina carries a purse with items in it similar to how RJ and his kids carry golf bags. So she says, "I should have a soda in here somewhere," while rummaging through.

Aaron: "But sodas can cause you to crash from exhaustion later on. Trust me, I know."

Spike adds, "Me too," as he remembers the crash he had after drinking soda for the first time when he was nine-years-old. He and his brothers were already hyper kids, and that soda was like giving an overly-stimulated child the most powerful legal stimulant medication. Like Aaron, he was out for a full day when the crash hit.

Aaron: "Do you have one of those 5-Hour Energy drinks?"

Elaina: "Sorry, all I have is a Pepsi."

Laderius: " 'Sides, I don't want Niara up fo' five hours aft'ah all she's been through today."

Ty: "And it's not gonna take us five hours to save Roaster, even if we have to move to another location if the one we're going to is wrong."

Pat: "Speaking of that, how much farther, Reagan?"

Reagan (looks at her phone): "Two-point-seven miles."

Kay: "Hah. A cake walk compared to the Amazon Rainforest. We swam or walked five miles a day in humidity that was so hot it felt like a sauna at maximum temperature."

Wendy is most fascinated to be speaking to someone from another country, and continent. Her whole life she thought just the forest where she lived is like a whole planet. Then, when she learned what a state was, she felt so small, but in a good way. This feeling was doubled, tripled, and quadrupled when she learned what a country, continent, and hemisphere are. The world is a huge and wonderous place full of all kinds of things, and she wants to know as much as she can from this otter from South America.

Wendy: "Was it hard getting used to America's temperature, Mrs. Kay?"

Kay: "Yes, and still is. Because the Amazon is so close to the equator, and the sun hits that area evenly all year long, the temperature remains the same. There were just two seasons: wet and dry. But America has four seasons. Summer feels just right, but I thought I'd freeze to death during winter, and got so thrown off my biological schedule for my first daylight savings. I do enjoy the cooler temperature and changing color of leaves during the Fall, but the pollen in Spring...Ugh! And the unstable weather during that same season is annoying too."

Wendy: "My favorite season is Spring. Yeah, the pollen can be annoying, but the flowers are pretty, all of my non-raccoon friends come out of hibernation, and it's the perfect temperature: not too hot and not too cold."

Luby, acting as Wendy's guardian per Gerald and Miranda's instructions, keeps things on positive topics by adding, "I prefer Fall the best; that's when fruits and vegetables are at their ripest, the leaves changing colors are beautiful, the temperature is cool instead of too hot and too cold, there's no pollen, and I like it when it gets darker earlier. I mean, raccoons are nocturnal, 'nuff said. Fall is also when I gave birth to my twins. After so many years of failing to have kits, finally having my own has been the greatest experience in my life. The pros always outweigh the cons."

Ty: "You're welcome, mom. And thanks for putting up with me and my brother when we drove you crazy."

Luby (smirks): "I still have to put up with you boys' nonsense."

After some brief laughter, Eric and his mate join in the fun.

Eric: "You think having two boys is hard? Try raising a son and a daughter."

Elaina: "It's all the sibling rivalry issues plus gender tensions."

Eric: "Richie and Patricia...there wasn't a moment when they weren't at each other's throats."

Elaina: And because one was a boy and the other was a girl, it was harder to find common ground."

Pat: "Did I ever tell any of you how Richie would pretend to hug me when he was really play-strangling me? And sometimes it wasn't for play."

Eric: "The first time he throttled you for real was a few days after you were born, and again when he lost a bet and you gave him a makeover."

Elaina: "She did it all: eyelashes, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick, painting nails, blush, a bow, you name it."

Pat: "Of course, he got me back by hiding all my favorite things and leaving cryptic riddles and clues that made locating them a scavenger hunt from Heck."

Reagan: "What did he make you do, mama?"

Pat: "I had to dredge part of a swamp, go through a sticker bush, dig through a cat's litter box, dive into a fully loaded garbage can that hadn't been emptied in a week, and worst of all: climb a slippery bird feeder that used electric shocks to keep things like squirrels off of them."

Aaron (wailing in melodramatic anguish): "Those are SO cruel! What kind of animal keeps a squirrel away from bird seed?!"

The laughter that follows is loud but brief because Christopher lets out a groan.

Christopher: "Argh. Can you folks wait up a little...? These stitches in my back are slowing me down more than my injured foot."

The others look behind and see the adult mink is a full 10 feet away. Having pity on him, Amber looks at her son and says, "Maury, go give him a hand."

Maury rhetorically answers, "Don't you mean a paw?" When no one laughs, he cuts the nonsense and says, "On it."

He walks over to Christopher where the mink puts an arm over the teenage skunk's shoulder. He is soon joined by Delilah whose mom, Lyra, also felt bad at the sight of a fully grown male animal struggling with pain, and had told her daughter to go help too.

If it hadn't been for the lessons Boombata, Nukalawa, and the hedgies have recently taught him, Christopher would normally refuse any help, especially from kids, because he was taught that was a sign of weakness. But now he knows accepting help from others is a sign of strength.

Christopher: "Thanks, kids. I never knew how many muscles and nerves are linked to my back until getting stitches there."

Maury whispers, "At least you don't have a hemorrhoid. I got one'uv those while spraying too hard at a bear after having digestive issues days before. There more nerves around 'there' than in the tips of our fingers. It hurt to just get up from a sleeping position, so walking was a painful chore."

Christopher: "Yeah, I've heard about those. My mate Cassie got one after giving birth to each of our kids. I had to help her out while she recovered. But with the Predator-Quellers, at least all we animals have to do is take care of our kids and find food. If I had to fend off predators or had a job that made me leave home like a human, Cassie wouldn't have gotten better as quick as she did without my constant help."

Delilah: "Sometimes I feel sorry for humans."

Maury and Christopher look at her in confusion as they ask, "Really?"

Delilah: "They have to use money to buy things that we find for free; have to pay 'bills' or else they don't get things like power and heat; have jobs that makes them spend less time with kids; and have to follow many 'laws' that sends them to jail if they break them."

Maury: "You'd think with all those worries, they'd have no time to fret so hard about animals. Yet heah we are, riskin' our lives to break Roaster out'uv a jail for animals."

Delilah: "I said 'sometimes' for a reason. Because, long story short, I know that the downsides of humans outweigh the good sides."

Christopher: "To be fair, Roaster was doing things that, from a human's perspective, would make it best for him to be put away. But I digress, because my true allegiance is to my fellow animal-kind."

The other animals chime in a "Hear, hear," and continue their trek toward the target destination.

---

It is fortunate for Team Skunk that Percie is not among them, because if she had heard what Christopher had said regarding Roaster, things would not have ended well for the mink. The animals in Team 6/Mustelid don't need to even look at Percie to know she is in a bad mood; they can practically smell the anger emanating from her, the aroma is more powerful than the smell of the mustelids. When it comes to interacting with her, they follow the old saying "Let sleeping dogs lie," especially because she inherited all of her mom's strength. But Percie also knows that this is why they are not talking to her, and is silently grateful for it. She has repaid their consideration by staying quiet as they talk, and keeping to herself how hard it is for her, a wolf, to endure the aroma from the mustelids.

Although they bathe at least once a day, Boombata, Nukalawa, Martha, and Jack are still mustelids; meaning that even without their spray they have a very strong musky odor, no matter how many times they wash, even with shampoo. Normally, so would Amy, Jay, and Eiyla, but since river otters don't have a foul-smelling spray like the other mustelids, those three (along with the rest of the otters) have a naturally more tolerable odor. Furthermore, the otters use abducted perfume and cologne, the smell of which helps the other animals in their team tremendously.

Richie has the phone and is leading the animals to their destination. He had also been using his brain to make the trip faster. Twice he had noticed that the GPS recommended them to take a natural trail that would basically take them up one hill then down a 70-foot cliff by going in two big circles. But since this team is composed of animals, they simply went up the hill itself, and climbed down the cliff, the effort probably saving them 20 minutes.

When asked by his daughter Chloe why he didn't follow the GPS exactly, Richie replied, "I'm the one in control of the GPS, not the other way around."

Rick: "Tell me about it. Humans are so addicted to their phones and so reliant on GPS that I they sometimes don't even trust their own two eyes. This one time, I saw a car that had the GPS volume on maximum take the turn it suggested that made it nearly run into pedestrians tailgating in a park."

Leslie: "I have a similar story, except the GPS made the human drive into a pond."

Amy: "Well if it wasn't for GPS, my family and I would have never found our godsiblings and made it to Indiana when we traveled. Of course, we couldn't use one while still in the Amazon, we had to get to a city before abducting a phone."

Boombata: "Same ting for Côte d'Ivoire. Only city-human have phone. Useless in dee wild."

Nukalawa: "Of course, we quick to adapt to life in United States. Learn of television, internet, and phone apps, but do not use them often."

Kelly: "You serious? How can anyone live life without a phone? I've had mine since I was seven, and don't know what I'd do without it."

Boombata: "And yet you survive first six years of your life wit-out it. Animal don't need phones. Creates unneeded dependency, which lead to slavery. And being from Africa and former zoo captive, Nukalawa and I don't like slavery."

Percie thinking: "Knowing Roaster he'd rather die than be put inna zoo for the rest of his life...But with his average abilities, he may not be able to break outta a zoo without help. If he's lucky enough to get shipped to one..."

Percie knows what is most likely to happen: Roaster will be deemed too dangerous to be relocated back into the wild or donated to a zoo, and therefore, be put down. For all Percie knows, they could be trying to rescue a carcass. This causes the scowl on her face to become more exaggerated.

Amber's and Jacoby's oldest son Jack sees this happen, and whispers to his godmother Martha "Should we be worried?" while pointing a thumb behind him at Percie.

Out of all the animals, Martha is the most direct and prefers dealing with issues head-on, and as quickly as possible. All her life she hates it when others beat around the bush, or try to dance around or ignore a problem. One of the most important things her parents had taught her was to embrace conflict. It's only natural that others will disagree, not get along, and argue. But getting in verbal fights is the best way to know what is bothering someone, for people (and animals) are most honest on impulse. Rather that seeing conflict as an obstacle that is best avoided, Martha sees it as a chance to straighten things out and get everyone to find common ground. But the key is to make sure the arguments don't go too far. Being a mink, Martha has used the threat of her spray to mitigate many arguments, and upon turning around to see the look on Percie's face, Martha reckons it's time to confront the elephant in the room the Martha-Way. Because given the wolf teen's expression, she is about to explode in pent-up rage.

To Jack, Martha says "Not much longer," to answer his question. She then turns around and walks over to Percie whereby the mink says, "We gonna take care'uh yo feelin's now. There's no need tryin' ta hide it anymoe."

Everyone stops in their tracks and turns to see what is unfolding. Before anyone else can scold Martha for breaking their Percie-Rule, Percie responds in a forced-calm manner.

Percie: "Let's just keep movin'. The sooner we get ta our destination—"

Martha: "You won't last five mo' minutes, and you're gonna take it out inna way that won't be too good fo' the rest'uv us."

Percie grounds her paws and takes a fighting stance, her temper finally reaching it's boiling point. "You dare ta presume that I'll be stupid enough to—!"

A light Slap! happens on Percie's face, delivered by Martha, making everyone else gasp and prepared to see a brutal fight follow. Percie slowly turns her head back toward Martha, growling menacingly while doing so.

Then the most unexpected thing happens, Martha speaks in a calm, empathetic tone.

Martha: "We know you worried about your brother. You fear for his life because you love him. Not knowing what will happen to him, or whether he's alive or dead, has you worried so much that it makes you ache. But there's a deeper reason, hidden maybe even from yourself, that's makin' you feel this way. It's time to let it out before it causes anymore problems for yourself and us. Don't be ashamed, just tell us. Get it off your chest, then we'll never speak of it again."

Every word hits Percie hard to the core. The honesty, genuine concern, and sympathy of Martha's words break through all of Percie's steel-hard defenses. Percie drops to the ground, buries her face in her forepaws, and breaks out in crying. This is the first time anyone has ever seen her do this, and it was a random mink—not a member of Percie's biological or adopted family—that did the impossible.

Percie wails out, "I'm Roaster's big sister! I made a promise ta myself that I would be the best big sister to my little brother there ever was! I promised to watch out for him, take care of him, and keep him from harm. I was so good at that! I took pride in taking care of Roaster more than being a wolf! Even being the daughter of Clara and Kale isn't as important to me as being the big sister of Roaster!"

After blowing her nose on the nearby grass, Percie sucks in a deep breath and keeps wailing. "And today, I failed to keep that promise! I failed at being the best big sister there ever was! Today, I couldn't watch out for Roaster...couldn't protect him, and couldn't stop him from being captured! I know it's not my fault, and there was nothing I could do because I was too far away from him, but it feels like my fault! And I can't shake that feeling no matter how hard I try! Roaster could already be dead, and there is nothing I can do about it!

"Even if he's alive, he's with those crazy, animal-hating people who are doing God-knows-what to him! I don't know whether he's alive or dead, and I can't live without knowing! I'm his big sister, and I should've protected him, like I promised! Even if we rescue him, I'll never be the best big sister again! I might as well be dead already...!"

Percie heaves heavily in and out as the effort to say her deepest secret has physically and emotionally drained herself, leaving nothing but despair. The listeners are speechless for almost a minute. Even Martha can't think of anything to say that will put Percie in a better mood.

Instead, it is Tiger, a feline—sworn enemies of canines—who comes forward to say the words that will finally free Percie from her heartache. He knows that right now, words such as "don't be too hard on yourself" and "It will be alright because we will find him alive" will be useless. This requires a different tactic, and considering how bad Percie feels, she will be more than willing to try it out without resisting.

Tiger: "What are your best memories with Roaster? The moments that brought you the most laughter, the most fulfillment of your promise, the greatest pride, and unrivaled love? Focus on nothing but those."

Percie: "The first time was when we were still whelps. We were playing wolf freeze tag—where the one who's It has to bite the other players to make 'em freeze—and he was It. He couldn't keep up with me 'cuz of my strong legs, so I slowed down and let him bite me. He ended up winning the game. Before then, he hated playing wolf freeze tag 'cause he always lost, but that first time he won changed his whole outlook on the game, and on life itself. He knew there was always a chance that he could win.

"Then when we were eight, we played this game with our porcupine cousins where someone would disassemble some Legos and whoever that person was had to act like they had no brain until one of the individuals put the Legos back together the right way. When one animal thinks they have it right, they hold up the Legos and ask "Is this your brain?" and if so, the brainless one has to say yes and let the one who got it right be the next brainless one. But if the Lego builder gets it wrong, the brainless one kept having to act muy loco, or very crazy—flailing their arms and legs, screaming, and flopping around on the ground—for the next one to try to assemble the Legos properly.

"And lest we forget on his eleventh birthday sleepover. We invited all of our animal friends over and had the biggest hide and seek game in these woods' history, all here at home."

Rick: "Hoo boy, do I remember that. Scott hid in the food pile and started pigging out. Because the food pile was so huge, it took you kids the longest time to find him."

Jack: "Then when Roaster went to bed before any of us, we snuck up on him. And the instant we put some Twinkies and Gushers beside him, he rolled over on top of 'em and kept on sleepin'!"

Eiyla: "Yep! He didn't know what we did until he woke up the next morning! Ha ha haaaa!"

Percie: "Which was long after I put you's two snack-happy pranksters in a prison made'uv cardboard building blocks and laid on top'a dem to keep you's from escapin'—Kya-ha-ha-haaa! After his 'rude awakening', Roaster came in ready to rip n' tear, but when he saw me takin' care of you's, he gave me the biggest smile I'd ever seen. Then I let 'im take over layin' on top of the blocks so I could get some shut-eye."

Eiyla: "No offense, Jack, but it was not a pleasurable experience being stuck in a confined space with you, being a skunk and all."

Jack: "Likewise with you, being an otter and all. All the runnin' around we did beforehand sweated off your perfume, so don't deny it, gurl, you didn't smell much better. And I'm a skunk, so that says a lot."

Percie: " 'Course, with every good time there were just as many bad times where we argued and annoyed the stew out of each other like all siblings. But it was easy ta find common ground between me, him, and Boxer since we all likes doing the same things."

Richie: "So you grew up loving your siblings. Me, not so much. When my mom was pregnant with Pat, I was excited because I thought my grandparents would take care of her after she was born. But when mom and dad said Pat would be living with us, I knew—I just gosh darn knew—she would get all the attention. I was 100 percent right, and 100 percent jealous. We gave new meaning to the term 'sibling rivalry."

Lauren: "Not as much as my older siblings, Mr. Richie."

Richie: "I don't know Lauren, if you knew how crazy Pat and I were toward each other, you might reconsider. The hardest part was when our parents, out of a misguided need to usher sibling bonding, had us take turns doing things our other sibling loved—together. It was a pain having to do girly things with my little sister; playing Ring Around the Rosey, having boring tea parties, and especially playing with dolls." (Shudders) "Ughhh. (Playfully maniacal tone) "But I made her pay, she had to do boyish things with me like playing with action figures, reading superhero comics, and doing sports."

Kelly: "And how long did your sibling rivalry last, Mr. Richie?"

Richie: "Until we were in our early 20s, and we still bicker every now and then, just to play around."

Amy: "My brothers and I are the same."

Leslie: "You think sibling arguments are bad? At least they don't have the potential to end a relationship like with lovers and spouses arguing, because siblings are still connected by blood. I can't tell you how many times I thought of breaking up with Mark because of how negative he was all the time, but I provided his light in the fog. He became a better more tolerable guy because of me."

Kelly: "Dang...I'm glad I'm an only child."

Chloe: "You don't know what you're missing out on, Kelly! Having brothers and sisters is amazing!"

Richie: "Yes, thank Mother Nature that Frank, Camille, and Chloe get along perfectly. I was living in constant fear that they'd be as bad as Pat and I, but they turned out better than I could ever hope for."

Percie: "Since me and my brothers were born together, mom and papá had no choice but to treat each of us equally, so we grew up with getting an even amount of attention. There were some times when one of us got more attention than the other, but overall it was a perfectly balanced act."

Jack: "You lucky, 'cuz I was used to bein' the king of everything until my little brother Maurice was born, and for many years I was jealous with how mom and dad spent more time with him than with me. But like my parents told me, babies are helpless, so they need the attention. And they still loved me equally as much as Maury, so I had nothing to worry about."

Jay: "While my mom was pregnant, I was also worried my parents wouldn't have time for me when my younger sister came. But my parents asked me this question: 'Who do you love more, your mom or your dad?' I said, 'I love you both! What kind of question is that?!' And they said, 'Just as we thought. We'll have plenty of love for both you and your little sibling.' With that knowledge, I knew everything would be okay."

Martha: "Has all this talk about siblings and good memeories of them helped you, Percie?"

Percie: "Yes. A lot. Thanks Mrs. Martha. It's just what I needed."

Nothing else had to be said. The team keeps moving, now with full, positive energy.

---

Out of all the teams, Team 5/Porcupine is moving the slowest since Lou and Penny are both in it. Thankfully, none of the wolf siblings are here to be impatient, and the animals are very understanding about the two elder porcupines. Another upside is that they have one of the shortest distances to travel, and have been doing so without any negativity.

Quillo: "Here we are. Let's do some scouting to scope out the area and determine the best way to enter, if this turns out to be the location Roaster is in."

Bea: "I'll say it before, I'll say it again: we're going to save him. He's like a second brother to me!"

Caleb: "All family is sacred, but it religiously so in Africa. I taught sons this well. Tell dem Duke."

Duke: "I would not part with my twin brother either, Bea. If someone brought harm to him, I would demand the same harm be done to me. As twins, we share minds, as well as all the good times and bad times."

Scott: "Triplets like me and my sisters are the same way."

Quillo: "I second that."

Emily: "I third that."

Quillo: "Even in all our craziness, Bucky and Spike always cared deeply for me. They started out as my first bullies, then became my number-one defense from bullies when we moved to the EFE woods."

Owen: "How did they bully you, Quillo?"

Quillo: "As you can tell, I have a higher pitched voice than my brothers, always have. When I was little, I sounded like a girl whenever I talked."

Penny: "And, oh jeepers, did that cause many sibling teasing moments."

Lou: "More like a teasing sagas, hon."

Caleb: "In my experience, bullying is more an American ting. In Africa, there no need to be the 'popular kid' and appear tougher than others."

Duke: "But you only hung out with other monitor lizards. You said so one time, dad."

Coming from another third-world country, and being the youngest otter in Team 5, Ralph feels a sense of kinship with the African animals and says, "I've been meaning to ask you something, Duke and Mr. Caleb."

Caleb and Duke in unison: "What?"

Ralph: "How come everyone in your family has normal names, but Boombata and Nukalawa sound very, um, African-like?"

Caleb: "My parents came from country where European settlers are still plentiful. My mate is also American, so we named ah sons after her parents' favorite TV show characters."

Albert: "Dukes of Hazard. I've seen re-runs. It's pretty good, for its time."

Chris: "Boombata and Nukalawa told us during a training session that they were born and raised in the Bush of Africa; where tribes still followed their ancestors' traditions."

Isaac: "They also chose to be more African-like, little nephew. Because I grew up in the parts of the Amazon where tribal villages were still around, and me and my family are modern."

Being fellow aquatic animals, Albert, as a beaver has become close friends with the Amazonia otters, and sets the record straight.

Albert: "There you go exaggerating again to make yourself sound more unique. Your sister and brother told me that those 'tribal' villages you were around were just for show for tourists to check out."

Isaac lets out a brief yet sharp sigh of frustration and rhetorically replies, "No puedes mantener la boca cerrada y seguir el juego, ¿verdad?"

Albert crosses his arms and gives a snarky smile while saying, "Sí."

Cassie: "I know that Albert said 'yes,' but what did you say, Isaac?"

Isaac: "I said 'You just can't keep your big mouth shut and play along, can you?"

Owen, having little patience for nonsense when important things have to be done, breaks up the friendly verbal sparring with, "Let's focus here, folks. Roaster's life should be more important to us right now instead of bickering."

That makes everyone get their heads in order. Even so, this team, out of all the others, has had such lighthearted and inspiring conversations all the way to their destination. They have all been feeling good, but now some tension starts among its younger members.

Chris: "Can someone help me extend this telescope? My arms are sore from my parents' beatings and training with Boombata and Nukalawa."

Camille (bitterly): "You're a big, strong mink who likes to prove he's better than anyone else. Deal with the pain and get it done yourself. At least you don't have to worry about dying from an asthma attack while doing so."

Chris: "I said I was sorry for doing that. Can't you forgive me?"

Camille: "You nearly killed my brother that day we played dodgeball. I'm still not over that."

Frank (points at Cassie): "And your parents encouraged it. That's even worse!"

Chris: "But...C'mon, have pity on me...Please?"

Camille: "You're pathetic is what you are."

Cassie (glares at Frank and Camille): "And for kids like you to have such an attitude at such an early age," (Glares at Lucile) "that says something about who's raised you."

Lucile: "One: it's instinct that my kids have a hard time getting along with someone who nearly killed my son. No one taught them to do that. Two: you are the farthest individual from being 'Mother of the Year,' because I never taught my kids to attack those who have already been weakened. And three," (looks at her kids) "you two promised Damon and Niara that you would..."

Camille: "Oh, yeah."

Frank: "Sorry I forgot."

Lucile: "That's also why we partnered you two in the same group as Chris."

Chris: "Wait, what did you promise them?"

Frank: "That we'd give you a second chance and try to be your friends since you don't have any, besides the other minks."

Sam: "And no one likes bullies. Especially me. So be nice to all."

Scarlet: "Especially the un-nice, because they need it the most."

Sam: "Duh-huh-huh. I never forget your lessons, mom."

Emily: "Forgive and forget. Just like my mom always taught me."

Scott: "No offense, Mrs. Emily, but my parents taught me to forgive but don't forget. Otherwise, you won't remember what happened that caused you to have to change. You use it to not repeat the same mistakes twice."

Those who know Scott understand where he's coming from. Houston and Lyra started out as very optimistic and hopeful raccoons who believed in the good of animals. That positive outlook on life was slowly changed as they had been taken advantage of numerous times and did not receive the justice they deserved. Things such as letting a homeless animal sleep in their home for the night, then awaken to find all of their food stash had been stolen by said animal. Another time, the previous owner of one of their former dwellings gladly let the recent parents of three live in his tree. The happiness lasted until they woke up with termites, ants, gnats, and mosquitoes all over them. Normally raccoons eat such insects, but before Houston, Lyra, and their kids could have a late night buffet, a storm knocked the tree down. And this other time Houston and Lyra gave their recently-foraged food to a supposedly starving animal, only to discover the animal already had a stockpile of food. Instances like this made the parents realize just how gullible they had been and their eyes were open to the harshness of reality. They taught their kids the important lesson that life can be cruel and hard, and the world is full of creatures that prey on one's kindness, which can lead to disastrous results.

But Emily has a thing or two to say about such a mentality.

Emily: "That does make sense, Scott, and it's true that this world can be mean. But if you hold on to bad things, like all the wrongs that have been done to you, that's how grudges can form, and it becomes too easy to focus on getting even instead of getting over it."

Lucile: "There's more to it than that. One day while exploring near the outskirts of a city, I overheard two humans talking about what they were going to preach about at a church. The main one said it would be about one his friends who was given a ticket for a trivial traffic violation. The friend spent months preparing all his arguments and evidence he'd need to win a court case that would prove the policeman was wrong. But the day he walked into the courtroom—knowing that his victory was certain—the lawyer told him that the officer who gave him the ticket no longer worked at the police station, and so, the case was cancelled. The friend's first words were 'B-but...What about my trial?' "

Even Owen has been so intrigued with this story that he has made listening to it a bigger priority than scouting out the building. Needing to know more, the bat asks, "And the moral of this story?"

Lucile: "It's not about being right. It's about being free. That's why it's so important to forgive and forget. Not forget things that can be used as a fuel source to make yourself a better creature, but to forget things that will never be fixed in the way you specifically want them to be settled."

Scott: "I...uh...never thought of it like that."

Sam: "Mind is blown..."

Isaac visualizes this by tapping his head with a fist then going "Pweooooosh!" as he opens his fingers.

Camille doesn't say anything. She simply goes over to Chris and extends the telescope for him.

Chris: "Thanks."

Camille: "You're welcome."

Frank also walks up to the mink and offers, "Want me to hold it up for you while you look through it?

Chris: "That'd be super."

Frank does so and asks, "So what do you like doing for fun?"

Chris: "Play dodgeball, go on walks, and exercise."

Frank: "I like exercising too. My parents say it reduces my asthma and makes my lungs stronger—and it's true."

Chris: "If you have asthma, how do you survive through all the pollen during Spring?"

Frank: "I wear a mask, and sometimes stay in my home if the pollen is really bad. It may cause me to put more effort in order to breathe, but I'd have frequent asthma attacks if I didn't wear it."

Camille: "Our parents always check the weather to find out if high pollen is expected. That way, Franky knows when he does and doesn't have to wear the mask."

Chris: "But Spring is nothing but polleny, all the time. That must be tough being all cooped up in your home for most of the season."

Frank: "It depends on the season itself. Some years I've had to stay indoor all Spring long, but years like this doesn't have as much pollen right now, so I can be out and about."

Camille: "And even when he has to stay inside, my sister and I are always there to play with him so he's never bored. Aren't we, big bwother?"

Camille wraps her arms around Frank and nuzzles him playfully. Oddly Frank doesn't feel embarrassed and returns the hug and nuzzle as he says, "Right, wittle sister!"

Chris stares at the two raccoons. The things they have said and the way they interact with each other is more eye-opening to the mink than the lesson on forgiveness and forgetting he had recently learned. His relationship with his sister Connie has been nothing like Frank and Camille—and currently is not. Whenever Christopher and Cassie have them train, it's a competition. They want one offspring to be superior to the other, and give that one better treatment and praise than the one who performed below the parents' standards. Now he knows how siblings really should treat one another, and commits it to his memory. If that wasn't enough, the next conversation between uncle and nephew sounds more like brothers to Chris.

Isaac: "Hey Ralph, that reminds me, remember that time you nearly drowned and I saved your life?"

Ralph: "Sí, uncle. I was panicking but you dove in and got me to shore. You've been my hero ever since!"

Isaac: "Ah...Es bueno tener a alguien que te admire."

Bea: "Yeah, 'it's good to have someone who admires' or 'looks up to you.' "

Ralph: "It's 'look up to you' in this case, Bea. Uncle, or Tío Issac became my swimming teacher ever since."

Isaac: "I was a late baby, so it was awkward being an uncle at the age of 15, but thankfully I'm single so I had a lot of free time on my paws to help raise my nephews and nieces."

Ralph snickers and jokingly asks, "¿Cuándo vas a conseguirte novia, Tío Isaac?"

Isaac puts his paws on his hips and speaks in a sharp tone, " 'When are you going to get yourself a girlfriend, Uncle Isaac?' First, I make the jokes around here. And second, tu niño—you child—you're talking to the guru of flirting. And third, who says I want a girlfriend right now?"

Quillo senses the moment is too perfect to not add, "So a boyfriend then? Don't worry, we won't judge you wrongly for that."

Isaac picks up on Quillo's sarcasm and rolls along with it when he responds, "Sorry, pinchazo espinoso, but I don't swing like that. I'm still young and am more concerned about being a lady's man than a husband, you dig?"

Quillo: "Most of us understand Spanish, so I know you just called me 'prickly prick.' I'll get you for that."

Isaac: "The number one rule of getting back at someone: never let them know you intend to get back at them. Now I'm onto you."

Sam: "Get on to helping scout out building, for Roaster's sake."

If even Sam is more focused on the more important matter than his nondisabled peers, that makes everyone finally stop the clowning around and fully concentrate on their important tasks.

Though they have to silently admit that they sure have learned a lot about each other, and will continue doing so once Roaster is safely back home.

---

Even though Team 7/Bat has the elder Simon and Celine in it, their destination is the farthest away because of those animals' ability to fly, and being composed of the most animals in their prime. This means they have been traveling the fastest. But for one of them, the reason for speed isn't just because of the distance and saving Roaster.

Upon seeing Wyatt and Ro-J falling behind so they can chat about their favorite hobbies, Eloise says, "C'mon kids, we've gotta get there, save Roaster, and get back. The sooner we do that, the sooner I can be back with my cubby-hubby Rainer."

Marilyn: "This isn't the time to be love-sick, lady."

George: "Dang straight. Let them kids have their chat time."

Jordan: "You can survive the night without Rainer."

Eloise: "I know. But Bert and Claire are mates and they got paired together, so why not Rainer and me?"

Gerald: "Listen to yourself, you're sounding more like a child than the youngest kid here."

Simon: "And the reason was so you and Rainer wouldn't get distracted with your infatuation for the other."

Bert: "B-Besides, I, uh, uhhh. R-really need Claire..." (Lowers his head in shame) "I'm too insecure without her."

Claire: "You say that as if it's a bad thing. But it takes a lot bravery to admit your flaws."

She kisses Bert on the cheek and he takes one set of her finger-claws into his, perches on the nearest branch, then proceeds to wrap his wings around her in a big hug.

Bert: "I love you, Claire."

Claire: "I love you too, Bert."

Marty rhetorically asks, "You sho you two not lovebirds instead'a bats?"

Eloise holds her head up and proudly states, "I love my Rainer more!" Now in a lovestruck tone she holds her interlocked paws against the cheek of her tilted head and says, "I dream about him every day and night...I see his face every time I close my eyes...I hear his voice and smell his scent whenever the wind blows...And I feel our two hearts beat in perfect unity no matter how close or far we are from each other."

Bernard: "Then according to your own words, you should have no problem being away from Rainer."

María: "I'm dating a boy otter named Marco, and I understand how you feel, Mrs. Eloise. We love each other because we're both adventurous, funny, and kind, but—and forgive me—we're not stalker-level-obsessed with each other."

Eloise: "Ah, you just don't understand the kind of love that I have for Rainer, and he for me."

Celine: "Yeesh, you really do act like a schoolgirl experiencing her first crush perpetually. I thought it was just a seasonal thing."

Eloise: "I'll take that as a compliment."

Knowing that any further resistance will only feed the fire, the adults stop criticizing Eloise and concentrate on getting to their designated building.

Sensing that this is the mood they want to set, Sara, who has been in charge of the phone, looks at its GPS and states, "It says here we've got about 17 more minutes to reach the animal control building. But how's about we get there in 10?" Not waiting for a response, she immediately answers her own question with, "Good. Then let's keep moving."

Sara catches up to María and says, "I've been hanging out with a boy badger named Alphonse, or Alph. I really like him, and want to ask him to be my boyfriend. Any suggestions how to do it, since you already have one?"

María: "¿Americano no lo sabe? That's rare. I thought animals from your country prided yourselves on being the best at everything?"

Sara: "Yes, this 'American doesn't know.' But even within the same nationality, we're all different and have our own unique problems. So, how do I ask him to be my boyfriend?"

María: "From what I have seen, your parents would be the ones to talk to about this."

Sara: "I have, but their love is more passion-based, not interested-based. And how they became boyfriend-girlfriend was too easy. I'd like to avoid their mistakes if I can.

María: "Then first, ask yourself 'are you ready for the commitment?' "

Sara: "Yes. In a way, I have so much free time that it makes me want to be busier with my life, but I want to do that with someone who I care about a lot, and who cares a lot about me."

María: "How much time have you spent together?"

Sara: "Almost a full year. Has that been too long, or not long enough?"

María: "There's no universal, one-size-fits-all timeframe. It's different for everyone. I saw Marco for six months when I felt it was time. But trust your instincts. If you think it's time, then maybe it is."

Sara: "I know it's time."

María: "But has he shown any signs of interest in you?"

Sara: "Yes. We have the same group of friends and whenever we're all together he always sits next to me, shows the most interest in hearing what I have to say, and seems to have the most enjoyment talking to me instead of his other friends. We also share a few mutual interests of our own. I'm into climbing and hiking, he's into working out by lifting weights and running; we prefer action-comedies over action or comedy movies; we're both good at videogames, and I like watching the Olympics and basketball, he likes watching football and baseball, and we help each other understand what we don't know with each sport."

María: "Those are good signs. I met Marco at one of my swimming lessons. You see, the otters in these woods have formed a sort of swimming school/swim team and his parents and mine were the coaches of our team. He's a Eurasian otter who came over from Italy when a group called the 'Mafia' threatened his family's owner in his home country. He and his family were wild pets, but pets to his owner nonetheless, and even they would not have been spared. So, they snuck onboard and fled on the first airplane they could, which took them to America. Now, Italian and Spanish are like 'brother-sister languages' so we had little trouble understanding each others' native tongues. I don't mean to boast, but I am a very fast swimmer, and he was the only otter who could keep up, or sometimes out-swim me. We both treasure our families deeply, like doing things on the land as much as the water, and felt a connection being foreigners brought here by forces beyond our control. We even..."

Seeing the otter blush and give an awkward smile, Sara aks, "What?"

María: "...Have the same scent when I'm not wearing perfume. But back to your goals. Since you are both interested in each other, the next few steps are planning the when, where, and how you will ask him out. You want to talk to him in-person while he is in a good mood, and in private so peer pressure won't be a thing."

Sara: "Okay, makes sense."

María: "And introduce the question at the right moment, usually by starting with a compliment and explaining your true feelings about him. Then, finally ask him if he wants to take your relationship to the next level by becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. And give him time to think it over, which could take minutes, hours, or days."

Sara: "I see. Thank you so much!"

María: "But also be prepared for rejection and handle it well. I had two boyfriends before Marco. I respected their decisions instead of trying to get them to change their minds, and thanked them for all the good times we had together. And rejection is never an excuse to cut off all ties to the ones you have devoted so much time with. I'm still pals with my former boyfriends, I didn't stop seeing them or talking to them, we just continued a more casual relationship."

Sara: "My parents told me some of the same things, but most of this is new. I wish I had a tape recorder so I could better remember everything you've said."

María: "If you want a reminder, just talk to me. I'm pretty available, except when I'm with Marco. But now that I think about it, maybe you could hang out with us. I'll be glad to introduce you to him."

Sara: "That would be awesome! Thanks gal-pal!"

Sara holds out a paw and María gives it a high-four. Then the two walk together for the rest of the trip.

Another good case of bonding that has been going on within this group has been between the young boys present, but especially Wyatt and Ro-J. Because he was originally going to be adopted by Bernard, Wyatt has taken a liking to the child Bernard ended up adopting, and vice versa.

Wyatt: "What kind of toys do you play with, Ro-J? I like Marvel Superhero action figures. My favorite is Bucky, the Winter Soldier."

Ro-J: "I'm into DC. My favorite is Batman."

Lucas: "Really? I thought you two would like Rocket Raccoon."

Ro-J: "Hey, that's speciest!"

Wyatt: "Yeah! Just because I'm a raccoon doesn't mean I'm automatically going to like a raccoon hero most of all."

Lucas: "Even if you did, I promise you, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I'm a bat, and my favorite is Batman."

Marty: "I'm a DC fan myself, and I like Black Manta."

Ro-J: "But he's a villain, not a hero."

Marty: "Bad guys are always hardcore, that's why I've always liked them better than the good guys. And like my dad'a says, 'a hero is only as good as the villains he defeats.' Black Manta is smart, has cool weapons, and out to defeat Aquaman no matter who gets in his way."

Ro-J: "Then in that case, Batman is truly the best because he has the best villains of any superhero!"

Lucas: "He also doesn't have superpowers, so he's more identifiable with real people since he has to work harder and be more resourceful to win the day."

Wyatt: "But I like Bucky the Winter Soldier because he started out as a good guy, became a bad guy, then went back to being a good guy."

Marty: "We should hang out sometime soon and play with our actions figures, for sure!"

Having overheard their sons' conversations, Marilyn, Bernard, Gerald, and George say, "We'd be happy to arrange it," in unison.

The parents smile wide as their Wyatt, Ro-J, Lucas, and Marty respectively say, "Yes!", "Yeah!", "Woo-hoo!", "Awright!"

Gerald then gets close to whisper to Bernard, "Wyatt also likes the Winter Soldier because his story is similar to mine. I was a bad raccoon even before I tried to rub in my adoption of him and his sister to you and Pat, then became a better father and better guy as a result of how you and your family said those life-changing words."

Bernard: "And my favorite Marvel hero was Captain America. Irony."

Gerald: "I'd say it was fate, and I am not about to complain about it."

Marilyn: "Boys and action figures...It's the same for humans and animals, apparently. But something I never understood was how boys are obsessed with going bigger and better than girls, but girl dolls and toy vehicles are bigger than boys' toys. I've felt them with my own finger-claws while growing up, and the differences are striking."

Jordan: "Tha's only fo' animals who grew up with toys stolen from humans. I nev'ah did that, but once De'Ausha and her fam'ly started hangin' out with mine, they gave my son and daughters the extras they obtained."

George: "How could you grow up without toys, Jordan?"

Jordan: "We animals, George, animals don't need no toys to survive. Growin' up was all about findin' food, shelter, and safety while avoidin' becoming food ourselves."

Eloise: "I never had toys growing up, either. All I needed to get through the day was my Rainer..."

Wanting to avoid another lovy-dovy episode from the American badger, Jordan quickly says, "Even so, you young folks have it easy compared to me and yo parents."

Simon: "So very true."

Celine: "No doubt about it."

Bernard: "But you can't say we're lazy. It takes a lot of hard work to provide kids the little things that makes their lives more enjoyable."

Jordan: "I know that, and I nev'a said you was lazy...But all this talk makes me sound old, and worse, feel old. So les' think about how we gonna break in and break out with Roaster if we headin' fo' his location. That kinda rush is gon' make me feel young again."

Bernard: "Sadly, we won't really know how to even come up with any plan until we get to our assigned building. And even then, he might not be there. I'm not being pessimistic..."

Gerald: "...Just realistic. We know, Bernard."

Marilyn: "But for the record, I'd give up both of my wings and senses of hearing and smell if it means I could get my Lucas safely back home with me and his family."

George: "You wouldn't be able to fly or know which direction you goin' without those things."

Marilyn: "I know. That's how much my son means to me—he's more valuable than my own life."

Lucas: "Wow…Thanks, mommy!"

Marilyn: "You're welcome, son. That's how much any child should mean to their parents."

All the adults say, "Amen," in unison.

Bert: "Even though Claire and I don't have any children of our own…"

Claire: "We love our biological nieces and nephews as if they were our kids. And since we can never have our own, we love Roaster and every non-bat member of this family the same way. Right, Bert?"

Bert: "Right, Claire."

The team soon arrives at their destination and starts observing the premises with the burning devotion that Marylin, Claire, and Bert have described. They come up with a plan after two minutes or spying, but don't make a move just yet.

Like the animals in the other teams, all they can do is keep waiting for the adult wolves' and ducks' phone calls...And pray that it isn't too late.

---

Louise: "Mommy—?"

Lenny: "—And daddy—?"

Moe: "—How much longer—?

Barney: "—Until we arrive—?

Billie: "—At the bear's cave?"

None of the quintuplet ducks are known for their patience, which is getting on the adult wolves' nerves. The already short tempers of the canines are even more volatile with the fear for their son's life.

Clara: "If you ask dat one more time—!"

Kale: "We're gonna have live poultry for da first time in years!"

Thankfully, Jeff and Gertrude are very patient birds, with their kids, and in all other matters. So they placate the situation for the canines' sake.

Jeff: "We get there when we get there, kids. Like I've been saying."

Gertrude: "This is the last time you five get to ask that question. Ask it again, and you're grounded."

Jeff: "From flying, and from doing fun things."

Quintuplets in unison: "Yes sir, and ma'am."

Gertrude perches on top of Kale and asks, "What does your nose tell? Is the bear inside the cave, or out and about?"

Kale (tense voice): "Inside his cave. Probably sleepin'."

Clara (ditto): "Which makes tings easier."

Jeff (reassuring tone): "Good. Things are going our way already. That's something to be thankful for, isn't it?"

Clara (tense voice): "I'll be tankful when Roaster is back wit us."

Gertrude now flies over to perch on Clara and speaks in the same tone as her mate, hoping to calm the wolves down. "He'll be alright. You and Kale raised him, after all. He's highly resourceful and smart."

Jeff: "I wouldn't be surprised if he ends up breaking free himself."

Neither ducks' attempts work, as evidenced when Kale responds tensely with, "You's two don't know Dilbert."

Clara is the same tone as her mate (again) when she says, "How smart and resourceful he is."

Kale: "But right now, we's gotta get quiet. We're here."

The wolves have stopped moving and the ducks look forward and see a long two-lane road. Beyond that is a small picnic/rest area with tables, the infamous vending machine, and most imposing of all, a cave entrance near the top of a miniscule mountain. Only now the cave entrance has a hickory wooden door held in place by simple yet effective steel rebar rods on each side that function as foot gate locks.

Billie: "We can fly, but how will you two get up there, Mr. Kale and Mrs. Clara?"

Kale: "RJ told us about dis place. Dare's a path on da back of the mountain that leads straight to da cave."

Clara's voice is still tense when she adds, "Da previous owner, Vincent, carved it out from the rock with his bare claws..." Finally, she thinks of a way to lighten up the dread she is carrying in her heart and head when she boastfully says, "I would'a loved to have killed dat overgrown teddy bear, but he was shipped to da Rocky Mountains long before I came here."

Kale also eases his tension by looking his mate in the eyes and comically asking, "Clara? Can I be da mean, overly-aggressive wolf dis time." He now talks like a small child and raises both eyebrows three times as he says, " Pwetty pwease?"

Clara smirks as she replies, "You know da answer ta that: no. My strength makes me perfect for dat role. You be da fight promoter who handles the speakin'."

Moe, the most light-hearted yet intelligent of his siblings, joins the fun by proposing, "How about you both be 'big bad wolves' while we do the talking? That way you can each have your version of 'fun.' "

Jeff proudly says, "Sometimes un-related strangers know our minds better than our relatives..."

Gertrude points two "fingers" at Kale and Clara while saying, "You two be bad cop," then waves at her family while saying, "and we will be good cop."

Kale and Clara in unison: "Works for me."

As for bear, ironically named Theodore—which is often shortened as Ted/Teddy—he is dreaming of salmon and berries mixed with a whole hive-load of honey. His parents would make him such a delicious meal all the time, but when he turned 18 it was time for him to be a "man." The first step to that was to leave his mom's and dad's den and find his own. He heard stories of the Predator-Queller Wolf Pack, so he chose this cave which is far from the woods by the Elysian Fields Estates. His parents paid him a visit recently, and were so proud of all he has accomplished with his life, but were disappointed when they heard he was used as target practice for skunk and mink kids. But Ted smiles in his sleep as those animals got the comeuppance they deserved…he was one of the animals responsible for it.

He gets a rude awakening when the door to his cave falls flat on the inside, causing an ear-piercing slamming sound that echoes like a guttural roar.

Ted only has enough time to ponder, "Who the heck is strong enough to break down a hickory door?" before he discovers two things.

One: the guttural roar is not from the fallen door.

And two: the answer as to who broke the door and who is making the roar is right in front of him. It's a female and male wolf whose scents he has come to know too well ever since his humiliation.

Clara: "WHERE IS HEEEEEEEEE?!"

Ted can't even ask what she is screaming about, because both wolves rush forward like two juggernaut, ballistic nuclear missiles possessed and propelled by anger and hatred. Clara reaches Ted first, grips his left shoulder with her mouth, and flings the 185-pound bear into the air high enough for him to hit his head on the 20-foot ceiling!

The instant the ursine hits the ground, Kale is waiting and immediately bites where the right ear meets the back of his neck and yanks hard, causing Ted searing pain.

Kale: "WHERE'S" (Yanks again) "MY" (Yanks again) "SO-O-O-O-O-O-N?!"

Ted: "P-Preadator-Quellers Clara and Kale?! NOOOO!"

Knowing he can't defeat either wolf alone (much less together) Ted tries to run for it, but Clara headbutts him in the gut with the same force of a steel battering ram being shot out of a machine to dent a tank's armor. With the wind knocked out of him the black bear would have fallen forward, but Clara keeps pushing toward him until he is pinned against the cave's back wall. She finally lets him go and he falls to his knees as he gasps to catch his breath.

While doing that, the ducks fly in front of him and do stereotypical Mafia—or rather wolf—accents as they speak.

Jeff starts it off by saying, "I'm Jeff, dat's Kale and Clara, and they's REEEEAAAAAL mad, see?" He points a "thumb" behind him where the wolves are glaring at Ted with murderous eyes and panting in rage.

Gertrude: "Dare son was cap'tured by animal control, and we don't know where's they took 'im."

Clara screams, "Animal control!" as she punches into the solid stone wall, pulls out a rock, and throws it at Ted so hard that it explodes into dust when it hits the wall inches above his head! Such a feat is the result of Clara's regular workout sessions she did ever since she fully recovered from her injuries after joining the hedgies' family, making her already Hulk-like strength become even stronger.

Simultaneously, Kale goes, "RRRAAAHHHH!" as he scratches the cave wall, making the teeth-gritting, high-pitched sound of nails on a chalk board that leaves his claw marks on the wall. Though not as impressive as Clara's strength, it still a lot of muscle, and has the desired effect of putting the fear of God in Ted.

Moe: "Ooooo...Nobody snatches dare son, and gets away wit it."

Lenny: "Not even all'uv humans' military combined can stop deese angry wolves."

Billie: "You haven't even got a weapon...So you's don't stand a chance."

Barney: "And you's SO don't wanna see dem get madder do ya?"

Louise: "They's tickin' time bombs ready to ex'plode!"

Clara: "SO ANGRY—!"

Kale: "—DAT WE'S COULD—!"

Clara: "—RIP DA FIRST PREDATOR WE SEE—"

Kale: "—INTO RIBBONS—!"

Clara and Kale in unison: "TOO SMALL FOR EVEN BACTERIA TO WEAR!"

Without taking their eyes off Ted, Clara grounds her paws into the stone ground so hard they create 2-inch-deep holes, and Kale growls so fierce that the force of his breath hits Ted's face like an airzooka at point-blank range.

Gertrude: "So how's 'bout you use dat oh-so-keen nose'uv yours, and help dem out?"

Louise: "Dey'd norm'ly use dare own noses—"

Lenny: "—Ta track him down—"

Moe: "—But dare son, Roaster, is so far away—"

Barney: "—And could be taken away from dem forev'ah any minute now—"

Billie: "—Dat it'll be much fast'ah if a bear's nose, such as ya'self's—"

Ducks in unison: "—Pinpoints his exact location."

Jeff walks up so close to Ted that the bear could kill him just by flexing his claws—but he doesn't even think about doing that to animals who identified themselves as the psychotic wolves' friends.

Knowing the bear is aware of this, Jeff looks up to the ursine's eyes and says, "You's encountered Roaster before—we hoid—atta certain trainin' session." His accent is so exaggerated that he pronounces certain as "soy-ten."

Gertrude: "Dat means you's know his scent."

Louie, Lenny, Moe, Barney, Billie in unison: "Do what you's need ta do."

Ted gulps and nods yes while sweating bullets all over his body. Just before he can sniff, Clara and Kale leap at Ted. Kale grips his left foot and Clara grips his right, and they jump backwards as they yank him, forcing him to fall flat on his back.

Ted looks at Kale and yelps in horror, "YOU have super strength too?!"

His question goes unanswered, because Clara walks on top of him, making her way up his body so that they will be face to face. Each step feels like a bull elephant is walking on him, and just when it feels like the bones in one area are about to break, Clara steps somewhere else and the cycle repeats. Not only that, but Clara's claws dig into his flesh as well. Although her size is dwarfed by the bear's, it is the bear who feels like the little pipsqueak, and rightfully so.

Now that she is where she wants to be, she locks eyes with him as she leans forward. Ted would evacuate his bowels in fear, but is afraid that would anger the wolves further.

Clara: "If you DARE lie to us—"

Ted: "—I won't! I PROMISE!"

Clara strikes by sinking her teeth into the right side of Ted's face and ripping out his fur there, leaving a very noticeable—and painful—bald spot.

His cry of pain isn't eve audible over Clara's mad scream, "DO NOT INTERRUPT ME WHILE I'M TALKIIIIIING!" Ted goes quiet, and Clara lowers her own volume to a deadly whisper as she finishes her remark from before as if no interruption ever happened. "You're gonna lose something very important and very valuable for males. Or rather, somethings...All three."

Clara silently curses the fact that she has no tail. Given where she is standing on the bear's body, a brush of a tail would have provided physical emphasis for her threat. But she needn't bother, because all thoughts of resistance have vanished from Ted even before the most recent threat. He now just has extra incentive.

Ted is afraid to speak without permission, so he hums "Mm? Mmmmh?," to ask for it. It works, and Clara pulls her face away from Ted's by a few inches. Finally the bear can ask, "C-can I walk to the entrance of the cave so I can smell the full 20 mile range? In here our scents will interfere."

Kale: "You don't get ta go ANYWHERE on your own."

Clara: "You move, only when we make you move!"

With that, Clara jumps behind Ted, grips his left shoulder in her mouth, and flips him on his front. Kale also does the same with the right leg he is gripping. Or rather, like before, Kale grips enough to pretend he is assisting Clara who is really doing all the work. It is a common tactic the two have employed against predators to give the illusion that Kale is just as strong as his mate. In any case, they drag him to the entrance and keep their mouths gripped on him. Once out in the open air, Ted takes big sniffs, little sniffs, and medium sniffs, in all the directions he can turn his head.

Ted: "Okay. Your son is 18 miles away in the direction my nose is aimed."

With the ursine's shoulder still in his maw, Kale addresses the ducks, "Check it!"

Jeff perches on Ted's muzzle, pulls out a cell phone, and brings up Google Maps which has all the animal control buildings that are open 24/7 marked. His family hovers next to him as they all use the scale in the bottom right corner of the phone to do some mathematics in their brains. When they finish, Jeff announces "If he's telling the truth, Roaster is at Animal Control Headquarters."

Gertrude: "Dat's where Team Mustelid is. I'm gonna call 'em and tell 'em. Then dey'll call us back to confoym," (Eyes Ted) "or deny it."

Jeff: "Get comfy, Teddy-Ted, 'cause you're not off da hook 'til we're certain of Roaster's location."

Moe: "You's are guilty until proven inno'cent."

Louise: "And I sure wouldn't wanna be wro-ong..."

Ted gulps again and as the phone call begins, praying that he didn't make a mistake.

---

I was going to combine all this story info with the rest I haven't finished yet, but decided I've been inactive on FanFiction for long enough! So I'm splitting it into two chapters.

And I have good news for all you, faithful and new fans: I'm almost done with what will be Chapter 9, so you won't have too long to wait for the next, action-packed chapter!

See you then!