along,longtime.Itwaswrongtolosethatboy,butworsestillwasbringinghimtocampinthefirstplace."Wehadheardthisspeeytimesbefore,butOnions,hisfavorite,playedtheFooltohisLear.

    "ButtheyhaveIgel.Whyaretheysomad?"sheasked.

    "Shesright.TheyhaveIgel.HestheirOscar,"Kivisaid,joiningthechorus."Butwedonthaveours.Whyshouldtheybemad?Wearetheoneswhohavelost."

    "Thisisnotabouttheboy.Theyfoundus,foundourhome,andnowburyitunderasphalt.Theyknowwearehere.Theywontstoplookingforusuntiltheyfindusanddriveusfromthesewoods.Ahundredyearsago,therewerecoyotes,wolves,lionsinthesehills.Theskyblaedwithflocksofpassengerpigeonseveryspring.Bluebirdslivedamongus,andthecreeksandriverswerefatwithfishesandtoadsandterrapins.Owasnotunusualtoseeamanwithonehundredwolfpeltsdryingbyhisbarn.Lookaroundyou.Theyein,huntandchop,andtakeitallaway.Igelwasright:Thingswillhesame,andweare."

    Thosewhohadfiheirmealsthrewthebohefire,whichsputteredandcrackledwiththe.Wewereboredbydoomandgloom.WhileIlisteoournewleaderandhismessage,Inotieofusdidnotaccepthissermon.Whispersandmurmursranalongthecircle.Atthefarendofthefire,Smaolachwasnotpayingattention,butdrawingiwithastick.

    "Youthinkyoukerthanme?"Békayelleddowntohim."Youknowwhattodo,andhowtokeepusalive?"

    Smaolachkepthiseyesdown,pushedthepointintotheearth.

    "Iamtheeldest,"Békatinued."Byrights,Iamthenewleader,andIwillnotacceptanyonechallengingmyauthority."

    Speckrais