The Squirrel Squire, page 6
Puff wasn’t sure about what the acorns said. His shoulder said it was getting tired, and he didn’t want to end up like Scratchclaw. The squire’s mind raced. He didn’t know what to do, and he felt like he might fall at any moment.
“I can’t pull my self up,” pleaded Puff.
“Who said anything about up?” replied Blabberbit, just as Puff’s paws slipped.
The branches below came up on him quickly. Puff grabbed at them. He missed the first one and hit a second with his chest. Puff tumbled backwards from the impact, did a reverse summersault with his arms and legs spread in all directions, and landed on a thick branch about ten feet below. He was bruised. His chest hurt. His side was still sore. But he was alive. Puff heard Blabberbit celebrate from above.
Below, there was silence. No squirrel knew what happened. Then Puff emerged from the camouflage of foliage and a cheer went up. Nibs and Tinderbug hugged, teary-eyed in their relief. Squirrels were jumping for joy, high-pawing each other. Except for Clan Black. They slunk away, shame and anger and frustration consuming them.
Brown and gray squirrels rushed to meet Puff at the base of the Great Tree. They pushed him up, carrying him on their shoulders, and paraded him around the tournament grounds. Shouts of “Puff, the new Knight Champion of Clan Gray!” rang out. Weary from the past few days, Puff was almost too tired to smile. Almost.
Nibs and Tinderbug pressed their way through the throng of squirrels and made their way to Puff. Nibs had her paws stepped on a few times, but by the time they reached their friend, neither was too much the worse for wear. Puff indicated he should be put down, and the squirrels eventually accepted his request, setting him respectfully on the ground. The squirrels of Clan Gray and Clan Brown continued their celebrations without him.
He hugged both Nibs and Tinderbug, holding each like they were the last two acorns on Earth, and he felt very grateful for his two friends.
19
Celebration
Crinklehat and Rustleleaf held the Golden Acorn trophy in their hands. Puff couldn’t believe he was about to receive it. He was flanked by a large number of gray squirrels, the two exceptions being Tinderbug from Clan Brown and Nibbles the chipmunk. The cup on the trophy contained three of the most delicious looking cherries he had ever laid eyes on.
“On behalf of Clan Brown and Clan Gray, we hereby declare Puff the winner of this year’s Tournament of Oaks! Will the new champion please step forward?”
Applause from multitudes of little furry paws filled the air, and Puff sported a smile almost as wide as his whiskers. He stepped forward to accept the award. It was heavy. Heavier than he expected. His side still hurt and Puff almost dropped it.
“Whoa,” said the leader of Clan Brown, lending a hand to make sure it didn’t hit the ground. Puff regained his balance and held it with the help of Rustleleaf.
Crinklehat turned to the assembled squirrels.
“In addition to winning the tournament, we also have a new Knight Champion of Clan Gray!”
Chants of “Sir Puff! Sir Puff!” filled the air. It was almost too much for a little squirrel to take. Some yelled, “Speech! Speech!” at the top of their lungs. The squire who was now a knight took a moment to compose himself. Nibs and Tinderbug held each other as their friend spoke.
“Thank you,” Puff began, addressing the crowd. “I never wanted to fight. I just wanted to do what was right and…” Puff had to pause, as he got choked up before he could finish. “I…I just…wanted to fight…for the memory of Sir Pattercloud.” That was all he could get out before the lump in Puff’s throat got too big to speak.
The rest of the ceremony went by in a haze. Puff said “Thank you” to so many squirrels who stood in line to congratulate him that he mistakenly replied with “You’re welcome” a few times. At one point, he found himself face-to-face with Blabberbit. Puff had a question.
“How did you know I was going to survive up in that tree?”
“Oh, I didn’t Puff. But I believed you could. And the acorns believed you could. We just needed you to believe.” Blabberbit paused, smiling. “And, as you see, you did.”
She hugged Puff, whispering one last thing into his ear.
“Come and see me when it’s calmed down a bit. I have some things to tell you.”
Second to last in line were Nibs and Tinderbug. The three hugged each other once more, emotions running strong.
“Does this mean we have to call you Sir Puff now?” asked Nibs, sniffling.
“Or do you prefer Knight Champion?” teased Tinderbug, her eyes wet.
“I’m only going to make you two call me that,” he said, cracking a slight smile. “To everyone else I’m still Puff.”
“Ahem,” said Crinklehat, clearing his throat. He was the last squirrel in line. “I have one last thing to present to you. Sir Pattercloud and I were going to going to give this to you when we thought you were ready, so now seems as good a time as any.”
The elder squirrel of Clan Gray pulled out a shiny little sword, one that was perfectly sized for a squirrel like Puff.
“You have the honor of naming it.”
“Thank you,” said Puff, taking the sword reverently. “I don’t know what to say.”
Puff took it and held it up. It had good balance and a nice, sharp pointy end.
“I’ll need some time to decide.”
“Take all the time and acorns and cherries you need, Sir Puff,” replied Crinklehat, stressing the last two words for emphasis. “Time you can take in your new, official home—Sir Pattercloud’s old residence. Your drey will no longer suffice for someone of your stature.”
“Thank you,” was all Puff could manage. He was more than overwhelmed by it all, and by everything that had happened in such a short amount of time.
Puff took a deep breath. Things had certainly changed.
Epilogue
Nibs, Tinderbug and Puff sat on the front deck of Sir Pattercloud’s old home. Their legs dangled over the edge, as they took in a view of the park below. Each one held a large, ripe cherry. Puff had shared them from the Tournament of Oaks trophy, the Golden Acorn, which sat prominently on a table in the entryway.
Puff took a bite of the cherry. His eyes got wide.
“This is the most extraordinary cherry I’ve ever stuffed my cheeks with,” exclaimed Puff, the tart sweetness filling his mouth and making it water.
“Supposedly they got them from a secret grove of cherry trees,” remarked Nibs, who began devouring hers as well.
“Well I heard they were picked under a full moon, when it was highest in the night sky,” added Tinderbug, who gripped each side of her cherry gently as she turned it in a circle, nibbling off the soft, tender skin with her teeth.
The three of them stopped talking and ate in silence. The cherries were that good. When they were done, Puff smacked his lips contentedly.
“Cherries,” he said, feeling full.
“Cherries,” responded Nibs and Tinderbug.
Puff’s mind wandered, remembering everything that had happened. He wasn’t sure he was ready to be a knight, but he was ready for the challenge.
“Have you decided on a name yet for your sword?” inquired Tinderbug.
“Well, I was thinking it should honor Sir Pattercloud and the clan in some way,” replied Puff, drawing the small blade from the scabbard tied to his waist. “What do you think of The Gray Sliver?”
“Hmm,” I’m not sure about that, said Tinderbug. “It doesn’t sound like something anyone would be afraid of.”
“It’s a small sword,” complained Puff.
“Yeah, so it needs a cool name,” added Nibs. “One that will keep young, black squirrels up at night and haunting their nightmares. How about Blackscourge?”
“Oooooooh,” cooed Tinderbug. “That sounds frightening. I like it.”
Puff thought. It did sound intimidating. Perhaps Nibs was right.
“Okay. The Blackscourge of Clan Gray. I like it.”
Puff and Tinderbug and Nibs giggled. It was a great name for a little sword.
Glossary
2. Spar
1 Feint: To make a deceptive or distracting movement, especially during a fight.
2 Parry: To block a weapon or blow.
3 Salivating: To show great desire or anticipation. To drool.
3. Polish
1 Dismissively: To reject out of hand. To downplay.
4. Council
1 Quarter will be given: Mercy will be shown in exchange for surrender.
2 Benevolent: Well meaning and kindly.
5. Tournament
1 Copse: A small group of trees.
2 Unsavory: Morally disagreeable and unpleasant.
6. Defeat
1 Mojo: Personal confidence. Originally used to mean a magic charm or spell or an amulet.
2 Aghast: Filled with terror, amazement, or horror. Shocked and upset.
3 Maniacally: Affected with or suggestive of madness. Frenzied excitement.
7. Lost
1 Exasperated: Having or showing strong feelings of irritation or annoyance.
8. Signs
1 Divines: To discover through intuition and/or a higher power.
2 Commune: To receive communication from.
9. Search
1 Palpable: Capable of being felt. Easily noticeable.
10. High and Low
1 Bodega: A small grocery store in an urban area.
12. Bodega
1 Contraband: Stolen or smuggled goods.
15. The Great Tree
1 Rumormongering: To engage in the spreading of rumors.
2 Put an acorn in it: A figure of speech that implies stuffing an acorn in someone’s mouth to make them shut up.
16. Duel
1 Cacophony: A harsh mixture of sounds.
18. Down
1 Impaled: To pierce with something pointed.
A Humble Request
I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading The Squirrel Squire as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, I would greatly appreciate a short review on whichever retailer you purchased this book from. Reviews are crucial for any author, and even writing just a line or two can make a huge difference.
Join My Mailing List
Stay in touch and get insider deals including opportunities to win free books, hear about the latest news first, and learn the dates for my upcoming releases. Sign up at www.erikdeleo.com/contact
About the Author
Erik DeLeo was born in Rochester, NY. He grew up reading fantasy and science fiction and avoiding the sun. He now lives in Santa Monica, California with his cats Marco, Barnabas and Caia. He doesn't charge them rent even though they eat a lot. When he's not writing, Erik enjoys reading, traveling, and hopelessly rooting for the Buffalo Bills.
Also by Erik DeLeo
The Cat Ninja (Fantastic Tails Book 2)
The Owl Apprentice (Fantastic Tails Book 3)
* * *
A Distant Moon (A Sci-Fi Novella)
If you’re under 13, please check with an adult before purchasing A Distant Moon.
Acknowledgments
First, a special thank you to Samantha Key, my amazing illustrator, who brought Puff to life with her skill and artistry. I couldn’t be happier with what you created.
* * *
Second, I’d like to thank the immensely talented Jenny Zemanek, my cover designer. Your creativity and art direction are what helped set this project apart.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual squirrels, chipmunks, or other talking animals, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author, Erik DeLeo.
* * *
Published by Dark Cat Publishing
Copyright © 2018 by Erik DeLeo
Cover Design: Seedlings Online
Illustration: Samantha Key
Editor: Louise K. Winget
Created with Vellum
Erik DeLeo, The Squirrel Squire
Thank you for reading books on Archive.BookFrom.Net
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“I can’t pull my self up,” pleaded Puff.
“Who said anything about up?” replied Blabberbit, just as Puff’s paws slipped.
The branches below came up on him quickly. Puff grabbed at them. He missed the first one and hit a second with his chest. Puff tumbled backwards from the impact, did a reverse summersault with his arms and legs spread in all directions, and landed on a thick branch about ten feet below. He was bruised. His chest hurt. His side was still sore. But he was alive. Puff heard Blabberbit celebrate from above.
Below, there was silence. No squirrel knew what happened. Then Puff emerged from the camouflage of foliage and a cheer went up. Nibs and Tinderbug hugged, teary-eyed in their relief. Squirrels were jumping for joy, high-pawing each other. Except for Clan Black. They slunk away, shame and anger and frustration consuming them.
Brown and gray squirrels rushed to meet Puff at the base of the Great Tree. They pushed him up, carrying him on their shoulders, and paraded him around the tournament grounds. Shouts of “Puff, the new Knight Champion of Clan Gray!” rang out. Weary from the past few days, Puff was almost too tired to smile. Almost.
Nibs and Tinderbug pressed their way through the throng of squirrels and made their way to Puff. Nibs had her paws stepped on a few times, but by the time they reached their friend, neither was too much the worse for wear. Puff indicated he should be put down, and the squirrels eventually accepted his request, setting him respectfully on the ground. The squirrels of Clan Gray and Clan Brown continued their celebrations without him.
He hugged both Nibs and Tinderbug, holding each like they were the last two acorns on Earth, and he felt very grateful for his two friends.
19
Celebration
Crinklehat and Rustleleaf held the Golden Acorn trophy in their hands. Puff couldn’t believe he was about to receive it. He was flanked by a large number of gray squirrels, the two exceptions being Tinderbug from Clan Brown and Nibbles the chipmunk. The cup on the trophy contained three of the most delicious looking cherries he had ever laid eyes on.
“On behalf of Clan Brown and Clan Gray, we hereby declare Puff the winner of this year’s Tournament of Oaks! Will the new champion please step forward?”
Applause from multitudes of little furry paws filled the air, and Puff sported a smile almost as wide as his whiskers. He stepped forward to accept the award. It was heavy. Heavier than he expected. His side still hurt and Puff almost dropped it.
“Whoa,” said the leader of Clan Brown, lending a hand to make sure it didn’t hit the ground. Puff regained his balance and held it with the help of Rustleleaf.
Crinklehat turned to the assembled squirrels.
“In addition to winning the tournament, we also have a new Knight Champion of Clan Gray!”
Chants of “Sir Puff! Sir Puff!” filled the air. It was almost too much for a little squirrel to take. Some yelled, “Speech! Speech!” at the top of their lungs. The squire who was now a knight took a moment to compose himself. Nibs and Tinderbug held each other as their friend spoke.
“Thank you,” Puff began, addressing the crowd. “I never wanted to fight. I just wanted to do what was right and…” Puff had to pause, as he got choked up before he could finish. “I…I just…wanted to fight…for the memory of Sir Pattercloud.” That was all he could get out before the lump in Puff’s throat got too big to speak.
The rest of the ceremony went by in a haze. Puff said “Thank you” to so many squirrels who stood in line to congratulate him that he mistakenly replied with “You’re welcome” a few times. At one point, he found himself face-to-face with Blabberbit. Puff had a question.
“How did you know I was going to survive up in that tree?”
“Oh, I didn’t Puff. But I believed you could. And the acorns believed you could. We just needed you to believe.” Blabberbit paused, smiling. “And, as you see, you did.”
She hugged Puff, whispering one last thing into his ear.
“Come and see me when it’s calmed down a bit. I have some things to tell you.”
Second to last in line were Nibs and Tinderbug. The three hugged each other once more, emotions running strong.
“Does this mean we have to call you Sir Puff now?” asked Nibs, sniffling.
“Or do you prefer Knight Champion?” teased Tinderbug, her eyes wet.
“I’m only going to make you two call me that,” he said, cracking a slight smile. “To everyone else I’m still Puff.”
“Ahem,” said Crinklehat, clearing his throat. He was the last squirrel in line. “I have one last thing to present to you. Sir Pattercloud and I were going to going to give this to you when we thought you were ready, so now seems as good a time as any.”
The elder squirrel of Clan Gray pulled out a shiny little sword, one that was perfectly sized for a squirrel like Puff.
“You have the honor of naming it.”
“Thank you,” said Puff, taking the sword reverently. “I don’t know what to say.”
Puff took it and held it up. It had good balance and a nice, sharp pointy end.
“I’ll need some time to decide.”
“Take all the time and acorns and cherries you need, Sir Puff,” replied Crinklehat, stressing the last two words for emphasis. “Time you can take in your new, official home—Sir Pattercloud’s old residence. Your drey will no longer suffice for someone of your stature.”
“Thank you,” was all Puff could manage. He was more than overwhelmed by it all, and by everything that had happened in such a short amount of time.
Puff took a deep breath. Things had certainly changed.
Epilogue
Nibs, Tinderbug and Puff sat on the front deck of Sir Pattercloud’s old home. Their legs dangled over the edge, as they took in a view of the park below. Each one held a large, ripe cherry. Puff had shared them from the Tournament of Oaks trophy, the Golden Acorn, which sat prominently on a table in the entryway.
Puff took a bite of the cherry. His eyes got wide.
“This is the most extraordinary cherry I’ve ever stuffed my cheeks with,” exclaimed Puff, the tart sweetness filling his mouth and making it water.
“Supposedly they got them from a secret grove of cherry trees,” remarked Nibs, who began devouring hers as well.
“Well I heard they were picked under a full moon, when it was highest in the night sky,” added Tinderbug, who gripped each side of her cherry gently as she turned it in a circle, nibbling off the soft, tender skin with her teeth.
The three of them stopped talking and ate in silence. The cherries were that good. When they were done, Puff smacked his lips contentedly.
“Cherries,” he said, feeling full.
“Cherries,” responded Nibs and Tinderbug.
Puff’s mind wandered, remembering everything that had happened. He wasn’t sure he was ready to be a knight, but he was ready for the challenge.
“Have you decided on a name yet for your sword?” inquired Tinderbug.
“Well, I was thinking it should honor Sir Pattercloud and the clan in some way,” replied Puff, drawing the small blade from the scabbard tied to his waist. “What do you think of The Gray Sliver?”
“Hmm,” I’m not sure about that, said Tinderbug. “It doesn’t sound like something anyone would be afraid of.”
“It’s a small sword,” complained Puff.
“Yeah, so it needs a cool name,” added Nibs. “One that will keep young, black squirrels up at night and haunting their nightmares. How about Blackscourge?”
“Oooooooh,” cooed Tinderbug. “That sounds frightening. I like it.”
Puff thought. It did sound intimidating. Perhaps Nibs was right.
“Okay. The Blackscourge of Clan Gray. I like it.”
Puff and Tinderbug and Nibs giggled. It was a great name for a little sword.
Glossary
2. Spar
1 Feint: To make a deceptive or distracting movement, especially during a fight.
2 Parry: To block a weapon or blow.
3 Salivating: To show great desire or anticipation. To drool.
3. Polish
1 Dismissively: To reject out of hand. To downplay.
4. Council
1 Quarter will be given: Mercy will be shown in exchange for surrender.
2 Benevolent: Well meaning and kindly.
5. Tournament
1 Copse: A small group of trees.
2 Unsavory: Morally disagreeable and unpleasant.
6. Defeat
1 Mojo: Personal confidence. Originally used to mean a magic charm or spell or an amulet.
2 Aghast: Filled with terror, amazement, or horror. Shocked and upset.
3 Maniacally: Affected with or suggestive of madness. Frenzied excitement.
7. Lost
1 Exasperated: Having or showing strong feelings of irritation or annoyance.
8. Signs
1 Divines: To discover through intuition and/or a higher power.
2 Commune: To receive communication from.
9. Search
1 Palpable: Capable of being felt. Easily noticeable.
10. High and Low
1 Bodega: A small grocery store in an urban area.
12. Bodega
1 Contraband: Stolen or smuggled goods.
15. The Great Tree
1 Rumormongering: To engage in the spreading of rumors.
2 Put an acorn in it: A figure of speech that implies stuffing an acorn in someone’s mouth to make them shut up.
16. Duel
1 Cacophony: A harsh mixture of sounds.
18. Down
1 Impaled: To pierce with something pointed.
A Humble Request
I sincerely hope you enjoyed reading The Squirrel Squire as much as I enjoyed writing it. If you did, I would greatly appreciate a short review on whichever retailer you purchased this book from. Reviews are crucial for any author, and even writing just a line or two can make a huge difference.
Join My Mailing List
Stay in touch and get insider deals including opportunities to win free books, hear about the latest news first, and learn the dates for my upcoming releases. Sign up at www.erikdeleo.com/contact
About the Author
Erik DeLeo was born in Rochester, NY. He grew up reading fantasy and science fiction and avoiding the sun. He now lives in Santa Monica, California with his cats Marco, Barnabas and Caia. He doesn't charge them rent even though they eat a lot. When he's not writing, Erik enjoys reading, traveling, and hopelessly rooting for the Buffalo Bills.
Also by Erik DeLeo
The Cat Ninja (Fantastic Tails Book 2)
The Owl Apprentice (Fantastic Tails Book 3)
* * *
A Distant Moon (A Sci-Fi Novella)
If you’re under 13, please check with an adult before purchasing A Distant Moon.
Acknowledgments
First, a special thank you to Samantha Key, my amazing illustrator, who brought Puff to life with her skill and artistry. I couldn’t be happier with what you created.
* * *
Second, I’d like to thank the immensely talented Jenny Zemanek, my cover designer. Your creativity and art direction are what helped set this project apart.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual squirrels, chipmunks, or other talking animals, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author, Erik DeLeo.
* * *
Published by Dark Cat Publishing
Copyright © 2018 by Erik DeLeo
Cover Design: Seedlings Online
Illustration: Samantha Key
Editor: Louise K. Winget
Created with Vellum
Erik DeLeo, The Squirrel Squire
