On Just Such a Morning Chapter 2 The Cage

​The Narflbots continued unpacking the Strange Contraptor for the rest of the day. Afterward, there was much scurrying around. They were constructing something horrible, and seemed nervous about being in a wild wood. They did not like the forest.

‘Good,’ Pata-Pikki thought. He was glad that they were uncomfortable. They were not welcome here. But both Pata-Pikki and Hoopy were curious.

 Hatch flew back and forth between their window and the meadow, reporting what she saw. Fire  flared, and beepings of machines came from the construction. It was nest-building time. This intruder was destructive and worrisome, and was building something right next to her home. 

“What about my fledglings?” she peeped in an alarmed chirp. “They will forget their songs and know only scratchings and beeps.” She hit low notes, showing her concern.

“Patience, dear Hatch,” Pata-Pikki woofed, trying to console her.

“We’ll show them whose forest this is!” Hoopy growled. “Wait a bit; this will all change, Hatch. Don’t worry about your fledglings!” He snarled with consolation when he understood what she was saying. He began scratching violently in sympathy. Pata-Pikki’s eyes grew large with concern for Hatch’s sadness and the deep scratch marks on his polished wooden floor.

As the sunlight faded from the meadow, the Strange Contraptor sprang to life. All the Narflbots eagerly trooped single file into its mouth, and the door slammed shut with a loud snap. The Contraptor’s legs straightened, and the whirly at the top spun. Then the Strange Contraptor flew straight up into the sky. Pata-Pikki and Hoopy threw caution to the wind and ran outside.

The Strange Contraptor rose quickly and then zing - off it shot, in a straight line traveling west.

“There they go, for now,” Pata-Pikki squeaked in relief.

“Let’s investigate!” barked Hoopy, calling over his shoulder. Out he ran, straight across the meadow toward the Narflbot’s construction. Pata-Pikki who followed him, felt uncertain. He didn’t want to rush up on it. Gradually he stopped. “What’s the matter?” Hoopy barked, turning back.

“They likely have a guard alarm of some sort,” Pata-Pikki responded quickly with a low howl. He knew what to expect from Narflbots; he had learned it from  frightening experience.

“Of course!” Hoopy snarled, looking a little worried. “Why didn’t I think of that?” Pata-Pikki sat down in the meadow with a disturbed look. Something was moving; it was not the grass that blew in the light breeze, but something else. “Quiet,” he softly whined.

Hoopy dropped to the grass. Pata-Pikki did the same. It was almost dark now. Gradually his eyes moved up to the upper rim of what seemed a cage. Suddenly he saw the motion sensors guarding what was inside. Rovers! They seemed to be looking down. The two Scrufflings remained motionless, not wanting to attract the Rover's attention.

In Pata-Pikki’s experience, Rovers could see in many directions but could not move. Somehow, the Narflbots that monitored them responded to a quiet warning they made. He crawled up next to Hoopy. “Rovers!” he whined, voicing his concern. Now he knew that something, or someone was being guarded. This was a cage. He felt compassion for the creature inside, encased in something blue. 

“That creature needs help,” Pata-Pikki whispered. A soft breeze ruffled the fur at the bottom of his ears.

“The forest,” whispered the wind in a soft, brushy voice.

Motioning for Hoopy to follow him, he crawled into the forest. Once under cover, they dodged oak trees and birch, jumping low currant and raspberry bushes. Climbing over large boulders and around forest growth, they soon stood directly under Hatch’s tree. Now the Rovers could not see them, but they could see what lay at the bottom of the cage.