The Rightful Heir by Jefferson Knapp

sick.”
    â€œOkay, tell him I’m on my way!” Roscoe was worried.
    The pigeon turned to Benjamin. “Can I go out that way?” He glanced at the hole in the ceiling.
    â€œCertainly.”
    â€œI’ll tell Stinky.” He disappeared through the hole.
    Clementine waddled over to the goat. “What is it Roscoe? What’s wrong?”
    â€œDad’s sick and wants to see me.”
    â€œDo you need me to go with you?” Clementine asked, concerned.
    â€œNo…no you stay here and help Pugsly’s son organize the caravan. I’ll be back.”
    â€œOkay. We won’t leave without you.” Clementine and Benjamin watched Roscoe run into the tunnel.
    â€œI hope Stinky is okay,” Benjamin said worriedly.
    Clementine snorted a little laugh through his black snout. “.
…Stinky
.”
    The boy walked over to the mob of animals surrounding Mac. Standing next to Zeus, he felt a little less special now that the true king was in the hall.
    â€œFeeling a little down?” Zeus asked.
    â€œIs it easy to see?”
    â€œYes.”the Doberman smiled kindly.
    Benjamin tried not to look emotional as he walked through the crowd to talk to the pug. “Well, should I go ahead and give you this?” He reached down to his wrist and grabbed the collar. The pug’s eyes lit up eagerly.
    â€œNot yet, Your Majesty!” The old badger hobbled forward. “We need to have a proper ceremony for something as important as exchanging the crown!”
    Others in the crowd agreed. “Yeah, let’s make it official!” Benjamin was a little relieved that he could keep it a while longer.
    â€œHey!” Clementine yelled from the back. Everyone turned to see the annoyed pig standing next to the fox. “What about the caravan? We need to get going as soon as Roscoe comes back.”
    â€œWhat caravan?” Mac asked.
    Clementine and Felix made their way through the animals. “You, Felix, and I,” Clementine turned his eyes toward the crowd, “and whoever else is
brave
enough to come along…” The other eyes looked elsewhere.
“Hmph!
We are going to Persly’s Woods.”
    â€œPersly’s Woods? Where’s that?”
    â€œIt’s a forest way far to the east.”
    â€œAnd why are we going to Pers…Persly’s Woods?”
    Felix stepped forward. “Your Majesty—”
    â€œNot yet!” Clementine said. He looked at Benjamin and winked.
    â€œâ€”a thousand of my friends are coming to join your kingdom.”
    â€œA thousand?!” Mac stuttered.
    â€œGive or take,” Clementine smiled.
    â€œWhy do so many want to join all at once?” Mac asked.
    â€œBecause Persly’s Woods is being terrorized by an unseencreature we can no longer ignore.”
    â€œYou…you haven’t seen it?” Mac had a hint of fear in his voice.
    â€œNo one has seen it… and lived. Everyday more of us are being eaten. Some of my own family have already been killed.”
    â€œOh, no!” Mac gulped.
    â€œWe’ve decided it’s best to make a new home here in this kingdom. I was sent to find it and bring back help who can safely lead us back here. I managed to find your kingdom by accident.”
    â€œSo they’re all waiting for us in the woods with that
thing
out there?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œWell then we need to go get them! Zeus, will you come?” Mac asked.
    â€œOf course, My King!” The Doberman snickered a little, then bowed down.
    â€œNow wait, Zeus. I’m not king yet…” Mac looked at Benjamin and smiled.
    â€œAnd you thought I was crazy when I talked to you last night,” the boy laughed.
    â€œWell…yeah, it did seem a little…unbelievable. When do we leave on this journey?”
    Clementine spoke up. “Not until Roscoe gets back. He’s more useful than he looks.” The pug and Doberman’s heads tilted