Ereth laughed. “She also told me you claimed porcupines eat mice. That you protect them from me. Ocax, do you believe that garbage, or do you just like the way it tastes in your mouth when you say it?”
Suddenly Mr. Ocax’s eyes narrowed. “Where did you get that earring, girl?” he shrieked at Poppy. “That something I ate?”
Poppy became so frightened she began to back up.
“What I eat is mine, girl, mine!” Mr. Ocax screamed.
“Listen here, Ocax,” Ereth snapped. “This mouse has as much right as you do to go and do what she wants! I don’t want you messing with her!”
But Mr. Ocax, ignoring Ereth, only cried, “Poppy, listen to me! I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you might as well know the only way you’ll ever get back to Gray House is when I dump your dead carcass on your father’s front porch!” With that he clacked his beak, then dropped down inside the tree.
Alarmed and furious, Poppy ran forward and began beating her clenched paws on Ereth’s nose. “You lummox!” she cried. “You lump! You rattling pincushion!”
The porcupine only grinned.
“Why did you tell him about me!” Poppy shouted. “Didn’t you hear what he said? He’s going to kill me!”
“Oh, he’s nothing but feathers. He doesn’t bother me.”
“But you’ve got quills,” Poppy protested.
“Jealousy don’t become you, girl.”
“Ereth,” Poppy implored, “I have to get to New House. It’s a matter of keeping my family alive.”
“You’re pretty small to be a heroine.”
Poppy looked down at her toes. “That’s not the only reason I’m going.”
“Oh?”
“It’s also because of Ragweed.”
“Who?”
“Ragweed. He was . . . my friend.” Poppy sniffed. “See, he wanted to ask me to marry him atop Bannock Hill. Said it was the most romantic spot around.
“I did want to marry him, so I said I’d go, but only after asking permission of Mr. Ocax. That’s the rule. But Ragweed said, ‘Where’s the romance when you have to ask permission?’
“So we went without asking. When Ragweed and I got to the top, he did ask me to marry him, but before I could answer, Mr. Ocax killed him.
“Then, later, the owl said it was because Ragweed and I went to the hill without permission that my family couldn’t move to New House. When they heard that, a lot of them—most of them—blamed me.”
Poppy pushed the tears away. “So you see, I’m going to New House to prove our being on the hill had nothing to do with Mr. Ocax’s refusal. If I don’t prove it, my family can’t go to New House and we’ll be ruined. I’ll be ruined! So I have to go. Only now that you’ve told Mr. Ocax I’m here, he’ll follow me and keep me from finding the truth. You’ve got to come with me.”
Ereth shook his head. “Sorry, kid, this is your business, not mine. Anyway, I need to get some sleep.” Yawning, Ereth turned and began to move toward the log.
“Ereth,” Poppy cried out, “if you got me to New House, I’d—I’d get that salt for you.”
Ereth stopped short and spun about. A dreamy look filled his eyes. “The salt lick? From New House? The whole thing? You would? Really?”
Poppy placed a paw over her heart. “I swear.”
Ereth grinned. “Now you’re talking, girl. Let’s move it!” Without a moment’s hesitation he began to lumber through the woods.
Poppy took one look at the snag in the dawn light, then tore after the porcupine.
The two of them had barely gone when Mr. Ocax popped out of his hole. Having heard the entire conversation, he wasn’t sure which he felt more, fury or fear. But he did know he had to stop Poppy. He launched himself into the air.
CHAPTER 14
On the Way to New House
THE OLD PORCUPINE MOVED faster than Poppy thought possible, body swaying from side to side, quills rattling like a snare drum.
The trail Ereth took was narrow but smooth, avoiding hills, tangles, and fallen trees. From time to time Poppy saw other animals: weasels, a raccoon, a ferret, and, once, a bear. As soon as they caught sight of Ereth, they hurried away in haste.
Poppy bounded along after Ereth, pausing now and again to gaze upon the endlessly enticing forest with delight and amazement. In low places, white ground mist eddied gently, while above, in the high trees, the early sun sowed golden sparks among dark leaves. But once, while Poppy was staring wide-eyed at a particularly towering tree, she caught sight of what appeared to be a brown blur swooping among the pines. Her joy melted.
“I think Mr. Ocax is following,” she called to Ereth.
Ereth, however, did no more than grunt and press forward.
Poppy caught up with him and from then on stayed as close as possible. But with every third step she glanced back. Finally she actually saw Mr. Ocax. He was high above, gliding through the treetops on widespread wings like a silent phantom.
“He is following!” Poppy cried.
“Bug brain,” Ereth mumbled.
Then, no matter how much Poppy searched—her neck grew strained from so much turning and twisting—she lost sight of the owl. At last she decided he had gone. More relaxed, she paused now and again to take in the forest views.
It was while she stopped to sniff a Scotch broom plant that Mr. Ocax, out of nowhere, made a dive at her, talons flashing.
“Ocax!” Ereth bellowed. Without looking, Poppy leaped toward Ereth for protection.
The porcupine, for all his bulk, whipped about and lifted his tail, prepared to strike with his quills. Mr. Ocax pulled up short and, hissing venomously, flew aloft and vanished.
“That was close,” Poppy panted. She was trying to see where Mr. Ocax had gone. “What made you notice him?”
“Poppy, if you think there’s anything that’s going to keep me from that salt, you don’t know me.” Once more the porcupine trundled along the trail.
“Ereth,” Poppy panted, straining to keep up, “I’m certain Mr. Ocax wants to keep me from
