Forest Guardians Chronicles: A Matter of Humanity by Beth Roose (i wanna iguana read aloud txt) 📕

and fly to the cloud where Princess Celia was. This plan is sure to work, she thought. They will just think one of them spooked us.

She laughed as she flew away, and none of the Pukwudgie Tribe was alarmed or suspected anything.

5

Two Tribes One Treaty

Freda flew to the cloud where the circle of light was. There, Freda found Princess Celia. Freda told her the Pukwudgie Tribe planned to hole up in the corn field of Grissom’s Farm for the night. The tall corn would give them cover from the Hairy Tribe of the Forest, who by now would be searching for Bitty. They knew they could use Bitty to negotiate for the territory of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, which was rich in game. Once they depleted this area, they would move on and leave Bitty for her tribe with no harm to her.

Zonga thought he and his Pukwudgie Tribe had a great plan. He had no idea that his plan had been exposed and that, in fact, Princess Celia and the Hairy Tribe, as well as Elle and Freda, knew about exactly what he wanted to do. Zonga and his Pukwudgie Tribe left the Covered Bridge with Bitty. They were stealthy as they moved quietly along the riverbank. As they approached Grissom Farm, they crept into the cornfields low to the ground so as not to be seen by Bev, the farm owner. In the cornfield, they waited for they knew that the Hairy Tribe fed each night after Bev had gone to bed. Quietly, they waited.

Princess Celia had a great plan. Even with a plan to rescue Bitty, she still had hopes of a treaty between both tribes and humans. She also knew that she would need Bev’s help. Princess Celia sent Elle to talk with Bev and let her know the plan to rescue Bitty and to help bring both sides together with a treaty for the tribes, as well as humans. Bev would play an important role in the plan.

It was dark out and there were so many clouds that the moon and the stars could not be seen. Suddenly, there was a bright burst of light. Bev thought the light was blinding, but she knew what she had to do. She put the tractor in gear and turned on the lights and drove right down the center of the cornfield. When she saw the Pukwudgie, she cut the corn in a circle around them. The Pukwudgie tried to run; however, they tripped on the cut corn and could not see from the blinding of the bright light. Bev drove the tractor around in another closer circle and grabbed Bitty into the cab of the tractor. Bev was so happy she had rescued Bitty. Bitty hugged Bev and hung onto her arm as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

Just as Bev parked the tractor on the side of the brightly illuminated field, the Hairy Tribe appeared around the tractor to see Bitty. Ja’al, Bitty’s relieved mom, stepped forward and reached for her, as she was still crying from fear and relief. Cleg began to speak, but all Bev heard was gibberish. Bev had a feeling she knew what Cleg was trying to say, though, and smiled and nodded her head to Cleg.

Now the light dimmed just a little, enough so that the Hairy Tribe went into the center of the circle of cut corn. A bright shaft of light appeared from the sky, and Princess Celia rode the light to the ground. Zonga and his tribe stood up, rubbing their eyes to adjust to the brightness.

Princess Celia waved her arms to signal that both tribes and Bev come closer. She spoke calmly and softly as she began to talk. “We want everyone to live peacefully in the forest and to have a treaty to offer each of the tribes and the humans that will benefit everyone.” Princess Celia explained that the Pukwudgie Tribe would have the run of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park from June through September and that Bev would teach them planting and tending to a corn crop that would help them in the winter months for food. In return, since the Pukwudgie Tribe was so short, they could cut the corn for Bev and help keep rodents out of her fields. She also explained that the Hairy Tribe would have run of the park through the rest of the year and would help teach the Pukwudgie how to forage for nuts and berries. Finally, she told them that there was more than enough PawPaw fruit for everyone to enjoy and share.

Each of the tribes were nodding their heads up and down, and Bev was smiling. All of a sudden, it seemed like a million fireflies appeared and were sparkling throughout the cornfield. It was a signal that all had agreed to the peace treaty. Thanks to Princess Celia, all could live in harmony and not strip the Cuyahoga Valley of all its natural beauty.

Part II

Forest Guardians and the Hornet Queen

1

The Arrival of a Queen

“What is that noise?” asked Bitty, craning her head towards the sky. Cleg looked up from his project of reinforcing their shelter, searching for the same sound that Bitty pointed out. Instantly, his jaw dropped open and his eyes widened with alert at the sight before him. He quickly tucked Bitty underneath his large, furry arm and guided her swiftly inside the shelter. “Stay inside, Bitty. I’ll come back and get you when it’s safe,” he said sternly. The little hairy girl looked at him with terrified eyes and nodded her head up and down furiously. She knew something was wrong.

Cleg ran outside and hollered two whoops! to alert the rest of the Hairy Man Tribe that danger was near. He knew that something bad was coming, and they needed to prepare.

The entire Hairy Man Tribe ran as fast as they could to Cleg’s shelter. As they gathered, they heard a faint hum coming from