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whirling about in his head. As the foursome sat in the sun, digesting their shabby rations, Montague and Cobweb approached.
    “Ah,” said Cobweb, looking at Thicket and Stono, “there you are. Billycan wants to see you two directly. He has devised a final plan for the attack, and you two need to learn your directives.”
    Stono let out an unpleasant belch. The dried fish, most likely gone bad, was not agreeing with him. “He wants us to be learning what? ” he asked.
    “Your directives,” said Montague. “You know, Stono. What you’re supposed to do, your orders for the attack on Nightshade.”
    “Oh,” said Stono as another rolling burp escaped his mouth, this time with an equally disgusting scent attached.
    Thicket jumped up impatiently. She grabbed Carn’s paw, yanked him to his feet, and dragged him in front of Cobweb and Montague. “What ’bout him?” she asked. “Don’t Billycan want to see Corn the snake killer?”
    “Tomorrow, Thicket,” said Cobweb. “Billycan will meet your friend tomorrow night. Our lord and leader has a special night plannedfor you and the rest of the horde. We’ve dug a pit for a lone boar spotted roaming the area. We are to have a bonfire feast tomorrow night, and then we’ll go to Nightshade the following day, all with bellies full of roast boar—a reward from Billycan.”
    Stono clapped his paws in delighted anticipation.
    “Billycan said he’d meet with Corn during the feast,” said Montague. “He’s certainly intrigued.” He patted Carn on the shoulder approvingly. “He’s very interested in meeting you, Corn.” He looked over at Oleander, who deliberately clung to Carn’s arm. “And Oleander as well, I see.”
    “Yep,” said Thicket happily. “They be thick as thieves!”
    “Well, then, the four of you have quite an honor in store. Billycan has requested the three of you to dine by his side during the feast. Oleander, you’ll attend with Corn, then,” said Cobweb.
    “Come along, you two,” said Montague, “Billycan is waiting.”
    The two seconds, along with Thicket and Stono, left for the manor. Carn exhaled anxiously. “What am I going to do?” he asked Oleander. “Billycan will kill me on sight!”
    “Hush, now,” whispered Oleander. “Things will be fine. We’ll meet your bat friend tonight, and later I’ll introduce you to my father, Mannux, Chief Elder of our group. We’ll figure this out, I promise. Everything will turn out all right.”
    “How do you know that?” asked Carn gloomily.
    “Because it can’t end any other way. It just can’t.”
    The sun had set. The horde slept comfortably in the grass. It was cool, a welcome relief from the normally sticky night air. Carn was eager to meet with Telula.
    Oleander giggled in the grass. Thicket sat up and looked at hercousin. “What you laughing ’bout?” she asked. Oleander cupped a paw over Thicket’s ear and whispered something. The two started cackling like old crones, and Thicket slapped her cousin’s knee.
    Stono frowned at them, jerked awake by their snickering. “What be wrong with you two? I’m trying to sleep. Now hush up!” he snapped grumpily.
    “Aw, Stono,” said Thicket, “these two want to talk in private, is all.”
    “They want privacy, then give it to them,” he said crossly. He nodded at Carn. “Corn, go over to the cypress by the pond, no one go there but me and Thicket. That be our place.”
    Carn stood up and grabbed Oleander’s paw, pulling her up with him. “Let’s get to the pond, then,” he said impatiently, worried that they would miss Telula.
    Stono chuckled. “Take your time, Corn. You got the rest of your life for that courting nonsense. Other things be more important now.” Stono smiled fondly at Thicket, patting her on the shoulder. She curled up next to him, wrapping her tail around his middle.
    Carn studied Stono. Every time Carn thought he was just as bumbling as could be, he’d say something meaningful, utterly