The Lore of ZooKazoo -- Day 5

Welcome back to the story and thanks for all of your comments. Many of you think this is getting too scary, and several of you are worried that Growler is going to turn out to be a bad guy, too. Send me ideas about the good things that Growler has done in his past so that we can be sure he is going to stay one of the story's heroes. Also, if the story is turning too scary in your opinion, send me ideas about funny ways to lighten it up. 

Many of you have also asked me to stop putting people's names up unless they really are writing things that get added to the story, so I'm going to go with that. To get your name up, you have to send me ideas for the story. Before beginning today's segment, I want to thank the following ZooKazooers who are helping me write the story: "Barack Obama," Spot, me23456, Amber, Diamond Princess, Latina Chick, Fluffy, Batman, stargirl123, and Pollen Dust Pedal. OK, here we go! Day 5....

Kazooba and Growler had walked a long way on a path through the jungle that followed the edge of the lake. Exhausted and hungry and with night falling fast, they pushed their way through a thick green tangle of plants until they broke back out to the edge of the lake. They ate a bit of food from Kazooba's pack. Growler was so hungry his stomach moaned in a low, rumbly way that made Kazooba wonder if that's how he had gotten his name.

They built a fire for the night. Kazooba still sat up with her blanket over her knees. Growler was curled in a ball on the other side of the fire trying to get to sleep. He stirred restlessly and said, "Would you please stop that? I'm trying to get to sleep."

"Stop what?" Kazooba said, looking a bit startled and a little annoyed. "I'm just sitting over here thinking about where we should go tomorrow."

"Thinking is good, Princess," Growler replied in his deep but softest voice. "But what's with that 'bwok, bwok, bwok' sound you keep making?"

Kazooba laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry, that's an old habit that drives my mom crazy, too. When I think, I drum my fingers on my forehead and my little suction cups stick to my forehead. Then they go 'bwok, bwok, bwok, bwok' as I pull them loose. I really don't even know it's happening or where the habit comes from, but I kinda like the way it feels. I'll stop, Growler. Sleep tight."

Kazooba's mom and dad, the King and Queen of Jungaloo, were at that very same moment wishing Kazooba was right there with them. They would not even have complained about her annoying habit. They were worried sick about Kazooba. She had been missing for more than 24 hours.

Queen Marcy scolded her husband, "What kind of king are you, anyway? Your daughter has been missing for more than a day and you have no clue where she is or why she's gone."

King Mo just frowned. He wasn't angry with anyone but him self. He suspected that Kazooba had run away because of the argument they had had the day before. He knew she was upset because he never took her seriously. She was his baby, but he knew she was rapidly growing up. He wished for what could never be — that she could just stay his little girl. "At dawn, tomorrow," he thought, "I'll send my Apple Core and the Chimp Army to the far reaches of the realm to find her." He only hoped that she had found shelter and a good family to keep her fed and safe. 

As he sat unhappy and worried, he drummed his fingers on his forehead, "Bwok, bwok, bwok, bwok." Queen Marcy just rolled her eyes, then stared out the window wondering where her daughter could possibly be. "Bwok, bwok, bwok, bwok" was the only sound to be heard.