The Lore of ZooKazoo -- Day 11

I've wanted to add one more main character to our brave little Jungaloo band of four. But I've had a hard time figuring out who or what that character should be. Yesterday, Soulja Girl wrote to me with a really great idea for a new character. I'm so excited about the idea, that today's story will begin to set the stage for the new member of the team. As Growler fills us in on "What's up?" watch for something that doesn't quite make sense. It just might be the first clue about the nature of their new partner. You'll meet that new character on Day 12.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. In today's chapter, our characters look into the eyes of Growler. Have you ever visited a zoo and gotten close to one of the big cats and had a chance to stare directly into its eyes? If you have, you'll understand a bit more about today's chapter. Here's day 11 . . . 

"Well Growler?" a very demanding and impatient Pricilla asked again.

Growler didn't look bothered in the least. He'd been leaning back, and now, slowly sat up to look directly at Seeds, Pricilla, and the Princess. Each of them had turned to face him and as Growler gathered his thoughts, they each sat as if expecting a long tale. Growler flicked out a long curved claw on his right front paw and tapped it on one of his rather large and scary fangs. The sound it made was much like a note from a musical chime. Growler made the gesture often when he was deep in thought.

While the rest waited, each was struck by Growler's eyes. They were huge. Their shiny black centers were made to look even darker by the yellow irises that surrounded them. But there was something about looking straight into the center of his eyes, a feeling that you were looking down into a well with no bottom. That depth was a clue to the life Growler had led. It must have been very long and filled with experiences beyond each of their wildest dreams.

As if a curtain had been pulled across those windows into Growler's soul, the opportunity for insight was suddenly gone. Growler was ready to begin and said, "Why don't you each help yourself to a couple of these lovely bread fruits?" None of them turned their gaze from Growler, but each took a piece of the wondrous fruit as it was passed among them on a tray made from a very large and shiny green jungle leaf.

"I have to tell you all that I am much older than I appear," Growler began. "The princess knows that I can look almost any age when I wish to change. I have been wandering the trails and roads of Jungaloo from the time when our beautiful trees first began to grow -- a time when Jungaloo extended much further than it does today. We can climb trees or trek to the top of hills to know that Jungaloo stretches as far as we can see in any direction. But our view is actually blocked by the thick mist to the south and by the the mountains that border the east, north, and west.

"Until recently, you could climb to the top of those mountains or walk for days into the mists and still see oceans of green and lush jungle extending out before you -- seemingly never ending. But that's not true today. Particularly from the mountains in the east, you can see a terrible cancer at work on our forests. There is an area that stretches off to the very horizon in the east that is entirely blackened. Dead trees. Dead plants. No birds or butterflies. No animals of any kind. No sounds!"

"Like a wave of death, that area is spreading to the north and coming our direction too. Year by year, we are losing more and more of our beloved Jungaloo to this plague. This past year and for the first time, like the flicking tongue of a monstrous snake, the first signs of the cancer can be seen creeping out around the feet of the eastern mountains. The eastern rivers that once flowed blue and clear are beginning to turn murky and carry a foul smell. It is definitely coming our way."

"Pricilla, this is 'what's up,' this is why we have been brought together. You have each been chosen. I was not only waiting for the Princess that first day, but for you Pricilla, and for you, Seeds. My mission to lead you in this quest came to me in a dream that turned to nightmare. This is our destiny and our time is now. There can be no thought of any of you returning to the palace and just going on with your lives. There is not a moment to lose."

Growler took a long, deep breath, exhaled, and said, "We were waiting for one more member of our band to join us. But he or she -- it's difficult to know -- has arrived."

Then with one of his most devilishly smiles, Growler chuckled and said, "Did you enjoy the bread fruit?"