The Terrible Storm!
In seconds, they were sound asleep. When they awoke, they looked out over the valley only to see the darkest storm clouds they had ever seen. They were coming fast ... right toward them! Even though they knew they had to take cover from the soon to come wind, lightning and rain, Minnie just had to talk to Ollie. She said, "While we were in the bear's awful cave, did you see any sign of my mom, dad, brothers, or sisters? Did you see any cage or anything that they could have been held prisoner in?"
Ollie turned toward his faithful friend and said sadly, "No ... I didn't have much time to look. What little I did see, I didn't see any trace of them. I just have to believe that they weren't taken in there.
I sure didn't see any loose feathers ... ah ... 1 guess that's good news."
A faint smile broke out across Minnie's face. She said, "Well, then maybe they are still alive and maybe that crafty bear has them hidden in another cave somewhere else." Ollie smiled back and said, "Yea, we'll just have to keep looking. Don't worry, my friend, we'll find them."
Minnie then said, “Ya know, it’s time for me to try something!” She quickly crawled up on a rock, winked at Ollie and then jumped off the edge! She flapped her wings and to both their delight, she was able to fly again!
They both shouted for joy! She soared above the ground like a majestic eagle. She did not stay in the air too long though because that storm was approaching fast and it was getting windy.
Now as Ollie ran on the ground, Minnie flew just a few feet over his head. What a sight they were! Their friendship was beginning to deepen. While both of them kept on the lookout for that dangerous bear, they hoped they would find shelter…someplace warm and safe from the storm and the bear.
They soon found a large, old tree that was right near the edge of the cliff overlooking the valley. There was a little opening at the base of the tree and so both of the little friends ran into it. Strange ... there seemed to be an odd stairway made of mud, leaves and sticks. They followed it up and up until they reached the top of the old tree. At the very top, Minnie discovered a door which she quickly opened. Inside, was a cozy, abandoned raccoon’s home with lookout windows and a storehouse of food supplies.
Ollie said, "Well, since we have to wait out the storm here, we might as well eat and enjoy ourselves." And that they did! The two friends looked outside through the windows at the oncoming storm. The clouds were so black that it seemed like midnight. Bright, jagged flashes of lightning occurred every few seconds. For a brief moment, everything was still and calm.
Wind, rain, dust, and leaves were everywhere! The thunder and lightning were so close and frightening that the two adventurers in the raccoon’s nest crawled into a corner and trembled. They closed their eyes and held their breath in total fear! Both were homesick for the safety of their own homes and families. All of a sudden, a large, black cloud funnel dropped from the sky and started twisting around and around! Worse yet,
it was headed for their tree hideout!
In a matter of seconds, the twister was upon them. Just as the two began to scream and cry out for help, a blinding bolt of lightning struck the trunk of their tree! The tree became a blaze with fire!
As thick, black smoke began to come up the dark stairway inside the tree, Minnie and Ollie wondered if they would ever come out of this alive. Just as the flames reached the door of their hideout, a tremendous gust of wind grabbed the whole tree and pulled it up by it's roots right out of the ground.
The old tree, now up rooted, with Minnie and Ollie inside, began to fall over the edge of the steep cliff. As they began to fall over the edge, Ollie looked out the window and caught a glimpse of a raging river several hundred feet below them! The two, at the same time, screamed,
"OH NO! THIS IS IT !!!"
As they were inside the falling tree, Ollie looked at Minnie, forced a quivering smile and said, "I ... I ... wi .. wish this tree had wings!" Finally, the tree hit the river with great impact. The noise was deafening as the tree’s branches were crushed and broken all around them. The raccoon nest the two were hiding in fell apart. All the two friends could do was hang on to a near by floating branch.
For a moment, the little bird and dog were thankful and amazed that they survived the fall into the icy cold water. But now, a new fear gripped
them. Where was this dark, fast moving river now taking them?
Minnie heard it first and cried out to Ollie screaming, “What is that rumbling noise?” Ollie was sure what it was, but he told Minnie to just hang on to his neck. He told her that whatever was going to happen to them, he wanted to go through it with her together.
As the rumbling, rushing noise became louder, the river water moved faster and rougher with each yard they traveled. It was nearly impossible to see since the mighty storm was still unleashing it’s cruel fury.
Every few seconds, the lightening would light up the sky. Thunder would ripple the cold, night air with bursts of anger.
Ollie then saw it! “Minnie! Hang on tight! Take a deep breath because right about NOW we’re going to go over the biggest waterfall I’ve ever seen!
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