Bonita woke up with a smile. She jumped up and made JJ some breakfast and surprised him with breakfast in bed. “Good morning, Lester, your breakfast is ready.”

  Lester took a big bite of sausage and toast and while he chewed, said, “jThank you, dear.”

  Bonita seemed so much happier today than usual, possibly due to the good night’s sleep she had gotten. Lester felt good about how she was handling going without her medicine and left the burrow with a smile on his face.

  After explaining to Nogdorf how the past few hours had gone, Nogdorf told Lester they would go foraging for mushrooms that day. “It is important to visit Lily and fix her some more Lion’s Mane. It takes a while for the nerves to heal, if they ever will,” Nogdorf explained. “I have an idea of a place we can go to look for the mushrooms.” The two talked as they walked. “So, Bonita didn’t go out last night. Do you think she is all better, Lester?”

  “I have no way of knowing for sure, but it does look like it.

  “Oh, here we are and look at the size of these mushrooms,” Nogdorf was pleased. They were able to gather what they needed for Lily, leaving still more for others. As they walked toward Lily’s house, they spied something up ahead hanging from the large elm tree, over the path.

  Lester asked, “Is that a bat? They don’t usually come out during the day, do they?”

  “It shouldn’t be. They usually go back into their cave at daybreak,” Nogdorf agreed. “Oh, look Lester. It’s Sammy, hanging upside down from a branch.” Sammy had his tail wrapped around the branch and his back claws gripped it tightly.

  “Mr. Noggy, I waited for you. You so glad to see me. I got ‘portant news. Corrygone real mad ‘bout the pretend animals. He go to Lucent. Bad, bad,” Sammy Squirrel said.

  “What happened then, Sammy?” Nogdorf asked.

  “Corrygone attack. Bite off ear. Lucent bite neck. Aaaaaarg,” Sammy screamed. “Blood everywhere. Yuck. I faint,” Sammy explained. “I waked up because Corrygone howling. He was howling and howling and lots of wolves come. He say, follow Lucent and attack all him friends. Then, he die. He bad, but I sorry. I putted purty flowers on Corrygone and pray.”

  “Sammy, did you happen to see where the wolves went and what happened?” Nogdorf asked.

  “I go fast thru the trees. I so fast. The wolves come back, hurrying away from the other dark creatures. They look bad. I go check on other dark creatures and Mr. Noggy, they are planning war,” Sammy explained.

  “I was afraid of this,” Nogdorf said, sadly. “Sammy, thank you for being my eyes and ears. You are very helpful to Nogdorf and all of the good creatures. Sammy, I’d like to show my appreciation to you for all of your help. Since you are helping us so much, I’d like to do something special for you. “ He waved his wand and instantly Sammy was wearing a miniature version of Lester’s rainbow clothing. “I hope you like your new outfit and thank-you again for your help.”

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  “I happy to help Mr. Noggy. Thank-you for the purty clothes. Gotta go. See you soon,” and Sammy was off.

  Lester entertained Lily while Nogdorf fixed her mushrooms. Today, Lily was wearing a metal colander on her head for a hat, red and white striped pants that looked big enough to be a circus tent and a halter top. Lester had a hard time concentrating on a conversation with Lily, because of her outlandish clothes, but she didn’t seem to notice, as she was blabbering about how much snow was outside (It was summer at the time) and how she needed to shovel. Nogdorf fixed extra fried mushrooms, since they had found so many and stored it away in the refrigerator. Lester was so relieved to see Nogdorf come out of the kitchen, he leapt up and asked if it was time to go.

  While they walked, Nogdorf explained to Lester what he had been thinking about while he cooked the mushrooms. “We need to prepare for the attack of the dark creatures, Lester. I want you to call all of the good spiders of the forest to meet us in an hour. “

  Lester was puzzled at how the tiny spiders were going to help them fight the evil creatures, but did as he was asked.”While we wait for the arrival of the spiders, you and I need to gather a lot of flax. We need to make enchanted fibers.”

  Lester and Nogdorf gathered more flax than Lester had ever seen in one place, stacking it up neatly. Lester’s curiosity was about to drive him crazy. “What is all of this flax for, Nogdorf?”

  “Why it is to make into enchanted plant fiber which will then be combined with shimmering spider silk and made into the Gossamer Shield. This will serve as protective clothing for our army of good creatures. Now, I want you to wave your wand over the flax, while hopping on one foot and say these words, ‘Magicum turnicus flaxerell’,” Nogdorf said. “Well, what are you waiting for?”

  “I don’t have a wand,” fLester said.

  “Well, where is it? You have to use your wand to make this work,” Nogdorf said, impatiently.

  “Nogdorf, you never gave me a wand,” Lester explained.

  “Well, for Pete’s sake. Let’s get you a wand right now,” and Nogdorf mumbled a few words and grabbed a wand out of thin air and handed it to Lester.

  Lester took the wand, reverently, walked over to the stack of flax and waved his wand over it. He said, “Magicum turnicus flaxerell,” and Lester watched as colors swirled and twisted and braided themselves in blues and purples and yellows and then unbraided themselves again. The colors slowly faded and it was obvious the flax had turned into enchanted fibers. Lester was in awe and couldn’t wait to see what came next.

  Spiders started pouring in from everywhere. There were all sizes and colors of spiders and after Nogdorf explained to them how their silk would help protect all of the good creatures, they gladly gave him their silk. Lester took his wand over to the silk and spoke the words Nogdorf had taught him. They were turned into shimmering silk, with an aura around them that you couldn’t miss.

  While the creatures all started weaving the enchanted plant fibers and the shimmering silk into a Gossamer Shield for clothing, Nogdorf explained to them why they were doing it. “The clothing you are making will deflect small projectiles and will also provide a temporary barrier against harmful spells or curses.” Nogdorf was pleased to see all of the creatures working together and not wasting any time.