Poppy and Ereth Read Online Free PDF Page B

What’s more, it was exceedingly cold.
    â€œHello! Luci!” she called. “Where are we?”
    â€œHome,” squeaked Luci.
    â€œWhere’s home?” asked Poppy.
    â€œOur cave.”
    â€œIs it big?”
    â€œI guess,” said Luci.
    â€œWhere are we going now?”
    â€œActually, Miss Poppy, I’m going to set you down,” said the bat. “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but you’re heavy.”
    â€œThat sounds wonderful,” said Poppy, wanting nothingmore than to feel solid earth under her paws. Her back was getting a little sore, too.
    She sensed they were descending. Then her toes touched the ground.
    â€œAre you all right?” the bat asked as she released Poppy.
    â€œI think so,” Poppy answered, a little breathless as she tried to stand on wobbly legs. Since she could not see anything, she felt about where she had landed. The surface was hard, with a cold, slippery dampness.
    â€œBe back soon!” cried Luci. “Don’t go anywhere!”
    â€œBut…!”
    Poppy heard a flutter of wings, followed by a whoosh of wind—then silence. Presumably, the young bat was gone—though Poppy had not actually seen her go.
    Trembling slightly with the chill, Poppy smoothed out her whiskers, flicked her ears, shook out her tail, and took a deep breath. What a strange experience! she thought as her heart resumed its normal rhythm. First flying. Then to come to a place I can’t see, surrounded by I don’t know what, and not knowing what’s going to happen next. I’d hide, but it’s hard to hide since I can’t see where I am to begin with.
    â€œOh well,” she said, finding comfort in talking aloud. “I am alive. I helped Ereth get out of that mud. I’ve experienced being in the sky. That bat did not eat me. I’ve gotten away from the terrible heat. Nothing bad in any of that.As for Luci, what a pleasant name for such a creature. And actually, she’s nice too. For a bat.”
    Poppy considered the question of other bats. Perhaps not all bats are so friendly. What if Luci went to get them? No, I don’t think I should relax too much.
    â€œHello!” came a squeak close to her ears. “I’m back!”
    Startled, Poppy gazed in the direction of the voice. “Who…who’s there?” she asked.
    â€œIt’s me, Miss Poppy. Luci.”
    â€œOh,” said Poppy. “I…I was wondering where you went. Are you…alone?”
    â€œI fetched Mom,” said Luci. “I really wanted her to meet you. She’s right here.”
    â€œHello,” Poppy said, thinking how odd it was to greet someone she could not see. “My name is Poppy. I’m a deer mouse,” she added in haste, wanting to make clear that she was not a moth. “I’m very pleased to meet you.”
    â€œHow do you do, Miss Poppy?” returned a voice, high-pitched like Luci’s. “My name is Miranda. Luci’s mother. I hope you’ll forgive her.” The bat giggled. “She told me she thought you were a moth. We bats do of course eat insects: mosquitoes, moths, dragonflies, and the odd beetle, that sort of thing. Perhaps an occasional nip of nectar. But no mice,” she said, giggling. “Oh my, gracious no.”
    â€œThat’s what Luci explained,” said Poppy, wanting tobe as friendly as possible. “And, Miranda—may I call you that?—I do know the young make mistakes. I’ve had a few children myself.”
    â€œHow many?” asked Miranda.
    â€œEleven.”
    â€œ Eleven ?” cried the bat, laughing. “Luci! Did you hear? Eleven children! Oh my! One a year is good enough for me, thank you. So far, just five. But eleven! The most astonishing thing I’ve ever heard.” She laughed again.
    Poppy, wondering what was so funny, only said, “Do you think it might be possible for me to get out of this