With the lunge forward of the noisy tail, Moonbeam instinctively jumped upwards and backwards. The fangs flashed by her right front leg, missing by a hair and the extended snake flopped its head on the ground while Moonbeam was tumbling backwards.

Before the snake could recover to recoil and strike again, a large furry mass landed on its back and with a howling, yowling battle cry, sunk its fangs into the back of the snakes neck. It was a cat-it was the biggest cat Moonbeam had ever seen. It could have passed for two large cats in a cat suit it was so big. It was at least three times her size and must have weighed thirty pounds or more.

The snake thrashed and hissed and lashed it's body in all directions but to no avail, the cats fangs were sunk deep into the back of its neck and the cat was battering and flogging the snakes head against the ground, the rocks and the trees around it.

In a matter of a minute or so, the snake lay limp and dead in the cat's jaws. Moonbeam stood looking at the cat completely stunned. The cat stared back at her, what looked like the remains of a tail stub twitching and positioned in somewhat of a half crouch.

The world of animal communication is as alien to humans as modern science would be to an amoeba. It's a language of sounds and body movements and is universally understood between all the species. It's a system of Alpha, Beta and Omega; predator and prey or domination and submission; but most of all, it's a method of survival.

Moonbeam felt no fear as the big male cat eyed her with the snake dangling limply from his jaws. She could sense curiosity, but also friendliness. When the cat turned away and started walking deeper into the woods, somehow she knew it was all right to follow him, and it would be better for her if she did.

Moonbeam followed the cat through the woods for a while and finally they came to the edge of the trees, on a small ridge overlooking an almost dry streambed. A small trickle of water flowed sluggishly down the middle. The cat turned and followed the stream for a while until he came to a large hole in the ground and stepped down into it. Moonbeam followed and there was a slight down slope, which opened up into a good-sized den.

The cat kept going through the den into a tunnel on the other side, which led right down to an area right beside the little stream. Moonbeam watched as the cat devoured about two thirds of the snake. Then he went over to the far end of the little space and lay down cleaning his paws and face.

Moonbeam carefully approached the carcass and when there was no response from the big cat, hunkered down and started eating. By the time she was full, there was nothing left but some skin and bones scattered around. After getting a big drink of water, she lay down to relax.

His name was Butkus and he had been living here in this streambed den for a long time. He had belonged to a family in the town not far away and one day they had left and never come back. He had hung around the house for a few days and finally wandered off and ended up here. He didn't mind the little dog staying with him; in fact it might even make life a little easier, especially when it came to hunting.

Butkus looked like he had been in more than his share of battles of one kind or another. One ear was shredded into three distinct flaps of skin, one eye was scarred and his tail had been bitten off almost up to the rump.

Turns out he was sitting casually by one of the inland canals one afternoon when an alligator came up behind him and took the tail off with one bite. From that time on he never sat with his back to the water.

Moonbeam slept in the warm and dry den that night laying up against the big cat's back. She knew that she was safe and that her and Butkus would become great friends. For the first week or so, Moonbeam just followed everywhere Butkus went.

He had a few favorite hunting grounds and Moonbeam discovered that in most of these, there were numerous wood mice. She could hear them scurrying through their underground tunnels and taking advantage of her natural bred in talent of rodent control, she would pounce on the spot, dig like crazy and either she would get the mouse before it could scamper out the tunnel opening or it would make it to the opening where Butkus would be waiting to scoop it up.

The mice were small but at least they were plentiful.

For a change of diet, there was an old farmhouse nearby with a chicken coop with lots of fresh eggs and even some chicks. This adventure could be very dangerous however because the farmer really had no sense of humor when it came to his chicks and eggs being raided.

They had to be very fast. The chicken house was locked up at night and during the day; there was a guardian for the barnyard. The guardian was a big brown dog who didn't like cats anyway and Moonbeam was with the cat so she was fair game also.

The plan was to catch the dog off guard or trick him. Catching him asleep or off guard was a rarity, so tricking him was usually their tactic. They would take turns running into the barnyard and getting the big brown dog to chase one of them while the other one raced in and grabbed a bite from the henhouse. They would alternate doing this for three or four times until they ran out of steam and were too tired to chance it farther.

After two or three forays the farmer would usually be on the spot with his shotgun and that was pushing their luck way too far.

The town of Tyron, Florida was a small quaint coastal village type of about five thousand people most of the year whose population swelled to around six thousand five hundred during the citrus harvest months from April to November. Being on the gulf coast about one hundred miles north of Tampa, the little city enjoyed good weather most of the year.

Moonbeam and Butkus would wander into Tyron in the evenings sometimes for another type of their food forays.
 

Bob and Regina were going on a car run. Actually, they were driving to Disney world and the foster they had at present (Clovis, a red bitch about five or six) needed a ride to her forever home in Naples, Florida.

Clovis had been rescued from a puppy mill bust outside of Memphis six months previously. She had been in pretty bad shape when they got her. She was way overweight at eighteen pounds, there was absolutely no muscle anywhere on her body from never getting any exercise, her nails had grown so long they curved under her paws almost to the ankle joint, her teeth were encrusted with filth as was her mange-ridden coat, she was Heartworm Positive and her right eye was severely swollen and matted shut. All things considered, she was really a mess.

Clovis had been on the pumpkin diet for most of the six months and her weight was down to twelve pounds. Her heartworm had been treated effectively, she was now negative and on a monthly increment of Heartworm preventative. She had been spayed and her nails cut way back and cauterized at the same time. It was discovered that she had what appeared to be a small piece of eggshell caught up under her right inside eyelid, which accounted for the edema and infection. She had also been brought up to date on all her shots.

Standing on a chicken wire flooring had caused her feet to misshape a little and a very aggressive fungus had entrenched itself in her nails.

They would grow out at all angles and break off right at the knuckle a lot of times. There was never any bleeding, but it was painful for her at these times.

She was a happy little dog now and with the exception of her nail problem was in pretty good shape. Being a long-term puppy mill resident she was very submissive and would cringe when reached for but Bob and Regina had high hopes that her new family would continue to show her that all humans weren't bad and going to beat her all the time. Being loved was something she would have to learn over a long time period.

They decided they would take the R.V. and stay at convenient campgrounds for their trip. This way they would not have to worry about motels and their anti-pet policies and camping out with the whole family and Clovis would be a lot more fun.

They would leave in mid September and planned their route to leave Telford and make their first overnighter in Ashville, North Carolina. From there they would make stops in Atlanta, Georgia; Suwanee Springs, Florida; Tyron, Florida and finally Weki-Watchee, Florida where they would meet the new owners of Clovis.

The new owners were an elderly couple and didn't like driving long distances so Weki-Watchee was about as far as they could handle a round trip from Naples and it was almost a straight shot across Florida to Disney World from there so it worked out fine.

After leaving Disney World, they would travel straight up Interstate 95 and spend a few days with Linda and her family in Maryland before heading back to Telford.
 

Main Street in Tyron, Florida ran right through the center of town. Most of the businesses were on Main Street with a few on connecting side streets and the residences were built up all around the town center. A few farms dotted the surrounding area but mostly there were a number of Citrus Orchards.

Small, somewhat sleepy and laid back was the first impression anyone would get of this part of Americana until they had occasion to be in the downtown area around 7pm in the spring, summer and fall months.

On the west side of the town was a rail station. Passenger trains on the North/South route stopped at Tyron twice a week, (Tuesdays going North and Fridays going South) but there were freight trains at least once and sometimes twice a day.

These freight trains would be directed onto a siding where they would hook up the boxcars loaded with Oranges, Grapefruits, Lemons or Limes that were ready to be transported to the big warehouses where they were subsequently shipped to the supermarkets of the world.

Whenever Moonbeam and Butkus made their forays into town, Moonbeam would always stop by the rail yard and the loaded boxcars looking for traces of Mandy and Jake. She never picked up their scent but she always checked anyway.

A good portion of the Tyron citizenry was supported directly or indirectly by the citrus industry. They all put in a long day and around 7pm during the best weather months would find them on their evening walks, working on their yards, gardens and flower beds or doing their marketing and miscellaneous shopping.

At around 7pm the streets of Tyron came alive with it's residents scurrying hither and thither on their errands and neighborly visits.

There were a number of small General Merchandise Stores on Main Street but the busiest two stores were the "Gearhardson's Food and Miscellaneous Emporiums", one on each end of the town.

They were owned by a divorced couple who didn't like each other very much and would be more than happy to tell anyone who would listen just exactly how much they didn't like each other.

Originally, the North end store had been just a food emporium and the South end store a mercantile/general merchandise outlet but when Sven and Gerda divorced, getting custody of one store each (Sven the North and Gerda the South), the stage was set for a highly competitive and antagonistic business arena.

The stores both carried a food line but each also catered to a particular clientele. Sven's store (Gearhardson's For Him) stocked hunting and camping supplies, fishing equipment, automotive items, plumbing/electrical particulars and men's wear. Sven also loaded his magazine rack with Outdoor Life, Popular Mechanics. Auto World, Sports Illustrated. Popular Science and Girly Girly periodicals.

Gerda's store (Gearhardson's For Her) stocked Jim Cracky's, Gee Jaws, Fru Fru's, Shiny Beads, Baubles, Ridiculous Hats, Woman's Fashions, Face Paint, Women's Unmentionables, Children's Items such as toys and leashes and her magazine rack was amply supplied with Woman's World, Home and Garden, Reader's Digest, Cosmopolitan and other such trivial mis printed wasted paper products. Gearhardson's for her also had the town's only pharmacy where prescriptions were filled. The over the counter medicine rack carried predominately female items such as Memory Rejuvenators, Logic Enhancers, Anger Suppressers. Weight Reducers and Hearing Aid Batteries.

Moonbeam and Butkus would always get into town around 7pm when the activity of the evening was gearing up. They would start their adventure by hanging around the park, looking pitiful and begging snacks. They could usually beg enough handouts of hot dogs, french fries, pizza, cookies and any number of items to fill their bellies to bursting as long as they could stay out of the clutches of the Animal Control Officer who patrolled every evening. By the time it got full dark and the park emptied, if they were not sated yet part two of the town trip was put into action.

They would wander down to the South end of town and hang out in the parking lot of Gearhardson's For Her and wait for a victim. Trying their scam at Gearhardson's For Him was usually unproductive as mostly men shopped there and they usually came out of the store with only the basic men's survival items such as beer, a TV guide and remote control batteries.

When a woman customer would exit the store, Moonbeam would wander over to her as she was unloading the groceries from her shopping basket into the trunk of her car and go into her stump wagging, ears up spinning pirouette making little yipping sounds. More often than not the woman would kneel down and give her some pets with the usual "What a pretty dog, are you lost? Where are your people?",and so forth.

While the woman's attention was directed to Moonbeam, Butkus would sneak up behind her and in a flash he would be in the trunk, sniff out a package of hamburger, chops, steaks or some other meat product and be gone. This was Moonbeam's signal as he dashed towards the far side of the parking lot to make one or two final wiggles and run yapping after him.

By the time Moonbeam joined Butkus in the woods, he would have the packaging ripped off and they would share the spoils of their piracy.

The plan did not always work though. Sometimes the mark would hear the rustling behind her as Butkus sniffed out the booty and would go into paroxysms of shrieking hysteria which would send both Moonbeam and Butkus scampering for their lives. There were also the times when the Animal Control Officer would be hanging out in the vicinity and they would end up returning to the den empty handed.
 

Her name was Dora. She had washed off the west coast of Africa rather drowsily as a barely noticed tropical low. As she swept westward across the Atlantic Ocean towards the Windward and Leeward Islands she slowly gathered strength turning into a tropical storm traveling at a sustained speed of thirty miles per hour. She had migrated to a force two hurricane by the time she bounced off of the western coast of Cuba, dropping fourteen inches of rain in three hours and sped on past the Florida Keys and into the gulf of Mexico.

Continuing to grow in size and strength as she fed off of the warm gulf waters, she officially became a force 5 hurricane headed straight for the East Coast of Mexico when she suddenly turned North East. Like an avenging angel from Mother Nature's personal bag of hell, she screamed towards the North West Florida coast at sixty miles per hour packing sustained winds in the one hundred and sixty miles per hour range with gusts up to two hundred plus.

Moonbeam didn't understand why she was suddenly feeling nervous and why Butkus was the same. She sensed some danger but everything around her felt normal.

The sky was mostly clear and a beautiful blue with only a few clouds in sight. Butkus did not want to hunt, he just paced around and around in the den area and then outside by the stream.

It was early evening and Moonbeam decided to wander into town by herself and see if she could garner some goodies.

The town was very different. It had a vacant, hollow appearance to it. There were no people anywhere to be seen like there usually was. She wandered around the deserted town for a while and finally gave up and returned to the den.

She tried to sleep that night but the air was becoming heavy and oppressive to her. All her senses were screaming danger but she had no idea of what was happening.

When morning finally came, a steady, misty rain had started and the wind was up so Moonbeam climbed up the tunnel to the ridge overlooking the stream. She could see a solid black wall of clouds off in the distance and they were coming directly towards her. Her hackles up, she cowered down a bit as the intensity of the wind and rain increased, she was thoroughly soaked by the time she retreated back into the den.
 

Dora came ashore on the North West coast of Florida at Tyron, Florida on September 20th at 9 in the morning. She dropped rain at the rate of 5 inches per hour and spawned a dozen tornadoes in her first 30 minutes of landfall.

Thunder and lightning were crashing all around them as Moonbeam and Butkus huddled terrified in the den. The stream level had risen to where the water was starting to seep into the den so they kept backing up the tunnel to the ridge to get away from it.

For hours the storm howled and screamed overhead and then suddenly there was quiet. The wind and the rain had stopped and blue sky had appeared. Moonbeam and Butkus had no way of knowing that this was the eye of the storm passing over them.

They climbed up to the ridge and all around them was total destruction. Big trees had been snapped off of their base like so much kindling wood and they could smell the acrid smoke of nearby fires. Both of them heard the noise at the same time. It started out as a low dull roar and graduated into a thundering, crashing cacophony of sound in just a few seconds.

Butkus snarled, fur standing up and hurriedly climbed one of the few remaining trees still standing, looking at something and hissing.

Directing her attention to where Butkus was looking, Moonbeam saw the wall of water from the flash flood coming at her and there was no time to flee or run for cover. The ten foot high mass hit her like an explosion and suddenly she was being tumbled and tossed in the bosom of it's fury. She couldn't breathe, there was water in her lungs.

Fighting with every ounce of strength she possessed, she got her head above water and gulped a few breaths of air before she was unceremoniously pulled back under the churning and fast moving torrent once more. Breaking the surface again, she was bumping against something solid. Somehow she found the strength to pull herself up on an object floating beside her. Then suddenly, everything went black.

She came to laying on a large rectangular shaped piece of wood, probably the door from someone's house,half drowned, exhausted and freezing. She could barely lift her head to look around and all she could see was water in all directions. The tops of submerged houses dotted the landscape here and there but that was all. Dead, bloated animals floated by her at times and as the water current carried her along, she saw other animals adrift or stranded in large tree tops.

She was an orphan, adrift on a sea of orphans, so she lay her head back down and welcomed the blissful blackness of sleep as it claimed her weary and battered body.