Muffin, part 5
Ranger Gates radioed in Sammy’s description and last known location. The police were notified the same time as a code Adam went out to all the rangers in the park. The park was officially on lock down until the youngest Winchester was found. All vehicles were thoroughly searched before leaving, and every available ranger canvassed their areas eyes peeled for the youngster. If Sammy was anywhere in the park, the rangers were determined to find him.
John and Dean were frantic. The ground around Sam’s backpack didn’t hold any clues. There were too many small footprints for John to be able to identify and track Sam’s, and a meticulous search of the playground, bathrooms, and buildings had turned up nothing. That left the woods. Stepping about 10 feet apart from each other, Ranger Gates, John, and Dean headed towards the woods to search. But before they could begin their trek, the police arrived.
Sammy ran as fast as his little legs could go trying to keep up with the galloping puppy. He had no idea what Muffin had heard or what they were chasing. He hoped it wasn’t a bear or a wolf. Sam couldn’t protect her from anything like that. “Maybe Muffin heard her mama.” Sam thought as he continued to run. It felt like he had been running for hours. Winded he stopped to catch his breath. “Muffin!” he yelled between breaths. “Wait for me!” But the pup didn’t even slow down. She kept running at top speed through the forest disappearing behind a tree. Sam took off after his friend again determined to catch Muffin and bring her home.
Dean was furious! The police had stopped them from going into the woods to ask them a few questions about Sammy’s disappearance. By a few they evidently meant a million because they had been standing there for a half an hour now. They needed to be out there searching for his little brother not questioning his dad about how things were at home. Fed up, Dean marched up to his dad and the policemen and shouted out, “Can you cut the crap and start looking for my brother already!” Stunned all eyes turned toward Dean. Uncomfortable with being in the spotlight all the sudden, he turned his own kicked puppy look on the officers before timidly saying, “Please! We’ve gotta find him! He’s my little brother.”
Dean’s woebegone expression had the effect he was hoping for. Spreading out, the officers, rangers, Dean, and his dad set off into the woods searching for any trace of the youngest Winchester.
Sam dashed around and through trees and bushes oblivious of the various cuts and scrapes they made as he past. He halted at the edge of a small clearing. There in the middle stood Muffin growling at something in an old log. Sammy slowly tiptoed up to Muffin’s side and peered into the log. As his eyes adjusted to the dark, he could make out the outline of a long, chubby animal. Its triangular head was black and white. Upset at being disturbed the disgruntled animal began crawling out of the log hissing at the intruders. Frightened, Sammy backpedaled to try to get out of the animal’s path. In his haste to get away, he tripped over a rock and fell right on his behind. Seeing her new friend fall, Muffin came over and put herself in front of Sam still growling at the enemy that was slowly emerging from the log.
John became more anxious as the hours rolled by with no sign of his baby boy. He knew all the dangers, natural and supernatural, that could be lurking in a forest. He had spent the last hour praying that they would find Sam before dark. He didn’t even want to think about the things that came out at night. So far his prayers had gone unanswered. They had only found several squirrels, a couple of deer, a fox, and three snakes. Hoping his son hadn’t run into any of those or worse, John doubled his pace determined to get his son out of the woods and home soon. “And when he gets home he’s not leaving again until he’s thirty. Puppy eyes or not.” he thought.
Dean glanced up at his father before turning back to eye the woods. He was worried. He knew it was his fault Sammy was lost. “Some big brother I am” he thought. “I couldn’t even watch him for one day. Now he’s lost and alone and anything could happen to him.” Dean wasn’t even aware he had stopped walking until he felt a hand on his shoulder and heard his father’s voice.
“You alright, kiddo?” John asked.
“Yeah, dad,” Dean answered looking down at his feet. “I’m just worried about Sammy.”
John squatted down in front of his eldest son. He gently grabbed and raised Dean’s chin so they were eye to eye. “We’ll find him, Dean. Sammy’s a tough little guy. Remember when he walked home from school. He was fine then and he’ll be okay now too.”
“But” Dean started.
“No buts Dean” John interrupted. “He’s going to be just fine. You’ll see.” Standing up, he added, “Now let’s go find that hardheaded little brother of yours.”
“Yes sir” Dean responded falling in beside his dad.
Sammy scooted back on his behind eyes growing wider and wider as the animal made its way out of the log. It was about the size of a cat and had a white stripe running down its back. Sam remembered reading a book about that kind of animal but he couldn’t recall its name. He thought back to the characters in the story. It wasn’t a toad or a mole. And it was too short and fat to be a weasel. It had to be a. . . a badger. That’s it! It’s a badger he thought as he stared at the animal that was staring at him.
Finally out of its home, the badger studied the interlopers. Deciding that they weren’t a threat, he snarled at them before trudging away and disappearing into the woods.
Once the badger was out of sight, Muffin darted into the log. Wondering what was up Sam started inching forwards when he heard a tinkling sound coming from inside the log. Muffin appeared seconds later carrying something in her mouth. She trotted up to Sam laying her prize at his feet. Nudging it with her nose, she stared up at him and whined.
Sam carefully picked up what had been a dog collar. It was once purple and had small bells all around it. “That’s what Muffin heard!” Sam thought as he examined the collar further. The tag had been ripped off and what was left of the collar was covered in dried blood. Gently scooping up Muffin, Sammy patted her on the head and whispered, “I’m so sorry, Muffie. I lost my mommy too.” Sammy sat there for a long time holding his pup and crying for both their mommies. Wiping his eyes, Sam decided it was time to go home. He needed his daddy and Dean. Sam stood up, still holding his precious bundle. “Come on, Muffin. It’s time to go home now.” he told her. He looked around and hesitated. Which way was the park? Turning around in a circle he scrutinized the area. All the trees looked the same. He‘d been so busy chasing Muffie that he hadn’t noticed which way he was going. Sam looked around once more before sitting back down. He was lost. He held Muffin tighter as he waited for his daddy and Dean to come get him.
For the people wondering, Sam’s book was “The Wind in the Willows”.