The next day, Febes did not feel well. Walden stayed around his parents for the day—well, until he got bored, anyway.
That’s when he went for a walk.
He first crawled along Thor’s shoulders. Then, he explored the top of the dog’s head. While there, Thor stood up, forcing Walden to hold on tight.
It wasn’t the first time he had sat atop the head of his host while he was moving. It was just the first time he’d been alone. In the past, he was always with Febes.
Walden liked sitting on the highest point of the canine. He could see everything. And in that very moment he saw the big doorway coming closer, which is precisely when the young flea knew where his furry host was going. A stroll outside and into Backyard sounds fun, thought Walden.
And it was!
Once outside, Thor ran around in the grass. Walden loved it when Thor did this. He especially enjoyed it when Thor chased squirrels, and in the next moment Walden got his wish.
But soon Thor got tired of chasing after the bushy-tailed rodents who made their homes in the trees. Why? Because they made their homes in the trees, which meant that no matter how hard Thor tried, the little buggers always had a way to avoid being caught.
Soon, Thor headed toward the back of the yard and the area known as the Lowlands. That’s when Walden thought of Puck. In fact, he remembered something Puck had said the day before.
It didn’t take long before Thor began to roll over in the soft, green grass of the Lowlands. Again, Walden held on tight. Thor rolled and rolled. Then he stopped for a moment. Then he rolled some more. Walden didn’t mind a little rolling, but Thor rolled all around for what felt like an eternity, and Walden was getting tired.
Eventually, the dog lay still in the grass and panted. Walden, meanwhile, started moving. He wanted to catch a good glimpse of the area again. For some reason, Walden couldn’t stop thinking about the Lowlands. Just looking at them enticed him to see more.
The tiny flea made it down to the back end of Thor in no time. He stopped right where the dog’s tail stuck out from his body. Almost immediately, several fleas pushed by Walden on their way to the tip of the dog’s tail. Walden watched as the fleas jumped off, one by one. He tried to see where they went, but each time one jumped off, it immediately disappeared into the tall grass.
Just then, Walden heard his name. He turned to find Puck standing behind him. “You coming with us today?” asked the older, more adventurous flea.
Walden remembered his conversation with Febes the instant he spotted Puck.
You really shouldn’t be talking to Puck.
Why not?
He’s trouble.
Walden thought for a moment and then shook his head. “I can’t,” he said as Puck moved past him on his way down the same path the others had just taken.
Puck glanced back and smiled before saying, “Well, we’ll be at Big Pond if you change your mind.”
Walden said nothing. Puck turned and started down the host’s tail. As the older flea disappeared, the younger one knew he should start heading back home.
But he couldn’t stop thinking about Puck. He couldn’t get out of his mind all the fun that he and his friends would be having at Big Pond.
A moment later, Walden found himself following after his new friend. I just want to see what it’s like, thought Walden as he headed for the tip of Thor’s tail.
By the time they reached the very end, Walden found himself surrounded by the tall grass of the Lowlands. It was everywhere, for the bottom of Thor’s tail sat directly on the ground.
The jump down to the ground would be an easy one. Walden wasn’t sure he was ready, however. From the safety of the dog’s tail, he looked around. The young flea saw no one, not one single flea. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out as he thought about his next move.
Walden knew he shouldn’t do it. He should turn around and head right back up Thor’s tail and across the top of his back to where his parents were likely waiting for him to return.
In the next instant, however, something happened, something that took the choice of jumping down completely out of Walden’s hands.
Walden hadn’t seen it coming, and he wasn’t prepared. When Thor stood up suddenly and started running, the tiny flea went flying.
Fortunately, he landed safely in the tall green grass of the LowLands. But he quickly realized he didn’t really want to be there.
Walden moved only his head at first as he looked around for other fleas. He quickly spotted a couple of them. They were moving between the stalks of grass.
“Hey!” called Walden.
Neither of them answered.
“Hey, wait for me!” he yelled once more.
By now, Walden could no longer see the fleas to whom he was calling. He looked around again but saw nothing or no one.
“I bet they’re all headed for Big Pond,” Walden said to himself, trying to stay calm.
Convinced that the sooner he found other fleas, the safer he would be, Walden started hopping through the tall, thick blades of grass. He moved in the same direction of the fleas he had just seen.
Like the columns of the carpet through which he had traveled before, each blade of grass grew high and close together. To Walden, all he could see was a wall of green. He continued on, hoping he would see something, either a flea that was heading toward Pond, or a rabbit that would take him there.
But as he continued to jump through the grass, Walden saw neither rabbits nor fleas.
However, he did hear something.
Ruff! Ruff!
“Thor!”
Walden turned immediately toward the barking sound and began hopping. Thor had come back. Maybe I can catch him and hop on!
The tiny flea jumped as high and as far as he could. Locking. Contracting. Extending.
He did this as hard and as fast he could.
Locking.
Contracting.
Extending.
Walden moved faster than he ever had before. He was gonna make it. He was gonna see Thor any minute now. He’d hop back on his tail and be with his family in no time. He was sure of it.
A moment later, Febes’ words of warning came to mind. NO HOST. NO FOOD. Walden began to panic as he hurried on. “I’ve got to get back,” he said aloud. “I need to find my host. I’ve made a terrible mistake.”
It felt like forever, but soon enough, Walden reached the place where he had fallen off Thor.
The big furry dog, however, was long gone.
