Chapter 2: The First Questions

Jump meowed again, louder this time. His tail twitched. He looked toward the barn, then back at Ruby, and let out a low, rumbling meow that sounded almost like a growl.

"I don't understand," Ruby whispered. "Was that a yes or a no?"

She thought for a moment. The wombat had said to ask yes or no questions. Maybe that was the way.

Ruby took a deep breath and made another meow sound, thinking clearly: Jump, are you scared?

Jump's ears flattened. He let out a short, sharp meow and backed away a step.

Ruby's eyes widened. That felt like a yes. "You're scared?" she said out loud. "What are you scared of?"

She tried again, meowing and thinking: Is it something that happened last night?

Jump's tail puffed up. He meowed three times in quick succession, his eyes darting toward the dark corner of the barn.

Ruby's stomach tightened. Something had happened in the night. Something that had frightened all the animals.

"Was it a storm?" she asked, meowing the question.

Jump blinked slowly. That was a no.

"Was it an animal? Something that came into the yard?"

Jump's ears perked forward. He meowed once, firmly, and nodded his head—a movement Ruby had never seen a cat make before.

Her breath caught. "Something came into the yard? At night?"

Jump meowed again, and this time Ruby could almost feel the fear in the sound. It was a thin, trembling meow that made her want to scoop him up and hold him close.

"What was it?" she asked, but she knew that was too hard a question for yes or no.

She sat back on her heels, thinking. The wombat had said she wouldn't understand the animals' words for a long time. But maybe she could understand their feelings. Their actions.

"Okay," she said softly. "I'm going to ask you some more questions, Jump. Just meow once for yes and twice for no. Got it?"

Jump meowed once.

Ruby smiled. "Good boy. Now... did the thing that came into the yard hurt anyone?"

Jump's eyes went wide. He meowed once, then twice, then once again, looking confused.

"Was it... did it hurt some animals but not others?"

One meow. Yes.

Ruby's heart ached. "Is that why everyone is so quiet and sad? Because some animals got hurt?"

Jump meowed once, softly, and pressed his head against Ruby's hand.

She stroked his fur, her mind racing. Something had come in the night and hurt some of the animals. That was why the cows huddled together. That was why the sheep didn't eat. That was why Yapper looked so sad.

"I need to talk to Yapper," Ruby said, standing up. "Can you show me where he is?"

Jump meowed once and padded across the porch. Ruby followed him around the side of the house, where Yapper lay in the shade of a big oak tree. His tail thumped once when he saw Ruby, but he didn't get up.

Ruby knelt beside him and made a soft bark sound, thinking: Yapper, I know something happened last night. Can you tell me about it?

Yapper whined. He lifted his head and looked at Ruby with big, sad eyes. Then he let out a long, low bark that sounded like a story all on its own.

Ruby didn't understand the words, but she understood the feeling. It was guilt. Yapper felt guilty.

"Did you try to protect everyone?" she asked, barking the question.

Yapper barked once, loudly. Yes.

"But you couldn't stop whatever it was?"

A quiet bark. Yes.

Ruby wrapped her arms around Yapper's neck. "It's not your fault," she whispered. "You did your best."

Yapper licked her cheek, but his tail still didn't wag.

Ruby sat with him for a long time, asking questions. She learned that whatever had come had made a terrible howling sound. That it had bright eyes that glowed in the dark. That it had moved faster than anything Yapper had ever seen.

And she learned that it had taken something. Something important.

"What did it take?" Ruby asked, barking the question over and over. But Yapper couldn't seem to answer. He just whined and looked toward the woods at the edge of the farm.

The woods. Ruby had always thought they were beautiful, with their tall trees and dappled sunlight. Now they looked dark and mysterious.

As the sun began to set, Ruby stood up. "I'm going to find out what happened," she said firmly. "And I'm going to fix it. I promise."

Yapper barked once, and this time there was a tiny bit of hope in the sound.

Ruby walked back to the house, Jump following at her heels. The old wombat was waiting on the back steps, his dark eyes gleaming in the fading light.

"You have learned much today," he said, his grumbling voice warm.

"Something came from the woods," Ruby said. "It howled and had glowing eyes. It hurt some animals and took something important."

The wombat nodded slowly. "The woods hold many secrets. And many dangers. But you are brave, Ruby. Braver than you know."

"I want to go into the woods tomorrow," Ruby said. "At dawn."

The wombat was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, "Then you must be prepared. Rest tonight. And in the morning, ask the animals one more question: what did the creature take? The answer may be the key to everything."

Ruby nodded, her heart full of determination. She didn't know what she would find in the woods. But she knew one thing for certain: she wouldn't give up until her animal friends were safe and happy again.

As she headed inside for dinner, she heard the wombat's voice one last time.

"Listen closely, child. The animals are trying to tell you something important. And when you finally understand, everything will change."

Ruby looked back at him, her eyes shining in the dusk. "I'll be ready," she said.

And somewhere in the dark woods beyond the farm, a low, terrible howl echoed through the trees.