Page 56 - Book 8 Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase

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Matty Hedgehog and the Paper Chase
Once the rabbit was sitting comfortably he clipped the harness on to Willow’s shoulder straps. ‘OK Willow. I’m ready to go.’
The heron rose slowly and stood upright. Charlie tightened his straps as he sat in the crook of the heron’s neck. Willow opened his wings. A slight hop, a few flaps and they were airborne.
The view below them never ceased to amaze Charlie, but this morning he cringed at the damage he could see on the river bank, where the rain had ripped huge chunks of soil away.
‘Look over there. That’s the worst part,’ called Willow.
Charlie turned his head to see broken sections of animals’ houses washed up on the river bank close to where Dolly Partridge lived. They landed in a clearing by the river and Willow agreed to collect Charlie after lunch.
When he arrived at Dolly’s hotel she greeted him with open wings. ‘Welcome, Charlie. You received my letter, then? What did you think?’
‘Have you met the ducks, Dolly?’ Charlie asked. Dolly shook her head.
‘I know Saskia Duck,’ said Charlie. ‘She used to live in the wildlife garden. She and her first husband arrived not long after Lottie and I moved in.’
Charlie went on to tell Dolly the history of how they all met, and how Lottie and Saskia had become close friends. The younger animals had gone to school together, and they missed the young ducks after they left the wildlife garden.