Yellowstone National Park - Part 3

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Nightfall found Kootie and her younger brother Koobert bouncing down the side of a long slope at the end of another adventurous flight. They giggled and rolled through mountain ferns and mosses, until they came at last to rest in a narrow ravine. There they slept under sparkling mountain stars that seemed to dance and sing a joyous concert for their Creator. The night air was cool and crisp, and brought a refreshment that can be found in very few other ways.

Early the next morning, Koobert awoke first, covered with frost and ravenously hungry. Wonderful exciting adventures will have that effect on almost anyone, and Koobert was simply being unusually normal. It was just then that Koobie’s wandering eyes caught movement in a nearby bush; a rustling down low, and a very faint grunting sound.

“Kootie, I think I hear breakfast”, called Koobert.

Kootie sat up and rubbed her eyes sleepily. “Oh goody, let’s eat!” Kootie responded in a cheerful, early-morning way.

Koobert led Kootie in the direction he had seen the rustling bush, and before long, they encountered its source. There they saw a small black animal with a distinctive white stripe from just behind its head, all along the center of its back, and ending just before the tip of its fluffy black tail. The creature paused briefly, and glanced in a friendly way at the two wanderers before turning its attention back to the bushes it was pawing through.

“Koobie,” said Kootie, sounding just a little disappointed. “Koobie, I don’t wanna eat a cute little kitty for breakfast.”

Koobert chuckled, “‘Course not, Kootie, but lookie the berries!”

The black and white kitty almost seemed to welcome the company of our adventurous duo in pawing through the brambly bush and munching yummy berries. Ever polite, when Kootie or Koobert discovered a particularly large bunch of the berries, they would invite the kitty to have the first taste, and then they all would join in a juicy berry feast. The kitty used dainty little hands to push away the thorns, and by watching, Kootie and Koobert learned to enjoy their breakfast without getting poked. God had certainly provided a bountiful breakfast with enough for all, and the three new friends gratefully thanked Him through sticky, juice-covered lips.

“Koobie, you’re all messy”, giggled Kootie in a thick, well-fed voice.

“Let’s get all Koobie-clean”, replied Koobert.

The kitty seemed to know the area, and led the way to a gentle little brook splashing noisily over a rock outcropping before settling in a clear, deep pool. There, at the edge of the pool, was an enormous furry brown animal playing in the cool water.

“This looks like a good place,” said Koobert, and boldly hopped right down to the water’s edge. Kootie followed almost immediately, but the kitty stayed behind in the bushes.

Well, the animal across the pool certainly did seem surprised at the arrival of the wanderers. It stood up tall on large back feet, peering across the water as the intrepid pair washed their faces and splashed each other happily. Then suddenly, it leapt into the water and began a splashy trip to the spot where Kootie and Koobert stood, now soaked but much cleaner.

“That’s the biggest doggy I’ve ever seen”, said Koobert.

“We better warn the Kitty,” agreed Kootie, knowing full well that doggies and kitties sometimes don’t play too nicely together. They hopped right back up to the bush where the shy kitty was waiting, and were about to explain about the Doggy, when suddenly the eager Doggy was right there next to them.

What happened next is probably better left to your imagination, but suffice it to say that the doggie’s aggressive roar turned into an extremely offended howl - he turned right around, and threw himself back in the cool little pool.  Kootie and Koobert were somewhat more polite, but they also bade the kitty a fond but hasty farewell, and excused themselves to continue their exploration. Under the bush, the spent kitty lay down and rested in perfect solitude.

“We better not feed berries to kitties any more”, said Kootie.

Koobert agreed, “It seems to make them explode!”