Poppy on Safari

by Gillian Young

  She imagined the look of wonder on Evie’s face seeing the giraffes she loved so much. Poppy whined, wishing she had been there to see her reaction.

  Then, she spotted a green car, a dark green car. It was large and it had two children sitting in the back.

  ‘Quick, Harley. Come on!’ she barked and ran down the hill, ducking behind trees and rocks, remembering to remain hidden from human eyes and also very cautious about running into Cain. But the car started driving away.

  ‘Hurry, Harley!’ she barked and glanced over her shoulder. ‘Come on!’

  A giraffe stepped in front of the car. Poppy sighed with relief, seeing the car’s brake lights. Faster and faster she ran, then she realised Harley wasn’t by her side. With no time to spare, she glanced over her shoulder. Harley was jumping up against a tree and swiping his paw over his head.

  Poppy stopped. She looked back at the car. It was still there, a little blonde-haired girl now feeding the giraffe. A whine escaped her lips. Evie? It could be her, yet Poppy was not certain. But here was a dark green car with a little girl sat inside, her blonde hair falling to her shoulders. Surely, it was them – it must be! She turned back to Harley; he was still jumping up against the tree trying to catch a butterfly. Grumbling and growling to herself, she wondered what to do. Her family were in sight, now was her chance to catch up with them and hope they would forgive her. But there was also Harley. Until he was back with his pawrents, she needed to take care of him.

  With a deep sigh, Poppy turned back and raced up the hill towards him. Her patience was wearing thin. By the time she reached him, she was in a bad mood.

  ‘Just leave the butterflies alone,’ she barked, glaring at him.

  Harley looked up at her, his eyes wide and bright. He twitched his nose and whiskers then tilted his head.

  ‘My family, Harley,’ she grumbled, trying very hard to be patient. ‘They are just over there.’

  The pup nodded and they trotted down the hill together. However, Harley tested her patience further by stopping every few paces to sniff the ground.

  ‘Keep going,’ she barked.

  Meanwhile, the giraffe stepped back slowly and lifted its head. As it turned to look at them, the car began to drive away.

  ‘No!’ Poppy barked.

  More cars drove carefully down the road. Poppy sat behind a bush, fearing her barks had drawn unwanted attention. She felt Harley settle beside her as she whined sadly. A faint breeze lifted the fur around their ears and blew a mixture of smells in their direction.

  Poppy’s nose twitched. She took a deep breath, inhaling the smell of car engines, grass, dirt, rabbits and the wild, sweet smell of giraffes and zebras, but the one smell that was missing was the scent of her family. So, that hadn’t been her car after all.

  The breeze was stirring. There was a stronger smell in the air, warm and sweet. Poppy turned and saw a giraffe walking towards them. Their eyes met. Poppy held her breath. Harley growled, his head buried beneath a blanket of leaves and twigs. Poppy tapped him with her paw. He looked up and then, seeing the giraffe, he sat down and kept very still.

  The giraffe blinked and seemed to smile. Poppy pulled her ears back as the giraffe drew closer.

  ‘Are they friendly?’ Harley growled.

  ‘I think so.’

  The giraffe’s legs were very long. Its strides were very wide. In no time at all, the giraffe stood before them.

  It lowered its head to their level and smiled. It didn’t speak, but instead tilted its head to one side.

  Poppy relaxed, seeing the gentle expression in the giraffe’s eyes. Her breath steadied and she wagged her tail. She guessed it wanted to know what they were doing there.

  ‘We’ve lost our family,’ Poppy whined, politely. She gave the giraffe her best Goldie grin, trying to be as well-mannered and friendly as she could. ‘Our friends, the rhinoceroses, told us they would have passed through here not long ago.’

  The giraffe’s large, dark eyes looked into Poppy’s. Even though it didn’t make a sound, Poppy had the impression it was listening to everything she said.

  ‘My family are in a big green car, like the one that was here just now. My pawrents will be inside with my brother and sister.’ She glanced past the giraffe to see Harley walking slowly around it. ‘Please,’ she whined. ‘Please tell me you have seen them.’

  The giraffe looked at her and then at Harley. The pup stopped for a second, then carried on circling the giraffe. Fortunately, Poppy noticed, the towering creature seemed neither nervous nor afraid of the pup.

  No one spoke. She wondered whether giraffes could actually speak, then thought maybe they had no reason to. These creatures had an air of peace and calm around them. Each seemed contented simply being in each other’s company.

  Then, the giraffe nodded towards the road that climbed up another hill. When Poppy looked back at the giraffe, she saw a sparkle in its eyes and the trace of a smile in its wide, dreamy expression.

  That was all Poppy needed. Now she was certain her family were not far away.

  ‘Thank you,’ she barked and wagged her tail.

  The giraffe turned to Harley. Before Poppy could say it was time to go, the giraffe reached towards him and, closing its eyes, gently pressed its cheek against the puppy’s face. Poppy could see what the giraffe was doing. It was comforting him.

  At first, Harley looked shocked. His eyes opened wide, but then he relaxed. He too closed his eyes as he leaned into the giraffe.

  Then, without warning, Harley jumped up and wrapped his paws around the giraffe’s neck. Before Poppy could think what to do, the giraffe raised its head, lifting Harley higher and higher. His hind paws dangled in the air. His tail swayed from side to side.

  Poppy raced around the giraffe. ‘Harley! Harley!’ she barked. ‘Please put him down!’ she cried.

  Her ears twitched, hearing Harley howling and growling with excitement.

  The giraffe looked down at Poppy, then slowly lowered its head to her level.

  Poppy stepped back as the giraffe’s face came so close they almost touched noses. She growled and howled softly, concerned and afraid.

  The giraffe looked into Poppy’s eyes as Harley swung around its neck, his paws sailing through the air before he slid back down to the ground. Silently, it turned around and walked away, leaving Harley gazing after it.

  Poppy turned on Harley. ‘What if you had fallen?’ she barked, curling her lip. ‘And will you just stop wandering off? We’re trying to find our families, yet I get the impression it’s only me who is bothered!’

  Harley looked at her, his eyes glistening.

  ‘We need to move on without any more messing about,’ she snarled then turned away.

  Her temper eased as she marched up the hill. She looked back and saw Harley walking slowly behind her hanging his head, his tail still.

  When she stopped, he looked up at her and said, ‘I’m sorry, Poppy, but it felt like being with Mum.’

  Poppy looked at him. She was confused.

  ‘Whenever I’m unhappy, Mum presses her face against mine.’ Harley looked at Poppy with big, sad eyes. ‘I miss that.’

  Poppy was overcome with a feeling she didn’t like. Guilt. She walked over to Harley and whined.

  ‘I am bothered. I do want to find my family,’ he said.

  ‘I know,’ she whined then licked his nose.

  Harley looked up at her; his eyes were brighter. ‘Poppy, when the giraffe lifted me up, I could see all around the park. And I saw that same green car that was with the camels.’

  ‘You saw my family?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Poppy spun around excitedly and started trotting back up the hill, but she hadn’t gone far before she realised that Harley wasn’t following. When she turned around, she saw he was standing watching her.

  ‘Harley,’
she called. ‘Come on.’

  He plodded towards her. It was frustrating that he didn’t share her enthusiasm. Her family were probably just over the brow of that hill. There was no time to waste. Slowly, though, her excitement ebbed away as she watched him.

  ‘Did you see your family too?’ she growled, already guessing his answer.

  Harley shook his head. Poppy walked over to him. She bent down and pressed her face against his cheek then closed her eyes. She felt him lean into her.

  ‘We’ll find them,’ she groaned. ‘I promise.’

  Chapter 15

  Ruffled Feathers

  Strange-looking birds meandered across the grass. But these were nothing like the ones Poppy saw back home. These were tall, much taller than her. Their bodies were covered in shaggy feathers – some were grey, others black, and their necks were just as long as their legs.

  Poppy had seen these before. She remembered sitting with Jack and Evie watching a programme about giant birds. She remembered they were called ostriches and had excellent eyesight and hearing. As if to confirm this, one of the birds turned and looked at them.

  Poppy slowed down. She felt uneasy seeing the ostrich watching them. Harley kept close. She gulped as one giant bird after another turned towards them.

  Numerous sets of big, bulbous eyes watched them closely, studying, glowering. The birds ruffled their wings. They opened their beaks. Some stretched their necks forward; others made a strange, hoarse sound.

  ‘Stay close to me,’ Poppy growled, hoping Harley didn’t sense how frightened she was. She looked around the enclosure. There were a lot of ostriches and they were closing in.

  ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about this,’ Harley growled, watching the birds moving slowly towards them.

  Poppy looked back and saw another ostrich standing over them. It opened its beak and lunged forward.

  Poppy barked, ‘Run!’

  They wove in between two ostriches, dodging their legs as the birds lashed out. Ostriches appeared everywhere. One of them turned and snapped, narrowly missing Poppy’s tail.

  ‘Come on!’ Poppy barked.

  They surged forward, twisting, dodging, ducking and diving. They ran as fast as they could. They heard the ostriches chasing after them, feathers rustling, their feet pummelling the ground.

  Then she remembered another fact about these giant birds – they were the fastest two-legged animals on earth. She whined, wishing she hadn’t remembered that fact.

  She glanced at Harley, seeing him racing beside her through the storm of legs, feathers and beaks. Ostriches came at them from all angles, snapping and kicking at their tails, legs, body and face. Poppy and Harley successfully avoided them, but for how long?

  Poppy couldn’t see a way out. They were surrounded. She barked at Harley, encouraging him to stay with her.

  Then she saw it – a gap! She rushed through, barking at the pup to follow. She looked over her shoulder and was relieved to see him running beside her. But as she turned back, something appeared in front of them. It was too late to stop. They collided with a jolt.

  Poppy and Harley fell backwards, stunned and dazed. She was certain there had been a gap, a means of escape, but now they faced a huge rock. They were trapped.

  She pressed her nose against Harley. He was OK. She scrunched her eyes shut, bracing herself for the ostriches’ attack.

  Everything fell silent.

  Poppy opened one eye and then the other. Harley peered from over his paws. They looked at each other and, feeling brave, they turned around. The ostriches had gone.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ Harley growled as the last ostrich disappeared behind a wooden shelter.

  ‘Neither do I,’ she barked. ‘But they’ve gone and that’s the main thing.’ She brushed his ears with her nose. ‘You OK?’

  Harley nodded.

  ‘I’ll climb this rock and see what I can see from up there,’ she barked.

  She turned around and then stopped. Her tail, which had been wagging with relief, now fell still. She froze, staring down at the rock, a rock with huge feet.

  They looked up slowly and whimpered. What they had bumped into was not a rock at all.

  Chapter 16

  Family Values

  A huge animal stared down at Poppy and Harley. Jack had talked about these animals many times before. He had said they were gentle giants, the largest living land animals. Poppy remembered thinking what fun it would be to play tug-of-war with its extraordinarily long nose. This was Jack’s favourite of all the safari creatures, and now Poppy was face to face with one – the elephant.

  But Poppy wasn’t so sure about them being gentle giants. This one was so close, its size alone terrified her, never mind its tusks, which looked more like large fangs either side of its trunk.

  The elephant looked down at them with its small, dark eyes. Its big ears flapped back and forth while its trunk rolled up and down like the paper whistles she had seen at Evie’s birthday party. Then it reached out towards them.

  ‘This is it,’ Poppy thought, her body trembling. ‘We’re done for.’

  She closed her eyes and held her breath. The tip of the elephant’s trunk brushed her face, blowing warm air against her ears, her eyes and her nose.

  ‘That was close. Lucky I spotted you when I did.’

  Poppy opened her eyes to see the grey giant smiling.

  The elephant looked up and, lifting its trunk, it trumpeted, ‘Grumpy birds!’

  Poppy pulled her ears back. Her eyes bulged and she trembled.

  ‘Ignore them,’ the elephant rumbled softly. ‘They just want the humans to themselves. Humans bring the food, you see.’

  Poppy nodded. The giant was too scary to talk to. Then it turned to Harley. Instantly Poppy stepped forward, about to jump protectively in front of the pup, but then she saw the friendly expression on its face. She breathed slowly, watching the tip of its trunk slowly move towards Harley then tickle him behind the ears. But this time the pup didn’t want to play. To Poppy’s surprise, he stood very still and refused to look up.

  Poppy gently licked his ears and whined. Harley glanced at her, and she saw his whiskers tremble as he attempted to smile.

  ‘Thank you for rescuing us,’ Poppy barked, turning back to the elephant and deciding one of them needed to say something. ‘I am Poppy and this is Harley. We are cream retrievers.’

  ‘Cream retrievers? I haven’t heard of those.’ The elephant looked at Harley. It seemed to be about to speak again, but then it turned to Poppy instead. ‘I am Bushby, an African elephant. I am pleased to meet you.’

  ‘The ostriches should not have worried,’ Poppy growled, as she looked around in search of the huge birds. ‘We do not want the humans to see us.’

  The elephant narrowed its eyes and took a step towards her.

  ‘These humans are nice; they will not hurt you, unlike others.’

  Poppy whined, remembering what Nami the rhinoceros had said about the extinction of their relatives.

  ‘The humans here look after us. We’re very lucky, they give us food, a warm bed at night, a pool to splash around in and toys to play with.’

  ‘What is a pool?’ Harley squeak-barked.

  Bushby lifted his trunk and trumpeted, ‘What is a pool? Do you mean you have never seen one?’

  Poppy pulled her ears back. She looked at Harley, but luckily the pup didn’t seem fazed by the elephant’s loud trumpeting.

  ‘Come with me,’ the elephant rumbled, stepping back. ‘You can join my young sisters if you like. They enjoy playing in the water all day long.’

  Despite wanting to find her family, Poppy was pleased with his suggestion. She wagged her tail, grateful to the gentle grey giant for trying to cheer Harley up. But to her surprise, the little one didn’t jump up, squeak-barking and growling, tail swaying and ready to
play. Instead, he stared at the ground and sighed.

  An awkward silence followed as Bushby waited for Harley’s reaction. He gently ruffled the top of the pup’s head with the tip of his trunk. Harley still refused to look up.

  ‘That would be great, thank you,’ Poppy barked, feeling sure that when Harley saw the young elephants playing in the water, he would want to play just like he had with Wylde.

  Putting the urgency of finding her family aside for a while, she concentrated on trying to make her little furriend happy again and so she stepped beside the elephant.

  ‘Come on, Harley,’ she growled over her shoulder and was pleased to see him follow.

  As soon as they started walking, Poppy’s heart sank. The road was nowhere to be seen. They were lost again. This time, though, she refused to let her impatience lead to panic and losing her temper. Instead, she kept thinking, I can do this. I can do this.

  She decided to begin believing in herself and pushed her worries to one side. Determined to stay positive, she thought that Bushby could help them find the road again. But for now, she was certain Harley was in need of some playtime.

  ‘Do you come from a big family?’ Poppy growled as they walked across the flat grassland.

  ‘Yes I did.’

  Poppy looked up at the elephant, intrigued by his strange answer.

  ‘We were a big herd. My mother was in charge of us all…’

  Poppy noticed he spoke about his family as though they were no longer with him. She listened and waited, interested to hear what he had to say.

  ‘Elephants are hunted in the wild for their tusks. One day, when I was very young, a group of hunters arrived driving jeeps and carrying guns. They killed all of my family. I still don’t know how I managed to survive.’

  Poppy whined. She looked at Harley, checking for a reaction. Now he was listening. He gazed up at Bushby, his eyes wide and, she was certain, glazed with tears.