"we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "on a pretty little farm the sun comes up." "on a curious cat and a pug-nosed pup." "a brand-new life outside the door." "follow yourose and go explore." "'cause we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "such a great big world it's all set up." "for a curious cat and a pug-nosed pup." "friends to meet, places to be." "it's all soew and fun to see." "and we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "Except for the activity up in the hayloft, the farm was pretty quiet that morning." "Theoise upstairs didn't disturb the dogs that slept in the barn." "They could sleep through anything." "But a lot of the other animals were awakened by all that scurrying overhead." "Some of them just accepted it." "Some were pretty annoyed." "And a few quietly plotted revenge." "But the mood was very different up in the hayloft." "The farm cat had just given birth to her first litter." "She was determined to be a good mother andever yell at her kittens." "But that approach wouldot last very long, because Milo, one of her kittens, was trouble from the very beginning." "As soon as he could walk, he began wandering to the edge of the hayloft." ""Milo, dear," his mother said, "that'sot a good idea!"" ""Come back here, Milo!" She yelled." "The first animal Milo met outside of his family was Otis, one of the barn puppies." ""You're a strange-looking cat," Milo said." ""Oh, I'mot a cat." "I'm a dog," Otis replied." "Milo tried to figure this out and said," ""oh, all right, a dog." "I understand." "But, um, really, deep down inside, we're all cats, right?"" ""Uh,o," Otis barked." ""No." "Deep down inside, I'm a dog." "I'm a dog."" "Nevertheless, as if they knew how much they wouldeed each other," "Milo and Otis became best friends." "Pretty soon, it was the beginning of a big day for Milo." "The kittens wereow big enough to leave the hayloft and see the world beyond the barn." "As usual, Milo got into trouble." "He was the first to start calling out for food." ""Milo, finish your breakfast or the puppies will get it!" His mother yelled." "It seemed to Milo she yelled a lot." ""Milo, did you hear me?"" ""And, Milo, I've told you again and again, please, don't walk on the chickens."" ""Now, listen carefully," Milo's mother said, once again trying to speak softly." ""This is the dock and down there is the river."" "Now, you mustever,ever go too close to the edge of the dock." ""Everyone understand?"" ""What's too close?" Milo asked." ""Is this?" "Is this too clo...?" "Oh!" "Ah!"" ""Milo, get back here," his mother demanded." "But Milo... ah." "Ooh." "He was swept away by the river." "And his mother had to go after him." ""All of you, back on the dock," she ordered." ""Rightow." "And behave while I'm gone." "Milo!" "Milo, I'm coming!"" ""Oh, Milo!" His mother said." ""Look at you." "Are you all right?"" ""Eh, yes," Milo meowed." ""Do you think you can follow me back to the shore?"" ""I..." "I..." "I think so," Milo said." ""All right, be careful," his mother ordered, and began swimming." ""All right."" ""All right." "I'mot going to yell," his mother said." ""I'm just glad you're all right."" "Now dry yourself off, like this:" ""And follow me back home."" ""Can't we swim back?" Milo asked." ""That was fun." "Ha, ha."" ""Milo!" "Get over here!"" "The months passed, and the farm was humming with the sounds of summer." "Milo and Otis grew big enough to play outside by themselves." "Milo had someew hiding places he couldn't wait to try out." "Otis sniffed around the yard for a while." ""You're in the pipe, Milo." "Try again."" ""How does he do that?" Milo wondered." "And he tried another spot." ""Oh,ot the old puss-in-boots trick," Otis groaned." ""Cat's in the can!" Otis shouted." "And Milo slipped off to another hiding place." "It wasn't easy fooling a dog'sose." "Otis started following his trail immediately and found him again." "Milo tried a harder spot." "But Otis found him there too." "Now Miloeeded a brilliant idea." ""Aha." He thought of a place where Otis couldever sniff him out." "It worked." "But Milo wondered if it was really worth the trouble." "The following day, the henhouse was in an uproar." "Milo and Otis went to see what all the commotion was about." "Suddenly, one chicken's voice rang out:" ""Okay, you lot!" "Clear out!" "Clear out!"" "And all the hens left in a clucking flurry because that was Gloria talking, a young chicken who had scratched and pecked her way to the top rung of the henhouse." "Gloria had a good reason for wanting to be alone." ""There it is, fellas," Gloria cackled." ""My first egg." "Keep an eye on it, Otis, while I spread the word."" "Otis took the egg-watching assignment very seriously." ""Did you hear about Gloria?"" ""Oh, the egg?" "So it finally happened."" ""Is she staying at home with it or is she going back to work?"" ""Ha-ha-ha." "You want me to kick it back to you, Otis?" Milo asked." ""Now, stop that!" Otis said." ""I kicked it by accident." "We can't start playing games with the egg.ow, just leave it alone."" ""Look, this isn't funny," Otis said." ""Gloria gave us a job to do."" ""How long do we have to stick around this henhouse?"" ""Until Gloria comes back."" "Maybe you don't realize it, Milo, but this is a major day for me because..." ""Well, maybe you don't realize that this is the day I've become a watchdog."" "Naturally, the sight of a dog and a cat watching an egg brought the usual string of gawkers..." "And thrill-seekers." "Some strangeoises brought Milo out of the henhouse." "What was all this about?" ""Hey, could you cut that out?" Milo said." "Hey!" "But the bird just ignored him." ""Hey!"" "Your singing stinks." "Will you quit it?" ""Hello in there."" ""Otis, Otis, Otis, Otis." "Come here, Otis," a frog croaked." ""What is it?" Otis said." ""I'm supposed to be egg-sitting."" ""Otis, it's your cat buddy." "He's got the whole farm crazy." "Do something, and quick." "Otis, come on."" "The frog was right." "At that moment, Milo was teasing a crab that was waddling through the farmyard." "But this time, someone got the best of Milo." ""He deserved it," the frog croaked." ""Hey, he's my friend," Otis said." ""He still deserved it."" "The trouble with guarding an egg is you have to always be on guard." "And outside, Milo and Otis suddenly remembered:" "Ah!" ""The egg!"" ""Freeze!" Otis barked." ""Touch that egg and you're dead meat!"" ""I mean it, punk!" Otis growled." ""Just try something." "Make my doggy day."" ""Lighten up." "I didn't touch your cruddy egg," the hedgehog grumbled." ""Probably rotten anyway."" "Milo wanted just one more look at that weird animal." "Theoise attracted a group of local snoops looking to dig up some scandal." "But Milo's attention was focused somewhere else." ""Milo," Otis said, "i..." "I..." "I think we're having a baby."" "The chick dried itself off, looked at Otis and cheeped:" ""Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Mommy!" "Mommy?"" ""Oh,o, I'mot your mommy," Otis said. "Your mommy's a chicken."" "The other animals told Otis he'd better take the chick to Gloria, and quickly, which he did." "But the chick kept coming back to Otis." ""Mommy."" ""Mommy, mommy, ha, ha, mommy, mommy."" ""I told you, I'mot your mommy," Otis said again and again." ""Now go back to Gloria." "Do you understand?" "You're a chicken,ot a dog." "A chicken."" ""Woof," the chick peeped." ""Woof, woof, mommy."" "Once again, they tried to make the mixed-up chick join the other chickens." ""Okay, you want to be a dog?" Otis barked." ""Here's what you've got to do." "You've got to be a rough, tough, mean, fighting dog, like this."" "The chick didn't like the sound of this at all." ""Okay, puppy," Otis ordered." ""Your turn." "Give it a try." "Give it a try."" ""Mommy." "Chicken mommy," the chick peeped, and ran to Gloria." ""Oh, it worked," Otis thought." ""I'll miss him." "I'll miss him." "But at least he finally found out that he is a chicken."" ""Are you sure you know where we're going?" Otis asked." ""Sure." "The dock is right this way, and you'veever seen the river." ""Come on," said Milo." "Phew." "Otis had a feeling there was trouble ahead." ""Wow, look at this thing, Otis," Milo said." ""Do you think we can eat it?"" ""Who would eat something that looks like that?" Otis replied and continued on to the river." "And then it happened." "When Otis was just sitting on the dock, wasting time..." ""Oh." "Oh." "Aah!"" "Otis dried off and came back to settle the score with that..." "That, uh, thing." "Milo, meanwhile, stumbled on an excellent hiding place." "Ha, ha." "Ah, he was sure Otis wouldever be able to find him this time." ""Surprise!" Milo shouted." ""I finally fooled you!"" ""Milo," Otis barked, "get out of there before something happens."" "But something did." ""Ha, ha." "Quick, jump in!" "This'll be fun!" Milo shouted." "Otis didn't know what to do." ""Hey, this is great." "Come on!" "Hurry up, Otis!" "Come with me."" "Maybe Milo was having a terrific time, but Otis was pretty scared." "He knew he had to rescue Milo, so he ran alongside the river, trying to keep up, and without much success." "Then Otis saw a bridge up ahead." "Maybe he could jump off the bridge into the box if he hurried." ""Oh!" But he was too late." "There was only one way to catch up with Miloow." ""Oh, boy." "Here we go." "Oof!" "God."" "But that didn't work either." "Otis just couldn't swim fast enough and the river took Milo farther downstream." "Milo wasn't really worried until he lost sight of Otis." "Suddenly he heard something moving in the bushes." "Was it Otis?" "Definitelyot." "Milo tried to duck low in the box so the bear wouldn't see him." "But the box was drifting right towards the hungry animal." ""Close call," said Milo, poking his head up." "But unfortunately much too soon." "The bear saw what was in that box." "Then came Otis." "He surveyed the scene and he knew sometimes a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do." "Suddenly Otis started swimming away and said to himself, "what am I doing?" "That bear is 10 times my size."" "And Otis came up with a much more sensible plan." "He ran up on the riverbank, leading the bear away from Milo." "It worked." "The bear followed him and forgot all about the orange cat in the floating box." "Milo kept drifting along, but he was getting a little concerned because the river was beginning to move faster..." "And faster." "Milo was all right, except for being wet." "He'd lost track of Otisow, and he was drifting farther and farther from home." "By the time the moon rose, the river had carried Milo deep into the forest." "Now and then, he saw some eyes flashing among the trees." "And he heard mysterious hoots and growls and cries in theight." "His trip down the river wasn't fun any more." "It had turned into something lonely and frightening." "He began to wish he'dever jumped into this box and he began to wish he was home." "In the water, Milo could see the reflection of the moon." "It seemed to be trembling as much as he was in the chilly, mistyight." "Sleep wasot possible." "He drifted on through the darkness, hoping to find the morning waiting just around the bend." "When daylight came," "Milo saw a farm on the riverbank." "For one happy moment, he thought he was home and cried out for joy." "But he looked again." "Those cows were all strangers and he remembered he was far away from his farm." "He didn't know when he would ever see it again." "Otis hadot given up his chase, not by a long shot." "He was running along the riverbank in hot pursuit." "To keep up his spirits, he began singing a dog marching song." "here comes the dog strong and brave, woof here comes the dog your life he..." "N" "he then decided to skip the whole thing." "Otis followed the river until it flowed into the wetlands and he came to a forbidding place, a place likeone he'd ever seen before:" "The deadwood swamp." "A bog where skeleton trees grew without leaves or branches, and whereo creature could live, except for the dreaded deadwood birds." "And one of them was perching on a familiar wooden box." ""Okay, punk," Otis barked." ""There's the box." "Now, where's the cat?"" ""Poor cat." "Cat so sad," the bird croaked." ""Look in the box."" "Otis prepared himself and peeked in the box and saw only a solitary black feather." "And the bird flew away, cackling." "In fact, Milo wasowhere near the deadwood swamp." "After his box got stuck there, he ran." "He ran from those birds as quickly as he could." "Now he found himself in a burning valley." "The ground was hot and the smoke made his eyes sting." "He had to get out of there." "Milo ran until he came to an open Meadow where he saw a kind of animal he'dever seen before." "Feeling pretty hungry, he immediately wondered," ""is that something you can eat?"" "Well, perhapsot, but even if this creature wasn't food, maybe he had some hidden away." "Heh." ""Hello, someone there?" The fox called." "Milo kept himself well-hidden." ""Oh, well, time for lunch break anyway." "Ha, ha."" "Which was exactly what Milo wanted to hear." "He trailed the fox, waiting to see just what was on his lunch menu." ""I must be very careful," Milo thought." ""I must make sure i stay out of sight." "And above all, i must keep absolutely silent."" ""I know I put it around here somewhere," the fox said." ""Oh, there it is!"" "And Milo's mouth watered when he saw the fox holding a plump, juicy muskrat." "The fox felt someone watching him." ""Hello." "Who's there?" "No sense taking chances with a lovely meal like this."" "And he began burying his lunch where he figuredo one would ever be able to find it." ""Yeah, here, my precious muskrat." ""You should be safe there till dinnertime," the fox said." "Milo crept slowly down the tree and watched the fox run over the horizon." "And then, once on the ground," "Milo knew just how to get his paws on a big tasty muskrat lunch." "Otis, meanwhile, had traveled through the wetlands to a beach full of clam holes." "A clam might be able to help him, but how does a dog talk to a clam?" "He remembered there was one magic word everyone understood and that was "please."" "So he marched up to a clam hole and said," ""excuse me, please." "Aww." "Oh."" "But Otis had a bigger problem than rude clams." "The clouds were getting darker and darker and a chilly wind was whipping across the countryside." "Milo was several miles from the beach caught in the same storm." "He got a little wet and he felt awfully lonesome without Otis, but at least he was safe." "At the shore..." "Otis wasot so lucky." "The tide came in so fast that the rock Otis had been sitting on was completely surrounded by water." "Soon his dry rock would be underwater." "The beach was far and the water was rough." "Ah, he'dever be able to swim to shore." "And the water was growing higher." "Now the water was up to his paws." "He'd have to try to swim." "He took a deep breath, but just when he was ready to dive in..." ""Oh,ot again," the sea turtle gurgled." ""Every time the tide comes in some fool gets stuck out here."" "Otis wasn't sure what this turtle wanted." ""I say, look, do you want a ride back to shore orot?" "I mean, don't you know i came out here to save you?"" ""No," Otis said, "i didn't know that."" ""Well,ow you know." "Get on."" ""Now, just stay on the shore, where you belong," the turtle grumbled." ""Thanks for saving me," Otis said." ""Hmph." "Thanks,othing."" "Next time the tide comes in, I'll have to rescue somebody else." ""What a life."" ""You saved mine."" ""I save someone just about every month." "Did you know that?"" ""No," said Otis, "i didn't know that."" ""Well," said the turtle, "now you know." "Heh." "Oh, dear, back to sea."" "Under a fresh, bright sky" "Otis resumed his search for Milo." "He saw in the distance an animal that he thought might be helpful." ""Ahh, god." "Ooh, much better."" ""Excuse me," Otis called out, "I'm looking for a friend of mine."" ""I'm looking for someone to play with," the fox said." ""Wanna race me across the stream?"" ""I haven't got time," Otis said, sensing this fox wasn't gonna be any help." ""Wait." "What kind of animal are you anyway?"" ""I'm a dog, of course," Otis answered." ""How can you be a dog?" "You haveo tail."" "Otis was outraged." ""I certainly do." "Look."" ""Ha!" "You call that a tail?" "This is a tail." "Ha-ha-ha."" "And with that, the fox jumped away laughing." "Milo, far away, stumbled upon a road that looked clear and safe." "He marveled at this road made of wood and iron and decided to follow the road and see where it would take him." "But then..." "Milo had ducked just in time." ""What was that?" He wondered." ""It could've run right over me."" "But Milo was determined." "He made up his mind to follow the wood and iron road." "Although he'd certainly keep on the lookout for another of those noisy animals." "The iron road led Milo to a Meadow of wild cotton blossoms." "Now Milo was plenty tired." "Maybe someone could help him find a safe place to rest for a while." "Maybe someone like..." "Her." ""You look tired and thirsty," a deer whispered." ""Follow me." ""Bound with me through fields of clouds," the deer sang." ""Um, I'm..." "I'mot sure cats know how to bound," Milo said." ""Well, just let your heart lead and your feet will follow."" "And we'll bound and leap, like a gentle breeze." "Bound and leap, like a Zephyr set free." ""Bound and, of course, leap."" ""Well, I don't know." "It just doesn't look right when I do it."" ""Frolic with me, friend." "Come, frolic." "Frolic."" ""Okay." "Okay, look, I've got it." "I'm frolicking." "I'm frolicking." "You see?"" ""Ahem." "You can stop frolickingow," the deer cooed." "She showed Milo to the cool water of a forest pool." ""I think I'm a little tuckered out," Milo said." ""Yes, it is possible to over-frolic," the deer murmured." ""Here, let me show you a place where we can rest."" "And the deer took Milo to a soft, mossy spot on the forest floor." "And Milo was asleep within moments." "Otis knew he was on the right track." "He had trailed Milo from the deadwood swamp to the fox's Meadow." "Andow, if he just kept going, maybe he'd finally find the friend he missed so much." "Butow, it was the end of a long day of hard traveling." "As evening was falling," "Milo decided the safest place to spend theight would be in a tree." "He settled down and watched the sun set, wondering what sorts of creatures would begin stirring..." "After dark." ""And what are you doing up here?" A strange bird said to Milo." ""Hiding from the screech owls, i suppose."" ""Sorry, sorry," Milo said." ""Does thisest belong to you?" "I didn't know."" ""Yes, and it'sot just anyest, I'll have you know." "I'm theight bird, and that is a dreamingest."" ""What do you mean?" Milo asked." ""Well, dear cat, anyone sleeping there" ""will have his sleep flooded with dreams," the bird said." ""But it's a safe place,"" "safe from those screech owls." "So settle down in theest, dear cat, and be prepared for the dreams." "They may be sad or frightening or beautiful, but sleeping in thatest" ""dreams will surely come."" "And Milo's dreams began almost the moment he was asleep." "First, a sweet dream about being back on the farm..." "And seeing old friends." "And about the time his mother left him with a doting babysitter." "And then came a dream that was very sad." "A dream about Otis and how they used to play together when they were young." "Oh, would it ever be like this again?" "Would he ever see Otis again?" "It seemed so real." "Milo could almost hear Otis' voice." "But it wasn't Otis' voice at all." "It was a cry for help from down on the ground." "Milo woke up and, forgetting all about the screech owls, he climbed down the tree towards the desperate cry." "Milo hid as an owl swooped down and carried off a field mouse." "And though he was a little scared, Milo still followed the cries for help." "Help!" "Please, somebody help me!" "Oh." "Ow!" "Ow, my leg is caught," the pig cried." ""And that bird, he'll be back."" ""Take it easy," said Milo, working quickly to free the pig's foot." ""You're fine," Milo said." ""Now, do you know a place where we'd be safe?"" ""Well, back with my family," said the pig. "Come with me."" ""Come on!"" "The pig's family squealed with joy when they saw him return." "And over theoise, the pig yelled," ""hey, mom, here comes the cat!" "Yeah, the cat that saved me."" "The pigs offered Milo a place to sleep." "And theext morning, he woke up and thought," ""these pigs are all right." "I mean, friendly and kind." "Just aice bunch of pigs."" "But then the mother pig squealed," ""breakfast!"" "And the table manners of this family came as quite a surprise to Milo." "The whole business was a little too messy for any cat to take." "But that was the way it was done at mealtime in this particular family." "Milo went to say goodbye to his friend who still had some breakfast on his face." ""Come on," said the cat." ""You've at least got to keep your face clean."" "After goodbyes, Milo reflected on the family he'd stayed with." ""Jeez," he thought, "no wonder they call them pigs."" "After a whole day of traveling, Milo arrived at a brook." "In the water, he could see some delicious-looking trout." "After some consideration, he figured out how he could catch one." ""That cat has got to be kidding," muttered aearby raccoon." "But all at once..." "Milo caught one." "And the raccoon wanted it." ""Hey, cat,ice fish," the raccoon said." ""Too bad it's gonna be the one that got away."" "But the raccoon wasn't the only one interested in Milo's fish." "They battled over the trout until the bear caught sight of something bigger and tastier:" "A cat." "Milo knew he wouldn't have a chance against the bear on the ground, but perhaps in the air." "Milo was safe, butever did get his lunch." "Pretty soon, he had another chance for a meal." ""Some seagull eggs might be tasty," Milo thought." "But suddenly, up above a seagull screamed," ""cat!" "Cat!" "There's a cat near the babies!"" "A chorus of birds joined in." ""Cat!" "Cat!"" ""Come on, peck him away!" "Peck him away from theests!"" "The seagulls were pecking him, hurting him." "There was only one way for Milo to escape." ""All this just for a lunch?" Milo thought to himself." ""Well, who ever heard of eating seagull eggs anyway?"" "Milo climbed out of the sea, feeling salty, wet and cold, and there'd been times he'd looked a lot better too." "But at least he came to shoreear a shack that looked warm and safe." "He would have thought differently if he'd known who lived in the shack." "Milo's fur was beginning to dry off and he was feeling safe at last, until he looked at what was right outside." ""Oh!"" ""Stay calm," Milo thought." ""It's all right, as long as he doesn't... oh,o!"" "Milo tried to hide, but the bear smelled the cat right away, and Milo knew somehow he was going to have to outsmart this bear." ""Okay, tough guy!" "Come and get me!" He shouted, darting back into a drawer." "The bear reached for Milo with an open, hungry mouth." ""No,o, up here!" Milo yelled." ""Up here!"" ""Come on, just reach in and grab me!"" "Too late!" "Hey, down here!" "Wanna come in?" "I'll help you." "I'll pull you in by yourose." "Which drawer has the cat?" ""Now, here's a little hint."" "Now the bear was raging mad." "He'd had enough of rummaging through drawers after a cat." "Now he was going to pull the whole shack apart." "Phew." "It looked bad, but Milo had one last plan." "He jumped on top of the dresser." "The bear came closer." "Milo could feel the tips of his claws." "And just when the bear almost had him..." ""Perfect shot," Milo said, feeling pretty good." "And the bear, knocked silly, stumbled out of the shack, wondering what hit him." "Milo was afraid the bear would be back." "He thought he'd be a lot safer hiding at the top of a tree." "But he was wrong again." "Climbing out of the pit was impossible." "Milo called for help, even though he knew it was useless." "Nobody would hear him out here." "But someone did." "Milo couldn't believe what he saw." "Could it really be Otis?" ""Don't worry," Otis barked." ""I'll get you out somehow."" ""Did you try climbing out?"" ""It's too deep." "See?" Milo said." ""I have an idea," Otis said." ""Climb it!" Otis barked." "I think it's too short" ""don't worry!" Otis barked." ""I've got another idea."" ""Grab the end," Otis shouted." ""We did it!" Otis yelled, opening his mouth by mistake." ""All right, hold on!" Otis growled, making sure to keep his teeth tightly clenched." ""Ha!" "Are you all right?" Otis asked." ""You haveo idea what I've been through." "Bears, snakes, even seagulls!"" "But that was all behind them." "Now they were bursting with joy because, finally, they were back together." ""Listen." "What was that?" Otis said." "They ran to the cat cries and Milo was suddenly breathless." ""Hello." "I'm Joyce."" ""Joyce?"" ""Joyce!"" "Joyce and Milo seemed to get friendlier and friendlier." "Heh." "Otis hadever seen such ridiculous behavior." "Never." ""Joyce, come back with me to my farm."" ""I..." "I don't know." "A farm isn't exactly my lifestyle."" ""Oh, you'll love it!" Milo said." ""They'll all love you." "I love you."" "Joyce finally said yes." "And the three travelers began the journey back to the farm." "Milo had a plan." "They would find the river that carried him away and follow it back home." "Joyce knew where a river flowed through these woods, so she led the way, with Milo by her side" "and Otis trailing behind." ""Are you sure you know where we're going?" Otis said. "Huh?" "I don't see any rivers around here."" ""Trust me," said Joyce." "Otis just growled." ""Come on, Otis!" Milo called out." ""We want to make it home before winter."" ""Otis, where are you?" Milo shouted." ""Have you known him long?" Joyce asked." "Finally, just as Joyce said, they came to a river." ""I hope it's the right one," Milo said." "They followed it upstream, hoping to see something familiar." ""Yes, this is the right river!" Milo cried out." ""I'llever forget those waterfalls." "I told you she'd do it!" "Otis!" "Otis!"" "Otis was feeling pretty rotten about the way the trip was going." "Milo was always with Joyce and hardly paid any attention to him." "So Otis made a decision." ""Um..."" "You two follow the river." "I'm going over the mountains" ""by myself."" ""Don't be a fool, Otis." "Stay with us."" ""I'd rather go alone."" ""Hey, where are you going, Otis?"" "But he didn't answer." "And he didn't even look back." "Otis was only gone a few days when the first snowstorm of winter interrupted the journey." "Traveling through the snow would be too dangerous." "Milo and Joyce knew they'd have to find shelter in the woods and wait until spring." "They took a cozy winter home in a tree trunk." "While Otis trudged through the snow, continuing on his way." "That afternoon, the winter sun was warm enough to melt the snow and it came tumbling down from the trees." "Otis was all right, but he was sure he heard a call for help coming from somewhere." "Otis fought his way through the snow, heading towards the voice in the woods." ""Where are you?" Otis hollered." ""Um, over here," whimpered a dog's voice." ""L..." "I..." "I can't dig out." "It's solid ice."" "At first, Otis was exasperated." "But then he saw her." ""I'm sondra," she said." ""Who are you?"" ""Otis." "I'veever met a dog like you, Sandra."" ""No, sondra." "It's a French pronunciation."" ""She's smart too."" "And Otis, for the very first time in his rather serious life, began acting very silly." "Now Otis began to understand what had come over Milo." "He and sondra kept on romping through the drifts, kicking up snow and disturbing some of the more propereighbors." "Sondra had been spending the winter in a small but comfortable cave." "She and Otis decided to stay there until spring." "And though a chill wind was blowing outside, the winter suddenly seemed warmer." "Sometime later, during the last weeks of the long winter," "Joyce was making preparations." "The time was drawingear." ""You okay, Joyce?" Milo asked." ""Want some more dinner?" "Remember, you're eating for eightow."" ""Milo." "Milo, I think it's time."" ""Okay," Milo said." ""Remember the way to breathe?"" ""I hope that turns out to be a kitten," thought Milo." ""It is!" "It's a little girl kitten!"" ""And six more to come, Milo." "Heh, heh." "Yeah."" "That same day,ot too far away," "Otis was in his cave with sondra, who was heavy with puppy." ""Is it going to be soon?"" ""Well, any minuteow, Otis," sondra whispered." ""Oh." "Oh!" "It's Otis, Jr.!"" "Oh!" "Ha, ha!" "It's Otis, Jr.!" "I'm a father!" "I'm a father!" "Oh, ha!" ""It's a boy!" "It's a boy!" "It's a boy!"" ""Uh, Otis, you ran out a little too soon."" ""It's a litter!" "It's a litter!"" "Milo watched as the kittens got bigger every day." "And the puppies grew even faster." ""You know," Otis said, "we really should think ofames for them."" ""Oh, I did that already," sondra replied." ""I gave them all Frenchames."" "This one is Jean-Pierre." ""That's francois, and the one on the end is suzette."" "As the kittens grew, Milo soonoticed that one of them was turning out to look just like him." ""I'll bet that one's gonna be trouble," Milo thought." "And Milo started remembering when he was a little kitten back on the farm." "He even remembered the day he met Otis." "But as the cold weather dragged on," "Otis and sondra faced a serious problem." "There was too much winter left and too little food." "Otis knew he'd have to go out and find some." "He remembered a pond where he'd seen a bear scoop up some fish through a hole in the ice." "Maybe he'd be lucky and find some fish there." "But the bitter, cold weather had frozen over the fishing hole." "And the fish were locked in solid ice." "And a blast of icy wind signaled the start of a winter storm." "It looked bad for Otis." "The wind was stinging his face likeeedles." "His paws wereumb from the cold." "He was beaten down by the storm." "He had to rest." "Almost frozen," "Otis laid down in the snow, ready to give up." "But then he began thinking about sondra and the puppies." "They were waiting for him back in the cave, depending on him." "What would happen to them if heever returned?" "And Otis..." "Otis felt his strength renewed." "He forced himself up on his paws, knowing that he had to go on for sondra, for the puppies, for dogs everywhere!" "The storm finally died down, but Otis hado idea where he was." "Then in the distance, he saw a sign of hope." "He barked loudly to announce that there was a hungry dog outside." "And a familiar form appeared in the window." ""Look what the blizzard blew in," Milo said." ""You look hungry." "How about some fish?"" ""Okay, butot for me." "For my puppies."" ""You have puppies?" "Me too."" ""You have what?"" ""I mean, uh, kittens," Milo yelled." "Otis knew his family would love to have these fish, but how was he going to reach them way up there?" "Milo had it all worked out." ""Hey, Otis."" ""I've really missed you."" "So Milo and Otis made an agreement." "They'd meet in the spring with their families and all together they'd travel back to the farm." "And spring wasn't that far off." "On the first warm day, just as planned," "Milo brought out hisew family." "And they waited for Otis." "Otis was having a little trouble getting his puppies organized." "And on this glorious spring day, all the animals all around the countryside were bringing their young out into the sunshine." "The fox who hid the muskrat now had a cub." "And so, of course, did the raccoon who stole the fish." "And the deer was teaching her Fawn to frolic." "And Milo and Joyce had their kittens." "Finally, Otis arrived, and the two families saw each other for the first time." "At first, they were a little..." "But then..." "Otis led the charge, and the puppies ran towards the kittens, eager to meet the cats they'd heard so much about." ""This is your uncle Milo," Otis said to his puppies." ""The one you pulled out of the pit?" Francois asked." "And all the puppies and kittens began to get to know each other." ""You're a strange-looking dog," suzette said to Milo, Jr." ""You're dogs, we're cats," he replied." "Then Otis barked, "hey!" "Hey!"" "Hey!" "All right, everyone quiet." ""Quiet!"" "And after the whole group was gathered together," "Milo and Otis led the way down the road." "The road that would take them to the place where their lives had begun." "The road that would take them home." "now the journey's over and we're heading back home." "with a very good friend you'reever alone." "stories to tell, stories to hear be a lot more in the coming year." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "such a great big world it's all set up." "for a curious cat and a pug-nosed pup." "friends to meet, places to be it's all soew and fun to see." "and we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "saw a box and an owl and a turtle and a bear." "different animals everywhere." "each one where they wanted to be." "some on the farm some living free." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "now our story has come to an end." "but we'll have more to share my friend." "tomorrow morning when the sun comes up." "on a curious cat and a pug-nosed pup." "oh, we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today." "we're gonna take a walk outside today." "gonna see what we can find today"