Echoes of the Zeiglar March

By Willow Love

Willow has always loved listening to biblical stories. The Echoes of the Zeiglar March has given her a chance to share some of those stories in a new light. An example of this is the story of David and Goliathseen with Jakey and Reaper.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Jun 9, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490883212

Willow Love

Willow Love continues the story of the Zeiglar group seeking their “promised land” in this book. Willow has used the names and temperament of the real animals who lived through the flood of her home in 2010. Leo, Rhianna, Rio, and Lilly are just as they were written. Willow’s daughter has looked forward to this story being published and has drawn courage and laughter from the story. Willow hopes for her readers to understand this is pure fantasy and a way to retell biblical stories.

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Copyright © 2015 Willow Love.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

WestBow Press

A Division of Thomas Nelson & Zondervan

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.westbowpress.com

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8322-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8323-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-8321-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015909000

WestBow Press rev. date: 6/8/2015

CONTENTS

Cast of Characters within this book

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Tara moved to the front of her tote and stood up. Rhia! Rhia! she cried. Tara waited until she saw Rhia standing against the back of the tote before continuing.

Rhia! Rhia! Please watch out! There is danger ahead! There is a waterfall ahead! You, your children and the turtles are going to drop down over a watery cliff! Be warned, because your tote might turn over! You must save your group. If you can find your tote, and put your group back inside the tote…do so! If you cannot find your tote; save your group! Find a way to stay together!

CAST OF CHARACTERS WITHIN THIS BOOK

Rio: is a twelve years old brown and black long haired dachshunds. He is the wise counsel of the Zeiglar house

Kipper: is an overweight dachshunds with long, light brown hair, and is constantly hungry

Tommy: red eared turtle, who is about three years old, almost seven inches long and eight inches wide. Tommy is green with black stripes shell, webbed hands and feet, and a red strip on either side of his long neck

Jakey: A black striped tabby (kitten), male, with an oversized bushy tail resembling a squirrel’s. He is mischievous, a good jumper, and believes he is a large puppy.

Shadow: soft black female kitten

Hallie" deep orange and white /male tabby

Rhia: a medium sized solid black cat with an Egyptian shaped head, loving and kind. She has been spaded. Her nickname is Rhia.

Leo: a large tuxedo cat, partly declawed, large and powerful. He has been living for a while as a feral cat and has been neutered.

Lilly: an Australian Sheppard that appears to have some Blue heeler mixed into her DNA. She is white with black and brown spots. Lilly loves to play chase, run, chews things, and believes she is a kitten.

Rin: an oversized bantam rooster who thinks he is a dog

Skiler: a deep blue young parakeet, who thinks he is a bat, and sometimes hangs upside down during the night

Tweetie: a bright yellow, young parakeet, who has lost her mother

Jibbles: a parentless baby squirrel who is being bottle fed

Marmie: a young mother hound dog, whose owners got rid of her pups

Tara: A young full sized, white and black striped Manx

Scraps: a coyote/German Shepard half breed

Ruffs and Rusty: young red foxes

Baron and Fray: young sibling raccoons

Willie and Nell: young sibling chipmunks

Prissy and Cillia: young sister skunks

Prince and king young brother skunks

Arlo and Alfie: young brother armadillos

Nyla, Sasha, and Rex: baby cardinals

Nite, Gray, Socks, and Boots: baby opossums

Lesser creatures: ducklings, mice

CHAPTER 1

Rin shook his head as the events of the day replayed within his mind. He had never been through such a horrible event before. He closed his eyes and allowed the events to replay once more.

Rin, warn Lilly of what is ahead, Rio urgently said, Let her know how much we need her and tell her she must grab a limb or something to stay near Rin, warn Lilly of what is ahead, Rio ur said, Let her know how much we need her and tell her, because she must grab a limb or something to stay near us."

Rin jumped to the edge of the tote and cried out to Lilly. Lilly, we need you! Beware! Lilly, there are rapids ahead! Please try to grab onto something! Rin loudly cried out. Rin jumped down hurriedly inside the tote to help Rio hold onto Skiler, Tweetie, and the remaining ducklings. As the last tote was getting jostled by the current; the ducklings were squeaking wildly in terror. Easy now! Rin warned, Please calm down, because we don’t want to lose any of you!

Behind the final tote, Lilly had found a floating tree branch and was holding on to it for dear life. She was a little tired from trying to stay right beside or right behind the last tote.

The stronger current of the rougher waters had already caused her to hit rocks along the base of the river and she had several cuts of various sizes upon her legs. Although Lilly was now in great pain; she held onto the tree branch for her now cherished life.

Suddenly, she realized what both Tommy and Rio had meant by trusting in the Lord for their food, their health, and defiantly their safety. Lilly comprehended the full meaning of doing your ultimate best in life, but also fully trusting in God to protect you!

Lilly began to pray, Lord of the universe, I ask You for Your protect…as the current roughly jerked her body to the right and back to the right; she was unable to finish her prayer.

Instead Lilly was holding fast onto the limb she had caught in the river. As Lilly was suddenly buffeted harshly against the back of the last tote; she let out an unexpected rather loud yelp was followed by multiple squeaks and tweets. The ducklings were roughly jostled by Lilly’s body hitting against the back of the tote.

The poor little creatures were absolutely horrified by their own thoughts of dying! The current was moving faster than the night of the flood and no animal knew what lie ahead of them. Due to the jerking movements of the water; each of the animals within the totes were lying down almost side by side on the bottom of their tote.

As a jagged rock roughly scraped Lilly’s underbelly; pain ran through her body. Suddenly Lilly howled and let go of her tree branch. The current immediately caught her body up within its grip and pulled her body under its frothing depths.

Lilly struggled to get her head back above the white topped water. Now she found herself being caught inside the hands of the under current. Wildly her injured body was pulled around beside the final tote and because the current kept pulling her body under the water she could barely manage to howl.

Rio had jumped up long enough to see Lilly being pulled down the river. Lilly! he cried, but could do nothing to help the Australian Sheppard get free from the current.

Tara peeked over the edge of her tote to view Lilly struggling against the current. When the current pulled the Sheppard almost instantly beside and in front of the second tote; she could do nothing except helplessly watch Lilly fighting against the flow!

Lilly, please try to get free from the current! Try to grab a hold of a rock or something! Tara cried out. Tara dropped down inside the tote with the depressing knowledge she could do nothing to save Lilly!

Inside the first tote, Leo climbed up against the edge to see Lilly being dragged by the current along beside his tote. Without thinking of his own safety, he offered Lilly his right paw. Lilly was able to grasp the edge of Leo’s paw. Leo leaned over the tote’s edge far enough to grab Lilly’s arm with his other paw.

Rhia moved to hold onto Leo’s legs, but suddenly the tote jerked to the left with the changing current. As the jerk threw Leo out of Rhia’s attempt to grab him and into the choppy waters below; the kittens screamed out together in dread.

Daddy! Oh no! Please don’t take our Daddy! The three kittens cried out together.

Leo heard his new children crying out in fear, because they didn’t want to lose him and his heart ached for them! As a last ditch effort he instantly grabbed a hold of her tail and held on; while the current tossed Leo up against Lilly!

As Lilly’s tail jerked beneath him; Leo gave his beloved mate a final glance. Due to the exertion of trying to keep above water; Leo did not have enough breath left to even call out Rhia’s name. Lilly and Leo found their selves being pulled far in front of the first tote faster, faster, faster.

Rhia stood shakily up inside the first tote to watch both Lilly and Leo disappear from view. When the two animals vanished from her sight; she cried out in pain to God, Oh, dear Lord of all creation!! Please help Leo and Lilly survive!! Please put Your loving arms around them and keep them safe.

Us too, Mommy! Pray for us too! the three kittens cried out together.

Yes, Lord…please keep my children and my friends safe!! Rhia whispered, Lord, please allow me and the children to find and hold Leo within our arms one more time!!

As he listened to Rhia pray; Rin sighed. He silently pleaded to the Lord to hear Rhia’s and the kittens’ prayers. He grabbed a hold of the tote and hoped the group would survive whatever lay ahead of them. As he heard the kittens crying; Rin’s mind return to face the danger ahead of them.

Within the first tote; the terrified kittens: Shadow, Hallie, and Jakey hugged their sobbing Mother. All the kittens were shaking with the horror of what had occurred.

Mommy! Mommy, I’m so afraid! Will we ever see Daddy again? Hallie asked.

Shadow cried, And Mommy, how can I believe God will help keep our Daddy safe?

Shadow, Rhia began and fought to regain her composure, We must believe Leo will be protected by God’s love. Listen now for I will ask God to help Leo.

How do you to ask God to help Daddy? Hallie asked.

We pray!! Rhia told her children.

Will God hear me if I pray to Him? Shadow asked.

Little one, let me tell you something I have heard Tommy quote many times, Rhia began, in the book of Matthew 19:14: ‘Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for such is the kingdom of heaven.’

Rhia paused to hug her daughter and then continued, This verse shows that Jesus loves all the children who have ever been created; whether they are birds, animals, fish, or humans. So, Shadow, I believe God would love to hear you call upon Him.

Mommy, will you please teach me to pray? Shadow requested softly.

Yes, I will teach you to pray. I will teach you the words Jesus taught His followers in Matthew 6:9-13. she stated. Rhia bowed her head. All of the kittens bowed their heads; as well, with Shadow softly echoing her Mother’s words.

‘Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone who has sinned against to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and n the glory forever’ Amen.

Mommy, will you please tell me what the words of the prayer mean. Shadow begged.

Well Shadow, in God’s holy Word it is written that we should pray to God. Rhia said, But first, we must understand that God is holy. In the Bible we are told that God created a kingdom for all those who believe in Him. God gave all His creations rules to live by.

Rhia paused to take a breath. Because the river’s current had become choppier, she held firmly onto her little ones.

God provides us with our food each day. He forgives us when we do wrong, but we must ask for forgiveness. Rhia continues to explain, Let me repeat that to make sure that you understand: in order to be forgiven; we must ask for forgiveness. The Bible says to forgive others for what they have done to us. God will help each one of us to live right and do what is right in His eyes.

Mom, Jakey said, Do we have to say that prayer from Luke every time we go to talk to God?

No, Jakey. Rhia explains, You can talk to God like He is your Father, because God is your heavenly Father.

Then let me talk to Jesus for us, Mommy. Shadow bowed her head and prays, Dear Lord Jesus, my name is Shadow, and I am a kitten under Your care, and I hope You don’t mind me praying to You. Lord I just want to ask you to watch over my new daddy. She paused to wipe tears from her eyes. Lord, Leo has been a good daddy, and we need him. Amen.

Suddenly, their tote begun to jerk back and forth and rock left and right; causing the kittens to cry out in fear. Rhia held them close against her body. She took a peek at Tommy and Patty, who were huddled together in their tank. The turtles were securely inside their shells.

Unless they dared to stand up and look over the edge of their tote; none of the creatures could see what lay ahead of them. The current was moving at a rapid rate making the ride a terrorizing event.

Inside the second tote; Kipper moaned with pain from his wound. He whimpered, believing