Little Cardeo sat in the sun. It warmed his fur as the sea breeze cooled his skin. He looked down on the birds from the cliff edge. It was nice and quiet here. In his herdlet, his ears were constantly filled with the chattering of other lemmings. Cardeo preferred to be alone, which made him different.

“Something not right with that boy.â€? the Papas would say. “Alone.â€? They shuttered. “What’s the point?â€?

He was different! He wasn’t caught up in all the excitement. There was a buzz in the herd. The herdlets Mamas were meeting almost moonly now, and most thought it was not just to discuss the rapidly depleting food supplies. Buzz was that the Great Run would be here soon.

The Great Run. He wondered what it was? Would everyone be running or only a few herdlets? Did anyone know?

“I’d better head back now.â€? he said to the unconcerned birds. “I’d have missed two tail counts by now. And that’ll upset the Papas.â€?

He headed back to the herd.