The Briar Country Critters

Once she got far away from the tea party, Kairi looked back and said, "Well, I've had enough nonsense! I'm going home! Straight home!"

As she began walking away, she said, "That pig. Who cares where he's going anyway? Why, if it hadn't been for him, I..."

She stopped talking when she noticed a gray sign that had "Briar Country" written on it in black letters. "Briar Country. Hmm, curious. I don't remember this." she said, as she turned away from the sign, unaware of two blackbirds, who were wearing glasses, staring at her.

"Now, let me see."

One of the blackbirds jumped on Kairi's face, and she gasped when she spotted a canary, who was holding a mirror in his hand. When she looked into it, the canary looked like it was wearing glasses because of the blackbird.

She placed the blackbird on the tree branch next to the canary as she said, "Uh, no, no, please. No more nonsense."

She walked past them, and came up to a log as she said, "Now, if I came this way. I should go back this way!"

She climbed over the log and accidently stepped on Br'er Duck as he said, "Ouch!"

"Oh, I beg your pardon!" Kairi said, as Br'er Duck, his wife, and their three ducklings went over to a lake. Br'er Duck jumped in the water and paddled away as Br'er Duck said, "I won't go so easy on you next time!"

He then jumped in the water, and followed his wife and ducklings.

The ripples in the water woke up Br'er Frog, who was holding a drum, and Br'er Toad, who was holding a pair of cymbals, and they jumped on waterlilies as they played the drum and cymbals.

As Kairi stepped on the stepping stones, she said, "Goodness. When I get home, I shall write a book about this place. If I...If I ever do get home."

Then she looked over a log to see five hummingbirds taking a shower in a small waterfall.

"Oh, umm, excuse me!" she said, as she got the hummingbirds' attention, "Um, could one of you tell me..."

She was interrupted when the hummingbirds screeched as they flew away, sat on a branch above Kairi, and glared down at her. She chuckled nervously as she said, "Uh. Haha. Never mind."

As she wandered around through the forest, she said, "Oh dear. It's getting dreadfully dark. And nothing looks familiar."

She looked to her left to see Br'er Turtle, who was digging through the dirt with his claws. "I shall certainly be glad to get out of..."

She tried to say something else, but she bumped into Br'er Fox, who was holding a bird cage with a Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird inside it. Br'er Fox opened the cage door, and Amnesio and Hunkahunka flew out. Br'er Fox chased after them, and he it them in the cage as Mr. and Mrs. Bluebird landed inside the bird cage.

Then Br'er Owl, who was holding an accordion, woke up and hooted. As he flew down at Kairi, she ducked, and then Br'er Owl flew away, still playing the accordion.

"It would be so nice if something would make more sense for a change." Kairi said.

Moments later, she came across Br'er Rabbit, his wife, parents, sister, father-in-law, siblings-in-law nailing gray signs to a tree with hammers, and six bunny children wrote words on each sign in black letters with pencils.

As they walked away, Kairi looked at the signs, and said, "Don't step on the mole sisters. The mole sisters?"

Suddenly, the mole sisters popped out of the ground, circled around Kairi, and got together to form an arrow as they walked. Kairi looked ahead to see the mole sisters pointing at a path as she said, "Oh! A path!"

As she ran down the path, a vision of Anastasia appeared in sepia. Kairi said, "Oh, thank goodness. Why, I just knew I'd find one sooner or later! Oh. If I hurry back, I might even be home in time for dinner with my parents Dimitri and Anastasia and my brothers Kaa and Baba Looey!" Then a vision of Thumper also appeared in sepia as she said, Oh, won't Thumper be happy to see me! Oh, I just can't wait till I...Oh!"

She stopped when she saw Br'er Bear sweeping the path away with a broom. He stopped, walked behind Kairi, and continued to sweep the path.