Chapters 11-13 Summary

The quest to solve Mhera's puzzle takes up Chapter 11. The creatures gather near the south wall of the Abbey for a picnic and to discuss the puzzling final phrase of the poem they have discovered. The phrase reads, "Twixt water and stone I stand alone, Sounding burnt but alive I survive!" (p. 119) After much discussion, they decide the phrase makes reference to a large ash tree that stands outside the walls of the Abbey, the name of the tree sounding like something burnt. They look to a young squirrel named Broggle to climb the tree to see what he can find, but he is out of shape. Instead, he offers to ask a squirrel named Fwirl who lives in the forest and who is an excellent tree climber. It is clear that Broggle has a crush on the pretty young squirrel...