They guided the horse to a great branch of a willow tree, where some willow fronds had been looped and tied to form a swing.



In the swing, rocking back and forth with the breeze, was a fairy a little taller than the others.  "Hello!" he said when he saw Catrina and Whiskers.  "Who are you, and why have you come in your floating castle to our willow kingdom?"

Catrina thought that the River King was rather handsome.  "We are the inhabitants of Nice Town, which was flooded, so we are looking for a new home," she said, because Whiskers seemed too shy to speak.

"You may stay here," said the River King graciously.  "Come join us for a feast of welcome!"

Catrina loved feasts almost as much as she loved picnics, so she agreed readily.   The River King flew along with the winged horse and showed them to a beautiful palace hidden in the willow tree.



Next to the palace were a table and chairs set out for the feast, but when Whiskers and Catrina sat down they were very surprised at what was on their plates!

"Willow catkins are all over the table!" Catrina said, feeling fretful.   She thought the fairies must be rather messy not to keep their feast table clean.   But all the fairies laughed.

"Willow catkins are our favorite food," the River King said, sounding surprised.  "Don't you like them?"

"I've never tried them," Catrina said.  She picked one up.  It didn't look very appetizing, but after all it was a catkin, so she thought that perhaps it would be delicious.

One bite told her it wasn't.  "Oh, dear!" she thought.  "I don't think I like this feast at all!"

Whiskers had not even tried one bite.  "Let's go back to our boats," he whispered to Catrina.  "I think I smell catfish frying and marshmallows toasting.  And I miss my friends."

"So do I," Catrina whispered back.  She turned to the River King and mustered her most polite voice.   "Thank you so much for inviting us to stay here," she said, looking shyly down at her paws, "but Whiskers and I aren't very used to being high up in trees, and  willow catkins are too--soft and wiggly for our taste.  With your permission, we would like to leave now, and camp on the shore among our own people. I promise we will leave in the morning without littering and without crushing any flowers!"

"Of course you have my permission," said the River King, looking wistfully at Catrina. "But I wonder--oh, how wonderful it would be it you might agree to take me with you!  I have been getting rather bored, swinging all day on my throne and dealing with quarrels and daily life in our willow tree."

The River King stood up. "I have decided: I will accompany you on your exciting trip down our river, and see the sights with you!

"Would you offer me your friendship? May I meet the people of Nice Town and join you in your quest for a new home?" The fairy knelt before Whiskers and Catrina, and removed his flower crown. He  carefully placed it on the toadstool table.

"Hooray if you will say 'Yes'!" he said. "I will have no more cares, and adventures ahead!"

Whiskers and Catrina were very surprised that the King would want to leave his beautiful home on the river to travel into the unknown with them, but they agreed happily, and they were secretly proud that such a fine King would want to befriend them. 

Next: Sandy Town