A Tale of the Last Baby

Portrait of "Mouse"

Once there was a field mouse named "Mouse". Now Mouse thought she was nothing special as field mice go. She was small and brownish
with popped-out black eyes. She had a scaly tail and sharp nails. She was really a beautiful little mouse, but she didn't know it. And she was really special, too, as you will see. She lived on the edge of a meadow with her extended family, but usually stayed by herself, playing with seeds or twigs, or weaving grass blankets for her nephews and nieces.She had many friends from school and sometimes played with them. But that was all to change.
From a great distance, at least to a mouse, came the smell of smoke. It is true that mice can figure a way out of most troubles, being smart and nimble, but they are terrified of smoke because it usually means a fire is near. And sure enough, a grass fire was making it's way to the edge of the meadow from the road, where a carelessly tossed cigarette had started it. Several of her bigger friends rushed passed in a panic crying "FIRE. FIRE. RUN." Rabbit stopped for just a second or two to tell her of the fire, then ran on. Rabbits fear fire, as should all animals, but could outrun all but the fastest moving fires.
Mouse looked around for her family and saw that they had left in panic, and had left babies behind. "Oh no", thought Mouse. "I must do something. But what?" She had little time to think, as the air was getting warmer and the smoke was getting thicker. She remembered that Tortoise had a burrow not far from her nest, and decided to take the babies there until the fire passed. But she was alone. So, one by one she carried each baby to the burrow. She ran back and forth in the growing heat and smoke. Tortoise volunteered to take care of the babies while she made more trips. She put down a baby and said to Tortoise "One more. Just one more and we will all be safe." Tortoise said "But you have already singed your fur in several places. It is too dangerous to go back." "No" said Mouse, "I must go back. Every baby is precious." And so she ran into the smoke and flames.
Tortoise waited and waited, but Mouse didn't return. It was getting hard to breathe in the burrow when he heard a tiny voice say "Help me Tortoise. I have burned my feet and cannot walk any more. I have the last baby but cannot make it to the burrow." Tortoise went out into the chaos of the fire, found Mouse and dragged her and the baby back to the burrow, narrowly missing being burned to death himself.
Later, after the fire, some of Mouses family returned and found their homes destroyed, and their babies gone. Tortoise told them of Mouses bravery, and where to find their babies. When they saw Mouse they were all ashamed, and appalled at her burns. She had little fur, no toes and a stump of a tail.
She was lying in a nest with 17 babies, making cooing sounds to keep them from getting upset.
She was the most beautiful mouse they had ever seen. She lived long enough to hear them thank her, and promise to be brave in the future. She perished so the babies would live. As she fell into her final sleep, she thought "Well, I have a few burns, but they will heal. I can't wait to see all these babies grow up and be a doting auntie." But, she never did.

Image: http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1793821/thumbs/o-FIELD-MOUSE-facebook.jpg