This is Book One of the Troglodyte Trilogy. It is set in the Loire region of France. This first book centres around Roodery, the heron's, birthday which is interrupted when there's a fire on the hillside. The fire threatens to set the whole of Troglodyte Hill alight. So Roodery and his friends, Snap, Whisper and Feather have to think of a way of alerting the troglodytes (cave dwellers) to help put out the fire. However, there are no fire engines on Troglodyte Hill, so Roodery and his little troglodyte friend, Maud, come together in a 'saving the day' adventure. Easy French words and phrases are included in the text with the English equivalent next to them, to create a unique ambience.