SOLVED. YA/ Teens Fantasy. A small creature says something like "Run Run Hide Hide Cover your butts! Hotcha!" It was a fantasy maybe with other worlds or creatures. The creature was annoying but comic relief. Possibly a forest or jungle setting. [s]

[Mel809]

I do not remember much about this book. I read it around 2002-2006. It was a fantasy setting with possibly a group of teens/tweens and they had a strange little familiar type creature that talked. The most memorable part of the book is that protagonists were under attach or threat and the creature said something along the lines of "run run, hide hide, cover your butts hotcha"

[Becca]

Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville comes up as a match. The creature is called the Squijum.

"Firethroat, firethroat!" squeaked the Squijum. He began to run in circles around Lightfoot's hooves, crying, "Run run hide hide cover butts not safe hotcha!"

[Mel809]

This is it exactly!! Thank you so much!!

[Kris]

Glad you found your book, Mel809.

Into the Land of the Unicorns (book 1) of The Unicorn Chronicles series by Bruce Coville - Becca's find.