Midsummer Crises

by starwars4life

Many changes have happened in the lives of the hedgies in the span of 5 years: marriages, parenthood, and a new sense of identity. However, not all changes are good and have given rise to conflicts among many hedgies, which impact the whole family. What sort of life challenges face the hedgies now, and will the love of family and friendship be enough to solve the dilemmas?

Midsummer Crises

Disclaimer: I do not own Over the Hedge in any way; DreamWorks owns the movie, and the comic strip characters are the property of Michael Fry and T Lewis. Only the original characters belong to me.

Greetings again fellow Over the Hedge fans! Ever since my last story update, I said it would be a VERY long time before I post anything new, but I've had a little more free time than I thought to write another story that continues my Over the Hedge Expanded Universe. While on that topic, I'm currently more in the mood to follow up on such stories in kind, rather than updating my stories that take place in the past like OTH Beginnings. So I apologize in advance to all you fans who have been so patient in waiting for an update on Over the Hedge Beginnings: RJ and Hammy. You will have to wait longer for those stories, unless my agenda's change, but even I don't know if that'll happen or not.

In the meantime, I hope this new story will be good enough to keep you entertained until then!

---

Chapter 1: Foreword Frustrations

It is mid-afternoon on a day in July at the vast wooded forest located around the human suburb settlement called the Elysian Fields Estates in the state of Indiana. And something of interest is happening somewhere far past a never-ending hedge that separates the human homes from the wild woods.

"She's close. I'm sure of it. Just gotta wait for her ta make 'er move, 'cuz if I act too soon she'll be on ta me."

A silent stalker's thoughts guide his actions. He is in the vicinity of a foraging ferret family, watching and waiting. But this is no normal stalker, he is a stalker of stalkers. And his prey isn't the mustelids, but rather the one who is after them.

The quarry emerges, a female timber rattlesnake camouflaged by the color of fallen pine straw, leaves, and wood that litters the ground around the ferrets. The latter are too engrossed in finding food to notice the serpent's approach, and without legs the reptile has the advantage of creeping up on her prey in utter silence. Her venom will also guarantee death even if the mammals fend off the rattler with a defensive block.

But this rattlesnake has a few disadvantages, the foremost being that she is new to these woods and doesn't know that the animals here have a very special defense against predators. Another disadvantage is that the stalker can smell the snake well.

Very well...

So well that he knows exactly who her first target will be, and how she plans to attack that target—the scent given off by hungry predators who savor an impending strike is quite palpable. The stalker should know...He is a predator himself. He is both smart and experienced too, knowing that snakes typically feel the vibrations on the ground given off by movement to sense if there is danger approaching, hence why the stalker isn't moving yet.

The rattlesnake flicks her tongue, picking up chemical particles in the air that enable the reptile to use her senses of smell and taste simultaneously without the nose or taste buds. Her first target is the father ferret, and once he goes down, chaos will result among his family, making their reaction time slow, which should be more than enough time for the serpent to attack the rest.

She is close enough now to stop slithering forward and lies in wait, using her scale color and the surroundings to hide from sight. The father ferret is walking toward her, unaware that he is about to be ambushed, about to become the rattlesnake's lunch.

Timber rattlesnake thinking: "That'sssssss it...Jussssst a little more—"

An unexpected and heavy force presses down on her tail. On reflex, the snake whips herself around and opens her fanged mouth wide, hissing menacingly while doing so; angered at how her ambush has failed and eager to exact revenge on whoever was responsible for it. She is caught by the neck and put in a choke hold, unable to bite in self-defense.

Father ferret: "Holy moly!"

The rest of the ferret family turns to the father's direction and mirrors his expression. He was bewildered at first, but now shows a look of satisfaction.

Father ferret: "Way to go, Kale!"

The family claps in appreciation at how their protector, a wolf named Kale, has saved their lives. The canine had timed his approach with the paw steps of the father mustelid, so that the snake couldn't feel Kale's foot vibrations as well.

The viper narrows her eyes at the 20-year-old wolf. Kale has light-brown fur everywhere on his body except for the text-box-shaped regular-brown-colored pattern running down his dorsal side which has dark brown stripes in the center, as well as some regular-brown fur on the top of his head and the middle section of his face that goes down to the nose. He has no tail and there are numerous scars on his body, the most noticeable being the scar going down from the top of his head to his leathery black nose. Lastly, Kale's eyes are colored grape in which the irises are predominantly light-purple with thin streams of regular-blue mixed in between.

Kale smiles and nods at the mustelids, then looks the timber rattlesnake in the eyes. The canine speaks in a fusion Latino-Mafia accent—owing to his heritage of descending from great-grandparents who came from Mexico, and his being a wolf respectively.

Kale: "Otra serpiente furtiva no tan furtiva para el conde."

Timber rattlesnake: "Huh?"

Kale: "I said, 'Anoth'a not-so-sneaky sneaky snake down for da count.' "

Timber rattlesnake: "My name isssss Janie. And why couldn't you jussssst sspeak normally, insssstead of going bilingual on me?"

Kale growls and tightens his grip on Janie's throat, then looks at the ferrets and says, "You's might wanna split. Dis could get ugly..."

The ferrets quickly nod and leave the scene, the sight making the reptile wish she could be among them. She looks back at Kale when he continues.

Kale: "First: if you's don't know Spanish, then don't complain about it when I give ya a translation. Second: I, like other animals besides snakes, find ya's species emphasis on the S's pretty annoying, and you's didn't hear me complainin' about it. Third: you's must be new here, 'cuz I haven't seen ya around deese parts before, so lemme fill ya in on how things work. Down in dis nick of the woods, it's my job ta protect prey animals from predators like ya'self."

Janie: "You protect prey animalsssss? You're a dissssgrace to all predatorssss!"

Kale smacks Janie hard on top of the head, causing her to grunt in pain.

Kale: "I've been called worse. And I don't have the time ta fill you's in on the details of how my job came to be. But I am feelin' generous enough today ta let ya off with a warning: find somewhere else ta hunt for food, 'cuz you'll have ta come through me to get a bite ta eat here."

Janie: "Heh-heh, I know exactly who you are, former-Bone-Chomper Kale."

The mention of his ex-pack's surname gets the wolf's full attention.

Janie: "And I'm not new here, either. I know how much you value your life'sssss new calling, how much the prey animalsssss put their faith in you. It'ssssss unfair, really. You do sssso much for them, but you'll alwayssss jusssst be a predator to their eyesssssss. If sssomething goessss wrong—like sssssay, another prey animal family being attacked by my brothersssss while I dissstract you—the prey will blame it on you."

Kale leans forward, giving the vile (and admittedly brilliant) serpent a death glare.

Kale: "Where are your brothers?"

Both the wolf's tone and lack of improper grammar indicate the sincerity lining his words.

Janie: "They're five milesssss away, one at a mussskrat family'ssss home, another at a beaver'ssss dam, and a third at a weasel'sssss den. But you're already too late. I have won."

Faster than Kale can react, Janie brings up her slender body and bites herself, pumping in as much venom into her own system as she can before Kale yanks her free of her fangs. He's already too late, as Janie's body starts going limp.

Janie (weakly but in triumph): "Godfather Leo...sssssendsss hissssss...re-gardssss."

Kale lets the snake fall to the ground and already starts using his unparalleled sense of smell to locate Janie's closest brother.

Unlike most wolves who can only smell things from a maximum of 1.75 miles away, Kale's nose can pick up scents about five times that much. Before he can move, however, he turns in the direction he saw sudden movement and takes a defensive stance. Janie's head has risen back up.

Janie: "Oh, and Gabby ssssays she hatesssss your gutsssss. Big time."

Janie's head falls to the ground and doesn't rise up again, her smile mocking the reformed predatory canine from beyond her grave.

Kale looks up into the trees and tells a passing cardinal to sound the alarm. Having already located the closest snake brother—the one going after the family of beavers—Kale runs for all he's worth. At the same time, he ponders a chilling revelation in his head.

Kale thinking (in loathing): "Oth'a predators're startin' ta finally figure out dat I can't be in two places at once...My job just got a lil' harder."

He doesn't let his dread dampen his determination, he keeps moving, knowing that even if he fails to save anyone, that he will still be accepted as a friend to all prey animals in the large expanse of woods boarding the Elysian Fields Estates. That last thought makes him think about his past, which should put him in a lighter mood.

---

Ever since Janie mentioned "Godfather Leo," Kale had confirmed that the snake was a paisano of his former wolf pack, an animal who helps the Bone-Chompers in maintaining their hold on a territory. The Bone-Chompers were once the greatest wolf pack in the United States of America, and had been under the leadership of Kale's literal godfather, Bone-Chomper Leo. Although the blood tie technically made Kale family with the Bone-Chompers, that pack was anything but such. The Bone-Chompers were the strictest followers of the codes of wolf society, a set of laws that governs how wolves should act, speak, and think so as to maintain their species' high standing as the best terrestrial predators in the animal kingdom. Kale's biological family, the Sniff-Tracker Pack, was unlike most wolves in that they wanted to function like a real family by loving each other instead of maintaining their standing in wolf society. When Kale's parents were killed by a mountain lion, he and his brothers, Luciano and Bugsy, became Bone-Chompers and rarely loved each other the same way ever again. But even before his parents' demise, Kale's abilities as a wolf—save for his sense of smell—were also subpar, leading to a life full of ridicule by his fellow pack members and brothers.

Then, five years ago, the 15-year-old Kale led a hunt that went horribly wrong, which ended with his hind legs getting broken and his pack abandoning him to rot as punishment for his failure. Even his brothers took no qualms in leaving their own flesh and blood, as doing so was the only way (according to the codes of wolf society) for the pack to salvage anything from the disgrace of his failure. But a certain group of prey animals took pity on him, and in his desperation, Kale agreed to not eat them if they would help him heal from his injuries. The hedgies, as they were called, gave Kale what he had been wanting ever since his parents' death: the love of family. His interactions with the hedgies had, from the first day of his recovery, caused Kale to tear his loyalties between his pack and the hedgies; his wolf species and his feelings; the life lessons he learned from being raised as a wolf, and the life lessons he learned from his caretakers; and the choice of living a life of being feared and revered by lesser creatures, or living a life where no one will ever hate him again.

This internal and external turmoil was insinuated when Kale rejoined his pack and led a hunt that resulted in months' of totalitarian occupation of the woods bordering the Elysian Fields Estates by the Bone-Chompers. He had personally and/or ipso facto caused the deaths of some animal families who were close to the hedgies, straining both his relationship with them, and the guilt of his conscience. The continued mistreatment he received from his pack (save for his brothers who truly tried to make things better for their little brother), versus the good treatment he received from the hedgies in spite of everything he had done, made him see who the real enemies were, causing Kale to side against his pack and help the prey animals of the forest win a fight against the Bone-Chompers, which banished those wolves from ever coming back. But as a result of his betrayal, Kale was given the "mark of shame"—having his tail bitten clean off—which branded him a traitorous outcast to all wolfkind ever since. Never again could he join a pack, and any wolf who laid eyes on him would have to kill him on-sight, including his own brothers who, rumor has it, ditched the Bone-Chomper Pack in retaliation for what they had done to their little brother.

Now 20-years-old, Kale has been keeping true to the vow he made when he came to join the hedgies after receiving the "mark of shame:" to never eat prey animals ever again, and will instead protect them from other predators as he eats raw meat from packages obtained by his new family or other prey animals who live in the woods.

Kale can't help occasionally missing his brothers, but he now has a loving family who treats him better than his own parents did, and lets him enjoy the freedom to be an animal instead of being a slave to the impossibly standards set by wolf society. Having a family who actually loves him and will get him through hard times is a life worth living far more than being a fearsome predator.

---

But now in the present, it seems that his former pack hasn't gotten over the results of his actions, especially his ex-godsister Gabby who had always hated his guts, and vice versa.

Kale figures that his pack must believe that if they can't get revenge on him overtly, they can do so subtly by trying to ruin his standing among the other animals in the woods. To make him fail his vow of keeping the animals in the woods he now lives safe from other predators might not be as easy as the Bone-Chompers think, however, because the hedgies had taught several other animals how to fight back against predators. That's why Kale is certain that the beavers, muskrats, and weasels won't go down easily...unless Janie's brothers are as stealthy as she was.

Kale keeps running, and hopes his confidence in the prey animals inhabiting his new home territory will be as well-placed as their faith in him.

However, Kale isn't the only hedgie to be experiencing problems that have no clear solutions.

---

"Alright Sam and Aaron, it's time to head home to our mommies and daddies."

The voice belongs to Mary, an 11-year old raccoon-opossum hybrid who, along with her twin brother Bernard, are the children of the hedgie family co-leader, RJ the raccoon, and his mate Heather the opossum. The two boys she was addressing are the sons of the American red squirrels, Hammy and Scarlet. Sam is five-years old, Aaron is four, and both squirrels have red fur and white ventral sides. Notable differences are that Sam has brown eyes, white cheeks without any freckles, and a female-curly tail that has a dark red stripe running down his back. Aaron has green eyes, light brown cheeks with dark brown fur-freckles, a male-bushy tail, and no stripe down his back.

Sam: "Ah! AAAAaaaauuuggh!"

Mary sighs for the 50th time at Sam's inability to speak, but can tell from the young one's tone, as well as his head-shaking from side to side, that he doesn't want to go home yet. He immediately escalates by running around in a circle and has a mini-fit by screaming and crying. He ends his brief tantrum by sitting down on the ground and refusing to move.

Expecting this, a 37-year old female raccoon named Luby—who has light-brown fur, ocean-green eyes, a dark brown mask, white ventral fur, and a red bow on the top of her head between the ears—gently approaches the pouting Sam. Because Sam and Aaron are too little to go on the other hedgies' all-day heist, have a strong bond with Mary and Bernard, and all four needed an adult to watch over them, Luby gladly volunteered to babysit the kids. Her presence is also necessary in dealing with Sam's temperament, which has nothing to do with bad manners.

After doing some research upon noticing how Sam's language and cognitive development were below average for a child his age, RJ and Kale, whose knowledge of the human world exceeds even the intelligence of human high school students, concluded that Sam has a form of autism. Aaron does not, and decides to approach his older brother to help Luby get Sam to understand that it is time to head back. Only, Aaron gets to Sam in a microsecond, as he has inherited his father's super speed.

Aaron: "C'mon, Sam. Mommy and daddy're waiting."

Luby: "It's also almost dinner time. And I bet you're getting hungry, aren't you?"

In response, Sam reaches down with his paws and grips the grass he is laying on tight enough to pull some blades out from the roots, while also letting out a groan that goes from low- to high- back to low-pitched like a wave.

Luby sighs at Sam's continued insistence to stay and play, but wants to get the kids back home so their parents can give the raccoon a much-needed break in watching the kids. Sam may lack Aaron's speed, but he is still very energetic, as are Mary and Bernard, so Luby has had one long and exhausting day. Luby had some temporary help from Eric the raccoon—the father of Richie, a family friend of the hedgies—and Josiah the opossum—the father of Mary's crush, Elroy—while their kids had played with the hedgie kids for a couple of hours. But it's been three hours since the Eric's and Josiah's families have left.

That's when Luby realizes she and the kids present might not be enough to get Sam to come back; only his parents can get their oldest son to listen. But she also uses her raccoon intellect to think of a solution to the issue.

Luby (to Mary and Bernard): "Okay, listen up you two. I have to go back home and bring Hammy or Scarlet. Keep playing with Sam and Aaron right here," (Points to the ground) "and don't move more than three feet in any direction. Understand?"

Mary and Bernard in unison: "Yes, Aunt Luby."

Luby: "Good. I'll be back before you know it."

Needing to hurry, she goes to all fours and sprints away. Aaron notices this and zooms up to the opossacoon siblings.

Aaron: "Where's Aunt Luby going?"

Bernard: "To get your parents so they can make Sam come back home."

Mary: "We can keep playing with you and Sam until they get here."

Bernard (steps in front of Sam and speaks in a light-hearted tone that has opossum-ham gestures): "Ya hear that, Sam? We can keep play-ing!"

Sam looks up at Bernard—the squirrel's joy-filled eyes and bright smile gazing at the older boy's opossum-shaped and colored- body, raccoon ring tail, raccoon-shaped ears and paws, short raccoon snout with a black-colored possum-shaped nose, and black mask around the blue eyes—and then leaps to his feet while shouting "Eeeeeyaiieee!"

The squirrel runs behind Bernard and tags the opossacoon right on the spot where his dark-brown stripe (that begins on his forehead and runs down his whole back) stops at the tail, indicating that the game they'll be playing is tag and Bernard is It.

Bernard takes only enough time to smile before giving chase. But it's not the game that excites him. Rather, it's the way how Sam had so quickly changed his mood after hearing and seeing Bernard use his possum-inherited acting talent. For even though the squirrel and the hybrid aren't blood-related, they share more of a brotherly bond with each other than Aaron does with Sam. This bond became apparent within the first few days after Sam's birth, where Bernard's knack for dramatic body language and facial expressions, seemed to "speak" to Sam in ways that normal conversations did not. No matter what the situation, Sam always responds positively to the opossacoon, which made Bernard develop a big brother mentality for Sam. This also instills the 11-year-old with pride with his more possum-like behavior that contradicts his more raccoon-like appearance.

While all that was going on, Aaron is not happy with Luby's plan as told by Mary.

Aaron: "Aw, why do we have to wait for Aunt Luby? I'm fast! I should be the one who goes home to get mommy and daddy."

Mary: "You don't know the way back home, Aaron."

Aaron: "But you and Bernard do, so lead the way."

Mary actually begrudgingly (but silently) agrees with what the young squirrel is getting at. Leading Aaron home so that he can bring back Hammy or Scarlet to pick up Sam would be something a raccoon like her father would do...something Mary would do had it not been for her vow to Luby. Because contrary to Mary's more possum-like looks—with her long possum snout, pink-colored raccoon-shaped nose, possum-shaped paws, a pouch, and possum-shaped ears with white spots on them that distinguish her from otherwise having the same possum-shaped and colored- body, bushy ring tail, and black mask around blue eyes like Bernard—she typically behaves more like a raccoon. But Mary also thinks more like a raccoon, and knows that if Aaron runs fast and passes by Luby, then she and her brother will get in a lot of trouble for disobeying their "aunt's" instructions.

Mary: "That's true, but Aunt Luby told us to stay here. So that's what we're gonna do."

Aaron: "Awww! But I'm hungry! I wanna go home, NOW! Nooooowww!"

Aaron's ear-ringing whining, coupled with Mary's own rumbling stomach, forces her to use her raccoon intellect for a shrewder purpose: to find a way to outsmart Luby's plans. Mary ignores her surroundings and concentrates as she enters deep into thought. It takes her ten seconds, but she comes to the conclusion that, if all four of them move together at a faster-than-normal pace, they could make it back to the log and surprise the whole family by showing up safe and sound, thus impressing everyone with her and her brother's raccoon leadership skills. Of course, she needs to think of a way to get Sam to come along with them first.

Mary exits her thoughts and taps Aaron on the shoulder.

Mary: "Alright, we'll leave. But you have to do everything I say, got it?"

Aaron instantly stops pouting and grins while nodding. Mary then makes him promise not to run fast. She then looks over and sees Bernard still trying to tag Sam. The opossacoon is faster and more experienced at tag, but Bernard has been running slower in order to give Sam more play time.

Mary: "Hey Bernard?"

The boy opossacoon continues chasing Sam as he responds to his sister.

Bernard: "Yeah, sis?"

Mary: "Use your 'Sam-whispering talent' to get him to follow us back home."

Bernard: "But Aunt Luby said—"

Mary: "I know what she said, but Aaron and I are too hungry to wait for Uncle Hammy and Aunt Scarlet to return."

Bernard: "We'll still get in trouble."

Mary: "It's a chance to impress the family with how smart and crafty we are. They'll congratulate us for being like raccoons, so our punishment won't be too bad."

Bernard: "I..."

Bernard pauses only for a few seconds, but a lot passes through his mind. As is typical of many twins, his sister knows his mind. She had used words that elicited a desire hidden deep in the young male opossacoon's heart: the need to be more like a raccoon. Bernard is very conscientious how he inherited more of his father's raccoon physiology than his sister, but for some odd reason, isn't as daring or brave like most raccoons are. Instead, he is shy, timid, and easily frightened like a possum.

He knows his dad is disappointed with him because of this. Not verbally, but every time RJ assured his son that he understands and is certain Bernard will improve whenever Bernard has played possum in the face of danger and not taken the initiative of a situation, the opossacoon could see it in his father's eyes or a slight head shake that RJ had been hoping for more. Because of this, the need to please his dad overrides Bernard's better judgment. He will do anything, even disobey one his own family members, if he can become more like a raccoon and make his father proud.

Bernard: "Okay, Mary. But how do we make Sam follow us. He's still having a blast playing tag."

Mary: "Just tag Sam so he can become It. He'll chase you and us as we lead him back home."

Bernard (gives a thumbs-up): "Got it."

Rejuvenated with the irresistible opportunity to impress the family with his raccoon abilities, Bernard starts chasing Sam at full speed. Still, he can't help but feel an obligation to Sam, and decides to give him a fighting chance.

Bernard: "Better watch out, Sam! I'm really coming to get ya now!"

Sam laughs and speeds up too as if he has been waiting for the opossacoon to make such an announcement all along. Bernard's initial surprise is overcome with enjoyment as the new direction the game of tag is taking makes him feel more alive than he has all day.

As the cliché goes, it's all fun and games...until Sam starts rapidly climbing up a tree.

Bernard comes to a gasping halt, stopping within arm's reach of the tree trunk, but refusing to climb it. Due to a traumatic experience of falling from a tree when he was a baby, Bernard's acrophobia makes him motionless. He looks and sees that Sam is about nine feet up and still climbing, oblivious to the danger that he might fall if he isn't careful. Bernard can't believe he's jealous of a five-year-old who isn't afraid of heights.

Bernard (shaky voice): "Ummm, uh. S-Sam, you need to come b-back down. I c-can't tag you from all the way up there."

Sam (shakes his head side to side): "Nuhh-uhhhhh. Ah-eh-umm!"

Bernard (shaky voice): "I w-w-wanna have f-fun too, Sam, but I can't do it while c-c-climbing a tree. So come back down. Please...? Pretty please?"

Sam sticks his tongue out and blows a raspberry.

Bernard: "Hey, that's mean!"

Mary: "What's the holdup?"

Bernard: "You know I'm afraid of heights."

Mary face palms and shakes her head side to side in dismay, unwittingly mirroring a common thing her mother did whenever the twins' grandfather played possum. For if anyone is more embarrassed by her brother's fear, it's Mary. The reason is because whenever her brother cowers, he would (and still does) soak up all her parents' attention as they console him. When that happens, it's like Mary and her accomplishments of being more like a raccoon go unnoticed.

Too bad for Bernard that RJ and Heather aren't around, so Mary figures she'll have to do things herself.

Mary (annoyed tone): "You shouldn't be afraid of heights. You're part raccoon and part possum. You should be great at climbing, scaredy-boy. But ya know what? I'm gonna do your job for you. Tag me so I'll—"

Bernard's paw taps Mary on the chest.

Mary (surprised yet nonchalant tone): "—be It."

Bernard: "No go! Hurry! Just watching Sam is making me nervous."

Mary: "Watch and learn, little brother."

Bernard gulps and keeps his eyes on Mary who climbs up the tree with great speed and precision. She doesn't hesitate, doesn't take time to pick where her paws should make contact, and doesn't take her eyes off Sam.

She has always been an early bloomer when it comes to everything she has ever accomplished: climbing, learning how to use items stolen from humans, planning strategies, mastering her animal senses, giving less dramatic and more realistic playing possum performances, even being born before her brother. She takes much pride in all of this, and hopes that Bernard is watching her from below, so that at least someone can see her achievement.

Sam had seen Bernard tag Mary and tries to keep out of her reach, but Mary quickly tags him, says "You're It now, Sam!" and then starts climbing down headfirst before the squirrel can try to tag her back. Sam gives chase, and Mary's ingenious plan goes into motion like clockwork. The four of them begin the trek back home.

...While elsewhere, someone with foul intent is watching the mammals...has in fact been watching them for quite some time. Not just today, but whenever they went to the playground zone.

Animal thinking: ""About time. I thought they'd never leave."

The animal has been waiting for an opportunity like this: four of the young hedgies walking back home without an adult. Fortune has smiled upon the animal this day.

Animal thinking: "Gotta rally the troops so that we can all take our revenge."

---

About three minutes later, Sam is still busy chasing Mary, Bernard, and Aaron when a pebble flies from the right and hits the five-year-old on the left side of his head.

Sam instantly drops to the ground and screams, "Ahhhh-Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

This immediately gets the attention of the opossacoons and Aaron who stop in their tracks and turn to see Sam holding the spot where he had been hit.

Mary: "Oh my goodness, Sam! What happened to you?!"

The sound of several voices snickering comes from some bushes located to the left and right of the path the four animals are traveling. Sensing danger, Mary takes a defensive stance, with Aaron getting beside her to hold her paw, and Bernard sits down to console Sam while keeping his eyes and ears open for trouble.

Mary: "Who did this to him?! Show yourself, you jerk!"

Voice: "Oh, Mary...is that any way to address an old friend?"

An animal jumps out from the inside of a bush, revealing the identity to be none other than...

Mary: "Tabitha?"

Tabitha the shrew keeps a lopsided grins on her face as she says, "Long time no see, Mary. But I'm not the one who threw the stone at your 'underdeveloped' cousin." (Turns her head to look over her shoulder) "Come on out, my army."

In perfect synchronization a male and female armadillo, one female raccoon, a male weasel, a male and female mole, a female gray squirrel, a female possum, a male gopher, and a male badger come out from the bushes and rally behind Tabitha. With the exception of the 13-year old badger and 14-year old weasel, none are above the age of 12, but the size and strength differences of each species creates quite a formidable bully gang. Mary also knows the reason why Tabitha want to harass her and her family.

Once an innocent and sweet little girl, Tabitha's personality changed completely seven years ago when her ex-friends, Brooke the beaver and Richie the raccoon, started a fight that caused the minuscule rodent to nearly drown and fall to her death. She was saved by Mary and Bernard who she adored from that day onward, whereas she reviled Richie and Brooke. Then, when the twins wanted to have Richie and Brooke play with them one day two years later, Tabitha felt betrayed by the very creatures who had saved her life, and hated Mary and Bernard ever since. She and her parents' lust to avenge the nearly fatal event by killing Richie and Brooke—along with anyone who forgave them for what they did to Tabitha—led to the shrews becoming the first land-based paisanos of the Bone-Chomper Wolf Pack during the wolves' occupation. Before the defeat of the canines, Tabitha, her mother Tiffany, and father Morty had been captured by the hedgies and treated like prisoners as a means to rehabilitate the cold-hearted shrews. After the Bone-Chompers were expelled from the woods, the shrews (like the other ex-paisanos) were given the chance to live among the forest animals again as reformed animals. But it turns out that the rehabilitation efforts only hardened the hearts of the shrews, who chose to leave the woods boarding the Elysian Fields Estates so they could continue being the Bone-Chompers' paisanos in the wolves' rightful territory.

But Mary has never seen the other animals in these woods before, so she has no idea who they are and why they're siding with Tabitha.

Mary: "Who are all of you?"

Badger: "Folks who're gonna make your life very unpleasant." (Cracks his knuckles)

Weasel: "Vengeance is sweet."

Upon hearing this, Mary opens her mouth to ask what the weasel means by "vengeance," but Aaron speaks up before any words can leave the opossacoon's throat.

Aaron: "You meanies could've really hurt my big brother!"

Raccoon: "Oh please, there's nothing to get mad about. It's not like the rock I threw will cause any damage to an empty-headed dummy like him anyway!"

The raccoon nudges the shoulder of one of the armadillos while the rest of the group chuckles.

Gray squirrel: "I don't know what's more pathetic, a five-year-old doofus who can't even speak yet, or the fact that he needs his little brother to stand up for him because he's too dumb to do it himself!"

Bernard: "Leave him alone! He has autism, but that doesn't make him a dummy."

Girl mole: "You're so right. That makes him the King of Stupid!"

The group laughs harder this time, which angers Aaron so much that the four-year-old zooms over to the mole with lightning fast speed and punches her. Aaron gets back beside Mary before anyone can react to what has happened.

Girl mole: "OW! That pipsqueak just nailed me in the nose!"

The laughter stops and the bullies give death glares at Aaron.

Wanting to draw their attention away from him, Mary speaks up, "Why are you treating us this way? Why do you hate us so much?"

Possum: "I thought you'd never ask. Just look at us...Look at our species's. Then think back to something that happened five years ago to members of our species's...specifically, our cousins, aunts, and uncles!"

Mary's and Bernard's widen as they make the connections using the clues the possum had given them. The gang of animals before them are none other than the cousins of the armadillos, raccoons, weasels, moles, squirrels, possums, gophers, and badgers who were murdered by the Bone-Chompers for being part of a prey animal resistance group that dug traps to maim the wolves so the predators would leave their newly-acquired territory out of frustration. The opossacoons never saw the event personally, but heard about it from Kale when he had come to their family to express his guilt for helping commit the murders.

Mary: "Wait a minute, if you're so mad at the Bone-Chomper wolves for killing your relatives then why are you siding with Tabitha? She and her family were one of the reasons that led to the Bone-Chompers' occupation in the first place, and helped the wolves maintain control over the territory. That's what really led to your relatives' deaths!"

Tabitha: "Don't bother trying to turn my army against me, Mary. Tell 'em."

Boy armadillo: "We know what you're saying is true, hybrid freak-show, and we hate Tabitha's guts for it."

Girl armadillo: "But we hate you and your family more for not punishing the wolf named Kale who killed our cousins, aunts, and uncles!"

Badger: "Now you're probably thinkin', 'Oh, but shouldn't we harass Kale instead of you four?' Well, unlike your 'cousin' Sam there," (Points) "we're not stupid enough to attack a wolf."

Boy mole: "Instead, we're smart enough to attack those Kale cares about the most; those who forgave him and allow him to live with them! Again, without giving him the proper punishment!"

Throughout the animals' monologue, the bullies become visibly angrier as the verbal recaps open up painful feelings. Violence seems imminent at this point, but Bernard still wants to try to diffuse the situation even if it's the last thing he'll do.

Bernard: "Kale didn't kill all of your relatives, just eight! And he didn't want to kill them! He was forced to by his pack!"

Much to the opossacoon's horror, his words only serve as the breaking point.

Squirrel: "Enough talk!"

Raccoon (punches her right fist into her left palm twice): "It's payback time!"

Tabitha: "Do whatever you want with them, just make them suffer! Chaaaaarge!"

The instant the bullies move forward, Mary looks down at the frightened Aaron and says, "Follow any family members' scent and RUN HOME!"

Had Aaron been a few years older, he would have certainly argued that he wouldn't leave Mary, Bernard, or Sam. Fortunately, Mary is thankful that he obeys her without pause. He does as he's told and uses the speed he inherited from Hammy to literally leave the bullies in the dust. Mary also has no doubt that he'll bring the adults their way. But that's all the time she allows her mind to wonder about that.

Her raccoon intelligence and courage working overtime, Mary's next move is to run over to where Bernard is and join her brother in helping shield Sam from the bullies.

She only takes four steps when two things happen that makes her lose all hope. First, a strong paw grabs her by the tail and pulls on it hard, making her fall headfirst onto the ground. Second, and more horrifying, is the sight of Bernard playing possum—which leaves Sam fully exposed and defenseless!

Mary wishes all of this is just a nightmare, and that she'll wake up snug and safe inside the log in her daddy's embrace. But it's not a nightmare.

Because in a nightmare, she wouldn't be able to feel any pain like the kind she's feeling now as fists start pummeling her on the head.

After the eighth blow, she passes out.

---

"Ahhh, yah ya-ahhhhh!"

The sound of Sam's frantic screaming forces Mary to open her eyes. She sees Sam being held up by the gopher while the squirrel and weasel take turns hitting him in the gut. They then back away to give the male armadillo room to roll forward and into the five-year-old like a bowling ball. Bernard is still playing possum, but shows no signs of being physically hit.

Still mad at her brother for not having the courage to protect Sam when the little kid most needed it, and needing to help Sam herself, Mary tries to get up, but that's when she lets out a grueling yell from the pain wracking her body. Everything hurts, so to take her mind off of it she thinks about how this group of bullies aren't your average anger-driven tormentors.

They had ample knowledge of the terrain in that they had chosen to make their move in the isolated part of the forest between the neutral playground zone and the places where animals live. As a law, no predators can attack any prey animals in the playground area, and no prey can live within a half mile radius of it as a means to sound a warning for any creatures a predator might be hunting. Knowing that adults would also break up a fight inside the playground zone, these aggressors wisely waited for Sam, Aaron, Bernard, and Mary to leave the safer location. And the bullies have obviously been watching the hedgie kids for some time, and had just waited for the opportunity for when an adult wasn't around Mary and her family.

That recent thought makes Mary feel guilty. If she wasn't so eager to show off her raccoon skills to impress the family, and had waited in the playground like Luby told her to, they all wouldn't be in this mess.

Mary thinking: "Worry about that later. Try to help Sam and Bernard now."

Feeling less worse for wear she starts standing up, only to get forced back down by a blow on her back.

Raccoon: "Where do you think you're going, mutant?"

Possum: "You belong on the ground because you're lower than dirt. You represent the worst of two species."

Mary: "No, you two do. I'm more raccoon and more possum than you'll ever be. Like all bullies, the only reason you're winning is because you have plenty of goons to back you up. If only four of you had tried to attack us today, things would be a lot different."

The raccoon slams her foot on top of Mary's right paw, causing the opossacoon to grunt.

Raccoon: "Keep dreaming. That's the only way you're life will ever be happy—in your dreams."

Possum: "And you know why? Because," (imitating Mary's voice) "like all hybrids" (normal voice) "you're sterile and will never have any kids of your own. It's Mother Nature's way of ensuring genetic defects like you and your brother will never contaminate the Earth with your malformed DNA."

Raccoon (leans down to speak into Mary's ear): "Hear that? Even Mother Nature is against you, ya lab experiment, which proves you don't deserve to live! But don't worry, we're not gonna kill any of you, 'cuz we want you all to live your lives of endless disappointment..." (In anger and sorrow) "Just like all of our lives are full of misery ever since our relatives were killed! I loved my baby cousins, two uncles, and grandparents. I wanted to keep playing with them, see them grow, and let the kids I'll have one day be my cousins' kids' best friends! But your 'pet' wolf took that away from me!"

Possum: "Same here! He took that away from all of us! You and your family of misfits have been living so comfortably after Kale joined you that it's insulting! Y'all deserve to have suffering in your lives, and that's what all of us are going to give you!"

Being raised by perhaps the most empathetic raccoon and turtle on the planet, Mary finds herself feeling at least a bit of remorse for what these two are going through. And there's no doubt that their words reflect the emotions of the other animals still harassing her and Sam. But seeing Sam take another punch to the chest rids the opossacoon of those feelings and lights the fire of defiance back in her soul.

Mary: "That's no excuse for what you're doing! You're acting like the wolves who killed your relatives—Ack!"

The possum wraps her tail around Mary's neck and squeezes.

Possum: "Shut up! Never mention the wolves who killed my extended family to me. EVER!"

Mary notices that the full-blooded marsupial has used too much of her tail to choke her, leaving an inch dangling in front of Mary's mouth. The opossacoon jolts forward and bites hard, getting untold satisfaction in hearing the bully's yelp. Mary rolls to the left before the raccoon can hit her, then gets on all fours and runs toward Bernard.

Knowing she'll need his help to have any chance of saving Sam, and that her actions have gotten the attention of some of the other animals who are already running toward her, Mary has to ensure whatever she does to wake up her brother will work on the first try. To do that, she uses her opossum rather than raccoon instincts. She times her actions so that she is next to Bernard's head just as he's done exhaling, whereby she pinches his nose shut with one paw and uses the other to press down on his muzzle to prevent him breathing from the mouth. She then yells, "Mommy and daddy are here!"

The discomfort of being unable to breathe, and the excitement and relief that his parents have arrived to save them, forces Bernard awake—only for him to discover that RJ and Heather are nowhere in sight.

Bernard: "What's going on?"

Mary: "We need to help Sam! C'mon—OOF!"

The badger tackles Mary to the ground, and Bernard's fear starts to take hold of his mind. Knowing this will cause him to play dead again, Mary yells, "DON'T YOU DARE play possum, Bernard! Save Sam!"

Bernard looks in the young squirrel's direction and, to his surprise, the bullies tormenting him stop what they're doing and move aside, leaving behind only the gopher still holding Sam from the back.

Gopher: "Yeah, Bernard. Come and save him."

Even through the tears he's shedding, Sam's face lights up when he sees Bernard look at him. When Bernard takes one step forward, the eyes of the weasel, squirrel, male armadillo, and female mole narrow and they growl while barring their teeth on the side of their mouths. Bernard stops as he comprehends the message: he'll have to go through those animals to get to Sam. He looks back at Mary and discovers that the raccoon, possum, female armadillo, and male mole are to the left or right of the badger who is keeping Mary pinned down. Those animals repeat their peers' recent facial expressions and growls.

Bernard's breathing becomes short and rapid, his heart is racing, and his mind is racing faster as he wants to help out his sister and Sam, but will most definitely fail at fighting off so many other creatures. Mary is just as puzzled, and has no words of encouragement to inspire her brother.

He is soon given an incentive when the gopher bops Sam on the head, causing the squirrel to let out a squeal. But for some reason, Bernard can't move. He's too afraid. Then, the unexpected happens.

Tabitha: "Let the squirrel go." (Points at Bernard) "This two-in-one zoo exhibit is too chicken to save him."

The gopher releases Sam who runs over and wraps his arms around Bernard while muttering "Ah-yiiiiii, gaga ooooooo."

Bernard (while returning Sam's hug): "There, there. It's alright. You're gonna be okay now, Sam."

Mary gasps and is about to warn Bernard that this was too easy and is obviously a setup, but the male mole kicks her in the side to get her quiet.

Tabitha (to the animals that had been around Sam): "Now, finish it."

The weasel, squirrel, male armadillo, female mole, and gopher move forward, each wearing a sinister grin and looking eager to cause more pain.

Bernard gets in front of Sam, holds out his arms, and says, "Leave him alone! I-I won't let you hurt him anymore!"

Tabitha (rhetorical and insulting): "Oh, and what are you going to do about it, huh? Play possum? Run away? Crawl into your mommy's pouch? Thanks to Kale's observations of you during his stay with your family, the Bone-Chompers have told me all about you. I know you too well. You pretend to be brave and adventurous like your parents and sister are, but inside you're a scared little boy who'll never live up to anything. You're just a weak, worthless, failure who cries to mommy and daddy because you know how much of a disappointment you really are. And you wanna know something else? You will never be like your parents. Not a raccoon, and not a possum, just a miserable, fraidy, waste of oxygen!"

Bernard has been dead-still during the shrew's speech, the words sinking deep into his head, and even soul it feels like. Unaware of his surroundings as he is lost in his own little world of despair, he's still mulling things over when male armadillo effortlessly punches then shoves him aside, which leads to the other animals beating Sam again.

The male armadillo hoists Bernard to his knees and says, "See? You can't even save your own friend, your 'family member.' You really are worthless."

Bernard's eyes widen, but he still can't make himself move, even after the armadillo lets him go.

Tabitha casually walks in front of Bernard and says, "What? Cat got your tongue?! How about you just cry out to your mommy and daddy? That's what you're best at, anyway."

Mary can't take it anymore. Tabitha's insults, the bullies picking on Sam, and especially Bernard's cowardice make her madder than she has ever been in a long time.

Mary: "You won't hurt my cousin ANYMORE!"

With a surge of adrenaline- and anger-induced strength, Mary shoves off the badger and makes a beeline to Sam where she bites the weasel's arm and claws female mole in the face. The male armadillo grabs Mary from behind, but the opossacoon does a backward head-butt and kick that makes him release her.

Voice: "HEY, what's going on here?!"

Everyone looks up into the trees and sees a family of seven crows that had been passing by and are now stopping to fly in place.

Mary: "Help! These guys're beating up me, my brother, and cousin!"

Badger: "This is personal! You featherbrains better scram, or we'll pound you too!"

All bullies except Tabitha in unison: "Yeah!"

Tabitha (to her bully army in dread): "You revenge-blinded dolts!"

Father crow (to the bullies): "Disrespectful ruffians! Looks like we have no choice but to punish you now!"

Like a scene from a classic killer bird movie, the crows swoop down and cause chaos. Some crows dive-bomb the bullies, others peck them while hovering, and a few latch onto the arms with their beaks and refuse to let go. But unlike the movie, there are more bullies than crows, and after the former have overcome their initial shock, they start to turn the tables on the latter.

With little time to spare, Mary runs over and takes Sam by the paw, then gets next to Bernard who is still on his knees, tears flowing from his eyes.

Bernard: "M-Mary. W-w-w-what do I do...?!"

Mary: "We need to run back home at fast as we can, now! Take my paw."

Bernard (doesn't budge): "I...I..."

Mary gets in front of her brother, grabs him by both shoulders, and says, "Bernard, snap out of it!"

Father crow: "Retreat! They outmatch us!"

Upon hearing that, Mary squints her eyes closed in dread as a single tear rolls down her cheek.

Father crow (to the opossacoon's and Sam's direction): "S-sorry kids, we tried. We'll bring back more birds as soon as we can!"

With that, the crows flee, leaving Tabitha's gang alone with their "targets." The prospect of another attack by a larger amount of crows has the smaller bullies on-edge, but most walk toward the doomed trio, unconcerned.

Tabitha: "Tell ya what, we'll let you three go if Bernard can fight us. Any of us."

Mary's heart fills with hope. She knows that he can do this, but when she looks at her brother—who still looks as terrified as before—her mind tells her otherwise.

When Bernard hasn't done anything after ten seconds, the male armadillo goads, "Go on, Bernard. Do it!"

Raccoon: "Yeah! It's the least your parents and sister would do."

Mary (strict): "Fight them, Bernard. Fight them."

Bernard continues to stand as still as a statue, with deer-in-headlights-eyes.

Possum: "C'mon, we're giving you the chance to hit me or my pals. Can't get any better than that."

Bernard: "I...I..."

Tabitha: "I told you guys he's too afraid to fight. So go on, Bernard. Tell us. Tell us just how much of a loser you really are. You're the son of one of the wiliest raccoons in the state. Together with your family, you have defeated wolves, bears, and human verminators. You heist from human homes on a regular basis, sometimes succeeding by the skin of your teeth. Not a day goes by when you try to overcome your fear of predators and heights. And even then, you still can't lift a finger to save your sister and 'cousin'. "

Bernard's face twists in agony and he speaks in a voice on the verge of bawling out crying, "She's right! I'm nothing like my parents! Even when I stayed up for nights trying to overcome my fears, I still played possum at the mere image of predators on a cell phone." (Points at the possum, raccoon, and badger) "And they're all bigger than me!"

Badger: "We could've just held onto your she-thing sister and mental cousin to make you prove how much of a sissy-coward you are. Beating the two of them up just seems like a waste of our strength, knowing you wouldn't be able to help them anyway."

Bernard (to Sam and Mary): "I'm so sorry! I just can't—"

Badger (in a sigh of annoyance): "Enough..."

Tabitha: "You're right. This has just been a waste of our time." (Points at Bernard) "You're such a fraidy-baby, your cowardice has sucked out all the fun of continuing to pick on you. We'll let you three stooges go now, but just so every day, you can wake up and always remember the time you couldn't stop us. Couldn't protect your sister and cousin. Couldn't live up to your raccoon heritage, even when we gave you the chance to do all three. Because doing that to you is worse than any physical beating."

Bernard slumps his head down and wishes he could turn invisible...not just to hide from the humiliation at the paws of the gang of bullies, but to also hide from the shame that his sister's look is causing him to feel.

Male armadillo: "No go. All of you run back home crying to your" (condescension tone) "mo-mmies and da-ddies." (Normal tone) "They're waitin' for you!"

Like a possum, Bernard scurries away quickly, crying loudly. Like a raccoon, Mary stands her ground, her eyes moving left to right giving death-glares at each of the cruel animals who have tormented her and the other two today. Her hard gaze stops on Tabitha.

Not caring what will happen to herself, Bernard, or Sam, Mary addresses Tabitha in a voice full of seething rage, "My brother and I should never have saved you from the waterfall...We should have let you fall down it and die. No. We should've pushed you down it ourselves!"

Tabitha: "Wrong. You and your brother should have never become friends with Brooke and Richie after what they did to me!"

Mary (to the other bullies): "Enjoy being her slaves for the rest of your lives. The instant any of you try to ditch her, you'll go through the same thing me and my brother went through today!"

The bullies collectively laugh.

Possum: "That won't happen."

Female armadillo: "We're not you."

The animals then depart. Once they're out of sight, Mary stand up, cradles Sam in her arms and walks away. Thinking that she's alone, she finally sheds the tears she has been holding back—just as a murder of 25 crows arrives in the treetops.

Father crow: "We're back to—!"

One look below tells the birds that they're too late to help.

---

Back at the log where the hedgies live, it turns out that Luby isn't the only adult to not join the rest in today's raid. Two 24-year-old female porcupines named Emma and Emily, their 58-year-old mother Annette, and Heather's father Ozzie are sitting around a large HD TV watching a popular kids show about anthropomorphic puppy dogs that wear emergency service uniforms and do their designated jobs around a town inhabited by both humans and anthropomorphic dogs. Normally, the adults would have no interest in such as show, but they are watching it to appease the taste of Emma's three-year-old son, Ike.

Ike has light brown fur, blue eyes, black and white quills, and dark brown ventral fur. Annette and her daughters have brown eyes, white and grayish fur, and black and white quills. Emily is distinguished from Emily and her third sister Rachel (who is busy on the heist) in that she is the tallest, Rachel is the second tallest, and Emma is the shortest. Emma is married to a 24-year old male porcupine named Spike, Emily is married to one of Spike's triplet brothers Bucky, and Rachel is married to the other brother named Quillo.

The three male and female porcupines met each other many years ago, shortly after Luby, her best friend Velma the box turtle, and Luby's mate Rick joined the hedgies' family. Since then, the porcupines had been having a blast going on heists, playing videogames, and doing other adventurous activities. During all of this, the boys and girls became closer, going from pals to friends, then to BFF's, then to boyfriends-girlfriends, and now are mates. Each has been married for four years now, ever since returning from an out-of-state adventure even rambunctious kids like them had a hard time surviving.

A few weeks after Kale joined the forest family, a tornado had taken the six teenage porcupines to the state of Ohio where they had a harrowing encounter with the brother of a coral snake who had killed the three girls' father. They would have been snake bait had it not been for two kind porcupines, Ike and Dr. Liam, who offered them shelter and tips about their reptilian adversary. There was even a time during their stay there that Ike and Emma started developing feelings for one another, though more of Ike's feelings for Emma because she was still in love with Spike. In any case, Dr. Liam and Ike were vital in killing the serpent. But it came at the cost of Ike's life, who bequeathed Emma a wood and rope necklace with the letters "EI" on it before dying. Because of his sacrifice, Emma and Spike named their son Ike, and not a day has gone by when Emma doesn't wear her necklace.

Note: I want to give a big thanks to TheIceAgeMan77342 for giving me permission to use details from his story Adventure Awaits in my own story. As a result, I accept TheIceAgeMan77342's story, Adventure Awaits as cannon in my Over the Hedge expanded universe timeline. However, in order for my vision for this story (and future stories) to work, TheIceAgeMan77342's story, Adventure Awaits II: In the Amazon is non-cannon in my OTH EU timeline. The reason for that is not because Adventure Awaits II is inferior—on the contrary, it's 50 times better than the first Adventure Awaits!—but rather because I had already finalized the porcupine families' details in my story here BEFORE Adventure Awaits II came out. During the time I made that decision, I had no idea that TheIceAgeMan77342 would make a sequel to Adventure Awaits, and was very surprised when it came out.

Anyhoo, expect to see some more tie-ins with that story here in mine. And if you want to experience the full story of Adventure Awaits 1 instead of relying on my recap-descriptions, it wouldn't hurt to check out Adventure Awaits 1 for yourself when you get the chance.

As for Emily, she can't participate in the heist today because she is nine months pregnant with her and Bucky's children. She could have them any day now, and the family knows she will have more than one kid because her huge belly bulge is much larger than her sister's had been.

On the TV, a German Shepherd puppy wearing a police uniform proudly states, "We've saved the day again, boys!"

As he and his canine friends bark in celebration, Ike joins by shouting, "Yayyyyy! Did'ja see it, mommy?!"

Emma: "I sure did, Ike! What a great show! Right, mom and Ozzie?"

Annette: "It's definitely a crowd-pleaser. Right, Oz?"

Snoring forces Annette to fully turn her body to the right where she sees Ozzie sleeping, either bored from the cartoon show or simply needing to take a nap. Annette thinks it's a bit of both, especially since Ozzie's species' advanced aging has been really catching up to him in the past five years. He is only 55-years-old, but has the body and mind of an 80-year-old, which is why he can't go on heists anymore.

The elder possum has white fur, black ears, and a black tail, but, wanting to see his sky-blue eyes, Annette sighs while rolling her eyes, leans forward, gently shakes her lifelong companion, and says, "Oh, Ozz-ie, time to wake uh-up."

Ozzie opens his eyes with a yawn and says, "Oh, hi Annette. What did I miss?"

Ike: "Big Daddy Ozzie! Chase and Ryder saved town hall from the criminals who robbed the bank and then held the mayor hostage! It was epic!"

Ozzie chuckles more at the fact of how Ike refers to him as his "big daddy" than he does with the young one's overly hyper plot recap. Several years ago, Ozzie and Annette, both widowed parents, became lifelong companions in order for the two of them to watch over each other as close friends—not as spouses—until the day they depart from this world.

Ozzie: "I'm sure it was, Ike. But the word 'epic' is used too much these days. Try to use words that have more class such as 'spectacular,' or 'stupendous,' or 'riveting,' or—"

Emma: "Ozzie...He's four. Wait until he's six."

Ozzie: "Very well." (Thinking) "But I might pass away before then..."

He's stopped from brooding when his son-in-law's voice loudly proclaims, "Hey you five, we're ho-ome!"

The four porcupines and one possum turn around and see the rest of the hedgies emerge from the namesake hedge. As usual they have a wagon load of food as well as other trinkets stolen from the humans they had raided today.

Pulling a red wagon loaded with food is RJ, the 37-year-old, blue-eyed raccoon with brown fur everywhere on his body except his dark brown mask, white ventral side, and a dark brown stripe running from the back of his head down to his tail which has three white rings. Carrying two plastic grocery bags full of canned food is Heather, the 32-year-old opossum who has white fur, sky-blue eyes, white spots on her ears, a black tail, and bangs on the middle of her forehead that curve down a centimeter between where her eyes are located. Pushing an E-Z Fold Wagon is Verne, the 59-year old box turtle and family co-leader who has green scales, a brown shell, and a large nose. Helping him is his mate Velma, the 59-year old box turtle who has tan-scales, a purple bow on her head, along with the same shell color and nose size as her mate. And helping her is Verne's and Velma's 17-year-old nephew Plushie, the box turtle who has green-tan colored scales, a shell that has black patches among a mainly yellow color, and his biological uncle's and aunt-by-marriage's large nose.

Carrying various-sized cookie boxes that stack up to five feet is Hammy, the 37-year-old American red squirrel who has emerald-colored eyes, buckteeth, red fur covering his body except for the white fur that goes from his cheeks to his loins, and a dark red stripe running down his back. Carrying eight boxes of cereal is Scarlet, the 36-year-old American red squirrel who's distinguished from her mate, Hammy, by her brown eyes, lack of a stripe, red fur-freckles on her white cheeks, and a curlier tail. Despite Hammy's age, he has the mental equivalent of a pre-teen boy, and is just as hyperactive.

Scarlet met him six years ago when she fled her biological family who tried to force her to marry someone she wasn't in love with. Having lived in luxury her whole life up until that point, she was forced to try to scam other animals for shelter and food, but no one fell for her...That is, until Hammy kindly offered to let her stay in an area of the forest he claimed as his private nut storage. Hammy's kindness and witty nature won Scarlet over quickly, and she and him developed feelings for each other, which led to them marrying and having Sam—who was named after Hammy's late brother, Sammy—and Aaron, who Scarlet named simply because he looked like an Aaron.

The next two hedgies are Stella, the 40-year-old striped skunk with green eyes, and her mate, Prince Tigerious Mammhooht Shabbaz, or Tiger, the 42-year old Persian cat with white fur and blue eyes. Stella's and Tiger's 14-year-old daughter (Princess) De'Ausha, the skunk-cat hybrid, or skunat looks like a thin Persian cat with predominantly white fur, black stripes on her back and tail which is shaped like a skunk's, but has a small dab of Persian-cat-brown fur on the tip; along with a face and eyes that match her mother's and a big black cat nose like her father's. And then Penny, the 55-year old porcupine with brown fur, gray quills, and brown eyes. The four of them are pulling a large cooler with drinks in it. Pushing the same cooler are Penny's 55-year-old mate Lou who has the same eye, fur, and quill coloration as she does; and their three sons, Bucky, Quillo, and Spike. The triplets have blue eyes, are 24-years-old, and look just like Lou except that Bucky's ventral fur is colored regular-brown, Quillo's is light brown, and Spike's is dark brown.

Rachel the porcupine is helping to guide the family of five fruit bats as the flying mammals bring large bowls full of chip bags that are attached to the bats by ropes. There is Simon, the 55-year-old father, his 55-year-old mate Celine, and their three daughters Marilyn, Christine, and Claire. All five have brown fur and black wings, have three small "finger-claws" located between the shoulder and the tip of their wings, are as tall as Hammy's shoulders, wear sunglasses, and carry tiny retractable canes when on the ground. The only way to distinguish the triplet 24-year-old bats is that Marilyn has the longest tail of the sisters, Christine has the second longest tail, and Claire has the shortest tail.

Lastly, carrying various cold and warm foods inside of big saucers and dishes are the raccoon families. There is Luby's mate Rick, the blue-eyed, black-masked, 38-year-old raccoon whose fur color is a mix of brown and gray, except for his white ventral side. Rick's and Luby's twin sons are both 14-years-old; the older one is Roger, who has a black mask, ocean-green eyes, and has brown-gray fur covering his whole body without white ventral fur; and the younger one is Ty(ler) who has blue eyes, a dark brown mask, brown-gray fur, and white fur on his ventral side. The other raccoon family is composed of RJ's 60-year-old parents, Rogan and Sarah, and their 22-year-old daughter (and RJ's little sister) Rebecca. Rogan's and Sarah's formerly brown fur has faded gray with age, and each has white fur on their ventral sides. Sarah's eyes are blue and she has three white rings on her tail. Rogan's eyes are ocean-green, his tail has four rings, and his gray stripe is shaped and located exactly where RJ's and Rebecca's are. Rebecca's eyes are colored a fusion of ocean-green and teal-blue, her back stripe is colored black, she has dark brown fur everywhere except her white ventral side, and she wears two short red ribbons around her ears.

Note: Now that I have revealed the exact ages of the OTH characters, I need to address something: I am fully aware that animals age differently from humans, but (as some of you may have guessed from reading my other stories) I make the OTH characters age at the same rate as humans. Aside from suspension of disbelief, my reasoning is that the Over the Hedge movie (a family-friendly movie where the rules of the real world don't always apply) features semi-anthropomorphic animals, and part of the semi-anthropomorphism I choose to employ in my stories is their age rate. It also makes things less complicated for the writer, LOL.

Spike is the first to let go of the wheeled cooler once it is where it needs to be. He immediately walks over to his mate—his eyes giving the necklace a quick and uncomfortable stare, before being replaced with a look of glee as he looks at her smiling face—and kisses her on the cheek.

Spike: "Miss me, babe?"

Emma: "You know it, stud. But with Ike near me, it's almost like you're never gone. Our son reminds me more of you every day."

Spike: "In the sense that he's good-looking, adventurous, and always ready for action?"

Emma: "True, but more because of how crazy he gets when around the TV."

Spike smiles while looking down at Ike who has his arms eagerly spread open, whom he scoops up, and says, "Heh-heh, that's my boy!"

Ike: "You should'a seen the PAW Patrol episode I watched, daddy! It was funny, fun, action-packed, and totally epic!"

While Spike chuckles, his interaction with Ike has been watched by Bucky and Emily with envious eyes.

Bucky: "Man, how is it that my youngest brother had a kid before we did?"

Emily: "Chin up, Bucky. It won't be too long before we start having talks like that with our kids."

Rachel: "And be thankful that least you're pregnant, Emily. Quillo and I have been trying for two years now."

Quillo: "No sweat, baby. If we learned anything from Luby and Rick, who tried for much longer, it's that it'll happen."

A few feet away, Ozzie stares wide-eyed at how Tyler is carrying a large salad bowl, stacked below a jello salad container, and cake box with a two-foot long and eight-inch thick cake on the very top.

Ozzie: "Mother of Hamlet, you hit the jackpot this time Tyler."

Ty: "Thanks, Ozzie. I could've gotten more, too, if Roger had been faster."

Roger: "Hey, bro, I had to haul twice as much as you to make up for mom's absence. If I had rushed it, I would've dropped my food."

Rick: "But together, you both accomplished a great deal."

Roger and Ty in unison: "Thanks, dad!"

Ty: "We haven't forgotten—"

Roger: "—All the lessons we learned—"

Ty: "—When you and mom had us two—"

Roger: "—Practice working together—"

Roger and Ty in unison: "—During our free time."

Rick nods in appreciation at how his sons' sibling rivalry, though still present, has been reduced considerably. All the hard work he and his mate put in doing that is truly paying off.

Speaking of hard work, that's what it's taking Rebecca and her boyfriend Garrett to carry a heavy dish full of potato casserole. Garrett is 24-years-old, has auburn-colored fur, blue eyes, a charcoal-colored mask, and a black stripe going from his nose to the part of his back between both shoulders. Although Rebecca had a crush on Garrett shortly after the hedgies moved to the woods where they currently live, Garrett had been married to another raccoon named Lizzie who was tragically killed by the Bone-Chompers for her mother's involvement in the prey animal resistance group. The sight drove Garrett literally insane, but Rebecca miraculously nursed his mind back to health. The two have been dating for a long time now, and one of the ways Rebecca correctly guessed would bring her and Garrett closer was having him participate in one of her family's heists. As a raccoon, Garrett was a born natural at stealing food from humans.

When they get to an open space, Rebecca says, "Let's set 'er down right here."

Garrett nods and the two young adult raccoons gently place the casserole dish on the ground next to the microwave.

Rebecca: "Woo! That was some haul..." (Wipes sweat from her forehead) "Couldn't have done it without ya, Garrett."

Garrett: "Neither could I, Becca."

Verne: "Alright everyone, put all the food where it needs to go and then kick back and relax for the rest of the day. We've earned it."

After the "Woo-hoo's," the hedgies separate but remain in the area near the TV and log. Rebecca then makes eye contact with Garrett.

Rebecca: "We need some serious time to unwind after doing this raid."

Upon hearing Rebecca's words, Garrett's eyes brightens up with mischievous glee. His expression goes unnoticed by Rebecca who looks to the right and laughs at a witty comment Stella makes, which Garrett doesn't hear, and he makes sure he drops the look before addressing his girlfriend again.

Garrett: "You know what the perfect way to unwind after a long day of heisting is? Spending some quality time with each other."

Rebecca: "Absolutely. Let's go to my favorite downtime spot where I normally practice my gymnastics. I've got a 16-inch iPad there for when I have guests over. Just lemme tell my parents and brother where we'll be going."

Garrett (nods): "Of course."

After receiving affirmative answers from her biological family, Rebecca and Garrett waltz on out of the family's sight, walking paw-in-paw. Three minutes later, the couple arrives at a large grass patch that is 40x40 feet. Trees of various sizes sparsely dot the middle grass patch and tall trees boarder the left, right, and far front of the grass patch, making the area the shape of an upside down U with the grass patch in the middle and large trees wrapping around it.

She takes Garrett's paw again and walks forward while saying, "Let's see if the Wi-Fi connection is still good before we—"

Suddenly, Garrett grips her paw very tightly and then pulls her backward. Surprised by this, she is already turning around, wanting to ask Garrett what he's doing, but before she can, his lips are pressing against hers. Her are eyes wide in shock whereas his eyes are closed romantically, his lack of sight not hindering his ability to kiss and then stroke her back with both paws. She opens her mouth to say something, but this only enables his tongue to pass through and enter. Although she likes the taste of his mouth after he had eaten a mint chocolate candy bar as a break-time snack, this isn't what she was expecting him to do. The pheromones he's releasing seem to wash over her senses as if they have been hit with a fire hose. When his paws move past her lumbar region, down to the base her tail, and show no sign of stopping, Rebecca puts her paws on his chest and pushes the two of them apart.

Rebecca: "What're you doing, Garrett?!"

Garrett: "We're spending quality time together, Becca. What else?"

Rebecca: "I thought you meant watching TV or listening to music with me, not making out."

Garrett: "Why're you looking at me that way, Rebecca? You're my girlfriend, and I'm your boyfriend. This is what boyfriends and girlfriends do when they're in love. You still love me, right?"

Rebecca: "I do love you, Garrett, but don't you think you're being too intimate and going too fast in our relationship?"

Garrett: "Relax, I wasn't going to—"

He stops when he sees Rebecca giving him a hard expression while crossing her arms. He then takes time to ponder about his actions—which causes him to feel ashamed—and gets a grip on his hormones that had been controlling him instead of his brain. Now, with a clear head, he addresses Rebecca honestly.

Garrett: "Uhhh, look, the thing is, this is the first time we've had a chance to try and take our relationship to the next level. I just got so excited that I slipped up. It's also the five year anniversary when Lizzie—y'know—and the heist wasn't enough to take my mind off of it, so I wanted to...Um, bottom line, I'm sorry."

Rebecca: "It's okay. I forgive you."

Garrett: "Thanks, Becca. But don't you think enough time as passed? It's been four years, and not once have you let me do anything like this. Lizzie and me were touching and cuddling each other long before I was engaged to her."

Rebecca: "I know you've been doing very well in taking our relationship slow like I asked you to when we started officially dating. But you gotta remember that I'm not Lizzie. We can do the kind of stuff you and Lizzie did once we're married, engaged at the earliest, but not a moment before."

Garrett: "Knowing you, you'd probably be reluctant to do that stuff with me even when we reach that point."

Rebecca: "What's that supposed to mean?"

Garrett: "Don't you think you're a bit too reserved, Rebecca? Even if we take things slow, I don't think we should be too slow. Know what I mean?"

Rebecca: "I understand what you're saying, but don't agree with you."

Garrett: "That's my point. I thought after four years, you'd feel about me how I feel about you. Please don't think I'm being an obsessive creep, but I'm so attracted to you. I love you so much, and want to be more intimate with you so much, but you keep not wanting the contact, that I have several fantasies about being intimate with you. I wanted to make at least one those dreams come true today, but if you think I've overstepped my bounds, then I understand." (Walks up to Rebecca and puts a paw on her shoulder) "Don't get me wrong, I love you for how kind, smart, selfless, daring, athletic, and fun you are. But I'm equally attracted to you physically."

While stroking the back of Rebeca's head with his other paw, Garrett continues, "I love every hair on your body: the color, the style, the placement, and the touch of it. I love every cell on your outside and inside, every claw on your paws, even the very air you breathe out. You're the most important priority in my life. I miss you when you're away for five minutes. That's how I loved Lizzie, as well as the other girlfriends I had before you and her, ever since I was a kit. All couples need to make compromises when getting in a relationship, just like how I've promised to take things slowly with you. But if the compromises start reducing who we are as people, then that's not a sign of a healthy relationship. I warned you about myself when we started dating. I said expressing my passion out in the open is who I am. I said that I'm more romantic than most guys. A guy like me has to express his love for you openly. I'm very passionate for those I love, and it's hard for me to contain it...especially since you saved me from being a vegetable for the rest of my life.

"I think the reason why I could only say your name after my mental breakdown was because you had something none of my previous loves ever did: you cared about me deeper than my looks, and more than my heart. You cared about my soul. That makes you my soul mate..."

Rebecca actually understands what Garrett is talking about when it comes to open and passionate expressions, because her parents are the exact same way. She is also moved by Garrett's words and knows he's being honest. To show her appreciation, she wraps one arm around his waist, puts the paw of her free arm tenderly on his cheek tuff, and then kisses him on the lips. The kiss is slow and passionate, but not as vigorous as Garrett's was from earlier, and oddly, Garrett doesn't mind at all. Unlike his kiss which went all-out immediately, he's able to savor this one. The experience is very enjoyable to say the least. The two young adults use their love connection to know when it's time to stop and pull away to talk some more, each more attentive to the other than ever before.

Rebecca: "All of that was the sweetest things you've ever said to me, Garrett, and I thank you for it. And to tell you the truth, I have several fantasies about being with you too...But you don't have to reward me for saving you by being so physical. Don't worry, I will get to the point where I'll let you fully express your feelings toward me. I promise. We just need to spend a little more time with each other and our families."

Garrett wants to roll his eyes and complain how that's all Rebecca ever says, but also doesn't want to jeopardize all the progress that's been made with their conversation. He actually got Rebecca to kiss him, which she rarely does even when the two of them are alone. That's a victory in his book, so he isn't going to say anything that will agitate Rebecca.

Garrett: "Okay, Becca. How's about we watch some shows on the iPad now?"

Rebecca: "I'd love to."

After one minute of browsing, they find something they want to watch. Just before Garrett presses "Play," however, Hammy comes zooming in so fast that the wind generated by him causes the Wi-Fi connection to fluctuate, proving that even cyberspace is affected by his speed. Knowing Hammy for eight years, Rebecca notices that he is running faster than usual, which means something is urgent.

Hammy speaks so panicky, loud, and fast that Rebecca can only comprehend a few words. She hears "Sam," "Aaron," "Bernard," "Mary," "fight," "hurt," and "come on." He then zooms away before Rebecca can ask him to repeat anything.

She turns to Garrett and says, "I gotta go. Family emergency, apparently."

Garrett: "Want me to come along? They're all gonna become my in-law family one day."

Rebecca: "Something tells me this is personal. But don't worry. Once things settle, I'll visit your folks the next time we meet."

Garrett doesn't like that Rebecca is so quick to marginalize him out of her family life, but also understands how some things truly are meant only for family members' ears.

Garrett (nods yes): "Okay. See ya then."

Rebecca: "Bye!"

His girlfriend is so quick to go to all fours and start running—as if Garrett has suddenly vanished from her life entirely—that he just has to ask her something if he's to find solace for how close he was to making their relationship go further.

Garrett: "You were at least attracted to my pheromones, right?"

Rebecca stops, gets on her hind legs, turns completely around and says, "Oh, you know it," with a wink.

She immediately turns back around and runs off, but Garrett is smiling as he walks on home too.

---

Although Rebecca's legs don't slow down on the account of the family emergency, her mind is focused on the conversation she had with Garrett. It was rather what she had said, than what Garrett had said, that makes her reassess their relationship over the past four years.

It started one year after Kale had been accepted by the forest community—after Garrett fully recovered from the pain of losing Lizzie—and hasn't really gone anywhere since. She knows the reason is because of her desire of wanting to take things slowly. But now she realizes she's been intentionally stalling their relationship, because she is unsure if the two of them are really meant for each other. There's no doubt that Garrett feels that she is his true love, but Rebecca doesn't feel the same way yet; hasn't felt the same way for four years, which raises the question why she is still seeing him. One of the reasons she feels this way is the fact that Garrett was equally intimate with all of his previous girlfriends, which is discouraging because it's hard for Rebecca to feel like she is special to him.

Under the fear of breaking his already fragmented heart, she has never told him these true feelings she harbors. She also lied to him today. Unlike Garrett, Rebecca isn't overtly attracted to him physically, and hasn't had any fantasies about getting intimate with him. She feels incredibly guilty for this kick to her conscience, especially after hearing Garrett confess his true feelings for her, and his continued willingness to become the man she wants him to be, instead her becoming the woman he wants her to be.

Normally, she would take time to let out her harsh feelings by doing gymnastics, and could keep living with this like she always has. But when Garrett had asked her about his pheromones attracting her and she said yes, she had lied again.

As soon as that thought passes through her head, Rebecca stops running and ponders deeper...about a hidden reason why she doesn't feel like Garrett is her soul mate. Before now, it has been so confusing to Rebecca that even she couldn't quite put her finger on it. That is, until she realized that Garrett's pheromones didn't attract her.

Rebecca thinking: "That's not only weird on a personal level, that's just not normal in general. All females should be attracted to male pheromones, especially when they're of the same species. Why wasn't I attracted to him? Is it because it's not the time of year for my annual heat cycle? No, because most animals I know are a bit more like humans when it comes to that.

"Maybe it's because I was still flustered by Garrett's actions and had more self-control than he did? No, it can't be that, either, because I felt his pheromones full-force. It should have been impossible for me to resist him after that, and yet I did.

"Was it because I was tired from the heisting and wasn't in shape to cuddle with him? No, because all the gymnastics I do makes me fitter than most raccoons. I wanted to relax, yes, but still had plenty of energy left to make out with Garrett."

Rebecca puts a paw on her head that she shakes side to side, her musings making her feel more confused than before. Frustrated with the thoughts on pheromones, she tries a different approach.

Rebecca thinking: "Why am I not attracted to him in the same way he's attracted to me? What am I attracted to?"

She thinks back further into her life, replaying her most enjoyable experiences in her mind's eye. To her discomfort, Garrett isn't near the top of her list. She has the most fun spending time with her family, and prefers hanging out with her gal pals more than any of the males in her life, with the exception of her older brother and father. Her second favorite thing to do is working on her gymnastics skills. Her observations of humans doing so from an early age had instantly intrigued her, and she imitated their moves as if she was born to do it. There were certainly more human female gymnasts than male ones, and Rebecca always found the women more talented than the men...not to mention they looked better while doing it. Their posture, their lithe muscles, and the way their poses seemed to emphasize their curves. Like all animals, she finds humans' use of clothes to be humorous, but understands the need because they lack the fur, scales, feathers, and exoskeletons that animals just look better with without the need to be covered up. But when she was a teen, Rebecca has always wondered what it would be like to watch female gymnasts perform without—

Rebecca thinking: "Wait...why the heck am I thinking about that? Topic change."

She also enjoys watching movies and TV shows, and had had a schoolgirl crush on many attractive male actors. But ever since her first heat cycle when she was 17-years-old, she finds women actresses to be preferable to male ones. Although typically not as strong, burly, or kicking as much butt like men, women actresses were faster, sweeter, nimbler, better looking, more caring and sympathetic, and able to pull off stunts that men couldn't do.

She thinks about how much she enjoys stealing random items during raids. It's natural for all raccoons to do that, but the objects stolen are usually things that men, women, and children would find use for. For the past four years, Rebecca has had a habit of stealing girls' or women's hairbrushes, combs, shampoo, curling irons, perfume, and deodorant—preferably those that have been used, those that have a trace of women's natural scent to go along with the artificial ones.

Rebecca pauses for a few seconds and then ponders this awkwardness, "And I thought Garrett having fantasies about seeing me in his dreams and wanting to be around me 24/7 was uncomfortable. My habit is almost like a fetish...But...I really enjoy it."

Like all creatures Rebecca has a cynical inner voice, which protests, "Well, it's still weird and not normal how you enjoy female pheromones more than male pheromones, including for raccoons."

Despite the cynical inner voice's attempts to make Rebecca loathe herself, she instead finds herself agreeing. Rebecca has always preferred the "prettier" aroma of female raccoon pheromones over the "rugged" aroma of male raccoon pheromones. That was likely the real reason she didn't find Garrett's pheromones attractive today.

Rebecca is stumped by that prospect yet again. It seems that, for most of her life, she has been more stimulated and partial to female-oriented subject matters than those of the opposite gender.

The cogs in Rebecca's brain start working overtime, and when they stop, she is so shocked by the revelation that she speaks it out loud.

Rebecca: "Wait...Am I...gay?"

Her subconscious tells her no; that she loves Garrett and will learn to be as attracted to him as he currently is with her. But after quickly reflecting about everything she has pondered since separating from Garrett, her mind tells her yes. The turmoil this creates inside of Rebecca causes her two viewpoints to verbally battle out loud.

Rebecca: "No, I-I can't be gay! But it makes sense. No, you like males! But I like females more, apparently. What do you mean, like females more?! You don't love Garrett, that's why. But he's just one guy, that doesn't mean you aren't attracted to males in general. Then what about your fascination with female things? It—! I mean—! Um—!

"STOP IT! Just leave me alone! No more! STO-O-O-O-O-P!"

Rebecca's scream of anguish quickly turns into one of terror when something large and fast rushes toward her from behind, snarling menacingly. Expecting it to be a predator that had been stalking her, she closes her eyes with her paws and cringes as she waits to be eaten. The other animal runs past her and then starts making demands.

Animal: "Who's doin' dis to ya's?! How many are dare? Where are dey?!" (Rhetorical) "They ran off like cowards, didn't they?" (Inquiring in anger) "Which way'd they go?!"

Recognizing the speaker's voice, Rebecca sighs in relief and opens her eyes.

Rebecca: "Oh, Kale. Thank goodness it's just you. Don't worry, I wasn't being attacked. I'm all alone."

Kale: "You sure were yellin' like you was und'a attack."

Rebecca: "I was just—uh, never mind. If you're done for the day, you might wanna walk home with me. Hammy called a family emergency. Something to do with his sons, my niece, and nephew."

Kale: "My work nev'a really ends, 'specially since most predators're nocturnal, but I sure could use a break ta clear my head. Vamos."

After walking a few paces, Rebecca notices Kale's overly tense expression as he's immersed in deep, most likely angsty, thought. Knowing how the wolf's thoughts can put him in a seething bad mood, Rebecca attempts to get him to talk about things out loud.

Rebecca: "What're you doing so close to home this early? Slow day at 'work'?"

Kale sighs and slumps down in despair, then speaks in a depressed tone, "Worse, a bad day...I wasn't able ta save a few critters from some timber rattlesnakes. Dare survivin' relatives blamed me for bein' too slow—forgettin' dat their homes were several miles apart from each oth'a and dat there's only one of me..."

Rebecca: "That was wrong of them, but I'm sure they said it because they were just sad and angry with their losses."

Kale: "You'd teenk dat after I made an oath ta protect all prey animals in deese woods from predators, that they'd be grateful for any help I could provide 'em. But no, dey see me as just anoth'a predator...just like the lead rattlesnake said they would..."

Rebecca: "That can't be how the majority of the forest population views you."

Kale: "It's been five years since I joined all'uv you's prey animals' side over all predators' side, and most animals here still look at me as if I would turn on 'em without a moment's thought."

Rebecca: "No offense, but it's because you're a wolf."

Kale: " 'No offense,' but, no duh."

Rebecca: "What I mean is every prey animals' instincts associates your species with a lot of bad things."

Kale: "But how much more I gotta do before they feel comfortable 'round me?"

Rebecca: "They'll all learn to like you. And if they don't, you have 34 family members who do like you. Heh, what am I saying, we love you."

Kale: "Tanks, Becca. But my problems're a little deeper dan that. But dat's somethin' I wanna talk about with da whole family."

Rebecca: "I understand."

Kale: "Which is probably dee opposite of how you wanna address the problem you's have."

Rebecca: "You mean?"

Kale: "Sí, I heard you's debatin' with ya'self. How couldn't I? I have great hearin', and you's were yelling it pretty loud."

Knowing there's no use trying to hide it, Rebecca goes ahead and asks, "Kale, do you think I'm gay?"

Kale: "You's kinda struck me as the gay type with all da gymnastics ya do, but dat's a biased reason, associatin' female homosexuality wit bein' good at athletics. I'm still surprised, though, if you's really do turn out likin' females more dan males."

Rebecca: "If I am...how would you feel about me?"

Kale: "For me personally, I'd think ya's muy loco y anormal. But I'd still like ya's all the same."

Rebecca knows that Kale said he'd think she's "very crazy and abnormal," because ever since he moved in with the hedgies, the latters' understanding of Spanish has increased dramatically as the wolf makes it a habit to translate whatever he says when he speaks the language of his bloodline. At the same time, she finds respite knowing he's being honest, as one of his personal vows was to never lie to prey animals again due to how much trouble it caused him and others in the past.

Rebecca: "Thanks, Kale...I'm still not sure myself, but...how do think my parents and brother would feel about it?"

Kale: "Grande chica, I don't know how they'd feel or think about it. I'm not a mind-reader, nor do I wish I was. You's gotta talk to dem about dis. But if dey changed dare perception about me and wolves, I'd say dee odds're in ya's favor."

Rebecca breathes in relief at the truth behind Kale's words, and enjoys how he called her "big girl" in Spanish which is something he does to show comradery with her personally. Rogan, Sarah, and RJ...She's their daughter and sister respectively, her blood relatives. The fact that she might end up being homosexual should not change the fact that she is still their daughter and sister, which means they won't love her less. This causes the raccoon to walk the rest of the way home in confidence.

---

After arriving at the log and after hearing the grim story of what befell Sam, Bernard, and Mary, the whole family starts to console the three children, but also plays the self-blaming game.

RJ and Heather hold their still-weeping and bruised children in a tight hug, and look at Luby when she approaches them.

Luby: "I shouldn't have left without them...I should have stayed until Sam was ready to go."

Heather: "You had no idea this would happen...None of us did."

RJ: "And knowing Tabitha, if it didn't happen this time, it would've happened another time."

Mary: "It's my fault! I should've just stayed in the playground like Luby said!"

Aaron: "I shouldn't have whined like a baby which made you want to leave! And I should've ran faster to get back home!"

Hammy: "No Aaron, it's my fault that Sam has autism...I gave it to him..."

Scarlet: "We don't know that for sure, he could've gotten from my side of the family. And even if he did inherit it, it's genetics. There's nothing you or I could have done about it."

Bernard: "I should've fought back! I should have protected Sam! But I was too scared..."

RJ: "Look at me, son. Even if you did, there was no way you could have won against so many animals. Almost all of them were bigger than you by a foot."

Bernard: "But all I had to do was try to fight! And I still couldn't do it!"

Mary: "Dang right, you coward!"

RJ (stern): "Mary, do not talk to your brother like that, young lady!"

Mary: "There you go, defending him again! It's always about him whenever he gets scared or hurt! You never take my side, and I'm sick of it! I actually fought those bullies! I came to Sam's rescue!"

RJ: "You're absolutely right about those last two things, and I couldn't be prouder of you. But you both have been hurt, physically and emotionally, so I'm going to do all I can to keep the two of you from being hurt any more than you already have...especially if you try to hurt each other."

Heather: "Now apologize to Bernard, Mary."

Mary looks into her brother's watery and longing eyes, which makes her feel pity and guilt for how she just treated him.

Mary: "I..."

Mary's memory suddenly flashes today's events and she remembers how Bernard didn't get nearly hurt as much as she and Sam did, and he didn't even fight back like she did. The unfairness in that, plus her belief that her parents aren't being hard enough on Bernard, and that he can't keep crying to them forever, makes her decide that she might as well use the cynical motivational approach on him.

Mary: "NO! He shouldn't have played possum! He should have been braver, like me! He should have tried fighting back, like me! He should have done what a raccoon would have done! LIKE ME! You really are a worthless, scardey boy!"

Without saying a word, Heather lets go of Bernard, walks over to her daughter, tightly grabs Mary by the scruff of her neck with both paws, and takes her inside the hedge. Moments later, Mary cries out as she receives ten hard spanks. RJ lowers his head in dread as much as disappointment, because it's obvious that his daughter has inherited his flaring temper.

When Heather brings Mary out of the hedge, the opossacoon's tail is in between in her legs and she's rubbing her still-hurting rear end. Mary looks at her father, hoping he'd scold her mother for being too harsh, but RJ's expression is as stern as Heather's voice when she speaks to Mary again.

Heather: "Mary, look at me."

The opossacoon obeys.

Heather: "No TV shows, no videogames, and no cookies for the rest of the week."

Mary: "Y-yes ma'am..."

Heather: "Now, what do you have to say to your little brother?"

Mary looks back at Bernard, still feeling angry with him, but also not wanting to get another spanking or more privileges taken away.

Mary: "I'm sorry for calling you worthless, a coward, and blaming you, Bernard."

Bernard: "I can't forgive you, Mary..."

Before RJ reaches down to get a hold of his son and give him the same punishment as Mary, Bernard's next words causes his heart to nearly break in two.

Bernard: "...Because you're telling the truth."

The whole family looks at Bernard in confusion.

Bernard: "I am worthless...I am a coward..."

RJ's mind is more focused on fathoming why Bernard would say such a thing that when he replies it sounds like he's trailing off.

RJ: "Don't say that, son. The bullies said that to you to make you lose confidence in yourself."

Not wanting to draw attention to RJ's odd tone, Heather looks at Bernard and says, "Your dad's right, Bernard. Don't agree with their lies. Those bullies will win if you do."

Bernard: "They already won, mommy...They didn't even have to do anything. They just had to wait for me to chicken out!"

Heather kneels down and hugs Bernard tightly. The embrace makes Bernard feel a little better, but not by much. Thankfully, and as expected, Verne walks up and shares some words of wisdom to the kit.

Verne: "The reason you reacted the way you did, Bernard, isn't because you're a coward, and certainly not because you're worthless. You're inner possum is just more developed than your inner raccoon, in the same way that Mary's inner raccoon is more developed than her inner possum. You'll find a way to balance out each, some way or another."

Bernard: "But I've been trying to all my life, and I still haven't improved. I let Sam, my best friend, get hurt because I got too scared to defend him."

Heather: "If I was your age, the sight of all of those animals running toward me would've made me play possum too. And you remember me telling you and your sister how much I hated doing that, right?"

Bernard: "Uh-huh."

Heather (looks at RJ): "What about you, love?"

Even by now, RJ has been unable to come up with a reason as to why Bernard said Mary had been right about him being a worthless coward. Ever since Verne stopped talking, RJ had remembered of what Mary had said about how he and Heather never notice her inner raccoon talent as much as Bernard's neediness. He had looked at his daughter, feeling so sorry for how she got hurt more than her brother for doing what a raccoon would have done in the face of the situation.

Wanting to defend her side, RJ, having heard his mate's recent question—but not the things that had been said before it as his mind has been racing with coming to terms with what has happened to his kids today—replies.

RJ (mumbling): "To be fair, Heather, Bernard really could have used his raccoon instincts to take Sam up a tree where only a few of the bullies could follow."

Most of the family gives RJ blank stares at the remark, including the bats. The only ones who don't are Roger, Ty, Rick, Mary, and Kale who agree with RJ; and Hammy, Sam, and Aaron because those three's attention is currently on cleaning their own ears by sticking a pointer finger in them. The only reason the three squirrels refocus is when they pick up on the awkward silence and looks the others are giving.

As for Bernard, although RJ's remark is exactly what Bernard felt like he deserved for failing his sister and Sam, the opossacoon had been speaking out of despair. He had expected his father to console him like usual, but the fact that RJ said such a thing only confirms Bernard's greatest fear: RJ really is disappointed with his son for not being more like a raccoon.

Seeing the wounded look in his son's eyes, RJ immediately snaps out of his trance.

RJ (to the others): "Wait, did I just say that? I-I didn't meant it like that. I wasn't ready to speak yet. M-my mind was weighing Mary's and Bernard's opinions at once." (Looking at Bernard) "Bernard, what I meant to say was as long as you keep doing your 'training,' you'll be unstoppable. And I know just how to make you reach the next level faster: I'll start training you myself, and show you how to use the things in my golf bag!"

Bernard (slowly walks toward RJ and speaks in a hopeful tone): "Y-you'll actually teach me to use your golf bag's items?"

RJ: "You bet I will, son! We can start right now if you want." (Looks over to his daughter) "And you can join in too, Mary."

Mary (gasps in happiness): "I'd love to, daddy!" (Jumps up and down in joy) "Thank you! You're the best!—Ouch!"

Mary winces when her motions strain some of her bruises.

Bernard: "But, maybe we can start tomorrow after we've all rested."

RJ: "Of course. And on our next raid, you two need to help me find your own golf bags."

Bernard (to Sam): "Hear that, Sam? I'm gonna learn how to use daddy's golf bag items, and get my own! We're gonna be able to play with SO many new toys soon!"

Oddly, Sam lets out a huff and buries his head in his mother's lap. Bernard figures Sam is just too tired and worn out to feel excited, so he doesn't question the young squirrel's actions, especially when the opossacoon can't wait to start training with his dad.

Verne: "So to make sure nothing like this ever happens again, we need to have at least three adults watch after our kids whenever they go the playground."

The adults nod.

Verne: "And if one of the adults says to stay put, no one, for any reason, is to try to wander off. Understood kids?"

The children nod.

Verne: "Now let's take our minds off of today's troubles and eat dinner. Who's with me?"

All hedgies raise a paw and say in unison, "Me!"

Wanting to eat away their troubled thoughts, the family gets whatever food they want and eats to their heart's content.

Ten minutes later, upon noticing that RJ, Rogan, and Sarah have finished before everyone else, Rebecca is about to ask her blood relatives to come have a private talk with her. Then hesitates when she realizes such an action would rouse everyone else's attention, which is the last thing she wants to do.

Rebecca thinking: "It's risky enough telling, mom, dad, and RJ, but if the whole family hears I might be gay..."

That's when she remembers that another family member has been wanting to get everyone's attention. Rebecca grabs a peanut out of the can and flings it over at Kale, hitting the wolf on one of his cheek whiskers. Although Kale's wolf-temper has lessened drastically since moving in, his instincts cause him to give her a grumpy look, then he remembers what she wants to talk to her parents and brother about.

Kale's expression softens and he gives her a look that says, "Oh yeah..."

Rebecca: "Mom, dad, and RJ? I wanna talk to you three about something important—alone."

Kale: "Oh, and dare's somethin' I wanna talk to da rest of you's about before we hit the sack." (To Rebecca's family) "You's go on ahead. We'll fill you's in later."

Rebecca (grabs her parents' paws and starts moving): "Follow me, guys."

RJ has no choice but to keep up with his parents and sister, and wonders what could make her so eager to separate he and his parents from the rest of the family. But he'll find out soon enough.

---

Scratch that, RJ will find out once three minutes of quick walking have elapsed, because Rebecca ends up taking her family all the way to her downtime spot.

Rogan: "You certainly took us a ways off, Rebecca."

Sarah: "Why did you bring us all the way out here?"

Rebecca: "We have to be out of the bats' hearing range."

RJ: "This is something serious, then..."

Rebecca: "It is...Today, after the heist, Garrett and I went here to have some R&R when he started groping and kissing me like crazy. He even gave off pheromones. I was able to reassert the boundaries in our relationship, but when Hammy came to tell me to head back I did a lot of thinking and..."

Rebecca slumps down to sigh and then looks back into her parents' and brother's eyes.

Rebecca: "I...I-I think I might be gay..."

Rogan (vexed tone): "What?!"

Sarah (surprised tone): "What?!"

RJ (confused tone): What?!"

Rebecca didn't like the sound of her family, but before she can explain, Rogan speaks.

Rogan: "What in the world makes you think you're gay?"

It takes Rebecca a few minutes to tell her family about everything she had thought about today since separating from Garrett: not being attracted to Garrett's pheromones, how she isn't attracted to him physically, is more attracted to the bodies of female human gymnasts, prefers women characters in movies, steals women hygiene products because she likes the scents they give off, and is more stimulated by female raccoon pheromones than male pheromones. In addition, she said that she thinks her gal pals are more helpful in giving her advice, and she enjoys spending more time with them than with her guy pals.

The more she explained, the grimmer the facial expressions of Rogan, Sarah and RJ become. Now that Rebecca is finished, her parents look at her as if she's a complete stranger instead of their daughter, whereas RJ looks at her as if he's seen a new, unexpected side of her.

Fearing the responses, Rebecca quickly says, "I'm not saying I am gay, I'm just saying that I think I might be gay."

Sarah: "Rebecca...You're our daughter, so we'll always love you no matter who you are—"

Rebecca inhales to prepare to let out a sigh of relief.

Sarah: "—But your father and I still don't approve."

Rebecca's sigh is made in disappointment now.

Rogan: "Homosexuality is downright wrong and goes against the laws of Nature. And here's why: animals were always meant to be attracted to the opposite gender, otherwise there wouldn't be any species."

Sarah: "Just the thought of you kissing another female raccoon is revolting. You marrying a female raccoon would be disgusting."

She then gives an inquiring look at her brother.

RJ: "I...can't deny that it's weird, but will still support you if that's who you really are." (To his parents) "Don't forget that she isn't 100 percent sure yet."

Rogan: "But there's a more important reason for her to be straight than what Sarah and I have already said." (Looks into Rebecca's eyes and speaks seriously) "Becca, you're the only way our family line can continue past a second generation. The bloodline of me and your mother is depending solely on you."

Rebecca (while pointing at RJ): "What about?—"

Sarah (looks at RJ): "With all due respect," (looks at Rebecca) "but RJ has been unable to do that ever since he married Heather. You know that his kids are sterile; they'll never have children of their own."

RJ (offended): "Hey!"

Rogan: "Don't raise your voice at us, son! Your mother and I have one more reason to hate ourselves for abandoning you, so don't make us feel any worse. Besides, you know Sarah's right." (To Rebecca) "Which means if you don't marry a male raccoon, our family's long and prestigious legacy comes to an end."

Sarah: "Because of that, we'd prefer to make you to become straight. But we're not like that. We know the decision will ultimately be yours. Just..." (Puts her paws on both of Rebecca's shoulders and looks and talks in a pleading way) "...make sure you factor in me and your father's reasons when you make that decision."

Rebecca: "I will, mom. I promise."

Rogan: "We thought so. And we promise to keep loving you no matter what you decide."

Rebecca: "I know, dad."

RJ: "I promise too, Rebecca. And is there anything else you wanna talk to us about?"

Rebecca: "I want you all to promise me that you won't tell anyone else in the family about my little 'identity crisis' until after I've resolved it."

Rogan, Sarah, and RJ in unison: "We promise."

Rebecca: "And Kale already knows about me because he walked in on me thinking I was in trouble when I was ranting my frustration about it out loud. But he also promised to never tell."

The three older raccoons nod.

Sarah: "Speaking of Kale, if we're done, I'd like to go back home to hear what he's been talking to the family about."

Rebecca: "Yeah. I've said all I wanted to say. But y'all go on ahead. I need some time to practice my gymnastics."

Knowing that their daughter wants to do so in order to let out any ill feelings she still has, Rogan and Sarah nod. They step forward to each kiss and tell Rebecca goodnight, and then leave.

RJ remains. The siblings stare at each other for a few moments, each waiting to see if the other will speak first.

When the silence becomes awkward, RJ slowly walks to Rebecca with a guilty expression and says in an apologetic tone, "Becca...If I had known my marriage to Heather would put this kind of pressure on you..."

Rebecca (Raises her paw gently to gesture him to stop): "It's ok, RJ. When you fell in love with Heather, you didn't know our parents were alive, or that you would have a sister. And thanks for being more okay with it than mom and dad were. After hearing what they felt about homosexuality and what they felt about the idea of me being gay, I don't know whether to loath them or be thankful that they're letting me decide."

RJ: "They didn't mean it personally. You just need to remember that their generation is different than mine or yours. And...they did have a good point about you continuing our family's line. Though, personally, I've learned from Verne that family has nothing to do with blood; it's the love you feel and show toward someone else."

Rebecca: "I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, RJ."

RJ: "What are big brothers for, eh?"

After the two hug, RJ breaks away and says, "Gotta go back now. Have fun here tonight."

Rebecca: "Let's hope tomorrow will be better for all of us."

RJ: "Amen to that, sis."

As the middle-aged raccoon departs, he, like the rest of the family, has no idea that, as bad as things have been today, the conflicts have only just started.

And will only get worse.

---

I hope this chapter was everything you were expecting and more…And there will be more hedgies going through personal crises in addition to those already mentioned. But depending on what my summer and school-time job(s) will be this coming year, it might be a very long time before another update happens, as the free time I am afforded to write stories will be based off of my job schedules.

Also, the negative attitudes expressed toward those with autism and those who are homosexual in this story does not reflect my views and opinions toward such persons in real life. (As an aspiring educator, it's my job to be accepting of all people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, and physical and mental capacities). Any negative attitudes expressed toward those with exceptionalities and homosexuals are simply plot devices to create conflict and to develop complex characters.

See ya later!