Here's the interlude. For those of you who read my previous fanfic I hope this story will be a fitting start for a new series.
Mr. Edwards placed his tall hat upon his head once more. The baby cried in his arms as he picked it up and headed out of the barn into the mist, where Mrs. Durrow waited patiently. She had been worrying all morning about what she would do with the baby and had been frantically searching for someone to help for over three hours. Staring over the landscape made her feel quite cold. The fog seemed to give the air a sinister edge, the trees pervading the air where the fog finished giving a feel of arms reaching for the light. In the corner of a meadow lay a small mound of earth where the old barn owl Barnabus pecked away at his latest catch squirming to get free. Mrs. Durrow flicked her tongue and put her bony fingers to her lizard lips and made a whistling noise. Barnabus, now finished with his catch, flew back to his mistress, preening his feathers against her bonnet. Mr. Edwards steeped forward and unfolded the baby's' wrapping. The small Raccoon continued to bawl in Mr. Edwards hands.
"Begging your pardon sir, but…what will you do with him?" Mrs. Durrows bent her knees ever so slightly as the tall rhino caressed the babe with gentle strokes.
"I'm afraid it's the orphanage for him, Mrs. Durrows. He seems to have a few belongings left. I'm guessing he was abandoned, but most likely out of sorrow rather than shame. It couldn't have been an easy decision. This book astounds me in its scriptures…"
"Perhaps it would be beast if you had the book examined by the museum," crooned Mrs. Durrows, "The lad is far too young to be dealing with books. If the scriptures are as thorough as you say, you'd be paid handsomely!"
The Rhino shook his head. " No, no, I was an orphan myself once upon a time, and I know that the most precious things of my life were what my parents left to me. I'll take good care of him, and you'd better do the same for yourself now. It's getting awfully cold in the winter now." He nodded to her and made his way to the car at the end of the drive. Mrs. Durrows waved his goodbye, and Barnabus gave the car a silent look as all owls do, before flying off towards the leftover prey. Mrs. Durrows continued with the washing, each time wandering what had ever become of her farm.
As Mr. Edwards drove out of the village, he glanced over at the child's book which he had placed on the seat next to him. He saw that it was immaculate in places where it was not tattered, and the front cover was bound for some reason. Removing the cover, he was curiously intrigued at the words dotted across the page. Two Latin words from the looks of it. The title read 'Thevious Racoonus" And as he read the words aloud to himself, the baby smiled and gave a giggle. And so the car drove on.\
The metallic humming continued. Whirring machinery could be seen spread across the room, All inspected by the general director himself. The General twirled his moustache as the screen before him flickered into life. A baby Raccoon girl lay in the arms of a shadowed figure. The figures eyes, however, managed to penetrate the darkness and glared straight at the seal. He gasped as small wires appeared around him, hoisting him up. The figure gave a hollow laugh and lay the baby to one side, holding up a keypad and shaking it.
"Well Darius," The figure said in a high, refined voice, "It seems that your little factory has been heisted once more. But this time I actually need something from you. Listen carefully and we may all benefit from this pact…"
And so began the pact…