Chapter 2
Different Thoughts
The dry thick snow cracks softly under her soft paws as the blue furred vixen makes her way towards lands she is not allowed to come. If she did not have the intentions which are brooding in her mind at this very moment, she would have at least been welcomed upon Farthing Land… But she is too far gone for that.
As Shade leaves her den in the middle of the night like a hungry shadow, her brother Snapper watches her disappear into the darkness among the trees.
"I knew she wouldn't change her mind," the young fox sighs, flattening his ears a bit while scanning the tree line with his yellow eyes, hoping that his sibling would return any moment with a change of heart.
Beside him a soft snort can be heard and a larger fox shakes himself out, ruffling his pelt to get rid of some stray drops of molten snow. The larger fox, obviously from another year than Snapper, follows his companion's gaze to the tree line, letting out another snort before saying," you just didn't had the guts to change her mind."
"I tried, really."
"By sweet talking to her?"
"I don't use force on anyone, Ashes, you know that. She is my sister; I shouldn't even have to bite her tail to bring her on other thoughts."
The older fox Ashes slowly gets up on all four and shakes his head, saying as he turns away from Snapper," with that attitude you surely won't get anywhere with her. If you ask my advice, I would say you snap her by her pelt and drag her back to her den. It would only hurt her pride and if it leaves any other marks, then the better she will learn."
Snapper flattens his ears even more as he listens to Ashes and suppresses a sigh, knowing that his friend is right; Shade has always been an odd one when it comes to believes and ideas.
Ashes, a tall fox with blue fur which hints close to gray and has a black streak flowing from his forehead to the beginning of his tail, slightly turns his head to look to Snapper from the corner of his yellow eyes, trying to read him to see if his message came through. A silence falls between them for a mere moment, the wind playing with lost flakes of snow it blew up from the white blanket which is spread over White Deer Park.
"Have you discussed this with Boulder?"
Snapper looks up as he hears the name of their leader escape from Ashes' muzzle and shakes his head to give his answer," I want to solve this myself… I know I will be able to change her mind."
"She already killed one; that is what you have told me. You really think she is bluffing with all this? For what cause, Snapper? That vixen has lost her mind."
"No. No, she hasn't… She just doesn't like the Farthing animals to be a part of this Park. She will get over it if she for once sets her mind on something else; like finding a mate."
"She will never get a mate if the red foxes find out what she is planning to do; this may become her own death and you know it."
Snapper swallows and stares at Ashes as he knows this is truth, seeking for words to say to show the other fox that there is still hope for Shade… but nothing comes out. All he can do is slowly blink and lower his head in defeat.
"Fine, just sit here then and wait for her to return like a cub waiting for his mommy. I am going to hunt," Ashes grumbles and finally takes his leave, slipping away quietly into the sleeping forest while leaving a thoughtful Snapper behind. They may be friends, but even Ashes knows his own limits in patience and the whole situation between Shade and Snapper has been going on too long for his taste. He refuses to be a part of it any longer, surely now that Shade has decided to go against the rules set by the Great White Stag long ago.
Coming to a slow stop, Ashes looks over to a small opening among the dead looking trees, seeing a very small group of blue foxes gathering to get ready to hunt together or to just be social. He recognizes Boulder, leader of the blue foxes among the small group and his ears perk up a bit more as a thought crosses his mind.
Should he tell him what is happening? Apparently not even Boulder seems to be aware they have a killer among their ranks.
Have the Farthing animals not sounded an alarm? Haven't they found out that one of theirs is missing? Or are they keeping this quiet until they are certain what has happened? Mostly news like this, certainly when it involves any of those Farthing Wood creatures, spreads around like fire in the Park, yet no rumours have been heard so far.
Standing like frozen as his mind races, Ashes watches Boulder and the other two foxes leave to disappear in the night. He is thinking of what to do and only one solution keeps returning to his dwindling thoughts; find her and persuade her before their leader gets wind of it. Maybe he can even get something out of this for his own advantage. You never know…
Slinking away into the shadows of the trees to hide any hints of his presence, Ashes moves away from the open spot and towards the border of Farthing Land to begin his search for Shade. He doesn't know where to look for her as he hardly ever set a paw upon the forbidden patch of land and forest, but when he was a young cub himself he couldn't help to sneak around there at least once. He should manage… and if not then he has to think up a good excuse of why he is there when he comes across one of the Oath; he has plenty of time for that.
While Ashes begins his search, Shade is already far from the border which splits her territory with those of the animals of Farthing Wood. She doesn't seem to be in a hurry, but her sneaky way of moving shows she is cautious and alert.
Finding it odd that it is so quiet after what has happened last night, the blue vixen is unaware that the news of her 'killing' has reached every single animal that lives by the Oath. Their leader, Plucky, was astonished when he heard the news from Ember and the Voles and wasn't sure of what to think of it first. Except for Ranger, there simply were no other blue foxes within Farthing Land and though he heard the stories, he always hoped that the blue foxes now live in peace with his kind. But the fact this blue fox saved the Voles should not be ignored and therefore he was grateful for what the stranger had done.
There were more suspicions about this strange action, certainly by Owl, but the Voles mostly managed to change the other animals' view on the whole situation; they had a new nameless guardian among them.
Therefore, no guards were set up by the borders.
The blue vixen decided to take a different route from last night to prevent walking into one who is scouting there, if there is anyone scouting there; better not take any risks. She won't be picky with what or who she will kill tonight for as long as it is from Farthing Land, she is satisfied. She will shed blood in name of the blue foxes' right. The White Deer Park is theirs and they should be free to go and hunt where ever they please as they have done so in the past. No more borders or rules.
Her ears perk up a little as her keen eyes see small paw prints in the thick snow before her and she sniffs to try and catch the scent of who made these, quickly finding out its all from a weasel and fairly fresh. She wrinkles her nose a little; she told herself not to be picky, but weasels are not really high in her own menu. None the less, it is prey and prey it will become.
Following the trail with her nose close above the cold snow, Shade quietly moves forward while she listens intense to any signs of movements.
She pulls a face as she suddenly hears whispers and stops, lifting her head up to cast a glance around to see where it comes from. A small figure quickly disappears behind a tree right in front of her and Shade narrows her yellows eyes as the whispering she heard just a moment ago continues; only more bewildered. Not going to wait for the small being to show itself again, Shade advances towards the tree, her muscles tense to be ready to pounce.
As she comes closer, the whispering becomes clearer.
"It is that fox, dad. That fox Ember spoke about."
"Ooowwh, I dunno. We shouldn't be here. What if it's gonna eat us? We have to try and sneak away before it sees us," a very nervous voice whines, even causing Shade to cringe a little as weasels are known for their annoying way of talking and behaving. She heard a story about Scarface having a weasel spy to spy on those of Farthing Land, but it was a failure… as the weasel was a coward. What else to expect?
Baring her teeth, Shade gets ready to rush behind the tree and grab one of the weasels as she guesses there are only two of them, kicking up snow as she jumps forward and bends around the thick piece of living wood.
Both the weasels let out a high pitched scream as the blue furred vixen is suddenly very up close and personal by them and shoot into the opposite direction to try and get away from the snapping jaws. One makes the attempt to climb in the tree while the other tries to get into the safety of a bush.
"Fido!" the oldest weasel howls as his small claws try to grasp a hold onto the thick rough bark of the tree, looking down over his shoulder to the wicked looking vixen which looks up to him with large hungry eyes and a menacing grin," ooowwhhhooo… I knew this would happen. Why me..?"
The weasel lets out a yelp as Shade suddenly leaps up and tries to grab him to yank him down, but she misses as he just in time flicks his long tail up. Climbing up higher to escape those sharp teeth, the weasel pants and moans in despair until he is safe upon a branch. Clinging onto it with his life, he sees the vixen got enough of prowling before the tree and looks over to the bush where Fido, his son, decided to hide.
"Oh no…" he mumbles as it slowly gets to him that the strange blue fox will now go after the younger weasel and he watches in fear as the vixen indeed moves over to the dead bush. His slender skinny body is pressed down upon the branch, his arms wrapped around it for a good hold and he whimpers where he lies, knowing he can't fight something as big as a fox.
Shade casts a glance back to the weasel up in the tree and lets out a soft snort, not very impressed by the pathetic behaviour; cowards indeed.
Turning her attention back to the one weasel that went into the bush, the menacing expression upon her face turns into a more serious one, not wanting to fail again. The scent is very strong, making clear that the weasel is hiding somewhere underneath the leaf-less and with snow covered twigs and she lowers herself down a little to seek for the young one.
The vixen suddenly leaps up as something pounces out from under the bush and 'barks' at her and she arches both her brows in surprise as she sees it's the young weasel. Fido.
Fido stands on all four and keeps making the horrible fake barking sounds as he jumps a little around, not acting so weasely and it confused Shade… but only for a mere moment. Apparently all the Farthing animals have lost their mind.
Her surprised expression changes into an angry one and Fido slowly stops with jumping around, letting out a very soft and uncertain 'bark' before he stops, now knowing he is in trouble.
Measly, the older weasel who found safety up in the tree, watches in horror as the vixen's muscles ripple under the blue hide, a sign she is getting ready to attack his son. He grits his teeth, his poor mind racing to find a solution… when it suddenly comes dropping down from the sky. A large bird-like creature lands upon the branch beside him and it startles the poor weasel so badly that he almost falls off the branch. Quickly grasping a hold again, he literally hangs upside down underneath the branch and lets out a whine.
"Now what is all the commotion about? Weasels barking and climbing up in trees at this hour of the night," a voice says and two large round eyes peer down the branch at Measly, causing him to let out a shout of surprise and almost losing his grip again. The owl sighs deeply as she sees Measly's reaction to her appearance and ruffles her old feathers a bit, a little offended by the welcome.
"Well I'll say, Owl… Isn't that the fox everyone has been talking about today?"
Owl, one of the eldest of the Farthing Land animals looks to her mate who has decided to land upon another branch higher up in the tree as he wasn't sure if he should bother the poor weasel and then looks down to where the blue vixen stands, the yellow canine eyes looking very annoyed into their direction. Owl humpfs softly and says a bit unfriendly," apparently it is," before shifting a little upon the branch to have a better look at the stranger.
Shade, now knowing that she has no chance to do anything rash as allot of eyes are upon her, remains quiet, but does not turn away from Fido… the one she picked as her prey. Deep inside she feels frustration boil as she was so close to her goal tonight and it is now ruined by a few low-life beings. A whining weasel, an old owl and a barking weasel.
Could this get any worse?
Slowly it gets to Fido he is safe and his face clears a little up as he looks the vixen towering over him. He pounces back upon his paws and growls, pushing himself through the snow as if he is sneaking around.
"I can be a fox too! I would be a great fox."
Measly slaps his forehead after hearing his son and even Owl can't help to roll her eyes, mumbling," oh dear…" as the young weasel circles around the thin and long legs of the vixen.
"Fido… Please, you are old enough now to know you are a weasel and weasels are supposed to run when in danger. So run, please?" Measly moans and tries to pull himself onto the branch," what would your mother say if she saw you like this?"
"Heh, what would mom say if she saw you like this?" is the simply counter attack of the young weasel who now sits between the front paws of a very annoyed Shade and Measly drops his head with a very deep sigh, knowing his son is right.
Owl, not very amused by the strange situation, spreads her wings a little before asking the vixen," and who may you be? You do know you are upon Farthing Land, do you?"
"Yes," Shade answers and shoves Fido away from her with one swift movement of a paw. Flattening one ear a little as she hears the young one chuckle after her action, the vixen suppresses a sigh and turns to the owl up in the tree," and your point is…?"
"My point is that those who are not bound by the Oath are not allowed to trot around here…. or even hunt."
Shade squints her eyes at the owl, trying to think of a way to get out of this mess but her quick thinking gets interrupted when Fido suddenly hugs her brushy tail. She pulls up her lips in disgust and hears the young one asks," why don't I have a tail like this…? Can I have a tail like this too, dad?"
"No no no you can't not! Please Fido, get away from her or else your mother will be furious," Measly begs, already being able to imagine how his mate would react if he comes home with the news a fox devoured her almost grown up son," ooowwwhhh, she would kill me…"
Shade takes this as an opportunity to be able to get away with a clear conscience and forces a smile across her muzzle, saying as she tries to pull her tail free from the greedy small claws of Fido," well, now that it seems all is all right, I shall take my leave. No need for my presence here anymore."
"Leave?" Owl asks and hops down from the branch onto the cold snow covered ground, trotting over to the vixen which rises up onto her feet," you haven't quite made clear what your purpose is here within this part of the Park. You saved the Voles last night, so they say, but at the moment I am not so certain of it."
Shade keeps a straight face, but inside of her she wonders. She saved some voles last night? But all she did was killing a…
Her eyes turn away from Owl as she begins to understand what is going on. That mink was apparently not part of these crazy animals… and apparently that mink was after some mice she didn't even notice. This messes up her plans.
"Yes! Yesss, she tried to eat us!" Measly wails from his branch, remaining there as it is safely away from those sharp jaws of the blue vixen and points at her to make clear who he is talking about… even though it is very clear to begin with.
"Did she now?" Owl asks and looks with her big, round and piercing eyes up to Shade who remains very unemotional; for the owl it is hard to read what is going on in the vixen's mind. Both the females stare at each other for a moment; one with distrust and the other in complete silence.
Owl's mate, Hollow clears his throat as an uneasy silence follows and asks from his cosy spot high up in the tree," if I may… Maybe… Well, maybe this vixen saw our weasel friends as minks? You know… as they look alike in a way?"
All heads suddenly turn to the male owl in a surprised matter and it is his mate who looks irritated and not very pleased with his idea of what could have happened.
"I am no weasel," Fido mutters in a disagreeing way and kicks some snow away while he hangs his head," I am a weaselfox."
"Fido…"
Shade ignores the young weasel, a small smile forming upon her lips as what that owl said sounds like a good solution to this whole dilemma, but she notices that the female owl does not really accept it. The way she puffs up her chest shows she is disagreeing and shade knows she has to make a move… fast.
"Yes, I am not so fond of minks. I shall not spoil my whole experience with them to you all as it would take long to tell and the night is cold."
"But we don't have any minks among us. Why would you come and look for them here?" Owl asks and steps a little closer to the vixen to await her answer.
"I saw it sneak about when I was drinking from the stream," a short answer which contains a little part of the truth," your Oath…. interests me in a way. That mink was up to no good, everyone could tell that from a mile away."
"I see," Owl says thoughtful and seems to ease down a bit," well… Indeed the night is cold…. and long. Leave Farthing Land now and continue your hunt for minks elsewhere. I am sure our leader Plucky would like to hear more of you when morning comes. We'll see what he thinks about your… pure intentions. Trust me; you haven't heard the last of it all."
Shade only smiles, a very forced smile and nods before turning away from everyone to take her leave; this situation has come to an end… at least in her opinion. It truly didn't go as she wished for; she planned something completely different and all has been ruined by a young weasel with an identity crisis.
As she moves away from the owls and weasels, Fido is apparently the only one who doesn't want her to go. A little hesitant he gets up on his hind legs and sets a few steps forward through the deep cold snow, saying," I want to be a fox too, just like her."
"Oh tish tosh," Owl says to Fido and spreads her wings to fly up to Hollow so they can continue their nightly hunt together while Measly clumsy tries to get down from the tree," she is trouble I tell you."
Fido pouts his lips after hearing Owl's last words before she and her mate glide away upon the cold night air with spread wings and sees his father land with a high yelp in the snow after a failed attempt of getting safely out of the tree.
There was something about that vixen which interests the young weasel… and he doesn't even know her name.
A pair of yellow eyes watches the two weasels from the nightly shadows among a few thin trees before turning away to see where that vixen has gone.
This isn't the end of it yet.
-To Be Continued-
