I may be good at humor, not so much cute and fluffy. I'm really good at dark. I don't write dark stories without them having some kind of deep philosophical meaning, life lesson or truth in them. This is rated Teen, it will not be getting vivid with adult content, language or deep 'darkness'. Let's see if I got this right trying to balance everything out with an Apex predatory while addressing some trust issues. Am I listening to the Godly advise from readers/writers and reviewers….yeeees! And comments tend to put ideas in my head and urge me to write faster- imagine that!

What can I say to answer that question? Eh, I'm a freak- aint we all…My stories are everywhere. I know. If you don't like them or understand them I'm not offended. Just. Stop. Reading. On that note appreciation for everyone not leaving nasty comments that include vulgar names. I may write some language like that but find it offensive to call someone those things if they are not in a close circle and it isn't clearly defined as friendly banter (Tic).

As with many other stories I have read that were written by others, I do tend to use things I like or think are 'cute' or funny even though the characters often don't fit the mould and change in their personalities/histories and relationships with each other in different stories. The Wild fox had to have a name. He may be referred to as a wild mammal, red furred mammal for a while etc, etc. I can't keep that up for long…nope… can't…do…it…

Trying to keep these chapters shorter and in the realm of six to eight pages. Still learning how to write like this so forgive me if I fell off the track because I don't have an editor/Beta...yet. Learning as I go. Hope this works for you Oh Godly of muses….

No promises on updates, still working out kinks. Someone asked nicely and with a crazy unset schedule finding sleep can be a chase so I write until the sandman finds me… So, here ya go-

Inspiration: Hozier; Like Real People Do


Under Earth 3

A black furred doe had been searching frantically for ten minutes in the lower level of the borough when she finally left the kits with the older of the youngest teens and went looking upstairs. Searching for Addie when he disappeared was a challenge because the little buck had a knack for getting into places even rabbits wouldn't normally think of. She was already aggravated at being pulled away from her daily schedule for uninvited company and this wasn't helping the already stressed doe. Her ears tipped and brows furrowed when she got to the kitchen and noticed how abnormally quiet it had gone. When she spotted one of her brothers standing in the door of the medic room she didn't think twice about it as she walked over huffing and spotted Amber over his shoulder with her back turned to the door. "Hey Amber, is Ad-die…."

When she noticed the stiff or fallen ears and still tails as she walked beside her brother she froze, catching sight of her parents looking horrified and the red furred mammal in the corner holding Judy as if he were using her as a shield. Amber turned at hearing her voice, caught the look of fear on her face and raised a paw slowly shaking her head. When he tightened his paw around Judy's jaw tighter Judy curled her eyes again as she kept clenching his paw. As that same red furred mammal spotted Ruby and locked eyes he curled his lips and growled seeing another mammal joining the crowd. The red eyed doe froze and let out some kind of squeal just before she collapsed into the floor. The thump that echoed turned Juno around and Amber was motion to the door. "Everybody out."Keep your movements slow and voices down.

Juno shook his head as he kept his eyes locked on the mammal holding his sister, but was well aware of another mammal in the room who was almost as much a concern. Professor Aldrigsteit had stayed right where he was, not moving closer or farther from the fox even though his presence was obviously the source of the rise in aggression. Randal and Steven had slid past their brother with Pappy, one taking the older male to another room while the other picked up Ruby and carried her the same direction after Amber had made several motions with her paws like she was directing traffic. The fox was still ticking his eyes back and forth between them but had let the tight grip on the rabbit he was holding let up seeing them leaving. His lips were still curled in aggression and teeth still showing as he kept his head tilted down and let off a low growl each time someone moved.

Judy was almost standing down on her feet again when Bonnie and Stu were the last two in the room with the exception of Amber and Professor Aldrigsteit. The cat had just stood there studying the mammal before his eyes shifted and spotted the necklace on the floor. The foxes ears were twitching with a small tick that seemed to be catching his neck as he narrowed his eyes on the cat when he leaned over attempting to pick it up off the floor. The feline narrowed his eyes when the fox pulled Judy closer and onto her toes again. It didn't stop his attempts to retrieve it or unlock eyes with the wild mammal in front of him as Judy curled her face together again.

"Are you crazy?!" Amber hissed as Bonnie and Stu ground their teeth together.

The cats teeth had poked over the sides of his mouth as he stared down the mammal in front of him and missed the ball of black fur that darted from one of the hollow legs of the medical table. "ADDIE!" Bonnie screamed as she tried to jerk forward getting caught behind Stu as the cat swiped at the small kit with claws out when the little buck grabbed the necklace off the floor. The mammal in the corner exploded, throwing Judy into Amber and knocking them both to the floor with Judy landing on top of her sister. The fox snatched the little ball of fur as he ducked under the cats swinging arm, twisted and spun, threw his leg out and around kicking the feline off his feet. Bonnie fainted with Stu barely catching her as he fell to the floor with her.

Amber sat open mouthed while Judy sobbed in her arms as she sat up and watched the fox slam the cat into the floor and lift him by the neck into the air like he weighed about as much as a feather. All while a small black bunny kit was in his other paw. The previous facial motions and warnings he had sent off to the other mammals in the room became defined as nothing other than a warning, when his black lips pulled back exposing teeth that were tightly clamped together, a lowered brow, flattened ears and suddenly narrowed and slit pupils that became vertical lines in the bright green of his eyes.

The noises he made were nothing like anyone had ever heard and chilling as he looked up at a petrified cat who was clinging to his wrist with claws extended. There was a hollow ticking that seemed to be coming from his throat while a hiss ran through his teeth, accompanied by something between a growl or a cat yowling angrily. The toes on his feet had splayed open, his weight measured on each limb as he stood on his pads like the ancestors of all mammals past. The fur on his back had risen and puffed out making him look twice as large while his muscles strained and flexed locking in place that showed definition even through his thick fur. His tail lashed back and forth like a slithering serpent while he leaned his teeth in closer to the cat's neck.

"Oh pellets," Juno uttered as he stepped into the open doorway. The little bunny that was nearly sitting in the open paw the fox had pulled close to his chest was examining the necklace he had picked up off the floor and was completely unaware of the situation. Void of all fear and filled with curiosity he kept flipping the piece over and stuck it in his mouth almost like he was trying to eat it before shaking his head and pulling it away to examine it again. "Nick- Nick," the little buck said as he tipped his head to one side. He had a fascination with a few things, coins being at the top of the list and had identified the odd piece as a Nickel. It was when he started clucking his tongue on the roof of his mouth and grinding his teeth making an odd ticking pattern Amber under stood why the fox had been twitching his ears.

In all the excitement of everything that had happened the wild mammal had been the only one who had heard the little buck sneak into the room and the noises he had been making from somewhere no one would have thought to even look for him. Amber shook her head holding a paw up as Randal and Steven joined Juno at the door halting them from moving any further "Nobody move." While Stu, Randal, and Steven watched almost mortified, Amber was fascinated. Addie didn't like anyone touching him outside a few family members, especially not strangers. Usually the little male would be screaming if someone even attempted to approach him. Yet, here he was in the company of a two mammals he had never met, one who was holding him, after being nearly swiped by another stranger and was completely content.

Bonnie was groaning as she finally fluttered her eyes open and Judy was still buried in her sisters arm as the small buck turned in his paw, reached over his shoulder grabbing tufts of fur and pulled himself onto the foxes shoulder. Bonnie gasped as she sat up throwing her paws over her mouth "That thing will kill him!"

Amber huffed as Judy turned in her arm "That thing just saved him." When they all looked at her she pointed to the cat, who was still facing down a set of gleaming white teeth and exposed fangs. "The good doctor here really wants that thing for some reason. He tried to swipe at Addie when he darted out of the table to pick it up off the floor. The fox- saved him from getting hit." Angry eyes from every rabbit in the room landed on the cat who was still wide eyed looking down at the mammal holding him in the air. The small buck was the only thing that pulled their attention away again when he crawled on top of the foxes head still clicking his tongue and grinding is teeth.

The massive paw that had wrapped around the cats throat lowered the feline back to the ground while he kept his teeth exposed as the cats feet hit the ground again. The fox narrowed his eyes on the feline while the little buck was climbing all over his head, ears flicking each time the little male would grind his teeth together. Even when the fox narrowed his eyes on the cat that he was looking down at and growled, the bunny that was on his head didn't flinch. The cat however lowered his ears and moved his eyes away from the other predator in front of him when he narrowed his eyes as his lips vibrated through grit teeth and another thundering growl.

When the small bunny fell onto his snout wrapping around the top of his muzzle almost blinding him from the cat he was holding his eyes refocused and slits disappeared turning back to round pupils. "Nick- Nick." The rabbits watched as the fox attempted to keep his eyes on the cat and lift a paw to remove the small bunny, only for his ears to flick again when the little buck bounced back to the top of his head while he continued to mimic the sounds he had been hearing. He rolled his shoulders as the child tumbled down his neck and all of them were blinking when the foxes tail lifted and caught the child, curling around him like another appendage that had a mind of its own.

No mammal stood on their feet like that, and even with his size he shouldn't have been able to hold the feline in the air the way he had. None of it was as shocking as what he was doing with his tail. No mammals tail was meant to do what he was doing. Tails didn't or weren't supposed to have the kind of strength in them to hold weight. Most mammals in ancient times used the appendages for balance or warning systems to flag others, some even thought those with longer tails may have had them so they could be lost in the event of escaping a predator or possibly attracting a mate. The fox had lifted the end of his tail when the bunny fell down his shoulders and curled the end of the fluffy appendage around him, lifting him away with it before sitting him back on the floor behind him like it was another limb.

The same odd noises the fox had been making were accompanied by chicks of his cheeks when he shoved the cat back forcefully throwing him onto the ground as he dipped his head and lowered his brows. The cat scrambled backwards on the floor while the fox still towered over him standing on his pads, making it clear not to make any sudden movement as he narrowed his eyes again. All the rabbits were ticking their eyes between the fox, cat, and smallest bunny in the room, half stunned into stupor watching everything. Addie was currently hopping around behind the wild mammal. The fox flinched when he grabbed his tail, and all their jaws fell open when he giggled as he hugged around the end of it.

If that wasn't enough to stand them still under their own fur, the fact that the fox was still threatening the cat while his appendage like tail seemed to be playing with the little bunny- was. His claws were still extended with curled fingers with his eyes locked on the feline, while his tail was rolling around and over the little kit as he tumbled around behind him. When the little rabbit had made a move closer to the cat the foxes tail had pushed him away until he was almost under his legs. Bonnie was chewing on her lips watching the whole exchange as she ticked her eyes between the two predators and opened her arms motioning for him. "Addie, come here Sweety." The little buck had glanced at her, ticked his head and blinked before he darted between the foxes hind paws and was examining his toes. Another thing he was fascinated with.

When the fox tried to swipe him away with a gentle swish of his tail again and the motion failed, he leaned forward and the cat pushed himself farther away on his elbows closer to the bucks who were standing in the open door. Addie was looking at his feet, watching as his claws tapped the floor and grabbed one of his toes. Bonnie and Judy both went wide eyed as the fox made a noise similar to a hyena and almost jerked his head as he tried to pull his toes together. As serious as the situation was it was still unavoidable for a few of the rabbits to smack paws over their mouths trying not to snicker when it became apparent the fox was ticklish while their little brother kept trying to examine his toes.

One glance from the cat at the little bunny who was still holding the necklace in his paw and the fox dropped to all fours as his tail wrapped around his leg curling in front of the little rabbit. His teeth landed in front of Professor Aldrigsteit and the rusted spotty cat leaned his head back and averted his eyes again. The fox tapped his front claws on the floor and pushed him back with nothing other than leaning closer. Professor Aldrigsteit saw it and took the motion for what it was as he slowly backed away along the floor with his elbows. All the while the fox was making odd noises as he kept his eyes narrowed watching him scooting away. The little rabbit behind his tail was alternating similar sounds.

Judy stood wiping her face off as Amber helped her stand. The gold eyed doe watched as his tail kept trying to push her little brother away from him towards the other rabbits. "They're talking to each other."

Stu helped Bonnie off the floor as Randal and Steven looked back at them. Juno kept his eyes on the cat whose legs were half under the wild mammal as he slowly scooted his body away from the angry muzzle not far from his own. Bonnie twisted her fingers as Judy shook her head, "That's not possible. Addie doesn't 'talk' to anyone." Amber lifted her brow in a condescending tilt as she pointed back to the little buck. He had almost disappeared in the end of the fox's tail as it curled around him when he tried to use it to push him away and towards the other rabbits again. All their brows went up as the little buck screamed his protest. The fox's ears tipped forward and flicked while his tail stopped and curled around the tiny rabbit again, just before the tip of it looked like it was petting his head. It curled around his neck and scratching under his chin until Addie stopped screaming.

The longer fur of his tail compared to the little rabbit almost curled around his face as Addie clucked his tongue a few more times. The little bucks ears tipped back when the longer strands brushed against his cheeks and into the inside of his ears. Addie fell back giggling again as the fox kept narrowed eyes on the cat who had managed to get out from under him completely. "I'm telling you, they are talking to each other."

Bonnie and Stu watched blinking as their son rolled around the end of the tail he was almost engulfed in while the fox kept making the odd noises. Bonnie's face fell as Addie seemed to keep alternating the sounds while he giggled and did things they had never seen him do before. Judy lowered to her knees when the cat finally scooted almost to the open door "Addie, come see me." The little male ignored her and the fox stood up slowly and jerked his head a few times as he snorted while he kept an angry lowered brow on the feline.

Amber pointed at the cat as Juno pulled him off the floor. "Get him out of here and don't let him leave. Call sheriff Catmull." Juno grabbed him by the shoulder and Randal and Steven hauled him out of the room with the threat of a predator taser they had picked up on the way back. As soon as the cat was out of sight the fox swayed. His eyes glazed slightly as he stumbled, nearly tripping on a silver tray as he caught himself on the wall. Amber looked him over seeing the bandage over his shoulder half torn off, the blood that was coming from his wound had leaked out and drenched the fur of his chest and was dripping down his other paw as it hung limp at his side. Judy and her parents watched as he made another swish of his tail pushing the smaller rabbit away. His eyes fluttered, rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed sending another crash through the room as his body landed on several of the items that had been thrown to the floor earlier.

Bonnie grabbed Addie off the floor as Amber rushed to the fallen mammal. "Juno, Dad, Judy, help me get him on the other bed." Stu gave Bonnie a glance and the older doe looked at the son she was holding nodding her head. It sent both males rushing to Amber as she pulled several items out from under the unconscious fox. Judy stood there unsure of what to do until her sister looked back glaring at her. "JUDY! SNAP OUT OF IT!" The purple eyed doe jolted before she was helping the others wrestle him onto the bed and they all stood back watching as Amber pulled the bandage off looking the wound over. "He ripped the stitches when he picked up that cat. A lot of blood loss and he hasn't eaten for a few days. He just overdid it."

Bonnie stepped next to her holding Addie as Judy stood on the other side of the bed. "How did he do that?"

Amber shrugged as she pulled medical packs out of a drawer next to the bed and started cleaning the wound. "I don't even know what a fox is or what they are capable of. I think you'll have to ask Professor crazy to get any answers."

Juno and Judy frowned at each other as Stu turned to Bonnie. "Bon, you really gonna let that thing stay in the house? Where'd it come from anyway?"

Amber shook her head "Judy can explain later. We are not putting him in the barn after all that."

The older doe looked down at Addie who was fiddling with the necklace again before he held it out towards the red furred fox "Nick-Nick."

She looked back sighing and nodded as Stu bit the side of his cheek shaking his head before he shrugged. "Alrighty, but if he gets out of paw…"

Judy looked him over and scoffed "Speaking of out of paw, this all got started because of that crazy cat."

Amber curled her lip as she started wrapping his shoulder with clean bandages. "I'll take care of him, you guys can go figure out what the deal is with the nutty professor."

Bonnie stayed with Amber as Juno and Stu went to check on Pappy and Ruby. Stu found that Pappy had worn himself out completely and was sleeping .The older doe had come to and raced back into the belly of the borough with the kits not wanting any part of what was going. Judy picked up a few things off the floor waiting for Juno and her father to return.

"Nick – Nick."

Bonnie rolled her eyes smiling and Judy giggled as Addie kept holding the piece out at the fox. Amber finished wrapping his shoulder again and was trying to clean the blood out of his fur. "Well, I guess we know what we are going to be calling him from now on." They all turned when the bucks came back to the door. After finding out sheriff Catmull was on the way, Stu, Juno and Judy made their way to the kitchen finding Steven and Randal glaring at the professor. It would take the sheriff an hour to get to the farm, being it was one of the largest and located on the fringe of the county several hours from anything anyone would call civilization.

The cat glowered as he looked between all the rabbits from the chair he was sitting in at the kitchen table. Steven and Randal were the silent types, and almost never spoke. The folded arms and pink electronic taser with the lowered brows all pointed at him had made their message clear without the need to vocalize a threat anyway. Stu and Juno joined the similar stances folding their arms over their chest as Judy did the same across the table. "Alright, you came her unannounced and without permission, insulted my family with your rude attitude, tried to steal something and almost hurt my little brother. I want to know why. The sheriff is on the way. Why do you want that thing so badly and what is a fox?"

The cat curled one side of his lip looking between them before they landed on the purple eyed doe again. She grit her teeth in a flat face, pointed a stubby claw at him before jarring the single digit toward the floor as she squared her shoulders. "START TALKING….."