The dogs continued to tear their way across the forest floor after the 'coon that was skirting through the tree tops trying to escape them. They were all still going at the same pace, although Chief would constantly put on extra bursts of speed and gain a tad bit on the Fox and 'Coon hound teams he was trying to beat. Exavier would have none of that though, "Come on boys keep up! We won't let this backwoods show off out do us!" he called back to Ben and Jip. The two Fox Hounds tried to keep up with their leader.
"Hmm" Tracker huffed, "Come on Ridge, we're slackin!" he called to his brother as they tried to keep up as well, "Ya don't' want them fancy pants or ol' Chief ta get ta the 'coon first and lord it over us do ya?". Ridge looked horrified by that possibility, "Oh, tarnations no!" he exclaimed, "If Chief got ta the Ghost 'Coon first we'd never hear the end of it!" he shuddered. The 'Coon Hounds burst forth with new determination.
As they continued to tag along the back, Copper shook his head, "Classic Chief" he sighed, "Trouble always following him". Chipi was about to agree and say something when she suddenly noticed something up ahead. Recognizing what it was, she turned to see if the others had noticed as well, seen as they were barreling right towards it. Yet, Chief, Exavier, Jip, Ben, Tracker and Ridge's attention was all centered on the trees above with the 'coon in them, they weren't looking where they were going!
"Guys!" Chipi called, to try and get their attention in time, but it was too late. All six of the preoccupied dogs crashed into the blur of light brown fur that had been caught off guard by their quick approach. Chipi flinched and then, with a sigh, walked over to assess the damage of this scuffle. "Well Landsakes!" exclaimed a voice with what sounded like an Irish and Southern accent mixed. Soon after, the blur of light brown fur the hounds had run into wiggled his way out of the group.
Seeing that no one was hurt, Chipi laughed slightly, "Sorry Clover, they were a bit distracted" she said. The group of competing hounds had literally run into the dog that Andy's park ranger friend, Todd, owned. The Irish setter, Clover. Well, at most it was known that Clover was probably mostly Irish Setter, no one knew his exact lineage, but he was a bit petite even for his breed, being the same height as Chipi herself. The dog came in as a handy scout dog for Todd throughout his park ranger duties.
Clover smiled at Chipi's explanation and, shaking himself off, turned back to look at the group of hounds as they stood up. Copper finally reached where they were, and stopping near where the others were, just rolled his eyes at the other hounds. "Oh I see" Clover said, glancing back to Chipi once more, "So what are you all after this time?".
Chipi began to reply, when Tracker walked over and cut her off, "Hold up a minute Miss, don't tell him nothin' yet" he said, then turning to Clover he asked, "Aint you one of them scout dogs that's always helpin' get our masters in trouble?".
Clover smiled, "Not as long as they're not hunting what they shouldn't, and I don't know, I only trail what my master or one of the others tells me to".
"Tracker relax" Chipi said, "Clover's a friend". The spaniel smiled slightly to herself though, apparently it was impossible for her to make non-controversial friends. Clover smiled as well, knowing what Chipi was probably thinking since he knew about Chipi's forest animal friends. Clover had met Chipi back a little after their masters, Andy and Todd, first found each other again, back when they were both puppies, and he had always liked hanging around with her (although getting Binx to agree to that had taken a while) yet as much as he considered her a friend, Clover had also very early on started feeling jittery around Chipi and he didn't know why.
These feelings weren't particularly hindering to him now though. Chipi turned back to where Clover was to answer his last question he has asked before having to defend himself, "Anyway, we're currently tracking the Ghost 'Coon" she told him. Clover looked interested, "Oh! Well, that's quite a task" he said. Tracker stepped forward, "Yep, but we're up to the task!" he exclaimed proudly with a smile. Ridge nodded.
Exavier huffed, "Well, I still pity these two when they are shocked to find that we have found this elusive creature first" he said. Jip and Ben nodded. "Yeah, I'll try to keep Exavier here from lording it over the chaps to much" Jip said, "He can be a tad insensitive when he becomes proud" he whispered. Chief just rolled his eyes, "Well none of you are finding anything first, so you should all just pity each other!" he said, pushing forward past the group and scanning for the Ghost 'Coon once more. It seemed to have already disappeared, but Chief was determined the chase wasn't going to be over just yet.
As Amos and Andy made their way over to where the dogs were, they noticed Clover. Amos sighed, "Let me guess, your ranger buddy's spying on us and planning to stop us from getting the 'coon" the old hunter said. Andy smirked, "Now Mr. Amos, Todd wouldn't do that; besides we're not hunting illegally. I do wonder if he's around though if Clover's over here". Amos huffed, "Hmm, well let's hope not" he muttered before moving off to watch Chief sniff around and watching for if his dog found anything. Given the atmosphere, and figuring he should, Copper joined him in searching.
Andy shook his head at Amos' last statement then bent down and motioned to Clover, "Here Clover, here boy" he said. Clover turned and noticed Chipi's master as well as his master's best friend motioning to him and quickly jogged over. Andy smiled and pet Clover, "Hey there boy! Where's Todd, he around?" he asked, "Or did you wander off on you own". Clover of course couldn't answer, but he licked Andy's hand affectionately.
Chipi had been smiling, watching this, when she suddenly heard something. Turning, she noticed the trees off to her right rustling. She scrutinized the spot. Chief, noticing her, turned from his sniffing, "Don't bother, kid. I already checked, there's nothing there, it's just the wind. The smell seems to be coming from...". Chipi's eyes suddenly went wide as she noticed something and she didn't hear the rest of Chief's sentence because she suddenly tore off after something. A rustle taking off through the trees again and a flash of gray and black answered for what Chipi's motivation was as the two took off.
Chief stood there flabbergasted, and the Fox and 'Coon Hound teams just stared in astonishment for a bit. Copper chuckled and grinned; Chipi had just spotted the Ghost 'Coon when the rest of them couldn't and was now taking off in a lone pursuit. "Atta girl!" Copper whispered at his charge having just outsmarted the bickering teams, maybe now they'd learn their lesson, and Copper was also just genuinely proud of his protege's skill.
He quickly took off following Chipi to help if she needed it. The hunters and Clover also noticed and took off after as well just as Chief and the other hounds with him snapped out of their shock and took chase as well. It wasn't spoken whether any of them, Chief included, would try and mussel in on Chipi's chase and try and be the one to bring the 'coon down even now, and truth be told the hounds probably didn't know themselves, but they took chase to at least keep up anyway.
As Chipi kept up with the 'coon charging through the trees, a look of inquisitive wondering would cross her face every now and then, there was something odd about this 'coon and Chipi would often get the feeling that she had almost noticed something but the 'coon moved to fast for her to ever grasp or guess at what it could be. The smell didn't tell her much either, it was blowing so fast she got the same "just out of her reach" feeling as she had with the sight.
The chase soon ended as the blur that was the 'coon quickly leapt from the clump of trees as he reached the end, and, as had happened many times before, he disappeared. Clover, Copper, Chief and the other hounds soon caught up with where Chipi was and Amos and Andy came up right after that. "Tarnation! I saw the whole thing, just like they say, he's gone!" Ridge said. Tracker shook his head, "How's he do it!".
Chief narrowed his eyes, "I aint givin' in that easy!" he said, sniffing around. "It's a 'coon, it's catchable, and I'm gonna do it!" he said as he sniffed yet picked up nothing. Copper looked perplexed as well. As the dogs nosed around, Amos motioned to Andy to stay quiet, "Scan the trees, and keep that scout quiet" he whispered, glancing through the branches himself, gun at the ready. Andy nodded, and placed a hand on Clover's head where the setter sat quietly next to him, being a scout dog and not hunter. Andy then scanned the trees himself.
Chipi meanwhile remained glued to her spot and staring forward, two very shocking details had just become apparent to her!