The Coming Storm Part II
-At the Fox's den: Two Hours After Dawn-
The warmth that surrounded the fox and the rabbit had its own tempting way of keeping the two in bed. Both could attest to the enjoyment they found in each other's close company, and the worn out kits surrounding them didn't seem ready to relinquish the fox from their tight grips.
So for the longest time Nick and Judy decided to stay right where they were, with faces so close and grooming paws exploring the muzzles, ears, and other features of their close companion.
Besides, it wasn't like they wanted to stop their teasing chats with each other either, especially Judy… The grey doe had been reveling in how the fox had called himself 'her fox' and ever since she had taken every (not so) subtle opportunity to refer to herself as 'his bunny.'
It lasted that way for some time. Both did an excellent job at going back and forth over every conversation point. Whether the topic was themselves, past memories, or the storm that was brewing outside, they would find a way to make it lighthearted enough.
It was surprisingly soothing. A break in the storm that had hit their lives allowing them to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Eventually, however, their pleasant easygoing conversations grew into more concerning subjects, namely about the precious young ones surrounding them.
Yesterday had been such a hard day for the kits. Reality had turned their lives upside down with hardly any warning, ripping away almost everything that the children held dear.
"They deserve better."
The words came from the fox's mouth, but it was an opinion firmly shared by both, clearly evidenced by the small but approving smile of the doe next to him.
"What do you have in mind, Slick?"
"This is gonna sound cheesy, but we should make today all about them, you know pull out all the stops…"
"Cheesy fox!" Judy scritched underneath his jaw lightly, eliciting a soft purr from the tod, "That's a great idea."
So today the two had an objective: it would be a day dedicated for reassurance.
Today, Nick and Judy would make absolutely sure that the kits knew that they would always be loved, provided for, cherished, and safe…
Truly safe. Nothing that their nightmares conjured up would ever be allowed to hurt them, not if their tough sister and protective fox had anything to say about it.
A day dedicated to making the kits feel better could only be started off right with a home-cooked breakfast… One that the fox was determined to get the grey doe to help him make.
But before they could start working on a meal, Nick and Judy would first have to conquer the most daunting of challenges.
How in the world would they free Nick from the clutches of the little bunnies around him?!
It would prove to be a challenge.
Judy really had it easy, she simply had one bunny that she was holding, and the sandy brown doe was far more interested in clutching onto the downy, cream fur of the fox.
For Nick, the resistance was fearsome.
"Carrots, she really won't let go…" Nick whispered to Judy.
How true that was. Cotton had her first unmoving sleep last night, and if the little kit had her way that would not change. It was Nick's fault really, he shouldn't have had such a soft, warm nook that could perfectly fit a bunny kit between his shoulder and his muzzle.
Carefully, Nick attempted to pull Cotton from her comfortable spot without waking her, and immediately it became clear that she wouldn't be giving him up without a fight.
Firmly, the sandy doe clung to the fur of Nick's neck, unconsciously gripping him even tighter with her little paws.
It was comically cute and poetically sweet.
Almost like Cotton was expressing her joy from when Nick told the kit that he loved her. Just as Nick had told Judy that he'd never let her go, it appeared Cotton had quite literally chosen to do the same to the fox.
Nick sat up carefully as he contended against the sleepy rabbit, keeping one paw against her to balance her and the other to try to untangle her paws from his fur.
It didn't work.
By the end of Nick's fruitless efforts to remove Cotton, the fox gave a pitiful shrug to the grey doe sitting beside him.
Judy failed to suppress her giggles at the show that Nick and Cotton were putting on. It was simply too adorable, watching the fox gently holding up little cotton as the sandy brown doe refused to relinquish his neck.
It was amusing to watch how supremely gentle he was with her too, he held her the same way her own parents would hold the kits: with utmost love.
It made her heart clench a bit as she watched this unique fox's interaction with the sleeping bunny.
After another moment of the sweetest struggle Judy had ever seen, the fox turned back to her with a pleading look of resignation.
"A little help here, Carrots…" The fox whispered in humorous distress.
It was unfair how cute her fox was with Cotton, and much too easy of an opportunity to tease.
"Aw what's the matter Slick?" Judy's tone had a ribbing edge, "Wait, don't tell me, could it be that my big, strong fox can't handle an adorable little bunny?"
Nick pinned his ears in an effort to hide their reddened state.
"Well this is no ordinary rabbit! she's the cutest, most huggable, creature I've ever set eyes on!.." His face contorted to a look of slight discomfort, with faux strain in his voice Nick continued, "And Carrots, hurry, she has the grip of a bear."
"Such a drama fox." The grey rabbit rolled her eyes at her fox's antics before stepping forward and assisting with the tangled bunny kit.
With methodical and experienced paws, Judy unraveled Cotton's little fingers from the tod's fur before gently pulling the sandy brown bun away from the red fox.
Cotton's unconscious body protested the change of environment, quite upset to lose the warmth and security from the nook she had been sleeping in. Her little arms flailed reaching for her fuzzy, warm companion, but it was too late now- the fox was free… mostly.
Ashes and Ollie were still holding onto his tail, but luckily the two were much less resistant to being moved than their little sister was.
Soon enough the sandy brown kit and her siblings were resettled comfortably into a newly formed bunnypile.
With a fond, easy smile Nick wrapped up the bunnies with a linen blanket, making sure that each were comfortably tucked under the warm covering.
He turned to the grey doe, or at least to where she was-
Judy was already off the bed and standing, ready for the fox to get moving.
"Alright Slick, I think it's time you teach me how to cook."
-0-0-
The fire crackled with the fresh offering of wood and stubble placed over it. The hot coals were only happy to be fed by their master, and it was evidenced by the soothing swoosh of the growing flames.
Satisfied with his work, Nick made his way back to the rabbit at the sewing table with a pot full of boiled water and a rabbit's favorite vegetable. The delicious smell of carrots emanated from their makeshift kitchen as Nick and Judy prepared a meal for their sleeping little ones.
After Nick fished out the carrots and pawed them to his Carrots, The fox and rabbit both found themselves in a companionable silence at the sewing table.
Nick hummed as he sliced and shredded potatoes with his claws, while Judy was using a stone pestle and one of Nick's bowls to mash up the softened carrots that Nick had just given her.
There was a nostalgic smile spread across the fox's muzzle as he hummed to his tune.
He'd forgotten the joy of cooking with another mammal. Ever since he was a young kit he had always assisted his mom with making their meals, something his father only encouraged knowing that Nick would one day have a prospective mate he could share the experience with.
John Wilde had apparently been spot on in that notion, although the reynard would never have guessed that his son would've fallen for a rabbit.
The fox's easy smile turned to a happy grin at the thought of his mom and dad watching over him and Judy as they cooked.
Nick could already picture the smug grin on his father's face knowing that his son was cooking to provide for his very own (albeit unorthodox) family.
A happy sigh escaped the tod's muzzle as he continued his work, simply content with this familiar practice being shared with the mammal he was falling in love with.
The happy sigh caught the ear of the rabbit next to him, and As Judy mashed the carrots, she watched the content looking fox work his craft. It went without saying that her attention turned to his claws as they dismembered potato after potato with great efficiency, making them into a large pile of hash ready to be cooked over the fire.
It was strange for the doe, what should have been a terrifying display to a rabbit, was now just plain interesting to Judy.
It was amazing how her view of his claws had changed so drastically in such a short amount of time.
At first, the sharp appendages were something to fear, something to hate even. Dangerous, ruthless tools that, when wielded by a different fox so many years ago, had almost killed her.
But then her view of his claws had changed.
Judy's mind turned to when she'd attacked the fox and little Cotton had come to the rescue.
Judy had thought Nick had taken her siblings, and she injured the fox to find out what had happened to them. Imagine her shock when Cotton had come out of nowhere and had run to the fox… to protect him.
A bunny kit, coming to the defense of an adult fox.
And when Cotton had come to the injured mammal's rescue, what did the fox do?
Take her hostage? Harm her with those 'menacing' claws? Threaten?
No.
The fox had eased the distressed kit by petting and scritching her ears. Cotton had been so sure of this fox that she had even grabbed his paw and hugged it to her body.
It had been an exchange that had terrified Judy at first, thinking that this fox would only bring harm to her sibling.
But what Judy didn't expect was the tender comfort given with those claws instead of pain and distress…
And suddenly everything Judy knew about this predator had been, very ironically, shredded to bits.
And as the last few days had passed, the fox reinforced that initial change in thinking.
Nick had proven again and again not only how harmless he was to them, but how truly kind he was as well. His claws could clearly be used for great harm (as evidenced by the unfortunate potatoes,) but it was even more apparent that they could be used for great good.
Judy's glance slowly morphed into an admiring gaze at the fox next to her.
Nick, you're so much more than that. Judy thought as she stared at the vulpine.
He'd shown her how different he could be, and slowly Judy had realized that it wasn't the claws that dictated if a mammal was good or bad, but their heart.
So long ago Judy had run into that hate-filled fox on her scouting mission, a fox that had turned her completely cold to the idea of a good predator. An idea that was reinforced with many other experiences.
But here she was now with that exact opposite reality.
Nick could shred things to bits if he desired, but he was far more interested in using his claws to provide comforting scritches to the kits and tender hugs to her than to hurt anyone…
Judy marveled at how the same tools that most foxes used to harm others, were used by this fox to bring joy and relief to her and the kits.
It was a fact that made her heart skip as she watched Nick do his work.
And as she observed him cut and slice the tubers, she couldn't help but remember how good it felt when those paws scritched and caressed her ears. She had received so much solace from the way it had felt for them to soothingly scritch the bases of her ears and up to their tips.
And as she thought about his claws against her, a realization occurred…
If at any time this fox had wanted to turn against her, he could have.
She had been so emotionally vulnerable and had opened herself to him so fully that he could have brought harm to her and she would have been helpless to stop him.
But she had trusted in him.
It should have been foolish for her to have given him so much credit, but as she watched him now and listened to his light humming of some song, it was clear why she had.
You care about us, don't you, Slick?
She already knew he did, but it still amazed her. Her heartbeat went a little faster thinking about the fox. From last night's song, to when he'd made them meals, to the genuine happiness the kits had when they were with him, it was all evidence to how her trust had so rapidly been earned.
His honest smiles, his happy whines, and the monumental efforts he had gone through for the kits, Judy could only come to one conclusion about him.
Her fox has a heart of gold that he gave to them.
When she was falling apart, he held her, when she cried, he licked her tears away, when the kits were suffering, he sang to soothe them.
This fox, despite his species, had a compassionate, golden heart and that was final in her mind.
The world only sees him as untrustworthy because of his species, but that wasn't what she saw. Judy saw a mammal that was much more than what others would ever see him as. And if others wouldn't accept his heart, well, Judy would.
And if this fox wanted to share that heart of gold with her, she would share her heart right back…
And to her it wouldn't even be an inconvenience to do so.
In fact,
I want to. Her chest tightened as she watched the fox. I really want to…
Every time he touched her with those loving paws, or wrapped her in his strong arms, or scritched her with those careful claws, she felt that…
Everything will be okay…
Because when he's around everything is okay.
As long as you're here with us, Nick
Her ears fell back as they turned red.
Slick… why do I… why do I need you like that?
Judy blushed as she realized how much she wanted to be around him. Everything felt right when she was with him-
He… He's really my fox. She thought as her gazed pinned to his warm smile.
I really want him… I really want him to stay with me, I…
Judy's heart raced as she watched the fox before her.
My fox. Slick, I think… I think I might lo-
"Um, Carrots? You done with the carrots, yet?" Nick asked as he noticed the grey doe looking his way.
Whatever thought she was considering went up with a puff of smoke with the inquisitive voice of the vulpine staring at her. As the dazed look lifted from her eyes, she now saw that Nick had cut through all of his potatoes.
H-how long was I staring?!
Nick was giving her a curious, questioning look.
"Carrots, you ok?"
Judy jumped at realizing she was holding his attention now. She had been so distracted by the fox that she had stopped her own work to watch him. Still, the carrots were mashed enough to accomplish whatever it was that the fox was going to do with them.
"Er, yep, just fine!" She squeaked.
The fox had caught her watching him, she had to get this attention off of her.
"Here you go, mashed up just like you asked!" She said bashfully.
Judy couldn't help but distance herself from the tod to alleviate some of her sudden awkwardness.
A gap that the fox very much didn't like.
"Didn't you say you wanted to help?" Nick asked the now bashful bunny.
He had really been enjoying their time cooking together, and he certainly didn't want to lose his new cooking partner. Besides, It was one of the most pleasurable experiences to see others enjoy something that you made, and Nick wasn't about to let her miss out on seeing the kits' reactions.
"Oh… um, are you sure?" She asked, shyly. "I'm not really used to cooking… I'll just slow you down." Judy said, still flustered at her own odd emotions for the fox in front of her.
She really needed a moment to regather her bearings. A moment not provided by Nick.
"Of course I'm sure, Fluff! It makes it even better for me since this is your first time. You're gonna love it!"
The tod wasted no time in taking hold of her paws with his own and bringing her flush against his side back at the table. Judy belonged right at his side, and his tail agreed as it encircled behind the grey doe.
"Besides I'm still sore, and could use your help with what I have planned." He gestured at his injured arm.
Her ears wasn't sure if it was from Nick inadvertently saying he would enjoy being her first time or because she was so close to him with his tail pressed against the small of her back. It didn't help that the smell of violets made her eyes feel so heavy and half-lidded, and her brain fuzzy.
"Okay," He started, recapturing some of her attention "So what do you see?"
He gestured at the food in front of them.
"What do I see?" She asked quizzically.
He nodded patiently.
Judy answered the obvious, "Piles of eviscerated vegetables?"
"Very astute of you, Carrots." He answered, "Well yeah, but there's more to it than that."
He looked at the ingredients before speaking again, "This is a chance to try something new and to make it great."
Judy looked at him confused.
The fox clarified, "We're gonna put them together."
Judging by the look on Judy's face, Nick could tell she wasn't the most pleased with this idea. Mashed carrots mixed with shredded potatoes sounded terrible.
Nick grinned at her disgusted look, "Just trust me on this one, Carrots. You might just be surprised!"
If there was one thing the tod knew about cooking, it was that some of the best dishes were a product of mixing two things together that didn't make sense.
"Ok, Slick, I trust you."
Judy wasn't sure what made her heart throb harder in her chest, it could have been the earnest, pleased smile that he sent her way, or the words that followed:
"That's my bunny!" The fox responded happily.
In no time at all Nick had a flat thin stone, old fashioned makeshift cookware, ready and little piles of potato hash mixed with carrot mash squished into flattened circles laying on it.
Nick directed Judy to mix the two main ingredients herself with her smaller, more precise paws. Silky paws kneaded together the perfect sized little spheres of the two main ingredients. And as Judy did that, Nick flattened them on the pan into little circles, all while adding bits of sweetgrass and a few sweet flavored spices.
It appeared that the fox and bunny were pioneering a very unorthodox version of sweet flavored pancakes. It wasn't long until they had a good number of the ready-to-cook pancakes prepared to go over the fire.
"Now," the fox said while smiling at his protege, "We cook them."
And by we, Nick meant her… He had placed the stone pan on the fire for her, but he very much wanted Judy to have the right to place and flip the makeshift carrot-potato treats.
And for good reason, how else could he watch her reactions?
It was fun for Nick to watch the rabbit flip each pancake with the stick that he had provided for her. He delighted in how her facial features would switch from various stages of serious contemplation when flipping the cakes, to happy satisfaction when she pulled it off perfectly.
In no time, Judy had a stack of hot cakes ready.
The fox swiped a single cake from the pile and pawed half of it over to the rabbit.
Soft center, crisp exterior, looks good. The fox examined before pulling the treat to his maw.
Nick's half was swallowed up without issue, and was quickly followed by an exaggerated lick of his fingers.
"Well it looks like the den has a new head chef." Nick said, enjoying the morsel thoroughly.
She blushed, he was getting to her again, but she recovered quickly.
"Not so fast, Slick. You're not getting out of cooking duty so easily."
Both mammals chuckled at the others playful attitudes.
Nick gathered up the three bowls that the kits had become accustomed to eating from and placed a few pancakes in each, along with a few blueberries from his storage enclave for good measure.
What don't blueberries go good with, anyways? The fox thought as he swiped a few for himself.
With the hot meal now prepared, Judy and Nick carried the hearty breakfast back to the bed and carefully crawled up next to the kits.
Side by side, the rabbit and fox sat in front of the sleeping kits piled onto each other underneath the linen blanket. They had slept in pretty late, no doubt from the hard, emotional night before.
With renewed determination and pancakes in paw, Nick and Judy were going to make sure today was much better for them.
Gently, Judy removed the blanket, making sure not to prematurely wake the bunnies while Nick placed the little bowls holding the cakes in front of them.
With the blanket removed, the aroma quickly made its way into the little pink noses of the rabbits.
Nick used his paw to stifle his chuckle when he heard the loud grumble that came from Ashes' stomach.
"Now that's classic Grey," The fox said, amused that the buck's stomach woke up before the kit himself.
Next came the fierce twitching of their noses, followed by slight movements of their heads unconsciously scooting closer to the source of the delectable smell. And finally, sleepy eyes creaked open to the sight of the awaiting food before them.
The tiredness in their eyes didn't last long however, the smells of sweet flavored grass, hearty carrots and starchy potatoes incentivized their young brains to turn on.
Ollie was quicker than her brother or sister and was the first to get a handle on the situation,
"Ashie, Cotton wake up, look!"
It was clear that the speckled white doe was quite hungry, and like a beggar who had found bread, she had to make known of the meal that sat before them.
At their sister's beckoning, it took hardly a second longer for Ashes and Cotton to figure out what was going on.
Nick and Judy watched as the famished kits made their happiness at the discovery very well known. After such an upsetting and emotionally draining day they had yesterday, the food that sat before them on the bed didn't stand a chance!
It only took a second for the little bunnies' big appetites to take over. And rapidly, the cake circles that Judy and Nick had made were ripped to pieces. It was abundantly clear that they were not in a nibbling sort of mood as they chomped and chewed this new food presented to them with great gusto.
For Judy, it was pleasing to watch her siblings so thoroughly enjoy the meal that she had made.
Her heart was filled with pride at providing for her family in a new way. Bringing supplies home from her scouting missions was fulfilling, but seeing the happy munching of the little ones was a new experience when she prepared the meal for them.
For Nick, it was simply pleasing to watch Judy's reaction at the kits' happy eating.
For a little while it looked as if the food had taken over every thought process of the little bunnies, but soon little Cotton was capable of voicing her opinions,
"Thwese awe soooo goooood!" Cotton proclaimed, mouth still very full of pancakes.
Both Ashes and Ollie nodded their agreement fervently, but didn't dare speak as they reverently enjoyed their meals.
Both Judy and Nick smiled at the adorable bunnies, so happy to see the pleased joy of the little ones.
At least for now things could be normal.
The kits could enjoy a happy, tasty distraction from their sorrows that had hurt them so badly last night, and Nick and Judy could enjoy the domestic bliss of watching the bunnies savor the cakes.
There was a simple fact in grieving, one that was especially true for children. There had to be breaks from sorrow. No mammal should have to be sad all the time, everyone, especially young kits, needed a reprieve from grief.
Judy and Nick had been lucky enough to find their 'break' in each other, and they intended to share that with their whole family. If they could, they would always be a shelter for the little ones, a place of solace where they could heal…
Nick and Judy let the kits enjoy their moment, not daring to do anything that would let their contentment be broken.
And as the eating wound down, Nick dedicated himself to joking with Ashes about his crazy appetite while semi-regularly swiping leftover blueberries from each of the little bunnies' bowls.
Judy did her part by indulging her talkative sisters, taking long moments to listen to Cotton's ramblings in full, and giving her ears to Ollie's interests in being as tough as her older sister.
It was a wonderful moment.
One that the bunnies and the fox were glad to share.
But eventually that moment ended.
And despite Judy and Nick's best efforts, the weight of the world could only be held off for so long before it would catch back up to the little rabbits.
They would do anything to keep the kits happy, but grief had this terrible way of sneaking up on children during the happiest of times.
And that very thing would happen to Ollie.
Grief, the thief to joy, would cherish a strike on the kit as she recounted the old story of how scared their daddy had been when Judy had gone on her first mission.
It had always been a lighthearted subject, one that the whole clan had talked about for ages, especially the white, speckled doe who was so enthused with her tough older sister.
"Daddy was so scared after you left that he passed out! And- And momma had to pour the water bucket on him!"
The little kit wasn't even aware of the tears building up behind her soft brown eyes, or her voice feeling strained as she relived the happy memory.
"But I told him that you were the toughest rabbit in the whooole clan! And- and that you could beat up a- anything!
Little Ollie let out a small laugh at the story. She had told Judy the story a thousand times, but this time felt different. The humor that was once in the story felt hollow without her daddy there to 'set the record straight,' as he had always put it.
Still Ollie troopered on the best she could,
"But don't worry Judy, He wasn't mad- a- and he- he was so glad wh-when you got home, a- and-"
Why was she choking up?
Why was her throat hurting so bad as she told the story?
Why was her paws covering her eyes and her ears so droopy?
Those were the questions that swam through Ollie's head.
Don't cry! Ollie tried to tell herself. You're strong, remember? Judy told you so, you're supposed to be strong and brave! You can't cry for no reason!
Normally she could stop crying, but this time it felt different. Like Ashes the night before, the reality that her daddy and momma weren't there anymore had struck out of nowhere.
They're gone, and there were animals out there that didn't mind taking away the ones you loved…
Last night, she had tried to be the strong one for her brother and sister, but right now, as she had remembered her favorite story to tell Judy… Ollie wasn't feeling so strong anymore.
All she felt was sadness for her family.
Truthfully, It had only been a matter of time until grief would manifest itself again in all of the bunnies' lives. A loss like theirs wasn't simply one that could be gotten over with in a week.
No, this was something that they would have to work through for a long, long time.
But it would never be something that they would have to go through alone. And with the right support from the ones that cared for them everything would be okay.
And as the sobs began to overcome the white doe, the strong grey arms of her older sister wrapped around her.
"I'm here sweetie, I'm here." Judy cooed as she held the speckled bun in her arms.
This morning was supposed to be a happy occasion, but it looked as if that just wasn't in the cards.
But that was okay. A family stuck together no matter what.
And when one of them hurt, they all did.
Soon Judy and Ollie's embrace was joined in by two more bunnies and a fox.
Little Ashes had never been one to hide his emotions, and he wasn't about to forget how much his sister had been there for him last night. Just as she held him after his nightmare, so too would he hold her.
And it went without saying that Cotton would rush to the aid of anyone who was sad. The sandy brown doe would always try to make her family as happy as she could. As quickly as her paws could mover her, Cotton joined the fray of bunnies.
And finally, the russet paws of the fox wrapped them all up. Nick was well aware of how grief could strike at any time, and with that knowledge he would give his full measure of patience, understanding, and love to them.
His father had told him once when he was a kit that he would have paws just like his old dad. He hadn't understood it then, but it was clear now. His paws were meant for holding these kits, for soothing scritches and careful reassurances.
He gently pulled them into his lap, and as expected the soft tail of the fox encircled around the family like a warm and secure cocoon. It was becoming a frequent hold for the rabbits, a repetition that gave the kits a foothold on stability and one that made Judy's heart calm.
The wiry arms of the vulpine held the bunnies with a steady, firm grip- one that promised he wouldn't let go of them… A grip that Nick was ready to put into words.
"Speckles, sweetheart," Nick dipped his muzzle close to the little white rabbit, "You're safe now, me and Judy promise we're not going anywhere."
Ollie looked up to the fox holding her and her family. His eyes were soft and sincere, and although she was still upset, his gentle words helped calm her crying.
Judy was the next to speak, "You don't have to be so strong all the time, Sweetie. It's ok, even I need to cry like this sometimes."
Ollie turned to Judy in disbelief, "Y-you do?" The white rabbit asked, astonished.
If Ollie had seen how badly Judy had broken down on her first night here, it wouldn't have even been a question. Hell, if it wasn't for the comforting arms of the fox, Judy might've cried until she fell asleep out there.
Judy looked at the kit with the kindest, most understanding of smiles, and hugged her a little tighter.
"Sure do, but you know what keeps me so strong?"
"You're muscles?" Ollie asked with complete sincerity.
It was enough to draw a snort from the fox behind them.
"No Sweetie, not my muscles."
Judy took a paw and rubbed one of Ollie's ears,
"What keeps me strong is my family that loves me."
Ollie looked at Judy with questioning eyes.
"L- like me?" Ollie asked.
"Yes, you Sweetie. You make me strong because we're family and we love each other."
"And us too right Jude?" Ashes asked.
"Of course you and Cotton make me strong too, Ashie." Judy answered the buck.
"And Mister Nick, too, right Juju? He loves you! Does he make you feel strong?"
Judy blushed at Cotton's unexpected question, and unseen by the grey doe the redness in Nick's ears burned just as bright as hers.
Karma, Cottontail! Why- The fox let out a silent sigh. It wasn't her fault, she was just a kit, it was what he got for telling her.
Karma sure had a way of messing with Nick, and perhaps Nick would have denounced the fox deity as unfairly cruel if it wasn't for the next statement that came from the grey doe's muzzle.
"Yes," The grey doe answered, "He makes me feel very strong, Cotton."
Judy…
The words of the doe were unexpected. His heart raced at her answer.
Me? I make you feel-
"You love Judy, Mister Nick?" Ollie asked, interrupting Nick's thoughts.
This had to be some kind of divine subterfuge. Trickery used by Karma to make this whole situation blow up in his face.
But he couldn't lie to the trusting brown eyes of the speckled doe. These kits had the key to his heart and as much as he wasn't ready to admit his feelings, the pleading stares of the three kits wouldn't let him lie.
"I do, I love her very much." The fox softly answered.
Judy's ears were beet red as she listened to the confessions of the fox. She had overheard him tell it to Cotton last night, but for him to say it in front of her made her heart beat fast and her face blush.
Before anything else could be said by Nick, little Cotton couldn't help but speak up once more, "And he loves you guys too! He told me last night after…"
Cotton rambled on and on until her ears, as well as the ears of the other rabbits picked up on light laughter. They all turned their heads back to the fox who was chuckling at the sandy brown doe..
Nick couldn't help but laugh, if Cotton had it her way she would tell every secret he had.
But it was his turn to talk. Nick was ready to tell these rabbits exactly how he felt about them. Afterall, the one thing he didn't want out in the open was already exposed, so he might as well go all out.
The fox looked at the kits in his arms, "I love each of you," The fox began, "I love you all, and I promise that I'll never stop."
The fox sobered up as he took on a serious tone. "Judy, Ollie, Ashes, Cotton," He looked at the rabbits in his arms with unhindered honesty, "You're my whole world; I need you to know that I won't ever leave you- none of you- behind."
"We're family now…" His voice became a bit hoarse with emotions as he gazed into Judy's eyes in particular, "And- and no matter what, I'll always be there for you, because…"
Judy's heartbeat spiked once again as her eyes locked with the fox's.
"I love you."
As he spoke the words now, his verdant greens peered deeply into her violet eyes. Her throat ran dry and her ears reddened. His words made her want to dig her nose into his violet scented chest and feel those careful claws scritch her ears… they made her want to put her lips back on his nose and slide down to his… his muzzle… and…
Kiss him…
It felt like a veil had been lifted from her eyes. It had been so obvious what she had wanted when he had first licked away her tears.
Serendipity, he- he's my fox… and I…
I love him. I really do love him…
What Judy had thought were the feelings of a close, platonic attachment was quickly upended and exposed as something much more significant.
Everything she'd been feeling for this fox these past few days had culminated into an obvious trust, appreciation and gratefulness for Nick, followed by feelings of close kinship and sharing of pain with him.
And then, apparently, there had been something more.
She had questions now, so many that vied for attention. But one quickly took over her mind…
Does…. Does he feel the same?
Perhaps when the kits were put to bed that night she could ask him.
But right now, this was still a time to comfort and ease the kits that she and Nick were holding.
Judy looked back at the fox, she still wanted to tell him something in return for now. Something that would speak both to the fox and to the kits…
"We'll never let you go either." She said quietly. "No matter what."
Her ears picked up on light tooth purring from the kits, and her body felt the tightening grip from the fox behind her. It looked like she had said the right thing.
The kits felt much better after hearing the reassurances of the fox and their sister, and Nick felt at ease.
She won't leave… no matter what my feelings are…
For the next little while, the bunnies and fox all sat there silently basking in the comforts and love they shared with each other.
However, there was still one more thing that worried the rabbit kits…
Something that had upended their family before was still on the loose. The unexpected had happened once and it was a terrifying thing for the little ones to think could happen again.
Perhaps Ashes was the most fearful about it due to his nightmares, or perhaps it was more upsetting to see his sister so hurt by everything. Whatever it was, the kit needed to ask the question that bothered him the most…
"Wh- what about the wolves…" The little buck asked.
Judy and Nick could feel the fear return to all three of the little ones in their grasps.
This was something that clearly needed to be addressed now.
Nick was the first to speak, "They'll never find us, Grey, I haven't seen a wolf in this part of the forest in years."
The last time Nick had run into wolves was shortly after his parents had passed and he had been searching for a place to rebuild his life. After Nick had crossed the river that separated where his old life had been and where he had chosen to rebuild his new life- the den he was in now- he hadn't seen one since.
"But- but what if they do?" The grey buck asked, a tremor running through his small frame. "We never saw wolves either, Mister Nick."
The grey buck had a point. A really good point.
"Well, Grey, what if I told you that I have a secret plan just in case that ever happens?"
His answer raised the eyebrows of the grey doe, making her wonder what his 'plan' was for such an event. Foxes usually had more than one escape route, but Nick's den didn't seem to have more than the one entrance and a little covered enclave in the wall for storage.
"You do?" For Ashes, the answer that the fox gave eased him just a little.
Ashes didn't know a lot about wolves other than they were extremely dangerous and that they had caused him a lot of pain. But he did know about his family, and he knew he could trust Judy and Mister Nick.
"Yep, just in case."
"Okay, Mister Nick." He answered back softly.
And with that bit of reassurance the kits settled down again, taking shelter in the arms of the ones that they knew they could trust.
And as the family cuddled close together on their bed, Nick contemplated the buck's question.
There was a snowstorm likely to be coming through soon. Something like that would wipe away even the tiniest of traces that could lead back to his den, and since wolves had abandoned this fairly desolate region of the forest years ago, they should be in the clear.
But even if that craziest of scenarios were to happen, Nick already had the means to get the kits and Judy out.
The fox gave a furtive glance to the enclave in his wall that held his wintry storage, knowing full well the secrets that hid just behind the supplies.
Don't worry Grey, I'll protect you no matter what.
Nearing the Hopps Warren: Two Hours After Dawn.
Six wolves trotted through the snow. Their pace was quick and purposeful as the group traveled in a single file fashion. It was a fearsome sight to see, a line of wolves advancing through a wooded forest on their way to revisit a destroyed rabbit warren.
A place that they themselves had eradicated all life from.
And a place where they had lost one of their own.
And now a place where they would soon begin to track the one who had committed such an evil to their fallen comrade.
That morning before dawn, the pack had assembled at Julius' call. There had been much talk the night before and already they had selected everyone that would participate in the Honor Hunt.
At the end of it, only a few new mothers (all Julius' mates) had been left, as well as the pups too young to hunt, and a few warriors left to protect the campsite.
Interestingly, that left most of the raiding party that had attacked the rabbit warren in the first place on this hunt, along with an addition of one new wolf that Julius had reluctantly allowed for this mission.
In this hunt there would be Julius the leader, Wolford, Brute, Brute's mate Casius, Julius' eldest son Marcus, and his younger son Antony who had pleaded with his father to come along.
The six canines had made great time on their trek to the warren, however there was a bleak aura hovering in the air that settled over the members of the pack.
Each member could feel the tension coming from Julius as he trotted along in the snow.
It hadn't gone unnoticed by the others when Julius would take intermittent disdainful looks at the sky. It seemed that his mood darkened every time the clouds in the air would.
It was clear that he would not be amenable to calling off this search for anything short of the worst possible conditions.
There was simply too much at stake.
This 'desecrator' had unified the pack more than ever, and Julius planned on utilizing this opportunity to solidify his power as the pack leader for years to come.
Furthermore, Julius saw this hunt as the catalyst to bring Wolford into the pack. The whelp would finally be a strong, obedient member with potential.
Julius could even see that when his eldest son Marcus would one day take over as the Alpha, Wolford would make an excellent Beta. The wolf was an outsider strong enough to take the position, but someone who was still seen as an adoptee. One that wouldn't be as keen to challenge for the Alpha position, and would subsequently allow for his dynasty to continue after him.
The opportunity that this hunt provided was truly golden!
However, if the hunt had to be called off for something as asinine as a blizzard…
It could prove to be disastrous. He growled lightly at the thought.
Wolford and a few others would likely push for a search at a later date, an impossible endeavor that he would have to put an end to… A decision that would likely cause division. Perhaps even enough to spur challenges to his leadership by Marcus, or Ancestors forbid, Brute.
That would be unacceptable.
Marcus may have been his eldest son, but Julius wasn't about to give up his power to his highly opportunistic pup.
And Brute… although he had submitted to him last night, he had outright accepted Julius' challenge.
Who's to say that Brute wouldn't want to try again?
Still, Julius could quell those issues with time and force and displays of dominance.
To Julius, the long term problem would be the fate of Wolford if this Hunt failed.
The whelp is still too sentimental.
It was true, Wolford was in dire need to avenge Sapper.
Julius could see that the whelp may even go to the extent of leaving the pack to do it. That would be a dangerous precedent, something the Alpha recognized as an unacceptable blot to his plans for the future.
This desecrator had given him a great opportunity, however, a sudden snowstorm would jeopardize all of that and may even bring unforeseen consequences to his leadership.
Because of that, it was imperative that they travel quickly and precisely to the scene of the desecration. And when the sight of a desolate warren and garden came into view, Julius swiftly began to take action, racing against the coming weather.
"Marcus, Antony, step forward my sons."
Two wolves, one stout in figure and the other a bit smaller and more scrawny approached.
One, Marcus, was strikingly similar to his father.
The wolf had grey fur that was almost identical to the leader of the pack, (although he lacked the scars that marked his father.) Marcus was also a tad smaller than the Alpha but not by much, his frame spoke of power much like Julius' and he had that same blistering hardness residing in his eyes…
Eyes that displayed superiority, dominance and disdain for those that surrounded him… especially the scrawnier wolf that called him 'brother.'
The wolf next to Marcus, Antony, was both younger and considerably smaller than his brother. Really, he was barely old enough to join this hunt, just a juvenile.
Antony's fur was a light shade of white, from his tail all the way to his snout. He was much more relaxed in his features than either his elder brother or his father, a fact that was clearly evidenced by the youthful trust and naivety glowing within his eyes.
Looking at the three wolves, one would never suspect that the scrawny, white wolf had any familial relation with his brother or his father. There just weren't any indicators for it. The juvenile lacked that same edged hardness found in Julius' or Marcus' eyes, and his relaxed demeanor was in great contrast to the firm, domineering stance of his father and challenging stance of his brother.
Regardless of their differences, these wolves were a family, and their father had orders ready for his sons.
Julius' maintained his strong stance as he looked at his oldest son,
"Marcus, my eldest, patrol the perimeter, do not hesitate to report back to me if you find anything worth investigation."
"You waste my talents on grunt work again, Father?"
Their eyes locked, the elder son refusing to submit to his father's order.
A warning growl ripped from the throat of the Alpha, "I gave you what is suitable for this mission, and I will continue to give you what I deem fit for your talents, whelp."
The Alpha's hackles raised and his claws dug into the dirt threateningly. He was an unmoving rock that dared his pup to challenge him again.
A challenge that did not come. Marcus broke eye contact with the older wolf.
"I will not tolerate this behavior again, Marcus," Julius growled, "Understood?"
There was a moment of hesitation from the younger grey wolf as he observed his father's frame for any signs of weakness.
With a dismissive grunt, Marcus responded, "Understood."
Julius continued burning holes in his eldest who had now averted his eyes from the leader. No more words were exchanged however.
As quickly as the confrontation had sprung up, it died. In its wake, was a deathly silence between all members of the hunting party. This wasn't something one was to interrupt without consequence.
After a sufficient moment of asserting dominance towards his eldest, Julius turned his attention to his other son, Antony.
It was amazing to see the immediate difference in the Alpha's demeanor. No longer was the leader in a dominant, intimidatory stance. Instead, it was a look that was rarely displayed by the Alpha: one of concern.
Julius gazed at his younger son, and for the first time on this trek his eyes softened and his voice spoke with a gentleness that an outsider would never had expected,
"Antony, this is your first hunt, I expect you to stay with your brother and assist him in whatever he needs, you will obey him perfectly, understand?"
The smaller, white wolf quickly nodded to his father before stuttering out an earnest and endearing, "Yes sir, I will dad, I promise! Er… sir!"
His words were so full of admiration that for just a mere second a ghost of a pleased smile appeared on Julius' face before disappearing without a trace.
Immediately after, the gruffness in Julius' voice and the steel in his eyes returned as he looked to his eldest son again.
"And Marcus," There was a growl of warning in Julius' voice, one that only the eldest son would understand: a warning that better not be crossed, "Watch over your brother… or there will be consequences."
Marcus gave a hard look back at his father, A look that spoke of disdain at the order, but one that was followed by a nod of affirmation.
Julius frowned at his eldest son. If he had time he would have reprimanded his pup for his arrogant behavior. Marcus had been testing him recently, searching for weaknesses that would help find his way to pack leader much sooner than what Julius intended.
If it had been any other member of the pack there would have already been a demotion… But this wolf was his eldest and the one with the greatest potential to take over the dynasty.
He's the heir, and because of that Julius settled for strict disciplinary measures to whip his son back in shape… but so far, those measures hadn't seemed to be effective enough.
The older wolf would have to fix that.
But time was of the essence and Marcus' behavior would have to be straightened out another time.
Really, it wouldn't have been as concerning if it wasn't for the look he kept giving to his brother. Marcus' belligerent behavior could be dealt with, but Julius always found his concern settling on the juvenile he sent with him.
Truth be told, if Antony hadn't practically begged him, Julius wouldn't have allowed the runt to join…
But he loved his son. Regardless, if he would never admit to it.
Antony was weaker than most wolves, but the pup was obedient to him to a tee. And unlike Marcus, Antony gave full and utter respect to his father. It was a trait that made Julius truly feel that his younger son was special. It was rare for the pack to have one that tried as hard as the little wolf did.
When the runt had been born Julius had cared little for him, but as the days had gone on and Antony had so fervently tried to mimic and listen to his father, Julius had slowly begun to care for the boy.
What the pup lacked in direct strength he made up for in loyalty and effort. And that was something that Julius had always valued in those under his leadership.
Perhaps that's why the Alpha found him to be special.
And why he was both willing but still very hesitant to allow Antony to join.
The Alpha gave a watchful eye as his two very different sons began to trot around the edges of the clearing surrounding the burrow. Marcus leading, and Antony a few paces behind trying to keep up.
Julius let out a worried sigh for the younger pup, but now was not the time for his mind to give way to anxiety, nor would it ever be. As the leader he wouldn't let that kind of sentimentality get to him.
With both of his sons patrolling the edges of the forest, Julius blocked out his concerns and signaled for the rest of the pack to follow him to the burrow.
The whole location was a wreck as expected. The burrows were still dug up and destroyed, and the gardens in particular had taken even more damage since they had left. Wilting plants, and trampled grounds showing both the lack of upkeep as well as signs that various prey had raided the desolate warrens' crops.
"Brute," Julius' voice was stern as he dictated his order, "You and your mate investigate the gardens. Wolford- with me."
More words weren't needed, outside of Marcus, the rest of the pack simply wished to solve this mystery and satisfy the Honor Hunt.
Efficiently, the wolves broke up in their units of two, and now the investigation was officially underway.
While the two brothers patrolled the edges of the forest, Brute and Casius would search the gardens, and the leader and his pet project, Wolford, would investigate the scene of the crime.
It was often said that when wolves worked together they could take on even the mightiest of creatures, and what was this investigation but the earliest part of stalking their prey?
So it didn't take long for progress to be made.
-0-0-
Julius stood at the bloody entrance of the rabbit burrow with Wolford by his side.
Although he truly couldn't care less about Sapper, the Alpha needed this mystery solved more than any other wolf here. He had the most at jeopardy if this hunt went poorly.
He had asked Wolford to give him the detailed account of when he had discovered the Omega's corpse, and as expected the whelp's descriptions matched perfectly to Brute's initial reports…
And that stuck out to him.
Both wolves had described a trauma that had been too strange to have happened by mere incident or opportunity.
The Alpha ran the possibilities through his mind.
Scavengers with claws and teeth and perhaps serrated weapons wouldn't have maimed a corpse as Wolford or Brute had described…
And the desecrator didn't scavenge the meat off his corpse…
Nor did they steal the personal effects from his body…
If this had been the work of opportunistic traders or hungry scavengers, Sapper's body would have been sliced and torn and his loose clothing would have been taken.
But that wasn't the case.
The corpse had been hit with 'puncture-like' wounds, as Wolford had described to the leader.
Nothing from the natural arsenal of prey or predator could inflict that kind of damage, and the personal effects had apparently remained on the wolf…
This was a strange case to Julius.
This wasn't simple opportunism. The leader thought…
If this had been a case of opportunity the body would have been looted, and if by another predator there would have been sections of flesh taken, neither of which happened.
But it was most definitely intentional…
This couldn't have been written off as incidental.
This felt strangely…
Sentimental…
Julius turned to Wolford. The leader had come to a conclusion…
"This was a personal attack. One of passion, anger and sentiment."
The last word was said with venom. To Julius, this was just another example of how such behavior could cause problems for a mammal. Just as sentiment could bring dissension in a pack, the dangerous feeling could just as easily bring trouble upon a mammal.
Wolford's ears perked at Julius' conclusion.
"A personal attack, boss?" He questioned, trying to put together how that could be the case.
"Whelp, you said the body had stab wounds on it… by something like this?" Julius replied as he picked up a nearby spear…
-0-0-
While Wolford and Julius were putting together their clues, Brute and his mate, Casius, were coming to their own conclusions in the gardens.
But their conversation had less to do with the current investigation, and more to do with the Alpha.
"I can't say for sure, Casey. I believe that he murdered Sapper, I just don't believe that he sees it that way."
"Brute, what you told me last night was enough already! And it doesn't matter if he sees it as wrong, it only matters that it was wrong!" The she-wolf responded.
Brute looked at his beloved mate, the earnestness in her brown eyes matched his own.
His mate had always been quick to speak her mind.
The she-wolf had the softest brown fur and the eyes to match it, but Brute knew that despite her soft appearance she could be as tough as a bear. In fact, if they hadn't been so taken with each other that they had become mates, Casius would've challenged him for Beta of the pack ages ago!
Brute sighed, "You're right, Beloved, I just wish I had seen this coming. He's my oldest of friends, and I-"
He suppressed his emotions the best he could, "I just don't understand how I had been so blind to this… How I let my friend slip so far that he could have done this…"
Casius looked apologetically at her mate, "Brute, I'm sorry love, I know you've always been close, but ever since the Wolford clan had fallen so long ago, he's just changed so much. Its not your fault, surely, you can see that."
He knew it was true. So long now he had been the Beta, and sure Julius had always been strict and dominant, but ever since Wolford had come in… his friend had changed so much. Still, there were rare signs of the old Julius, like when he had seen his friend soften with young Antony. Those moments both gave Brute hope, and pained him at what he knew he would have to do to the Alpha…
"You're right, beloved, the only question is… How do we expose the truth?"
"I- I don't know," Casius answered honestly, "I'm thinking that we'll know the right time when we see it. But we will have to be careful, the repercussions if we do this wrong…"
"Would be steep." He finished for her.
Indeed, it would be. The price would be blood, theirs specifically.
"We'll just have to wait for the right moment." Brute finished.
They would simply have to bide their time.
Brute hummed noncommittally, "There's not much that we can do, but if that's our best option then we'll just have to be observan-"
As Brute spoke, a snowy fixture by the far side of the garden caught his eye.
It appears that his observance was already paying off.
"Casey, take a look at this," Brute said as he began padding towards the small, hidden shelter.
On closer inspection, it was nothing more than a small, snowy nook. Just something that was obviously constructed by kits.
But what was interesting about the hideout wasn't the structure itself, but what was surrounding it.
Pawprints.
There were both small and larger rabbit prints inside and around the nook… rabbit prints that were frantic and some that even led towards the forest opposite of the burrows.
"Some of the long ears had gotten away, afterall." Brute said before humming noncommittally.
It wasn't much, but this small discovery constituted itself as a clue, and although rabbits were an unlikely suspect, nothing could be ruled out.
Brute looked at his mate, and it was clear that she agreed that this warranted attention. So, with the information in paw, they padded the short distance to the warren.
As Brute and Casius approached, their ears perked at the conversation between Julius and Wolford.
"But boss!" Wolford began, voice unbelieving, "We wiped them out, h-how could that even be possible?!"
"Don't question me whelp, the evidence is clear." Julius responded in a disciplinary tone.
Now that's interesting, Brute thought.
It appeared that Julius had already come to his own conclusions on the matter of the desecrator.
Brute chuckled, I guess some things don't change do they, old friend?
Julius had always been a great hunter, and it was always a slight entertainment for the Beta to see those of the younger generation question that.
Brute's smile faded as he and his mate approached. If only the scene wasn't so tragically macabre.
As they neared, Julius gave them a scrutinizing glare.
The Alpha wasted no time, "Status, Brute."
"I don't believe it's much, old friend, we discovered evidence of surviving rabbits that must have escaped into the woods towards the far river."
At Brute's words, a look of disbelief settled over Wolford, "No way! We- we cleared them out!" The brown wolf muttered to himself.
A pleased look took over Julius, "Show me."
When Julius saw the nook, the frantic small paw prints inside, and the rushing, larger paw prints outside that faced towards the forest, he only grew more confident in his conclusions.
And luckily, with the damp, cold, space of the snowy nook, a scent could be made out.
A scent that could be traced, along with any other signs to be seen in the forest.
And at the captured scents of rabbit, the Alpha let out a howl signaling to his sons to gather with the rest of the group…
It didn't take long for the sons to return, and when they were all together, Julius gave a wicked, venomous smile. The look of a feral animal closing in on their kill…
"It appears that we have discovered the desecrator's trail."