Chapter One
An evil smelling potion was bubbling and swirling in the mud hole beneath Fungi. She dropped each revolting item in with a writhe of pleasure as it fizzled and foamed, "A beetle…A dropping…A badger's left eye…" she was croaking. The pungent odour erupting from the puddle was enough to make most's eyes water, but not Fungi. "Finally…Some blood!" she cried dramatically.
The bloody stump, which had previously been her right ear, was once again savaged until the sticky black blood oozed painfully from the opened wound and dripped into the puddle. It gave one last spit and returned to how it had been, a large mud puddle in a clearing on the forest floor.
Returning to her shelter, a mere dimple in the earth as her withered and decaying legs could do no more, she sat in wait. Her mean black eyes, surrounded by puss and infection, glared at the clearing, impatiently waiting for something to happen.
Eventually a fox cub came into view. His nose was snuffling at the air, trying to catch the scent of the rabbit he knew was close by. Suddenly, he stood stock still, as though paralyzed. Fungi smiled. His tiny red body shot forward as if it was out of control and he hurtled himself straight into the puddle. It was almost like he was coming out of a trance when he started struggling and calling for help. His fluffy tail and posteriror had already been sucked under by the mess he would drown in. Sidling up to him, Fungi closely watched his last moments. Just before his little wet nose and gasping mouth went under, he used his last breath to shriek, "Mother!"
It was a pitiful moan, as well as a frightful scream. Fungi froze for a second as the horror of his last word sank in. She could not control an adult vixen seeking revenge for the murder of her son.
Working quickly she leapt into the puddle and scrabbled at the mud until she found the tip of an orange, furry ear. She dug around it and got a firm grip between her teeth and heaved up as she dug down. Soon the limp, lifeless body was out and Fungi did not have long until the scream carried to his den and his mother was alerted.
Bending down, she ripped out his throat and allowed the warm blood to run into her open mouth. She lapped it up, having waited so long for this drink, relishing every mouthful. She made quick work on his stomach. Shiny blood stains were now splattered across her demon black, patchy fur. She wasn't being as careful as she usually was, this was an emergency. Pricking her ear she sensed the near arrival of the vixen, so taking one last gory drink from the cub, she charged into the undergrowth and made as much distance between her and the clearing as possible. Her old frail legs were not good, but as the mother's howl or mourning echoed around she bolted forward, faster than she had believed possible.
Collapsing, she lay down and silently cursed her other warren for banishing her. However, she did prefer her new menu to the grass and leaves she had been forced to eat with the others.
But something was not right, she wanted more. Fox and badger cubs were all very well but she felt the need for something more. Something unusual. Something like rabbit.
An evil smelling potion was bubbling and swirling in the mud hole beneath Fungi. She dropped each revolting item in with a writhe of pleasure as it fizzled and foamed, "A beetle…A dropping…A badger's left eye…" she was croaking. The pungent odour erupting from the puddle was enough to make most's eyes water, but not Fungi. "Finally…Some blood!" she cried dramatically.
The bloody stump, which had previously been her right ear, was once again savaged until the sticky black blood oozed painfully from the opened wound and dripped into the puddle. It gave one last spit and returned to how it had been, a large mud puddle in a clearing on the forest floor.
Returning to her shelter, a mere dimple in the earth as her withered and decaying legs could do no more, she sat in wait. Her mean black eyes, surrounded by puss and infection, glared at the clearing, impatiently waiting for something to happen.
Eventually a fox cub came into view. His nose was snuffling at the air, trying to catch the scent of the rabbit he knew was close by. Suddenly, he stood stock still, as though paralyzed. Fungi smiled. His tiny red body shot forward as if it was out of control and he hurtled himself straight into the puddle. It was almost like he was coming out of a trance when he started struggling and calling for help. His fluffy tail and posteriror had already been sucked under by the mess he would drown in. Sidling up to him, Fungi closely watched his last moments. Just before his little wet nose and gasping mouth went under, he used his last breath to shriek, "Mother!"
It was a pitiful moan, as well as a frightful scream. Fungi froze for a second as the horror of his last word sank in. She could not control an adult vixen seeking revenge for the murder of her son.
Working quickly she leapt into the puddle and scrabbled at the mud until she found the tip of an orange, furry ear. She dug around it and got a firm grip between her teeth and heaved up as she dug down. Soon the limp, lifeless body was out and Fungi did not have long until the scream carried to his den and his mother was alerted.
Bending down, she ripped out his throat and allowed the warm blood to run into her open mouth. She lapped it up, having waited so long for this drink, relishing every mouthful. She made quick work on his stomach. Shiny blood stains were now splattered across her demon black, patchy fur. She wasn't being as careful as she usually was, this was an emergency. Pricking her ear she sensed the near arrival of the vixen, so taking one last gory drink from the cub, she charged into the undergrowth and made as much distance between her and the clearing as possible. Her old frail legs were not good, but as the mother's howl or mourning echoed around she bolted forward, faster than she had believed possible.
Collapsing, she lay down and silently cursed her other warren for banishing her. However, she did prefer her new menu to the grass and leaves she had been forced to eat with the others.
But something was not right, she wanted more. Fox and badger cubs were all very well but she felt the need for something more. Something unusual. Something like rabbit.