Tumnus kept walking on, his head bowed slightly as he held his hands to his sides, slowly turning them into fists as the hours passed and they found nothing further. Badger snuffled around on the ground for the first day, and he was able to tell them that they were going the right way, but soon the trail vanished altogether on the third day, and he was unable to tell them for sure if they were going the right way.
Mr. Fox had tried to suggest that they forget the whole thing, and go back since there would be nothing to be gained in the end by looking further, but Tumnus kept going, ignoring the fact that Badger had shaken his head at him in disgust and sadness, and had bid a farewell to Mr. Fox and Brer before he turned around and headed back to his little den.
Mr. Fox had at first thought about taking his son and leaving, but he felt bad for Tumnus and he merely followed after him, his son trailing after him.
On the fifth day of their search, Brer started to whine that he was tired and bored of looking for something they were never going to find. At first, Tumnus ignored him, but as the little kit continued to complain, his nerves began to snap one by one, and soon enough he whirled around on the poor baby fox, his eyes narrowed in fury.
"WOULD YOU KEEP IT DOWN!" he shouted down at the little fox. "How am I to think and look with you crying like a little baby all of the time! If you are bored then just go home all ready! I am going to keep looking for Lucy with or without you, you lazy little big eared beast!"
As soon as the words left him, Tumnus regretted them, because all Brer could do was look up at him with wide eyes, his big floppy ears drooping down lower as they began to fill with tears, his throat starting to hitch as he got ready to burst into tears. Soon enough the little kit was sobbing badly, and for a moment Mr. Fox glared at the miserable Faun before he went to care for his son, gently stroking his head and ears to try and calm him down.
Tumnus opened his mouth for a moment, ready to say that he was sorry, but nothing came out, and he merely closed his mouth once more, shaking his head as he turned his back on the two, heading in the direction that he thought the royal family had gone in, feeling very miserable for what he had done.
A crow alighted on a branch on top of a tree that looked down on the sad scene, and it clucked softly to itself as it shook its head, watching as Mr. Fox gently stopped his son's tears, and led him back the way they came, stroking his head and ears the entire time they went.
With a soft caw, the crow took flight once more, and it followed after Tumnus.