Red's Epilogue

Red watched the young red fox zip through the trees beneath him, the speed was impressive for a fox thought Red. He smiled to himself, would have been a touch more impressive if the fox had been able to outrun the hare that ran alongside him. Red waited till the two had passed before he dropped from the tree he was in to the ground below. Keeping to the trees he wound his way after the pair of animals, they were in a rush to get somewhere and Red was mildly interested to find out why. He had been in the park for a couple of weeks now, keeping mostly to himself. He avoided encountering most of the animals of the park by only moving in darkness and using the trees where he could. Those that did see him normally ended up as a meal during one of his hunting expeditions. Tonight was different though, he had seen a lot of unusual movement in the park from his vantage point at his new home. He sensed there was something going on that wasn't normal.

It was dark but Red still felt increasingly exposed the longer he stayed on the ground, he quickened his pace. Before long he arrived at the location the fox and the hare had been racing to. Red could see some dim lights ahead through a tree line, he crept slowly through the shadows to a position as close as he dared get. Using all the climbing skills he had developed over the years he quietly bounded up into the closest tree and edged along the largest branch until he was looking directly down into the clearing beyond the trees. The lights he had seen were coming from fireflies that had been strategically placed around the area to light up the animals that were present. Red could hardly believe what he was seeing, all manner of animals were present, foxes, badgers, rabbits, hares, herons, weasels, mice, the list went on. Red could have sworn there was even a mole hanging onto the fur at the back of one of the badgers' heads. Ridiculous! Red thought to himself.

Although he could see into the clearing, Red was a little too far away to hear anything of what was being discussed. Deciding to take a risk and get closer Red shuffled forwards on the tree branch, it was a dreadful mistake. There was a cracking sound as the branch gave way under his weight, he fell. Catching hold of the branch below with his front paws he scrambled to pull himself up, it was no good he was just too heavy and he didn't have the purchase he needed. His claws ground into the bark of the branch as they slowly slipped free. The second fall was much worse, barrelling head over heels as he fell he slammed backwards into a third branch before hitting the floor with a hard thud. Red lay stunned on his back for a moment, his legs sticking up in the air. Once he had come to, he tried to get up, he wasn't ready, a jolt of pain ran up his spine and he dropped back down onto his back.

"Can we help you?" said a stern voice from above. Looking up Red could see two large pairs of white eyes peering back at him in the darkness. Red squinted to try and bring what he was seeing into focus, there were two Owls perched on the branch above him. Red fought through the pain and scrambled to his paws, his head was swimming and he had totally lost his bearings. Red began backing away slowly, baring his teeth as he did so.

"Hahaha," laughed a high-pitched voice from behind "did you see it fall?"

"Shut up Weasel!" answered another voice.

Red quickly swung himself around, far more quickly than he should have done if he was honest about it. His back froze up and he was forced to lean against a tree to steady himself. Red's fall from the tree had landed him just outside the circle of fireflies. In the clearing ahead, arrayed in front of him were most of the animals of Farthing Wood. Red noticed that most of the smaller animals had retreated, choosing to shelter behind their larger companions, scores of tiny, terrified eyes peeked at him from around every paw and tail.

"It's a fox" said Owl as she and her mate Hollow landed in the tree behind the animals.

"A big one at that! Hoot!" added Hollow.

The fox Red had been following took several steps forwards and beckoned to him. "Hi there, why don't you come forwards into the light so we can see you?"

"Careful Plucky," warned Fox, he nodded to Charmer and Ranger to be ready.

Red breathed a sigh of relief, although he could see the other animals clearly, they could not see him very well as he was still enveloped by the shadows of the forest. "I'm okay where I am," replied Red, doing his best to not let the pain he was feeling come across in his voice. His back still ached and he was forced to continue to lean against the tree for support.

"You don't need to be afraid, we're all friends here," said Plucky, he waved his paws between all the animals present.

"Yes matey, you're all right here!" added Toad.

"I'm neither of those things," replied Red.

"Then what are you?" said Friendly as he drew to Plucky's side.

"Well aren't you just an immaculate specimen of a fox," chuckled Red "never done anything interesting or noteworthy in your entire life have you?"

Friendly growled and began baring his teeth. "Why don't you come into the light and find out?"

Red couldn't stop himself from taking that bait, even with the fiery ache burning in his back. Red pushed himself away from the tree and stepped forward into the light of the clearing.

"Scarface! It's Scarface!" squeaked the mice, voles, and rabbits in unison as they all bolted into Fox and Vixen's earth.

"Don't be silly, it's not Scarface!" said Vixen, she cocked her head to one side and moved a little closer to Red "do I know you?"

"I've never met any of you before in my life," replied Red "I think I would have remembered seeing a ridiculous assortment of animals like this before!"

"Careful son," said fox "this is our home and our friends, you're welcome to leave if you don't want to be here, but we will protect what is ours if we have to."

"The famous Farthing Wood fox? I thought you'd be taller, and younger," replied Red "and believe me, I really don't want to be here. I'm surrounded by predators that play with their food, not exactly a trait I would want to develop!" Red pointed a paw at Plucky and Dash along with another one at the entrance to Fox and Vixen's earth where the smaller animals now sheltered.

"Our friends," announced Plucky now sitting a couple of inches away from Red "when they are on Farthing Wood land are not food for anyone, including you."

Red turned his attention back to the young red fox that sat in front of him. "This place has rules?"

"Farthing Wood land is protected by the Farthing Wood oath, everything from the stream to the stone circle and back across to the warden's cottage," continued Plucky "you are more than welcome to hunt in other parts of the park."

"One of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard!" snorted Red "you talk like that's something obvious, that everyone outside of your little club here should already know."

"Everyone knows about Farthing Wood land and the oath," answered Charmer.

"Do they, princess?" Red shook his head "none of you have any idea what life is like outside of this park, do you?"

"I think you've just about worn out your welcome son," said Fox.

"Don't worry, I'm already leaving!" answered Red "I'll stay off your land, just tell your little friends to stay out of my way when they are not on it!" Red got up and turned to leave, as he did he froze, right there in front of him was the reason he had travelled to the park in the first place. Like she had just stepped out of one of his memories, he felt is heart race, adrenaline flooded his body and the pain in his back seemed to just disappear. He wanted to shout out, but his voice escaped him yet again, instead he just stood and stared, frozen in place like a deer in headlights.

"Red?"