It was seven o'clock. Music was playing loudly in the distance at Zoe's party.

Patsy arrived fifteen minutes after the hour to tend to Noah.

"He should be fine to walk around now," said Patsy.

"Tomorrow he shall," said Fury sternly. "Tend to him and be off with you."

Patsy went to the attic and saw to Noah's leg. She replaced the bandage with a new one and helped him into his bed.

"I've got something for you."

She revealed a pink tube of fox repellant.

"What's that?" asked Noah.

"You need to protect yourself tonight," replied Patsy. "If Fury or that fox comes here tonight, you spray it? You understand me? Spray it right in their faces."

"Are they coming tonight?" asked Noah worriedly.

"They might," said Patsy. "But I'm leaving to get you out of here. I'm going to meet your friend Bellflower and tell her where to find you. And Fury and the other fox."

"And Mr. Stripes?" asked Noah. "He's dangerous. He'll hurt you."

"I know, sweetie," said Patsy. "But I can't leave him. He's the only family I have left and he'll be nowhere without me."

"So you cannot be my mommy anymore?"

Patsy looked close to tears.

"I'm afraid I can't. Because it seems likely you do have a mommy and daddy. That's what I'm going to see Bellflower for tonight. I have information about your family name."

"Mr. Fury says I do have a daddy and he's coming for me."

"He's a liar. Never believe him. Your real daddy is likely to come for you when the police come here to collect you."

She brought out her iPhone and took a selfie of them both together, then she tucked the fox cub into his bed and kissed him, knowing that will be the last kiss she would ever give him.

"I love you, sweetheart. Like you were my own cub."

"I love you too, Patsy," said Noah yawning and closing his eyes. "Like you were my mommy, which is what you will always be to me."

She kissed him again and gathered her things, placing the fox repellent tube next to him.

She went to the door and whispered "Remember, if any of them come in here, put that thing straight into their faces and run as far as you can from here."

"I'll remember," he yawned as he pulled the blanket over his nose.

She closed the door, locked it and slotted her key inside her handbag. At least he was safer that way.

She stood there letting some tears out from her eyes. She knew she would never see that sweet little fox again but it was all for the best. He was better off going to school, getting accepted into university and living the life of a lawyer.

"Why the tears?"

Fury appeared at her side.

"He's so dear to me," said Patsy drying her eyes. "He deserves to grow and go to university."

"Like they would allow a fox," sneered Fury.

"The likes of you, yes. Noah Sly is different from me. I, Patsy Stripes knowing you were our only chance of me and Brent living. Noah on the other hand is just a little boy who had been ignorantly led astray. Now get out of my way, I'm late for the party."

Patsy made for the door when Fury called her back:

"You know that even secret actions have consequences."

"Make yourself useful and tell me something I don't know."

With that, she left.

"Now!" announced Fury.

Alex leapt from the chair by the fireplace and commenced the errand.

Patsy arrived at the bridge just before midnight was to chime. She could not help but feel someone was watching her. She caught a whiff of something i the night air.

She intended to follow it when -

"Hello?"

Patsy turned to see a rabbit with a group.

"Bellflower?" she checked softly.

"Yes," she said. "Here are my friends."

Patsy looked at all of them; two were foxes, one pudgy and one small and slim. The other two were a female rabbit and a male rabbit.

"Under the bridge," Patsy urged.

"Why under there?" asked Gideon.

"I feel someone might be watching me."

They allowed her obediently under the bridge.

"My name is Patsy," said Patsy. "I've come to tell you about Noah Sly. I was the leopard who stole him from you - but by force. I wish I wasn't part of it because I know he is better off with your kind."

"So why didn't you bring him with you?" asked Wayne.

"They'd kill me if they saw what I was doing. They know how fond I am of the kid. But we're straying. He's held captive by an evil fox, soon to be handed over to another evil fox for death."

Judy and Bellflower gasped.

"They wouldn't dare," said Gideon angrily.

"Who is this fox?" asked Blake.

"Magnifico John Fury," said Patsy confidently.

"What?" most of them reacted.

"I watched him a lot as a kid," said Bellflower incredulously. "Then all of a sudden he disappeared."

"He trained other young foxes to steal. He even had some of those who showed signs of betrayal, sent to Mr. Big to be iced. That's what he will do to Noah first thing in the morning."

Nick looked worried.

Patsy looked wofeul but continued:

"The other fox - Shards."

"Shards?" asked Judy.

"Why does that name ring a bell?" asked Nick suspiciously scratching his right ear.

"Familiar to me as well, Mr. Wilde. But his crime hold the biggest position. He wants Noah dead."

Bellflower gasped.

"I overheard him tell Fury about sending him to Mr. Big and have him iced."

"Nick," said Judy. "You call Mr. Big right away. We'll catch this Fury before Mr. Big can say 'Ice him'."

Nick went to one side, fished out a cellphone and began dialling.

"Anymore information about him?" asked Judy.

"He's Noah's uncle. I remember hearing him say he went to the orphanage where Noah was born. Mudway's. He went there to hunt for a locket. He found nothing except a piece of paper which is supposed to be meant for Noah's rightful father. He doesn't trust the Mudways thinking they are lying. Someone needs to get higher authority to go there and search. Please just for the boy's sake. I'll be damned shall he die."

"All sorted," said Nick returning under the bridge.

"Also," said Wayne to Patsy. "When you took Noah away, did a tiger help you?"

"Yes," said Patsy. "But he cant go to prison. You have no idea what he's been through. He's my brother, my adopted brother. When we were cubs, he was arrested for two decades for a crime he did not commit and he's in so much pain. He's all I have, try to understand."

They said nothing.

"I locked Noah in the attic with fox repellant for a weapon. Here's the key to the attic door. I brought it so no one can try to get him. And here's the address of Shards' home," said Patsy handing them a piece of paper. "You must go to the ZPD tonight, get half of them to find Noah and the other half to find Shards. And for good measure, maybe the Mudways to help Noah find his identity."

"We'll do just that," said Judy as she folded the dress into her coat pocket.

"When you get Noah back," she added, "give this to him."

She handed them a picture of her and Noah smiling.

"I love him as if he was my own cub."

"We will," said Judy. "Thank you very much, Patsy. We deeply appreciate you giving us all this information."