Ch51
There was happiness on the little island in the middle of the ocean. The raven and the seal found friends, and with those friends on that little island. The world was anew with their friends showing them the many different things about survival, and some fun along the way. The raven knew about the North Star, but the seal did not. So he found out. The seal was learning so much and having so much fun, that he nearly forgot about the walrus.
Hecandealwithlifehisownway, butIwanttodoitmyway. He thought to himself one night. The island was wonderful, but they had to leave eventually. One friend, a small robin, decided to leave the island behind and come with the seal and the raven. It told them that the cold season was almost here and that he needed to get to warmth anyways. On the journey, the robin became much closer friends with the seal and raven. They traveled with friendship and happiness leading the way.
Ch52
The seal and raven and robin were accepted into a warm land, a nice land, and they stayed. They vowed to stay and never leave this beautiful island until death. The island was populated with other birds and, surprisingly, other seals! They would enjoy this new life very much. Maybe a little too much.
Back in the Antarctic, the walrus waited, waited patiently for the seal to come back. But he never did. The seal had forgotten the walrus, forgotten the good times and wonderful stories. But still the walrus waited.
The Tribe, the tribe of tigers, froze their dead in the ice and marked that ice with the sign of goodwill, an eagle. They did this to all those tigers who were good to the tribe. But for those who weren't? Their ice that encased them bore the mark of evil, a penguin's skull. On, and in, the ice that covered the walrus a thousand years later, you would not find an eagle, nor a penguin's skull. That ice bore the mark of hatred and anger, a crude X, scratched with long claws of a truly strong and wise tiger, the leader of the Tribe.
Ch53
If it weren't for Silverwind, Budge would have left. He would have left to hunt for him and his father, but he didn't. Silverwind, weary and tired, needed Budge. Silverwind did not look himself. He looked old and sad, and that was what he was. Budge feared that if he didn't do something, his father would wither away in sadness and loss. But what should he do? All he could do was wait, wait patiently for his brother. He knew his mother would never come back, but maybe Fudge was looking for them right now. Maybe he was lost in the cold antarctic. Oh, what should he do?
In his dreams, Budge saw horrible visions of his mother's motionless body lying in the snow, being eaten by other animals. Whitewing's body moved suddenly, and she let out a final wail. The terrible deafening wail of death. Then he saw Fudge mourning far away. Fudge was lost and scared, and he thought that his life could not get worse. Budge wanted to comfort his brother, but it was too much to bear. He woke in an instant. He had to do something. But what?
Ch54
The White Tiger had dreams, too. He saw his parents as they were taken away from him. He saw himself being thrown out into the cold. Those creatures were evil, and they turned him evil. The sorrow he had was replaced by anger and destruction. And nothing good can come from those.
When the White Tiger awoke, he thought about the walrus that is hidden in the ice. The White Tiger was in the cave that held the ice that bore that huge walrus. He looked at it in longing. Soon he would get that walrus. Very soon. But now he needed food.
The White Tiger came back from hunting with two penguins and three arctic hares. He stared at the frozen walrus as he tore into his over-sized meal. The ice was breaking, and he knew it would start here. Soon the walrus would be his.
Ch55
Fudge, a coward. Fudge was a coward. He tried to be brave by venturing out to the snow. He always tried to have energy when he was tired. He tried to be better than his brother. Nothing worked. He was, is, and always will be, dare he say it, a coward. Poor Fudge, all alone in the antarctic. Why was he here, anyways? It was him. It was his fault he was stuck.
Fudge walked out of his den that morning knowing more than ever, but mostly knowing what he did and that he couldn't change it. His mother was dead, and he knew it. In fact, he was the only one who knew it. Oh, where was his family? Why wasn't his mother there next to him to comfort him? As Fudge cried himself to sleep, he thought about his family. His father, Silverwind, and his brother, Budge. That was all he had left. Poor Fudge.
Ch56
A thousand years before, before the walrus was frozen in the ice, before the time of Silverwind and Whitewing, was the ice. The ice was there forever, and its memory continues forever. The ice knows when and how the walrus tried to find and take back the seal. Let the ice tell you the story.
The walrus thought, It'stime. and set off through the rough seas to find the seal. The raven will pay for his crime. But it wasn't a crime, it was common sense. The walrus did not know this. To him, it was evil. And evil brings more evil. He needed to do this, he must. He found the island where they had stayed for a while. He killed all of the birds there except one, who flew away to warn the seal and raven. The walrus did not know of this bird, and when he was done with his killing, he set out again, determined to find them. And that is only part of what the ice has to share.
Ch57
How can a pup keep promises while lonely and hungry? He can't. Fudge had not eaten anything after leaving his home. He needed food soon. He had watched his brother quietly creep up on the animals their parents had brought. He caught them like it was real. It was real, wasn't it? He crept out of his makeshift den and tried to find the trace of any scent that could mean food. He found a small white rabbit sleeping in a small hole. He tried to replicate his brother's moves, crouching low to the ground and slowly creeping up on the rabbit. He pounced! The little white rabbit wasn't sleeping at all, it was already dead! He was glad that he got this meal, but he feared that there must be another predator nearby. He had tried to howl for help many times, but he couldn't make any sound. He was too weary and tired and weak to howl. As he devoured this meal hungrily, he thought that he should try again afterward. He could imagine the wonderful sound that would come out.
Oooooooooooo!
Ch58
Back a thousand years ago, the raven and the seal and the robin were living peacefully on the little island that they called home. They worked together to make shapes with plants, beautiful shapes that looked just like the real thing, and this time they did a seal. They did an almost exact copy of the seal, but it looked much like the walrus. The seal felt a sharp pang of regret and sadness at the remembrance of the walrus. The robin said, "It's beautiful, and wonderful."
And the seal agreed, "Yes, the walrus is wonderful."
But how would they know that even now, while they admire their work, that the walrus is coming. Coming to take back his son, the seal. The shape was like a prophesy, trying to warn them of the coming danger.
Soooon! the walrus whispers Iwillhavewhatshouldbemine!
Ch59
It kept coming. The hunger kept arising from within him. Fudge found more rabbits and small animals in little holes like the first one, so his stomach was always full. He kept traveling across the frozen desert, looking for his family, and he found a nice place to settle for a few days. Fudge still hasn't found any trace of his dear family, but he kept moving with determination. How hard could it be? For him, it was very hard.
Every night in that small, frozen cave he tried again to howl, trying harder every time. He needed the ability to howl to find his family. Suddenly, just as if a lightning bolt had struck, he howled! He let the sound flow on the wind, heading hopefully to his father and brother waiting at home, which he never should have left. The sound was loud, but amazing.
Aaaaoooooooooo!
Ch60
Loneliness is everywhere. Back a thousand years ago, the seal was lonely when he was not with the walrus. Now, he has the raven and the robin to keep him company. But he was still lonely. He longed for the walrus, but tried to hide it and push it away, but it always comes back, that longing. Always. The figure of leaves and branches is a reminder that the walrus is still out there, even more lonely than him, all alone like when the seal had found him. The loneliness was creeping into everything, changing many animals lives. Even the ice, who lives a long life, is lonely. The ice wants to tell the many stories it has remembered, but it is all alone.
Even now, an arctic fox pup by the name of Fudge, is lonely for his lost family. And his father, Silverwind, is lonely for Whitewing, who was ever so gentle and loving, who let him into her family when he had none, and for Fudge, his lost pup. And now you see, loneliness is everywhere.
Ch61
In the dark, comfortable cave where Whitewing used to dwell, Silverwind stirred. He woke from his long sleep and looked down at Budge's sleeping figure. He adored this pup. He loved the way he would not budge when he didn't need to move. Just like his name. Fudge's meant nothing as far as he knew. But then, in stories, fudge gave you energy and whoever ate it would have too much energy for a while. Fudge was very energetic. It seemed like he has the effects that real fudge would give him. Maybe his name meant something after all! But thinking about fudge made him think about Fudge. Silverwind missed Fudge and Whitewing. What had happened to them?
And far away, sleeping in a small cave that had a frozen creature that he had never seen before, Fudge was thinking the same thing as Silverwind, Whathashappenedtomyfamily, wherearethey? And both Fudge and Silverwind settled down to sleep in places far away from each other.
Ch62
The White Tiger once was happy, a long long time ago. He had parents and a family, and he was always happy then. He found a new emotion, fear, when his family was taken away from him. Then came yet another new emotion, but this one would stay with him for a lifetime, anger. The White Tiger had learned to hunt on his own, and once he learned, he mastered hunting. Tearing down animal after animal after animal with a cold, dark heart. His anger drove him to do horrible things. He is now the most feared animal in Antarctica since the walrus. The White Tiger saw the walrus frozen in his cave, and he knew that the walrus was there for a reason. And he also knew that the walrus was still alive.
Heed this warning all who face him. Do not stare into the jaws of the White Tiger. Do not.
Ch63
The island that had harbored the seal a thousand years ago is no longer here now. It sunk, just like the walrus' heart sunk when he found the seal missing. The walrus had swam faster than a shark, looking for his lost son. The seal's natural urge to move to warm waters and the raven's friendship had made him forget about the walrus. The seal still remembered the walrus and had a special place in his heart for him, but the walrus did not know.
The robin asked about the walrus, and the seal answered. He and the raven told wonderful stories of the walrus being the one unbeatable animal in the antarctic, and the seal retold the many stories that the walrus had told him. The stories of wolves and coyotes, and roosters and turkey, and of the wild dogs that roamed the land. The tales of ice that can't melt, and land that sinks and then rises again, and of tall mountains that would take a lifetime to climb. Oh, the stories! Yes, the walrus was still remembered. But he did not know about it.
Ch64
In the middle of the night, as the seal woke to stare again at the mighty figure on the walrus they made out of leaves and branches, the walrus neared the beach of the nice little island where the seal lived happily. The walrus was finally going to get his son back! He had been patient for twenty years, waiting for his son to return to him. He could not stand any more waiting, he was done being patient. He would get his son back, no matter how much force it would take! The walrus saw the seal looking at a figure of branches and leaves that looked much like the walrus himself.
Maybehehasn'tforgottenme? The walrus thought.
But the walrus needed to have the seal with him again. He would not let the dreadful loneliness seep over him again. The seal must come.
Ch65
Patterns are everywhere. The moon has a pattern, and so does the sun. Everything has a pattern. And Fudge's pattern was one of the most basic. In the morning, he would come out of the little cave and stretch his achy limbs. Then he would walk out and try to find food, but only sometimes he found any. He would go down to the ocean and take a drink of all he could, salt water. He would curl up right there by the ocean and smell the ocean breeze and let the sun soak into his soft, brown fur. He would lie there until nightfall, then crawl up to his cozy den and sleep.
It was a very simple pattern, but it was life. Fudge often got bored of this pattern, but it was otherwise comforting to have a nice pattern like this. And as Fudge looked up to the stars as if asking for directions, he settles down to sleep happily.
Ch66
Loneliness changes things. Loneliness changed the walrus from a peaceful creature into something of destruction and anger. The walrus silently crept up to the seal and spoke softly in a mesmerizing tone.
Cometomemyson,
Comewithmetoourhome
Onthewonderfulice.
Cometome, comemyson.
Comewithme.
The seal turned around as if in a trance. The seal and the walrus left silently toward the water. The seal had left without a thought.
Ch67
Fudge often saw the small hummingbird just outside his cave, for now he thought of it as his. One moment the hummingbird was here in front of him, the next she was gone. Fudge knew there was something magical about this tiny animal, he knew she had some kind of power to be able to appear and disappear. He knew not of how he would ever meet the hummingbird, but he knew he would eventually. He knew that the hummingbird meant something. Fudge went along his daily duties, but he kept thinking about the hummingbird every day after he first saw her.
If Fudge had known that his cave was occupied by the walrus, he would not want to live there. The White Tiger was on a hunting spree, and he had covered up the clear ice with snow so that no other hunters would find it. But the White Tiger did not know of the small antarctic fox cub sleeping in his den. That cub did not know either, and the White Tiger was coming home.
Ch68
Back a thousand years ago, the raven woke at the moment the seal left the island. He saw the robin sleeping not far off, but when he saw the empty place where the seal should be sleeping, he held back a call.
Heisprobablygettingadrinkatthestream. the raven thought. And he waited for the seal to come back. But after many hours had passed, the raven grew restless and knew something must have happened. He called to the sky for the seal to come back. The raven flew to the ocean and called again.
If you ever saw a bird crying, it was a sorry sight. And cry the raven did. He cried into the night, calling for his best friend to come back. And somewhere else, the seal was crying as well. He could hear the raven's cries, but he could not answer them. This was a very sorry sight indeed.
Ch69
The robin woke with the feeling of missing and wrong. He could not find nor hear the seal or raven. Loneliness was on its way. The robin knew that he had to find the seal and raven, or else he would be all alone on this tiny island. He called for the seal in sadness, knowing, somehow, that the seal was nowhere near. He flew to the beach and saw the tracks in the sand, leading to the ocean. With dread, the robin realized that these were the seal's tracks, but then he noticed a larger line of displaced sand. He had heard about the seal's old father the walrus, but he never knew that he would want to take the seal back to the ice, where the seal did not belong.
The robin was scared of what might become of the seal, and where the raven was.
He called again, but this time to the raven in loneliness. He needed help.
Ch70
The raven stopped, mid flight, only a few meters from the bank of the island. Someone was calling him. Was it the seal? No, this voice was different. The raven flew back to the island, toward the sound. As he got closer, he realized that it was the robin calling him. He remembered that he had left the robin all alone in the nest with no one near. He needed the raven! The robin was his only friend left on the island, and he had to comfort the poor robin.
The robin was waiting by the bank, ready to show the raven something. The raven was so happy that he had the robin, that he almost didn't notice the anxiousness of the robin. He knew something was wrong, for the robin was close to tears. He showed the raven the tracks of the seal, and the bigger, longer tracks of the walrus, and the raven's heart shattered. Wrong filled the air, and dread filled the minds of the robin and raven as they thought that the seal had chosen the walrus over them.
Ch71
The ice is older than humans and the saber-tooth tigers, the long gone relatives of all current tigers. The ice remembers the time before it broke off from the rest to become the last of the great ice continent. The ice is old. But even the ancient ice cannot tell what is to come. Just as Fudge has a den that was not known to the ice itself.
Here is Budge, the fierce hunter, the brave hero. He did not want to leave his sad father. He wanted to stay and comfort him. He had to leave to hunt and keep them alive together. Silverwind had began moving and getting over his loss, but Budge still worried about him. He had realized that the world is scary and almost nothing is perfect. Budge had suddenly realized that his father had known this for longer than he. He continued his hunting to give him time to think. He had gone farther and farther in each hunt in search of prey. He had seen a small speck on the horizon that he assumed was a den. Budge had been trying to find out what it was, and he was sure it was a den, but to whom? This day, this hunt, he was going to find out. As he trekked to the mysterious den, he thought about his brother, Fudge, and the possibility of finding him. Fudge is alive, and Budge was sure of it.
Ch72
A walrus, cased in ice. What is to be said? This was punishment through magic. An old walrus, punished for his selfish acts of death and destruction. Why was the walrus here? The raven. The walrus hated the raven for taking away his son, then somehow freezing him in a block of ice. How could this have happened? The ice was breaking, and the walrus was ready.
The antarctic ice, as strong as Zeus, had caused the walrus to freeze, to be cased in ice. The raven and robin had flown to the old cave of the walrus, just the same as before their journey began. Nothing changed except the walrus. The walrus was a loving father, who told stories of ancient seas, and the old ways. Now he was evil; his loneliness and want for the seal had turned him to the "Dark Side". The world was flipped for the walrus, and the ice's magic had kept him contained. At least for a while.
Ch73
The robin flew from his makeshift nest above the cave, where the walrus used to live, but didn't anymore. Where he flew, he did not know. He only knew that he would find the walrus. He flew until his wings were sore, and then some. He was far from the ice, but he still thought he would find the walrus. No, poor robin, this is far from where the walrus dwells. This robin has flown a bit too far.
The ice was wonderfully cold, especially in the cold spring. The cold inspires anger and all the bad thoughts, even if it is not meant. The walrus was finally happy for a period of time, having the seal with him. The seal would not do anything, though, but look out at the open sea with longing. He had longing to find his friends and get away from the cold, and to discover new lands with new creatures. The walrus was keeping him away from everything else but him and the ice. The walrus thought that the seal would eventually turn back to normal. And the walrus was wrong.
Ch74
The White Tiger was annoying. The walrus, frozen in that small den, thought that the White Tiger's coming to look at him like dinner was annoying. This icy prison will not hold for much longer, and they both knew it. But the annoying White Tiger will be his dinner instead. There was still time, lots of time. The walrus thought of all the names he had. La morsa, by the Spanish explorers. Evil, by the Tribe of other tigers and the raven. But most of all, he remembered the name the seal had once given him, father. The seal was torn by loneliness, even more than the walrus himself, and changed by friendship. Why didn't he leave the seal alone? At least he would have been alive. The walrus' rash actions had caused the destruction of his son. Why did he do it?
Ch75
After calling and crying and searching 'till his body ached, the raven knew that the seal was not coming back. The truth was revealed, that the seal was gone forever. The seal was hidden away from everything else. He would be impossible to find. His friend was gone. There was another friend of the raven's, the robin. He called for the robin this time. Was he gone too? Why would he be gone? The raven needed to find him, needed to find his last friend, the last friend he has. He flew everywhere, but the robin was nowhere to be seen.
High above the clouds, the hummingbird watches the scene. It shines for a moment, then disappears. Help cannot be given, the raven is alone. The hummingbird has a message. A message of peace.
Ch76
Sometimes the White Tiger would be there, sometimes not. It was a dangerous game, for if he is there when the ice breaks, the Tiger is doomed. The walrus had never been hunted nor sought since the raven tried to take back the seal. Now, the White Tiger is hunting the walrus, guarding him until the ice breaks.
Mistakes. the walrus thought, Everyonemakesmistakes.
The White Tiger would make a mistake. But the walrus will as well. Why are there mistakes? If there were not mistakes, the world would be in ruin. Or it might be perfect. The walrus needs food. This icy prison will not hold for much longer, and when it breaks the walrus will unleash his anger. Revenge on the world for being unkind. Unkind to him.
Ch77
Fudge waited outside his den. He waited for something, a change in his lonely habits, perhaps? Why didn't anything happen? The only other living things were the prey he hunted. Night was falling, it was time for dinner. Fudge set out from his den to find some prey, the prey that made him lonely. Darkness was falling, not only in the sky, but also on Fudge's hope and spirit. Loneliness was everywhere. This was his life now, whether he liked it or not. The hummingbird was hovering above him again. Then, gone.
Budge was hunting as well, his mouth full of juicy meat for him and his father. He had reached the den that he had seen. It was unoccupied. The owner must have left for some reason. Hunting, perhaps? He would return some other time. Maybe he missed something? Budge left the den and headed home to his den for a long-deserved rest. Rest. That was what he needed.
Ch78
The ice, back a thousand years ago, knew that when the seal was trapped by the walrus, he began to die. Deprived from friendship and the will to live, he began fading away. Fading into air. He was taken away from what he loved most, taken away from his life. No one could live through such a hard time as the one the seal went through.
At first the walrus had thought, Hewillbealright. Hewillrevertbacktonormalsoonenough. But when he came in in the morning to see if the seal would finally eat, he stopped immediately. His son, the one he had worked so hard to get back, was nearly gone. His thick skin was almost invisible. His body was fading away. Never should you deprive one of their friends and family, never. That is such a horrible thing to do. But the walrus did not know this.
Ch79
The ice knew, the moment the robin landed. It knew that the robin had flown too far. The weather was too nice, the sky so blue. The temperature was too warm. For a moment, the robin embraced this wonderful change. Then, the robin realized that this was not the climate where the walrus would be. Or the raven. Where was he? The different place seemed scary now, not so warm and friendly. The robin took a deep breath. He knew not the direction he had come from. He was lost.
The robin lifted into the sky once again. He scouted the area. Nothing was familiar. He asked a final question before floating back to the ground.
"Where am I?"
And with that, he flew down to the land to rest.
Ch80
Exactly a thousand years later, a young arctic fox asked the same question. "Where am I?" he had asked. Fudge was his name, and he was lost. Lost like the robin so many years ago. They had both embraced the change, thinking it was for the better. But they were both wrong. They both were lost. And that arctic fox, Fudge, missed those he loved most. His mother, whom he would never see again. His poor father and brother. They probably thought he was dead. Somehow, some way, Fudge had to go home. He had to see his family again. He had to, he promised.
Ch81
When the seal faded away, the walrus was angry instead of sad. He was mad that his son had left him again. He turned evil once more and began destroying and eating again. He was furious! He thought about the raven and how, to him, he was evil. Then he remembered a smaller bird with them, a robin. If he couldn't take his son, and he definitely couldn't take the raven, he would take the robin. He would train him to know the secrets of the ice, he would let him become his helper. The walrus transpired this idea in his own head. He would not let loss and loneliness overtake him again. Never.
Ch82
While the raven slept, almost all live creatures didn't stir. Almost nothing moved in the cold, icy air. Mist hovered over the scene, obscuring all vision and inducing slumber. For five long days, and five long nights, the raven slept alone. He slept in a dark, deep crevice where none could find him. When, at last, he did wake, he realized the length of his rest. This surprised him.
Then, the raven also realized he was alone. This was even more startling and surprising. He could not think straight, and he let the loneliness seep into him once again. The robin was gone. He was alone. Where was the robin? Where was the seal? And where was he?
Ch83
Fudge needed to escape. He needed to escape from this lonely place, this icy cave. He needed to escape from all the dangers of being alone. Maybe even escape this life. But no, he had to find his family. They didn't get eaten like his mother, had they? No, they had to be safe in their cave. They had to. Why couldn't Silverwind howl, or give a signal to state his location? Fudge didn't know. But he had to find them, and waiting in this cold, desolate cave. He needed to escape this den, but he also needed to find his father, and strong brother. He had to escape.
Far in the reaches of that same cave, that same solemn den, the walrus waits. He waits for the revenge he has stored to finally be released. He stirs, wishing the ice would break now, so he could eat that tiger that comes so often. The White Tiger. Where was he? He had not been there to look at him for months. He had to return soon, he must.
Ch84
Go back once more, a thousand years ago, to this very spot, in this very cave, to the time when the walrus was looking for the robin. He had searched far and wide, but he had had no luck. He was about to give up, but a piercing beak cut into his thick back. His spine was immobilized; he couldn't move.
"What did you do with him!" the raven asked angrily. Apparently the walrus was being blamed. The raven was gone? Why? Had he missed something? Or maybe this was all a mistake, and now the walrus could talk him into becoming his slave. But before the walrus could finish his nasty plots, the raven tore deeper into his skin. "Where is he?" He asked again, but this time weakly. Neither of them knew, and so the walrus kept silent. The raven used the last of his strength to throw the walrus against the wall, which began freezing around him. The ice worked the first of its tricks, shutting the walrus away for a thousand years.
Ch85
The White Tiger knew the walrus wanted him. He knew the walrus wanted to eat him. So why didn't he? Why didn't the walrus use his strength to break out of the ice? The White Tiger was waiting, and so was he. They could wait. This battle was yet to be won, and both sides were at a stop. For the moment. The White Tiger was coming home to the cave where the walrus lay, frozen. He was coming to the cave that he had claimed his so many years ago.
The very cave that, for now, harbored Fudge. The White Tiger was on his way. On his way to kill. Whether it be the walrus or the small arctic fox, the tiger was going to kill. Soon.
Ch86
Budge knew something was wrong. He knew something was about to happen that wasn't meant to be. Silverwind knew it, too. There was a chill in the air, like a dark evil about to emerge. Neither of them knew it yet, but that evil was the walrus. They did not even know of the walrus, they only knew of the evil, the wrong, in the air.
The ice was on its final string. One more day and it would break. One more day to wait. He could do it. The walrus could wait. He would not wait another minute, though. His first target was the White Tiger. Then, he would eat. He would eat for the first time in a thousand long years. He would wait.
Ch87
Fudge saw a character in the horizon. A four-legged creature that seemed to be so white it blended with the snow. What was this creature? It got closer and closer, until Fudge could see the thin black lines flowing down the side of this creature. Realization crept into him once more. The black lines where those of the beast that had killed his mother and forced him to live alone, separated from his family. It was coming back for him. Coming to kill him so he could drift off and be with his mother in the sky. He almost let himself just lay there, waiting to be taken. But something made him jump up and run. Run to nowhere. If he was to die, it would be looking for his family.
Ch88
The White Tiger saw Fudge running. He realized it was the arctic fox that had gotten away from him. He was in his den! He watched as Fudge darted away across the antarctic snow. Straight through a blizzard with such determination and willpower that the White Tiger himself was almost scared. Almost. He was infuriated! He would not let this arctic fox get away from him again! He ran after Fudge, being careful to hang back at a safe distance so as not to be seen. The White Tiger wanted to see where the arctic fox was going. He would wait for the right time to strike. But now, he was on the silent run.
The ice had cracked. The walrus was ready. He saw the arctic fox dash away with much power and determination, but why? Then he saw. The White Tiger was chasing after him through a blizzard. They were almost out of sight when the walrus began sliding away on the ice. Free at last! But first, he had to get the White Tiger. The power in this old walrus was so great, that soon enough, he was tracking down the tiger that had annoyed him so much. Soon. Soonhewillbemine!
Ch89
The raven was waiting. He was waiting on the edge of the icy water for his life to leave him. He had no purpose to live. His best friend, the seal, was gone forever. His only other friend was the robin, and he had left him, disappeared. Never to be seen again. The force of the blow he gave the walrus was too powerful; it had cracked his beak, thus preventing him from eating any more food.
After days, months, and years, the hummingbird finally came. She came and said, "It is time." And the raven left this world, never to be seen again. The walrus had no one to take his anger out on.
Ch90
The robin had accepted. He had accepted the hummingbird's call. But before he disappeared forever, he left a message. A message of peace, a message of hope. A message to the one he hated most. To the walrus. And the message said this:
"There is fear, there is anger, there is revenge. But there is also hope. Among the strongest of feelings, there is hope for all of us. There is hope for life, and hope for peace. Yes, there is hope. Peace is among these feelings. Peace in your heart, and peace in life. Use these, walrus, and you will never be lonely, and you will never be sad. Use them and you will be happy."
And the hummingbird promised. She promised to take the message. Promised to give the walrus hope and peace. And the robin disappeared forever. Gone. Loneliness. There is too much of both of these.
Ch91
After the robin and the raven both faded away, with the seal long gone, the walrus waited in his solitary chamber. It had allowed no movement, and almost no vision. How could the walrus know that the group he despised had died? For a thousand years, the walrus had been planning to kill the raven for taking his son, the seal. How could he know that the hummingbird had been searching for him this whole time? He didn't know any of this. And that was the way it stayed for a thousand years. Until now, when the walrus made a turn to truth. The walrus' time had come.
Ch92
Budge was back from hunting, and Silverwind looked as dreary as ever. On the way back, Budge had seen three figures moving toward them. What were they and what did they want? Silverwind saw them as well and was looking at them, trying to growl. This did not look good. The figures were getting closer. And closer. And closer still. The first figure, the shape in front, appeared to be the distinctive form of an arctic fox. Fudge? Excitement crept into Budge; could this be the lost brother he had been looking for? It had to be. There was no mistaking it now, the figure in front was definitely Fudge. But the two behind him were three times his size, and both seemed to be hunting him. Budge had to help! But how? Silverwind saw Fudge, and the predators as well. Despite his sore throat, Silverwind howled. He howled a searing song, the song of anger and sadness. The last howl he could muster.
And Fudge heard him.
Ch93
Fudge was running. He was running from the beast that had killed his mother. He was running from death. He wanted to fight, to avenge his mother, but that would get him killed. There would be no one to avenge him. So Fudge was running away from the big white animal that seemed so fierce and bloodthirsty. He looked back and saw the beast running after him, but another, larger animal sliding toward them both. A walrus. Fudge had heard stories of ferocious walruses that would tear apart animal after animal, no matter the size or strength. This walrus looked three times as dangerous as the white beast he was originally running from. Then he heard it. The long cry of his father. The flowing song that he had waited so long for. Oooooooo! There it was. His beacon. His way back home.
Ch94
Silverwind had seen the attackers falter. He had seen them fall a few paces behind in bewilderment. But they kept coming. They kept charging at his son. Silverwind was furious! His throat was sore again, but he kept howling. He howled the howl of anger, of hope, of rising need. Fudge would not be taken from him again. Never. The tiger, the one who had broken his family in two, slowed to a stop and hid behind a snow drift, where all but Budge forgot about him.
Budge knew that his brother was coming home. But he also knew that the horrible beast that carried his mother away forever was hiding behind the snow drift. Fudge was coming home, but trouble was following him.
There was another. Another creature who hid in a snow drift. This pile of snow was larger, fit for a walrus like the creature itself. It was the walrus. And the walrus waits. He waits for the time to strike. He waits to see how things play out.
Ch95
The walrus was the watcher. He was the hidden specter, a lone creature among thousands of others. He watched as the small white fox joined his family just outside the tiny den. So happy, so joyful. The walrus had seen this before. He had seen this happen with the seal and the raven. He was beginning to have the thought that he should take his anger out on the arctic foxes, when a small rainbow appeared out of the air in front of the walrus. It was the hummingbird. What could she want with him? She had finally tracked him down. And she had a message. She told the walrus of the hope and peace and love that he had evaded his whole life. And the words reached the walrus, reached his heart. And he changed. He became a different being. He now knew of all the great things in the world, and that it was him who had destroyed his son, not the raven. Then the hummingbird spoke that these words were sent to him from the robin. And the walrus believed. But he also realized that the White Tiger was about to do the exact opposite of the truth the hummingbird spoke. Something must be done.
Ch96
Silverwind was oh so happy. His son had finally returned to him. Fudge was back. They nuzzled together and embraced the happiness that seemed to surround them. Budge was the only one who looked cautious of the snow bank where the White Tiger had disappeared behind. And the White Tiger himself knew that now was the time. Now. He would attack. But he had forgotten about the walrus just as the arctic foxes forgot about him. He did not know that right that instant, the walrus was watching him. The White Tiger waited one last moment for the happy family in front of him to turn away from his direction, and... He sprang! One leap and he was upon them. The happiness left the air; there was nothing happy about the scene unfolding at that moment. The White Tiger picked Fudge up in his jaws. Behold, the one who had escaped him once will not live to escape again. Budge crawled into the cave, which was now icy cold from the anger and evil in the air, and Silverwind attacked.
It was a mighty battle, but the White Tiger would not let Fudge out of his grasp. Both combatants had many gashes and bruises, but were both fighting hard. Silverwind swiped and nipped at the White Tiger's side, to afraid to attack his head for fear of hurting Fudge. The White Tiger did the same to Silverwind, and both fought until they were tired stiff. But the battle was not over. The White Tiger opened his jaws to finish the limp figure of the arctic fox pup that had ceased to struggle, for he knew the end was near.
Ch97
The walrus could not let this happen. He could not let everything he had evaded, truth, love, peace, and hope, get away from others who needed them. He had to stop the White Tiger from the terror he was causing. This arctic fox family needed to be together. The largest, supposedly the father, was fighting like this was his life. And it was. Another loss would destroy him. This family needed happiness, not loneliness. The walrus knew what loneliness felt like, and he did not want anyone to feel it again. The White Tiger had to be stopped.
The walrus took this opportunity when Silverwind growled at the White Tiger and distracted him for a moment to charge at the tiger. He did this with such speed that the White Tiger had no idea what happened. The walrus hit with full force and sent them both sprawling over the end of the icy cliff. They fell into the water with a large splash and sunk to the very bottom of the sea. What became of them is not known, and many antarctic animals say they drowned each other. But they were never seen again.
Epilogue
The story ends here. What happened to the family of foxes, Silverwind, Fudge, and Budge? They all grieved for the walrus, who saved them all from a life of pain and loneliness. And then they all lived happy lives of peace and happiness. There is always hope for those who believe there is. The walrus and the White Tiger did indeed drown themselves, but the walrus died knowing about hope and happiness and peace. And friendship. He realized that the seal was only doing what he had thought right, and that he, the walrus, had caused the destruction of his son. But now he knew the truth. Fudge, Budge and Silverwind all lived long lives of friendship and love. They also knew the truth, and Silverwind knew that there are losses, but there is always gains of prosperity and good for those that deserve it.
I, the author, kind of hate to say it, being the most common ending of a story, but...
THE END