Pix had been looking around the nesting stables were all of the chipmunks his Da cared for were kept. He smiled at Acorn an old boy that was his dad's first chipmunk he ever tamed. Pix patted Seedling his mother's mount that had a berry red nose. Next was Windy who was his dad's newest mount.
Pix stopped when he found what he wanted. The saddle for Acorn and the bridle to match. He had put on his riding boots and his older traveling clothes that he like to play in.
Making his way to the older chipmunk he smiled and calmly did the steps his dad showed him. First he held out his hand and waited. When Acorn finally sniffed his hand and pressed his nose to his palm. Pix finally took the next step of putting on the bridle first. It was tricky since Acorn kept pulling away. Stepping back he nodded and looked at his handy work. The saddle sat firmly on his back making him look like more than just any chipmunk.
"Alright Acorn lets go for a run." Pix said hopping up into the saddle.
Acorn happily took off out of the stable and down the tree. At first Pix felt exhilarated as the chipmunk flew down the tree and out around the clearing. When Acorn left the clearing was the moment the boy started to panic. Pulling on the reigns did nothing as the big animal continued to run free. Scared Pix's grip became tighter as Acorn pushed himself on through the forest.
Elma cradled Nix to her as she watched her husband Yew come down the steps. He was looking refreshed after his two weeks working at the Hawthorn and Bristle's nests. His long brown locks had been tamed in to a tail. He wore a simple tunic and pants looking ready to do something at home for a change.
"Where are we going?" Elma asked blushing as she seen that old spark of a teenager in him.
"Well I was thinking that we could have lunch out today while the weather holds out." She had to admit that she liked this idea very much.
"I will find Pix while you get started on lunch. There are some hot cakes in the kitchen for you." Elma said getting up to go look for her troublesome boy.
After checking the neighbors tree homes she went to the stable. There she walked along the rows and found it strange. All of the mounts were there but on a second look around she found Yew's retired chipmunk gone.
'Oh no my boy what have you gotten yourself into?' Elma thought as she raced back up to her husband.
Yew looked at his wife who was looking distraught. "Pix…gone…Acorn…" She blubbered not making slight sense to him.
"He is never going to be a tamer while I am alive!" He yelled as he exited the kitchen.
Pix got tossed from his mount just before the animal had been hit by a rot arrow. Effectively turning the poor animal into nothing but bones. The young boy looked at the two Boggan's as they closed in on him. Backing away in fear Pix fell backwards into a dark hole just as a Leaf men patrol showed up.
Inside the hole he found it warmer than normal. So he followed the tunnel till the warmth got to be too much. There he found a small nest of baby rabbits. Walking closer he found that the area smelled wrong. That is when he noticed the babies were not breathing. He looked at them and began to cry. It was many things but the main one was he missed his parents who would know what had to be done.
It was in this moment that one of the rabbits started to move around. Moving over to the big yet tiny animal he touched its nose. Whispering that everything would be fine now because he would raise it and release it.
Moving back out to the front found that the Boggan's had left making the next step easier. Pix used a call that his father had taught him.
Yew sighed with relief as he heard the tune he had taught his son. Windy moved gracefully through the forest at a high speed. Till the old tamer finally reached his son who was inside of a burrow.
"Da I found a nest of baby rabbits and only one is still living." He called up to him.
Frowning he thought this was too good to be true. "Where is Acorn son?" He called out instead.
"He was shot by a Boggan Da." Pix cried tearing up from the thought of it being his fault that Acorn died.
He knew that the boy would take it hard since Acorn had been a part of the family since before he was born. Yew moved Windy over to a root that stuck out of the ground. He got off tying his mount up before entering the burrow himself.
They worked together and managed to get the weak thing out of the hole and onto the back of Windy. At home Elma had finished up an early supper knowing that her men would be starving when they got home. And right she was as they came in washing up just to inhale everything.
'Well good thing I put up my share before they got in.' She thought as she put Nix in her high chair.
The moon started to rise and knew that the boys would be up late doing something. She fixed up Nix nice in her cradle before going to bed herself.