Chapter 5

As time went on Hayden soon won the hearts of every single animal in the park she had met. She was also pretty fun to be around as the animals soon found out. Taking care of her wasn't easy, seeing how her stomach was bigger then their own and they also always have to find fresh human food to feed her. But it would always be worth it since she would thank them and share with them. And as for bathing she bathed in the river out of sight from the humans and the animals would give her fresh clothes they got for her to change in.

Now at first the animals weren't too pleased about having a human live with them but soon everyone began to fall in love with her and treated her no different then their own park pups and taught her many things. The groundhogs taught her how to dig, the birds taught her how to navigate, the squirrels and chipmunks taught her how to climb up and down trees, and the mice taught her how to use her nose to smell things she hadn't noticed before.

Buddy was the one who helped bring Hayden a pillow and blanket so she wouldn't be cold in her cozy home in the mill. Andie would be the one who would put Hayden to sleep with a lullaby or a story. Ever since Hayden's first night at the mill Andie had begun to develop a motherly bond for the little orphan and made her want to care for her like her own child. Even Surly was slowly beginning to show his soft side towards her... but not by much, he didn't want everyone to think he was a big baby just because some human had wriggled her way into his heart.

Life went on in Liberty Park this way for several week and before Surly and Andie knew it, the day of the big heist had bumbled its way into their lives. The first indication came when the winter winds began to blow down from the north, weaving its way through the buildings then sticking its chilling venom down their spines, like a subzero cobra.

Surly watched the sun go down on this day, and his tail was twitching frivolously. He scurried from the ground and headed back up into the tree that he and Buddy had moved into and nestled in. As he tried to get comfortable, he noticed Buddy hadn't come back to the tree yet. It wasn't like Buddy to be late. Especially since Hayden had arrived. He knew his rat friend had spent a lot of his time with Hayden since she came to the park, but he was always back by sundown. Rendered restless by this thought, Surly jumped up and exited the tree, but before running down the branch a voice cracked his progression.

"Surly!" He spun about and climbed back up the trunk of the tree. It was Andie, who said "Can I talk to you about something?"

"Is it about the big heist tomorrow?" he inquired

"Yes, Surly I..." she seemed to become breathless as she spoke.

"Andie?" Surly said, worried for her well-being.

"I... I just..." she let out a sadden sigh and said "I don't like how we're using Hayden as an item just so we can get more food for the park. It's probably better that we just stick to the status queue like we always have."

Surly looked at her with a frown and said "We're not using her, besides; she did say that she would do anything to help us. So think of it this way, she willingly volunteered for the job.

Andie still didn't look satisfied and Surly knew he had to do something; he didn't want anyone he cared about upset or sadden with something. He gave her a comforting smile and he said "But if it makes you feel better I promise I'll keep my eye on our kid, that way if anything goes wrong she'll be the first i'll lead to safety and we can forget the whole operation and go back to nut hunting. Just like before."

Andie gave him a soft smile and said "You mean... you'll protect her from harm?"

"That's what I said didn't I?" Surly asked.

"Oh Surly," Andie said "I knew you had changed since our first nut heist... but bonding with a human? It's so... magical."

The purple squirrel smiled a little but then he shook his head and sad "Just don't tell anyone about it, I have a reputation to keep up."

Andie smiled again, but a little bigger, and said "I promise."

"By the way, have you seen Buddy?" Surly asked "It's not like the guy to be late before."

"Oh, He's still playing with Hayden." Andie said "Everybody's really gotten to care for her like one of their own."

"Yeah, I've noticed." Surly said "Well, I better get Buddy before he ends up falling asleep in the mill."

He was about to leave when Andie said "Surly, remember, no harm must come to Hayden."

"I promise she won't even get a scratch." Surly said with a salute before he headed off to the mill.

The purple squirrel ran down the tree as he had initially intended and found himself on the ground soon after. Within a few steps he was in earshot of the mill, and Andie's information had been accurate. From within the olden structure, he heard numerous voices, many of which he could tell belonged to children. More then likely, their parents didn't know that they were there. He crept closer, as not to alert the critters inside, and soon the whimsical sound of Hayden's voice cracked his eardrum. Assured with digression, he quickly ran into the building and arrived in the room at the very top where al the multitudes were gathered. Before him, he saw Hayden sitting down in the center of a circle of animals, children as Surly had expected, and Buddy was nestled into Hayden's shoulder. She appeared to be telling them a story of sort, as he saw her waving her hands about and the children gasped at some points and cooed at others. Buddy then tapped on Hayden's shoulder, and her eyes lit up like an explosion had been set off.

"Oh Dear, it's way past all of your bedtimes isn't it? You should all really be getting back to your houses."

Surly scoffed at this and simply waited for her to Realize. "Oh," Hayden exclaimed "You don't live in houses. Sorry everyone, i'm still not entirely used to living with animals."

A young duckling in the circle quaked up in response "That's alright Miss Hayden, we like you anyway!" and the rest of the circle chimed in.

"Yes we do!" They praised. Hayden smiled and a warm sensation grew in her chest.

"Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it. Now, everyone o on home. I wouldn't want any of you getting into trouble." They began to bustle about, and while Surly managed to stay out of sight, soon the entire room was void of small animals, save Buddy and Surly.

Surly entered the fragments of light that illuminated the room and approached Hayden. She heard his little paws against the wooden flooring of the mill, and when she saw him, it was as if she had been a butterfly emerging from the cocoon for the first time. "Surly! I'm so happy to see you!"

"Yeah whatever," he threw back "Listen, I've been meaning to tell you something Hayden, something we need your help with."

"What is it?" Hayden asked. At first Surly didn't know how to put this. He knew he had to tell her about the plan but he also didn't want her to think he was using her either. After all, the last thing he wanted was the lose the key to his plan before it even began, as well as hurt her feelings.

Finally he said "Well, to tell you truthfully, our food supplies are in trouble. It seems we don't nearly have enough food to last the winter after all."

Hayden's face fell at the news "What? I... oh, it's because of me isn't it?" I can't help it if I have such a big tummy."

"No no! That's not the problem!" Surly said as Buddy patted her head with sincere affection "Heck, if it had been your fault the animals wouldn't love you so dearly, would they?"

Hayden considered the idea and said "Well, yeah. They do love me!"

"There, all better." Surly said "Now as I was saying we need your help. See, there's this mall chock full of food, you know, the one where we first met each other?"

"You mean Mr. Nutmeg's?" Hayden asked, remembering that day so very well.

"Yeah, that's it." Surly said "Well tomorrow we need help, you see winter is coming early this year and if we don't get that food back to the park by the time a blanket of snow falls who knows what'll happen and we need your help to get us there."

"You mean... are you going to steal the food inside?" Hayden asked

"This is for a good cause, charity you can say." Surly said "Don't think of it as stealing. Think of it as... barrowing After all we don't want to disappoint the park animals who live here do we?"

Hayden thought back to the animals and the children she had been telling stories to and she gently placed Buddy down on the floor so he could join his friend as she said "Well... alright, but we usually have to pay for food. As long as we leave something as payment for the food i'll help you as much as I can."

"Deal." Surly said. Suddenly there was a rumbling sound and Surly asked "Hungry again kid?"

"No," Hayden said as she rubbed her full stomach "I already ate a lot and now..." she let out a yawn and said "I'm sleepy."

"Well, see you tomorrow then." Surly said as he and Buddy were about to leave.

"Wait, don't go!" Hayden said

"What?" Surly asked

"Can... can you two sleep with me for tonight?" Hayden asked "I... I had a bad dream last night and i'm afraid to go to sleep."

Surly didn't want to but one look at those big human eyes made him feel something deep inside him and he said "Ok, we'll sleep with you."

Buddy hopped up and down happily and Hayden smiled as she picked up the rat and squirrel and kissed them as lovingly as she could "Oh thank you so very much!"

"Heh, don't mention it kid." Surly said with a shrug as he wiped away the kiss while Buddy embraced it dearly

Surly fixed the fur on top of his head and watched as Buddy got cozy next to a now dreary Hayden. Watching her get nestled in for the night caused a strange warmth to grow inside of his chest, and before he realized it, he noticed that his heartbeat had increased. Trying to ignore it, Surly hopped over to Hayden and pulled the blanket further over the girl, until she was covered up to her shoulders. With ease, the squirrel then jumped off of her and scurried out of the room. Hayden eyed him as he let, and smiled once before closing her eyes and drifting away.

Once outside, Surly huffed and scratched his head. He was confused about what he'd done, as he hadn't thought twice about it while actually doing it. But now, in the aftermath, that fuzzy sensation inside of him lingered, and it made his ears and cheeks flush a cool red. His heart rate had slowed down to its original pace, and now the only thing moving quickly was his thoughts. He stayed still in a single spot, and his tail puffed with agitation.

"Eh," he said to himself "It's probably nothing."

The next morning, Surly and the others had positioned themselves in an alleyway across from the main doors to the mall. Cars zoomed by in front of them, and they made sure to stay out of sight. They had to tried to keep party small, and so they brought along the Bruisers, Mole, Grayson, and obviously Hayden. Surly and Buddy led the venture, and Andie had volunteered to come along to look after Hayden. For a while, the parking lot was crowded, but once the sun started to go down and made the sky an orange-yellow color, Surly finally mobilized the group. "Alright, is everyone ready to go?" he asked.

The party was irritated fro having had to wait so long, but they joyfully sprung up at the question. Everyone, including Hayden, nodded. "Great." Surly said "Then let's get to it then." With that, Surly gestured to Buddy, ad the two climbed up onto Hayden's shoulders and tucked themselves into her shirt, Buddy nestled in the front, and Surly clinging on the back. Surly gave the word and while the others ran round to the other side of the mall, Hayden crossed the street, and walked through the door and into the mall.

Hayden walked down the hallway and smiled as she passed the people who were too busy doing there last minute shopping to notice the girl or the fact she had a rat and squirrel hidden in her clothes. Buddy peaked out and saw lots of delicious food that made his tummy rumble. Hayden smiled as she stroked the little bulge Buddy made in his clothes, tickling him as he giggled softly "Don't worry Buddy, we'll get food once the others get the money."

"Uh, yeah sure." Surly said.

Unknown to Hayden the animals used the ventilation system to sneak in, steal food and sneak back out without being noticed by humans. The reason why Surly was in the back in the first place was so he could secretly give the animals the coast clear every time they past an isle, counter or stall that had food. Everything worked out peachy keen as long as the theft went unnoticed to Hayden... at least it had until Hayden heard a strange noise behind a door that was left open a crack.

She walked towards the ominous creak and slid through the doorway into a room that was chocked full of various types of foods. Hayden looked around and Surly and Buddy popped their heads out of her shirt when they heard the room echo with her softly patted footsteps. It was clear that there wasn't anyone else in the room. Surly's ears began to wiggle excitingly when he noticed all the different kinds of food stocked along the aisles and Buddy's teeth were displayed in a jubilant fashion. Surly's brown eyes widened with the high selection he was witnessing, and only another moment had passed before a single way of sunlight danced across his pupil.

"Hey kid, can you lift me up to that hatch on the window?" Surly said. Nothing thinking Surly's actions to be folly. Hayden approached the glassy sheet and scooped Surly out of her shirt. He cranked the window open and saw the remaining hordes of animals still waiting in the alleyway for deployment. He slashed his paw through the air, and in flocks they darted through cars on the road and leapt through the window and into the room. Chipmunks, birds, the Bruisers, even other squirrels Hayden didn't recognize flooded the stocks, and she was so blundered by the commotion that she hardly noticed Surly's authoritative vocal bouncing about the room. She wouldn't believe what she was hearing: Surly was ordering the abduction of the food. Many animals scrambled back out the window from whence the came and Hayden stomped across the room with a crossed expression painfully smoldered across her face.

"Surly..." Hayden said, her face sporting the same fiery complexion as a volcano. "Are you having them steal food?" Too late the squirrel realized that his euphoria had caused him to act without thinking.

"Um..." he tapped his food. The sound shot around the room like a ricocheted bullet. "I... supposed you could call it that..." he said with a defeated frown and his shoulders were raised. Suddenly there was the sound of stomping coming from outside the room. Mall security was approaching to investigate all the ruckus. Surly and the others fled through the window with as much food as they could carry, and Hayden was left there alone.

"Surly, wait! What about the money?" Hayden asked

"We don't have money kid," Surly called out from the window "We have to survive winter somehow. But can we talk about this once we're back at the park?"

"No! You have to give the food back!" Hayden cried "You have to!"

"Kid, not now." Surly said "We need you."

"Only for more stealing!" Hayden said, realizing what Surly had done; used her to steal food from his home. How could she have not realized this was wrong from the start?

"Kid!"

"No!"

"You listen here young lady, you may live in the park but you obey my rules and now I command you to come with me right now!" Surly yelled, fuming with anger at the child.

"Never!" Hayden yelled back at the same time mall security men burst in and Hayden froze along with Surly.

"What are you doing here?" One of the men asked "Your not allowed to be here!"

Hayden didn't even have time to respond before the other man grabbed her arm and pulled her away saying "You're coming with us young lady."

"Surly! Surly!" Hayden cried before the door was slammed shut. Surly just stood there in shock at what had happened. He couldn't believe what he had witnessed... but then his anger came back and he said "Little brat, should've known she'd be nothing but trouble."

Unknown to him Andie had watched the whole thing and she was just as heartbroken as Hayden right now but she also knew there was nothing she could do to save her alone... for the first time in her life, Andie felt like this was a lost cause that could not be fixed.