Episode 7: Who Shall Wear the Crown?
"Where am I?"
"I can't feel anything?"
"Why is it so…void?
There was absolutely nothing but stillness flowing in and out. The silhouettes of green and brown and blue vortexed above Lovedays face. Wide eyed and cold like a living corpse. Hair getting itself tangled on her fingers. No breath of air would stop the young girl from getting parallelized deeper in the shady water.
With her head drowning in pain, Loveday could only manage to hear her inner voice speak for herself.
"I'm dying to go to sleep…but I mustn't. Something's desperately telling me to resist the urgency" she thought heavily
Her faint memories of past circumstances returned shortly. She remembered what did happen to her earlier.
After when crossing the wide river, the rabbits panicked as per usual. Fox heroically tried to help them but unfortunately needed recusing himself. While attended to save them from a passing debris pile, Loveday volunteered to telepathically shove it all back with her psychic powers alone as Badger lead the rescue unit towards the drowning fox and rabbits.
Though they'd managed to bring the rabbits back safely on dryland. For Fox, Badger and Loveday there was no escaping from their tragic ending. Loveday grew entirely weak from over stimulating her powers limitation and had blackened out when Badger was close enough to reaching an unconscious Fox. Afterwards disaster struck in bad results.
After falling down the waterfall, Loveday had been down lengthily underwater for who knows how long?
"It's no use. If I hadn't taken my powers for granted than that bloody debris pile would never have hit and we'd be on our way back now to White Deer Park together. Oh why?...Why do bad things always keep happening around me? Things keep going wrong somehow and I've tried everything to overturn the animals venerability in this world, like I'd promised.
But now I've really and truly done it. My foresightment about the river causing trouble were true all along and I ended up deceiving myself, all cause I was afraid that the animals were starting to be disappointed in me"
"Worst! What's become of Badger and Fox?"
"Poor Badger was so kind-hearted and been the first one to address me a farthing wood citizen, even though I was first judged as the animals enemy"
"But Fox?. Well what can I say about him? He certainly isn't any ordinary fox that's for sure. He's really shown appreciation in my motivating stand up against my own species and was given the chance to prove it otherwise on this journey"
"I…I honestly admit that he's…he's way more than just a friend to me, I actually look up to him as a brotherly figure since he's always stood specially close to me" Loveday admiringly confessed "Now the animals shall never make it to salvation in White Deer Park, because now their leaderless. And it's because of me"
"I'm such a disappointment to you Fox I'm so sorry, and worst of all I've disturbed my grandmothers spirit with my lack of promise"
With all hope stolen by grief, Loveday started to choke underwater violently. Her memories of promising grandmother Mary to find out if her ring 'sacred crystal' guarded the farthing spirit, and to seek the lost answers she needed to know about her special heritage in White Deer Park, were now completely lifeless. So sadly she allowed herself to sink deeper and deeper with weighed guilt, taking no notice of the dark mass forming up the water's ceiling. A burst of bubbles broke through and something yanked the girls hand floating right above her face.
Earlier at the foot of the waterfall. The farthing group was in depths of despair about the whole hectic tragedy. For ages they'd been seeking out any signs of their companions lives at presence in the water but there was no such luck.
That was until Toad shockingly pointed out towards the river's calm surface.
"Wait Look!" he said as the other animals turned their heads over towards his direction. Out of oblivion a familiar black and white snout shot up and was screaming effortly for help "AAAh!"
"No it can't be" Owl was taken aback "Is that Badger?" she wondered
Before anyone could answer her. The white furry head of the animal drifted up again.
"It is" Mole assumed; he'd know if it was his best friend Badger from anywhere. "Badger! Badger!" he shouted enthusiastically
"Excuse me but shouldn't somebody help him" Hare submitted very authority like.
"Yes I'll second that" Hedgehog agreed
"Come on! what are we waiting for?" Toad persuaded them to quickly come help and without hesitation was the first one to hop right in.
"Pop goes the weasel! Hahaha" Weasel dived in next. Then Hare and Hedgehog loyally followed pursuit while the others watched from a distance.
As they all swam up, Toad focused his goggle eyes down to Badgers hazard underneath "Come on! He's caught in the reeds" he gestured back
"Is he alive?" Hare paddled over
"Wait for me" Hedgehog swam behind
"Hold on Badger. Hold on!" Mole bellowed for his encouragement
Poor Badger had no attempt to stay afloat. Plus being entirely tangled up with the reeds prevented him from moving any muscle and was continuously struggling to stay above water.
"Oh no you don't!" Hare lifted Badger's snout up again forcefully with Toad. They weren't going to let him give up easily. Thankfully Badger's nose took in a few breaths of fresh air.
"Do what I do Badger, tread water. See its easy" Toad demonstrated with a raised flickering leg
"I…I can't" Badger gasped weakly
"He's not a toad stupid" Weasel taunted then swam under to chew the vegetation which savagely trapped Badgers legs and feet.
Toad wouldn't let Badger give up the fight yet either "Try Badger, you can do it. watch me" he said continuing to flick his leg.
Badger tried to but still couldn't remove himself without ability "It…It's no good I'm done for"
"Save your breath for swimming if you please" Hedgehog strongly recommended
"Swim? I couldn't swim now to save my life" Badger begrudgingly argued, he couldn't take the strain anymore.
Hare swam over beside him "That's just what you will have to do Badger" he encouraged
Over on the shoreline the animals stood ground to help the frail badger
"Come on Badger, Come on!" Rabbit shouted
"Don't give up you can do it!" Squirrel one yelled
"Yes don't give up!" Squirrel two chimed
Weasel came back up with a gulp "Is he free yet?" she asks Hare as he still supported Badgers head in his paws.
"Not quite, keep chewing" Hare replied
"I'll help you Badger" said Toad going underwater with Weasel to help untangle the last remaining reeds. While doing so, Weasel saw Badger going all drowsy and was helplessly submerging back underwater. So without any option she bit Badger severely by the foot making him startle.
"AAAh!" Badger jolted back to conscious
"That woke you up didn't it, Hahaha" Weasel laughed, although Badger growled wildly to response
"Try again now" Weasel then said
"Now Hedgehog you push!" Toad beckoned him
"Don't order me about" Hedgehog scowled with a glare
"Get on with it" Weasel resumed them
So without any further delay the rescuers pushed and shoved Badger effortlessly, though they waited for Weasel to break Badger out from below. Till at last Badgers body was free they struck the rivers current towards along the shore.
"Hooray! He's afloat matey's" Toad cheered in celebration to their successful rescue. The animals applauded them heroically with joyously cheers. Especially Mole who felt intensely relieved.
In a series of nudges Badger unablely grasped the shoreline edge and yanked himself out with the assistance of his savers and friends.
"Oh dear, Oh dear" Squirrel inspected Badgers pitiful condition.
Although he was safe and sound Badger lay totally matted and bruised in mud and rotten grass. With barely keeping his eyes open or steady breathing. The others were scared to still lose their old deputy.
"Please don't give up on me now Badger" Mole begged him in distress, no way did he want to lose him now.
"I know what he needs" Weasel guaranteed as she violently embarked Badgers stomach. Causing him to cough out a pint full of water.
"OOOh!" Badger chocked "Oh good gracious"
"Oh Badger you're going to be alright" Mole hugged him affectionately "You're going to be alright"
"Hooray!" the surrounded animals boomed for their fully recuperated friend, strangely Mole just leant his little velvet head and wept as though he were heart broken.
"What are you crying for now. You stupid undersized seal" Adder reprimanded him "Can't you tell that he's alive?"
"What am I crying for?" Mole moaned, "Why I'm happy of course!"
"Ask a silly question" Adder remarked
Now feeling better Badger wondered "How's um…Fox or Loveday?"
Everybody soon felt cold chills running down their spines.
"Who knows?" Hare shrugged looking afraid to explain the disappointing news.
"Both drowned I should think" Weasel teased
"Oh No" Badger's heart skipped a beat. This mystery's evidence started to look grimmer.
"Kestrels flying down river to see what she can see" Owl quickly informed "but I wouldn't hold out any hopes if I were you" she then warned
Hare fiercely eyed the Rabbits "It's all rabbits fault!" be accused
Mr Rabbit looked gullible "Oh!...I swallowed so much water" he coughed "I…I think?" he then dramatically pretended to pass out
"Hahaha, I know what he needs" Weasel mischievously pointed and pranced aggressively on Mr Rabbits fat belly
"Oh!" Mr Rabbit shrieked
"Serves you right!" Hare rather enjoyed Weasels severe lesson
"Well I'm very sorry for what happened I'm sure" Rabbit defended her family "But we can all panic you know Hare, even you. You're not perfect although you seem to think so"
"Ohh do be quiet!" Badger gasped angrily "Isn't there enough ta trouble us without quarrelling amongst ourselves"
"Come and rest Badger" Mrs Hare settled him "Kestrel will be back with news either of Fox or Loveday soon I'm sure"
"I hope your right, thank you" Badger sighed
"Try and sleep Badger" Mrs Hare took occupation to help nurse the poor old Badger back to health
"If Fox has drowned and Loveday?…Oh poor Loveday" Badger thought sadly as he lay his head against Lovedays bag which was stained with Lovedays sweet scent.
"Wait until Kestrel comes back, then we'll know" Mrs Hare reassured
After touching the ground Badger passed out from deep exhaustion and was snoring away peacefully.
"Is he asleep?" Mole asked
"If he isn't he's doing a very good impression of it, Hahaha" Weasel joked
Leaving Badger alone in the undergrowth, the farthing animals gathered to form a council meeting together.
Toad sitting on a log spoke first "What are we going to do if Fox and Loveday really are both…" in agreement to not speak about their lost companions fate Toad dared not say it "Lost?"
"Elect another leader of course" Hedgehog said
"Fox never named another successor" Hare indicated
"Badger will lead us, who else?" Mole loyally declared
"I doubt if Badgers up to it. After his latest experience" Owl added unsurely
"I led the rescue party" Weasel bragged
"No you didn't, I did!" Hare argued with her.
From the looks of it all, Adder grinned "Its seems we have several pretenders for the throne eh Owl?" she drawled
"Pretenders!" Owl huffed "They may be pretending, I am not. If I am required? I shall be occupied in a little discreet hunting. Goodbye" in excuse she flew away hastily.
"Come on Mole, let's go back ta the riverbank and cheer ourselves up with a few nice juicy worms. What ya say?" Toad coaxed the miserable Mole
"Oh I don't think I could eat" Mole said "I already miss Loveday"
"Go on matey, bet you can" Toad coaxed him again and this time made Mole accompany him.
One hour later as everyone patiently awaited Kestrel's return. Adder met up with Owl like they usually did.
"Nice catch Owl" Adder commented her prey "I like your style"
"Thank you Adder" Owl said "I must say that your own technique is extremely efficient"
"I get lots of practise" Adder confessed. They both laughed amused at each other's dark entertainment.
"Shame about Fox and Loveday" Adder then brought up
"Hmm…Badger as leader huh!" Owl spat while swallowing her fat catch
"Huh!...too slow and stupid" Adder agreed
Owl was intentionally pleased that Badger having survived but held a certain reserve which only Adder could deeply recognise. "A bird would be a more sensible choice" Owl said
Adders face indulged "You mean?...Kestrel" she guessed on purposely
""Kestrel! Oh no, no" Owl swayed her head "she hasn't the common touch"
"Whereas you have?" Adder glared
"What are you getting at Adder!" Owl uncomfortably turned away
"Just praising you Owl" Adder simply explained
"Well? Yes your right of course" Owl turned back around
"All the animals trust you"
"That's true too"
"And your wise enough to know when someone's winding you up"
"WHAT! Are you saying?"
"I'm just saying how wise you are" Adder finished, feeling pleased with herself. Owl only stood there, wings crossed and confused by Adder's strange intention.
Just on the riverbank Toad and Mole were just finishing their meal.
"Well that's filled me up" Toad beat his tum "Now for some fun matey eh?" at once he dove into the river again. Mole watched him curiously.
"Why don't you try it" Toad gestured Mole as he frequently enjoyed diving in and out.
Mole was hesitant when he dipped in his toes "Is it safe?"
"We'll be alright so long as we stay near the riverbank" Toad calmed his good friend
Together they splashed around in enjoyment. Toad eventually gave Mole quite a surprise as he appeared like magic.
"I wish I could do that" Mole said looking impressed
"I'll show you how matey" Toad offered "Watch me" performing his best Toad cheekily slid himself through Moles black velvet legs. Mole had never laughed with such torture, the fill of Toads rubber skin rubbing his velvet body really trickled.
And just as Toad was demonstrating his swimming method again to Mole. He suddenly vanished underneath. Mole thought Toad was playing games with him again and was being tickled nonstop. If you'd have looked underneath him, you would be sure to catch a glimpse of silver scales shining like butcher knives.
"OH! Toadie stop tickling me!" Mole laughed
"Over here matey, quick!" Toad ordered
"Oh hello Toad, Toad?" Mole realized then that Toad was waving alarmingly to him with Squirrel two beside.
Mole grew stone cold. What was under him? quickly looking below he saw, skimming about was a huge fish about three feet long with large cruel jaws and amber eyes. With such fright Mole began to swim for it.
"Quick as you can matey!" Toad shouted as the monster fish narrowly missed clutching Mole with his powerful fangs.
In immediate action, Mole scrambled back to shore and luckily got saved just in time as the fish was about to catch him for good.
"What was it?" asked Squirrel in horror
"Pike matey. Nasty things pike swallow you whole that could" Toad described and soon thanked Squirrel graciously for her help pulling the now shaken up Mole out.
Somewhere not too far from the camp. Where the wind in the willows were heard ruling the riverbanks and the songs of daybreak sang endlessly. A certain girl lying safe below an old statue was curled up sleeping.
A hand stroked her backside to awaken her.
"Loveday" it whispered
"Come on girl, don't leave. You need to wake up now" a creature soon licked her face "its not your time, you must get up"
Loveday soon felt air rush to her lungs and started to gasp. She woke up with a startle and looked around herself. There was nobody, dark cloudy thickets were surrounding her with a few wild flowers spread here and there. But the most peculiar sighting was the large black statue she'd been sleeping underneath.
"What a weird place I'm in" Loveday thought feeling light-headed "This isn't another one of my dreams is it?" she wondered "Only one way to check"
She pinched her right arm to be precise "Ow!"
"No definitely not" she lifted herself up to properly search the new environment. Stretching her head up to see the stone man with goat legs and was playing a pan pipe.
"By the looks of those horns that must be a faun" Loveday described "but more to the point? Where did I go to? And how did I even get here?"
Loveday was overemotive to make it all out moderately. It had seemed she was magically transported to a different part of the world. Her mind was circuiting one question 'How?'.
"All I can remember is, being stranded underwater until I couldn't hear myself anymore" she said scratching her head "what about my friends? I must go find them…but are they gonna welcome me back if I do? I have no idea if Badger or Fox are even still alive"
"First it was the Newts then the Pheasants. And now…No! get a grip on yourself girl" Loveday initiated firmly trying to snap out of her hysterical manner.
After a heaving breath "If I am saved for a reason, there's still hope for me to gain everyone's forgiveness in this mishap I've brought on. I'll just have to forget about my conclusions and start acting"
"Firstly, I think I'll sit down here and relax my mind…If Owl does it all the time, then why not me" Loveday settled down under the faun statue and shortly recalled how hard she'd associated over the past few days.
Closing her eyes while feeling the breeze massage her skin, Lovedays ring glowed again.
What had started an attempt to escape from her troubled normal life behind. Turned into such a quest to reconnect with her ancestry's coexistence with nature by coincidence. And it was all thanks to being there beside Fox and his farthing wood residents, whom she'd hope were safe somehow.
"So little time" Loveday sighed impatiently but ignored distracting her latest plotline. Such as tracking out her friends unknown location while determined to see if Badger or Fox could've survived the early tragedy.
"Oh I do hope they still have my bag" she thought worriedly "but at least my swimming undergarments aren't too exposing"
After the lifelong period of planning meditation, Loveday then stood up and began to leave the area instinctively.
Before she knew it, Loveday glanced back at the mysterious statue mounded between the willow trees, somehow feeling a dim sense of forever gratitude.
Smiling at it "If you were real then I'd know who came to save my life. Whoever that may be I'll always be forever grateful to them…Thank you" Loveday headed off down into the opening lane without looking back.
Just then, some visitors showed up unpredictably.
A girl wearing a frilly pale blue gown, curled in strawberry blond hair sat pleasantly in-between a young fox couple.
"My dearest Loveday, if only I could've gotten the chance to make you see me again one last time" the girl said in despair
"Shameful" the male fox nodded "but it is the laws unlimited price for allowing us to rescue her, sorry it had to be this way Mary"
"She was able to feel our presences. I'm just glad that Lovedays safe again" chimed the vixen "which I'm happy to say the same for our precious son at least"
"Precious son? My foot, you actually mean…famous son right?" the fox smirked up to his mate
"Really Stout Fox, must you already get ahead of your head even in the afterlife" Mary sniggered "only fate is deciding upon their victory and we strictly mustn't interfere with it remember"
"I agree with you Mary" the vixen added
Stout Fox shrugged "Well what else can I say? Your granddaughter is set on the right path to becoming legendary" he chuckled "You must be proud to see her following your footsteps"
"I am" Mary replied "now that Loveday has found out more from Kell, the powers are roaming closer to her heart as we speak and she's aware of being misled by them"
"Reminds me of the good old days when we all used to live in perfect peace eh? Stout Vixen" Stout Fox playfully asked.
"Seriously Dear" Strout Vixen scolded with a giggle "Must you bring that up now?"
"It breaks my heart to see all of Farthing wood gone forever" Mary shamefully recalled "if only I'd found the time to gather my family's ancient history then things would've been different"
"You did the best we animals could all ask for" Stout Vixen nuzzled her human friend "your literally part of our family than a Feral Psychic movement"
"Yeah and more importantly if you hadn't first encountered our struggles with the troublesome otters and deadly illness. We wouldn't have lived to raise our cubs together." Stout Fox reminded
Quietly overwhelmed by the foxes comforting warmth, Mary's shattered emotions were healed. "Truthfully I'm more worried about Lovedays whole life ahead. These animals will be famous someday and should be prepared for what's coming up for them"
"Apparently that is until they are ready so" Stout Vixen "What's more we shall always watch over them weather the good or the bad unfolds"
"Surely" Stout Fox agreed "Correct me if I say? Pretty soon Fox will be meeting the one"
"Um…Best we don't mention about it yet" Mary whispered before getting up "Our times almost over now"
"Must we really go?" Stout Fox asked "I really find it unbearable to leave everything that I've lived for behind, especially young Fox"
"I feel you old friend" Mary assured him "It's hard to let go of those who you love eternally, it'll be hard for me to see Loveday enjoy her new found freedom but she'll forever be my beautiful baby"
Stout Vixen sighs "Besides my Love, we'll forever have each other and now only heaven awaits all three of us"
"And we will meet our children again someday" Mary laid her arms around them both "Though let us pray it won't be too soon"
"Yes. Let's go home girls" Stout Fox said feeling at peace "The land of ethereal forests and landscapes is waiting"
"Let's" Mary concluded as they all smiled blissfully above and materialised like the cosmos traveling back towards the high atmosphere. Never to be seen or heard from again because they were now at eternal peace.
So far as ta now. Loveday was traveling up the river until it got cut off by a bridge somewhere close by and if she'd waited any longer to walk over the bridge. A certain someone she knew was floating downwards under it and disappeared from sight.
Plus a baffled hawk was swooping narrowly around, it was certainly trying to spot someone unassumingly. Kestrel had scouted the riverbed for hours and was lengthily returning to her fellow animal comrades.
The farthing animals got so fixed to scanning the sky for Kestrel that most of them had now fell asleep against Badger separately.
"Don't mind if I snuggle down beside you, do you?" Adder crept over to the Voles, getting herself coiled around them enthusiastically. Noticing the green scaled ring with amber eyes encircling them, the Voles hurried out of her twisted body.
"Who needs friends?" Adder deadpanned proudly
When at long last, their patience was fully rewarded.
"Gee! Gee!" Kestrel hovered signalling them below
Badger awoke himself quickly "Kestrel! Is that you? Did you find either Fox or Loveday?" he asked looking expectant while Kestrel landed with a sank heart.
"Yes" Kestrel forced herself to say "after a awhile I saw Fox, clinging to some driftwood. I kept sight of him for a long way, there was a weir but Fox came through it and then as the river broadened he floated on through pleasure boats and steamers until he reached a bridge" Kestrels expression turned pale. She nervously was afraid to tell them the rest.
"What happened?" Badger persuaded her
"He floated underneath it but when the driftwood came out the other side, Fox was no longer on it" Kestrel explained miserably
"Oh No!" Poor Mole collapsed his infuriating head.
"But surely? He can't just have…disappeared" Badger vindicated
"I waited and waited" Kestrel made absolutely clear "I even flew under the bridge and called for him. He wasn't there"
There was hushed lamentation. They were horror-stricken to the fact of Fox's loss.
"Wait! Where's Loveday? did you somehow manage to find her instead?" Hare asked persuasively
There was nothing more for Kestrel to say "No…I was inefficient to even find her body; she too isn't seen anywhere near"
Then the animals sank deeply to the ground. It was awfully obvious that Loveday wasn't coming back to them like Fox either. Nobody dared to speak instead just cried and cried powerlessly.
The rabbits were the mostly effected they stumbled away in misery. Feeling guilty to lose both their great leader and kind human turned feral psychic.
"We've lost them!" Mole wept uncontrollably 'Forever!"
Without much choice Badger putting on a brave face, shook himself. "I see" he said "Well in that case? There's no point waiting here any longer. We must move on" he insisted towards the depressed animals. As easy as that Badger took charge upon the party.
"Move on?" Mole repulsed the idea "But what if Loveday or Fox came back? and we weren't here"
"If they are alive?" Badger noted unsurely
"Not very likely" Owl taunted
"They'll find us" Badger argued disapprovingly with faint hope "Meanwhile I'm quite sure Fox would want us to continue on our journey and Loveday would've done the same with us probably"
The other animals recovered, they'd excepted Badgers takeover respectfully and were willing to get moving alongside him. Even with their minds full for missing both their lost friends emotionally.
"Yes your right I suppose" Hedgehog nodded "It's what he'd want"
"And Loveday" chimed Mrs Hedgehog sadly
In an new authority voice Badger organised "Is everyone ready?"
"Yes Badger" Rabbit said looking forlorn
"Good" Badger pleased "Then…Lets be on our way" he announced
"Of course Badger" Mrs Hare said as they all once again formed in a striate line and moved off silently.
"Hang on a mo" Weasel halted Badger
"What is it now Weasel?" Badger asked
"I've got Lovedays bag. What ya reckon we should do with it?" Weasel wondered
"Oh right" Badger understood "Um?...Just keep a hold of it weasel, In case you may know what?" Badger explained without much detail
"If you insist" Weasel said mounting the bag on her back "Just what I need" she deadpanned
Hanging loose like a python amongst the branches, Adder slid above next to Owls head. Owl jumped in big surprise to hear her hissing inside her feathery ear. "Seems were going to play follow my leader Owl" Adder provoked as Owl flew down away "Only Badgers the one that's Leading"
Owl speechlessly shrugged to Adders arousing manner and henceforth joined the animals. Crossing over the green furry meadow away from the river.
Toad tried to lift everyone's mood "Come on mateys hehe, grass is nice and springy here. Just like I remembered" Toad ducked as suddenly Hare sprang right above him and refused to resist having an enjoyable run on the springs with his mate beside him at their pleasuring speed.
"Sorry I'm so slow" Toad said feeling overshadowed with speed volume.
"Not at all Toadie" Badger reassured him "the hares are just enjoying themselves that's all"
Oppositely Mole sat on Badgers back still weeping sorrowful for Fox and Lovedays absence. "I don't know how they can" he said feeling hurt
"Now don't take on Moley old thing" Badger fondly comforted his best friend "we don't know if they are dead, perhaps even now they is making they're way back to us" Badger stuttered
"What? Swimming up river" Weasel teased
"No harm in hoping Weasel" Badger defended
"If only the rabbits hadn't panicked" Mole blamed
"That's enough Mole!" Badger shushed him severely
"It's the rabbits fault, the rabbits fault!" Weasel sang to ridicule to them
Unhappily shuffling near the rear, the rabbits were certain to never forgive themselves "Oh dear were never going to live this down" said Rabbit carrying her daughter on her back
"When is Loveday gonna come back mummy?" said Rabbits son
"Shss don't say her name baby" Rabbit told him then turned towards her dim-witted mate "Now what's the matter with you?"
"I think I may have stepped on a thorn. My paw will be so swollen up in less than an hour, that I won't be able to walk at all" Mr Rabbit dramatically said trying to gain her attention
"Well I can't carry you. If Loveday were here she'd be happy to but she isn't here is she?" Rabbit huffed away missing their special human dreadfully
In fury response Mr Rabbit childishly pretended to play fainted.
Up in front Badger, Mole and Toad were somehow beginning to feel rather drowsy.
"Oh dear I do feel tired" Badger sighed
While Mr Rabbit wastefully stayed close on the ground, Adder had a bone to pick with him.
"Suppose I bit you" she glared monstrously at him "Then everyone would be sorry for you"
"No! no thanks! I'm alright really" Mr Rabbit confessed jittery then was soon sensibly bolting up ahead of the line. Nearly fast-paced as a hare himself.
"Look at the Hares enjoying themselves" Toad pointed to the odd coloured Leporidae. Zooming right across the meadow beyond the Hares who stood there waiting patiently.
"That isn't a hare that's Rabbit" Weasel corrected
"Good heavens so it is" Badger said surprised to see him running way ahead for a change.
"Whatever's got into him?" Mole wondered, not dangling to see Adder looking very prideful with her dirty work "shall I get down Badger?" he asked feeling worried about his weight slowing down Badger.
"No, no, no, no" Badger assured him calmly
"Cheer up" Toad said "Things aren't so bad. We've come a long way you know"
"Yes" Badger admitted "a long way from Farthing Wood"
"And a long way from Fox and Loveday too" Mole added sorrowfully
"Moley do bear up" Badger consoled impatiently "Loveday wouldn't want you to be like this you know. I know you were very close to her but your distressful behaviour is sure to let her down"
Mole just couldn't handle himself. He solemnly missed Loveday since she was the only other person who'd ever cared about him, except for Badger of course.
Onwards and onwards they continued on foot or wing through the soft springy grass downland at easy pace. Feeling lesser attached to the present hardships and enjoyed the fun experience of adventuring forth.
Strolling along part-way, Toad strangely halted Looking extremely muffled.
"What's happened Toadie?" Badger asked him in concern
"I don't know" Toad answered feeling quite funny
"Halt!" Badger ordered loudly before they trampled onto each other.
"Halt! "Halt!" "Halt!" the animals chained down the line repeatedly
"Something wrong?" Badger said again
"No! no we're alright so far" Toad empathised trying to figure himself out "It's that…um? Oh dear, oh dear. I don't know where to go next"
"Have we taken a wrong turning?" Squirrel suggested behind Badger
"No, no I remembered everything clear as day" Toad said "If we came along"
"Oh dear! I knew things would go wrong without Fox or Loveday" Mole wept
Badger quickly tried calming him down again "Oh don't worry Moley. I'll get us all there safe and sound, Toads just a bit confused that's all"
Toads puzzled head was spiralling in different directions, mostly towards his left side "Hmm…I don't know? I feel sure we should go straight ahead but something keeps pulling me ta the left…oh well"
Being positive to follow Toads guidance once more Badger shouted, "Moving on!"
"Moving on!" "Moving on!" "Moving on!" "Moving on!" the animals repeated down the line before following Toad more closely this time.
About a few yards forward Toad was confined in a weird type of dissatisfaction and seriously had to stop "It's no good" Toad muttered hopelessly. Causing the line to shout 'Halt' for the second time.
"It feels all wrong somehow? I'm just not comfortable mateys" Toad expressed
"The guilds lost" Weasel laughed, even the animals grew doubtful.
"Shall we try the other-direction?" Badger patiently suggested
"I don't know mateys" Toad said again nervously "if you say so"
Finally obliging to turn back around with a chorus of 'moving on' Badger steadily thought to make things better.
"Kestrel can ya scout ahead for us? He asked the hawk above.
"Willingly" the honouring Kestrel flapped eagerly in opposite direction while they cornered around the left bend.
As Badger reassured a paranoid Toad he only made a single mistake and that nobody would go to blame pressures on him. Struggling to carry on forward Mrs Fieldmouse desperately seeked old Mrs Vole's gentle assistance.
"Mrs Vole! Mrs Vole! I really don't think I can go on" the Fieldmouse declared touching her seemingly round belly.
"Sing you a song?" Mrs Vole mistook her words deafly
"She says-she can't-go on!" Hedgehog resaid into Mrs Voles flicked up ears.
"It's terribly inconvenient but I rather think I'm due for a…happy event" Mrs Fieldmouse smiled down proudly. Although being Mrs Vole she unheard a bit of it.
"Stop mumbling dear and do get on" Mrs Vole scolded ignorantly. Pretty soon there was more unlucky inconvenience's to stumble upon.
Owl in finality announced immediately "Badger! Badger!"
"What is it Owl?" Badger replies
"You're going round in a circle!" Owl revealed "Your headed for the river". A medley of gasps and unforgivable growls sounded, mainly pointed at poor absent-minded Toad who felt worse than reprehensible.
"Oh dear mateys I'm sorry, I'm sorry" Toad apologised shamefully "Oh dear what could've happened?"
"Hmm? Now let me think" Owl took to thought silently investigating on the ground.
"Poor old Toad. You shouldn't blame yourself" Badger continued to reaffirm the amphibian
"SHHH!" Owl hissed annoyed
"Oh! Sorry Owl forgot you were thinking" Badger said
"typical" Owl muttered "It's very simple really. Toad homing instinct has come into play that's all" she reasoned with unimpression
"My homing instinct?" Toad asked blankly
"That's correct" Owl sternly explained with her wings folded "Just as it did when you were captured and taken far away. It lead you back to your birth place in Farthing Wood then and it's doing so now"
Toad soon' realised how'd foolish he'd been to not recognize this familiar old calling alone. His homing instinct misguided him and the farthing animals on purposely with wasteful progress to find the right destination.
With no other words Toad timidly said "I am sorry"
Considering their deep situation without Fox's lead out of it, Badger decided to turn in all his trust within wise old Owl "So?...what do ya suggest we do Owl?"
"Retrace our steps of course" Owl advised; this gave everyone great disappointment to hear. To Mrs Fieldmouse it was a nightmare mostly of all.
"Retrace our steps!" Mrs Fieldmouse gasped, her insides began to ace very tremendously and it almost caused her to go faint "Oh I don't think I can" she clutched her plump belly.
"But how will Toad be able to lead us to White Deer Park?" Mole said
"He has his memory" Owl replied "Just so long as he ignores his instinct and goes by what he sees and remembers along the way. Kestrel and I will help"
"Thank you Owl, I don't know where we'd be without you" Badger gratified Owls providence
"Back in Farthing Wood I expect" Owl certified pompously
"Seems we've been led astray" Adder hissed to herself, till Kestrel appeared at good timing us usual. Where would they also be without her accommodating services?.
"Gee! Gee!"
"What can you see? Kestrel!" Badger asked
"The other way is scrubland and a few birch trees" Kestrel reported. Hearing this description brought restoration to Toads heaving memories in a loud snap.
"That's right! I remember it now, there was a lot of scrubland" Toad retaliated
"Good! Shall we move on?" Badger said he was so revived having both Owl and Kestrels guidance's save the day. It was already too much despair for him to handle every beasts reliance controlled down on only him. Nevertheless the farthing animals again circled the field and this time, in future were absolutely inquired to Owls high recommendations if they felt victim to strange mysteries. Take Toads case for example.
A few steps onward.
"Excuse me!" Hare hurried up suddenly at Badgers path.
"What is it Hare?" Badger asked as Hedgehog crawled up beside Hare.
"There's been a happy event" Hedgehog beamed looking pretty pleased
"A happy event?" Badger said dumbstruck
"Don't you even know what that means?" Hare snapped "you lead us around in a circle wearing us all out"
"I'll second that" Hedgehog stood up
"And you don't even know what a happy event is!" Hare continued
Receiving their news vacantly, Badger just stood there blinking blankly. So Hedgehog spelt it out for him.
"The Fieldmice have had babies of course" he presented proudly
"Babies! How lovely" Mole happily applauded then slid himself down Badgers back.
"Delicious eh? Adder hahaha" Weasel cruelly joked
"Weasel! The oath" Badger urgently reminded her, now things were desperately on turning point with these new happy addison's.
"Hmm…she wouldn't have dared say that if Fox or Loveday was still here" Hedgehog remarked
"True…True" Hare nodded
"So? What do we do now Badger?" Owl impatiently demanded with content
Badger sighs coarsely "Perhaps? It's time we all had a rest; it is drawing near nightfall after all"
"And what are we supposed to use for cover?" Hedgehog said looking as apprehending like everyone around.
"Oh…we'll just have to find what cover we can" Badger answered feeling the same thing. At any rate, Badger did sniff across a secluded area by the fields edge line, with a perfect compartment of rocks and thicket bushes to help hide them all for a relaxing night.
Spoken otherwise by the next morning's early light, the baby mice's crying made it unrelaxing. While trying to settle them for nursing Mrs Fieldmouse struggled to adjust a way out of their situation.
"It's so difficult traveling with babies" she moaned to Rabbit who'd offered her help.
"Hmm…I know just what you mean" Rabbit related "Although Loveday never made these things look difficult, she'd always confer her help with things like this"
"It's times like now that I wish she was still here" said Mrs Fieldmouse as she laid to nurse all three babies "I'd never thought that I'd lay all my trust in a human who outlooks over her original species to prefer on behalf of us to them"
"I quite agree" said Mr Fieldmouse who was trying to sleep "Loveday is way smarter than any of those other humans and she'd manage to make the babies stop crying for us"
"Wouldn't it be nice if we could find a home here" Mrs Fieldmouse sighed
"Instead of going on to White Deer Park!" said Rabbit almost bursting out with secured laughter. Some of the other animals gathered up to share their obliging opinions.
"None of this would've happened in Fox's time, no matter if Loveday were with us or not" Hare said
"It's not Badgers fault he's doing his best" Squirrel two proposed
"and how are we supposed to travel with a lot of baby mice, we go slowly enough as it is" Hare assumed
"I shall advise Badger to leave the mice behind" Owl proclaimed
"Seems a pity I love little babies" Adder grinned disarmingly
"Oh I bet you do" Weasel concurred witlessly
"The oath Adder! The oath!" Owl prompted officially
"I'm sorry matey it's all my fault" Toad said trying to take full response
"Not at all old thing" disagreed Badger as he woke with Mole lying beside him.
"It was your instinct" Mole tried defencing him. Without Toads warning he'd have been eaten by the pike, so he owed Toad his full pledge support.
"And now babies" Badger groaned feeling unknowing what he should do " If we were at White Deer Park I'd be pleased, but on the journey"
"What shall we do?" Toad turned to Badger concerned
"I think the mice might want to stay behind" Mole suggested
"Well I'm not going to let them!" Badger fiercely opposed "Look what happened to the newts"
"And yet how can we go on with them matey" Toad fairly reasoned, they'd follow to Badgers admitting opinion but the mice's issue was different compared to that of newts somehow.
"By holding us up they'd endanger the rest of us" Toad informed
"I wonder what Fox would do" Badger whispered "He'd probably ask Loveday to carry them and their mother but…Oh dear"
"Do you think we'll ever see them both again Badger?" Mole wondered wishful
"They'll both make their way back to us if they can Moley, either together or separate" Badger patted Mole comfortingly "Meanwhile…we'll have to make the best of it…If only I knew? What to Do?" he said miserably
"This may sound silly Badger but somehow…I've got this feeling that Loveday may not be lost, perhaps Fox as well" Mole confessed
"I doubt if what you're saying may be true Moley" Badger sighed
"But I think your forgetting something Badger" Mole said back
"And what might that be?" Badger asked without looking challenging
"Didn't Loveday said she saw something dangerous about the river" Mole recalled
"That's right mateys" Toad gasped defensively "She seemed really suspicious of it somehow? Only she didn't know what to expect from it"
"And we should've listened to her like we were supposed to" Badger understood "without her joining us we'd not be able to make it all this way thanks to her human intelligence. Why she was improving marvellously well to our ways of living. If we'd hadn't forsaken her…she definitely was worthy to be one of us. Once a Farthing Wood member always a Farthing wood member"
Meanwhile traveling further away out from the rivers distance. Loveday herself was struggling to cope her own issues. Since she'd crossed over the bridge to follow a dirty country path desperately in finding her friends. Nothing seemed any familiar to her anymore.
"Lost lost lost" she muttered helplessly "surely I'd know where to find them at this point after all that I've been training to walk on the wild side"
Feeling tiresome Loveday soon trailed ahead where the pathway changed separately into three other ways.
"Ok now I'm hopelessly lost" She groaned "Now which way should I go?"
The paths all had rather curious places forward. The one going down left showed a strip of canal with narrow boats gushing across it. The second path viewed what could be a superior town. But lastly the third one going uphill looked more promising. It showed a wood in the distance, a type of place where the farthing animals were sure to go shelter under.
"Aha! now I know where to go" Loveday figured "and I didn't even use my powers to solve this"
Without waiting any longer, Loveday ran excitedly up the third path like the wind making her fly all the way across. Over the hill and through the gap, she soon spotted the deep dark looking woods.
"Aye I'm positive this maybe it" Loveday said feeling definite "Hiding in a dark wood is better than slacking off in that town over there that's for sure. If I must I must, "
Obviously catching up further to the neck of the woods Loveday would never imagine that back in the town where the canal met. A wooden narrow craft rose inside a canal lock to meet the next waterway. And it boarded a furry stowaway.
"Look a fox!" shouted someone peering over the slimy covered walls
"Hey you, you've got a fox on board!" another person pointed down
The Nervous and vulnerable Fox felt scared to find himself not only alive and breathing again but waking up being stared down upon by humans made him quite destitute.
"I've got to escape from here" Fox thought "Hang on Loveday I'll come find you and the others"
Authors Notes: Hello guys I'm finally back again
Yes I know Loveday is a bit absent in this chapter but you'll see her much more in the next one.
and I'm pleased to announce that my fanfic has nearly reached up to 2000 views! already, from readers all over the globe.
I am truly honoured that I pushed myself into making this story for you all. Please carry on sending your reviews if you want.
I'll do my best to upload the next chapter when it is ready, so bye till then.