The Farthing Spirit

by MidnightWand567

Loveday Maples, a gifted human with a lonely upbringing soon finds herself among a band of talking animals who need her assistance to escape on a long and perilous journey to an animal sanctuary. With their moral support, she'll prove that a human can become their special ally and maybe even more. Based on the TV program and books.

9. Chapter 9 Friends in Need

"Episode 9: Friends in Need

"Lovedays head was in a complete disarray, with a million thoughts coming into fruition. Constant flashbacks were flashing in her mind as she paced around the forests

"I promised grandma before she died, that I would find out if this ring really holds the spirit of farthing wood".

"I want to help you understand me, prove you wrong about all humans being bad or offensive"

"I'll risk anything to gain your trust, if that's only what it takes".

However these thoughts provoked no conclusion on how to reunite with the farthing animals. Loveday was feeling deflated after all the strenuous things she did to find out where they were located with no winning result. However the wise old owls advice still played on her mind.

"You know more about animals than you think you do. Therefore you need to take that knowledge and use it to your own devices."
Not only was Loveday unsure about how to reunite with the animals, she was also unsure of how they would react to being separated from her. Loveday hoped that they would wish to remain friends after this ordeal but she couldn't be too sure.

The severity of the situation has caused for Loveday to suffer from a splitting headache. With a big sigh exhaling from Lovedays mouth, she patiently realised what the owl meant "The Owl was trying to teach me to use my powers and animal senses in a way that will benefit us all! I must try to use them to grow with the animals and learn their ways. Hopefully it can help us to live in a better world without feeling as though we are constantly in danger."
With this thought, Loveday proceeded to try to engage her 5 animal senses; Such as the power of ultra-smell, sight, audio, touch and taste.

"Think Loveday! Try to remember what Grandma taught you! Try to imagine yourself having animals sixth sense". Through this Loveday knew she had to signal her brain cells to kick start the use of her feral psychic telekinesis. While this was happening, Lovedays natural senses began to change from feeling ordinary into something more animal-like. Through the whole painful process her body dimly fizzed and sparked like burning wire, as a sign of the transformation.
Firstly, her ears started to become pointier, her nostrils felt stronger when she sniffed and Loveday was positive that her eyes were keener in vision after she opened them again. With all of these new changes Loveday thought how handy they will be to help her find her friends before anything else happened unexpectedly.

"Whoa!" she thought "I've found it!. Now I'll be able to track them easily. So that owl was right. All I have to do is find the animals scent and follow it to wherever it does. I wonder if this sense of ultra-smelling works as how I imagined. Afterall what better way is there to help me in this obstacle".

With one heavy inhaling breath, Loveday's nose struck her with the introduction of many unheard-of fragrances and odours that no human could ever smell out in all one go. Individually Loveday detected the smells of flowers, grass, mud, smoke, wood, berries and many more others she couldn't quite make out.
Except for the one thing she desired to smell most of all. It so happened to be the familiar scent of fur and feathers bundled into one-another. Say from being in a large group?.

"Could that be them I'm smelling?" Loveday wonders enthusiastically but managed to keep herself calm "I can pick out each of their scent's! Yes! I remember these smells back from when I was first with the farthing animals, only better.

"I can smell the squirrels, rabbits, hares, hedgehogs But who else is there?" Loveday sniffed in again a few more times "Who knew Toad smelt of stinky pond water? and Mole's definitely got that damp earthy smell I remember from when I first hugged him, back when we all left farthing wood and he refused to go. My! What a time that was".

In all the playful enjoyment, Loveday soon caught Badgers old dusty smell which he always carried. He never washed regularly. "Oh my gosh!" Loveday reacted "Badgers with them! He's survived! He's alright!" very visibly from the smell Loveday knew she was correct. Overcome with heavy relief, Loveday hopped that maybe even Fox was around too, as she tried to find his musky canine smell. Disappointingly another scent pushed her off her radar.

"This smell tastes salty but it makes me feel disturbed" Loveday thought until the scent made itself clear in her.
"It's BLOOD!" Loveday shivered "Oh no! and it's coming from the same direction". Something monstrous was happening to them and she knew they'd be praying for their guardians armoured protection. She feared it was now or never.

"I've got to save them" Loveday fearlessly said, "Even if they blame me for what's happened I'll save them anyway".
Angling her nose upwards, Loveday whiffed the air around herself to capture the scented trail. The scent was fresher towards her right side and so she decided to follow it over the open meadows, where the animals scent was covered in the grass by their fainted footsteps.

"This must be it; the scents led me to here but it doesn't finish here at all" Loveday exclaimed as she got her eyes peeled for any meaningful source of red.
Whenever Loveday now squinted her sharp animal eyes into position. She could zoom in on everything better up close like a telescope would. It scanned the details more stunningly.
"Thank goodness I'm not colour-blind like some creatures" Loveday thought until she at last saw dirty red spectacles staining the stalks of grass a few meters ahead.
"So that's where the blood currently came from. Oh man, you'll never fool me again with eyes like these" Loveday said still looking from a fair distance "Now I can find the animals next".

Briefly as Loveday lowered herself to inspect the ground for the animals trace again. A new presence stalked her thinking with a disturbing appearance.

"Shrrriiike! Shrrriiike!" the sound of the nasty shrieks soon drew Lovedays attention, she looked up to see sitting handsomely on his throne of blackthorns was none other than the shrike bird, glaring with appetite for more pounds of flesh. Apparently to Lovedays disliking, the bush was already full of rotting dead corpses with blood dripping off. Including the baby mice the shrike killed recently.
Feeling sick to her stomach. Loveday masked her face's fury to see such a tiny bird do psychopathic things like a real serial killer, mercilessly taking other innocent lives for ill pleasure. It was too obvious that Loveday had been led astray to see this reason, although not a very pleasant reason.

"And here I though humans were the only murderers in this world" Loveday thought with regrets.

"Did you do this?" Loveday sternly said as she stood and pointed to the hanging bodies.
The shrike twisted its head in her return. "Easy pickings and delicious" the bird replied in a dry rustic voice.

"For you maybe but not for someone like me" Loveday said looking more disgusted by his wicked manners.

"What's got your hair in a curl? I thought you humans didn't give a damn for anything to do with one's personal business's, such as mine" Shrike chuckled rudely.

"Well your wrong" Loveday cried "Literally I'm a human who actually care's for animals. Tell me where you got those baby mice from?".

"Why do you care anyways?".

"Like I just said, because I do" Loveday repeated herself.

"Ha! You're as bad as that bloody Badger you!" Shrike criticised "Upset for no reason at all".

Lovedays ears arrowed upwards to that particular name "Did you say a Badger?".

"Yeah and a Hare, all sorts they were. All a bunch of lunatics mourning, going on. And all because of a few mice, I ask you" Shrike carelessly said.

"You dare to insult my friends in my face, you murderer" Loveday farrowed her eyes. It was all starting to make sense. She realised the shrike did attack the farthing animals and had killed those poor baby mice. It felt so betraying and upsetting for Loveday to imagine what their mother must've felt to lose her babies so young and forever be haunted by this disturbing trauma.

"Oh! so that's what it is then eh? A pathetic human off lollygagging with the likes of them blooming lot! That's a killer!" the shrike laughed. He didn't believe it one bit.
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;"Loveday resisted the dark temptation to ripping off the birds wings as she emotionally asked in a tight controlled voice "Which way did they all go?".

"Hahahaha! I'm not going to tell you girly. And ya can't make me" the Shrike refused "even if you threaten me by force".

"Don't you push your luck on me!" Loveday yelled.

"Oh yeah! What are you going to do about it" Shrike teased.

"Loveday had had just about enough of this aggravating birds mockery and especially about her friend's "I'll show you who's girly" she whispered deeply. If it was force the shrike wanted he was going to get it fair and square.

"You asked for it" Loveday said.

Unknowingly at the same time, Loveday feeling worse than upset was back in her powers status, she telepathically pictured grasping the bird firmly by command. The shrike looked puzzled as he watched the girl mysteriously reach her hand up into a grabbing position and twisted it into a bulky fist.
In one single snap without warning, the ill-minded bird was being choked physically with no hand chaining around his feathery neck. Then he felt himself being aggressively levitated off of the bush and tugged downwards, floating in mid-air when Loveday pulled her hand over. Subsequently this payed off all of the practising Loveday had been pushing herself for.

As the shrike brutally wrestled to loosening himself out of his invisible cage. He'd suddenly saw Lovedays nightmarish look next to him, her eyes seemed to be glowing in a different shade of blue in reflection to her predatorial mood.

"I'm not going to ask you again. Where did you see all those animals go to?" Loveday calmly demanded. She was determined this strategy may give her answers without getting too violent. Instead it was to help prompt it out of the shrikes mouth.

"I-I…I saw them go…that way!" the shrike choked as he managed to point his wing in a direction. From the right-side Loveday sniffed again until she found the animals scent with satisfaction.

"Honesty, that's what I like to see" Loveday taunted.

"Will you please let me go now!" The shrike gulped uncomfortably.

"And why do you think I should permit you that?. I ought to crush your bones and turn you into what you value more than your own life. An ugly pound of maggot infested meat so that some other disgusting creature can come butcher you for fun instead" as motivational as her words sounded Loveday scrunched her hand more making the bird choke harder and with his bone ribs visible around his chest. However, then Loveday had second thoughts "Listen to me now. I'll only let you go if you promise me one thing".

"A-A-anything I'll do anything!" the bird said with torturous pain tightening around his frail body and feeling very frightened to be overtaken like this supernaturally. He was on the brink to falling into unconsciousness.

"You swear it" Loveday added.

"Y-YES!" the shrike finally obliged.

As her power still burned deep inside herself Loveday declared "From now on you will accept under moral terms to never and I mean ever slay another creature for the sake of your own selfish game or pleasure. For if you don't then there shall be consequences thrown down from the likes of me. Understood?".

The shrike nodded looking breathless.

"What was that?" Loveday persuaded. She wasn't letting him off the hook that easily.

"YES!" the suffocated shrike swore.

"Good, now shoo yourself before I change my mind and I mean it, you don't want to threat against a feral psychic again".

"S-Say what?" Shrike simply asked.

"A feral psychic you idiot. That's who I am" Loveday resaid and telepathically flung the bird far away into the sky's abyss. It went spiralling all the way out of the meadow, screaming uncontrollably until Loveday could thankfully see him no more.

Relieving herself from the throbbing pain in her head by panting, Loveday thought "That'll definitely teach him. I cannot believe he made me waste my time on him…at least he confessed" she then looked back at the blackthorn bush "I cannot allow these poor things to stay like this, they deserve a proper burial and that's what I'll give to them".

And so Loveday being respectful as always, dug a little hole with her bare hands in the ground and took off all three of the mouse's bodies and gently laid them down to rest in peace.

After a moment of sad silence, she covered them up and with one point of her ring her glowing orbs shot the bush into pieces, making thorns fly everywhere until it had nothing but a thin crusty skeleton, leaving no evidence of the butcher birds killing obsession.

"Phew! That was sensational" Loveday smiled feeling proud with her work "At last! Now I can go, hopefully I'll be able to spot Owl or Kestrel in the sky if I try using my new sight again, this time nothing can stop me".

Finally getting over and done with the shrikes mess, Loveday was happily on her way again. Running nonstop toward the direction where her animal senses had rediscovered the clean scent of Badger, Mole, Owl and all of her other farthing wood companions.

Although Loveday was mentally still engaged into her thoughts of uncertainty about Fox, even though their was no whiff of him in her nose, Loveday refused to believe that the heroic and cherishing Fox wouldn't just give up his loyalties and forget all about his friends when they needed him the most because that was one thing they both had in common to each other.

"Wherever Fox might be I hope he isn't feeling too lonely" Loveday thought warmly about him as she ran along. "I can't wait to show everyone my new set of animal skills won't they be impressed. This'll really restore our relationship".

---

Elsewhere inside the forest.

Fox was gradually enjoying himself for the first time in yonks. After having to travel a long ways off all on his own after the misfortune, feeling ashamed and terribly alone, he'd accidentally bumped into a beautiful vixen, who by coincidence had welcomed him into her humble hospitality which was a rare thing because fox's were usually territorial in their nature. Assumingly they both grew to like each other's company when they went off to go hunting together. This type of companionship Fox felt was different compared to anything he'd experienced before.

During their time being when they'd gotten more acquainted to each other in general, henceforth as Fox kept on glancing in Vixen's way with admiration not just on her attractive figure and personality, he started to feel uncontrollable under his skin with mutable feelings for this lady fox. Them being proud, nervous, cheeky, attracted, joy and yet awkward.

Of course he did like the vixen…well he really liked her but he wasn't feeling too sure if he was worthy of making a good first impression on her when he mistakenly invaded one of her neighbouring burrows without permission. Although frankly he wanted to share everything about himself to her, that including his journey toward White Deer Park and introducing her to his missing friends.

So while they took a break together from watching each other perform stupendously with their own hunting tactics and childishly playing toss the rat toward one another, Vixen persuaded Fox to tell her his story and through it all he told her about Farthing Wood, the oath of mutual protection, each one of his friends (except Loveday) and how the river had caused fate for him to meet her.

"Vixen?" Fox anxiously said.

"Yes" Vixen replied looking shy.

"Thanks".

"What for Fox?" Vixen blushed.

"For inviting me, it's been a great pleasure hunting with you. I've not hunted for ages" Fox mildly confessed.

Vixen giggled "Because of the oath I suppose".

"Yes, nice ta be back to normal" Fox gave a sly smug.

"Here. Have it all I'm not feeling very hungry" Vixen kindly offered her rat for Fox to eat.

"Gee thanks" Fox said as he both ate it up and finished off telling his story.

Vixen listened to him with great interest and was starting to secretly want to be a part of such a well-formulated community, completed with being involved in adventures and friendship. "What a life that would be" she dreamily thought.

But her interest increase. When Fox told her all about Loveday, at first she resisted believing him for she had grown up to be afraid of humans and their harmful ways of nature. Fox insisted to her that Loveday was different in comparison to the humans that had destroyed farthing wood. He explained to Vixen how he'd found Loveday, who was abused by her carers and therefore she pleaded him to be allowed to join on there side with willing desire.

For her first time, Vixen soon found herself wanting to know everything about Loveday "But how can this be possible?" she said, "I mean…I do feel sorry for her but I can't imagine why she choose to stay with you all, was it really the right thing to do?".

"It's a bit of a long-complicated story to answer your question" Fox said, "If you'd meet her I think you would soon understand the type of person Loveday is; she'd be happy to tell you herself, she really is quite the gentle talker".

"I don't know if I do want to" Vixen honestly replied, "though I will say she does sound rather special".

"Oh believe me she is more than that" Fox added. He didn't want Vixen to resent against the girl he took in but although he also didn't want to appear abnormal in front of the sensitive vixen.

"It would be nice to have a human for a friend. Only I'll have to see for myself weather she's worthy of such an entitlement".

"It's okay. I used to feel the same way as you did about humans until she came into my life. I'm sure the both of you would get along eventually".

"I do hope so".

"Tell me more about yourself eh?".

"My story has no element of interest" Vixen laughed "I've always lived in this country ever since I could remember. Fortunately man has never taken any interest to dig up my home like they did to yours…oh Sorry! I didn't mean to-".

"No please. I've moved on from it ages ago" Fox interrupted her calmly.

"You poor gallant fox" Vixen softly nuzzled up to him with affection. Fox loved the feel of her fur against his but controlled his urging to jump right ahead of the way things were going on between them both.

"Was there something else you were going to say?" Fox made up an excuse to hold her off.

"Actually I was" Vixen lifted herself off looking scared "to warn you that foxes get hunted around here all the time".

Instantly Fox remembered his last encounter with the retired horse who once was involved with the fox hunt and had respectfully tried warning him about it. The hunt was the nightmare from hell in all of Fox's history records. It was this idea that brought Fox the idea to be understanding of why Vixen was wary to meet Loveday in person. Afterall the hunt was the fault of her human species practising such a violent activity of sport as a harmful joke.

Nervously Fox asked, "Has it happened to you?".

"No, I've been lucky" Vixen shook her head "I've often heard the horn blow more than once. I suppose it will be my turn one day".

"NO! I'm here now, I'll protect you!" Fox stood above her looking very courageous and dedicated.

"Thank you" Vixen sighed "But what your already doing is so noble".

"You think so?" Fox asked with interest.

"I do!" Vixen insisted "such restraint to protect the weaker animals you would normally hunt and ta lead them on a journey with a human beside. I think it's very noble".

"Noble?" Fox wonders "I hadn't looked at it quite like that before" he personally thought.

"Oh? How had you looked at it" Vixen questioned.

"As a nuisance!" Fox firmly said which wasn't true at all. Despite Loveday was the one who first addressed Fox as a noble leader with a good heart, he doubted himself for it.

Alternatively Fox tried changing the subject "I wish I could stay here with you. I can't stand the thought of leaving you here all alone. I won't allow myself one bit".

Vixen felt herself bursting with blush's "You couldn't desert the other animals, think about the treason you may bring onto them all" Vixen reasoned, she wanted Fox to be aware of the fact that she liked him because of his loyalty towards his companions and would hate to distract him from doing so.

"OHHH!" Fox bared his sharp teeth in a frustrating groan. How was he supposed to choose going against living happily with the vixen who had fulfilled his loneliness in order to return to his friends?. All he could think about was welcoming Vixen into his life, because he realised he was in love with her and wanted for her to see it.

"Please don't be so hard on yourself" Vixen calmed him "I can keep you company at least until you find them again. They must be missing you"

"It's just that, I've never met a marvellous creature quite Like you before and I'd just like ta-" Fox paused himself when he heard a familiar yet unfamiliar sound coming from the tree above them.

"HOOO-WOOO!". It was a big old owl, trying to nod off to sleep.

"What is it?" Vixen asked as she looked up as well.

"The owl reminded me of someone" Fox explained rather disappointed that it wasn't his owl friend.

Though Vixen knew this owl locally and got his full attention "Owl! Have you seen Fox's friends?".

"No not many foxes in the woods these days" the owl answered.

"No not foxes" Vixen politely corrected him "a party of all kinds of creatures traveling together. A Toad, a Kestrel, a Mole, rabbits, mice, an Owl?".

"Oh! Now you mentioned it, I did have a lengthy conversation with another owl recently. Claimed they were traveling to some nature reserve if you please?" the barn owl recalled.

"Was there a badger with them?" Fox asked him ecstatically.

"Well?...now you've come to mention it there was one passing by with your friends I believe" the owl answered.

"He's safe?" Fox asked again, his bushy tail wagged from the excitement to finally know Badger had not drowned in the river all this time.

"Large as life" the owl confirmed.

"And I thought I'd never see him again, the old codger. Now you'll get to meet him" Fox said to Vixen.

"I look forward to meeting everybody" Vixen smiled as they both locked eyes on each other till Fox broke it off. More importantly he nearly forgot to ask his second question.

"I might sound strange to you but did you also happen to see a girl with them too by any chance?" Fox asked in a desperate tone.

"Hmm?…Does she have blond hair and can talk to animals you're referring to?" the owl described as he tapped his chin.

"Yes! that's who I'm asking for" This was all too good to be true for Fox "is she alright?".

"She's as fascinating as her metaphysical ways" the barn owl said, "I've had the privilege of meeting her face to face".

"Really!" Fox beamed.

"Absolutely" the owl said, he told Fox about the rest of his encounter with the feral psychic and how he'd spoken to her about trying to resolve some issues she had concerning her powers.

"Are you telling me that you've actually gone and left Loveday after she asked for your help. Why would you do such a cruel thing to her?" Fox asked feeling sorry for his human friend.

"Because she didn't need any of my help, you see she always had the ability inside of her" the Owl explained "All I needed to do was restore the girls pride and confidence within herself so that she could learn to do it on her own".

"Fox whatever is he talking about? what's all this got to do with Loveday" Vixen said all this talk about Lovedays having powers sounded like madness for her.

"I'll explain later Vixen" Fox whispered then turned back at the owl "Then why didn't you tell her before?".

"Loveday had to learn to do it herself independently, if I'd have told her then she wouldn't have believed me at the start. But don't worry she's already out there looking for the same animals I believe you are searching for".

"Well at least she's safe for now" Fox muttered "It's likely of her to do something crazy every time she's out by herself. I know her powers mean well but she never realises the consequence it might have effect on her own safety. We've got to find her before she gets herself into a mess".

"It looks like you and Loveday were both in the same circumstance. If she's already out looking for your friends then she can't be far ahead from us" Vixen informed.

"Maybe she is" Fox agreed "If we find her first then maybe we can help each other get back. Hey owl? did you see which direction Loveday was heading for?".

"I don't know where precisely but I did advise the girl to go towards that direction" the owl pointed "it leads to a steep hill where a copse stands on top of it. You can try finding her and your friends over there".

"They all can't be far away, let's make a start now" Vixen said as she got up and walked gracefully passed Fox "What are you waiting for?" she said back over to him.

The resistant Fox was highly in distress to leave so soon with her "The sooner I find them the sooner I lose you" he said looking extremely sad and glum.

"Come on you big lug" Vixen teased, gradually Fox did start leaving the forest beside her. While the fox couple strolled out further, Fox started to change his self-perspectives about his misfortune.

"You know Vixen I'm feeling quite lucky despite how all of this started" Fox expressed.

"You should be. You must be thankful to have survived the rivers rapids otherwise your destiny to lead the animals on would never have been fulfilled" Vixen said.

"It's not that I am ungrateful, it's just that I feel more pleased to have met you because of it" Fox nervously confessed.

"I'm pleased you have too" Vixen said looking glad "It's not every day that I get to meet someone new in my burrow".

"Oh!...um yes of course. Anyway shall we continue?" Fox said trying to hide his embarrassed face.

"Only if you can keep up with me?" the Vixen wildly sprang and flirtishly pushed against Fox with a cheeky brush of her silky tail under his chin. Then ran away laughing at him.

"Hey No fair!...Now you're gonna get it" Fox playfully growled with a smirk before he got himself back up and mischievously chased after her around the forest as if he were being a young cub once again. Pretty soon he'd caught up to her and they both raced side by side from nose to tail letting the world go by without a care. Stealing romantic glance's flirtatiously, till they both slowed down and paused again to catch their breaths still not taking their eyes off each other.

"Nice…for a vixen you're certainly full of hot steam" Fox complimented her as he panted.

"Too much to bear for you is it?" Vixen asked making herself look gorgeous from under the warm sunlight, causing her red fur to glow.

"No…I like it" Fox laughed he never wanted this romantic moment to end.

---

Somewhere further up ahead.

Badger and the dejected animals were all struggling to keep up as they climbed themselves up towards the copse which stood visibly on the top of a steep slope that was part of a raising hill.

"This way matey's" Toad shouted as he journeyed up first. Badger led the rest of the party more responsible and wiser since his conflict with the murderous butcher bird and had never taken his sight off of anyone.

"Keep close together now!...No stragglers! Can't take any chances with that…butcher bird still about!" Badger panted. Then he saw Kestrel coming back down "Kestrel are we out of bounds?".

"It's quite safe. There's no sign of him anywhere and the copse is in sight" Kestrel reported "you can relax now".

"Ah good…takes the weight off of…my shoulders…eh Moley?" Badger said with relief.

"Yes Badger" Mole replied as he thought to himself how unfair it was of him to be sitting luxuriously on Badgers neck. He felt dismayed to hear Badgers panting and gasping in effort to get themselves to shelter and here he was doing nothing to help.

So gathering up all of his inner courage, Mole tapped on Badgers head "Badger! Badger!".

"What is it Moley?".

"Can I get down please?".

"Whatever for?".

"Well…well I just think I'd like to walk for a change" Mole sputtered.

"Oh just hold on Moley" Badger panted more harder "Not much further".

But Mole wouldn't take no from him as he leant over to one side "No! but Toads managing even without Fox to ride on and I'm sure if he can then I can".

"Wait till we get to the top. There's a good chap" Badger replied, without taking notice that Mole was already lowering himself as he gripped on Badger's coat "Do stop pulling me Mole and just stay put. Your no trouble to me you know because I've grown so fond of having you on me".

"Um Badger?" Mole had already dropped down on the narrow ground and was slipping back behind due to his slack of pace.

"In fact I hardly notice your there Mole" Badger said as he continued on, he couldn't hear Moles cries for help at all.

"Oh dear! He thinks I'm still on him" Mole thought guiltily "What If he leaves me behind? I've got to keep up". He tried gripping the earth with his claws but it was no use, the more he attempted to reach Badger his body slid itself down the slope more and his eyesight was growing poor from being in the daylight, so it was hard for him to see where he was going.

Eventually the other animals even passed by him, they were all either distracted or desperate to get up the hill, apparently Mole was hoping they'd all give him some help. However they clearly just avoided him not realising he wasn't in any trouble.

The first to come by was Mr Rabbit and Hedgehog in lively conversation.

"Of course if it wasn't for us rabbits all this grass would be sky high" Mr Rabbit remarked.

"I thought it was the sheep or cattle that kept it down" Hedgehog suggested.

"Oh no! I don't see any sheep or cattle. Do you see any sheep or cattle? See its rabbits that's doing the job" Mr Rabbit said.

"Well I always thought rabbits must be some use, but I couldn't think for the life of me what it was. If Loveday were here she'd be able to tell me " Hedgehog replied as he and the rabbit family left Mole behind.

"Oh dear! Oh dear!" Mole cried "Badgers going to be angry at me if I don't make progress" Mole thought.

To come next was Adder and Weasel.

"Looks like Moley's lost his transport" Adder giggled darkly to him.

"Poor little Moley's lost his way!" Weasel sang loudly.

"Oh shut up!" Adder hissed "and get that thing your carrying away from me".

"What Lovedays bag? You don't know that this bag I'm holding has magic powers. Why it can grant me food whenever I want it, now it's all mine! hahahaha" Weasel boasted as she and Adder left also.

"I say? Badger!" Mole called he was feeling hot and sweaty. When suddenly the hare's and squirrels rushed passed and knocked him on his backside making him tumble down the slope.

"Excuse me!" Hare said as he rudely bumped into Mole.

"Sorry" Mole said feeling helpless.

"Come on dear were going to a copse" Squirrel said excitedly to her sister.

"Trees! Trees!" Squirrels sister cheered missing sight of Mole.

"Wait for me!" Mole called, why won't anyone help him? Maybe the voles, mice and shrews who were last in line could stop to help.

"What does he want us to see?" asked Mrs Vole with a pause.

"Stop fussing Mother! And do keep up" Vole told his mother.

"Help! I can't see!" Mole yelled toward them.

"We've no time for sightseeing come along" Mrs Vole misheard him.

"Help! Help!" Mole tried calling to them again but they had all vanished. Since he could not see anybody around himself he began to feel vulnerably alone on the hillside.
p style="margin-bottom: 0in; line-height: 100%;"The animals had succeeded when they got to the copse at last. The funny thing was Badger didn't see the animals pass by him and now he was the last beast to approach it. For his old age he was feeling pleased with himself.

Although Badger was silly to not recognise that Mole wasn't on top him anymore "Ya see Moley…It wasn't so far" he panted blindly.

Owl had just arrived, looking bewildered at Badgers odd behaviour "They do say Badger that talking to one self is a very first sign of madness" she counselled.

"What do you mean talking to myself?...I was talking to Mole…right here…OH!" As Badger was showing Owl Moles sitting spot, he then felt the empty spot on his crown. This really shocked him terribly.

"Mole? Mole? Where are you!" Badger feeling embarrassed looked all over himself.

"Here Badger…" replied a little voice.

"There what did I tell you" Badger said.

Owl facepalms with her wing "Badger for pity sake please look behind yourself".

"What?" Badger turned around to see that a giggling Weasel was playing her dirty jokes on him. Now badger was even more embarrassed as he roared aggressively at her.

"Weasel! You little…little…oh what's the use" he shouted.

"Hmm? it seems that Mole has disappeared" Owl declared.

Badger soon grew more anxious for his missing best friend "Oh No!".

---

Back inside the forest, Fox and Vixen carried on following the animals trail. They still haven't spotted Loveday as they'd hope to yet but were both certain to be on the right track. Before Fox had decided to tell Vixen more about who Loveday really was, he thought to wait until they'd found her first because he knew she'd save him the trouble of explaining what he wasn't so familiar with, them being Lovedays powers which Fox couldn't properly define for Vixen to understand. Plus Loveday was far better at this sort of thing than he was, so he didn't matter for now.

"Not far now" Fox said happily as he sniffed the ground "Oooh it will be so good to see them again".

"There! I knew you'd be glad and won't they be surprised" Vixen assured.

"Not as much as Loveday will be when she sees two foxes return" Fox chuckled "Out of everybody else I'm looking forward to seeing her the most".

"I'm still worried about meeting her Fox" Vixen confessed "I'm not being judgemental; it's just I can't seem to accept the fact that she's a human. Can I really trust Loveday like you do?".

"To put it this way Vixen" Fox began "I trust Loveday with my life".

"Do you really mean it?"

"I do. After all we have saved each other's life on more than one occasion in the past, it seems fair to say that without Lovedays coming to us in farthing wood we all would have ended up dead anyway and I wouldn't be standing right here with you".

"You do have a point there" Vixen understood "between you and me I really do want to meet her".

"I can't wait to introduce you to her" Fox said smiled.

"You are lucky to have so many friends all together. I've never…had many till you turned up" Vixen remarked quite modestly "I wish I could join you?"

"You could now!" Fox beamed; it wasn't long until his voice shook with nerves, earlier he took some thought into asking Vixen this one particular question…the question that would really change their lives to bring the pair even closer together. It was an awful lot to ask for but Fox was certain it was the perfect opportunity to offer Vixen the best thing he could give, a happy fulfilling life with his unconditional love for her, "If you'd stay with me…as my mate?".

Vixen's heart trembled; she didn't know how to respond to such an affective question. Apart from seeing Fox cringing to hear her answer, she took a silent breath and casually said "Please try to understand me when I tell you this, I really do like you but I couldn't stay with anyone until they've proved themselves".

Fox's face collapses droopily with heartache until he finally heard Vixen say with conviction. She reassured him that she needed more time to think about it "But I'm not saying no, I'll decide as we go along".

With relieve Fox said, "In that case let's get going".

It didn't take long for them both to follow the trail toward a fallen tree trunk. Very oddly Fox sniffed the ground on the right side of it, while Vixen sniffed separately on the left. To their confusion the scent was actually divided up on each other's side.

"What's happened?" Vixen said with puzzlement.

"The scents divided" Fox answered, "strange isn't it?".

"Perhaps they split into two groups?" Vixen suggested.

Fox shook his head with intense disbelief "they wouldn't do that, no!".

"Then which way?".

Fox looked more closely on the ground as he snuffled "they turned! Then later on?...they must've doubled back. Something must've been chasing them?".

"Or they got lost?" Vixen added.

"Hmmm" Fox thought for a second "the question is which is the right way? We'll be wasting a lot of time if we both went the wrong way and now I'm more worried about Loveday. She could've gotten lost if she hasn't found them".

"Why do you say that?".

"Her scent isn't here with the trail" Fox explained "we've got to do something and fast".

"There's only one thing we can do" Vixen very assertively proposed "you and I must split up, each following a different trail. If you discover you're on the wrong track hurry back to join me and if I'm on the wrong track-".

Fox became thoroughly impressed with Vixens quick thinking, it was no wonder he thought that both he and she were meant to be together like this and yet he was still hopeful about Vixens finale decision.

"You'd be such a huge asset to our bunch of travellers" he romantically declared.

"Oh please Fox now's not the time for sharing personal flattery" Vixen giggled as she started to follow her side of the trail.

Fox was emotional to watch her leave but he knew better than to be selfish "You will come back won't you? I couldn't bear to lose you, not now".

Vixen turned back with a cheeky grin "You may not have to" she replied in a convincing tone and just as she was about to carry on.

"Oh Vixen hang on!" Fox called very suddenly.

"Yes?".

"In case you may find Loveday I want you to-"

"Don't worry I'll do my best to make sure she gets back safely" then Vixen was gone.

Fox gives an impressive smirked "Wow she's good that's for sure. I already miss her" he thought admiringly.

---

Back in the open.

The truth be told Loveday clearly wasn't lost and didn't know that the foxes were in a frenzy about finding her. She neared the gigantic hill as she crossed the open grassland for it, the narrow slope looked nearly like a grassy mountain to her eyes since she was now smaller in size.

She peered above to see if the animals were there but it was so high to even see the copse on the summit. Luckily her new ultra-smelling power was revealing to her mind that the animals were up and waiting for her to return.

"By the accordance of my nose they've definitely gone all the way up, this hill should be easy enough to climb for me to get to them. It'll be just like the old times when I use to play pretend mountaineers with Grandma" Loveday thought excitedly.

She quickly started to make her way up, it was easy from the start since the ground below was fairly stable until it suddenly started to become steeper, so steep in fact that Loveday had to stop to catch her breath and she hadn't even gotten herself half way above the slope.

"Oh bother! I've forgotten how hard this is being small, now I'll have to climb up the rest on all fours. Come on Loveday just think like a Fox yourself"

Crawling up in a canine manor, the sun blistered on Lovedays back and the narrowness of the slope was making her muscles shake with strenuous aching until she got up halfway and needed to catch her breath very profoundly.

"What…wouldn't I give…for a drop of…water right now" she panted in place. She didn't just worry about dehydration but also catching sunburn since she was laying there exposed in her underwear without wearing sun lotion. If anyone saw her they'd think they were seeing an attractive cavegirl basking in the sunshine.

Anyhow as Loveday had finally recuperated and was just about to lift back up her head, when out of nowhere there was a sudden series of tremendous vibrations, from the unsettling feel of it against her body and head which was glued to the grass it sounded to be coming from somewhere nearby. Loveday was horror-stricken! to hear this loud damaging noise inside her sensitive eardrums; it seemed her ultra-hearing was trying to warn her about something dangerous to not only be for her but for her friends as well.

"THUD! THUD! THUD!"

"Heavens! What's making all of that din?...A thunderstorm?...no there's definably more…Can I hear barking? And tooting from a horn? What on earth is going on? I'm suspecting there is something terribly wrong!" Loveday thought as she pressed her heads pressure harder onto the ground "Aye I can hear it increasing, its coming closer!".

Loveday was stuck investigating, right above a certain Kestrel was out sky patrolling as per usual, personally thinking about what was awaiting next for her and the farthing animals.

"Things have just never been the same since we've lost Fox and Loveday entirely, nothing but trouble. If only I'd have found them by the riverbank then our troubles in this outside world would be different and poor old Badger wouldn't be exhausting himself out more than he already is. If only there could be another way to…" Kestrel paused her muttering and looked down very sharply "No way!".

Immediately Kestrel thought she was dreaming."Do my eyes deceive me from what I'm seeing right now?" she thought warily "Can she truly be?".

At birds eye view there happened to be a human girl within sight. Secretly begging for her to be who she thought it was Kestrel sang her verse as loudly as she possibly could.

"Kee! Kee! Kee!".

Loveday forgot what she was doing then tilted and diverted her head from side to side. She'd know that beautiful sound from miles around. Her animal eyes saw nothing but a bright blue canvas until she'd widen them with great surprise, there blocking all of the sunlight out with its powerful wings and casting a shadow right down in front of her face was the friendly hawk she'd recognized.

"It cannot be!" she gasped "undoubtably I know who owns wings like that"

"Kestrel!" Loveday astounded then waved her arm to signal back "Hello there! Kestrel is that really you!".

"Loveday! it's me!" Kestrel replies with a soft smile on her beak "Oh Loveday we thought the river had swallowed you and we'd lost hope to see you again but I've finally found you at last and your living and breathing again no doubt. Oh won't the others be so happy to see you!".

"Are you telling me that they've missed me. After all this time I thought they were angry at me when I was all alone" Loveday said.

"They've never even stopped thinking about you since what has happened" Kestrel explained "They've all been missing you even Adder as I recall".

"Have they been really? Oh sweet relief, then that means you really want me to come back then" Loveday sighed.

"Yes! Now more than ever. They're all resting inside the copse ahead of you, I'll tell them you're on your way! Welcome back Loveday my dear friend!" in seconds Kestrel excitedly flew away so fast she didn't stop to hear Loveday call to her back.

"Kestrel wait you've got to warn the others! Oh dear she's gone but at least I know I'll be welcomed again. I better hurry" time was now of the essence for Loveday to give proceed warning to what she heard before, evidently she felt the bizarre noise had something cold-hearted and barbaric installed for them all to face unlike the old obstacles which payed the unfortunate price to some of their well-loved party members.

"I wish Fox was here with me, what would he think about that noise? Maybe he knows what it is since he's used to having ultra-hearing. I have a bad feeling that I'll soon be finding out" Loveday pondered as she levelled herself over to the highest point on the slope.

---

Back on the other side of where the blackberry bushes grew, Vixens side of the trail had ended abruptly and had discovered she was the one who'd taken the wrong direction, which meant she should go back and re-join Fox on the correct trail as agreed.

But before that Vixen slowed herself in need to think seriously about Foxes life-long proposal to becoming his mate. Her independence and freedom she cherished would sadly be taken away unless she resisted going back but her hidden romantic feelings for the hansom fox told her otherwise. It grew harder for her in thoughts of giving up her self consideration and satisfaction for the Fox she fell in love with. Her heart was pulling her strings to follow Fox down to the ends of the earth and yet she would not remove herself out of sitting position.

Fortunately there on her side was a Thrush who happened to have befriended Loveday hours ago and was singing a song to match the enjoyment of the warm moisty shade her chicks sheltered under.

Having no one else to talk about her difficulties Vixen decided to seek some advice from the Thrush who may provide the empathy she seeked.

"Do you have a mate?" she politely asked without a care.

"Yes and a family too" the thrush answered proudly.

"Don't you miss your freedom?" Vixen questioned with a sceptical look.

"Haven't the time" Thrush casually said, "much too busy".

"Hmm I see" Vixen understood with a sigh "I used to like walking alone in the morning dew".

"And now?" Thrush asked with a convincing look.

"and now I don't know what to do" Vixen conceded that her love for Fox was more important to her than anything in the whole wide world. She imagined hearing Fox calling for her vividly with a dreamy smile.

The thrush got Vixens message without hesitation, instead the bird saw how longing the Vixen was to go run after her new found lover.

"What is he like? Is he brave and true for you?".

"Probably" Vixen laughed with her.

"Haha if you don't try you never know?" Thrush assures "Go to him, while you have the chance left. Run away and be happy".

"I will!" Vixen declared and was already running away "Thank you Thrush!".

"Good luck!" Thrush waved goodbye as she muttered "ah young love".

Suddenly a big boom came from what sounded like a horn or something like it. This would be the starting sound of impending doom for everybody. This was 'the hunt!'. Humans were furnished from head to toe in scarlet dress coats and finely equipped with excitable hounds and well-built strong horses for their victorious catch of the day. Either a poor helpless innocent Fox or Vixen would be suffering the chase until it sucked the life out of them and then be torn to shreds with no mercy.

All together from their separate places Fox, Vixen and Loveday reacted and grew pale when they all heard the spine-chilling call of the horn at the same time, engulfing their ears like a moth to a flame. Stricken with sweeping horror and incapability to escape the brutes at once.

Fox having to face the anguish that torn him between going back to collect Vixen was overcome with pursuit to return for his friends cause now they all were in big trouble again. He kept turning his head behind to see if Vixen was returning but sadly there was no avail.

From the very same spot where Fox and Vixen had separated themselves from each other, the hunt was on a roll. The ferocious hounds were all set and leading their master who was in charge, onward to find their winning prize.

"That way!" the master shouted, their hunting pattern of hounds and horses soon ran at full speed on target.

More unfortunately Vixen was closest to the hunt. She feared the attention of bringing the hunt onto herself that she'd been dodging for years, and now in attempt to save time and join up with her beloved Fox she emerged through a short-cut in the woods to get safely ahead before time ran out for her to scheme for emergencies. She obviously realised that it was she who the hunt was chasing after her scent.

---

But back from the top of the hill ,Mole was still struggling to catch up to the animals himself. He too heard the hunt vibrating against the hallow ground in terror.

"Oh no! It's an earthquake!" Mole panicked; this sudden fear and wanting protective companionship gave him the speed of hauling himself forward. This time he got way farer than before.

"Kestrel who was heading over to tell Badger that she'd found Loveday, took pity on poor tired Mole and thought she'd help him.

"Kee! Kee!"

"Kestrel is that you?" Mole squinted above.

"Keep going! Your nearly there now!" she replied then flapped on ahead "Badger! Badger!".

"I say? What is it kestrel?" Badger asked, "I'm trying to look for Moley".

"It's alright Moles coming now and I've news!".

"What sort of news?".

"It's Loveday!".

"Uh?...What do you mean about Loveday?".

The animals were all wondering what Kestrel meant. Particularly Owl payed no attention to her for she never like hearing false hope being spread among themselves. She believed at all cost, that Fox and Loveday were never coming back to them. That was until she turned her neck to see a small figure appearing in the distance.

"Look mateys over there!" Toad shouted pointing a rubber finger.

"What can you see?" Hare asked as he looked down below the slope with the rest.

Badger was over the moon with what he saw, Loveday was grungily trying to get to them with a sacred look on her face and she was watching all around herself for no reason at all.

"By Jove! It's Loveday! Look everybody its Loveday and she's coming up" Badger enraptured them all as he pointed to where Loveday was.

"I can see her!" Squirrel yelled from a tree branch with her sister.

"Heavens above! it's really her" Mrs Hare exclaimed.

"Well I never!" Hare jaw dropped.

"I'd knew she'd come back to us" Mrs hedgehog wept tears of joy.

"Yeah, I had the same thoughts exactly as you did dearie" Hedgehog places an arm around her.

"Hallo there Loveday! come on your nearly there!" Toad shouted.

"Loveday? well it's about time she'd turn up" Weasel cross armed.

"Surely that cannot be Loveday" Owl doubted "She looks to be in a rather apprehensive state of mind if you ask me".

"Oh dear! I hope she doesn't get angry at us" Rabbit said to her husband.

"What could be the matter with her?" Badger asks.

"I'd say she's seen something happening in her dreams that we don't know about it. If you ask me we should be prepared for the unpredictable that she always leads us into" Vole proclaimed seriously.

"Oh I hope it isn't about that butcher bird!" Fieldmouse shivered.

"Please don't mention that" Mrs Fieldmouse scoffed him.

"Sorry dear" he apologised to his poor wife.

"Eh Badger? I can see Mole" Toad told him.

"Moley? Oh where is he?" Badger watched the tiny ball of fur approach his feet with satisfaction. He didn't mean to forget about Mole once he found out about Loveday.

He gave Mole the stern look "There you are! Oh Moley whatever made you do it? we all thought you got lost and you've worried me half to death".

Mole cried looking very exhausted and guilty "I-I'm sorry Badger you were so tired and I so wanted to help…and?...Oh dear!" Mole cried contritely.

Badger who had nothing punishing to say, gently picked Mole up with a sympathetic face. He didn't blame Mole for trying to do something good, even if it was a foolish act.

Cuddled in Badgers arms Mole cried into his broad chest "Please believe me Badger, I did it for your sake…I am such a nuisance…I'm sorry oh I am sorry".

"Its alright Mole" Badger soothed him with a nuzzle "At least your safe and cheer up cause Lovedays coming back".

"Has she? Where?" Mole clanged onto Badger's white hair with a change of happy expression.

"Right over there old chap!" Badger lifted Mole up for him to see her "she's almost here now".

"Oh goody!" Mole gave a loving face "I knew she was alive all along!".

Then out all of their excitement. The horn tooted from a close distance followed by the cries and turmoil of hooves running and howling of dogs; the hunt was on its way to the farthing animals hiding place. The animals got nervous and urged for Loveday to make it before the hunt occupied itself.

"Did you see the hunt?" Mole asked Badger "I heard it as I was coming".

"Yes so did I Moley" Badger comforted him "I think I know now what's bothering Loveday, she's scared of being found just like we do".

"Will she be alright? I can't see her yet".

"She'll be fine, don't worry; she can take care of herself. We'll help her as soon as she gets up here and then we'll all be out of harm's way".

Mole climbed himself onto Badgers head for a better view "I hope there aren't any foxes about?" he said.

"So do I Moley…so do I" Badger sighed sorrowful, everyone had the same thought as him.

"Kestrel keep watch! And help keep an eye on Loveday while you can!" Badger ordered her.

"Will do!" Kestrel soared all the way up until she got the best view out of everybody, able to see both Loveday and the hunt which had now growing more present to everyone's guessing.

The howling got louder and louder for the hungry hounds had contacted what they've been eagerly looking for.

"They've picked up a scent!" Hare noticed "They'll find us if they see Loveday there on the slope, what's keeping her?".

"I don't know? But your right Hare she must make it. Come on Loveday! hurry yourself!" Badger shouted down.

"Loveday get up here now!" Hare called as well.

"Quick as you can Loveday matey!" Toad shouted.

---

Pretty soon every animal seemed to be calling for her name. Only a few steps away Loveday was dead frozen and completely deaf to their calls. The impact of the hunt appeared to must have entranced her animal instincts to keep looking down the slope since she'd first heard the horn play its message of warning.

"I can't move" Loveday thought to herself "somethings pulling me to stay right on this spot, but why?. Maybe I'm supposed to watch over my friends or help whoever's in need of me but if I do that then I'll surely be physically drained again because I've already used up a great deal of my powers. Should I risk it? I can't ignore from doing what's right".
Without further ado, Loveday bravely stood up and engaged herself with the assistance of her animal senses to look out for what was coming.

Lovedays eyes anxiously scoped the thick blanket of trees and shrubs for any sign of sudden movement.

Suddenly she saw who was being chased amongst the greenery, another but different looking Fox. It was trying to out win the chasing dogs as best as it could by weaving through the forestry in a zigzag and other such perplexing ways to confuse their hunting instincts.

"I can't believe this is happening, I'm fighting against this conviction my kind does to foxes. Now I'm very ashamed to be called human" Loveday thought, as she watched the victim emerge from out of hiding and rocketed over on the open grass, where she could see its lovely red fur stick out.

"Oh no!" Loveday cried as she then saw the excitable hounds stampeding behind after the poor thing, they were gaining on her fast. And the horse's with riders weren't plunging far behind either.

The cunning Vixen was running out of time. She didn't stand a chance of making it out of this one like many foxes hadn't before her. The pain and bone tiredness was written all over her teary face.

If Loveday had tilted her head down she would happen to see that Fox had accomplished making his way back and was caught standing at the low-level ground of the hill, watching his Vixen getting cornered helplessly.

He watched with horror as he murmured to the passing Vixen "Run girl! Run! Run!".
Then by some immediate miracle, Fox felt all his fear melt away inside and his protective instinct took over him. There was no way he was abandoning the love of his life now, Vixen needed him just as much as Fox needed her.

As Fox turned his head, on the upcoming hunt he had a 'Oh no you don't' look on, then he set himself off down the turf, nosediving with only one thing set on his mind 'Save Vixen!'

He made a beeline in-between the action. Running straight though Vixens path so that the foxhounds could contact him instead. "They won't catch you while I'm alive!" he thought darkly.

Thankfully his idea of vengeance took an achievement cause the dogs were sniffing all over the place in bewilderment. Having no clue to which fox they were already chasing was which?.

But throughout it all, Loveday was the first one who smelt Fox's scent and jaw dropped as she watched him getting unquestionably involved with the hunt. This was the first she'd seen him alive ever since and was shocked to think that this time he maybe gone for good if the hunt had killed him properly.

"Fox!" Loveday shouted down emotionally but he didn't hear her "Fox! Come back! Fox!".

"Loveday! what is it? what's wrong my dear!" Badger called to her level.

"It's Fox and he's going toward the hunt!" Loveday impatiently pointed. The animals looked at one another in amazement and shellshock, they could actually see that not only did their guardian return to them, but so did their heroic leader.

"Lovedays right!" Toad jumped for joy "Its Fox!"

"But what is he doing?" Badger gasped with the same horror Loveday felt. They all saw him cross in-between Vixen and the hounds and was turning back for the outline of the woods where Vixen was heading for.

"This is very exciting" Adder hissed with amusement. Anything dark and battling was her sort of show.

"Hey Look! Hahaha they don't know which fox to follow" Weasel laughed, as they watched the hounds pause and were sniffing around the outskirt in baffling circles.

"Fox deliberately ran across the path of the hounds when they were after another fox, A vixen as I could tell. He'd put himself in terrible danger to save her" Badger said with impression.

Loveday had managed to climb herself back up to be beside the farthing animals again. Some of the animals were really glad to see her messy but beautiful self again and really wanted to go up to nuzzle her, but Loveday wisely told them there was no time for reunion hugs yet, they had a fox to take care of first.

"Did you miss me much?" Loveday whispered as she stood beside Badger.

"More than I can tell you right now Loveday dear" Badger replied placing a paw on her shoulder, "We'll celebrate your return and catch up with everything later how about that?".

"Agreed" Loveday nodded "and here comes kestrel!".

Kestrel had been watching the hunt from above and kept a closer eye on Fox.

"What's happening Kestrel? Are the foxes still in one piece?" Loveday called up to her.

"The vixen Hasn't escaped, some of the hounds are still following her too. Now they are both in trouble" Kestrel replied with slight sadness.

"A vixen?" Loveday gasped "I hadn't even noticed, looks like I'll have to keep adapting my animal senses more."

"Animal senses you say Loveday?" Badger asks with curiosity.

"No time to talk about that now Badger. Keep watching!" Loveday reminded him.

"Oh yes right!" Badger nodded, he hated it when he got distracted at times like these.

"Kestrel landed next to Owl in the tree above the animals "Now Fox is in the clearing heading off the rest".

"Oh no! the hounds can see him" Toad directed everyone to see Fox getting gained on the edge of the woods and disappearing along with the hounds inside it.

"Lets hope the vixen he's saving is having better luck" Loveday prayed.

"Don't panic!" Rabbit shielded her children's eyes from seeing the violence.

"If only you Rabbits hadn't panicked none of this would ever have happened" Toad told them off.

"The past is past Toad!" Owl quoted him.

"The very words we should all be living by" Loveday agreed "its better just to forgive and forget what's happened before, because those things don't really matter anymore. What really matters is to move forward and try to learn from our mistakes together. So stop blaming the rabbits on Fox's behalf, he certainly wouldn't do that".

"Well spoken Loveday" Badger patted her on the back.

"Oh thank you Loveday" Rabbit said feeling glad that Loveday never took anyone's side.

"I can't bear it!" Mr rabbit dramatically fainted.

"My husband!" Rabbit shrieked.

"Oh never mind about him, what about Fox?" Badger said.

"Allow me" Loveday worked her magic and turned her animal eyes on overlooking the forest vegetation again. She soon clearly saw that Fox was temporarily beaten and was dazed in hoping or preying that he saved Vixen in time.

"Its all looking bad" Loveday described with worry "Fox is tottering awfully and he can't run anymore. The hounds are close behind him and they're coming back this way"

From under the trees Fox came out, it appeared that he must've been trying to trick them into running in a big circle and was now leading the hounds back from where he came from. The animals began to get scared as they saw the baying foxhounds baring fangs and claws and everything they feared.

"He's drawing the hounds towards us!" Weasel gasped then dropped Lovedays bag.

"Don't Panic!" Rabbit yelled when she was fanning out her fainted husband.

"W-where am I? What's happening?" Mr rabbit dimly asked as he gained consciousness.

"Fox is drawing the hounds towards us!" Rabbit told him which made him faint again.

"Badger? we should run for our lives" Hare insisted with a frightful look in his eye.

"No! remember the oath, we must all stand together and fight!" Badger affirmed.

"One for all and all for one, that's our motto remember!" Loveday said.

"But we'll be torn to pieces!" Weasel cried in panic, then jumped herself in a bush like the coward she was.

"Fox was in worst condition as they all saw him coming up the hill. His plans had failed to save himself, for the hounds stamina were making lighter footing on the hill than he was. The situation was hopeless.

"One of the squirrels jumped on Lovedays shoulder and said, "Poor Fox he's so tired".

"They're not going to get him are they?" Mole said with pleading eyes.

"What are you waiting for Loveday? Please do something!" Mrs Hare begged.

"I can't! I've already used up my powers on something else" Loveday explained with remorse.

"You did what?" Hare stared at her.

"Listen everybody! We can't always rely on Loveday to take care of our problems, if we do then she may not stand a chance and we'll lose her again. So it's up to us to be prepared and work together as a team, because that's what Lovedays been trying to teach us all along. For once we should be the ones to protect her, so for her and foxes sake let's try" Badger spoke firmly as he gazed at Loveday affectionately.

The animals all soon agreed that now it was their time to save their protectors instead, to show how much they really did support and love them both for all they've done in the past to save their lives.

"Your right Badger, it's to battle mateys" Toad cheered.

"But what can we do?" Hare asked.

Badger turned to the birds "Kestrel? Owl? Can you do anything?"

"We can try to head them off" Kestrel proposed as she took off.

"In certain circumstances, attack is the only form of defence" Owl nodded with her as she followed behind.

"Get on with it then!" Weasel shouted through her bushy cover.

"Good luck you two!" Loveday waved them off to battle "I don't know what to say about what you said earlier Badger".

"Then don't Loveday dearest" Badger calmed her "you stay here where its safer and let us do it for a change".

"Thank you" Loveday said with tears in her eyes.

Unbearably Fox was already half-way up and the hounds were slowing a bit from the narrow climb. This was what Owl and Kestrel were waiting for by chance. One at a time they both attacked the hounds with their sharp talons, scarring them skin deep to make them roll down the hill with squirts of blood rippling off their foreheads. The birds even bravely swooped down trying to scratch the hunters black helmets in surprise.

"Gee-Gee-Gee-Gee!" Kestrel screeched as she stopped a hound from biting into Fox.

"Whoo-Whoo-ooo!" Owl sang as she swooped down fiercely on the leading huntsman.

"Get the hounds back here, the bloody devils are trying to confuse the hounds" the master cursed "one fox at a time, let's try the wood" then the whole group turned back. As did the obedient hounds as they had no choice but to follow their owners orders.

"Its alright! They've called off the hounds" Hare observed in relief.

"Well done Kestrel! Well done Owl!" Badger cheered them.

"Yes that was beautiful" Loveday added.

"Oh it was nothing really" Owl said modestly.

"Weasel popped right out of hiding again "They've gone have they?" she asked.

"It isn't over yet" Kestrel said when she and Owl landed back in the tree feeling very tired and proud.

Then from over the edge, Fox came up and collapsed right as he saw his dear friends bundled together, giving him well deserved congratulating cheers for his efforts in beating off the hunt like the noble leader he truly was.

"Loveday stood frozen stiff as she saw him. Tears were coming out and she quivered in place.

"Fox! You did it" Badger cheered for his young friend.

Fox didn't look too pleased as he shamefully realised what his friends had done for him back there. It was he the hunt was after and he didn't plan on having his friends risk their hinds for him.

As his voice recovered he miserably said "Oh No! what have I brought on you all" then he turned to see Loveday looking at him speechless.

"Loveday" He murmured but Loveday didn't get to answer him.

"It's alright Fox the riders have turned back" Kestrel said to him.

"Your safe!" Badger said, "They've gone after the other poor fox".

Fox was destroyed to hear that, he burst into tears as he turned to look back "No! oh no, no. I've failed her" he said in a voice of ruin.

Loveday was confused "What's gotten into to him? I did see he was up to something, but what is the meaning for him to be so heartbroken like this?" she thought.

"Who Fox old boy?" Badger asked in wonder.

"The Vixen who I'd met on my way back to you. I wanted her to be my mate" Fox sunk to the ground silently crying. Loveday rushed up to him and started to stroke his back, for now she understood the broken pain Fox was facing of having loss his achievement.

"You-you were in love" Loveday gasped in comprehension.

"Yes! I wanted her to come with me" Fox muffled in despair on Lovedays lap "I was going to introduce her to you Loveday, it was my dream for Vixen to see me enter White Deer Park"

The animals finally understood that Fox had lost his heart to Vixen.

"Oh poor Fox" Mole cried.

"I'm really sorry, I didn't realise" Badger spoke softly to Fox.

"I bet she gets away" Toad tried assuring.

"Three to one on, any takers?" Weasel offers a bet.

"Weasel will you shut up!" Badger scoffed her.

"and she's being sacrificed for my kinds own cruelty" Loveday looked up and once again had her eyes scan the wood for the hunt which they could still hear going on.

"I've let her down and now I'll never see her again" Fox continued to blame himself.

Without another word to say. Lovedays temper started to consume her, her eyes were spinning in blue flames and felt as though her animal senses were ready to fight alongside with her telepathical mind. The feral psychic was calling in her to do what she was needed to accomplish.

"She will not die today" Loveday whispered as she stood upright and ran effortlessly down the hill at a speed she never pushed herself to. The animals looked very surprised to see Loveday going.

"Loveday!" Fox shouted in shock "Loveday no!".

"Loveday Come back!" Badger shouted too.

"Is she mad?" Toad gasped.

"Loveday! Loveday!" the creatures were all shouting for her to come back.

"I'll go after her" Kestrel quickly offered and followed the speeding girl.

"Count me in. I'd like to see what crazy human idea she's planning" Owl said and took off with Kestrel.

But Loveday was already down and searching for Vixen in the outskirts. She heard the hunt coming from the wood beside and started to run across like a hunting lioness. She had a conquering plan brewing.

Vixen was at her end as she exited the forest. Her legs were all sore from pulled muscles and her tongue flapped lifelessly out of her jaws, as her head drooped with extreme exhaustion. The anticipating hounds were only a feet away with eyes thirsting to kill in their rampage and were gaining inch by inch. Luckily thanks to Fox's chase they were all tiring rapidly.

Loveday saw Vixen heading her way and hid behind a tree trunk as the noise grew louder. She patiently waited for them to come to face her. Vixen soon rushed passed and Loveday then started to warm up her powers.

"I'll shove them off with my brute strength, that will take the fight out of those goons for good" she told her active mind.

The hunt came closer and closer until, Loveday jumped out in front and flung her arms at the hounds wildly, screaming at the top of her voice "Stay back!". In a wave of her supernatural force, Loveday swiped the hounds into each other. They flew off the ground and slammed right against the trees, making whining sounds.

"Strike!" Loveday cheered, then she saw the riders at present. The horses started to act up for sensing Lovedays apparition, they wanted to turn around and run away. Their wicked master, who Loveday could smell the betrayal he intended to brake, wasn't letting his squad give up quite so easily. Before Loveday turned to run she saw the master flip his head right at her. The very first real human to see the feral psychic in person….or maybe not as Loveday first thought?.

"There! A rare white fox in our mist!" he shouted pointing toward Loveday with greedy and sinful eyes.

"White Fox? What the heck is he pointing at me for? I'm a human" Loveday said.

What Loveday didn't know was that in all of the humans eyes they could witness a white fox instead of a girl standing, they were surprised to see such a pure creature right in their game.

"She would double a fetching price! We'll be rich!" The master ordered "Get the hounds back up and catch the beast now! There's no escape for them this time".

Loveday was caught thinking about why the humans didn't actually see that she really wasn't a fox. She needed to make an escape, because now the hunt intended to kill her. So with little effort she desperately made a retreat back for the hill where Vixen was running towards.

Vixen didn't know what to think, she saw what Loveday did to stop the hounds for her. Truthfully Loveday was every little bit that Fox had described about her earlier, and now Vixen knew specifically Loveday was somebody she could trust, even if she didn't understand how Loveday was able to conquer a whole pack of wild dogs like that.

In no time to waste Loveday hurried up behind Vixen. The amount of pressure she used up in her powers had weakened her pace and was growing tired. Every breath she took wasn't even regaining her endurance.

"Keep going!...Hurry!" Loveday told the running Vixen beside her "when we get to the hill, save yourself and re-join Fox at the top. I'll hold them off as long as I can!"

Vixen was shocked to hear this coming out from the humans mouth. She wanted to opposed the girls sacrifice, but she didn't have any steady breath to speak again to Loveday. And now it wasn't the hounds who were chasing them both, it was the master!. On his grey coated horse with a whip in his hand.

The master had unveiled his true colours and was taking things into his own hands since the hounds were now useless in winning. Mercy was not written down in his own rulebook.

"Loveday and Vixen are coming!" Hare pointed "They're out of the woods and making their way back up".

"and so is the hunt. That man's going after poor Loveday" Squirrel warned.

Fox was waiting on the copse edge with restored desperation, he never expected them to be this close "Come on you two, you can make it. You're both almost there!".

Easier said then done. Vixen and Loveday were gasping more than panting, at any moment they could die from lack of rest in them. Together side by side they courageously reached the half-way point with their last few breaths, the master was right on their tails. He was going to catch them in seconds.

Eventually Vixen couldn't fight this fight anymore with her straining body and was beginning to sink down to the ground lifelessly.

"No!" Loveday forcefully tried pushing Vixen back up on her feet before the master got to them. Vixens weight was too much for her to shove as she too was run dry on her average strength, and inadvertently Vixens body was pressing Loveday back down the slope. They were both starting to slip back, right into the masters hands.

"Oh no!" Fox was racing to their rescue; he saw the master right behind Vixen and Loveday. Raising his whip handle and poising his arm for a heavy blow, which could knock them both out flat and then the hounds would be on to them.

Seeing as they've lost the battle entirely, Loveday was shaking not from being scared but for the thought of excepting her coming end. She wasn't going to go without saving Vixen like she promised to. As the master prevailed on rearing up his horse, Loveday jumped on top of Vixen to shield her down. Then lifting up her ring with the sacred crystal, Loveday cringed with all her might to make it work again.

The ring fizzed slowly as the master leant over the side of his horse. Loveday only had one shot left and in one last push from her mind.

The light from her ring, laser beamed itself out right into the masters face like a flash of lighting.

"Ahhh! My eyes!" the master cried, letting go of the reins to cover his face. The laser had blinded him for good.

Sadly though Loveday was now out cold and had passed out on top of Vixen. Vixen tried to move the both of them to get out of the way. The masters horse was about to stomp them to death with its uncontrollable hooves.

Then from out of the grass, a glistening scaled head lunged itself forward and buried its fangs deep in the horses leg.

The horse screamed in pain and reared higher on his hind legs. Falling backwards with its front legs pounding the thin air and threw the unbalanced master down with a sickening thud. It had landed right on its rider and now the master lay motionless, surrounded by his hounds..

After watching the whole confusing episode, Fox quickly helped Vixen carry Loveday on his back "Come on Vixen!" he shouted as he heaved Loveday and dashed back for the copse one last time. They had enough going up and down hills for one day.

The next moment Vixen knew as they made it. She was dashing for the copse and collapsing right down as she knew she was finally out of harm's way. All of that running for her life had really taken toll on her. She looked very unwell and peaky.

"Oh you poor thing" Mrs Hare softy comforted Vixen with a few supportive strokes.

"You're going to be safe!" Fox went up to her with a loving nuzzle.

"Oh she's going to be safe" Mole repeated.

"Their calling off the hunt" Kestrel said, she and Owl had seen it all occur from above, including Lovedays incredible rescue. The hunt was now leaving, the animals watched as the riders left dragging along the masters broken body and limping horse as punishment for all their evil deeds. Which served them right for nearly bringing the deaths of Fox, Vixen and Loveday in all the same occurrence.

After all that, Fox had just laid Loveday down comfortably, her body started to twitch like she was having a fit. She was mumbling something to them unclearly.

Fox tried to make it out "What is she saying?" Fox asked.

"I don't know Fox?" Badger replied medically taking hold of Lovedays hand.

Although Vixen was still recovering she went up close to Lovedays face. As she got closer the word "water" was being repeated.

"Fox!…she needs water to revive herself" Vixen explained.

"Thats it!" Fox suddenly realised "Somebody find Lovedays bag, remember it contains the emergency water supply. Find it now!".

"Quickly everyone. We need to save her!" Badger ordered. The animals started to look.

Pretty soon the squirrels had the bag in-between them "We've found it!".

"Then give it here" Fox required. He managed to open the top and sniffed out the flask "Got it!" he muffled then took it straight over for Loveday.

"Here you go girl" Fox said, Loveday took her bottle and gulped it down.

"That's it then, take it slowly" Badger rubbed her back supportively.

Loveday felt all better again. As she looked up, the animals were all surrounding her with their silent smiling faces. They really did worry about her.

"Loveday?"

Loveday turned to see that it was Fox looking pretty cross and agitated with her.

"Um…Hello Fox" Loveday whispered, "It's been awhile".

Fox didn't reply. He only furrowed his eyes more at her.

"Fox please, I was only trying to help" Loveday tried explaining, Fox soon crawled over to her with his fangs showing.

"I know your angry with me but please try to understand"

Fox seemed to be growling as he stood next to her. Loveday was scared now.

"Ok go ahead and get it over with, I really am an idiot for putting your lover in danger" Loveday wept "You can hate me all you want but please let me come to White Deer Park and once we are there I'll leave you all alone till I die".

Loveday shut her wet eyes. Preparing for Fox to do his worst.

Unexpectedly Fox leaned in on Lovedays shoulder, rubbing his head awkwardly.

Loveday refused to gesture back but couldn't help returning the embracing hug. They didn't let go of each other for some time.

All the animals wanted to do the same to Loveday but thought it was best to not disturb this moment of reunion.

"I'm sorry our reunion turned out weird" Fox said after he pulled back.

"I don't blame you, this has got to be the craziest day of our lives" Loveday giggled and She turned to meet Vixen who was right beside her looking drier and thirstier.

"Here, you should've had this water first" Loveday offered to pour some in Vixens mouth.

"Thank you" Vixen smiled to Lovedays kindness and happily obliged her request.

"well aren't you going to introduce me to your new friend?".

"Oh yes" Fox replied as he waited for Vixen to finish drinking. "Vixen Loveday, Loveday Vixen" he introduced proudly.

"How do you do Vixen and I'm sorry for what you've been through" Loveday bowed her head respectfully.

"The pleasures all mine for making your acquaintance at such a strange notice, I was worried in case you might not be a human I could trust, but after what you had done for me betraying those humans to save my life, I could never have been more wrong about you. Can you forgive me? I feel awful for not giving you the chance you rightfully earned from me" Vixen bowed back.

"Of course I do forgive you" Loveday stroked her head "Will you consider letting me be your friend?".

"I would be more then pleased Loveday. Just so long as you can explain to me why you can do such peculiar magic".

"It's a deal then" Loveday nodded with a small embrace "but for the record I can't really do magic".

The Foxes and girl laughed and Loveday turned to be greeted by everybody individually with their flooding's of questions and embracing's. Their heads were spinning with mystery. Apart from Loveday blinding the master they were confused as to why the horse suddenly fell backwards.

"It wasn't Loveday who did it" Toad said to them "Why did the horse suddenly rear up?".

"I saw a snake shirking at the horses leg" Kestrel confessed. There was only one suspect that they could all guess.

"Adder!" Owl gasped.

"Adder?" Badger asked.

"What! Adder hahaha" Weasel burst out laughing.

"Where is she?" Badger said.

Adder was secretly trying to sneak back up over into the copse. She really truly did come to Vixen and Lovedays aid when they were both still in trouble. As she slithered along Weasel pushed aside a curtain of grass.

"Found you!" she said giving poor Adder a startling surprise "You're a heroine Adder!".

"Don't be stupid, it wasn't me!" Adder hissed firmly.

"Oh yes it was" Weasel sang.

"Oh no it wasn't" Adder argued "it was some other stupid snake who did it".

Weasel clearly did see that Adder was lying and full of laughter she hurried back to the others.

"Hey everyone! it was Adder alright!" Weasel said.

The animals had never before thought that a creature as nasty as Adder would ever show being so caring. This really did prove that she was bound to the oath.

"Hooray! Hooray for Adder!" they shouted as she appeared "Hooray!, Hooray!".

"I will never Live this down" Adder said to herself, she was turning a bright shade of red out of embarrassment.

"Oh poor Adder" Loveday deadpanned "and I didn't get to see her do whatever it was".

"They're going!" Kestrel said. The horses and riders were finally gone and out of sight which reminded Loveday of something important.

"Go on Fox, I think it's time you had a private word with Vixen don't you think?".

"When you're right Loveday you're right" Fox nodded with gratitude.

"and take my advice. Just be honest with your feelings for her, If you do Love Vixen then be absolutely honest with yourself. Tell Vixen that you really love her" Loveday gently led him over to Vixen who was waiting for him. The animals kindly stepped back for them.

"Consider your advise taken Loveday" Fox smiled nervously "and believe me, when I tell you that I love you for the friend you've been to me ever since we found each other".

"Thank you Fox, I do Love you too" Loveday said, "Now stop worrying and go to Vixen before I make you".

"Fox chuckled as he got in front of Vixen.

"I know what you did, heading those hounds off" Vixen softly began looking at him with loving eyes.

"I…I couldn't bear to think of you…and those Hounds" Fox sputtered; he didn't know what to say.

"You risked your life for me, no real Fox would ever do to prove such a thing. It means a great deal" Vixen nuzzled his chest warmly. Fox was blushing with wide eyes.

"We're you?...we're you on your way back to me?" Fox asked.

"Yes" Vixen answered with tears of joy.

"Does that mean-?" Fox said.

"I would be honoured to be your mate Fox…because…I Love you" Vixen embraced him.

"I…I Love you too…" Fox sniffed as he returned the embrace. Now they were an official couple for life "Oh…I'm so happy" he said, it was the best day of his life.

The animals soon jumped out with cheers of welcoming Vixen into the group.

"Welcome my dear, you're one of us now" Badger said with open arms.

"Three cheers for Fox and Vixen everybody!" Toad shouted.

"Hooray!...Hooray…Hooray!" they all yelled in big celebration. Well all except for Loveday.

She just watched the newly wedded Fox couple with great joy.

"Good luck you two" she thought.

"Loveday you should come here?.." Fox asked for her to step over to him and Vixen.

"No Fox this is your big day" Loveday giggled shyly.

"And we wouldn't be here together if it weren't for your help Loveday" Vixen said, "We have so much to thank you for what you've done to save us both".

"Please, any other feral psychic would've done the same" Loveday excused "Seeing the two of you together is all the award I need".

"Get right here Loveday before I drag you myself" Fox persuaded. Loveday with no other choice did as told and stepped shyly in the middle between the adorable foxes.

"Come on everybody let's celebrate the returning of our friend Loveday and give her a big well done" Badger said.

"Three cheers for Loveday!" Mole shouted.

"Lets hear it for Loveday mateys!" Toad said.

"Hooray!...Hooray!…Hooray!" their cheers seemed to be even louder this time. Everyone's faces read how much happier they were to have Loveday back.

Loveday was utterly speechless, not only was this a day for her to remember by but it also marked the event of being so happily reunited with the animal friends she had feared being separated from at the start of the day. She was back with whom she truly belonged with…..Her Family!

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Author's Notes: Hi everyone!, yes I know its been weeks since I last updated and I'm very sorry.
My working hours got busier and it took me ages to edit and rewrite things. So thank you for being so very patient.
Anyhow I'm just so happy that I get to upload this for you all and I hope you've enjoyed it because I've really missed being on fanfiction.
You're welcome to leave me positive comments about anything and Feel free to ask me questions if your curious about future chapters upcoming.
And thank you all again for reading my fanfic it means the world to me, I appreciate all your support and kind theres any request for ideas, don't be shy and leave them in your reviews.

P.S
"Let justice be served for poor George Floyd.
We can't let history repeat itself over again and again.
Were all brothers and sisters to each other and racism is the worst sin anyone can commit.
Spread your love and Kindness to change our future for our children.
Good Luck!