Episode 13: Pandemonium
Thoroughly overwhelmed by yesterday's melodramatic events in the poisoned fields, a bone-tired Loveday and her animal companions were staring unknowingly from a thicket at the local town within their point of view as the evening set in.
From all the information linked to both Toad and Kestrels applied guidance, White Deer Park was only just beyond that last current location and they desperately needed to cut through the town without any better option. Their new home was just waiting over on the horizon.
After stressing all the way on their endangering journey, they all didn't dally for long and headed towards an old stone-arched bridge, which was constructed over a gigantic stream that bordered them all from reaching the village.
Once they've reached the other side it'll bring them directly into the town square, where Loveday went foraging in last night with the foxes for the first-time in her new life.
As usual always, the largest band members swarmed down across the bridges long-cobbled path under the silver overcasting moonlight, reaching the other side first and entering the towns middle section where a string of closed shops and pubs stood all neighbourly.
But behind the large animals, the Hare sprinting halfway on the bridge accompanying the rabbits and hedgehogs paused himself "Toad I'm amazed at you...I never realized how far you have come" he awed.
"Amazing? I'd say he's a champion…no animal in history has ever accomplished to go on this journey alone and has ever lived to tell. You really are a real chap to all of us Toadie" Hedgehog complimented.
"Nothing too it Mateys" Toad said modestly as he jumped pass them. The poor amphibian was dry and puffed out.
"Toads journey…remarkable, remarkable!" Badger admired as he, Loveday and the Fox couple were silently passing through the empty evening streets.
"Once this is all over we'll never be hearing the end of this from Toad I tell you" Loveday laughed cheekily.
"Preferably he'll never allow us to let him forget about the time when he nearly got eaten by a fish when he was ironically trying to fish like Whistler" Fox laughed "and anyway not far for us to go now eh?".
"At least the good memories of our journey will live on for the rest of our lives" Vixen remarked "I think it's a story worth telling our next generations so that they can learn someday".
"I guess we could use it for our own entertainment" Fox agreed "it might be useful to actually share our travels as an example to introduce new animals to uphold the oath in the future, after all it has saved our lives on numerous occasions, then maybe someday it'll change them for good like it has done for all of us".
"It would nice if animals started to reconcile with humans again…well the good supportive ones I mean" Loveday shared "I'm actually thinking about writing our story down in a book so we may never forget anything, especially those important memories".
"That might not be such a bad idea" Fox said with an inquisitive look "But how do you reckon it'll work if we animals can't read like you can, comparing to us your probably the smartest person we've ever met Loveday".
Loveday thought for a minute "I wouldn't call myself a genius necessary but I'll come up with something" she shrugged "And by the way, how did I do being a scavenger last night?"
Fox smirked "I thought you were brill actually, for a beginner you really know your animal instincts like us, especially since you gave those stupid dogs the big slip remember".
"Oh yes, and it was all pretty new to me" Loveday remembered the new stunt she performed "It may have something to do with my powers again since I was in trouble".
"I thought you've done very well Loveday" Vixen smiles "with a bit more practise you'll soon get better and then you'll go hunting for food like us".
"Do you really think so" Loveday beamed before turning to Fox "I know…why don't I make you a helpful proposal? I'll teach you everything that I know about humans, in exchange for you to teach me more about how to be a proper Fox. You know like showing each other how to survive with different benefits. What do you say?".
Fox's expression was unreadable "I've never in all my life heard of a human wanting to learn to be a fox before. I don't know?".
"Oh please?" Loveday begged "I can try".
"Go on Fox. You never know? It may really be useful to learn these skills and Loveday does know a lot that we can use to outwit people" Vixen encouraged her mate.
"Oh sure why not?" Fox finally assented "I'll personally be glad to train you so long as you keep your end of the bargain. I'll make a true fox…um I mean? a true vixen out of you in no time" Fox prompted the feral psychic fondly. Though he was embarrassed he said it wrong.
"Aye I will, you won't regret it Fox" Loveday promised "and thank you".
"Don't mention it" Fox turned away.
"Come along, I can see the square" Badger happily pointed ahead.
Loveday confidently thought to herself as she felt the chilly wind brush fluently in her skirts and blond hair locks. "I'm really looking forward to becoming a strong survivalist…I'll show them all alright, those who've judged me wrong in the past. Above everything, I prefer to abandon from living in the human world because I don't miss it anymore…well maybe except for the music and films I loved but who cares? I don't belong with those ego-obsessive beings, I will stay with my animal family forever and continue to become a real feral psychic. Which reminds me that I've got to start practising on my abilities a lot more. My telepathical mind needs to get more engaged and relaxed whilst I control myself. If I don't then I'll end up like how I nearly did back when I lost consciousness in the river when I tried to block that debris pile from while they were swimming to rescue Fox and the rabbits, I could've died if I weren't so lucky to have survived…or did somebody actually rescue me I wonder?".
By that point onward, they were nearing the middle of town where the central square awaited.
The bright moon had suddenly vanished itself behind a curtain of dark tempering clouds, making the place darker with only the streetlamps orange bulbs to guild them along.
"That's strange, the moons gone in" Loveday noticed the evenings dim-light fade away, "did any of you see those clouds coming?".
"I certainly haven't" Badger answers as he stopped to look up.
"Me neither" Mole shook his little face while he sat on Badgers back.
"The weather was fine for today" Vixen tilted her head in confusion.
"Maybe it's going to rain" Loveday suggested. The shaggy grey clouds rolled in getting bigger and wider, ready to burst open at any second.
"Let's hope not" Fox said unamused "Will be there soon, we're nearly at the town square, once over that-"
"RUMBLE!" the moving sky lashed out on Fox. The sound of rolling boulders could only lead Fox out of his doubts.
"Oh no! Not thunder, that's all we need" Fox's grumbles crossly.
"I told you so didn't I?" Loveday sighed apprehensively "It's going to be raining cats and dogs down on us you know".
"Whatever nonsense are you talking about Loveday? cats and dogs don't just come prowling out in a storm now do they" Badger explained with bewilderment.
"Hold on…is that another one of your figurative talks?" Fox guessed.
"What else did you think I was talking about?" Loveday excused as she slid off her bag to get out her lightweight raincoat "it really has nothing to do with dogs or cats, it means it's going to rain heavily on us".
"Then we better hurry!" Fox commanded as he looked back "and what's taking them lot back there?".
Still lingering on the bridge's decking, Weasel was playing hopscotch on the paved stones as she sang "Step on the crack break your fathers back, step on the line you're doing fine!".
The young Mustelidae was getting too obsessed with her game that she didn't see Adder slithering in front of her. With her head stuck up in the clouds Weasel accidently trod on the snakes tail.
After Adder had forcefully tugs her aching tail off, Weasel laughed carelessly "Sorry! thought you were a crack in the pavement".
Offended, Adder lunged back in an attacking manner "Then you should've stepped on me! You'll get bad luck" she snarled sardonically.
Weasel places her paws on her hips prideful "Not me! I'm the luckiest weasel in the whole wide world, the luckiest-".
"KABOOM!" there was a sudden flash plunging right through Weasels adrenaline. "AHHHHH!" a full explosive strip of lightning crashed down to the pavement at full electric charge, sparking right behind where Weasel stood and had now collapsed.
"See, what did I tell you?" Adder sneered, leaving a wave shocked Weasel with moons and stars circling around her frizzy head.
The thunder and lightning continued to rage evilly down. Fox grew more concerned as the air became bleak and murky "Come on everyone! we must clear the town before the storm breaks!" he motivated.
"The worst part is due to come" Loveday predicted as she ran down the street.
Hurrying all together Loveday, the Squirrels, Fox, Vixen and Toad then cross the road that was surrounding all four sides of the square shaped island and entered on one of its four corners.
"Hooray!" Toad shouted as he overheard the thunder crack above, he loved the wet stormy weather.
Although the Rabbit family hated it much and were quivering in the approaching passage with all the rest of the party.
"Oh! I-I hate thunder I-it ruins the nerves" Mr Rabbit shuddered.
"Oh will you please stop complaining" Hedgehog told him off.
Behind them, Badger and Mole had to make way for the panic-stricken Mice, Voles and Shrews running and shrieking right under his tired legs.
"I say?...watch out!" Badger tried to settle them down.
"Look out everyone!" Mrs Hedgehog yells as she saw the dark sky break.
However at that turn of events, the rain came chucking down, plus the wind accelerated its speed. Growing heaver and heaver till it was nonetheless too blinding for them all to barely see.
So heavy in fact that Loveday felt the drops spill coldly down her neck and back no matter how hard she tightened her coats collar and hood.
"Oh I'm getting wet" Loveday fussed over.
"Oh come on mateys, it's only a drop of rain" Toad laughed thrillingly.
"That's easy for you to say" Loveday retorted "you're leathery skin is waterproof".
"Oh right" Toad realised sheepish "I'd forgotten".
"My furs already soaked through" Squirrel one complained.
"Mine too, what miserable weather" Squirrel two added. She twisted the water out from her wet tail.
"I wish I'd brought an umbrella with me" Loveday muttered grumpily. Her soaking wet soaks were making her feet itch uncomfortably.
"Yeah me too…uh what is an umbrella anyway Loveday?" Squirrel one asked.
"An umbrellas an object designed to be used to protect anyone when they're caught in the rain like we are" Loveday explained as she squinted to look out for the oncoming animals across the road.
"Oh I see" Squirrel One nodded and turned to her sister "I have no idea what Loveday means. Do you?" she whispered.
"No I don't. It's funny that humans are odd creatures to understand sometimes" Squirrel two shrugged.
As they waited impatiently on the square's edging "They're taking too long, the small animals are going to be in real trouble" Fox agitated.
"Don't worry if the worst comes ta the worst we'll just have to find shelter somewhere" Vixen calmed him.
"And the sooner we do the better or we're going to catch our deaths out here if we stay too long" Loveday declared.
"You didn't have to tell me Loveday" Fox deadpanned, his and Vixens red coats were now tatty and full of wet split ends
"Here they come now" Loveday pointed across. Eventually Badger first joined them mounting the square island.
But still gathering on the other side of the pavement, the rabbits and hedgehogs were watching the rising rainwater rush along the kerbs like torrential rapids.
"Hurry up if don't want to drown!" Fox shouts provoked.
The rabbits still resisted, their bad memories of drowning in the river made them froze in horror, it was highly unlikely for them to step forward. That was until.
"Go on! your holding everyone up!" Hare promptly plunged them into the road with Hedgehogs help.
"Move it!" Hedgehog pushed.
Mrs Hedgehog was resistant to cross the road as well "Do we have to dear?...I-I can't swim remember; ooh I want to-"
"Don't you even think about curling up on me my dear. We've already been through this a thousand times before and we're not doing it again. It's alright we'll be fine, come on now" Taking his wife by the paw they finally went.
"Oh alright" Mrs Hedgehog went keeping her head close on his shoulder.
Adder and Weasel were battling the hard rain as they made their ways to the kerb.
"Trust Owl to find shelter" Adder hissed as she struggled against the combining rain and wind "did you see her Weasel?".
"I didn't see anything" Weasel answered, trying to blindly feel her way around. Since the lightning dominated her, Weasel became traumatized and unstable to her natural senses. She was still seeing stars in her head.
"Where are those birds?" Fox complained. They were supposed to be helping not slacking off.
"No idea" Loveday shrugs "…I wonder if Kestrel knows because there she is".
"Where is she?" Fox looks around.
"Over there, she's gone near that church" Loveday pointed as Kestrel flew over to the mass of the big churches steeple. The building was positioned back across the green square behind them "Yes the birds are all standing right in that tall belfry, looks like they're trying to take shelter".
"Are you quite sure?" Vixen asked.
"Of course I'm sure, I've gotten use to my animals eyes in the dark more" Loveday explained "and the lightnings lighting it up easy to make it out".
"Just great" Fox growled annoyed.
Compact high up the belfry where it was shielding, Owl and Whistler met Kestrel as she joined perching with them.
"Settling in for the night?" Kestrel shock off her dripping wet feathers.
"Just getting a birds eye view of the situation" Owl replied unconvincingly. Pretending to not look as if she knew what Kestrel was realistically thinking about them.
"Keeping nice and dry too" Whistler sheepishly said.
Owl retorted "and just what are you suggesting?".
"Nothing" Whistler dared not to argue with the likes of her ,"I think they need some help" opening his wings he whistled back down to the town square.
"The fool…I asked you, what can he do?" Owl said sceptical as she watched him leave.
"Something a little less idle?" Kestrel murmured.
"What did you say!" Owl interrogated.
"I-I think I can hear Loveday calling for me" Kestrel quickly left before Owl could stop her.
"The nerve" Owl pompously crossed her wings angerly and she saw most of the party were now grouped around a brass Victorian statue where the brown sidewalks met in the very centre of the square park.
But obviously the Rabbits and Weasel were lost and couldn't see through the storm where they're friends had went. Even the lampposts were ineffective for their eyes.
"Which way?" Rabbit asked.
"Don't panic!…Ahhhh!" Poor Weasel was so frightened that she was running in circles and jumping every time the thunder scared her.
Luckily Whistler came to help guild them "It's alright, its only me…you go that way to the statue" he directed them calmly. The baby rabbits ran ahead.
"Oh thank you very much" Rabbit said gratefully to the kind heron "Come along Weasel".
"Weasel open your eyes!" Whistler implored as she was kindly being dragged away by Rabbit.
Mr Rabbit was envious of his wife's attention as he hopped "What are you doing helping Weasel, you should be helping me!".
The baby rabbits saw Loveday watching Whistler with the foxes and ran up to her. "Loveday!...Loveday!" they shouted petrified.
"Are so here you two are" Loveday smiled and bent down to catch them in her arms. "It's ok you're safe here with us" she comforted them.
Vixen giggled vividly as she adored Loveday comforting the baby rabbits in her arms.
"What's so funny?" Loveday turned to face her with a smug.
"You are hahaha" Vixen replied, "and at least Whistlers managed to come in to his own…look he's fishing". The heron was busy picking the little creatures from out of the deep puddles they were submerged in.
Loveday thought to keep the rabbit kits dry by tucking them in her bag "Try to stay underneath you'll be fine" she folded her bags opening over them without zipping.
"Thank you Loveday!" the babies muttered.
"Where are my babies!" Mrs Rabbit gasped as she came pulling Weasel along.
"Don't worry Rabbit…your children are safe in my bag" Loveday calmed her.
"Oh thank goodness, I don't know what I'd do without you here Loveday" Rabbit smiled them she shook her ears off.
"That's alright" Loveday blushed.
"Achoo! I'll die of ammonia I know I'll will" Mr Rabbit moaned miserably.
"No you won't! you're only sneezing because you got sprayed" Rabbit argued with him like the odd couple they were.
Kestrel soon came down and landed on top of the statues head "How's everyone doing?".
"Not so very well thank you Kestrel" Badger explained "blimey it just keeps getting worst and worst".
"Oh this is no good!" Fox had finally lost it "I'm going to find some shelter, you stay here, try and keep them calm" he requested before dashing off into the dark abyss.
"Good luck!" Vixen said tenderly.
"We won't go anywhere" Loveday called.
"Why isn't Owl helping" Toad frowned.
"Why won't she?" Loveday deadpanned with a yawn.
Vixen let out a yawn too "Oh dear it's starting to catch on"
"I know, we've been up since yesterday and this weathers making me feel even sleepier. I could sleep for a hundred years like Sleeping Beauty".
"Like who"
"Oh that's a story for another time" Loveday brushed aside letting out a yawn again "Oooh dear…let's see what time it is". Looking up at the churches tower clock Loveday noticed that it was nearly seven on the dot.
"It'll be seven o'clock in one minute" Loveday noted then she suddenly realised "and Owls still up in the belfry…and if the clock shrikes then it will…oh no".
"What's the matter my dear?" Badger asked her.
"Owl has to get out of that belfry, when the clock strikes the church bells will start ringing" Loveday explained. She was worried Owl might have an accident.
"Oh good lord!" Badger understood "you're right, I remember that they do that".
"Owl!...Owl!" Loveday tired calling up to the owl.
Unfortunately the rain was far too loud for the owl too here the girls voice and was busy sulking to herself "He who distances himself from worldly concerns is blessed indeed, for distant renders him detached and detachment renders worldly suffering meaningless".
Right on que the clock hands struck seven and the bells swung into melodic action.
"BONG!...BONG!...BONG!...BONG!...BONG!...BONG!...BONG!".
The piercing noise made Owl squawk her head off frantically, as her ears fractured painfully from the bells stabbing rhythm. Immediately she dived out from the tower in panic.
Loveday facepalms as she watched her fly out with the animals snickering "Too late".
"There she go's" Adder hissed amusingly as she watched from afar.
Like often, she was the last beast to be forgotten again and the crashing rainwater was wildly overflowing onto the pavement toward her.
At first Adder was shell-shocked to feel a small wave swell up on her neck, but then a massive tidal wave swept her off the pavement by surprise and had fallen into the flooded road. She gasps brutally for help as the torrent forcefully darted her along the gutter, in danger of being swallowed down the storm drain chute in seconds.
Nearing it, she tried swimming for her life but it was no good. The rapids were winning and were pushing her right over to the drains mouth, she was about to be slurped inside.
When the snake was at her end Whistler heroically came to her saving, his beak caught onto the snakes flowing tail. After tugging her straight out in time he flew her back to her friends on dryland. Or rather damp land.
Everybody saw what was happening and were so glad to see that their reptile friend was rescued. Seeing Whistler carry her back reminded them how she looked like a giant wiggly maggot in the sky, they all burst out laughing as she came out of Whistlers beak.
"I almost get sucked down the drain and this is the welcome I get!" Adder growled at them with her demonic eyes.
"Sorry Adder, we didn't mean it" Loveday coughed to clear her throat "are you alright?".
"I would've been if that idiot hadn't humiliated me for the second time" Adder pointed unforgivingly at Whistler.
"Your welcome Adder" Whistler accepted, taking no personal threat from the unthankful viper.
"Well no harm done" Loveday smoothed. Fox soon came back looking as if he'd been having ten baths all together.
"Sorry I was so long" He panted disappointed with himself "all the shop doorways are barred".
"At least you tried" Lovedays cloths were now weighing her down just like all animals furs were and she struggled to pull them up in place again.
The little creatures were at wits end, they didn't manage to escape from drowning on the road because now they were swimming in a big subdued puddle next to the statue "Is this the sea?" Mrs Vole asked.
"Course not hehe" Toad laughed cheekily "just a lovely bit of rain eh?"'.
"Does he have to be so cheerful?" Mr Shrew complained, he was sinking.
"Oh the poor things" Vixen felt sorry for them.
"Speak up, can't hear a word" Owl shouted after dazedly landing on the statue.
Badger and Loveday fished them out "Don't worry we've got you" Badger said.
Enough was definably enough, there was only one last place Fox thought about staying the night in. "There's nothing for it, we've got to make for the church" Fox exhorted.
"Right! Make for the church!" Hare ordered optimistic "come on everybody!".
"Let's go!' Hedgehog added.
"Not far now mateys" Toad cheered.
"Come on, Fox has found some shelter" Badger gradually escorted the little creatures.
"The graveyard gate is open" Loveday pointed toward the entrance in the dry-stone wall. Optimistic she hurried herself up to it first while keeping firm hold of the baby rabbits nestled in her bag.
"Follow after Loveday!" Fox quickly ran. Then one by one they followed suit through the gloomy cruel night.
The old wooden gates stood promisingly clear. They went underneath it's fancy roof and ran up along the slippery graveyard path. If this was a church then it was sure to have a big porch attached around its hollow doors.
Loveday imagined she was in a horror movie as she approached the church. There were no floodlights so it felt spooky to be outside the buildings walls in the dark.
"This feels a bit scary" Loveday thought "I can't see a thing, maybe my ring can light the way? It's worth a try". So she looked beggingly at her pink sacred stone, wishing very hard for it to light up.
The diamond she wore flickered and soon its glow came back to life, even more powerful than a candles naked flame.
"Yes!" Loveday cheered; her powers didn't die on her. She pointed the light like a torch and soon found the double doors like she wanted.
"Fox I've found it!" Loveday waved.
"I can see that now" Fox responded; the pink light made it obvious.
When Loveday got to the doors her expression became forlorn. There were stone columns standing in front but where was the roof to go with it ?. Could it also be the reason why she saw a mountain of broken stonework with builders scaffolding next to her.
The animals found Lovedays guiding light and had gathered around it like a pink campfire on the muddy ground looking tired, sore, wet and ultimately despaired as their hearts sank.
"Oh no!" Vixen gasped.
"Oh yes" Loveday replies sarcastic "The porch is gone".
"Well there was a porch once" Fox said hesitantly, he'd let everyone down. Even some of the creatures broke down.
"Urr-now what are we going to do?" Badger grumbled downfully.
"Badger?" Mole tried to get his attention but he was busy thinking.
"But we can't be beaten yet" Loveday was now shattered inside and out, on the brink of depression "I can check to see if these doors are unlocked".
"Your too small to even push these doors Loveday, you're not as big as you use to say" Fox reminded her. True to his words, Lovedays height could only be able to reach the doorknobs half-way.
The girl sniffs and stomps her foot furiously as she twirls to lean against the dripping doors with her arms crossed "How else are we going to get inside through?...if we don't do something then coming here will just end up in vain".
"Please don't cry Loveday" Vixen comforted; the vixen would've given the sad girl a hug if she weren't soaking wet "I know your tired but we'll figure something out" she said unsure.
"I am not crying" Loveday wiped her face off emotionally. She felt her tiredness disabling all over her but she refused to quit "It's just the rain on my face".
Sensing Lovedays pressure determined Fox's persistence more "We have to stay strong…Look Loveday I will get us all in that church tonight, I don't know how or when but some way we'll make it happen".
Loveday lifts her head with a lit-up look "For as long as its takes, I'll hold you on to that and I'm sorry for the way I'm behaving, it's just I had my hopes up about getting warm and dry".
"I know…we all did" Fox sighed heavily.
"But you're right Fox, we cannot lose hope, as my Grandma always said, 'Hope is eternal passion for what is possible" Loveday reassured the fox that she took matter to his wise words seriously.
Fox gave Loveday a warm-hearted look.
"Your Grandma must've been a very wise woman" Vixen admired "She's taught you well I must say".
"Thank you" Loveday smiled shyly. The thought about her remembering Grandma Mary's warm loving hugs made her recover inside. If Mary were still alive then maybe she'd be the one to help her granddaughter Loveday know plenty about her secret powers and why it was kept from her all these years, until that fateful day when she first got saved by her magic ring.
While she was not thinking anymore, Loveday heard Fox ask Kestrel and Owl perching on the roofless pillars above their heads "Is there another way in?".
"What did he say" Owl asked without a clue.
"He wants to know if there's another way into the church" Kestrel repeated.
"Come again?".
"It's no good, the bells deafened her" Kestrel told them.
"I knew this would happen; I did try to warn you Owl but you didn't hear me" Loveday said up to her.
"What Loveday? I can't hear you" Owl kept demanding.
"Oh don't bother" Loveday shook her drenched head "will just have to wait till her hearing restores itself".
"For how long?" Fox asked.
"Probably a couple of hours the very least" Loveday suggested.
"Hours?" Fox rolled his eyes "right when we need her most".
"Badger? you can put me down now" Mole tugged hard on his long hairs.
"Alright, only don't start digging now will you Mole?" Badger requested his best friend as he lifted him down.
"I won't" Mole replied. Then something caught the moles eye and he slowly scuttled away from the group along to the building works on the side.
"Where are you going?" Badger asked him.
Oddly Mole didn't reply and kept dissolving into the blackness which matched his velvet coat perfectly.
"Mole come back!" Fox called to him tensely. He didn't want to lose him like before.
"What's up with him?" Loveday wondered. She couldn't follow him because she was too busy keeping the light going.
"Where is the shelter?" Whistler asked, acting as an umbrella for the little animals with his wings extended out.
"There isn't one…not now" Fox answered impatiently.
"Achoo! Oh is this it?...is this what they call a porch then?...some porch this is" Mr Rabbit kept whining rudely until a plop of water splashed down on him from the church's tile roof.
"I don't think I can stand anymore" Mrs Vole moaned underneath Whistlers wings.
"Never mind that now, where's Moley gone?" Loveday tried searching for him "we can't afford to lose him again".
Suddenly everyone's ears pricked up when they heard Moles voice shouting triumphally in the dark "Yippee!...Fox!...Badger!...Loveday!"
All three of them darted their eyes to the side where the scaffolding was build all around the stone-brick walls.
"Mole is that you?" Badger called squinting his old eyes.
"Yes!…I've found a hole in the wall, come and see!" Mole responded excitedly.
"Can't see a thing old son" Fox struggled to see through the dark and rain.
Luckily Loveday flashed out her ring to where they thought Mole was standing "Here let me help". The beam of light found him poking sliced in and out between a hole framed by broken brickwork.
"Now can you see?" Mole presented with an arm bearing out.
"Mole's right" Fox lit up with flabbergast.
"Good old Moley! ha-ha" Badger laughed.
"It's perfect" Loveday smiled "now we can definitely get in".
"This way everybody we can get inside, come on!" Badger motioned his head. The Farthing animals quickly hurried to follow.
"Hear that Owl?" Whistler shouts "Fox has found shelter after all".
"That's right no way in at all" Owl misheard him.
"No I said-nevermind. Come on Mice let get out of this rain" the heron calmly escorted them.
As they all stepped over the scaffoldings lower bars and bases, Moles head came back out "It's alright, there's no one there its pitch black".
"How kind of you to check for us Mole" Loveday complimented him "I guess darkness is nothing to you".
"I prefer it to sunlight really, you know" Mole fluttered his eyes.
"Yes we know, now after you Moley old chap" Badger struggled to press he's fat body in through the wall. His big behind ridiculously prevented him from doing so.
Loveday couldn't help but laugh at Badgers wriggling "Hehe Badger stop fussing I'll give you a push".
"What?" he muffled.
"Hold still" Loveday placed her hands on him and gave a strong shove all the way through.
"Agh! Ohh!" Poor Badger fell inside with surprise.
"Phew, all that walking should've made him lose more weight" Loveday murmured. Just then her rings glow started to fade away. "you all better get in fast my rings going out" she pushed her bag through the hole and crawled under into the church.
"How can we follow them? we can't see them" Rabbit worried.
"and Lovedays ring is fading on us" Mrs Hedgehog piled on.
"You don't have to" Weasel teased "Badgers making enough noise isn't he?".
"KABOOM!" the thunder scared Weasel to death and she went charging in, screaming at the top of her lungs.
"Come on everybody get inside" Fox commands.
"What are you waiting for an invitation?" Lovedays voice echoed from inside the dark hole. The farthing animals didn't need any second offer and went scuttling in.
On the other side of the hole, the animals and Loveday found themselves in a side aisle, right next to the pew benches on the churches right-hand side.
Basically this church was the old gothic type. The inside was a medieval interior with cold stone floors and carved pillars. A single golden cross shone on the alter with a large stained-glass window blinking all colourful against the lightning flashes from outside.
"It does seem shameful to come in here but I do know anyone is welcome into the house of god no matter what they're status is" Loveday thought as she opened her bag to let the bunnies out.
"Time to come out you two" Loveday said.
"Thank you Loveday" they replied, feeling pleased to be the only ones dry.
"Don't sit on me!" Rabbit yells insulted.
"Hahaha sorry thought you were a cushion" Weasel laughed.
"Keep your voices down" Loveday shushed them "were not supposed to be in here. They don't allow animals in these places you should know".
"Let's not worry about that now, what matters is that we're all safe" Fox reassured.
After hanging her raincoat on the pews arm, Loveday then took out a dry change of clothes and towel "Please excuse me…I'm going to change out of my wet clothes".
"Take your time" Vixen replied as she watched Loveday walk away "we'll be getting dried off too". As said, the farthing animals shook their spoilt coats dry, leaving puddles all over the cold floor.
The voles didn't like it when the waterdrops fell down on them.
"Do you have to shake your fur dry all over us" Mrs Vole complains to Badger.
"If I've said once, I've said it a hundred times. We smaller animals must stand up for our rights" Vole grumbled as he flung the water off himself.
"Has anyone seen Owl?" Hare asked as he and his wife flapped their massive long ears dry.
"Uh…She must still be outside?" Hedgehog submitted, "one of us should go and fetch her".
"It'll be my pleasure to do it" Whistler kindly offered and slid his head through the Hole "Owl!".
The tawny owl was still perching on the same spot. All confused and alone in the cruel rain "where has everybody gone?" she asked.
"Will you join us madam?" Whistler called up all gentlemanly.
"What?...Who?".
"Follow me!".
Owl didn't hear what he said and blindly flew down where she saw the herons head peeping out.
Back inside the farthing group were all clean and dried off. Including Loveday now wearing her jumpsuit, her blue woolly coat with a change of stripy alice socks. She hung all her wet clothing to dry on the back of a pew like a washing line "that's much better" she sighed with pleasure.
"I'm glad to see your all spiffed up again" Vixen smiles satisfied as she licked her paws.
"Me too, my feet aren't inching anymore now" Loveday yawns "I'm terribly sorry I can't talk anymore".
"It's alright, we've have a tiresome day today" Vixen smoothed, feeling the same.
Soon all the animals started to yawn and rubbed their eyes sleepily. "Alright everybody settle down now. Better get some sleep till the storms over" Fox pacified. He couldn't wait to get to sleep himself.
"Where are we going to sleep though?" Mrs Hedgehog asked.
"I know" Loveday thought "these hassock cushions are soft enough, we can sleep on them, either on the floor or benches. We'll be nice and snug".
"Then its settled, nice one there Loveday" Fox compliments as he went in-between the pews "all of you get plenty of rest, we're gonna need it if we'll have a chance at making it to White Deer Park tomorrow. Night everybody".
"Goodnight Fox" the animals replied as they all scattered into their own sleeping compartments. Some snuggled up on the pew furnishings, some laid on the floor hassocks or underneath the benches. While the birds choose various places, Owl on the pulpit, Kestrel high on the railings and Whistler balancing on the holy water font.
Momentarily they all nodded off to slumberland…all except for Loveday, she crept up the aisle to bow respectively at the majestic altar.
"I may not be a believer in you but I just wanted to give my eternal thanks to you and for letting me and my friends stay safe in here for the night, and please do let us reach our new home tomorrow in your blessing so that we may live peacefully for the rest of our lives. If my Grandma is up there with you then please tell her that I love her and that I'll never forget all that she did to raise me on the straight and narrow. I thank you very much lord, Amen".
"Psst! Loveday what are you up to?" Fox poked on her shoulder.
"Hmm? Oh sorry Fox I was only giving my thanks" Loveday gracefully got up to walk back with him.
"You mean you were praying?" Fox curiously thought.
"You can say it like that" Loveday nodded "sometimes it's good to show how grateful you are to be living every day".
"I suppose it is" Fox understood as they both returned to their knocked-out friends "Where will you be sleeping, have you decided?".
"I haven't even thought about it" Loveday shook her head "I might just make a mattress from the cushions and sleep on them somewhere?"
"You can come sleep near me and Vixen? There's plenty of room in our bit and we'll keep you warm. Would you prefer that?".
"Actually I'd really like that Fox" Loveday beamed, she didn't feel like sleeping alone in this dark scary-looking place and she still felt a bit shaken from the loud thunder "Will you and Vixen mind if I do share?".
"No we don't, if you need anything just wake me up" Fox shook his head with a yawn "only don't take up all the room ok".
Loveday held her laugh "I promise you I won't…and Fox?".
"Yea Loveday"
"Um nevermind…it was just a thought" Loveday wanted to confessed how much she loved Fox like a brother but she felt too shy to admit it. Maybe some other time she would?.
A few minutes later, all tucked under her cosy blanket on her makeshift bed, Loveday slept soundlessly against the fox couple in the very middle. Her feminine body laid near Fox who snoozed loudly next to Vixen, with their bushy tails curled securely on the girl for secure comfort.
The torrential storm lasted all night long until the morning hours came. The clouds had been washed away painting the clear sky blue, making the atmosphere crisp and fresh from last-nights downpour.
Still tucked in leisurely, the animals and Loveday were too tired to hear that a bricklayer had come to finish his urgent repair job on the church walls outside. Scraping and chipping his tools along the hole they used to enter in and had later expected to exit out of.
As the builder was shoving the first brick into place, the grating sound it made woke Fox up in alarm.
"Badger!" Fox opened his eyes and whispered to Badger fast asleep on the bench above him and the girls.
"Ha?...what! where?...um!" Badger sputtered as he woke up.
"SHHHHH!" Fox shushes then started to poke Loveday "Loveday! get up!".
"Fox stop doing that-" Loveday stretched up cracking her stiff neckbones and paused. She gasped to see the hole in the wall getting filled in brick by brick.
Sure enough, all the animals woke up in massive shock. They can uneasily sense the human presence from outside the hole.
"What's happening?" Toad asked desperately from his cushion.
Loveday and Vixen cautiously snuck up to watch the last brick cover the remains of daylight that was seeping through. By now the hole was existing no more.
"We're trapped!" Vixen cries.
"They've blocked us in!" Loveday added. Everyone's mouths soon dropped to hear this terrible news.
"Owl?...Owl! why didn't you warn us!" Fox growls irritated. The Owl was supposed to be keeping watch, instead she stood unresponsive on the pulpit, totally mindless with everything unfortunate around her.
"She can't hear" Vixen reminded.
"Guess I was wrong about her making a recovery" Loveday murmured.
Badger promptly stood up and yells up to the deaf Owl "We want you to fly round and see if there's another way out!".
"SSssssh!".
"Badger not so loud" Loveday whispered as she studied the main doors. She nervously heard people bustling outdoors and if they'd found out that a strange girl and animals had illegally slept over than it will be a real disaster.
"I've got this strange whistling in my ears" Owl complains, the whistling she heard came from the builder tuning outside.
"We want you to fly round and see if there's another way out!" Badger repeated himself.
Very faintly, Owl obliged and flew up to examine the entire building itself for any possible exits. She seeked high and low twice, going from left to right, passing the organ pipes till she lands swiftly back down.
'There's no way out" she broke sadly.
"We're trapped!" Weasel sung.
"Weasel shut up!" Loveday hissed "we'll get caught if you don't stop laughing".
"Well don't look at me, it's not my fault were stuck in here" Weasel backfired.
Enraged, the animals glared at who's idea it was to spend overnight in the church and then get trapped when they all thought they were safe.
"Mole it's your fault!" Mr Rabbit blames quarrelsomely. Mole shamefully backs himself behind the pews armrests.
"Well at least it isn't mine for a change eh mateys?" Toad joked.
"That's not funny Toad" Loveday defends unamused as she grabbed her hanging clothes "and all of you leave poor Mole alone for goodness sake".
"I agree with Loveday, it isn't anyone's fault" Vixen looked respectably at Mole "and we were glad enough to get in here last night, out of all that rain".
"T-thank you Vixen" Mole sputtered in tears.
"You did well Moley" Vixen compliments.
"I daresay there'll only be one farthing wood Mole and that's you" Loveday stroked him. Mole giggled as her hand smoothened his fur.
"How are we going to get out without letting the humans see us?" Loveday questions.
Fox was clawing at the filled in hole roughly. Not matter how hard he scratched to shift it; the new heavy bricks didn't give way.
"Oh well…nothing for it" he sighs as he gave up trying "we've just got to wait until the humans open the doors".
"I know somebody's bound to come in sooner or later, if they keep the doors open long enough we ought to work out how we can make a quick getaway, before anyone discovers us" Loveday devised.
"This really isn't going to be an easy task" Fox replied as he evaluated forming their next plan of action.
Meanwhile, Owl was still suffering with her impaired hearing. The noisy workmen she heard drove her mentally giddy, shaking her head with her wings clogging her ears.
Although Mrs Vole who was deaf in real life turned up and called "I know just how you feel".
"What?" Owl bent down to the vole.
"It's not easy being deaf-" Mrs Vole started.
"What are you talking about!" Owl shrieks getting more annoyed.
Mrs Vole puckered up her ears "What?".
"I said what did you say?"
"No that's what I said!"
"Deaf old codger" Owl gave up; it was useless trying to talk to anyone. Their pitiless squabbling caused for Weasel to sound off her trademark laugh and needed to be hushed once again.
"I swear that Weasel is so full of laughing gas" Loveday thought until she noticed that Toad was looking down in the dumps on his cushion.
"What's wrong Toad?" Vixen asked as she came to check up on him.
"Is something the matter with you?" Loveday worried "my you do look awful".
Toads felt parched and was scrunching up his dehydrated mouth "So dry and dusty in here mateys. What wouldn't I give to be besides a nice pond" he desired dreamily.
"Is there a pond at White Deer Park, please tell us" Loveday asks to cheer him up.
"Pond?...It's a lake full of edible frogs!" Toads face lit up.
Adder appeared from behind him "Did I hear you say edible?" she said sounding interested in the wrong fashion.
Badger quickly changed the subject "A-and then of course there's the white deer".
"Who's in charge there?" Owl asked. Her hearing was starting to pull through afterall.
Toad went very ecstatic and whispered to them "Ahh-ooh…The Great White Stag…he's beautiful, his coat shines in the dark".
"Does he really?" Loveday was astounded "he sounds rather distinguishing".
"Oh ar, quite a handsome creature he is too Loveday matey" Toad added on.
"I see that but?...is he a nice stag though?" Loveday wondered vaguely if this great white stag would be agreeable to meet a girl like herself. Afterall she knew deer's were too shy to be introduced to humans.
"Ho-ho I don't know personally…but I do remember hearing by reputation that he's a compassionate and good-natured ruler" Toad chuckled.
As accurate as Toad sounded, Loveday was still unsure but she wanted more than anything to see this beautiful deer, nonetheless "I'd really like to meet him".
"All of us will get to" Badger placed his arm on her shoulder which got her attention "if what Toad says is true then I guarantee you we've nothing to be worried about meeting him".
"I guess not" Loveday felt a bit better.
"I'm sure that this stag will like to meet you Loveday, I mean…I was when I first met you" Whistler supported "and you are our guardian".
"Thank you Whistler" Loveday smiled warmly to the tender-hearted heron.
Fox turns to Vixen all with love-struck "Our own home at last" he whispered with a smirk.
"It sounds lovely" Vixen returned the same look.
"All on our own" the loving couple were about to press their noses together when.
"Clink!" barely audible creaks and rattles came shooting from the main doors. The handles were rotating and a pair of visible legs can be seen shadowing through the lower gap.
Loveday was all familiar to the sound of keys turning, she could hear the hinges starting to creak open "Get down someone's coming!" she shot up in panic. The animals felt a sharp wave of uneasiness as the door slowly swung open to reveal a throng of people turning up all dressed in their finest best clothes for the unknown ceremony.
Before the human visitors paraded into the chapel nosily, the uninvited animals including Loveday hastily followed Fox who'd smartly found a narrow corner space between the pipe organ just at the bottom of the alter steps. They all crammed themselves in tight so that none of the church comers could see them hiding behind the organ.
They all heard the guests footsteps and varied voices echo in the hall, scraping the chairs and pew's on the floors until they all subsided into low volume.
Jammed in front of the group protectively to keep anyone from slipping out, Fox struggled to see what all the commotion was out there. He couldn't move forward because he'd put them all in danger.
"Whistler! Can ya see anything?" he whispered.
Whistler silently poked his long head out from behind the water font to see properly what Fox couldn't "The church is full" he reported after ducking.
From where Loveday was positioned, she carefully peeked around the corner of the organ to see that there was indeed a full mob sitting all along each aisle, with a single tuxedoed man slumping at the alter looking all greasy and hot with nerve. Now Loveday recognized what special event they'd interfered with by mere accident.
"Uh-oh now we've really done it, of all days we came at the wrong time" Loveday shook her head nervously as she pulled back.
"Shsss! What's happening Loveday? do you know why there's so many people here?" Fox calmly asked.
"Fox I think we've crashed a wedding" Loveday whispered to him "and before you ask me what a wedding is then please save it for later if you don't mind".
"Point taken" Fox peered around the corner as well "I don't know how we're going to get out, they've shut the doors again".
"We'll just have to lie low and stay quite till they've gone" Vixen put forward "Alright everyone?".
"Yes Vixen" the smaller animals agreed together. Well not really all of them because some of them were actually missing.
"Where are the mice?" Loveday realised they weren't hiding with them.
"They're not in here" Vixen too noticed "Where are they?".
"They could be anywhere since they're small size can fit into almost anyplace" Badger exclaimed.
"They know better than to leave us" Fox sniffed around for them.
Without noticing, neither the distracted animals nor Loveday payed any attention to the man who was ruffling his music sheets and sunk onto the seat in front of the organ.
"Did I just hear someone close to us?" Lovedays ears picked up and was about to peek when, the man who turned out to be the organist started to play the keyboard!.
"%%%%%%%%%!" the musical pipes pealed forth with unforeseen eruption. The farthing group leapt up to the organs firing pitch, even Loveday gritted her teeth as she covers her oversensitive animal ears. The noise was so pressuring and crushing.
And the field mice's whereabouts was also given away. They'd been hiding inside the metal pipes. The shooting soundwaves caught them both and they went lunching up high to the roof like tiny rockets, riding through the cylinder tubes.
At the top, the rodents shot out and gipped onto the pipes opening ends rapidly with their paws, hanging upwards as the wind continued to blow powerfully over them, so powerful in fact that the mice felt the wind thrust so hard to make them lose grip and went plummeting all the way back down. Landing straight on the keyboard with a few minor bounces.
The organist pulled back in surprise as he saw the verminous mice run up and down his piano keys in panic. The man tried to catch them but every time his hands missed the fast rodents, he beated on the keys making an awful interrupting racket.
The wedding party had no idea why the wedding music became so un-classical. The organist they hired for the reception was acting more like a crazy drummer than the professional they'd expected to hear.
Alternately the animals started to scamper and shake in their ear-splitting corner. All their wild instincts were uncontrollably telling each and every one of them to get out of range from the instrument.
Whistler in particular jumped out of hiding and bolted up to the rafters where Kestrel was watching. His high-pitched wings made some of the people jerk in their seats.
Though Fox, Badger, Vixen and Loveday were sensible enough to try and keep everyone from causing suspicion.
"Don't panic!" Fox ordered as he also tried to keep himself together as well.
"Please everyone keep still!" Badger helped.
"Trust me you don't want to go out there" Loveday reasoned as she kept a close watch on the already startled audience in the chapel.
But the animals were going bananas to even listen to their protectors warnings and had slipped away, stampeding down the aisles. Yelping and scattering all over the place.
"Come back!" Loveday calls to them.
"Oh no!" Fox said embarrassed as he watched them all dash blindly to the other end of the church. Weasel ran in between the pews, brushing against the bare skin of ladies feet in high heels.
"Ugh! Ugh! It's a rat! Ugh!" a lady screamed, waving her legs in disgust. Soon the entire congregation was in uproar to see a zoo erupting right at their feet. Birds and mammals were everywhere.
The women produced alarming shrieks and screams, while the men howled exclamations to see them.
"Oooh" Loveday facepalmed, she would've found the wedding scene funny if she weren't felling so awkward as she stayed hidden behind the organ.
"It's too late we're exposed, we must get out, we must" Loveday told directly to Fox next to her.
"Humans have a proverb 'If you can't beat them, join them" Owl advised on the water front.
"Loveday and Owl are right. Come on let's get going" Fox consented.
They all raced out to the chapel without a care. Loveday didn't feel afraid to come out since she knew that the humans can't see her because she was disguised as a white fox in their eyes. Afterall being a feral physic applied for her own protection.
Whilst they were busy trying to escape, Owl joined the other two birds up in the ceiling. "Looks like Fox has got us into another mess" she criticize.
"Oh and what are you going to do to get us out of it hmm?" Whistler taunted her.
"Please you two, can't you see were in a big situation and your fighting when we're meant to be helping?" Kestrel exclaimed. Down below the pandemonium continued to expand.
Loveday ran down one of the sideways and hid behind a stone pillar so nobody could catch sight of her. She focused her eyes up on the front doors, they were still shut up tight. "Those doors are the only way out, if we don't leave now they'll phone for the animal control and then will never make it to the park". She watched as the animals move madly from here and there, seeking for an exit individually. The squirrels were jumping, the hedgehogs were rolling, the weasel was teasing and the adder was scaring.
It was so chaotic to see both the animals and wedding guests run amuck.
"Mice help Mice ugh!" Another lady screamed her head off. The field mice did manage to jump off the keyboard earlier and had finally joined their friends rampaging on the floor.
"Follow me!" Hare directed the little creatures behind him and his wife.
"Not so fast!" Mrs Shrew panted with the small gang scurrying after them.
"My babies!" Rabbit squealed. Loveday peeked out to see Rabbits children in trouble. They were being cornered by a man who was about to grab them.
Loveday sprang out fast as the man's hands got closer to grasping them. And before he did, Loveday pounced forward and scoops the rabbits up in her arms. She even knocked the man aggressively off balance and made him collapse to the floor. Even a few other people toppled over after him like dominos, ending up in a messy heap.
"Ow!" The man swears.
"Got you" Loveday smiled triumphally. The two young rabbits held on to her chest as their rescuer went behind another pillar. Very quickly Loveday placed the little rabbits back comfortably in her bag.
"Good going Loveday" Fox complimented the girl as he and Vixen came next to her with Toad.
"Where's Badger and Mole?" Loveday asks.
"Uh-oh Moles in trouble mateys look" Toad pointed. In the middle aisle, Mole had somehow fallen off badger and was being tugged on his tail by another man's fingers. Badger courageously jumped out at the attacker and growled. Swiping his paw to grab Mole safely from the humans clutches which he did do.
"Don't worry, Badgers got him" Fox noticed as he saw Badger place Mole back on his neck.
"But what about us?" Vixen expressed "we're done for".
"Not yet we ain't" Fox didn't give up.
Nevertheless when all hope seemed lost for their own escape. The big creaky door all of sudden flew wide open with a breath of golden sunbeams and fresh air blowing in.
In the doorway stood a stunning bride showered in all laces and jews; escorted by her father and the vicar.
Weasel skidded across the floor and shouted as she pointed in the doors direction "The door, its open!".
The bride and her father shared pale silent looks with each other, was somebody pulling a prank? because the wedding reception was in a total wreak. The untidy guests were either fainting or standing fearfully on the pews, while a crash of forest animals were spread around looking thankful to see the door rightfully open for them.
Too good to be true, Lovedays prayers had been answered. This moment was their last opportunity to breakaway without causing anymore disruption than they'd already had.
Everything and everyone was awkwardly frozen like time itself, even the music.
"Well this is absurd?" Loveday thought in dismay as she saw the bride about to enter. The time was now!.
"RUN EVERYONE!" her voice bounced vocal everywhere, signalling to all the animals who heard the message. The humans didn't hear a girls voice but instead a fox's high-pitched bark.
"Hurry fast as you can!" Fox howled. Every animal was now heading right in the same direction. Darting straight for the open doors no matter who or what stood in their way. It was time to get the heck out of there.
"Time to go I think" Whistler whispered as he and Kestrel took off cunningly from the rafters.
"One…two…three!" Owl counted down before diving off. The humans saw the animals running away, so they moved aside for them.
As Whistler was catching wind in his grey wings, he glided down so low to the benches that his goofy feet accidently cling onto a lady's hat with his talons.
"Ahhh! My Hat!" the woman cries as she saw the thieving bird steal her yellow floral hat. Then as Badger was dashing down the aisle crowded with people, the yellow hat fell from Whistler's feet and dropped on top of his head. Not only covering up Mole who was riding but the Badgers eyes as well, he couldn't see where he was going.
However, Weasel was the first one who made it out, she mischievously dodged and ran underneath the brides silk dress in order to get outside onto the threshold.
"Ahhhhhh!" The bride shrieks as the pesky weasel ran right in-between her legs. Her arms flung, tossing away the bouquet she held.
When Weasel made her way out of the brides skirts, she caught the bundle of pink baby's breath in her arms. Jumping and laughing to the maximum "I've got it…I've got it!".
The Squirrels, Hedgehogs, Hares, and Rabbits galloped out the door next, without anyone noticing.
"Squeeze pass him, you can do it matey you can do it" Toad prompted, referring to the three people who were blocking the doorway still.
"Badger coming through!" Loveday jumped aside as she witnessed Badger wearing the hideous hat.
With force, Badger pushed right though the trios legs. As he did, the hat got tossed off carrying Mole on the elastic strap.
"Help!" Mole yells as he hung on to the drifting hat like a parachute.
"I've got you" Vixen moved a little closer to let the hat land on her. Mole quickly slid himself onto her and clung to Vixen ears for dear life as she carries him.
"Allow me" Loveday takes the hat off the vixen beautiful face and threw it away.
Right now, all the airborne birds zoomed right across the chapel like bullets, Kestrel taking the lead with Whistler captivating the wedding party to look up, thanks to his trait sound.
"Watch out!" the father pulled his daughter away from the door as the birds shot pass them. Owl's talons tore off the brides veil as she flew by.
"Ahhh!" the bride shrieks again as the veil pulled out her hairstyle.
With the humans distracted Fox pushed Loveday forward "Now's our chance go!". He was worried in case the humans found out who this exceptional girl really was and really didn't want to see her get captured because of it.
With the Foxes sprinting behind her, Loveday feared nothing as she took off. There was a slight open gap for her to squeeze through for freedom. Like an angel with no wings, she sped around the vicar then the father and then the bride lastly. Sweeping the gown off her path and jumping off the threshold into the bright warm opening. Afterwards the foxes and the last remaining members of the group broke out of the church too.
When Loveday landed and kept following the others, she looks all around herself in relief. It felt great just to see the world in all its natural glory again after being stuck up in the church like that, feeling the steam of morning reflect against her skin, smelling the luscious perfume of the fresh morning dew and wet autumn leaves with her keen animal nose.
It was tricky for Loveday to see since those long dark hours had affected her sight, she had to wait awhile for her mind image to readjust. So squinting her colourful eyes she found a few animals waiting for her and the foxes around the crumbling tombstones.
"Where is everyone else?" Loveday asks them before turning back to Fox "Badger and Weasel are not here".
"Where are the other rabbits and the squirrels?" Fox asked the hare's and hedgehogs.
"Well don't get angry at us, we were the ones wondering what was taking you so long" Hedgehog argued.
"The Voles and other small animals are nowhere to be seen either" Hare shrugged "we couldn't see where we were going once we got out. It was too bright".
"Yes but where are they?" Loveday asks again.
"Where's Badger?" Mole said confused on Vixens head "I can't see a thing".
Kestrel got Fox's attention "Kee!-Kee!".
"Kestrel?" Fox looked up.
"I saw the rabbits run off into the bushes" Kestrel informed "and Badgers standing on the other side of the graveyard with Weasel".
Before any more questions can be answered. The wedding party was starting to observe out the front door in debate and outrage. No longer ignoring the strange interference that just occurred at the holy matrimony. Naturally they were trying to see if the culprit responsible was taking the mick from outside.
"Um…I don't want to interrupt but I think we have some company?" Loveday pointed to the angry mob building at the church threshold.
The animals all turned to look behind themselves. They thought the scary crowd was going catch them for what they did.
"The humans are coming!" Toad shouted frightfully "Let's go!".
"We've got to run for it!" Hare started to panic.
"But where?" Mrs Hedgehog tried not to curl up "we can't go back into the town".
"That way!" Loveday found a wooden stile in the graveyard wall. Without waiting the young girl made her way to the stile and started to climb over it.
"Loveday wait for us" Vixen soon ran after her.
"Hurry everyone let's get away from here!" Fox left with the rest. Running against the long-wet grass, going over or under the damp stile and straight for the wide-open countryside.
Though hanging on the other side of the churchyard, Weasel was waving about her bouquet.
"Weasel put that down and come on!" Badger shouted nervously. Before they both left through the wooden gates, Weasel obeyed and threw the flowers up where the bride caught them back in her hands.
Then just as someone was about to pick up the brides lost veil on the ground. Something alive began to move underneath the fabric, something rather eerie to make all the guests scoot away from it in fright.
It turns out that Adder was shuffling under the veil this whole time
"I don't know what all the fuss is about?" Adder comments as she shoves off the veil and slithers on her way.
In the outskirts.
"Don't stop…keep going" Loveday panted as she and her companions ran free with overexcitement. Going to a small grove full of elm trees and shrubs near a plain green field.
Toads instincts were beginning to tingle him inside as he saw where they were running to "Not far now it's only across the field".
"White Deer Park?...You actually mean it's over there? Can it be true?" Loveday asked.
"My instincts are telling me so. It's our last lap and then we're there mateys" Toad replied.
"Slow down!" Kestrel warns the group to stop "The mice and voles are being left behind".
The evacuated group stopped in horror and forgot about the park. It was revealed that the rest of the animal party were all missing. Fox and the others realised this as they all turned to see the shrinking town in the far distance.
"Oh no!" Fox cries in grief "and where's Badger?...Weasel?...the squirrels?…Adder?"
"Where's mommy and daddy?" one of the baby rabbits popped its head out of Lovedays bag.
"We've lost them!" Fox raged.
Feeling edgy Loveday couldn't think what to say, this was very bad "What have we done?".
Authors notes:
Hello are you all doing in these crazy times? Sorry i took awhile things are going haywire in my home because we are going into lockdown again!.
But anyway I'm so excited to get the last episode done so that I can start on series two, it was fun writing this chapter for you all to enjoy. Please let me know what you think?
Are you looking forward to seeing Loveday meet the great white stag at the finishing because i am? and how will things change for Loveday once she starts living in the park by herself? Will the blue foxes try to get her or will she have to fight them? well you'll have to wait and see for yourself's, there may also be a bit of romance going on.
Again thank you all for waiting on me patiently, stay safe and don't be shy to share your reviews. I am truly grateful for all your support.
I'll see you next time for episode 14, one for all and all for one.