Episode 14: So near and Yet so far…
If Loveday was willing to wager which day would be her worst, it was today. After all this time, bravely conquering all these perpetual months of venturous traveling beyond the English country. Loveday, Fox and the farthing animals were finally but one last lap away from their long awaited promise land, White Deer Park which was where they were supposed to be originally.
However, when a powerful storm emerged last night, the party unexpectedly took refuge in a church without expecting the chaos that followed the next day.
Earlier this morning they all got mortally bricked up inside the church and coincidentally spoiled a wedding that took place. When the animals and feral psychic were finally able to escape the pandemonium they caused, during the course of action they accidentally got split-up from one another, not realising that they had all ran in separate directions everywhere.
All except for some members of the group, that had sensibly stuck together during the big breakout and were isolating under a shelter of birch trees they found surrounding a hidden patchy grove, a few fields away from the town they'd just come from. In the midst of it all, Loveday, Fox, Vixen, Toad, Mole, the hares, the hedgehogs and the rabbit children were eyeing the less visible town away over the numerous fields, with wholesome looks of misery and failure.
Though Loveday felt mostly regretful for losing her animal friends. In fear of getting caught and taken away, she didn't stop herself from making her own escape out of the graveyard without paying any selfless thought to her abandoned friends. The human guardian embarrassedly realised that she shouldn't have made a bad example of herself like that in front of the animals. It was her rightly duty as a feral psychic to pay attention to their welfare first and she behaved selfishly like the sixteen-year-old she was.
But Loveday was naïve to see that everyone around her felt the same inexcusable guilt as hers. For a long while nobody said anything because they all felt highly ashamed of themselves.
Until Toad brock the silence barrier first "And only a couple of fields away matey, how could it happen?" he mourned helplessly, rubbing a supporting flipper on Moles back who was crying because he missed Badger dearly.
"This is all my fault" Loveday claimed sadly as she stood nervously next to Fox and Vixen "I was thinking only about myself and I should've known better than to run off stupidly like that. And now look where we ended up".
Even though Fox was in disgrace with himself, he calmly sighed as he placed his bushy tail on the girls shoulder "It isn't your fault-".
"But it is! I promised to not let anything happen and I couldn't stop myself" Loveday continued to weep "I'm sorry for being a failure to you".
"Loveday be quite!" Fox argued maturely "Listen to me and you listen now, what happened back there was something even you couldn't control and we didn't see it coming from the back of our minds. We were scared just like you were and we all panicked, I didn't realise I was going so fast myself until Kestrel said so".
"And I just ran away, you see Loveday it's my fault too and everybody else's that we left those poor things behind" Vixen brought up tearfully as she scooched closer to snuggle Loveday "We all betrayed the oaths honour to save only ourselves and now we know the consequences of our wrong actions".
Although Loveday would have preferred to take all the responsibility, she eventually forced herself to accept the true facts that they were all in this together which made her feel less at fault.
"I know your feeling like you've disappointed everyone that looks up to you because that's the way I feel too, you are no failure" Fox shared as his tail slowly lifted Lovedays sad face toward him.
The girl gave a little smile as she gazed straight into the canines amber soulful eyes, that goes to show their unbroken relationship. "Thanks I needed to heard that" Loveday said as she received loving strokes from Vixen and Fox's tails. The best thing about living with animals for her was cherishing their unconditional love and the foxes gave theirs to Loveday like she was a part of their own pack.
Overstricken by the foxes emotional support, the girl gladly gave them both a kiss on the forehead which seemed to cheer them up since she saw their tails wagging behind after.
"Hey it's like I said, we're always there for you Loveday just as you are always there for us" Fox smirked with his eyebrows.
"Yes. What concerns me is how we're going to find the animals. They're scattered everywhere and they won't know where to find us" Vixen exclaimed as she pulled back her tail.
"Well?...There's nothing for it. We must go back" Fox decided with uneasiness. But the Hare and Hedgehog didn't look too pleased as the fox said this.
"Why?...Let's just go on eh? They'll turn up eventually" Hare opposed vainly. All he wanted to do was to rush at every opportunity.
"I agree with Hare, the parks only just in front of us so why can't we?" Hedgehog supported, looking in the northward direction where a white picket fence was seen running at the other end of the next field. Which was the outer boundary of the park!.
Mole shook himself angrily as he brock down to them "We can't go without Badger!".
"I agree Mole, after traveling so far together I would've been so proud to enter White Deer Park with everyone else" Vixen said without expressing her fury.
"Aye, and it wouldn't be fair to run off like we don't care about them. It's totally unforgivable. How on earth would you prefer it if your friends betrayed you after facing death together? Use your brains you two, you'll only bring shame on us if we desert them now" Loveday frowned at the hare and hedgehog.
"Lovedays right, you'll make us look bad in front of the park animals you will if they hear this!" Mrs Hare looked disapprovingly at her mate. Hare became paranoid to his wife's reaction.
"Until we do find the others we are not stepping into that park. Understand!" Mrs Hedgehog exclaimed to her mate too.
"Y-yes my dear, sorry my dear" Hedgehog looked like he sheepishly wanted to roll up.
"And don't go rolling up on me" Mrs Hedgehog taunted.
"I'm sorry for the way I am, I'm just worried about everyone…plus all this excitements been enervating" Loveday sighed, facepalming on her head as she sat down on a big rock.
"Don't be" Fox smooths "We'll find them soon enough; they can't be far from the village".
"Will you find mummy and daddy?" the girl rabbit asks, jumping onto Lovedays lap with surprise.
"Where are they?" the boy rabbit said climbing up Lovedays feminine legs.
"Yes of course we will and don't you worry we'll take good care of you until your parents do come back, so try not to cry" Loveday lovingly hugged them both on her chest to make the bunnies feel protected. "In the meantime try to be good little bunnies and get some rest ok" Loveday laid down the coat she was wearing and settled the rabbits comfortably in like a warm nest.
"Okay Loveday" the rabbits obeyed, settling themselves down.
"I'll watch over them Loveday" Mrs Hare offered as she kindly sat next to them.
"Thanks Mrs Hare, you are a treasure".
"Aw thanks Loveday and so are you for keeping them calm. I don't know how you do it?".
Then as everyone formed into a circle, ruminating what to do next. The birds Owl, Kestrel and Whistler flew down and joined them in the grove.
"Hello" Loveday welcomes them "nice of you three to drop in".
"The pleasures all ours young lady" Whistler bowed his head as he struggled to land on the dry ground "we're glad to see you all are safe, we were worried".
"Please can I sit on your shoulder Loveday?" Kestrel asked.
"Since you've asked me politely I don't see why not?" Loveday smiled as Kestrel sat comfortably on her.
Owl took rest on a birch tree branch and looks to Vixen very crucial "Proud?...after Fox ran off leaving everybody".
As Owl was rebuking this all on Fox, the red canine expressed a guiltier look. "An animals instinct is survival first and foremost…and for us that means running!" Vixen defended, she hated Owl for finger-pointing her mate.
"She's right matey" Toad loyally supported Vixen "No point having a go at Fox now is there!".
"We all underwent in this mess Owl, remember you turned deaf by your own mistake" Loveday adds in an unbroken manner.
"Well look who's talking?" Owl huffed with remark "and here I expected better from a lost little girl to not make herself more useful, you are just as foolish as the other humans Loveday. Perhaps it would've been better if you'd never come with us to White Deer Park at all".
"Here now matey!" Toad defends in a tempering tone "Don't you start on Loveday. If it weren't for her joining our gang then half of us wouldn't even still be alive eh? Why she saved mine and Fox's lives when we were trapped by the fire remember. Then where would you all be!".
"How dare you be so mean to Loveday" Mole shouted beside the amphibian.
"Stop it all of you!" Fox exploded, making everyone jump "let's not waste our breaths arguing amongst ourselves…we've got even bigger fish to fry". Personally he was standing up for Loveday who felt better to see the group all still accepted having her here with them.
"Well that being said Fox, what are we going to do now?...I can't wait to hear" Owl insisted.
"There's nothing they can do Owl and you know it…not in daylight anyway, if they went back to look for the others then they'd only put themselves in danger, I saw the humans out looking for us when were we're flying over" Kestrel wisely spoke out.
"Hmm…You've made a good point there Kestrel. We haven't even thought of it like that" Loveday complimented, stroking the hawks feathers.
"Damn! well that's Flippin great" Fox murmured before turning to Whistler "have you seen any of the other's?".
The gracious heron took a moment to recover his thoughts "Mmm…Saw Badger and Weasel running off, in the wrong direction I'm afraid. Didn't see anyone else…sorry".
"That's fair enough" Loveday nodded understandably "if nobody's really seen where they went off to then we'll just have to find them our way".
"I wonder where the poor things are?" Vixen sighed anxiously.
"Probably looking for somewhere to hide?" Fox mentioned as he observed the faraway village.
"The only question is 'where exactly could they be?" Loveday said, earlier she tried using her ultra-animal eyes to zoom in on the landscape for any sigh but it was still too far to see any clear details. Even in the daylight.
"What I say is that it's up to us birds to take control" Whistler smartly suggested.
"Whistler's right!" Fox reckoned to Vixen "you, Loveday and I would do better to wait here while the birds round everyone up".
"But if they're all in hiding as you say, how are we supposed to find them without wasting our time all day?" Owl scowled still in a crappy mood.
"Owl you can do it if anyone can, you're so good at hunting" Vixen encouraged her.
Just then Lovedays face lit up "Hold up Fox? I've just had a thought" the girl quickly tapped on Fox's shoulder.
"Well say it then" Fox turned to her with interest.
"I think I may have an idea that will help us…Fox? Do you remember back when Mole didn't turn up at the great beech because of Adder and me an Badger went to go look for him?".
"Yeah I remember when that happened, it was quite a while ago back then…so?".
"Well you see I didn't tell you this...".
"Tell me what?".
"What happened was, I asked my sacred crystal to me find Mole, and this chain of lights shaped like these will-o wisps appeared and we followed it which took us to Mole successfully in the end".
"Right…and so what is this idea you thought about?" Fox knew Loveday wouldn't be lying to him at a desperate time like this one, he very much wanted to hear it, even a few of the others secretly listened into their discussion.
"I thought maybe I could volunteer with the birds...so what do you think? Since you're the leader Fox, I'm asking for your permission, will you please let me go?".
Loveday was yearning for Fox to give her an answer as she watched him think about her aspiration. Then finally Fox said in a disquiet tone "No disrespect Loveday but I don't really think that using your power is really necessary, you haven't seen yourself lately you look very exhausted so its best that you stay here and rest…so you won't need to go back…".
The girl felt herself break up inside like shattered glass.
"What?...But Fox I don't use my powers unless it is an emergency and I know the time has come for me to use my powers again. If I wasn't given these then what was the point of having them since I came to stay with you".
"That isn't the point Loveday. It's not that I don't want you to help-".
"No I know it isn't!...but what I'm really asking from you is to give me one more chance to help save our friends. I've always believed in you when you had a plan Fox so why not choose to believe in me for a change?...".
Fox's eyes widened and became rather confided "You want the truth well here's the truth, I have never doubted you one-bit Loveday!…I never even stopped believing in you every time".
"If that's how you feel about me then what's your problem? I don't understand".
"I cannot bear to see you put yourself in any danger, something awful might happen to you and what if we weren't there to help you when you really need us? I'm telling you this because I want to protect you".
Loveday blinked her eyes assertively as she stood up "Ever since I was taken away from my grandma, I used to be afraid of losing you. Fox remember when we lost each other at the river?...I was able to take care of myself back then and I did manage to find you all on my own. So finding our friends will be a piece of cake for me, so you shouldn't have to worry" Loveday reassured.
"I'm afraid she's right Fox" Vixen persuaded her mate "I don't want her to leave either but we can't force Loveday to stay if she doesn't want to, the least you could do is let Loveday do whatever she wishes for the sake of bringing our friends back, afterall this is a real emergency".
"I'm a lot more headstrong, for someone at my age I can do things a lot better when I am independent if you'll let me prove it" Loveday reasoned.
"I still don't know?..." Fox was resistant. His didn't want to act like he didn't care, he was just scared for Lovedays safety.
"Oh please do let her come if she's willing to, it might give us a sporting chance" Kestrel persuaded as she flew up to Owl.
"It will make our jobs easier having her around, we always like her company" Whistler added "we'll be there to take care of Loveday if she gets into trouble as well".
"Oh alright-alright, you can go with them" Fox granted anxiously.
"Really! You mean it?" Loveday lit up.
"but only if you'll promise to stick together? When you round everyone up come straight back here you understand?" Fox stated soberly.
"I promise. I'll get myself ready" Loveday reply's picking up her bag and shuffled her stuff inside.
"Oh and thank you Kestrel…you too Whistler" Loveday appreciated their friendship "and please don't worry Owl you'll still be needed to help".
"Excuse me? but may I evaluate on what you are saying Fox? First you wanted us birds to do your bidding. and now you've permitted Loveday to come along just so that she could make a show of herself with these powers she talks gibberish about?" Owl queried.
"Have some faith in Loveday Owl. Her powers are not gibberish you've seen what she can do, give her another chance" Kestrel supported.
"You wait and see, if we can be good hunters then so can she for whatever she is" Whistler said.
"As if?" Owl doubted.
While the birds talked, Loveday quickly changed out of her furry jumpsuit and slipped on something a bit more practical for this major task. Like her Lolita skirt with her matching cropped hoodie.
"I'm ready now!" Loveday called adjusting her outfit and boots. Full of excitement.
"Did you have to change out of your cloths again? How many outfits are you carrying" Fox complained while rolling his eyes.
"Sorry did you say something?".
"HmHmHm Pay no attention to him Loveday, we'll miss you and be twice as careful" Vixen laughed.
"Thanks Vixen I'll miss you too. Wish us luck" Loveday said as she began to leave the grove.
"Good luck!" Vixen called with a worrisome look.
"Stay safe Loveday I mean it!" Fox seriously said as he watched the girl go running out of the grove at a fast pace "remember everything that I have taught you!".
"Aye I will" Loveday shouted back to wave at them "See you later Foxy!".
"Well the sooner we start the better, let's go!" Kestrel winged off after Loveday into the sky.
"Hmm already the youngster Loveday thinks she can lead the way, when of course us birds were born with eyes in the sky" Owl flew away next.
"Wait for me!" Whistler called as he lifted up his massive wings for take-off.
"So long mateys don't take too long now will ya?" Toad called with the hares and hedgehogs waving them farewell.
"They better not" Hare muttered to Hedgehog.
"My spines tell me that we're in for more trouble, you wait" Hedgehog predicted.
"Please find badger? I-I couldn't bear to go to White Deer park without him!" Mole pleaded very hysterically as he saw Loveday vanish down a dirt path with all the birds catching up behind her. Leading all the way back to where they last came from.
"Aww don't take on matey. While your worrying Badgers probably curled up nice and cosy somewhere" Toad tried uplifting Mole's emotions.
"Cosy?...with Weasel? Oh don't make laugh Toadie" Fox chuckled with a smirk, trying not to worry about Loveday's absence.
"You go get 'hem Lovely girl" Fox thought contentedly.
Local reports regarding the wild animals that were caught speculating hell in the church had spread fast like front cover news. The towns people were pursuing high and low for the animals that had gotten loose but none prevailed. True to Fox's own predicament, the lost animals were separately looking for hiding places indeed but fate can sometimes play cruel.
As per-usual the rabbits were panicking and didn't see where they were going too. After bailing the church grounds they rushed toward a big building site nearby filled with cranes and excavators. The rabbits didn't get very far because their way was abruptly cut off by a long dug-up trench being used for putting in pipes. They curiously peered over the edge and leaned in when…Whoosh!.
"Ahh!" Right into the wet sticky mud, Mr Rabbit sled down the side ledge first.
"Oh ah!" Rabbit soon joined him with a splash.
"See what I mean?" Mr Rabbit complained, now they were really stuck in the muddy trench.
"Oh yes…I wish Fox or Loveday were here. Come on lets at lease get undercover" Rabbit sobbed, trying to lick off the mud.
"I think I may have broken my leg?" Mr Rabbit limped as he followed.
"Not now, come on!" Rabbit took no notice and soon found a concrete pipe laying in the ditch and hopped straight inside.
"It's all very well for you but I could be crippled for life?" Rabbits mate kept bugging her.
"Come on!" she urged him into the long dark pipe. It felt almost like they were back in their own underground warren.
"I feel safe here but I do hope our babies stayed with the others?" Rabbit worried as they both sat in the dark with only the bright apertures to look out from.
"They did, Loveday took them with her remember?".
"Oh yes now I feel extra better".
"How long are we going to have to wait?".
"Not one more word!" So the rabbits had no other choice but to wait for the time being.
In an empty field full of long dry grass next to the construction site. The voles, shrews and mice were all gathered together in their own little union against the big animals for treating them like dirt.
"If I've said once, I've said it a hundred times. We smaller animals must learn to stand on our own four feet" Vole recited his trend.
"U-uh I'm sure Fox didn't mean us to be left behind" Field-mouse tried defusing Vole the best way he could "and I have a feeling that Lovedays coming back for us".
"Whether or not we are on our own. Everybody's only out for themselves now, all our protectors have upped and left!" Vole argued.
Field-mouse suddenly reared up his finger "Isn't that the squirrels up there?". They all turned to see that Field-mouse was correct, the squirrel sisters were clinging high on top of a wooden pole. Looking all embarrassed and disoriented.
"Not a tree in reach and were so exposed" Squirrel one exclaimed insecurely.
"Can ya see anyone else?" Squirrel two asked.
"Not a soul" Squirrel one replied as they both observed the field. If they'd both looked down more carefully than maybe they would not have missed spotting the smaller animals huddling in the long gold grass below. Or even the rabbits if they turned to look in the building site's direction.
Unlikely though, Vole who aligned himself above the rest of the small creatures, didn't show any sympathy.
"Squirrels…what use are squirrels?" Vole debated with uninterest.
"Especially when their up a pole" Mr Shrew described.
"What are you all looking at?" Mrs Vole demanded; she was always being left out.
"Nothing mother" Vole replied.
"I'm sure you're looking at something. Was it a human?...oh lord if I see one more human I'll die; I know I will" Mrs Vole despaired. Her unsettling experience at the church had already made her feel vulnerable.
"There-there, don't take on we're safer out here" Mrs Shrew comforted the elderly vole. But from a couple of feet away, they were not alone as they thought.
Adder slipped into the field and had heard voices coming "I'm sure I heard someone squeak?" she wondered cunningly. Physically active she slinked through the grass and rearing her head up found the rodents. For hunting four-legged prey was her survival expertise.
When the scared creatures saw the snake manifest unexpectedly, their prey instincts made them chickened out and scamper away from her.
"What's wrong" Adder asked all puzzled. Why were the rodents running away when they actually knew her?.
"Why are we running?" Mr Shrew panted as he ran fast with the tiny group.
"Because there's a snake after us!" Vole shouted.
"It's only Adder" Field-mouse explained.
"Yes but what Adder?" Vole doubted.
"Suppose it was ours? We should've at least stayed an asked" Field-mouse thought.
"Stupid mouse!" Vole thought he was mental, to think that they could be risked being swallowed for asking as such.
Back behind them, Adder kept assuming what they were doing, "Ah I see! it some sort of game is it?" she established with dark enjoyment "...I'm coming" and off she went.
Half an hour later of speedily running across the broad countryside jumping over logs and etc. Loveday was tracking the outskirts, using her animal senses vitally to navigate the way back outside the village's perimeters.
"Hold on everyone I'm coming to save you!" she thought intentionally as she watched the buildings grow larger by every further step she took closer.
As she wandered closer, a wall of thick tall hedges stood in her way, so Loveday willingly crawled under its gap and went through a dark passage of leaves and twigs, brushing and wiping away all the prickly steams to reach for the other side. The hedge was covering a ditch so it went downwards in proportion.
In the centre Loveday scarcely began to crawl up the other ledge "Ouch! I pricked my finger. Oh well I can see the town through this jungle now". After a tight squeeze of pulling herself out from underneath the hedge. Loveday got up and saw herself entering a vast patch of long-grass with telegraph poles lengthening across the outside of the towns outer boundary which was across the road.
"Did I take the wrong turn somewhere?...I should've been where the church was? this trip seems a lot more confusing than how it actually did before" Loveday looks around at her bearings, twisting her head from one side to another mindfully.
As she scratched her head "I can't smell anyone's scent but I must be in the right place?...the village is just in front of me and if?...yes there's the church steeple to my left side so that's the area where we escaped from".
When the close was clear, Loveday leaped out of hiding and ran straight across.
"I swear this place keeps changing every time I visit it, when will these inconveniences change" Loveday muttered before looking at her ring "I better save my powers for the right moment. Where's Kestrel, Owl and Whistler?...they said they would be here, I hope they didn't forget me?". Taking a breather while she stretched out her stiff arms and looked above, Loveday couldn't see her bird friends flying anywhere in the clear sky.
Evidently as she was breathing in she swore she could smell someone familiar. "It must be me imagining things again" she thought until the smell became more official to her wild instincts "No it isn't me; it's coming from one of those wooden poles…that's funny? I better take a look".
She ploughed her way along the grass and found who's scent it actually belonged to. When Loveday's eyes trailed up the pole where the scent was strongest, to her own disbelief she saw the squirrels hanging from on top.
"Well look who's here?..." Loveday smiled smugly and burst out laughing. "Hahaha…Hello up there Squirrels!"
"Did you just hear Loveday?" Squirrel one asked until her sister lit up as she pointed down to the girl.
"It is Loveday look she's found us! Hi Loveday!" Squirrel two waved brightly.
"Hello down there!" Squirrel one called.
"What are you two doing up there?" Loveday giggled.
"We didn't know where else to go, the only safe place for a squirrel is up" Squirrel one replied happily "but what are you doing here?".
"Fox sent me to look for you" Loveday answered "Have you seen anyone else?".
"No we haven't to be precise" Squirrel two confirmed.
"Why don't you come down?" Loveday persuaded; her neck was starting ache for looking up too long. The squirrels had had enough of loitering on the boring pole so they slid down, and as they did.
"Gee-Gee!" Lovedays ears went up as she heard Kestrels cry call.
"Kestrel is that you?" Loveday looked up hopefully.
"Up here!" Kestrel cheered as she lowered herself down "You found the squirrels Loveday!".
"By coincidence yeah" Loveday laughed with the squirrels.
"Yes we were lucky to be here when Loveday was" Squirrel one giggled.
"Where are the other birds?" Loveday asked.
"Owl and Whistler are searching for them as we speak, I was looking in that green field next door when my eyes spotted you" Kestrel complimented with admiration.
"And a good thing you did because we would like to go back now" Squirrel two nodded.
"Can you please take the squirrels back for me Kestrel?" Loveday asked again.
"Course I can. I know the way back, follow me squirrels…follow me!" Kestrel at once took flight.
"You better keep up with her you two Fox is waiting out there" Loveday prompted the squirrels.
"Thanks again for finding us Loveday" Squirrel one hugged the girls right leg.
"You're our hero" Squirrel two hugged the other leg.
"Yes…alright, your welcome but off you go now" Loveday blushed.
When Loveday was left alone, she decided to start off her powers. "I hope I can remember how to do this; I mustn't let Fox down" she murmurs, kneeling herself on the ground into a mediational pose and closed her eyes to shun the real world around herself.
Her relaxed mind telepathically focused on humbly asking the important question "Please show me the way? Help me find my friends".
After asking this, a representing aura of light surrounded her body and soon orbs of fireflies appeared drawing into a slim path just like before. When Loveday opened her eyes she was shell-shocked to see the queuing orbs leading her straight into another field.
"Ok now I definitely know I'm the best, I wonder what Kell will say about my progress when I see him again. Only if I do somehow?...I love being me".
Getting up, the girl quickly followed her light trail. In no doubt taking her to somebody who needed her the most. Loveday soon ducked under a wooden fence and found herself in a large green space with a series of stripy clean cut lawns. When she turned around to check the lights they had all gone without a trace.
"Aw why does that keep on happening? I get close to finding someone and then I have to do everything" she complained, she was feeling weak from using her powers draining her physical energy but that didn't stop her.
"Looking at this lawn hurts my eyes and it smells like it has been mowed too many times" Loveday sniffed "Now what sort of place is this then. Wait a minute?...What's that?".
The feral psychic's perked up her ears and heard somebody talking. Or for that matter a lot of somebody's.
"Is she there?"
"Can't see her!"
"Adders can't move that fast"
"Oh!...Oh…Oh I'm puffed".
Fortunately Loveday recognised the tone of all those voices.
"I bet that it's Vole and the other small animals, I must follow their scent, it can be dangerous for creatures like them to be here, they could get squished!" she muttered.
As Loveday hunted further around the big green carpet with what little energy she summoned, she discovers that she'd snuck into a golf course. The marker flags, sandpit bunkers and golf balls littered everywhere made it obvious to realise this.
"Fancy coming into a golf course of all places. Why do people always have to ruin such healthy scenery for this boring old guys sport?" Loveday panted as she found a single tree in the middle of the field and went around it to catch her breath.
Poking her head out from around the truck she said "I better watch out for any golfers lurking, though more importantly I should-" Loveday paused. She spotted some little blobs dashing along the lawn.
"Is that them?" she hopped, squinting her eyes more. Through her lensing animal eyes she saw the voles, mice and shrews struggling to run.
"There they are!" Loveday gasped; her powers did work like she hopped but she worried when the little creatures fell splat into one of the golf bunkers without looking.
"It's all up to me now, I'll save them before someone gets hurt" Loveday determined as she watched their every move seriously.
In the white sandy pit, the little creatures spat sand out from their mouths with exhaustion and fear.
"Oh dear, oh dear, son go and see if it's safe?" Mrs Vole pleaded as she tried to pick herself up.
"Alright Mother" Vole obeyed and peeped out over the pits edge very cautiously. When all of a sudden a ball skyrocketed skimming right pass his head.
Mrs Vole wondered what her son saw as he rushed back with a terrified look "Oh dear Adder must be out to get us? the oath won't hold water without Fox to enforce it. Or better Loveday knew how to keep her away".
"It wasn't Adder Mother or it was she's gone very fast" Vole shook his head, referring to the ball that almost hit him.
"Look out!" Field-mouse yelled as another golf ball crashed in the sandpit.
"Eeek!" they all jumped.
"Let's get out of here!" Mr Shrew said as they all scurried out of the pit in blind raging panic.
Pursuing on the green, Adder was about to catch up to them when she saw the golfer teeing up for another shot which he use to scare the rodents off just now "Spoilsport!" she hissed moodily.
"Adder!".
The snake soon spotted Loveday hailing from underneath a tree.
"Loveday?...what's she doing here I wonder?" Adder asked herself.
But not for long. Loveday soon heard a motoring type of sound getting loud. She turned her head to see an enormous ride on lawn-mower driving right across and it was heading straight for her rodent friends.
"That lawn mower will chop them to bits" Loveday thought anxiously and tried to get the rodents attention.
"Watch out!...over here! Come to me!" Loveday directed.
The rodents couldn't hear Loveday. The lawn mower was way too loud and it even made them stop dead. The machine came nearer and nearer to severing them right in its path.
"No! don't look at it!" Loveday started to panic as they were all frozen on the spot. Too frightened to even move a muscle.
"I'll get them moving!" Adder thought excitedly as she slithered fast toward them.
"Adder be careful" Loveday watched in horror when Adder snuck behind the rodents. The lawn mower was coming.
"There's Adder!" Vole finally recognised her at last. Seeing the snake made them forget about the mower entirely.
"I see you mice's and I'm coming to get you" Adder grinned wickedly. The rodents squeaked in fright and got out of the way right on time. Loveday waved them over to the tree and this time they did spot her.
"Told you so" Adder said pridefully.
"Adder look out!" Loveday shouted.
The mower was functioning on top of the snake and its blades underneath were going to slice her up like a sausage. Until Loveday sat her impetuous mind on the machine and telepathically caused it to sharply turn in the other direction without manual control, she made the switches and buttons flicker like it was alive which freaked out the driver. If Loveday could control fire and air then why not machines? It was absolutely incredible.
Thankfully the lawn-mower buzzed out of control and stirred away from Loveday and her tiny companions. The rodents didn't see what happened because they were so relieved to see that Loveday came to save them.
"Loveday thank goodness it's you. Adders after us!" Vole greeted the human looking all flustered.
"She was going to eat us up" Mr Shrew explained.
"No you don't understand. Adder just saved your lives and I can't see her" Loveday alerted honestly.
"Was it you who caused that human thingy to roll away?" Field-mouse asked.
"I did it to save Adder" Loveday answered going faint, she didn't want their impression if it wasn't worth saving Adders life "But I was too late. Adders lost forever".
"You mean she's gone for good?" Mrs Field-mouse looked at the area they were nearly killed in. It was too unbelievable for the rodents to feel free from their enemies terror.
"Serves her right" Mrs Vole contradicted.
"Surely you don't mean that do you? if it weren't for her scaring you, then that mower would have gotten you instead" Loveday berated.
"I thought saving us was what you were supposed to do?" Vole furiously asserted.
"Um…Vole you might want to see this?" Field-mouse tapped his shoulder. there was a golfers cup hole and a dark hissing was heard echoing from inside.
"It can't be?" Mrs Vole went white in the face.
"Oh please don't let it be?" Mrs Shrew begged.
Too their own dismay, Adder popped her head out from the hole without a scratch. Loveday smiled with relief and went up to see if she wasn't daydreaming.
"Adder is it you?" Loveday causally said.
"In the flesh" Adder cackled.
"We thought you were long gone?" Loveday giggled.
"Me?...I'm far too stubborn to get myself killed".
"Anyway I'm glad to see your in one piece and well down for saving the others, that was very noble of you".
"Apparently I'm glad to see you here, it feels nice to finally be appreciated for my talents unlike some" Adder remarked as she climbed out of her hole.
"Some game of hide and seek that was?" she comments to the quivering rodents. Who didn't seem happy to see her.
"Haha…Hide and seek I get it" Loveday coughed to calm her laugh "Well the games over, we've got to get back. Fox is waiting for you all".
"Well he can just keep on waiting" Vole declared "We smaller animals can make our way to White Deer Park on our own, thank you very much. What do you say brothers?".
"You can't be serious?" Loveday deadpans. She wasn't in the mood to argue about their ego again.
"We jolly well are" Vole replied arguably.
"Oh really?" Loveday crossed her arms and smirks as Adder hissed demandingly at the rodents, giving them a beady reptile look of raw effectiveness. Which seemed to work.
Vole give in and consented "Uh…on second thoughts, it would be a pity to go it alone after we've travelled so far together. What do you say brothers?" he said informally.
"And sisters!" the females corrected in annoyance.
"We say yes!" Adder growled impatiently "Now get on with it Vole".
Grateful that Adder struck humility back into the rodents, Loveday dropped down her bag "Come on everyone you deserve a rest, I'll carry you all back".
"Digest did you say?...I don't want Adder digesting me" Mrs Vole misheard.
"Let's go Mother" Vole guided her.
"Thank you Loveday, see I told you she would come" Field-mouse smiled as he and he wife climbed into Lovedays bag, with the voles and shrews.
"At least we don't have to walk anymore, my feet are killing me" Vole complimented as he was the last to snuggle through the top. With the rodents all boarded, Loveday made sure they were secure and comfy as she placed it behind again.
"And I suppose you're not going to let me ride with them are you?" Adder grumbled.
"No I'm not, because you are going to ride on me instead" Loveday negotiated. She lowers her arm for Adder to wrap around and slid onto both her shoulders.
"Now this is what I call high class" Adder sighed majestic; the girl's warmth made it relaxing for her since she was born cold-blooded.
"Enjoy yourself while it lasts" Loveday said proudly taking them all back on a much less effort route.
In the heart of the town, Badger and Weasel had been chased away to a pub. On the street they both found an open trapdoor with a long wooden ramp plunging straight down into the underground storage cellar where they kept the stacked casks and containers.
Feeling panic-stricken, Badger slowly crawled down the ramp "Quick in here!" he gestured to Weasel behind him.
Through as Weasel clambered on her paws suddenly slipped and she went sliding pass Badger and into the dark cellar with a tumble.
"I say Weasel? are you alright!" Badger gasped as he peered down. He lifted himself on the steep ramp and suddenly his weight made him slip and fall just like her.
"Whoa…Oh…Ohhhhhh! Ouch!" poor Badger had a nasty yet painful headfirst landing on the stone floor at the bottom. After recovering he soon rummaged himself through a gap between the casks that were part of a giant pyramid stacking.
"Hahaha! Enjoy your trip?" Weasel joked.
"Shut up Weasel!" Badger scolded her. Here he was trapped in the cellar with only Weasel for company "I hope the others are safe? He murmured.
"They'll be fine" Weasel said, she was too overexcited to explore the interesting human place and was climbing over barrels, leaping and jumping from one to an another.
Badger thought the wine cellar was the funniest burrow he'd ever seen. As he sniffed around curiously it reeked of mould, steam and old alcohol stains. "I didn't know humans lived underground?...I wonder if Loveday already knew that?" Badger kept questioning himself.
"Hahaha! Look at me" Weasel bragged as she carried on showing off her moves while getting on Badger's nerves.
"How can you laugh when…who knows what's happened to the others?" Badger shook his head annoyingly.
"Sorry!" Weasel mischievously ran on top of the wooden barrels before jumping at the end and bouncing on an off Badger's body like a trampoline to reach for more barrels to climb on.
"w-w-Weasel this is not a game! Don't ya care at all?" Badger growled, he began to miss all his friends, especially Moles and was nearly breaking into tears.
"Ooh dear! Is poor old Badger upset then?" Weasel mocked him dramatically as she wiggled about. She just wouldn't stop pushing his buttons.
"I'd prefer to be back with everyone else than stay in here with you" Badger exclaimed "I think we should leave?".
"Leave?...But Badger I'm happy, I like it in here" Weasel kept exploring around the cellar enthusiastically, until she paused next to a barrel with a valve that had some red liquid leaking out.
"Look! all mod cons, running water-well dripping water" she shrugged, putting her paw underneath the nozzle. She then gullibly tasted the red juice that dribbled down. As Weasels tongue sipped the liquids fruity dry, yet acidy taste a warm sensational feeling filled her up inside. Turning her cheeks all rosy with luxurious pleasure.
"Mmm-Hmm…mmm yum-yum. Oooh nice!" she compliments as she immediately lay under the huge barrel and was sucking down every drop in her mouth drip by drip, with obsessional thirst for more of the delicious fluid.
Although Badger was wary as he inquisitively sniffs the flowing liquid, the aroma was sour-bitter and broad like berries dunked into something unfamiliarly vulgar "Yecch! Disgusting!" he flinched.
"Nnnooo nice! I'm nice too Badger when you get to know me…HIC!...which you will now that we're hold up together…HIC!" Weasel sounded befuddled the way she talked now. The drink was starting to have its intoxication over her.
"Stop it!" Badger didn't like the way Weasel was acting.
The more Weasel drank her throat became dryer and her head got dizzier "HIC!…I'm still thirsty! You know Badger humans can be nice too…HIC!...In fact, I could get to quite like 'hem…HIC!...Just wait 'til Loveday hears of thisss".
"Weasel are you feeling alright?" Badger calmly asked, he began to think that Weasel was ill. Or maybe it was him from all of this silliness.
"Never better old chap!...HIC!" Weasel laughed so hard she fell down.
"Shsss! What's that?" Badger suddenly saw a shadow passing over the square-shaped hole. He could smell human scent drifting down, they were close by. So he quietly crawled out to see what was happening on the street.
"Where are you going?" Weasel got up and bothered to asked him.
"Just seeing if it's safe to move?" Badger whispered. Nearing the bottom of the ramp, trying to not let himself be distracted.
"You're not going without me!" Weasel waddled over towards him and yanked hard on the badgers tail.
"Get off of me before I…" Badger paused; he heard more activity going on. When he turned to look up the unforeseen happened.
"Pass 'hem down to me!... right steady now!...all clear!" A man's voice bellowed outside. Then Badger heard an impacting sound like thunder. From the very top came a barrel, rolling straight down the slope towards them!.
"Brace yourself! Agh!" Badger shoved Weasel out of the barrels path.
Shortly, more barrels came flooding down like wooden bombs. Crashing right under the neat stacks, shaking and rumbling up the whole entire basement.
Badger didn't know how he got to safety but the barrels he jumped behind fell everywhere around him. Momentarily he opened his eyes and was so stunned to see that he was not crushed by the pile of barrels in the middle of the room. But where was Weasel?.
"Weasel!...speak to me!...Where are you?" he called nervously, looking round for her.
"HIC!…HIC!" the intensive hiccupping came from around the piles corner. Now Badger knew Weasel was alive and breathing.
"Don't move" Badger prepared for the worse as he went to make sure Weasel wasn't hurt, but as he went around, there was Weasel ridiculously kick-backing under the huge barrel, indulging herself with more drips without noticing Badgers infuriated look on her.
"Weasel stop drinking that stuff, we've got to get out of here!" Badger reprimanded.
"B-but Iiiii like itttt" Weasel lisped with her wreaked grinning face. She was now totally tipsy.
Suddenly they both saw the ramp rising, the men were pulling the wooden plunk back up through the trapdoor.
"Hurry the ramp!...jump for it!" Badger panicked. To his own surprise Weasel charged up, catching hold of it and ran up the board, yelling at the top of her lungs "Here we go, here we go, here we go, here we go!".
With a steel heart Badger made a storming leap right up toward the plank and hoisted himself as it was moved right out of the cellar at the same time.
When the two men holding plank saw the weasel streak across they nearly dropped it but were even more shocked to see the big heavy badger chase after her.
"What on earth?"
"'ere? you got a incense for that one Freddy!"
Off course Badger and Weasel didn't stick around for long and were already dashing away down the daylit streets. Again getting hopelessly lost throughout the town.
Owl and Whistler were overseeing above the rooftops of houses when they heard Weasels idiotic exhilarations.
"Here we go, Here we go, Here we goooo! Farthing wood animals forever!".
"I'll seed to Weasel!" Owl informed.
"Remember the oath" Whistler reminded as Owl flew toward the dingy street where tipsy Weasel was rampaging, bumping into bins and shouting while she staggered.
By the time Owl had landed, Weasel was knocked out consciously, she collapsed under a bin and couldn't get back up.
"And what have you to say for yourself prey?" Owl asked sternly.
"HIC!" was all that came out of Weasel. Then Badger arrived all overwhelmed and enervated from witnessing Weasels trouble making.
"Ah Badger, Fox sent me to look for you" Owl said.
"Oh that's the first good news I've heard all day" Badger relieved with a deep sigh.
"HIC!" Weasel kept hiccupping.
"Just follow me, I'll take you to our leader" Owl kindly offered.
"What are we going to do about Weasel?" Badger asked, looking at her.
"Leave her…I would" Owl urged, she felt utterly disgraced by Weasels proper revolting condition.
Suddenly Weasel dimly woke up "Can't go without Weasel…you know Badger you've been like a father to me you have. I've always looked on you with the highest…HIC!".
"Oh get up!" Badger scolded; he didn't want to bear her insufferable flirting anymore. As Weasel was highly incapable of walking he forcefully lowered himself for her.
"Ohh Can I ride on your back Badger?" Weasel smiles smugly as she mounted on and leaned down on his back.
"You're a fool to yourself Badger" Owl sighed as she shook her face disappointingly.
"Tell no one about this if you please" Badger grunted with embarrassment. Finally they all headed back for the safety in the grove.
Meanwhile, Fox was tensely waiting for Loveday and the birds to return safely while Vixen and the others rested but Mole's rowdy sobbing was really starting to infuriate everyone.
A weary Vixen tried alleviating with Mole "Crying never helped anyone".
"Never helped anyone sleep anyway" Hare grumbled.
"I wish they'd hurry up" Hedgehog added, trying to sleep with his wife.
"Moles crying sounds better than your snoring" Mrs Hedgehog remarked.
"I told you before, I don't snore" Hedgehog argued.
"Shssss You're going to wake the babies" Mrs Hare said still babysitting.
"I know Badgers alright Moley, I feel it in me bones" Toad wrapped his arm around Moles shoulders.
Eventually Fox saw Kestrel appear "Gee!-Gee! The squirrels are coming!" she shouted down. The animals cheered to see them return but the poor squirrels were completely worn out and had collapsed as soon as they joined them.
"Phew! You did come a long way" Squirrel one greeted tiredly.
"Did you see any of the others?" Fox calmly asked them with hidden joy to see them.
"Weasel?...well we heard her anyway" Squirrel two answered, they also told their leader how it was Loveday being the first one to actually find them before Kestrel did.
"Oh that's wonderful, I told you she'd be alright" Vixen smiled to Fox.
"Guess Loveday was right all along; she certainly has grown more independent than I'd expected" Fox muttered.
"Look there she is" Vixen pointed toward the path.
"That was quick" Fox went gobsmacked when he saw the massive load the girl was carrying with her.
Arriving back Loveday was dead tired "At last, now we're back" she panted, she'd been vaguely struggling to not stumble or trip otherwise she may have dropped everyone she was carrying.
"Hiya were back!" Loveday called as she joined her friends "I've brought the small animals back with me". She leans down her heavy backpack and the voles, shrews and mice scumbled out like tiny ants.
"Thanks Loveday" Mr Shrew said.
"Thanks for the lift" Mrs Shrew said too.
"Bit of a bumpy ride but thank you Loveday" Vole added.
"Your all welcome…Oh dear" Loveday dropped down on the rock with a sigh. She couldn't feel her numb arms or legs any longer, she was sweating and boiling all over.
"Hehehe hello Loveday" Vixen giggled as she sat down beside her.
"Hi Vixen" Loveday replied settling herself.
"You look tired" Vixen comments.
" 'm beat and hungry and thirsty" Loveday piled on.
"Got more than you bargained for eh?" Fox was glad to see Loveday alive and licked Loveday on the cheek. He almost laughed when he saw Adder still curled around Lovedays neck like a scarf.
"Aye very funny…but I was successful as you can see" Loveday boasted proudly as she drank up her water to fulfil her empty and distressful tummy.
"Sorry to have kept you" Adder hissed as she dispatches off Lovedays shoulders.
"Good to see ya too Adder" Fox coolly greeted before asking Loveday "So how'd it went?".
"Let me eat my take out then I'll tell you" Loveday pulled out her jasmine rice and stuffed it all down without question. She hadn't eaten for hours.
"You really were hungry; you eat just like a dog" Fox muttered with amuse.
"I take that as a compliment" Loveday replied wiping her mouth.
When Loveday finished eating her well-earned lunch, she specifically told the foxes about her new happenings outside the village, including Adders excellent attempt at rescuing the small animals lives when the girl had found them in the golf course, thanks to her improved psychic powers.
Fox was really overwhelmed to know all of this and had personally won more of his respect toward Loveday who proved him otherwise "I gotta hand it over to ya Loveday, you've done me prouder" Fox smirked as he compliments "You're one heck of a rarity that's for sure".
"Am I?...That means a lot to me Fox, thank you" Loveday beamed "But I think I may still have some growing up to do before I even know that I've earned that entitlement".
"Well don't rush yourself" Fox nudged her as they all laughed until it was cut short by a terrible ruckus.
"Here we come, here we come, here we come!".
"Agh…Who's making all that kerfuffle?" Loveday put her hands on her ears.
"Oh dear I think were about to find out" Vixen answered. They all looked at the dirt path and saw to their own relief that it was nonother than Badger coming, with Weasel dozing on his back.
Loveday quickly got Mole's attention "Hey Mole look who's here". Mole removed his paws from his sad face and blinked with bliss "Hooray!" he cheered. He was so happy to have his best friend back.
"What has Weasel gotten herself into this time? she looks nauseous" Fox wondered as Badger ditched Weasel at their feet like a rag doll.
"Apparently she drank some human stuff and has turned as silly as they are, made a complete exhibition of herself you should've seen it" Owl answered Fox's question as she landed.
"I think I can smell it" Loveday thought as her nose ruffled to the unpleasant wine stench brushing off of Weasel.
"Oh Badger I'm so glad to see you!" Mole passionately ran up to him.
"Just…let me sit down" Badger asked, he sat down to finally feel the ultimate pleasure of the physical alleviation flow in his body.
"Agh! That's better" he heavily sighed with such heavenly relief. The aches and pains from his little day trip had gone.
"Now come over here you" Badger affectionately lured his little friend onto his paw and cradled Mole in his arms tenderly. Loveday thought their reunion was very touching.
"Well mateys soon be on our way now?" Toad spoke cheerfully. By now they'd nearly found everybody.
"Something tells me you've been through a lot Badger" Loveday pitied as she greeted him.
"Loveday dear you don't know the half of it" Badger expressed before turning to the snoring Weasel who was still out like a flame.
"Don't even think of waking her" Badger recommended extreme.
"I'm not even going to touch her…she really does stink, eww!" Loveday pinched her nose and scooted away from Weasel like the rest of the animals did.
While the animals and Loveday exchanged their intensive yet amusing experiences to each other. At the busy worksite, the rabbit couple were having big troubles of their own. They sat trembling in the pipe at the bottom of the ditch with their paws pressing tightly to their ears.
"Safe in here you say, ha!" Mr Rabbit complains crossly as the deafening noise of a pneumatic drill shook the ground threateningly.
"W-When will they stop!" Mr Rabbit couldn't bear it anymore.
Rabbit slowly lifted her paws away and she noticed that the drilling noise had finally ceased after all that tolerance "They have stopped" she reassured her mate with relief.
"I-I can still hear them!" Mr Rabbit shook uncontrollably with his front teeth clicking uneasily.
"That's your teeth chattering" Rabbit said back.
Suddenly they both heard a soft whistle closing in from outside the pipe, they hopped right out of the concrete cylinder to see their heron friend Whistler sitting perfectly on top of it.
"I'm glad to see you" Mr Rabbit struggled to say between his quivering mouth.
"Why are you shaking like that?" Whistler curiously asks.
"H-H-Help me! G-G-Get us out of H-H-Here!" Mr Rabbit stammered frightfully.
"P-P-P-Paarden?" Whistler mimicked in bafflement.
"Can you help us out of the trench please Whistler?" Rabbit pleaded.
Whistler did anticipate that the rabbits were unable to climb up the high walls and he was their only chance of making it out "Hm tricky?... Could you sort of climb up me do you think?" he proffered.
"We could try?" Rabbit nodded; they'd try anything just to get out of this nerve-wreaking place. As Whistler got down the pipe to lower himself onto the ground, Mr Rabbit was immensely petulant to clamber onto the bird's body first.
But as the kind formal man he was, Whistler reproachingly cleared his throat before Mr Rabbit was about to jump on "Uh-hum!...Ladies first".
Mr Rabbit was extremally resentful "I-I it's not fair! I-I'm m-much worse than she is".
"So sorry can't hear a word you say…come along Rabbit" Whistler simply ignored him.
"Why can't you be more like Whistler for a change?" Rabbit scorned at her lame excuse for a husband as she impatiently went on Whistlers back. When Rabbit was ready, Whistler lifted his long legs and neck to reach above the trench for Rabbit to step up onto his head and bound out of the opening edge.
"Careful as you get up" Whistler said as she was finally free "Alright your turn now".
"At last" Mr Rabbit replied, but action spoke louder than words. Every time he'd climb onto the herons neck he lost his grip and would fall back into the mud again because he was much bigger and fatter than his wife.
"Oh please get on with it" Whistler told him after trying many attempts. When they struggled one last time the bird couldn't handle the male rabbits weight any longer.
"No it's no good, you are too heavy" Whistler conceded as he sunk down exhaustedly.
"Oh dear now what are we going to do?" Rabbit had been watching the whole time and was feeling more embarrassed by her mate.
Luckily though Whistler knew exactly what was needed to be done "I'm afraid you'll have to get off me Rabbit" he persuaded politely.
"I won't-I won't!" Mr Rabbit refused selfishly.
"Oh dear but you must, I've got to go for help".
"You'll leave me here; I know you will".
"Please get down".
"You'll leave me here and I'll die".
Without any reasonable choice Whistler made the denying rabbit slid off his back as he stood up "I'll come back I promise, just you stay putt" he said comfortly.
Mr Rabbits long ears drooped with depression "How can I do anything else?" he cried as Whistler flew away from the worksite to fetch for help. Eventually it didn't take long for him to alarm his friends as he flew faster than he'd ever done especially when he was out fishing.
After having to listen to poor Badger's story being trapped in the pub cellar with Weasel making trouble, Loveday was relaxing in order to degust her food.
"I've never felt so stuffed in all my life; those powers of mine must've given me quite the appetite" Loveday dimly thought as she watched the azure sky to clear her head from remembering the endless list of exaggerating problems she and the farthing animals had to endure for the last two days ever since they relocated beyond the motorway.
Imagine if you had to devastatingly face famine, aggressive dogs, monsoons and wedding crashes happening in one day while trying to uphold harmony and collaboration amongst your dependent friends, but more importantly Loveday worked her full hardest to help make everything right in the end and all for the animals she grew to unconditionally love more than anything she quite imagined herself. Everyday she'd been changing more into a feral psychic inside and out without showing any conditions.
"I say Help! Mr Rabbits stuck in a ditch!" Loveday got up and gasped to hear Whistler.
"Oh that stupid rabbit!" Loveday heard Hare growl.
"He's done it again; I knew this would happen" Hedgehog groaned.
Loveday was scarcely about ask Fox what their strategy should be when her instincts already read the canines look of gallantry.
"I'll go back for him" Fox volunteered as he faced Loveday.
"No! remember what happened at the river" Badger protested with his own memories from that past disaster.
"If I hadn't gone to Rabbits help then, I'd never have met Vixen. So I owe him for it" Fox elucidated fairly.
"Fox's right we can't dessert them now" Vixen supported, if it was the rabbits that had brought her and Fox together than she didn't want to be eternally ungrateful.
"The children need their parents; let's not turn a blind eye on their father we can spare a few minutes, it won't be the same without him twiddling his thumbs around" Loveday too supported. With that being settled Fox ran to the rabbits rescue.
"Once again the mighty knight is off on another great quest" Loveday playfully said as she and Vixen plainly watched him streak off. They then turned to see if Weasel was still holding them all up.
"I don't think Weasel will be able to travel tonight" Vixen commented tensely.
"Oh-no we're never going to get to White Deer Park at this rate" Toad moans grumpily.
"We could always leave her behind. What ya say Hedgehog?" Hare smirks deceivingly at Toad who didn't seem up for Hare's idea.
"I maybe a common erinaceous but I'm not that gullible" Hedgehog didn't consider.
"Look out she's waking up!" Loveday quickly warned them as Weasel was now stirring and groaning.
"Ohhh…Where am I?" Weasel grouses as she sees everyone staring back on her but not in sympathy.
"We'd be at White Deer Park by now matey if it wasn't for you" Toad rebuked her.
"And the rabbits" Hare despaired.
"Badger my saviour!" Weasels eyes lit up until she started to feel oozy inside and out "…Ohh"
"Oh lord, must be the stuff she drank" Badger said as Weasel grasped her agonizing head.
"Without a doubt" Loveday agreed.
"My head hurts" Weasel murmured.
"Don't you remember anything?" Loveday scolded her firmly "You were drunk and because of you we had to stop".
"I can't remember anything" Weasel replied.
"Weasel how could you be so careless. Poor Badgers had to deal with your inappropriate behaviour all day while trying to take care of you. Grandmother taught me you must never drink anything strong without knowing the safety for it or you'll end up getting hungover, which I believe is what your suffering from".
"Me?..." Weasel asks confused.
"It's your own fault you greedy little…weasel!" Badger supported Loveday.
"You'd better stay away from the things humans drink from now on, let this be a lesson to you" Loveday stated.
"As soon as Fox's back I'm off, Weasel can look out for herself" Hare said impatiently.
"Now don't be silly Hare!...There is still the oath, Fox hasn't deserted the rabbits has he?" Badger quarrels heatedly.
"Hare we all feel for you. I know it's been hard but it doesn't have to end like this" Loveday reasons trying to cool down the scene.
"Oh dear, I hope he's alright. Rabbits can get you into all sorts of trouble" Mole worriedly says as he sat beside Badger on the same rock with Loveday.
"As I see it, the oath expires at journeys end and I can hardly wait to get my fangs into those mice" Adder sputters in Weasels face.
Again Toad became distressed to Adders cunningness "Oh-no shall I go after her Badger?" he asks with temptation.
Badger relaxes the amphibian "No need Toadie, Adder may want to behave like any other snake but she can't, not anymore. This journey has changed all of us…even her".
"I'll never forget the time she saved us from the hunt that's for sure" Vixen smiled.
"Her dignity may be her number one priority but underneath I know she cares more about us than she pretends to" Loveday gave a teasing wink at Adder. Although the snake didn't say anything to reply, her declining expression confessed it all.
"I never thought getting acquainted to a snake would be this fun" Loveday thought to herself "apparently this extraordinary life I've chosen to lead now is nothing but making me the happiest person in the world, even if it's not sunshine and rainbows around every turn of the animal kingdom. But I need more answers to explain why I was born to live this fate. I just hope what Kell said to me before was true, he did say if I want to find out the truth then I'll have to find it in the park".
"Is something troubling you Loveday?" Vixen softly asks.
"Huh?...oh not really Vixen, I was just thinking" Loveday replied.
"What about?".
"I don't know why, but I think my powers are getting stronger because we're now linking closer to the park. Like I'm supposed to be there for something important".
"But I thought you already wanted to go live there with us".
"More than anything I really do…to tell you the truth I'm scared".
"Are you worried about moving on?" Vixen sat closer to the anxious looking girl. Loveday nodded in reply.
Vixen emotionally understood what Loveday was going through "Life must be hard for someone like you. Your living easy one life and then it all changes so suddenly".
"Repeatedly" Loveday finished "I've only realised that I'm starting to forget about my past. All those memories of being taken in by my Grandma before child services caged me in that foster home before I discovered I was born a feral psychic are starting to fade like they never existed. I knew everything about living the easy human life and now the more I grow to love this new side of me, I seem to leave everything about my childhood behind because those things don't seem to matter to me anymore".
Vixen wasn't sure how to respond to Lovedays troubled thoughts, she tenderly touched the girls hand with her paw and they both exchanged loving looks. In her early years Loveday had never made a female friend like Vixen before so this was all pretty still new to her.
"Everything will be alright…your probably just anxious about getting there like me, what really matters is that you're here with us Loveday because you've chosen to be. You're a really special girl you are, and you know we love you".
Loveday blushed to hear this from Vixen "Your too kind Vixen but I suppose focusing on the present is what will help me to feel at peace with everything that has happened to me, even though I can't seem to stop missing my normal life but I think this journey has taught me that even "a home isn't where you live or grow up in. A home is a place where your heart belongs to those who you love".
"And if you still love your Grandma then you'll never feel lonely wherever you go, besides you still have me and Fox so you'll not be alone anymore, we'll always be here for you" Vixen licked her face.
"Thank you Vixen" Loveday smiled lovingly as she hugged her back, until now she considered herself just a friend to the foxes but maybe she was someone closer than that to them. Yet nevertheless they did welcome the human girl into their family bubble which they planned to create in the future.
"I wonder how Fox is getting on?" Loveday wondered looking back in the villages direction with Vixen.
"You and me both" Vixen shrugged.
Fox did make it back to the rabbits in no better timing. Rabbit was persistently trying to help pull her mate out from the slippery ditch and had fallen back in again.
That was when Fox was seen running along the edge and had heroically managed to leap across and land swiftly in front of the rabbits faces.
Despite looking all shabby and covered in mud stains, the rabbits were so thankful to have their prayers answered in his presence "I knew you wouldn't desert us Fox" Mr Rabbit said with gratitude.
"On my back…one at a time and hold on" Fox instructed them.
After obeying Fox's request, the rabbits held on tightly to his fur as he crawled up the side ledge very carefully, in a matter of seconds they made level to the top and were already high-tailing the builders yard.
Everybody was bored out of their wits as they waited for Fox to make it back to the grove, "Fox is a long time" Mole moaned for the hundredth time.
"Stop moaning…he'll be alright" Hare reassured Mole before turning to his sunbathing mate "I'll miss him once were there and Loveday too" he whispered unhappily.
"They'll still protect us from the other animals in the park though won't they?" Mrs Hare questioned.
Secretly while Loveday was brushing her blond hair to pass time she glanced over at everyone's sorrowful expressions, she expected the animals would be more excited at this point but it surely didn't feel right. Undeniably they were all going to miss each-others company, which was becoming apparent amongst their community. And very soon it would all come to a closing once they went their separate ways in the sanctuary. Even Loveday didn't expect to feel emotionally upset herself now that their journey was almost momentarily over.
Vole cleared his throat as he turned to his mother anxiously "I don't know mother?...now were nearly there…I feel almost sad".
"Sad?...huh! I'm looking forward to behaving like a normal vole again, I don't know about you?" Mrs Vole comments before toning her voice down "but I know what you mean son and take comfort for your dreams will never be the dreams of an ordinary vole, never again. Your dreams will be different till the day you die and so will mine. For I'm proud to be a farthing wood traveller and as for that oath we made, well we'll keep it among ourselves and amongst our children's children so that the spirit of this journey will be kept alive forever!" unbeknown to Mrs Vole, her words had captivated everyone's attention.
With all eyes staring around the place, Loveday and the farthing wood members watched her closely in great admiration since her speech's motivation reflicted their memories about the undying friendship that was born from the magic of the oath which not only brought them peace unheard of but had made the animals and teenager who they were and that they'll always be united as one.
"Well said!" Fox praised Mrs Vole with appreciation; before anyone had noticed he'd been standing at the back carrying the rabbits on him.
"Fox your back!" Mole cheered as he ran up to welcome him back.
"How long have you been listening there for?" Loveday asks in a teasing manner.
"Long enough Loveday" Fox replied with a cocky smile "Believe it or not we're all here at last!…".
"Hooray! Yay! Hooray!" there was a celebrational explosion of enthusiastic clapping, cheering and laughing. Everybody was finally reunited once again.
"Then I guess that means…we can go" Loveday softly said to her eager friends as she felt her heart beat nervously against her ribs.
"Shall we?" Fox addressed to his followers.
"I think I speak for everyone here Fox and we say…yes" Badger answered encouragingly.
"Yes!" the animals declared happily. All they could positively think about was resuming their journey once and for all. They had waited off track long enough.
"I can't believe this is really happening" Loveday thought, slowly preparing her backpack. Before her otherworldly eyes stared interrogatingly at her pink ring, the scared stone that situated on her finger was what started off this adventure of a lifetime and gave her freedom to learn the secrets evolving around her and not just finding out that animals in general can talk.
"All our dreams are finally coming true…But I wish I knew what mine was?" Loveday never found out what she really wanted as a reward for surviving this death defying journey. Regularly she'd been researching what the animals were looking forward to the most. Presumably their answers were unsophisticated, naive since they all lived in the natural world that Loveday was still falling into, even though she'd only been living with them all through the summer which was now turning to autumn.
"Those animals are lucky that they don't know what a reward is from my language. All they ever wanted is to do whatever they choose, day or night. Running, hunting, climbing, flying, swimming and having families or brand new homes without fear of being disturbed from humans. Sounds cute I must say".
"Maybe all I've ever wanted was a home to call my own with a new refreshing life, I never felt safe or loved when I was growing up in foster care".
"Are you ready to go Loveday dear? We're moving now" Badger called to her. The animals were positioning in line and waiting impatiently for her.
"Hurry up if you don't want to be left behind" Fox humorously hurried her.
"Keep your fur on" Loveday replied with amusement. Some of the animals cracked up laughs to her little joke.
"Time waits for no one if we don't push ourselves on" Owl quoted from up a birch tree, finding no humour from the ground dwellers.
"It's better to be late than never" Vixen remarked as Loveday got herself together and joined them.
"Thanks for waiting, let's move" Loveday said looking snazzy for the big event.
"Lead us on Toad" Fox affectionately commands.
"Haha! Come on mateys lets go. We'll be at White Deer Park before you can say we're not haha" Toad croaked in his joyous tone, as he instinctly guided his friends out from the grove and step lightly across the next field. As the sun was currently passing lower over them, fevering the evening atmosphere vividly in aesthetic yellow.
From Lovedays point of view, she wished this moment wouldn't end. The air smelt peaceful, giving rays of bliss for her.
The walk up to the fence at the other end seemed to be taking longer. Though everyone was practically going at a relaxed pace, same as could be said for the birds who were flying overhead.
"Fox?" Loveday said as she gracefully strolled next to him with the larger animals upfront.
"MmmHmm?" Fox hummed.
"How are you feeling?".
"Good question…I dunno know, you?"
"Same. I know this is the moment we've all been waiting for but it just feels strange that were finally coming towards the end of our journey".
"Yeah I know what you mean. We're used to doing this every day and now it's time for all of us to settle down at last".
"Well let's not regret it, right? Like what Mrs Vole's just said we should all be proud of ourselves, for the true spirit of Farthing Wood was always there behind us and forever it shall always be".
"You've certainly said it" Fox praises "if it hadn't been for you coming to warn us, we wouldn't have known White Deer Park was for real" he complimented.
"Without your help I wouldn't have kept my promise I'd made to Grandma, and for that I'll always be grateful" Loveday says affectionately.
"I say it's been an absolute pleasure to have you aboard Loveday" Badger comments gladly "if you weren't so kind towards us from the start, we'd still not have the hearts to forgive what the humans have cruelly done to our poor home".
"Well the past is the past. I hope the animals that live in the park will let me coexist with them?" Loveday presumes.
"I guarantee that you'll show them how formidable you are Loveday. They'll be so surprised to know that you can actually talk to us, so that will be useful. Maybe even someday both our worlds will live in peace" Vixen estimated.
"Then maybe?...I won't be the only feral psychic left in this whole world" Loveday thought, feeling more confident as they arrived at the boundary fence. Everybody was brewing with excitement now.
"Oh we're here…we made it mateys, we made it!" Toad shouted triumphally as he was the first to enter the reserve. Hopping into the luscious rain-spangled meadow on the other side, where the sun was shining centrally, almost burning into everyone's eyes.
Just as Loveday apprehensively bends down to go under the fence second, she looked ahead at the beautiful landscape which took her breath away. Her calm smile widened in purity. Here she was standing on the very grounds edging around the nature reserve and it was all real.
But then the corner of her animal eyes saw something. There was a strong shadowy figure moving over the brow of the hill, overtaking the sunlight to reveal itself in front of the newcomers who were entering the park boundary.
"I say?..." Toad gasped as he too saw it.
"Look!" Loveday excitedly got everyone's attention as she pointed up the hill. Fox and Vixen silently looked next to her. Then Badger, Mole, Weasel, Adder and all the other farthing mammals and birds. Their eyes stared in utter bewilderment.
There standing before them was the most beholding creature they'd ever seen. It was a stag and not just any ordinary stag with large antlers, his fur coat was white as a swan. "Wow" Loveday was starstruck when she saw him approaching them. In no doubts they knew who this white deer was since they heard so much about him.
The great stag stood on the hill majestically silent before speaking in a silvery voice "Come, let me greet you" he said looking jubilant and embracing.
"Me first! Me first!" screams Weasel, ready to push pass.
Already feeling humiliated in front of the overload by Weasels vulgarism, Owl unobtrusively scolded her "The last shall be first and the first shall be last!".
"Huh!" Weasel huffed.
Fox payed no fear to Weasel as he picks the one who deserves to be greeted the most "Go on Toad…you lead us here". Toad looked like he was going to faint, it was a big honour for him to be personally selected.
"Besides you've been here before" Vixen smirked. Toad still didn't move, he felt shy.
"Don't keep him waiting Toad, go on this is your moment" Loveday softly prompted him. Toad puffs up his chest with pride and hopped up the hill until he was seen below the great white stags hooves.
"To have made the journey once is remarkable and to have done it twice is extraordinary" The elderly stag admired, welcoming the happy go lucky amphibian before lifting his head towards Loveday standing in the middle of the group.
"I would very much like it if the young lady, would be kind enough to come forward" he requests formally.
Loveday froze in place, getting cold feet and hot red cheeks "Are…are you talking to me?".
"Please don't be shy, I'd love to meet you" The stag smiled, letting the girl know that it was ok.
In her own pace, Loveday walked up feeling the butterflies vesseling in her stomach, approaching the white stag she'd been wanting to meet. "We have come Great White Stag" she says giving him a respectful curtsy.
"News of your coming reached us long ago and I speak on behalf of all the inhabitants that we've been looking forward to meeting you and your friends" the stag replied with a hearty laugh. The animals were unaware to hear that they were already being expected and even more surprised to hear that they'd become celebrities just for turning up.
Among the starry eyed group Badger spoke up for everyone "We are so glad to be here…" he appreciates before turning directly to their leader "and it's all thanks to Fox, we've had never done it without him". Some of the little creatures applauded creditably.
But Fox's ears sank down modestly "I only wish we could've all made it".
"But for those of you who did have made history" the stag credited.
"Besides everyone it is Loveday here who's done a fair share. If she hadn't stuck beside me I don't know what I'd have done" Fox added.
"Loveday. Is that your name?" The stag asks the girl who was blushing.
"Oh sorry, yes it is" Loveday answered.
"Tell me, are you a feral psychic?" the stag said credulous.
"Y-Yes I am sir, the one and only" Loveday shyly admitted. No wonder he was called 'Great White Stag' for nothing.
"Then come, all of you" The Stag turned to lead the group. While the animals simply followed him up the hill, Loveday took a moment to breath.
"How did he know what I was?" she wondered, not in suspicion but inquisitive. Shortly after she caught up with her animals. Momentarily the stag stood over the hills highest peak, the farthing group gathered around to see what was hiding from them on the other side.
"Would ya look at that" Fox murmurs. The view they were seeing was circulating on the whole park, the size of it was even bigger than Farthing Wood itself. Everything was beautiful like mother nature had painted it herself. The hollow forests, pine wood, the crystal lake, the rivers, meadows, stone hedge's, shrubbery, flowers and everything the animals could ever dream of living in. It was truly a living, remoted paradise.
"My friends welcome to White Deer Park" the white stag declared to his new furry subjects. The animals were shedding tears of joy as they happily observed the park in front of themselves. This was going to be the end of one adventure and the beginning of a new one, especially for Loveday who was wiping the heartfelt tears on her face. In two words she spoke something she'd thought she'd never get to say in a millennium.
"We're home".
Author's Notes:
Loveday and the animals will return!
Happy new year everyone!
Did you miss me? I hope your Christmas or other festivities were ok. but on the bright side 2021 will give us plenty of new hope. I'm so sorry for the long delay again, this chapter was meant to be uploaded before Christmas but things have turned more busy in my life routine right now.
I reassure you that you have been a great audience and I hope your still enjoying my story so far?. 5'672 page views lately.
And just a little heads-up, I really am going to do series 2 soon, but you'll have to wait since I'm too busy working at home. I promise you I will not quit finishing this fanfic like some have probably done, so please don't worry.
If you have anything to say about Loveday or anything storywise then please leave your comments below.
I hope you all stay strong and continue to help beat the pandemic.
See you all again soon and thank you all for still following me.
Bye.