The Farthing Spirit

by MidnightWand567

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

15. Chapter 15 A Hero's Welcome

Episode 15: A Hero's Welcome

Imagine if you are seeing something better than what in literal terms can depict was picture perfect. The raging hot summer mouths had come and gone. And now the splendiferous autumn can be seen making her ways around the next seasonal bend, painting the crispy leaves crimson or amber and winding down the grass into golden thin threads like it did every year.

It all starts when we see the plain English countryside as all seems remotely peaceful inside the wildlife haven of White Deer Park.

Though unfortunately it would be if it weren't for two certain strangers caught lurking stealthily inside a thicket to see what all the convivial disturbance was huddling on top of a rolling hill, where a glorious celebration was being held on. From the bushes they saw a company of animals enjoying themselves with the great white stag seen courteously from the middle, since he was the authentic ruler of the entire park.

From in the darkness a growling animal could be heard. "That bloody good for nothing stag!" a steely voice swore, temperamentally swiping the ground with his razorblade claws "Look at 'hem, the lousy blooming lot".

"Affirmative my love, absolutely deplorable of him to let in those common rabble" a high-classy female voice agrees next to him.

"Those red foxes have no rights to be here in my territory!" he growled. They were both mainly disgusted to see the two intruding red foxes within their sight. The male figure moves his face closer inwards to the thorny branches, his narrow eyes widened. Apart from the shock he had seeing the red foxes, he spotted another figure standing out from the crowd looking all fluorescent and powerful which nearly took his breath away.

"What!...Who the hell is that?" he said.

"Who my love?" the female wonders with new interest.

"There you empty-headed powderpuff, it's a human! A wretched human girl here in my land!" his nose pointed upward.

"What?...yes I know that's a human but what about her?...I must say she really does look puny in size" the female said in confusion.

"Grrrr! That stag has gone out of his damned mind, first he brings in red foxes and now he's brought…a human here as well, curse it".

"Typical…and they say this park is only meant to be big enough for outstanding creatures like us".

"Grrr…I'm going to ring that ugly thing's neck for coming here in the first place. Just you wait my lady, it'll be the last thing she'll feel suffering against my clutch's".

"All in good timing my love, remember patience is a virtue".

"I didn't ask for your opinion woman!...and hold that tongue of yours, I'm trying to hear".

"Yes…my love". As the two strangers carried on watching from afar, they looked directly onto the girl with death threating glares. Something about the human's scent made them scared in an odd fearing way.

---

On the hill things were far from different. The teenager Loveday and the surviving animals of Farthing Wood were finally celebrating their long-awaited victory for accomplishing their famous journey. Through thick and thin they'd fought valiantly to be in the presence of the park's safety habitats after being at mercy to many evil obstacles which some did not manage to survive and now they stood gallantly before the stag. Having been acquainted with him earlier, the stag was standing highly above everyone else to start his own welcoming presentation.

Ever since she entered further into the park by crossing the leafy green meadows to find the surprise party waiting for her and her friends, Loveday stayed generally silent, it was tough for her to take in so many new expectancies in one go. Her personally kept secret was somehow already discovered by the great white stag. He knew for what she was and there was no straight answer as to why he strangely did.

With Fox and Vixen courting next to her, she glance's upon the many local animals who were respectfully joining them all on the opposite side of the hill. From her animal eyes she met more new faces like hares, frogs, hedgehogs, birds, rabbits, mice, red squirrels and a few unknown individuals Loveday didn't really account.

"Who'd have thought our coming was found out super-quick, I bet a little birdie told them" She thought, remembering back when the rook explained to her how it was the bird network that spreaded its news chain everywhere among the animal kingdom. Which was the main reason behind the park animals knowing about their coming all along.

She dared to not spoil this valuable moment for everyone. From her previous experiences she knew it was better to be wary than curious. Could it be that she was destined to do greater than how she regularly credits herself as a feral psychic? There was no denying that.

Ignoring this negative thought she forced herself to stay relaxed. While being sure to stay natural with all of her new animal senses, since her connective powers did escalate to her emotional expressions. Pretty soon, everybody eventually turned their heads silently to attention at the stag when they heard him clear his throat.

"You have made history!" the great white stag praised rewardingly towards the farthing group.

"Hooray-Hooray-Hooray!" The local animals gave three cheers after he said this.

The farthing animals of course, those who were able to use their paws clapped modestly to applaud the stag. When things did settle down the stag continued to address them.

"You're all heroes of your species!...And I mean all of you" the stag unquestionably fell his gentle gaze at Loveday with a smile.

"Hooray-Hooray!" the creatures carried on boosting. Now things were getting more ceremonial.

"Some heroes?" Adder cackles mockingly. Harassing at Mr Rabbit, making him moan like the lame joke he was than a hero.

"We the residents of White Deer Park welcome you all" the stag declared "The Park is yours, go where you will. Do whatever it is that will make you and your friends happy to be here. Just like we are for you joining us" the stag concluded.

Looking nervously around at the park animals who'd never encountered a small human like her before, Loveday could see the fearful inquisitive looks the woodland creatures were showing just like the time she first introduced herself during the assembly back when Farthing Wood was still standing.

She leans to whisper something in Fox's ear, as soon as Fox nodded approvingly she brushes down her clothes and steps forward.

"Hello, I am Loveday Maples and on behalf of all my friends gathered behind me. We would simply like to thank you all for coming and for going through all this trouble just to meet us".

"Hooray-Hooray!".

"It has been a pleasure to do it all for you" the stag replied as the park animals were clapping to Loveday's words. Apparently, they were starting to warm up to her even though they didn't think of her differently or else realise who or what she was. So far.

Afterwards everybody busted out into final applauding. The farthing party was granted rightful authorization to roam or explore the park to their own hearts will, but more so importantly to live wherever it is they wanted like they originally intended to do.

Loveday turned her enthusiastic look sideways with Fox and Vixen exchanging the same expressions. Fox playfully winks to her, and the rest of the animals smiled tenderly to their human trustee for setting them a first good impression. Without even suspecting that some unholy creature was scandalously spying on them all down below the common grounds.

---

"As long as it's not on my patch" the same male voice threatened, after he'd been sticking his nose in on the stags welcoming speech, "I can't stand watching them any longer, that human makes me reek everytime I look at her, 'm off!".

"Leave it with me my love, I'll help show our new guests who's in charge here" the female whispered deceivingly to her partner, "won't they be pleased…then again maybe not".

---

"I'll skin that brat for crossing my way, she's no ordinary human I can tell. And for that I'm going to need a spare pair of eyes to keep an eye on her, I need to know everything about them, especially that beastly girl of theirs" the male mutters, as he rustles roughly through the thick bushes on all fours.

Discerning that it was time for the jolly party to break up and go their separate ways as planned, Badger stifled an exhausting sigh as he looks up toward his best companion Mole, clinging onto his head like he always did.

"Ah at last Moley...rest for the warily travellers…oh let's find a bed for the day" Badger says smugly, breathing in the fresh autumn air and looking forward to laying his old head to rest.

"I could sleep…and sleep…and sleep ahhhh-hhaaaa!" Mole reiterated with a loud yawn.

"Oh Moley-Moley, how can you be so sleepy when you've actually been dozing off on Badger's head for most of today" Loveday giggled as she watched them walk past her "have a good rest when you do find a new home, please take good care of yourself Badger".

"Oh…I'll be fine Loveday dearest, these old bones of mine won't drag me down you know. I only hope where you'll be staying will be comfortable enough for you" Badger replied, looking optimistic. He didn't notice Loveday's worried face as he just said this.

"Do swing by my place won't you, when you get the chance" Badger kindly invited as he and Mole walked over the hill and down the ledge where the common lead to the woods edge.

"I-I will pay you both a visit…I'll miss you" Loveday promised.

"So will we" Mole tearfully waved back to her.

Although explicitly for some of the animals lined by Loveday, excitement was only voluming to boiling point.

Such as Toad who was bursting with elation "Sleep mateys at a time like this!" he exclaimed yarning to keep the fun from dissolving "Haha Just show me that pond!".

"Oh Toadie you and your ponds" Loveday murmured amusingly. While doing his job being their most promising guild, he'd been boasting tirelessly about nothing else than wanting to bath in a pond to call of his own.

"Oh yes, let's go down to the pond Toad" Whistler proposed before he was suddenly interrupted with a jump.

"Pond did you say!" a voice cooed. Without any warning Whistler soon found that he was being unseemly approached by another grey heron. According to her pretty features she was a female.

"No time like the present I'll show you, how do you do?" the lady heron spoke rapidly as Whistler backed away to contain his personal space while the female heron closed in on him.

"Um…charmed to make your acquaintance" Whistler muttered politely. He got cold feet from admiring her at short notice.

"My name is Speedy, can't think why but it's what creatures call me anyway" she sang without taking a single breath.

Whistler felt a bit lopsided; he couldn't catch the rest of her sentence for he wasn't used to talking fast, it so wasn't his trend. With sweat swelling he tried to hide his embarrassment by focusing on getting to know each other "May I introduce myself…I'm Whistler".

"What did you say your name was? tell me later no time to lose, come with me" Speedy domineered as she turned to escort him away. At first Whistler didn't look too keen on following her, he turned around to look beggingly at Loveday for assistance.

"Loveday couldn't you uh?..." Whistler struggled to say as he looked between Speedy and the human, not knowing what to do.

Loveday casually cross's her arms "Whistler, don't take this the wrong way but I'll be staying out of this. You said so yourself you wanted to meet someone well now's your chance to do it" she persuaded him without sounding too convincing.

"Oh dear why do I let myself get into these situations?" Whistler murmured, feeling very sorry for himself.

"Well are you coming or aren't you!" Speedy called demandingly to him.

"Alright I'm coming" In no choice Whistler pitifully hurried after her. The animals laughed as he regretfully took off from the peak of the hill making his wings whistle.

" 'ere wait for me mateys!" Toad shouts, hopping after the herons to track down the pond with them. From up above everybody could hear Speedy railing on and on endlessly with her beak.

"Speed of course is vital when fishing, I am very speedy. I suppose that's why they call me Speedy come to think of it".

"I think I'm beginning to see why exactly" Whistler whispered as he tried to avoid getting distracted by the likes of her blathering. When the herons had flown right over the park with Toad following them, Loveday and the foxes spilled their tightly held laughs together.

"Hahahaha!"

"Poor Whistler" Vixen smooths, trying to give their heron friend compassion.

"Yes poor Whistler. Just his luck for meeting the only female available" Loveday added "He'll be having a tough time with her for sure".

"Hahahaha Well he can take it or leave it" Fox empathized; he hadn't been laughing hard for ages.

"Who's up next?" Loveday deadpans, eagerly waiting to see who else they'll be meeting. Then from amongst the residential crowd she saw a sleek creature pushing and shuffling to the frontline.

"Oh you're gorgeous!" a feeble voice cried. Unfortunately it was another weasel, only a male one at that.

"Uh-oh there's trouble about" Loveday thought, lightly inspecting the scrawny pale furred weasel. He was eyeing Weasel like it was love at first sight with his mouth wide open like a panting dog.

Once Weasel had noticed him trying to get her attention she became attracted to him in a less-seductive way. Either she wanted to lure him over or dump him either way.

"You won't catch me like that" Weasel allured him, playfully drawing him forward with a finger.

Falling under her spell, the other weasel ran up to seize her while puckering his lips for a lustrous kiss. Before he got close, Weasel mischievously dodged aside as he pounced obsessively for her. The tawny Owl who was standing quietly next to Weasel got unluckily knocked over by him instead, plus he mistakenly kissed her in the process!

Everybody who saw it happen immediately covered their eyes from this awkward scenario. Poor Owl was most offended with indignity, she threw and wracked her wings furiously onto the weasel's face until he painfully choked on her own brown feathers.

The embarrassed male weasel gradually got up and spat out the remaining feathers from his throat with relief.

"Hahaha!" Weasel laughed wickedly at him, till the male turned his body to find her hiding behind his back, targeting his lovestruck face on her.

Weasel let out a sudden gasp, "You won't catch me!" she shrieked leaping down the hill. Trying to escape from her new secret admirer.

"I'm coming ready you're not!" the male weasel playfully chased after her.

"Catch me if you can!".

Finally lifting off her hands from her ears Loveday watched the crazy pair of weasels leave "Those two really are evenly matched" she shook her head with a frown "Though I have seen weirder couples before". Considering that all weasels were basically alike, loudmouthed, egocentric and very naughty.

"Well that's darn good, maybe he'll keep Weasel busy at least" Fox remarked. Not saying a word about poor Owl's misfortune.

"It's the male weasel I feel sorry for" Loveday nodded doubtfully, moving over to help Owl back onto her feet.

"Need a hand Owl?" she kindly offered. She also heard Adder laughing hissfully next to them.

"Seeing as your so sympathetic I really don't mind if I do" Owl answered in her harsh tone. But she accepted the girls help, nonetheless. Allowing Lovedays hands grasp both her wings to lift her off the ground.

"You're not hurt are you?" Loveday asks, watching Owl dust off her spoiled feathers.

"I am glad to say that I am above such things if that's what you mean" Owl exaggerated, crossing her wings.

"We shall never talk of this" Loveday winked at her.

"You'd better" Owl replied.

"Kee-Kee!"

They both looked up to see Kestrel, who'd been flying above the whole time and was calling down.

"Come and see!" she urged to Owl, pretending that her eyes didn't capture what just happened. Owl thankfully inhales and flew away to join her friend in mid-air.

"Go idea Kestrel" she said as they both generously went off to scout around their new home.

"That takes care of Owl" Loveday said watching them leave.

"Which just leaves you and us left" Fox hinted, feeling more excited to having some quality down time.

Loveday sadly sighs, "I really didn't expect our time spending together to pass so quickly once we got here…I mean, it's good to see that everyone's happy to go back to being normal animals again but…I'm really going to miss them".

"Me too" Vixen adds "It'll be hard not seeing them every day usually".

"Aye. It feels like we are breaking the oath into tiny pieces and each one of us is taking a bit of it away" Loveday exclaims figuratively. She recalled admiring Mrs Voles speech before they first made it to the park and how it had left everyone vowing to safely guard the oaths existence loyally in the future to come.

"I don't know about you two girl's, but I think we should do the same and leave the others to get on. I'll inform the stag" Fox gestures as he took self-liberty to remove himself and Vixen from the group, since the farthing animals were too busy socialising with their new park neighbours.

"Leaving us so early Fox?" the stag asked as the canine approached him in the centre.

"Yeah. Need to get a head start before the winter sets in you know" Fox replies.

"Of course I do" the stag nodded "and please don't be afraid to ask me if there's anything else you'll need. I'll be glad to provide whatever it is".

"I appreciate your concern, but I think we'll be just fine" Fox assured.

"And what of Loveday? will she be moving in here? I take it that she's not used to living in an environment like this one, unless she's already learnt".

"Oh yea, she's learnt well on our journey I can tell ya that. Though what concerns me she's unprepared to make a healthy start. I could tell from her smell she's been nervous about coming here even though she was good at keeping it hidden".

"Didn't she tell you anything about her plans to stay here? Why I'd be surprised if she's decided to choose to go back and live with the humans in the town".

"Nope, there's no guarantee she's in a big hurry to leave us. And I don't think the others will want to see that happen either. Lovedays done so much for us, so by rights we want to do something for her in return".

"Ah here she comes. I'm sure we can easily figure this problem out for her sake. We don't want her to feel excluded now do we?" the stag indicates.

"No…but how'd ya mean?".

"Just you wait and see, you'll eventually find out just as soon as Loveday has done first".

Confused, Fox tried to think what the stag could be meaning about Loveday finding something out before he did. It was more concerning for him to think tenderly for his human friend, but he did initially trust the stag to care for the girl who was still naive to their world and regulations.

"Vixen says she's ready to leave if you are" Loveday informs Fox with a joint.

"Thanks" Fox replies, trying not to sound worried in front of her.

"I say Loveday, how are you feeling?" the stag asks.

"Well…there isn't any word I can describe…I'd say I'm mostly privileged just to finally be here; I mean I did do what I promised to help get everyone safe, but I only wish I had more time to think for myself".

"Modest I see, and haven't you thought about where you're going to live next? Surely you'll be desperate to rest yourself after working so hard protecting all your friends".

"That would be great but I'm afraid not…you see I didn't really plan everything ahead. So realistically speaking I'm temporarily homeless" Loveday confessed.

"Well then, we can't be allowing that now can we, leaving you alone without anywhere to go just isn't right, we should get you housed somewhere before the nights turn colder" the stag formulated.

"There's so much to do in so little time" Loveday declaims, holding her chin in thought.

"Those are the words we live by" Fox agrees nervously.

"What are we going to do?" Vixen asked the stag. She really wasn't going to leave Loveday until she knew she was taken cared of.

For a mere moment the stag quietly turned away to strategize his idea, he reflectively stared down on the luscious landscape before twisting his head "Hmm…Why don't you accompany me Loveday, and I'll show you the park. Then maybe you'll be able to find somewhere suitable to live in your human liking".

Loveday flinched, the stag wasn't kidding to personally volunteer to give her a tour and she knew she desperately needed some support to start walking on the wild side.

"Actually, that might not be such a bad idea" Loveday accepted shyly. The foxes were rather surprised too.

"Loveday you really are lucky to be having that honour" Vixen admired before her mood turned worried "but will you be alright if we left you?".

"You know we only want what's best for you, remember you are partially family to us now" Fox added.

"I know you do" Loveday understood.

"If you're sure and happy with your decision then we're good" Fox comforts.

"Then I guess this means it's time for me to start living independent fulltime" Loveday states, now was the time for her to start thinking about herself, instead of always being dependent on Fox and Vixen. Realising that this was now happening, the girl and foxes face each other very uneasily.

At a slowly pace Vixen walked toward the teenager, Loveday lowers herself and gestured her into an affectionate hug. They sniffed as they both nuzzled tightly into each other's shoulders lovingly without letting go, Fox did join them, and he rubbed his head against Loveday's hair and licked her cheek with Vixen. All-natural signs that they were gonna miss each other very much.

After breaking apart Loveday whimpered. The foxes ears drooped a little and their tails which were wagging collapsed.

"Hey, come on girl. It isn't goodbye anyway" Fox tries to calm her.

"I know…I just love you two" Loveday explains, wiping her face dry.

"We'll only be here in the park if you need us. Remember what I have told you before?" Fox reminds her.

"I do" Loveday nods "Don't let me hold you two here, go off and enjoy yourselves…I'll be fine".

"That's my Lovely girl. We'll be seeing ya around" Fox smiles promisingly, wishing her luck dealing with the stag.

"Come and see us anytime you can" Vixen says as she and Fox departed from the hill's grounds "I do hope your new home will be nice?".

"I'm sure it will Vixen…bye" Loveday stayed firm inside as she painfully watched the fox couple disappear into the woods below.

"Now that you've said all your valedictions. Shall we be off?" the stag knocked her out of her depressive state.

"Oh lets" Loveday replies excitedly, following behind the stag as they both left the animals remaining on the hill. Loveday briefly turned to see her animals one last time. As harsh as it felt leaving the only friends she called family, protecting and shielding them with her life Loveday knew everybody had to move on. Even if she was feeling heavily torn apart inside out. Once she was done and off the hill, Loveday was actively trailing through the large forests opening bit.

With the bright sunlight tearing down it sparkled and spelled on the numerous wooden surfaces of oak, sycamore, chestnut and beech trees which briskly drowned Lovedays lungs full of strong forestry air.

She absorbs the flourishing habitat with a smile, the fantasy-like forest was artistically bursting in colours of autumn which was her favourite season, and she was terribly glad to see it all like this on her very first day in the park. Surely the park was where she was meant to stay, in the most peaceful place any person would easily lay to live in.

"It's so beautiful here" Loveday murmurs, she nostalgically thought she'd stepped into the land of Narnia. Listening to the wind making music with the tree branches and leaves.

"Ah but it is only one of the many forests we have" the stag explains.

"You mean there's more?" Loveday lit's up with more excitement.

"Hehehe…Many more" the stag answers with a chuckle.

"What else does this park have?".

"Well if my old mind does remember, there are many forests with dells and glades on each corner of the park. And the lake in the middle with rivers coming down from a waterfall on the rocky slopes where it ends up going down rapids to the stream. We also have plenty of meadows, grasslands, fields, a mountain and of course the stone circle".

"Stone circle?...What's that".

"The idyllic and most ancient spot of all".

"Sounds really fascinating".

"Ah…but that is where I am taking you too Loveday, my herd lives up there and I know you'll want to see the magnificent view we get from up on the summit where the stones bundle".

"Cool…I'm feeling curious to know more about the parks history, how long has your deer family has been living here for? Do you know?".

"I'd say about 3 decades the most".

"Really?...for that long, wow".

"Oh yes my father became the first leader before I did. He fought many competitive stags to prove himself worthy to win ".

"Yes, it is known that only the strongest deer can gain or retain power by having to fight in tournament combat".

"Somebody has been doing their homework, you seem to know a lot about animals like our caretaker".

"What caretaker?".

"We call him the warden. He's a human too just like you are".

"No way...Does he look after the park and cares for the animals?".

"Yes he does, he shares a big interest like you do, I think he's what you call a…naturalist".

"Oh I see. Though I believe I'm more interesting compared to him because I am able to talk to you for example".

"Well it's best that you not catch his attention. Don't let him find you when he's out on his rounds or else he'll take an unwanted interest in you".

"That may not be a problem because people can't actually see me" Loveday unfolded. As they continued on in the forest she happily told the stag everything she had discovered with her newfound powers thanks to her grandmothers ring. Without forgetting to tell him how she ended up becoming the farthing animals guardian on her own and etc.

The stag listened greatly to all her neat adventures full of daring rescues, chases and escapes involving every kind of threat they had to deal with outside the park. The more she told him about learning the animals way of life that no other human has the better he became intrigue to know the young feral psychic.

Around fifteen minutes later, Loveday soon found out that she'd followed the stag out of the forests brink and into a green valley of winding hills full of large sarsen stones.

"Is this place?" Loveday asked, looking around.

"Almost there, it's on the highest hill" the stag carried on trodding upwards. Loveday was super careful to not slip down the silky grass slopes and fells as she panted tiresomely during the long climb.

Mounting higher on the hill till she heated up with sweat.

The ghostly sound of whispering voices started to land in Lovedays animal ears. She flicked and perked them up in every direction.

"Who's this?"

"Is she a human?"

"That cannot be, she's incredibly small"

"Does it hunt?"

"What's she doing here?"

"Why's she following the leader?"

"Who's out there?" Loveday cautiously thought. Her moisty skin turning cold after feeling hot.

"Don't be frightened! This is Loveday she's a friend of mine. You may all come out and meet her if you'd like?" Stag shouted calmly to whoever Loveday heard just now.

"Who are you talking too?" Loveday asked.

"Loveday I'd like you to meet the herd" the stag revealed.

All around her Loveday caught the fresh scent of deer in her nose. From behind the scattered boulders many white hoof legged beasts gradually came out of hiding. The girl saw bucks, does and fawns emersed so vibrantly with curious looks set onto their new human visitor.

"Gosh!" Loveday gasped when she saw them. The Seneca white deer were angelically unique, and now she knew why it was so obvious this sanctuary was designed and profiled to keep their rare existence at bay.

"You have a lovely herd. They seem to like me" Loveday noticed.

"And every right they do" stag affirms "we respect the humans for keeping us safe here in the park, without their help we might have been lost to extinction".

"That does make sense" Loveday nodded, she felt glad to be reminded that some smarter people did care for animal well-being.

"Here we are" the stag called. The top of the summit was in sight, as Loveday approached it the lofty crown of blady stones looked like they were scraping the clear pastel sky overhead. One of the stones was angled down to look like platform in the very centre.

"So this is what a stone circle is" Loveday thought as she admired how naturally structured the mineral monument was. It did look prehistoric like the Stonehenge she remembered seeing in the dimension.

"Come stand on the middle ledge so you can see the view" Stag motioned his head for her to follow him.

"Wait until Fox hears about this" Loveday murmurs, already beginning to miss her companions "Let's hope the animals are having better luck? By now all the farthing wood animals will have hopefully bended into the life of the park".

---

A few aces away in the welcoming location, the farthing animals were indeed trying to make the best of uniting with the locals. Firstly the grey squirrel twins introduced themselves to a family of rusty red squirrels.

"Hello, how nice to meet you" Squirrel one said, "I'm sure we'll be great friends now that me and my sister are here to stay, so what do you say friend?".

The native red squirrels didn't answer her, instead they backed away looking antagonistic. "Mum who's that nasty big monster?" a young red squirrel pointed.

The lady red squirrel firmly pulls her cub protectively away "Leave my son alone!" she shouted hostilely.

The father squirrel marched up and clubs his fist at the twins "Keep well away from us or…or…or?" he didn't even finish. In seconds the red squirrels frightfully ran away.

"Was it something I said" Squirrel one was baffled. She was only trying to be neighbourly, and she didn't realise why the red squirrels seemed frightened by their different appearances.

"Nah I don't think it was anything to do with you, they probably didn't get the message" Hedgehog kindly supported "My dearest why don't we try our chances with the park hedgehogs?".

"Oh alright…" Mrs Hedgehog agreed "Cheer up squirrels just give them time then eventually you'll get along".

"Yea…Cheerio all" Hedgehog waved as he and his mate left.

"Laters Hedgehog…come on rabbits let's see if we can do any better?" Hare encouraged as they all eagerly roamed themselves away and into the park.

When they'd all left the voles, shrews and mice were the last ones remaining. They decided to head straight for the thicket without wasting any time.

"I don't hold with all this fraternising" Vole comments as he and his mother lead the rodents toward the thorny bushes.

"Neither do I, farthing wood animals forever!" Old Mrs vole praised.

"Here-here!" Vole cheered as he came nearer the bushes. Suddenly from out of the shadowy depths a huge snarling head with a raw scar rolling across its right eye emersed. Vole's instincts made him jump into the air as he saw the vile creature and ran for his life.

"Help!...Fox!...Fox!...Loveday!...Help!" Vole screamed in panic. The other tiny rodents stampeded away with him until they were out safe in a patch of grass where the creature couldn't catch them.

"I-I thought I would die" Mrs Vole cried in agony. Mrs field mouse held her up as Mr field mouse kindly fanned her off with a leaf.

"Did you see it?" Mr Shrew asked nervously.

"It was the scariest thing I'd ever seen, all those fangs and teeth" Mrs Shrew shivered.

"Brothers! We animals of Farthing Wood must stick together" Vole confirmed seriously.

"You've changed your tune" Mr field mouse noted.

"Fox is our leader and Loveday is our protector; they cannot turn their backs on their responsibilities. They must defend us from our aggressors at all costs" Vole reinstated.

---

"Well…they won't need me anymore" Fox began as he and Vixen trembled along the outskirts of the forest and into one of the open fields.

"Your job is finished" Vixen conceded.

"I couldn't have done it without you…and now our little group is breaking up" Fox mumbled coolly.

"Of course we'll still be friends with everyone but-" before Vixen could intentionally proceed Fox interrupted.

"They've got their own lives to lead now haven't they" he arrogantly smirked "hehe-and so have we".

Although Vixen didn't let her mates flirting put her off topic "Fox don't you think we ought to stay in touch with Loveday?…I can't bear the thought of her being so lonely, she doesn't have any other humans to keep her company".

"Vixen Loveday will be fine…the stag will help take care of her and she's already got some of her own business to worry about remember" Fox argued.

"Fox…" Vixen give him a disappointing sulk.

"Oh look…we'll talk about this later okay. First things first we need to find some place where we can dig up our new den right?" Fox convinced her.

"Very well then" Vixen sighed in agreement.

---

Meanwhile Loveday was busy contemplating inside the stone circle, the central stone she stood on allowed her to see the full park, even if the cheeky wind kept running her long breezy hair over across her face annoyingly.

"This place is way beyond extreme, better than Jurassic Park you can see everything from up here, the stag was right the lake is the heart of the land, by the looks of that chimney smoke in the distance the wardens cottage must be somewhere at the edge." she thought before turning to the stag.

"Thank you for showing me your grazing grounds; I've really enjoyed myself" Loveday thanked gleefully.

"You're welcome to come here as often as you like Loveday" The stag offered.

Loveday did appreciate her time spent up in the stone circle. Some of the other white deer did want to meet the human girl and were standing close to watch her interaction.

"Would it be alright if I carried on exploring the park alone? So I can get used to my new surroundings. I think I can now manage from here" Loveday asks.

"You don't need asking child. The park is your home now so you can go wherever you like…but except for the pine wood in the eastern district" the stag informs.

"You mean that woodland area where the rocky mountain swells up…Why can't I?" Loveday questions, pointing toward the sea of pine trees on the left-hand side in confusion.

"It is forbidden territory; danger sometimes lurks in there" the stag replied.

The stags answer didn't satisfy Loveday, it felt as if he wasn't telling her the real reason "Danger? ha…I laugh in the face of danger hahaha" she jests.

"This isn't a joke Loveday" the stag gave Loveday his almighty scoldful stare.

Persuaded in fear, Loveday tried to be apologetic "No sorry…alright I'll stir clear of it, there's plenty of other climates to explore anyway".

"That's better. You may continue to look around Loveday and enjoy the rest of your afternoon" The stag permits.

"Oh I definably will, it was very nice to meet you and the white deer. Please let them know I'll come visit" Loveday said as she jumped off the ledge and picked up her bag.

"I'll tell them. And remember what I said Loveday…do I have your full promise?" the stag insists with a serious face.

"You do, you can trust me" Loveday vowed honestly.

"Before you go may I recommend you look in that direction" the stag directed the girls stare to a long collective narrow strip of trees which was only ten minutes away, when Loveday turned to see it she felt like a kind of salvation magic was weirdly summoning her to that particular spot. Hearing the mysterious fairy call of the wild she left the stone circle timelessly to begin her new life. She waved goodbye to all the deer she pasted heading down.

With both eyes stuck on the girl, the stag mounted his ledge "That poor girl maybe self-sufficient but she really needs to start acting her age if she's going to change our future which we have been waiting for a long time" he thought.

Back along the forest pathway to enjoy her new scenery again, Loveday took a briskly stroll right beside the rippling stream which could lead her to the passage of hollow trees the stag was talking about.

When she'd gotten herself closer to it, Loveday took a break to take food and water she'd saved up to demolish her deserving hunger and thrust.

"Well the stag was kind enough to help me make a start, but I still haven't found myself anywhere to live" Loveday said as she lazily laid on the soft ground with her arms pillowed under her head. The long grass surrounding her made her lose track of everything. The pink sunny sky was the only accessible verification to the real world she saw above.

"I am aware that winter will be coming soon and I'm not helpless but if I wasn't so distracted I'd be more organised before we came here, then I'd be able to build myself a shelter or something, though it would be better if Kell could help me if he hasn't abandoned me" she thought, closing her eyes.

Apart from feeling the falling leaves tickle on her body, she felt her hand tingle numbly for a while, so she lifted it up to the idea it was only pins and needles when blood supply was cut off from her nerves.

"I can't be in an uncomfortable position" she baffled, now checking her arm.

Her head suddenly jerks forward to the glowing shininess from her ring. The power she felt passing down it was over shaking. She riskily rubbed the diamond calm to see what it was trying to say to her.

"Does this ring really have a mind of its own?" Loveday irritated, funnily the ring she wore didn't switch to brighter. The light she first predicted soon became present.

Loveday gingerly turned herself around to see a ball of pure light in the shape of a familiar creature with frosty flames rolling off of its tail and body, motioning the teenager forward peacefully.

That was when Loveday recognised who it reminded her of.

"Kell?..." she whispered in disbelief. In her dreams she'd not seen nor heard from him in ages and was starting doubt if she'll encounter him again, until now.

The canine looking creature nodded its head and leaped high, gracefully moving the long plants into sea stormy waves and landing by the woodland strip entrance, making the leaves fall more drastically.

"This can't be the spirit fox I've met before?" Loveday thought as she desperately wondered why Kell has come back but not in his usual way?... Or was that really him she was seeing?.

"Where does it want to lead me to this time? Hopefully not another catastrophe I've had enough of them to last me a lifetime" Loveday beggingly thought as the creature leapt again going further into the wood, with a river of blue luminous waves trailing behind it.

So caught up in its eye-capturing appearance, Loveday mentally heard a voice telling her to follow him. "If I must, I must. If I am going to get more answers" she whispered, getting up and faintly chasing after it. A feral psychics work was never done.

On and on, Loveday curiously chased Kell through the sunken lane of dense forest, dodging and avoiding the roots seeded everywhere in the dell while kicking the dead leaves right behind her as she ran. Everytime she nearly caught up to him, he'd leap away leaving its ribbons of light for her to follow him to another section.

After racing down the dirty path between the steep-angled banks which formed the narrow forest Loveday began to feel drowsy. She stopped to gain her breath, when she looked back up Kell was ahead waiting for her.

"What are you playing at?" Loveday inhaled moodily. The spirit didn't say anything back, instead of leaping it walked away to where a certain flat opening was seen out between the trees. Loveday groaned as she continued to follow.

As she stepped closer to where the spacious glade in the middle of the banks were. Her eyes found what looked like a tiny wilderness, where the edge of the forest strip met a small grassland with tall cypress trees. There was also a mature willow tree all bundled in moss and vines with branches curtaining the bare grass. And nestled right next to it was a wooden stump with a fallen trunk going straight across. Making a diagonal structure to the space.

Loveday found this wooden fortress rather picturesque as she came to look for Kell who had but gone without a trace.

"And he's gone again" Loveday shook her head "This has got to be one of the prettiest spots in all the park".

She started to look around. Compared to her size the willow was a building and the fallen tree was an enormous climbing frame. Then before she decided to play on the log, something else caught her eye.

There was a strange bulgy frame attached on the tree, arching on the muddy brown surface like an untidy rainbow.

"What's this?" Loveday said as she came up to investigate it. The vines covering the frame were hiding it from the naked eye.

She removes some of the plants to actually find what looked like nailed metal hinges. "Am I delirious?" she thought, yanking even more off the bark. As she obsessively piled the greenery all away, the arched frame showed that it was concealed around something truly unearthing.

"A door!" Loveday jumps back, almost twisting her ancles. Oh yes in the very midst of that tree was a real medieval looking door with a rusty handlebar.

"OMG" Loveday was faint-hearted to see this new discovery. It wasn't every day that you find a strange door inside a tree, Kell must've wanted to lead her here for some important reason.

Without waiting, she immediately grips the iron handle and unbolts it with the vibrational sound of a metallic clink echoing from behind. She tried to pull on it, but the stiffly sealed door wouldn't shift an inch.

"Guess this hasn't been opened in years" Loveday thought, eventually after struggling to force it to open with all her brute strength. She was finally able to thrust it open easily, making the door creak theatrically. As Loveday stood there into the odd doorway, she gasps.

"Why is this here in the middle of an animal sanctuary, particularly someone once lived here long ago, this craftsmanship on the door tells me that it must be older even before the park was built".

Peering into the damp darkness she didn't see anything. A short subterranean underpass was sunlit through the archway, going down from the truck of the tree into the dug-up earth where a room could be made out on the bottom. Loveday would've stopped to think about what she was doing but her ambitious side said otherwise.

To make it all subtle, she went inside and found the hidden passage led her to a fairly uncommon sized burrow that she can stand upright in, the ceiling had roots and flowers growing above and around the walls. The cute dusty den even had familiar objects propped everywhere and they were all made from natural materials, a table, chair, shelves, cabinets, a washtub and a fireplace. The biggest surprise was that the enigmatic resemblance the place told her that it all wasn't man-made. If anyone could guess it would've made them believed that hobbits or wizards were the ones who lived here once upon a time.

"It's like I've gone back in time, Grandmother did say there would be days like this one" Loveday said "Whoever lived here certainly didn't forget to leave all the right essentials behind. Though this place could do with a good spring cleaning, I gotta say I really like the natural vide it has, it really blends in well with the whole tribal lifestyle. I feel like this is my very own private fairy sett".

Although Loveday was unfigurative by all this, it didn't matter to her how or why this secret place was here underground in the park. If Kell was the one who brought her then she just knew exactly.

In the middle of the room she stood there confidently, turning her head thoughtfully here and there to the old furniture and items which seemed still usable. After considerate thinking she had an idea that might put all her ill-equipped planning to shame.

"If this place has been abandoned by its previous owner, then perhaps I can stay here for the time being. If I spruce up this old place with TLC then it'll look less shabby and more cosy".

"Why not, this will be my new home. Far away from civilisation and nobody to force me into living the way I don't want. I'm my own boss now and I can learn more how to be a feral psychic in peace. Oh thank you Kell for bringing me here. I love it so much. My own hole in the ground. Is it just me or have I really become a foxy lady in an alternative way?".

---

A few miles away Badger and Mole had been looking for their own idle location to live in. They were now stumbling upon a disused sett which was in one of the dell banks under an oak tree in one of the many forests nearest to the mountain.

"Not been used for some time. Won't be putting anyone's nose out of joint" Badger examines, as he cross's towards it gratefully.

"Oh…Badger!" Mole cried, looking frightened by something unseen.

"What's that Moley?...want to stop for a few worms do ya?" Badger supposed.

"Badger!" Mole kept pointing his claws behind him like they were both under threat.

Badger quickly looked over his shoulder and saw somebody he didn't sense was standing close by him near the dell. It was a middle-aged Vixen, deeply chic in dark blue fur and looking dissatisfied for unknown reason.

"Oh I say, excuse me?" Badger apologised for not noticing her, even if her colour stuck out in his eyes.

"Of course…I'm sure you didn't realise you were doing wrong" The blue vixen replies in an cold tone.

"Wrong!...Am I doing something wrong?" Badger questions, now getting all shocked.

"I only came because I wanted to welcome you personally" The vixen explains as she starts to climb up the dell and lay above the sett opening "But it's just as well that I did by the looks of it. I'm afraid you were about to commit a bit of a faux pas, weren't you?".

"Was I?...What's a-a faux pas?" Badger wonders aggressively.

"A booboo" the vixen answers.

"Booboo?" Badger says this less sensible person was making him more confused everytime.

"Yes a booboo" the vixen finalizes "Perhaps I oughta point out one or two little things for your own sake. For example I suppose you do realise you're trespassing".

"Trespassing!".

"This is our territory you know".

"Ours!...who's?".

"The blue foxes. We have nothing so common as red foxes here. Or at least we didn't till your friends arrived" she criticised offendedly. Personally taking this insult about Fox and Vixen Badger casts her an infuriated glare. Even though the blue vixen didn't pay any real attention.

"However and be that is at may, the fact is you must apply to my mate for permission if you want to live here" she informs.

"I see…how do we find your mate?" Badger questions her further.

"You can't miss him…he's the one with the scar" she gestures before standing up to leave "Oh and one more minor detail for me to say, is that your little human friend or whomever you call her-".

"You mean Loveday...what about her?" Badger says in a low suspicious voice.

"Yes well, you'll have to let her know that our pack doesn't take too kindly to strangers of her abysmal making. Cause if she does dare to ruin our peace then my mate will gladly seed to it that her neck is…ripped apart" the blue vixen silently went up the bank and in both shock n relief Badger lost sight of her.

Badger worriedly replayed the vixens cold words inside his mind, how could him and his friends already be objected so hostility when they hadn't even been though their first day of settling. "Oh lord Moley. We've got to warn everyone fast" he says.

"We must look for Loveday before she meets any of those blue foxes" Mole persuades.

"We'll find her before it's too late, hang on Mole!" pushing himself over age limits, Badger took off with Mole clinging to his ears.

---

Down by the dry gritty shores of the large swirling lake near the grassland and wetland, Whistler was trying to listen to Speedy's endless talking. She never stopped ever since they came "This pond will be quite different from anything you may have experienced before, to begin with we have edible frogs. With your disability you're bound to have a problem but if you follow my example you'll soon get the hang of it".

Whilst Speedy had turned herself away unsuspectingly, Whistler snuck up to the clear water and jumped in. Toning as much noise as he can after making a wee splash. He didn't even need to care about Speedy's fishing principles, his own technique was straightforward and if he'd impressed her with it then things wouldn't be so laborious.

"There are a few herons as swift as I, first we have to locate the fish, then we chose the tastiest looking and then we strike. Of course we may not be lucky at first, but the old adage applies try and try again. And with a little perseverance your technique is bond to improve" Speedy said. When she turned around Whistler was carrying a nice minnow in his bill which he'd caught on his own.

He bows his head formally and drops the fish for her "With my compliments madam" he offers. For a first, the overly impressed female heron finally said nothing.

Paddling happily on the embankment Toad had been watching them. His good mood would soon be shifted as Adder came from out of the reeds, licking her fork tongue hungrily.

"Someone mention edible frogs?" she asked, looking greedy.

" 'ere you can't them!" Toad cries in distraught at her.

"Why not? The oath doesn't extend to frogs and I need to fatten myself up before I go into hibernation" Adder ignored.

Slithering up to a passing frog, the snake's appetite made her lunge for the tempting kill, her mouth was wide and ready to catch it…then missed.

"Shucks" Adder cursed herself for failing what she did best.

"Adder! Leave them alone" Toad shouted heatedly.

"It's this stupid oath I'm out of practise" the snake sighs miserably. Hunting was something she'll have to impatiently work extra hard on all over again.

---

Still running in the neck of the woods, Weasel was still being inappropriately courted by the male weasel. "Get away from me. I don't want you!" she shouted tiresomely to him.

"Twit twoo!" to Weasels dismay Owl had been watching her get preyed on amusingly for some time as she flew past.

"You can stop laughing as well!" Weasel yells.

"Haha isn't it nice to be wanted?" Owl teases as she sat in an oak tree, looking all tickled pink.

"No its not! Especially by this measly little specimen" Weasel disagrees, trying to block and shove off the intimidating male weasel away from her under against a tree trunk.

"get off you!" she keeps avoiding his puckering lips. No matter how verbally abusive she sounded it only made the male more steamed up.

"Ohh I love it when you're angry" he comments lustfully, wrapping his arms tight around her.

"Measly-measly!" Weasel mocks childishly.

"Oh I am-I am, my name happens to be Measly but you're so wonderful. Mwah!" he luckily managed to give her a loving peak on the cheek.

In disgust Weasel wiped her saliva soggy face "That was wet…yuck! You're dirty".

"Why don't you sing to him? that'll put him off" Owl suggests with a wicked giggle.

"Yeah" Remembering how everyone hated it when she sang awfully, Weasel agreed to this idea, anything to scare Measly away was worth it.

After inhaling she sang to wake the dead "RING-A-RING-A ROSES, A POCKET FULL OF POSES, A-TISSUE-A-TISSUE WE ALL FALL DOWN!".

Instead of running away from her earth-shattering vocals like Owl did, Measly just stayed there looking ridiculously starstruck like it was the most beautiful singing voice he'd ever heard, "More-more!" he encored enthusiastic.

"Oh! You…like it?" Weasel was bomb shelled; somebody was actually apricating her underestimated talents which she prided herself in. When she began a second verse, momentarily Measly's face all of a sudden went white as a sheet as he looked over Weasels shoulder and this time did storm off in a puff of smoke.

"Oh drat it" Weasel was crushed by his rejection "so he was only pretending to like my singing, huh! So much for mingling with the stupid locals".

When she turned around, her body contacted into a large blue furry face. It was the same evil eyed creature that had been spying and terrorising everyone all day. Turns out he was nothing but another blue fox, baring his teeth.

"AGHHHHH!" As her brown hairs stood up in fright, Weasel tried to flee but the huge preventive blue fox had weighted his front paw down massively on her tail.

"You!...stay where you are!" he snarled.

---

On the side of the pond, Toad was embarrassingly trying to comfort one of the frogs who had been sobbing because of a certain snake's ruthless actions. Whistler and Speedy had also came to see the hullabaloo.

"Adder you shouldn't have!" Toad rages out, balling his fist at her.

"Delicious" Adder pridefully pats her suspicious bulge in the middle of her body. Her froggy devouring's were just too tasty for her to even notice that she had betrayed the oath, first-hand.

"You were supposed to be making friends with the local inhabitants not eating them" Toad berates "Ain't that right Whistler?".

"Um…" Like before Whistler got harshly interrupted by Speedy.

"I did hear something about this oath. You don't eat one another do you. Very interesting but isn't it a little bit silly, if it means you actually starve. In my opinion Adder is quite right to eat frogs if she wants to" Speedy openly reassures.

"But their my relatives!" Toad argues back.

"Oh lordy…we're none of us safe since these Farthing Wood lot arrived. Can't call our pond our own anymore" the frog incriminates.

"Oh I do apologise matey" Toad calmly puts his arm around the mourning frog, trying to make up for what Adder did to ruin their famous reputation.

Just then Owl came flapping by and dropped out from the sky "What is all the commotion?" she demands.

"Adders eaten a frog" Toad answers, gesturing to the sad frog next to him.

"Oh!...is that all?" Owl deadpans with unimpression.

"What do ya mean all?" the frog outrages.

"The oath cannot extend to none-farthing wood creatures" Owl vacantly explains to the amphibian.

"Why not!".

"What on earth would we eat if it did?".

"Kee-Kee!" zoning out of conversation, Owl immediately turns to find Kestrel shrieking towards them alarmingly.

"Kestrel what is it?" Owl calls anxiously.

"The squirrels are in trouble!...they're coming this way!" Kestrel warns. Her eyes had spotted the grey squirrels getting helplessly pelted by the red squirrel tribe. Chasing them right out of the woods so hatredly until they'd made for safety by the pond.

"Ow!...Oy lookout" a stray nut had hit poor Toad on the head.

When the beaten-up squirrels were safe and out of harm's way they told everyone about it "They might be smaller than we are, but they ganged up on us, we couldn't do a thing" Squirrel one said.

"They told us to bogger off when we didn't do anything to them and they hurt us because we were only trying to be nice" Squirrel two added, collapsing into her sisters arms to hide her sad face.

"Trouble rains down on our heads" Owl literally responds feeling sorry to hear their unpleasant experience.

"Oooh…You can say that again matey" Toad agrees, rubbing his sore head.

At that moment, Kestrel landed next to Owl looking very regretful and shrunken up with shame "And that's not all…oh dear how very embarrassing" she confessed.

"Kestrel ate my wife!" a distressed voice came running up. It was field mouse all teary and heartbroken.

"So very embarrassing" Kestrel was indeed guilt stricken, earlier today she'd very much misread Mrs fieldmouse for an ordinary mouse. Hunting instinct had made the poor hawk attack and eaten the defenceless mouse illegally.

The other creatures were at a loss for words, things were leading bad to worse for them and they'd been deceived into thinking it was all happily ever after, but their fantasies about living in the park were nothing but silly delusions.

Kestrels misapprehension took Owl mostly by surprised amusement "Fancy, it never rains but it pours Kestrel" she says to the sad hawk without spilling her insolent laughter.

Then before things could be even worse. Out of nowhere Badger came running around the bend panting, with a face showing that he too had bad news to pile up.

"More trouble?" Owl asks.

"The-the blue foxes have warned us off their land…and they're threatening against Loveday" Badger replies.

"Hmm…we're none too popular here either" Owl blurted. In good timing the rodents, rabbits and hedgehogs came rushing along to make their endless complaints.

"We need protection!" Vole demands.

"And safety!" Mrs Hedgehog added.

"Yeah…we obviously just can't live like this anymore, it's all up to us to make a difference about it. Any ideas how though?" Hedgehog reasons sternly.

Feeling tired from everyone's groaning and moaning, Owl tried suggesting "However, let me give you a word of advice…".

"I vote we find Fox; he'll sort this out!" Toad recommends.

"And Loveday we mustn't forget her, she'll help us too" Rabbit adds.

The animals cheered, now more than ever they needed both their capable leaders back. If it was the fastest way of getting things back to normal in their terms than they just had to persuade them. Without resisting the animals and birds began their search and sniffed out for either Fox or Lovedays scent.

"We must find Fox and Loveday!" they all said thankfully.

"Oh well, please yourselves" Owl shrugs disappointingly, if she cannot beat them then she might as well join them like before.

Although not everybody had upped and left. Adder paid no mind to where the others were going and had slipped herself away in the other direction.

The snake's eyelids were growing heavier, and her stamina was running low everytime she pulled herself along the forest floor. Hibernation time was coming in a few hours. Imagine it if you'd slept for the following six months hidden beneath rocks or logs between October till March.

"Ahhhh!...I've never had a more decent meal in my life, and then they cry over a few frogs. Better get myself somewhere suitable for my winter slumber" Adder hiss's with a yawn. Slithering away from the pond towards the wood.

---

Bustling deeper underground than the willow trees canopy. Loveday had been fashioning her newfound sett. Rearranging and cleaning all the furniture while reducing her personal valuables from the backpack she'd been carrying all this time.

"At least this place doesn't smell of moist and decay anymore. This place really needed airing out" Loveday says as she sat down leisurely on the wooden seat to admire her earth dwelling hole.

"It feels good to unpack everything and set it all into place. Starting to feel like a home to me now" she thought "If those old hand tools I found in the cabinet still work then I can build myself a bed and a few other needy things. This is going to be fun" she gets back up to check the greystone fireplace duggen deep inward the wall "It is starting to get chilly, so I'll have to collect some wood and kindling for the fireplace. Better make sure there's no blockage up the chimney or wherever the smoke is taken too, I really don't want to be choking up smoke like the last time".

"I'll go and find some now while it's still light, I can always finish rummaging this place tomorrow" she decided, fully remembering that the limited hours of the day were turning shorter. Picking up her empty bag and ascending out of the tree truck, she closes the door behind.

She was getting to a great start finding all the bone-dry sticks littered around her tree. Everytime she found one she'd scoff it in her bag. The little logs laying against the fallen tree did also look better at building a bigger fire, so she tried taking those as well.

After stuffing in five or six her bag was rather heavy and painful to carry "Man…these logs are poking me on my back, I'll have to come for the rest of the wood if I'm going to have enough, just one more for luck".

Then as she strainfully reaches to pick up the seventh log with her left hand. A loud hissing roars right from under the fallen tree, making Loveday almost drop backwards in fright.

"What the-" Loveday raised her eyebrows and shook her head, frizzing her long hair wildly.

"Hehehe…got ya didn't I Loveday, or if I had you'd be more sorry for stealing the wood I was going to use for hibernating in" the familiar voice Loveday knew came scraping out from one of the holes and twisted itself defensively.

"Adder it's you!"

"Nice to see that someone recognises me, I thought I was too fat-" Adder remarks darkly, exposing her body for Loveday to see the bulge in her chest.

Not wanting to hear the rest of it for she knew Adder too well, the shiny lump and smell of pondweed roused Lovedays suspicions and tried to not question what Adder had been doing downside the pond which she figured.

"Wait! how did you get here?" Loveday paused the snake. holding up a hand.

"What? Are humans starting to live underground now?..." Adder cracks mischievously.

"Ok very funny, so you know where I am living now ha?" Loveday replied.

"If you'd didn't bother asking me then you're wasting time, I just saw you come from out of that willow tree, so it was easy to follow" Adder convinces the girl.

"Nothing gets past you does it" Loveday comments "Sorry for disturbing you Adder, it was silly of me for not noticing you were under there. I just wanted a few logs to make a warm fire in my new house".

"What a silly excuse to make, well maybe not as silly as the animals were right now by the pond" Adder says.

"What?" Loveday narrows her eyes tentatively.

"You haven't heard the sad news I bet" Adder taunts cunningly.

"What haven't I heard?...if your telling me gossip Adder I don't want to hear it" Loveday insisted.

Adder coils herself away "Fine then, mind your own business and I'll mind mine, while those miserable lot pile their complains on poor old fox and he'll have to dig himself out".

Loveday stopped herself from leaving and keenly reassumed finding out more from Adder "Complain?...to Fox?...Adder please tell me what's going on here, are they all in trouble!".

"That only depends. All I've witnessed was that the park has failed to satisfy them lot and now they're wee weeing back to Fox, I can imagine how awkward he will be when the others interrupt him and vixen during their private moment" Adder looks back with a smirk.

"Well why didn't you say so before…Where are they all?" conjecturing that her friends were in a vulnerable place, Loveday impatiently straightened her body up.

"Looking for Fox's earth of course" Adder answers, rolling her eyes carelessly.

"I'll have to hurry" Loveday quickly rushed back under the big tree. Pushing aside the overhanging willow branches towards the doorway.

"And what are you doing now?" Adder asked, slithering down the log.

"What does it look like I am doing? I'm going to find them and help them as soon as I dump this heavy load away" Loveday explains furiously, opening up her front door and throwing her bag along the inner passage till it rolled out of sight.

When she struggled to shove the door shut again the teenager turned to Adder "Aren't you coming with me? I could use your help".

Adder made her way to the tall jaggy trunk and yawned "Ahhh!...thanks but no thanks, if you do not mind I'm going to sleep. So I won't be seeing you until the spring, if you do survive that is".

"Oh you betcha I will I've escaped from death many times. It's a pity you'll be missing out on everything in our first day, but I understand that's just nature's work" Loveday smiled sassily, only managing to fix the door in place and softly waving her snake friend goodbye.

"See you in the spring Adder, hopefully you'll be in a better mood to see us again by springtime"

"See if I care" the snake huffs as she watched Loveday leave her behind in the glades undergrowth.

"Finally I thought I'd never be rid of company. Who needs them anyway? Hmm…I know just where I'll be staying" the snake sighs cunningly as she saw the single wooden door blew open slightly.

---

Feeling hectic to leave Adder in a rush without saying goodbye properly. Loveday ran out to find the lane in the forest strip. Her mind was in a state of panic as she thought cringingly about Adders upsetting news.

"If had Adder talked more sensibly she would've made herself more useful, why can't she accept the fact that she's always jeopardising everything. More to the point, who should I be looking for first, Fox or the animals. I don't know where Fox's earth is, and the animals could be anywhere" she said to herself "Maybe they're somewhere near here…I hope".

Inflating up her chest in a ready for anything way, she curved around the grassy bank which was next to her wilderness area. Coming around the corner on the flat path she found another extended glade similar to hers. Incarcerated by many more hollow trees and with even steeper earth banks winding all along the sides like a shrunken valley way.

"Darn cute this area is but I can't let it all distract me" Loveday reminded herself as she continuously admired the forest when something else got her interest. The thought of finding Fox felt close, literally she thought she could smell his musky scent caving in her nostrils.

"I've been hanging out with Fox for too long. His smell must've stayed attached to me" she imagined. Until she peeped down, her rainbow eyes found a visible pawprint made in the wet mud. It had four toe pads and claw marks which Loveday could already tell who it belonged too.

"It looks freshy made, maybe Fox and Vixen did come this way recently? And probably why I can still smell them both" Loveday supposed, but as she was beginning to confidently think about tracking them with her powers. To the far corner on the other side, sliced underneath another grassy bank there was a very large hole.

"Well I'll be darned, the smells coming from over there" Loveday said as she walks to inspect it. When she got herself closer the smell fumed much strongly from the dark opening.

"Aren't I a clever genius. This has got to be positively no doubt Fox and Vixens place" Loveday exclaims brightly "I gotta say they've dug top marks on this burrow and in short timing too. They really must be in a romantic mood…". As it appears, Loveday was living just around the corner and the foxes didn't know that she was their next-door neighbour.

"Loveday!" the hypersensitive teenager was knocked back. Her animal ears jerked up as the old, ruffled voice shouted out to her.

"Hello?..." the girl turns around stealthily.

"Loveday is that you?" the girl uses her animal eyes to spot what was seen stampeding amongst the forestry lane in severe depression. Murmuring voices and cries could be heard loudening everywhere as they all hurried along it.

Lovedays face lightened as she saw the farthing wood animals parading their way over. Not a single one of them was harmed or scratched like she had feared.

"Badger!...in the glade" Loveday waved them over. Badger was the first to arrive on scene, also looking very relieved to see her as the rabbits, squirrels, rodents, herons and Toad gathered sadly round her.

"Oh thank goodness it's you. What are you doing here Loveday?" Badger said.

"I could ask you the same question, I thought you were all having the time of your lives out there".

"I wouldn't wholesomely say that is entirely true Loveday. Frankly there has been some grave complications to our settling in" Owl revealed. Perching low on a branch with Kestrel accompanying beside her.

Then everyone started to fuss all at once, disturbing the peace in the glade. Loveday couldn't get an easy answer from either of them, her head turned from one end to the next, it was such a symptomatic mix-up.

"The park animals don't like us anymore!" Squirrel one cried.

"We need your help Loveday!" Rabbit begged.

"And Fox's!" Hedgehog interrupted.

"You're our guardian you do something about it!" Vole demanded.

"Quite-QUITE!" Lovedays thunderous outburst silenced them all, "Alright, I'll help you sort things out but before we all start exaggerating about these matters. I think its best if we should bring Fox in on this too".

"But we've been looking for him everywhere Loveday matey" Toad says, "there's not a trace of him or Vixen".

"I was sure that I could smell him, though I'm afraid that I could be wrong" Badger sniffed.

"If your nose hasn't disintegrated by old age then we could have found him now" Owl criticised.

"I hate to burst your bubble, but you are wrong this time Owl because Fox is here. Right inside this new burrow which I am standing right next to" Loveday remarked, pointing towards the hole.

"Oh and what prey makes you think that is Fox's earth? Anyone would think it belongs to someone else" Owl disbelieved.

"Oh come on Owl. I don't think, I know it is Fox's place because I can smell him. If anyone here doesn't believe me then why not try calling for him. I'm sure he'll come out if he hears all of you".

"Like that will ever work?" Owl doubted.

"No wait a minute I can smell fox's scent, I say we listen to what Loveday says. Come on everybody lets shout for Fox and make it snappy" Badger commanded. The farthing animals were willing to try and do anything to bring their leader back, if this was the only optional way for Loveday to help save them from a pointless search then so be it.

Loveday felt proud of herself as she waited to see if her plan to encourage them would work. If the animals wanted to recover her human assistance then she might as well do it in her general style.

---

From the intimate warmth occurring down the tunnel where the hole in the bank took. Alone in their freshly constructed chambers Fox and Vixen were romantically curled up into one another, when they had done finishing their burrow earlier, they'd spent the rest of their free afternoon nuzzling and worshiping each other in loving activity.

"Home sweet home" Vixen elegantly sighs, embracing her mate till his body heated her up inside and out.

"Peace at last" Fox relaxes his head on the snuggling vixen he was crazy for.

Life was just too perfect for the active couple now, a new home and a new future. As they were happily falling into a blessed sleep, their chambers became corrupted by resonating voices coming way from outside.

"What on earth!" Fox exclaimed as he woke with a start.

"We want Fox!...We want Fox!...We want Fox!" the voices kept on clamouring.

Undoubtably Fox realised who it was. The farthing animals had returned to him for some good reason, much to his and Vixens own dismay.

"Oh no!" Vixen moans reasonably.

"I'm sorry" Fox turns to her as they both got up, for a short moment he impatiently thought about what to do.

"…I'll tell them to go away shall I?" Fox offered to Vixen.

"No!...you can't do that" Vixen readily prevents him "Fate made you their leader, you can't let them down we just have to face it. You're not an ordinary Fox and never will be".

"Our dream didn't last long did it?" Fox says regrettably "so much for moving on". Sacrificing all that they had planned together was the most painful process the foxes ever did at that moment, breaking their vows on the oath was against their will and they could hardly refuse to help their friends. With hesitant steps they both exited the chamber while gently nuzzling into each other supportively.

---

Cowering behind the bushes, Measly scarcely peered out to helplessly watch Weasel get obtained by the blue fox. He'd forced her against a tree trunk and was trying to violate information from her.

"You're one of that Farthing Wood lot aren't ya?" he snarled tormentingly.

"Who me?...no no can't stand the sight of them, horrible creatures" Weasel lied, trembling limb from limb.

"Don't give me that! I know all the creatures here and you're not one of them…" The blue fox growled "I hear you're all hero's, is that right?".

"No no not true, I'm a coward myself" Weasel confessed, his fangs were inching towards her neck and she was trapped.

"Good" the blue fox deadpans "That's just what I wanted to hear because-". Before the blue furred canine could continue to pry, his sharp ears heard a rustling. When he noticingly turned away to look at the bushes, Weasel saw her chance at escape. She slipped herself around the tree and sped off. Unknown to both of them, Measly was the one who'd been distracting the fox to save Weasel. He pride himself for rescuing her and chased after Weasel again through the forest.

"Farthing wood animals forever!" Weasel battle cried. Breathlessly running back to find the others to warn them about her mysterious stalker.

The blue fox felt aggressively agonised as he stood in the clearing, his only chance at finding more about Loveday and the animals had out wittingly humiliated him. To make his angry mood even worst, his own mate came snooping towards him out from the shadows.

"What do you want?" he raised his voice as she crept near to him.

"I came to see if you were alright?" Lady blue replied delicately.

"Mind your own business!" he lashed out violently. Ignoring to notice the dripping wet tears pouring out from his mates eyes. No matter how hard she sobbed in front of him, he selfishly never cared about her wanted attention but his own.

---

Back inside the giant hollows, the farthing animals were conversing to Fox who eventually came out of his hole.

Unsurprisingly the foxes were relieved to see Loveday hanging there with them, she explained to the couple that she too shared their confusion and didn't have clue to any of this unknown discrimination. Before the human could tell them about making her home in the willow tree around the corner, she decided to get straight to the more important subjects and that was taking priority for their friends who needed them.

Standing side by side the two friends listened emotionlessly to everything that the animals had to share. One by one they told them their personal stories. It was so overwhelming unfair to know that they'd all had nothing but suffering, harassment and unrest while their leader and guardian were favoured better receptions from the park.

"We're not welcome here!"

"They don't want us!"

"This place is not what we thought!"

"They hate us!"

"The White Deer Park animals just won't share" Squirrel two said.

"Not surprised matey…some of us have been eating them" Toad discerned.

"The White Deer Park predators eat sometimes as well you know" Kestrel asserted.

"You would say that!…after all some of us have been eating some of us too, haven't we Kestrel?" Owl prosecuted her.

"Oh how very embarrassing, I don't know how it happened Fox? I don't know what came over me?" Kestrel agonised. She was brave enough to admit what she'd done but Fox and Loveday were morally speechless.

"I suppose it was too much to ask eh? That we'd just fit in like everyone else" Fox comprehended with a heavy sigh.

"Guess this was all wishful thinking to us. Clearly we're not the same relative people as we used to be, and our old ways of life are long gone" Loveday agreed with him.

"Ahhh!" suddenly Weasel came zooming down one of the banks, she turned her head and saw that she'd missed her friends whereabouts. After hurrying around a tree and back she kept whipping her head in different directions like she was looking out for someone. When…thump!.

"Dah!...oh I say Weasel do look where you're going!" Badger scolds. Weasel had collided face-forward, right into Badger's black hind.

"Oh dear, poor Weasel" Vixen says as she went to check on her.

"Give her some air…Is she alright?" Loveday questions "she doesn't look very well".

"Oh the shock…oh I'm done for" Mr Rabbit gasped, clutching to his heart.

"Oh shut up Rabbit!" Squirrel one shouts at him.

"Nobody cares of course, even the hares. They've gone off to move in near the local hares. No loyalty some creatures…no loyalty at all" Mr Rabbit murmurs.

"The hares are an example to us all" Fox asserted.

"Mr Rabbit you've got to stop theorising that everything is a melancholy to you" Loveday requests as she knelt beside Weasel, smelling the dazed creature's fear and panic.

"Where am I?" Weasel asked, slowly coming out of her unconscious. Seeing all her friends worried faces looking down upon her.

"Shh…its only us Weasel. You've had quite a nasty bump on the head" Loveday softly explained. Placing a nursing hand on Weasels shoulder.

"Still running away from our admirer are we?" Owl inquired. Gently curling her wing around Weasels head to help stabilise her.

"No…worst even than that, I was chased by this horrible great fox. Oooh and he was blue, blue with rage" Weasel replied in a terrified tone.

"Blue?..." Fox muttered.

"A blue fox?...There's no such thing" Loveday remarked, not knowing whether to believe her or not.

"Actually I caught a glimpse of him at the gathering with the stag" Vixen confessed "He's very unusual, I've never seen one before".

"Hmm…I need to say that nobody has ever encountered a blue fox in the real world" Loveday said. She already knew foxes were genetically born red, gold, grey, brown and white but not blue. Though after seeing white deer in the park it didn't seem so unobvious to her.

Weasel described more about her meeting with him "He had this cruel look in his eye".

"I know-I know I've seen it, frightened the life out of me he did, and he had this horrible scar on his face" Mrs Vole admitted.

"Is that the same fox you are talking about?" Loveday suspected.

"Yes!…because I remember seeing the scar too" Weasel replied.

"He was this close to killing us all, he almost got me when I was standing near the thickets I ask you" Vole too admitted.

"Yes and we met his mate, she frightened us" Mole recounted about him and Badger meeting the clod blue lady fox.

"Um…In the nicest possible way" Badger categorized with an uncomfortable frown.

"They think themselves to be a cut above the rest of us" Mole criticizes "And they told us to get off their land".

"Did they now?" Loveday was even more stressed to hear this "This is so not fair".

"Well…Looks like I'll have ta have a chat with the great stag doesn't it" Fox comprehended.

"Let me accompany you Fox. I'll show you the way to the stone circle, the great stag will be there I know" Loveday volunteered sincerely.

"If that'll make traveling easier for me" Fox accepted "you may come Loveday".

"I'm coming with you both" Badger stepped forward.

"If he's going then so am I" Owl too said.

"If that's what you all want then be my guests" Fox obliged coolly. Thinking how lucky he was to still have his friends around.

"What about us Matey?" Toad asked.

"Vixen can you stay here and tend to Weasel and the others while we visit the stag?" Fox demanded his mate.

"You can always rely on me Fox" Vixen replied with confidence.

"I'll help her Fox" Whistler promised. Since the little creatures were fond of him he thought he'd better stay even if Speedy didn't agree with him.

"Me too. I'll soon cheer everyone up" Toad proclaimed, knowing a good few tunes to restore everyone's good spirits.

"We'll leave that to you Toadie" Loveday smiled. Then just as she was about to lead, Loveday walked over to the hanging branch where poor Kestrel was perched on.

"Kestrel listen, can you go to the stone circle and inform the stag that it's an emergency" Loveday proffered.

"You still want me to help you after what I did" Kestrel reacted to this unexpected favour, but Loveday made herself clear.

"Please don't threat against yourself Kestrel. Anyone can see that what you did was an accident. Even if Fieldmouse won't forgive you, then try to not let it burden you from seeing that I still trust you. And there is no better bird of prey who I believe is still faithful to her friends then you are".

"I don't know what to say" Kestrel replied sheepishly "but thank you Loveday for still being my friend. I'll be more than happy to do as you command me".

With that change of mind, Kestrel expanded her wings and flew out through the forest's ceiling.

---

Later on the rolling highlands, Loveday, Fox and Badger, followed by Owl were all able to report to the great stag ASAP. When they'd arrived at the stone circle together, the stag was already there waiting since Kestrel had completed what she was told.

"After coming all this way, we cannot let you lose out" the stag cautioned "Perhaps what's needed is some land of your own".

"But we want to be in the park!" Kestrel argued from one of the stone pillars.

"Of course I mean inside the parks boundaries" the stag calmed her.

"Hmm a sort of a Farthing Wood in White Deer Park…somewhere the oath can still be respected" Badger broadly approximated.

"Sounds like a good idea. If we did have territory for ourselves it would be more satisfactory" Loveday noted.

Fox however appeared daunting "There are so many of us and all different". He started referencing a list of preferred elements the park should have for each of them "We'd need banks for our earths and setts, we'd need water for Toad and Whistler, the squirrels and the birds need trees, and it needs to be somewhere near where Lovedays living".

The great stag didn't say a word for some time until he broke out of his train of thought "Hmm…I am going to have to ask Scarface to give up some of his territory. He isn't going to like that…but perhaps if an exchange you agree not to hunt on his land".

"As a leader I'll agree, so long as this Scarface agrees in term" Fox officially stated.

"I'll have a word about it with him" the stag reassured.

"Who is this Scarface you keep talking about? Who is he exactly?" Loveday asked the stag curiously.

"He's the leader of the blue fox clan that lives in the pine forest that I warned you about" The stag answered.

"Now I get it. Scarface's the one who's responsible" Loveday figured "he must've been watching us this whole time".

"We don't want to be inconclusive Loveday, but I think you might be right about him" Fox believed.

"Even I would know about that" Owl said envious.

"If Scarface feels threatened by our presence then couldn't we just explain civilly to him-" Loveday said.

"I'm afraid it wouldn't work Loveday. Nobody can reason with Scarface except for me, I've known him for years and he prefers to not involve himself with anyone" The stag stated.

"That stands to reason" Badger nods turning his attention to Fox "forgive me for not saying this Fox but when I met his mate she did talk resentfully about you and Loveday. She happen to mention that they don't like red foxes or humans".

"I see" Fox got the message that the blue foxes were not open to negotiation "then we'll just have to follow suit with this land agreement if that's what it takes".

"Looks like we have no further choice" Loveday shrugs disappointedly. Feeling very shocked to hear the revealed racism the blue foxes had for the red foxes. To the end they all exchanged an agreement to not invade Scarface's territory as long as he stuck to his end of the bargain. Which was not to cross the land the stag was going to provide.

---

Somewhere located in a field, the hare couple were preoccupied in building their new sett near where the local hare's lived. When they saw a familiar shadow hovering around and was shrieking to alarm them with recent news.

"Gee-Gee!".

"What is it Kestrel?" Hare shouted, looking up to her.

"What's wrong, is everything alright?" Mrs Hare asked.

"Your making your home in the wrong place!" Kestrel replied thrillingly "The white stag has given us our own territory!".

"Really!" Mrs Hare jumped.

"Where?" Hare urged the hawk to tell them.

Kestrel gladly told them every perimeter the stag contributed. She was the only person who could scout it everywhere from above "Our boundaries are, to the north the stone circle, to the east the line of pine trees, to the south the pond and to the west the stream running through the wood. And all connecting from the very heart of it, the weeping willow tree. All the animals have agreed to respect the oath on Farthing Land which we are now naming it. You'd be safer there".

"We're happy where we are thank you…tell Fox we're alright!" Hare assures.

"Good luck!" Kestrel replied as she flew back into Farthing Land.

---

Loveday and everyone else returned back to the hollows and Owl shared their marvellous news with the whole group. The animals felt overjoyed to know that they had their own piece of land where they can all stay together in, yet from it all they had to take in a new set of safety rules.

"This way we have habitats to suit us all but remember, stray from the boundary and you'll be prey to other animals" Owl tipped them off.

"No one is forced to live on Farthing Land but if you don't, remember you won't be protected by the oath" Fox reminded them.

"He's right you know guys. Don't put yourselves at risk outside the boundaries. I know this hasn't been easy for us to get Farthing Land but its important that we show our gratitude toward the stag by not imbalancing the peace of the park, so we're hoping that you'll feel a lot safer now that the blue foxes will leave us alone as promised" Loveday informed.

"We have a lot to thank the stag for what he's done" Vixen said.

"At least those red squirrels won't throw nuts at us while we're here in Farthing Land" Squirrel one says to her sister.

"Yes…ooh I can still feel it" Squirrel two rubbed her bruised lower thigh.

"If the red squirrels bully you two again you just come looking for me or Fox ok" Loveday proposes. Inside she wanted to tear the red squirrels apart for hurting her squirrel friends.

"We defiantly will" the squirrels replied.

"The same goes for you lot too" Loveday turns toward the rodents.

"That's very sweet of you Loveday I'm sure that-" Fieldmouse whimpered.

"We'll manage to take care of each other ourselves" Vole interrupted them as he got the rodents to leave "Come on brothers lets go".

"Oh…um bye Loveday" fieldmouse waved, trying to catch up with Vole yet again.

"Poor Fieldmouse" Loveday sighs pitifully.

"It's all very well for the smaller animals of course, you don't need protection do you Whistler you've got me…I'll take care of you, I know all the best fishing spots" Speedy babbled.

"Yes I know" Whistler nods, feeling bored out of his mind. The herons soon left and flew back to the pond. At the same time the rodents and squirrels went off to do their own thing.

"Know what worries me?" Fox brought up to Badger.

"What's that old friend?" Badger asked.

"There won't be enough of us bigger animals left to enforce the oath, the herons have gone fishing, the hares have opted to stay outside" Fox informed in a worried tone.

"Well I'm still here" Badger refers.

"For what use he is" Owl complains cynically, making everyone look up at her grimly.

"Forget it Fox she's not worth it" Loveday whispered spitefully.

Looking furious, Fox didn't argue and returned the same gratifying smile with the badger who'd always been there to keep him company even before Loveday first came.

"Yes Badger you and me eh? You're a loyal old pal you are" Fox says affectionately to his good friend.

"Hey, don't you forget about us" Loveday nudged the canine.

"As long as you have us the oath will never be forgotten" Vixen adds. Playfully swishing her tail on Fox's face. He giggled as both the girls teased him ticklishly.

"Alright-alright! I'm yield" Fox laughed. Causing everyone else to laugh.

"Ha-ha that's the same fox I knew of" Toad laughs.

"It's not fair! Our pond was quite safe till that Adder of yours turned up" the green frog next to Toad said.

"Oh take heart matey, we'll make sure she sticks to our side of the pond from now on" Toad calms the amphibian.

"She'll be at the pond alright, lots of easy pickings there" the frog worried.

"I wouldn't worry about Adder if I were you. She's not down by the pond" Loveday told them.

"Then we've got to find her" Toad declared.

"It's no use. You won't even be able to find her Toad, she's gone" Loveday explains.

"Gone!" everyone said.

"Where is she?" Vixen asked.

"Has she left us forever?" Badger asked too.

"No I meant she's gone into her winter sleep, I met her outside my house when she was preparing to settle down. So she won't be back until it is spring, the frogs will all be safer now" Loveday clears to them.

"Oh she never even said goodnight to us" Toad frowned.

"You cannot intervene with the courses of nature Toad, for being a hibernative animal you should already know that" Owl comments, deep down she felt lonesome that her best friend was gone for a while.

"Course I do, me and my froggy mateys will be going into hibernation in a few weeks" Toad remarked "which reminds me that we'd better get back to the pond and tell the other frogs. Ta-ra mateys".

"At least we put the worst behind us" Loveday mutters to Fox.

"For now anyways" Fox replies, curving his back to stretch out his stiff muscles "it's been such a long stressful day".

"Let's not exaggerate about today anymore. Now's our time to be celebrating because we have got our new homes at last, ain't that right Loveday?" Vixen put forward.

"After we went crusading all the way to ends of the earth it has been worth it for us. Farthing Wood may have been taken away by the human's, but they will never stop us from hoping to make a new beginning. Not even blue foxes can stop us because Farthing Land is our own commune to live as equals and not as enemies" Loveday motivates.

"Here here!" Badger cheers.

"I gotta handle it over to ya Loveday, you never cease to impress me" Fox smirks at her.

"Oh really? Well same could be said for you" Loveday giggles "I only hope the park animals will start to coexist with us from now on".

"Perhaps you'll be one to teach them like you did for us?" Badger suggests "The animals could do with a few more lesson's about humans today".

"I'll have to find out more about my reason for being here though" Loveday thought. There was something more about the den she found in the willow tree and she's going to find out in her own free time. She promised herself to defend Fox and Vixen no matter what the blue foxes said about her and her friends. From the looks of it she was going to have to start studying her powers a lot more if she was to live in the park.

"Ahem…Parden me for the interruption but Mr Rabbit seems to be still in a bit of an unavoidable fit" Hedgehog put his paw up.

"Off again is he?" Fox complains.

"What's got his tail in a twist this time?" Loveday asked as she and the larger animals saw Mrs Hedgehog supporting the rabbit family in a corner.

"Loveday my husband is refusing to help me make our home" Rabbit cried as she came running up.

"I can smell Scarface" Mr Rabbit explained. Twitching his ears and teeth anxiously.

"You can smell him everywhere it use to be his land" Mrs Hedgehog argued with her paws on the baby rabbits shoulders.

"I can never sleep again, if I smell Scarface I'll have nightmares I know I will" Mr Rabbit said back.

"But we have got to make our home somewhere, think of the children they're worn out and so am I for that matter. Mostly from you" Rabbit crossly said.

"Rabbits? If I can be of some help. I can show the perfect place to build your home. It's in one of the safest spots I've been in" Loveday calms them as she picked up the baby rabbits who wanted to be carried in her arms.

"You do?" Rabbit asks.

"Will it be enough to get Mr Scaredy pants over here under control" Hedgehog points mockingly onto the male rabbit.

"Of course, it's right around the corner. There's a nice big rock where you rabbits can dig a new burrow under, it will be big enough for you to squeeze underneath so that no predators can get to you or your family" Loveday directs.

"Will you please take us there?" Rabbit pleads.

"Hey, I am always here, happy to help" Loveday laughs. The baby rabbits kissed her on the cheeks, with their grey fur tickling the girls skin pleasurably.

"Aww you two" Loveday sighs returning the baby rabbits a peak on the head.

---

When the warm sky was spilling it's inky shades of purple above the pine wood on the other side of the park. Scarface and Lady blue were on the prowls in their dark pine needle lands where the only shed of light could be found in the wide glades which they were in. The great stag did make the blue fox leader give up some of his territory and he was pissed.

"I only hope they stick to their own lands now they've got it!…I can't believe the stag forced me to do this, there you can smell them everywhere" Scarface spat, the new scents he smelt carried in the air enraged him. Especially the floral perfume identifying Loveday.

"Yes my love I do agree" Lady blue says gingerly.

"Nothing but trouble…the stag should never have let them in here the first place! If only that blooming Weasel didn't escape from me then I'd have gotten what I needed to know about that strange girl" Scarface carried on.

"Such common red foxes too. Still my love, winters coming then we'll see who's who?" Lady blue disputes.

"HAHAHAHA!"

Out from the blues foxes view another canine looking creature was watching from up in the treetops. Glaring down at them in hate and anger for it feared things would turn messy if the blue foxes dare to challenge the red foxes out of power hunger vengeance.

"You'll be the ones killed freaks. The feral psychic has returned, and she'll be ready to tackle your deadly games. So help me you'll never get away with it…never!" just at that the shadowy creature shoot out from one tree to another like it was flying. Leaving no trace behind as if it were invisible like the wind moving in and out of the swirling branches.

---

It had been a long day and night had fallen so suddenly over White Deer Park. During the earlyish hours of twilight, the park was all misted up in indigo, violet and blue hue vibes with the bright moon-beaming sky full of twinkling stars. All the exhausted animals were either snuggled up asleep or out hunting in the night.

As a creature of nightlife, Owl was doing nothing but watching the world go by her. Until she heard a few voices pass around the clearing beneath.

Fox and Vixen were taking a leisurely stroll through the forest on Farthing Land. They did manage to rest before coming out to hunt like foxes regularly do, and it was one of the best nights they'd have ever seen in a long time. Which boasted up there natural energetic moods.

"What a beautiful night" Vixen admires as she walked beside Fox.

"Bright clear nights usually mean a frost" Fox noticed.

"Good for hunting" Vixen comments. Just then they heard carnivore yelping and barking being carried along the valley.

"Scarface!..." Fox recognised "Prey will be harder to find if there are more foxes about. Food will soon be scarce for us".

"We'll both be fine for a while" Vixen calms her mate.

Fox turned to his partner with a loving expression "I hope White Deer Park turns out to be alright. Suppose-".

"Never mind suppose! Come on lets go hunting" Vixen laughs as they both sprang themselves forward. Following their instincts outer into the vast grassland.

They were just thinking where to begin when they both saw someone standing still on the ledge of a cliff. It was Loveday staring up at the moon. She appeared to be lost in her own imaginative world as she but realistically she seemed happier than how the foxes could remember her being.

"What's Loveday doing up at this time of night? She isn't nocturnal" Fox asked himself.

"You know her as well as I do" Vixen smiles "She goes wherever her heart leads her to. It's obvious that she's out enjoying herself like we are".

"Let's check on her?" Fox suggested. They both soon journeyed up to the cliff.

"Are you alright Loveday" Vixen asks, making the teenager jolt in surprise.

"What?...Oh it's you two. I thought you'd be out" Loveday said, with the pastel moonlight reflecting off her beautiful glossy hair.

"Who else?...your up late" Fox said with a smirk.

"I'm just full of beans tonight after such an adventurous day. I haven't gone home yet, so I thought I'd explore the park some more then I stopped to absorb all the stars" Loveday told them.

"They are looking shiny tonight" Vixen describes as they all turned to see the beady balls of galaxy lights covering the sooty black atmosphere.

"I suppose if you like that sort of thing. We were just going off hunting Loveday, are you hungry?" Fox asks.

"Maybe a little. I haven't eaten anything since" Loveday shrugged.

"You do know your welcome to join us if you wish" Fox prompts.

"Well I could use a few good tips about hunting for proper food now that I'm settled, but I've never really tried eating what you foxes like before" Loveday claims.

"Don't worry. We'll teach you everything we know, you'll become an expert huntress before you've even made your first catch. If humans haven't tried doing it then only you can" Vixen encourages.

"What are we all waiting for then. Come on lovely girl let's get you started" Fox stimulates. Without delay the girl and foxes left the cliff side and raced each other in the dense forest. Lovedays energy levels felt more expeditious as she ran swiftly pass everything, just like the time she was chased by the hounds in the foxhunt incident and her ring had magically saved her.

"Do you know what?" Loveday pants as she caught up with Fox.

"What?" Fox replied, flickering his tongue.

"I think I'm going to like living out here more. I feel so free" Loveday exhilarates. Thinking about the new adventures she'll be having with the farthing animals in White Deer Park. Things may not have started out like she wanted but no matter what fate decides for her. She'll never have to face it alone ever again.

---

Author's Notes:

Hey! did you miss me? i know what you are thinking. Yes i haven't updated in so long because things have been hard for me lately. Coming out of lockdown has been stressful and my mental health was affected from it. Plus i had to replace my broken laptop and my new one didn't come for a long time. This chapter was exciting for me to write but it took so long to get it done quickly.

Anyways I'm happy that i can start season 2 and i'm looking forward to seeing what happens next.

I am still thinking about you all and i hope your not doing too badly as i have in the last few months. Please feel free to comment me anything about what you think of the new chapter. If you need more explanation just let me know.

The next chapter will come this summer but not too soon.

Hope you like it and a very big thank you to you all again for your heroic support and patience.

Have a lovely summertime ;)