Noah was rather intimidated by these older foxes but they were all very friendly, at least Skips told them to be friendly. They taught some gestures of greetings to the cub which he did not really understand until Skips said he didn't get good education where he came from.
"They taught me to read and write," said Noah.
"But what about things?" said one of the foxes. "Maths, English, History?"
"Wow, Shop! You're a nerd?" asked a rough fox
Shop just uppercutted the fox who fell to the ground, the others cheering.
"Isn't that cruel?" asked Noah.
"Banter, Fluff Tail," smiled Skips assuringly.
"What does that mean?"
"A joke," said Skips. "We have a lot to teach you, but not to worry. You seem a quick learner."
"Dinner, my dears!" announced Fury.
They all rushed to the table. They all sat down and Noah looked at his plate. He understood there was a big chunk of bread but there were also three long-lined pieces of meat. He looked at them curiously.
"Have you never seen sausages before?" asked Skips.
"We've all got one," snickered the fox who got walloped, resulting an explosion of laughter from the others foxes.
"He's only five, you idiot," Skips rebuked.
"What's he talking about?" asked Noah.
"He's just a doofus don't pay attention."
"Well, my dear? Aren't you hungry?" said the old fox over Noah.
"They say they are sausages," said Noah looking at his plate.
"And?" said Fury. "No finer meat on Earth."
"I thought predators weren't allowed meat."
"Every predator does," said Skips. "Even a prey like me"
He munched on it and demonstrated saying "Mmmm."
Noah picked his fork up, plunged it into the sausage, took a tiny lick from it making the foxes giggle. He nibbled at it, smiled and tucked in.
"That's the ticket! A real predator now!" said Skip patting Noah's left shoulder.
"That is when he learns what's expected," said the fox who let Noah and Skips in. He was sitting on Noah's right.
"Learn what?" said Noah.
"You'll get there," said the fox plainly. "What's your name, sonny?"
"Noah Sly," he introduced. "What your name - sunny?"
The foxes laughed and cackled.
"Alex," he answered. "Alex Coop."
"You wanna watch your companionship with that one, Noah," one of the foxes said eying Alex. "He's amateur to business, he'll have you behind bars."
Alex looked gloomy.
"Why?" asked Noah. "What does he mean?" he asked Alex.
"The risk of a possible drawback to our business, my dear," responded the ancient fox sitting at the head of the table. "Once upon a time it was all easier for life for old Seignior Magnifico Giovanni Furia!"
He disappeared with a poof and reappeared behind Noah.
"Who is he?" asked Noah making all the foxes laugh, even Alex and Skips.
"Why, me of course, my dear! Who else? Didn't your parents every watch such a model as I?"
"I'm an orphan, sir."
"Join the club, pal," said Skips.
"Who isn't an orphan in my care?" chuckled the fox patting Noah's head. "I run such a place regardless of its abandonment. Our home is your home, my dear."
"Thank you, Mouser ... Maleficent ..."
"You can just call me Mr. Fury," my dear. Everyone does."
A knock came for the door. Alex answered it and turned to everyone.
"Look who it is, y'all!"
A tall, yellow cat in black spots and a pink dress appeared before everyone.
"Why Patsy, my dear! Pleasure as always!"
"There's a difference," said the cat with a weak smile. "Brent is on a job tonight. He sent me to get the payment."
"Must make do with what he has," said Fury getting up from his chair and fishing out a wallet from a pocket inside his plum cape.
"Hello," said the cat eying Noah. "What have we here?"
"New member," responded Skips.
Noah got up, bowed and said "Noah Sly, Miss Cat."
The boys laughed once again.
"Miss Cat?!" chuckled one of the foxes. "There's difference between a cat and leopard!"
"Leopards are cats," remarked Patsy. "Get back to school, you."
"Oooooooooh!" reacted the foxes at her savage remark.
"I tell you, Noah," said Patsy. "These wild ones are in for an injection in their mouths if they don't get their act together."
"Injection?" asked Noah.
"I was a doctor once," she explained. "But they should see some therapist. You'll want to be careful hanging with this bunch, sweetie. Nothing but trouble."
"Me not as much," said Skips. "Slowly starting to become one of us - adapting to eating meat he thought he wasn't allowed."
"Why not?" asked Patsy curiously.
"I attacked a hare for making fun of my mother," said Noah. "They said soemthing about Night Howlers."
"It's not madness or Night Howlers or meat," said Skips, "but self defence! He provoked you, man."
"If anyone overdoses on Night Howlers it's Brent! Eh, Pats'o?"
"Shut up, Prowler!" snapped Skips.
Patsy looked like she was struggling for the right thing to say. Noah noticed that she had three gashes on her left eye and what looked like a bite mark on her arm.
"He's just troubled," said Patsy timidly. "He's getting better all the same."
"Hence the make-up," snickered the fox who got hit in the eye.
"Is he a predator?" asked Noah. "I know how it feels."
"No," smiled Patsy. "He just needs help."
Ting!
He brought out a phone and read a text.
"He'll be home early," she announced to Fury. "I gotta head over now."
Fury handed her the money showed her out.
"Later, boys!"
"Bye, Patsy! See you, Patsy!" the chorused.
"It was lovely to meet you, Noah," she smiled stroking his cheek and she made for the door.
"She's nice," said Noah. Even as he continued his food, he thought very about Patsy and compared her to Mrs. Pride, a leopard who looked fierce and full of cuts and scars but would never hurt anyone.
"And we've set a bed for you," said Skips. "You can sleep in the space one of our friends used."
"Why?" asked Noah. "Why has he left?"
"Been naughty, my dear, naughty!" remarked Fury touching his nose. "Mr. Big is the only one to teach him to behave."
"Is he going to whip him?"
"Let's say 'cool' him off!" chuckled Prowler.
Skips lit a cigarette and puffed. "Shame, really. He had potential."

The evening was spent with getting to know the other foxes for Noah. They introduced him to a drink called Buckweiser which he downed half of and felt some sort of lethargy within him.
"Feel like a man, yet?" said one of the foxes.
"I don't what you mean by that?" said Noah drowsily.
"Have a ciggy, kid!" another one offered. "On the house."
Noah looked at the white stick and watched the fox demonstrate as he inhaled he released smoke like a dragon. Noah did the same; he took a deep inhale, but a sudden hiccup escaped his mouth and smoke shot out of his nostrils like train's funnel making the foxes fall about laughing.
"He'll learn quick to earn his keep I'm sure," smiled Fury sitting by the lit fireplace.
Noah slowly closed his eyelids as Skips and Alex took him to his new bed, Skips tucking him in.
"Five years old and brave enough to try his first smoke," said the walloped fox eying Alex.
"I did it eventually," said Alex sheepishly.
"But refused first time," said Prowler. "It's important you never forget the faggot you were back then!"
His eyes narrowed as he looked to his feet.
"Grow up," mumbled Alex.
"He's manning you up, my dear!" said Fury. "You're the obvious runt of the litter, Master Alexander Coop. Make these lot your models. Off to night watch for you now."
Alex was about to leave when one of the foxes shoved a pack of cigarettes and a lighter into his paws.
"Gonna take'em?"
He waked off with his gifts and made for the front door, Skips joining him.
"He's just a low-life," he comforted.

Noah slept peacefully, thinking he had struck lucky. These foxes seemed rather rude but they were much better than Barney and Rachel. Fury seemed like a very kind, generous old man. Skips was also another friend worth being thankful for. Alex also seemed nice but he did not know why they others were mean to him. In his sleep, for some reason he heard odd voices in his sleep.
Run, Noah!
Hurry, Noah!
Escape, Noah!