Over the Hedge: Second Generation

by starwars4life

Set 15 years after Midsummer Crises. The kids and young adult hedgies are now grown adults and must continue to carry out what their parents have taught them about heists, fun, friendship, love, and family. But will the problems they now encounter as parents and mates make the hedge family grow stronger and larger, or break apart and get smaller?

11. Division and A New Threat

Chapter 11: Division and A New Threat

Tiger and the skunk-blooded animals are the next to wake up, and go out of the bomb shelter so they can stretch and yawn as loudly as they please. When finished, Stella says, "Nothin' like a great night's sleep after accomplishin' so much."

Skunks in unison: "True dat."

Jacoby: "Les head ov'ah to the creek and wash up. Even though we skunks nev'ah smell clean, what matters is that we feel clean. And right now, none'uv us feel clean, amiright?"

Everyone in unison: "Right."

Even by skunk standards, they all feel nasty. Every skunk- and feline-blooded animal went straight to sleep when they came to the bomb shelter, their exhaustion overriding the need for immediate personal hygiene. The other hedgies or friends neither asked them to bathe, nor held the skunk animals' unpleasant odor against them. Because even excluding their spray—which smells like a rancid mixture sulfur, rotten eggs, garlic, and burnt rubber—the skunks' natural odor is strong, pungent, and unpleasant. But add to it all the sweat the non-hedgies shed while traveling to help rescue Roaster, participating in the wolf's rescue, obtaining the medicine for Robin, and the training with Boombata and Nukalawa...Many of the skunks are surprised they weren't politely asked to sleep outside the bomb shelter, which is a testimony of how generous this group of non-skunk animals are.

They make their way over to the creek, expecting to find other family or friends there, but are a bit surprised when they find it empty. Not thinking too much about it—other than how they have this whole section of the creek to themselves—they get in and start bathing using shampoo that Amber had brought in a fanny pack. While doing so, De'Ausha and Tiger notice that Stella is acting a bit strange. She is all by herself, her movements are slow, and her head is hanging.

De'Ausha: "Somethin' eatin' at your mind, mama?"

Stella is immediately grateful for her daughter's observation, and although she responds out loud instantly, her mind has mulled over a number of things. Unlike many other family members, who prefer to keep certain serious things private, Stella is as transparent as a window and says exactly what is on her mind for all to hear with little to no filter. There is a silent understanding that all skunks embrace as part of their species' heritage: you can't hide your odor, so don't hide anything at all. It is simply in their genes to be more open.

Stella turns around to face her daughter and answers, "Sure is. I had this strange dream last night, 'bout...gassing the family to death in the underground clubhouse." Although she gets some confused and uncomfortable looks, she goes on to finish with, "Yeah, it was like one'uv those gas chambers from that human genocide called the Holly, I mean Hollow—er, somethin' 'Holo.' "

Tiger: "Holocaust. I saw many a historical documentary of it on TV at my former master's house. It is perhaps the leading example of how cruel and evil human-on-human hatred can get."

Maurice: "Wh-hat happened?"

The 15-year-old is clearly disturbed, but more so interested to know the details. Maurice prides himself on having an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and the desire to share his knowledge with others. Equally important to him is hearing the knowledge others have to share, no matter how painful it may be.

Tiger: "During World War II, the biggest most destructive war in human history, a group of Germans called Nazis wanted to rid the world of all races except Germans. To do this, they gathered 11 million people, mostly Jews, and sent them to prison camps where they were forced into what looked like public showers, only for the nozzles to spray out poisonous gas that killed all inside—men, women, and children."

Many gasps and clasping paws around mouths follow. Among them is Maurice who asks, "Why did they do that...?"

Tiger: "Most say because of the Nazis' hatred for those who were different than themselves, but I believe it was simply because, they could. Like the problems going on in my land of origin today, no one dared to oppose the evil that the group in power conducted, and those few who tried were either killed or their efforts were not enough to fully stop the evildoers. And even worse, many people who could do something about it chose not to, out of fear that they would be targeted next."

Jordan: "It's like that old human sayin', 'The only thing needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.' "

Tiger: "Precisely."

Stella: "And 'cuz I have no hatred for any other species of animals, and especially not for my own family, I don't know why I dreamed of gassin' y'all to death like those Nazis."

De'Ausha walks over to put a reassuring paw on her mother's shoulder and says, "It was just a dream, mama. It don't mean nothin' 'bout who you is as a person—er, skunk. Wait, dat makes no sense, or—y-y'all know what I mean!"

Stella's chuckles joins the others'; her daughter's little mishap of words finally putting a smile on the older skunk's face.

Damon: "I jus' don't get why humans would hate each oth'a enough ta kill 11 million of demselves. 'Is not like animals commit war or genocide."

Jack: "You kiddin'? Animals fight wars all the time; from the smallest of ants to the biggest of whales."

Amber: "And dee only reason animals can't commit genocide is 'cuz we too numerous and too spread out across the globe to eliminate a whole species in one place."

Niara: "Then it don't make no sense why humans are the dominant species on Earth when animals far outnumb'ah dem."

Maurice: "Because humans have guns, war planes, tanks, and armor."

Jack: "But dey use those ta kill each oth'a, not animals."

Maurice: "You gotta point there, big brother. So why are humans in charge despite years of wars and genocides?"

Jacoby: "The answer is simple, Maury. It's really because of incessant breeding. Humans're are worse than rabbits in that regard." (1)

Damon and Niara in unison: "Huh? What's that mean?"

Laderius locks eyes with Jacoby to tell him, "Watch what you say, Jacoby. Kids're present." Knowing his kids won't stop asking what it means, and being a skunk, whose nature is to be open, Laderius looks at his surrogate son and daughter to say, "It means humans have lots of babies."

Damon and Niara in unison: "Got'cha daddy."

Jacoby: "And because'a that, that means more people to use those weapons against their own race, which means more kids to be born to stop the race from bein' wiped out."

Tiger: "Humans are more like us animals than they want to admit. We all are in a cycle of fighting for trivial reasons, and repopulating."

Amber: "Speakin' of that, I think we betta get over to wherever Rebecca and Garrett is."

Tiger: "Why?"

Amber: "Sorry, but I was lookin' at my phone when I got bored with your conversation—no offense—and found dis video of 'em, then a group text sent by yo family to skedaddle before their kids get to 'em."

Even with the phone muted, Tiger can practically hear the raccoon pair making out. He is also the only hedgie to see the video before announcing the next thing they must do.

Tiger: "We leave now! Pick up their scent and find them, fast! No time for further explanation."

His tone as he spoke was commanding yet anxious—a rare combination, and not at all easy to pull off. Because of these silent reasons, everyone trusts Tiger's words.

Being half cat and half skunk—two animals with superb senses of smell—De'Ausha finds their scents after just a few whiffs. "Got 'em. Follow me!"

The animals leave the water, still dripping wet, as De'Ausha leads the way.

Note: (1)=Based on Mega 3: When Giants Collide by Jake Bible.

---

RJ hears Brooke, Jeff, Albert, Caleb, Skip, Isaac, Jacob, and Kay call out his name as they search for him, but doesn't respond, and keeps himself hidden in a short tunnel that leads to a raccoon-sized cubby hole in some rock formations. He evades their senses of smell because they all smell like the shampoo he had brought, which means they can't pick up his own scent.

"All for the better..." RJ thought, "I need to be alone..."

As he expected, the others overlooked his hiding place and moved further away to continue their search. But he never paid mind to how close their footsteps came, and never kept his eyes on the entrance/exit of the small cave in case someone came in. He continues standing, his head facing down, his mind fervently searching for an answer to the questions that keep repeating in his head.

"What did I almost do? And why did I do it?"

His eyes keep looking at his outstretched paws as if he had caught himself red-handed with blood on them.

"I almost was. And it would have been my own grandson's blood...What came over me, and why don't I remember doing what I did?"

Every explanation he has said, and what the others had proposed, have passed through his brain. Even though RJ wasn't around to hear the latter, his raccoon intellect came to the same theories on his own. But now his raccoon intellect can't answer the simple question of why, because none of those reasons make a lick of sense, leaving only more confusion.

With no clear answers, RJ instead wonders what would have happened if no one had been there to snap him out of it. It's the worst topic for his mind to ponder, but he does it anyway because it's sadly the only thing that does make sense.

"If it hadn't been for Albert...I...would...have..."

He stops that train of thought, but keeps looking at his paws that almost killed his grandson.

"Maybe Reagan was right. Maybe a part of Robbie is inside of me, his ghost clawing for revenge against his kits from beyond the grave—" RJ's rational mind buts in with, "Don't be stupid! You never even met that abusive wretch, so how would his actions ever influence you? Even if you did meet him, his words and deeds would only serve as the ultimate example of what you're fighting against. And ghosts aren't real. And if they were, his ghost would be in Heck.

"So why did I do that...?"

More unresolved pondering leads to more confusion. And RJ's confusion gives way to anger. He is angry at himself for what he did, and angrier for not having a good reason for why. He hasn't felt this kind of internal conflict-anger since his time as a drifter, the unhappiest time of his life. And the worst part of that is, right now, he should be in the happiest time of his life. He has caring friends, an idyllic home, food to fill his stomach, a loving family, a mate, children, grandchildren.

"I thought I was past that awful phase...So why is it having a resurgence!?"

Then, a random bit of trivia pops into RJ's head, and it makes him...Laugh. It's laugher of embarrassment and sick amusement, of seeing the irony in his situation. He doesn't care if someone is around to hear, he speaks—and laughs that sick laugh—out loud.

RJ: "Uh-hahahaaa! It all comes back down to that three-letter question: 'why?' Heh-heh! It's like the punchline to a cruel joke! Ha-Ha-Ha! The very question I asked every day since my parents abandoned me. AH-Ha-Ha-HA-HA-HAAAAA-AAAA!...Uh-heh...Uh-heh-heh...Heh..." (2)

Just as his laughter and volume start going down like hitting the Volume Minus button on a TV remote, RJ then finds himself unable to control his fury of being right back where his life of misery started. There is a small pebble in the tiny cave at his feet that he snatches up and throws against the wall (2). It ricochets and hits him hard against the head. Angrier than ever, he goes over to the pebble and repeatedly stomps it until his foot feels sore.

Seething, RJ stands in the darkness with his fists clenched, trying not to scream (2). He hears a scream and assumes he has failed, but then realizes it has not come from him, but from someone else outside the cave. The first screamer is joined by others, five in total. And RJ recognizes the scents that belong to his biological nieces and nephews; Lizzy, R3, Sare, Gary, and Lauren. They sound even madder than he feels, and their footsteps are gone as soon as they passed through his ears.

RJ thinking: "Whatever they're after, they are ticked off."

Curious, he crawls out of the cave and into the open. He stands up and is almost bumped into by Ty and Grace who shout, "Just listen kids! It's not what you think!"

RJ would have asked them what's going on, if they didn't completely ignore him and keep running.

Luby comes by next, with Kelly riding on top of Rick's back as he is on all fours.

RJ: "What's up with Becca's kids?"

Rick: "No time to explain!"

Luby: "Here!" (Throws a phone at RJ's feet) "Watch this video! Then come help us!"

She also doesn't stop, so RJ does as instructed. Like everyone else, he only has to watch a few seconds' worth to know why the Quads and Lauren are in a bad mood, and why everyone else is in such a hurry to get to Rebecca and Garrett.

His foot aches a bit from his fuming rage episode, but it's not too unbearable, so he goes to all fours so he can sprint at full speed to either catch up to or beat his infuriated nieces and nephews to their destination.

Seeing how Roger, Aleshia, Riley, Ellie, Mary, and Bernard speed on past him, it makes RJ ponder, "I am getting old..."

Note: (2)=Based on Resident Evil Volume I: The Umbrella Conspiracy by S.D. Perry.

---

Rebecca and Garrett wake up with their bodies still entwined, and do what they always do whenever they are together alone: have another make out session. Garrett starts by kissing Rebecca on the cheek, pulls back, and lets Rebecca kiss his cheek. Then they French kiss until they need air.

Their cell phones' text message sounds go off, but they ignore it and proceed to the next phase.

They shift positions so that Rebecca is lying on her stomach as flat to the ground as she can, and Garrett gets on top of her, his four paws elevating his body over hers. He kisses her head then keeps kissing her as he slowly works his way down her dorsal side; kissing her neck, both shoulders, upper back, and lower back.

More cell phone text notifications happen, but they are ignored again by the couple who is too focused on each other to care.

Rebecca then catches him off guard by leaping out in front and doing a backflip so that now she is on top of him. Any surprise Garrett feels is almost instantly replaced with bliss when Rebecca—showing that she is more physically in love with him than he is with her—forces him over so that they are now lying on their left sides. She proceeds to gropingly massage his chest and belly, curl her tail around his legs (wagging it back and forth so that it feels like something soft and gentle is lightly touching his fur), and giving him love bites on the shoulders and neck.

Other text notifications sound and are disregarded as Garrett puts his paws on top of Rebecca's to interlock his fingers with hers as she continues her massage. He also uses his hindlegs to shift his body forward and backward so that his back-fur rubs against Rebecca's ventral-fur.

Normally all this motion is easy and does not expend much energy. But this is Rebecca and Garrett: the most passionate, romantic, and enamored soul mates on the planet (quite possibly the most in the planet's history); so they devote every muscle, nerve, and sense to express their love to each other, and get quite a workout while doing so.

What really gets them riled up in a romantic sense—and is the sign of a truly healthy passion-relationship—is that what keeps them going is knowing they are making their lover feel good. Anyone likes feeling good, and Rebecca and Garrett are no exception. But Rebeca hearing and seeing that Garrett is having a great time gives her pleasure beyond explanation, and Garrett hearing and seeing that Rebecca is having a great time gives him pleasure beyond explanation.

Every famous fictional or real-life romantic couple there ever was—Adam and Eve, Cleopatra and Mark Antony, Paris and Helen of Troy, Romeo and Juliet, King Arthur and Guinevere, Marie and Pierre Curie, Bonnie and Clyde, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund from Casablanca, Rhett and Scarlet from Gone with the Wind, Danny and Sandy from Grease, Jack and Rose from Titanic—all wish they could be in love with their lover as much as Rebecca and Garrett.

Another round of text messages tries and fails to interrupt their fun. But by now, the two sense that their own, and their lovers', bodies are starting to get tired from their intense make out. Rebecca and Garrett each make one last shift and reorient themselves so that Garrett is on top of Rebecca looking into her face that is also looking into his. They stare into each other's beautiful eyes as they pant in their faces, feeling sweat envelop their bodies. They lightly touch the cheek of their spouse with one paw, then plant their lips together for another passionate kiss.

Everything in their lives is perfect—

—Until a slow, sarcastic clap draws their attention to the right. Their hearts beat even faster in anxiety and fear at the sight of their five kits giving their parents ugly looks full of contempt.

Lizzy is the only one clapping and continues to do so while speaking in bitter sarcasm, "How sweet. How cute. How romantic..." Lizzy stops clapping and she and her siblings now walk toward Rebecca and Garrett with clenched fists trembling with anger as Lizzy now says with building rage, "How unbelievably selfish of you, mom and dad, to spend so much time together instead of with us, your own kits!"

Rebecca and Garrett stand up. Knowing that any attempts to cover up their actions—like saying the worn-out cliché, "It's not what it looks like"—would be a worthless waste of oxygen, the couple tries a different approach. The key word being "tries."

Rebecca: "Now kids—"

Garrett: "We know what you're thinking, but—"

R3: "Do you know what we're thinking, really?!"

Sare: "Because, for all our lives, you have been more spending time with each other than you have with us!"

Gary: "We wouldn't have minded so much if you were more honest about it. Actually, no, I take that back, we would—and do—mind it A LOT."

Lauren speaks with the most spite of all when saying, "But the fact that you lied to us about 'marking your territory' is unforgiveable!"

Rebecca and Garrett know they are in a HUGE mess after hearing their youngest and most well-behaved child speak to them just now. They're still trying to believe their ears, when the first punches are thrown. Lizzy, Sare, and Gary hit Garrett in the head while R3 and Lauren do the same to Rebecca.

Rebecca: "Have you kids lost it?!—"

She and Garrett do their best to parry the next round of hits, but are at a three-to-one and two-to-one disadvantage. Not only that, but their kits' anger makes them throw their punches faster.

Garrett: "You better stop this or—!"

Lizzy: "How dare you!—"

R3: "—Lie to us!—"

Sare: "—About how you!—"

Gary: "—Suck face!—"

Lauren: "—And touch each other all over!—"

All kits in unison: "—When you should be having time for us!"

A loud and commanding voice bellows, "THAT'S ENOUGH!"

It takes a micro second for all seven raccoons to turn their heads at the direction the voice came from. But by then, a second loud and commanding voice also shouts, "STOP THAT—NOW!"

The first voice was Tyler and the second was Grace. Taking advantage of their kits' distraction, Rebecca and Garrett do a panoramic slap against the faces of their kids who had been hitting them, knocking them to the ground. As if they're possessed by evil demons, the teens and seven-year-old growl as they get back up and try to charge at their parents again. Reagan, Riley, Ellie, Kelly, Niara, and Damon get in their way and try to say "Guys, please! Listen!" But the raccoons shove or run past them, their eyes full of rage and mayhem.

Seeing that the raccoons have gone over the edge and are beyond reasoning, multiple paws grab their arms and legs. Lizzy, Sare, and Gary break free for a moment, but are restrained from behind again, this time by even stronger paws. Lauren and R3 jerk their heads back and hit their holders in their face, but this only makes their restrainers smack the sides of their faces.

Another set of paws clips shackles to their ankles and wrists, and collars around their necks. When the grip on the five suddenly disappears, the kids, still blinded by fury, try to lunge at their parents yet again, only to be forced to fall forward from a heavy weight on their limbs, and getting an electrical shock from the collars around their necks. When they try to stand up after that, they get another shock and finally stop trying to move. Their minds are still full of hate, but have cleared enough to know that they have lost.

Emma: "That's right. Make a move, and I'll press this remote to shock you five."

Rick: "And now that all the adults are standing on top of the other end of your shackles, you won't get far even if you try."

Rebecca and Garrett are about to thank all the family and friends who have come to their aid—Emma, Bea, Tyler, Grace, Rick, Luby, RJ, Heather, Bernard, Mary, Pat, Reagan, Reagan, Stella, Tiger, De'Ausha, Laderius, Damon, Niara, Jacoby, Amber, Maurice, Jack, Roger, Aleshia, Riley, and Ellie—when those animals round up on the couple.

Ty: "Why didn't you read any the text messages we sent you?!"

Rebecca: "We were, uh..."

Garrett: "Busy..."

The adults shake their heads, ashamed at Garrett and Rebecca.

Luby: "The texts were to warn you that your kids were coming toward you—"

Grace: "—Most likely to yell and hit you."

Aleshia: "They found out about your lie when someone sent a video of you two last night doing what you did." (Holds up her cell phone)

De'Ausha: "And if you ask me, they should."

Rebecca and Garrett ask in confused unison, "What?"

The answers they get are like a slow knife taking its time slicing through their flesh as it reaches their hearts.

Laderius (bitter and rhetorical): "Why shouldn't they be mad at you?"

Roger: "You repeatedly—no, constantly—lied to your own kids whenever you wanted to love on each other, when you should have done what good parents should do and spend more time with them!"

Lizzy: "Yeah!"

R3: "That's right!"

Sare: "You're the worst parents ever!"

Gary: "You're always off making out with each other, and barely have any time for us!"

Lauren: "It's your fault me and my sisters aren't as good at gymnastics as you, mom!"

Lizzy: "You haven't spent enough time teaching us!"

R3: "And when was the last time you played catch with me or Gary, dad?!"

Gary: "I can count on one paw how often you've done that—that's how little you have spent quality time with us!"

Sare: "Even doing chores with you two could count as some form of quality parent-kid time, but you're not around for that either!"

Tiger: "And as much as I hate to admit it, all of us adults are also to blame for your kids' understandable anger with you, Rebecca and Garrett."

Bernard: "We knew what you two were really doing, and helped reinforce your lie whenever your kids asked us where you were and when you would get back."

Heather: "But the thing is, we, like, did that hoping you two would, totally, wind down and start, like, spending more time with your kids."

Mary (steps forward and looks at Rebecca with hurt in her eyes): "Aunt Becca...I-I want to take your side because of all the great times we've spent together with you teaching me gymnastics. But...Tiger, Bernard, and Heather are right. And from what your kids have just said, I knew you didn't spend much time with them, but to learn you've spent even less time with them than I ever imagined...that is downright unfair and inexcusable." (Stern tone) "We have, so, told you, numerous times, that you should be with your kids more often."

The other adults and kids silently agree with Mary, and finally let out their true ill feelings toward how Rebecca and Garrett have treated their kids.

Stella: "Y'all always say you will, but nev'a end up takin' our advice."

Tim, Zeke, and Mira in unison: "How could you hurt our cousins' feelings, Rwebecca and Garrwett?"

Reagan: "I feel like I know them better than you do."

Emma: "We're through waiting for you two to act like parents. Your kids should be your main priority, not each other."

Pat: "We don't even disagree with them yelling or hitting you. We just had to put them in these restraints so they could cool their heels off a bit and say what they needed to say."

RJ: "We're about to let them free again, and this time we won't stop them. But before we do, I just wanted to say that I'm very disappointed in you two. Especially you, Becca. You'd think that growing up being neglected by mom and dad would have taught you how to avoid their mistake..."

It is at this moment, that the slow knife-feeling of the others' words now pierces and breaks Rebecca's heart. She gasps while putting a paw to her mouth, falls on her knees, and slumps her whole body down as if she is melting, all while tears flow out of her eyes.

Garrett kneels down to put comforting arms on Rebecca's shoulders and glares at RJ to say, "How could you say something like that to make my mate, and your own sister, cry?!"

Rebecca: "No! He's right! They're all right, Garrett! How could we be so blind—HOW COULD I BE SO BLIND?! We did the same thing to our kids what Rogan and Sarah did to me: neglect them to where they feel abandoned and unloved! It was the EXACT thing I always WANTED to avoid when we became parents, and I only repeated history! WE ARE THE WORST PARENTS EVER!"

Garrett first speaks in a desperate attempt to deny what Rebecca is saying, by telling her, "I...You...We..." With no good reason, or even excuse, Garrett's heart now breaks. He cries in horrid acceptance, "Uh, you're right. They're right!...And most of all, our kids are right! We do spend more time with each other than with them! We lied to their faces every day! We ignored our family members' advice, and kept neglecting our own kids just to waste our days away with each other! Being with you is so amazing, and I wanted to keep feeling that way with you forever!"

Rebecca: "So did I Garrett...So did I...We became addicted to each other. We didn't make the sacrifices all parents should. And what time we did spend with our kids wasn't enough for us to show that we truly loved and cared about them all the time..." (Looks at her kids) "Kids...I'm so sorry..."

Garrett: "We're both SO sorry..."

Lizzy: "Your selfish tears aren't gonna make anyone sympathize with you!"

Rebecca: "We promise to spend all our time with you from now on!"

Garrett: "We're turning a new leaf. You are more important to me and Rebecca than we are to each other."

Gary (rhetorically): "How do we know you're not lying again?"

Sare: "Like you always do!"

Garrett: "We promise things will be different. Just give us this one chance at redemption."

R3: "You've had 15 years with us," (points at himself, Lizzy, Gary, and Sare) "and seven more with Lauren" (points at her) "to do that."

Lauren: "It's too late for you."

Lizzy looks over her shoulder to say, "And too late for anyone else to convince us to try to forgive you when we don't want to."

No one else says anything to the kids. They simply nod yes, take the restraints off, and the five surround their parents.

Rebecca looks into their eyes and says, "Go ahead. Hit us."

Garrett: "We deserve it."

The Quads and Lauren each land one hit on their parents' faces.

Rebecca: "We're sorry kids."

Garrett: "And promise to never repeat our mistake again."

Their kids hit them again.

Sare: "That's not what we want to hear from you two..."

Their kids hit them again.

Rebecca sighs and says, "We're the worst parents ever...We're so selfish..."

Garrett sighs and says, "We screwed up big time...And owe you kids for life..."

Although those were the answers their kits wanted to hear, they pull their fists back again and are about to take another swing—until they put their arms down.

Lizzy: "Y'know what? You aren't even worth it."

She and her siblings turn around and walk back the way they came, their inaction hurting Rebecca and Garrett more than any additional hit could.

The other onlookers give Rebecca and Garrett looks of sorrow, but don't say or do anything to offer reassurance. RJ looks at his grieving sister and her mate to say, "Nothing we say will change their minds. You two got yourselves into this, it's up to you two to get yourselves out."

With that, the hedgies and their friends gather their belongings and head back toward the bomb shelter, leaving Garrett and Rebecca to cry while holding each other in their arms.

---

Meanwhile at the bomb shelter, Hammy and Scarlet are waking up.

Scarlet: "Morning Hammy."

Hammy: "Good morning Scarlet."

After a quick kiss, Hammy say, "I gotta—"

Scarlet: "—Go wee-wee. Carry on."

Hammy: "Thanks honey!"

He zips out rather than zooms out so he doesn't wake the others. Scarlet is about to look over where Sam and Aaron are to check on them, when, from outside the bomb shelter, Hammy screams in horror, "AHHH! Big bad wolves, scary bears, creepy coyotes, freaky foxes, petrifying pumas, and sneaky snakes!"

He zooms back in and shouts "Everybody WAKE UP! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!"

The assailants don't give the sleeping animals much time to process what Hammy has said, as the water moccasin/cottonmouth snakes enter the bomb shelter first yelling, "That'ssssssss right!"

A male coyote comes in next saying, "Greetings! Prepare to die!"

Rachel and Quillo are closest to the uninvited guests and yank some of their tail quills to loosen them, and then lash their tails forward so that their quills shoot out while the two say, "Just you try!" in defiance.

The two snakes and one coyote are hit in nonvital areas, but it still hurts them enough to stop their advance. Unfortunately, they aren't the only ones running into the bomb shelter, and the two porcupines don't have enough time to renew their ranged attack as the remaining eight snakes, five coyotes, seven foxes, nine wolves, two bears, and five pumas enter next. Normally such predators would attack each other over who gets the food and territory, but these ones are united in a common cause, making them extremely dangerous.

Martha, George, and Marty all shoot a stream of their mink spray at the predators and score a few hits, but the sheer number of them—not to mention strength and above all, ferocity—makes the mustelids' attack seem like a useless gesture. The foxes and pumas are a few feet from the first of the animals when there is a sudden Clap! followed by their yells of pain and surprise.

It turns out that the hedgies, after hearing from those who stayed behind during the pharmacy raid that predators are out to get them, have set up booby traps to protect themselves. The foxes are caught in rat traps and the pumas have stepped in fox traps. The former are much larger versions of a classic mouse trap while the latter are smaller versions of bear traps minus the "teeth." Both trap types do the trick of stopping the canines and felines, but the two fully grown black bears will not be dealt with so easily, especially now that they know to avoid the traps on the ground.

Houston has climbed up a pipe and whistles loudly to get the ursines' attention followed by shouting, "Hey, blockheads, over here!"

The female black bear and her mate keep running forward, but she turns to look at Houston on her left to snort and say, "Get real! That only works on cubs!"

Richie's voice draws her attention forward when the raccoon says, "But this works on adults!"

He and Lucille pull the levers on homemade catapults, and two bear traps snap shut on the bears' faces a second later. They rear up on their hind legs to roar in agony and rage as they fully focus on trying to free themselves from the traps. That's when Hammy and Aaron, remembering a famous battle from a Star Wars movie, wrap a rope around each of the bears' feet. The squirrels' timing is impeccable, because the ursines trip and fall on top of the advancing wolves, instantly pinning them on the floor.

The pack godmother angrily snarls out, "You's big, fat, heavy, doofuses! Get offa us!"

Her mate gives a better idea by suggesting, "We's all lift up at once on da count'a three. One, two, three!"

The four wolves under the female and five wolves under the male all stand up and put their forelegs forward—directly into the rat traps placed there just now by the minks who were once the hedgies' enemies. The pain causes the wolves to drop to the ground, where they are once again pinned by the bears' weight.

As for the snakes, who have pits below their nostrils that enable them to see infrared, they have used this ability to better make out more traps (such as trip wires) that they slither around to avoid. But they are not the only animals present who have extra senses they can use to their advantage, as the bats fly over them and pinpoint where the reptiles are using their superb hearing and sonar. The adult bats are carrying a bag of powder lime while the kids bite the bottom of the bags until there is a big hole. With a stream of powder lime now pouring out of the bag, the bats carpet bomb the snakes.

Silas, a male teenage snake, shouts, "AHHH! Lime! My only weaknesssssss!"

His sister, Aggie, who is the same age as he joins by yelling, "The ssssssmell issss too strong! I can't breathe!"

Their mother, Kissie, goes, "It burnsssss! IT BURRRRNNNNSSSSSSSSS!"

But the bats don't let up and keep pouring the lime onto the snakes until the bag goes empty, leaving the snakes writhing in pain.

By now, the leader of the coyotes has taken to time to notice the defenses the prey animals have set up, and formulates a plan. "Block all the exits! If we can't get in to attack them, then let 'em stay in there until they starve!"

Three head outside and go around the bomb shelter to block one big door, and the other three remain in front of the door they entered from. The predators' move is wise, since the shelter's doors are the large ones that slowly swing open like bank vaults, and the hinges have rusted away, meaning they always remain open with no way to close them.

But the prey animals are wiser, since they have a secondary means of closing the entries/exits. Spike goes to one end of the bomb shelter while Rachel goes to the other. They slow their pace when the coyotes lower their heads and growl menacingly. Neither prickly rodent is intimidated and each gives a cheery wave while saying an upbeat, "Hi,"

Spike and Rachel open up a large, rectangle shaped outlet floor panel like the ones seen in gymnasiums or cafeterias—the angle of the lid blocking the coyotes' view—and press a button. A loud rattle sound passes through the canines' ears, and before they know it, a heavy steel shutter slams down on their heads, knocking them out cold and immobilizing them.

Like before, Spike and Rachel give another cheery wave and say, "Bye," in an upbeat tone. With the coyotes unconscious, they press the buttons again to open the doors.

With all the attackers subdued the other prey animals in the bomb shelter nod in appreciation of their work, and hug or shake paws in reward for a job well done. There is no doubt that these are the same predators who destroyed the hedgies' home, and when they came to finish the job, they, like all predators, overestimated their abilities while underestimating their targets. Even better, the predators are now trapped with the hedgies and their friends, who decide it's time to get some answers now that they've won.

"Heh...Heh...Heh-heh...Heh."

The male bear's laugh is joined by many more until the bomb shelter becomes a cacophony of cackles and snickers.

An adult male fox, named Vul, still caught in the rat trap, says, "Enough monkey business."

All the predators free themselves from their traps with ease and without a grunt of pain, much to the horror of the other animals.

The wolf pack godmother is the first to do the old and tired villainous cliché of giving a self-aggrandizing monologue. "Taught we was just some lily-livered, weakling predators, didn't you's? I happen ta be Holly Thorn, godmother of the Bush Whacker Wolf Pack—da best wolf pack in America since da Bone-Chompers."

The male bear introduces himself, "I'm Ted Sr., this is my mate Edith, and we're Little Ted's parents. You know, the bear who that freak-wolf-wench captured to be used as target practice for some stinky minks' and skunks' training."

The lead coyote pipes in, "Name's Harry, and that goes for all of us. We're related to, or have close ties with, the animals that had been forced to come along with Little Ted."

The leader of the pumas, a male named Monty, comes forth to say, "And like three of the Predator-Quellers, we have super strength and resilience too. We just pretended to be hurt by your measly traps."

The lead cottonmouth snake, Saul, rears up to say, "Yearssss of training oursssselves to endure pain—and intentional exsssssssposure to lime for me and my family'sssss cassssse—has made usssss immune or highly ressisssssstant to what would keep the average predatorssssss away."

Edith: "We have observed your family for quite some time, have come to know your habits and routines. We know you better than you know yourselves."

The fox's female mate named Vixy—the same one whose son and daughter had teased Bernard at the playground—now says, "We figured out that any of us by ourselves or with our families aren't enough to defeat you all."

Harry: "But if we put aside or differences and worked together, we can overcome any obstacle."

Holly Thorn: "But dat's enough, talk. Time for our revenge!"

All predators encircle the prey, ensuring there can be no escape save for the bats, and then make a collective lunge.

Drake: "FB/SG OUT!"

The hedgies and those familiar with them close their eyes and cover their ears because what Drake had said was, "Flashbang/Stun grenade out!"—a common abbreviation he uses while playing war video games online.

Despite the grave danger the hedgies and their friends are in, the pompous predators' talk has, like all villainous speeches, given the heroes time to act. Proving how he was earned his pack-name Indiana Jones Dos punto cero—or Indiana Jones Two-Point-Zero/O, which was the inspiration for his real name—Drake had gotten over to the abandoned police dog harness that Kale had worn yesterday and pulled out a flashbang grenade. He just had to wait for the right time to use it, which is now, right as the assailants are clumped together and their eyes are wide.

No amount of training or resilience can overcome the distorting effects of a flashbang. With a flash equivalent to 2.5 million candelas (or 120 times the brightness of a police flashlight shining directly into the eyes) and an explosive sound of over 160 decibels (or the equivalent of being next to a jet as it's taking off), no creature on planet Earth is immune. And because the grenade went off inside a building with shielded inner walls, it only amplifies the sounds' effect. Also like him playing a video game, Drake had pulled the pin prior before throwing it to "cook" the grenade so that it explodes in midair before it can hit the ceiling or the floor—directly in the predators' faces.

The grenade not only temporarily blinds them or makes their hearing ring, it flat out incapacitates them out cold. Sadly, despite their preparation for it, the prey animals and their friends are also affected by the grenade. No one loses consciousness, but they are temporarily blind and deaf. The younger ones panic and run into those nearby, and some are trapped under the unconscious carnivores.

When the ear ringing and bright lights fade, the animals work together to recover those under the predators. Showing how the years spent teaching other family members how to lead have paid off, Spike says, "Listen up everyone, we need to leave, NOW. Find the ones not in the bomb shelter, regroup, and come up with a plan to defeat these predators for good."

Emily: "Let's just lock 'em in here and set the place on fire!"

Bucky: "Good thinking, Emily! Kale and his family will understand why we had to destroy their downtime spot. Let's get to it folks!"

The animals break away and run over to the shutters, while all the adult porcupines (minus Bucky and his parents), raccoons, minks, and squirrels get out lighters and start torching the furniture, sheets, towels, and grass. When they finish, Hammy and Aaron go each opposite side of the shelter to press the button that will close the shutters, and zoom out before the shutters slam closed.

Lou: "Light the outside on fire too!"

Lyra: "That won't do anything to a building designed to survive a nuclear bomb."

Gerald: "No, he's right! If we pile some wood on the outside of the doors and light it on fire, the ones in there will have to risk getting burnt to escape to the outside too."

Miranda: "You better believe my mate. He went through a pyromaniac phase as a kid."

Bruce: "Let's do it!"

The animals quickly gather things that can catch fire easily like sticks, leaves, and loose tree bark. All of this has to be done quickly under the fear that the ones inside could wake up any moment and renew their attack, meaning the animals outside are fully concentrated on their task—and thus fail to notice the scents of other threats.

Because, as they are piling the things on the outside of the doorways, the animals on one side are pounced on by five bobcats, while those on the other side are swooped on by five great horned owls. Over half the hedgies and friends get hit, and all the young kids cry from their injuries even if they are superficial scratches. The ones hit hardest are Gerald, Jude, and Leslie who take a claw slash from bobcats in their left arm, and Beverly and Elan who are bitten by an owl. But the worst is when Lou is bitten in the leg by a bobcat—an animal whose bite force is greater than a fox, coyote, and even cheetah—and Christopher is grabbed in the arm in talons of a great horned owl, whose grip strength of 200-500 pounds per square inch can normally snap the spine of most prey, killing them instantly. Two reasons save the fathers from death: one, they were hit in nonvital areas; and two, the other animals near them attack their attackers which forces the feline and bird to let go.

Wanting to get the adversaries distracted, Quillo rhetorically asks, "So you were just waiting outside the whole time, weren't cha?"

The response he gets is a bobcat leaping forward with its claws and teeth bared. Instantly realizing that these animals won't be duped into self-indulging monologues, Quillo uses his arms to lift up his lower body to do a handstand and then is forced back down when the feline makes contact with his quills. Because the bobcat had already started moving before Quillo, the feline is hit only in the hind legs and hips by the quills, and is not fatally injured. But that does not mean Quillo's counterattack was in vain, because the bobcat is now crippled and could die of blood loss.

During this time, as the adults are busy doing their best to fend off the new attackers, Max and Scott have pulled perfume cans out of their mothers' purses and pick up nearby lighters that their parents had dropped in order to better fight. With a click of the lighters and a press of the perfume cans, the young raccoons fire makeshift flamethrowers at the bobcats and owls. One bobcat and one owl are directly hit, and run/fly off to roll in the ground, while the others are forced to retreat since all terrestrial animals fear fire—especially it it's shooting right at them.

Houston and Miranda tell their kids, "Shoot the piles!" and their sons do as they're told, starting an instant blaze on the outside of the bomb shelter's doorways.

Jude shouts, "Look out!" too late when Scott and Max are each picked up by an owl and dropped into the burning foliage pile! The raccoons' adrenaline makes them ignore the burning pain of their fur on fire, and they are able to roll out and keep rolling until their parents come rushing to them to help pat out the flames.

After a quick check, Lyra and Miranda embrace their sons and reassure them by saying, "You're good. The fire didn't cause any serious damage."

Oddly, despite being covered in fur, mammals' hair doesn't catch fire very easily, the same goes for bird feathers which are even more flame-resistant. When fire hits fur or feathers, it flares up and then goes out in a second or three, which isn't long or deep enough to cause severe skin damage. These scientific mechanisms now work against the hedgies and their friends because the bobcats and owls are ready to renew their attack, especially the ones who had been set on fire who are now angry.

Miranda glares hatefully at the predators while yelling, "You could've killed my nine-year-old son, you monsters!"

The attackers again remain silent, which makes their actions less predictable. But then, something works in the defenders' favor: when the predators inside the bomb shelter have regained consciousness. All those inside still have an in-command voice tone as they speak, indicating they can keep a clear head even when facing death itself—which again makes them incredibly dangerous.

Holly Thorn's voice: "Hey! You's cats and owls, GET US OUTTA HERE!"

Ted Sr.'s voice: "The place is burning and we've got no way out!"

Spike (loudly so that the ones inside can hear him as he addresses the bobcats and owls): "What's it gonna be: finish us off, or help your allies? You can't do both at the same time."

As he intended, Spike's voice is heard by the one's trapped inside. And thus begins another tired cliché: villains threatening their own allies.

Harry: "Don't you litter-box-smellin' cats and bird-brain owls DARE let us burn to death!"

Saul: "They're not even at full strength, and they sssssstill got the better of ussssss. They'll do the sssssssame to you too, ssssssso you NEED USSSSSS to defeat them all!"

The lead owl, Bubo/Bo speaks at last when he shouts to his compatriots inside, "They may attack us as we're trying to free you. We gotta deal with them first."

The lead bobcat, Lyn, shows her cunning when she leers at the hedgies and their friends while slyly saying, "And they have many injured who need tending, and need to run far away from here—which will take quite a while given their wounds and helping others walk—if they wish to escape our imminent reprisal when we free you from the bomb shelter."

Her mate, Rufus, intentionally copies Spike's tone from earlier while asking the prey animals, "So, what's it gonna be: finish us off, or help your allies? You can't do both at the same time."

Spike clenches his fists, as do many others in grim realization. It's a two-way standoff, and both sides know it. But with predators and prey needing to make every second count, the begrudging stalemate is silently declared when the hedgies' group runs off into the woods to get a head start in their escape, and the predators' group gets to work removing the flaming foliage from outside of the doors to free their trapped friends.

As the prey group moves as fast as their injured limbs can carry them, they mentally go over the revelation of all that has happened in the span of about 10 minutes.

Once again, there are predators really Heck-bent out to get them. But this time, they are just as smart, numerous, and strong as themselves.

---

The animals' help is closer than they expect.

The wolves have been busy teaching Sarl how to sleep comfortably in the woods—having him gather lots of leaves, pine straw, and grass to use as a makeshift dog bed until he can be weaned off of that and sleep on the ground itself—when Kale's nose detects something off.

Kale: "Hey, any'uv you's smell that?"

Given how close they are to the bomb shelter, even Roaster and Sarl can pick up on what Kale has sensed.

Sarl: "Yeah."

Boxer: "Smells like—"

All canines in unison: "Fire!"

Percie: "Comin' from da bomb shelter!"

There is no need for further explanation and all six rush to the bomb shelter, fearing that something terrible could already be happening to their family and friends. It takes them no more than a minute to arrive, and by that time the hedgies have already fled the scene, and the last of the predators inside are just now coming out of the building. Visually, a few have suffered minor burns, but their high pain tolerance enables them to feel no pain.

Holly Thorn's mate, Blackthorn—who has black fur on his dorsal side and dark brown fur on his ventral side—is the first to notice the new arrivals and gives a crooked smile while saying, "Well lookit who's shown up."

Vixy: "The guests of honor."

Bo's mate, Virginia, adds, "The ones who gave all predators like us so much trouble over the past 15 years that it forced us to flee our game preserve, these very woods."

Monty's 23-year-old son, Jagson, says, "Which is how we predators met each other and, under a common cause, united to form an alliance."

Harry's mate, Canis, continues, "That cause is to eliminate the Predator-Quellers and their family so that the natural order of Mother Nature is restored."

Ted Sr.: "You see, predators should dominate over prey, hunt them down, eat them, and keep their population in check."

Edith: "But in these woods, certain prey animals have flip-flopped the natural order by dominating over predators, largely thanks to the help of," (points at the Predator Quellers) "you wolves defying Mother Nature and helping them."

Clara makes a mouth gesture with her right forepaw and opens and closes it while saying, "Blah, blah..." She puts her paw down as she exposits, "Quit pretendin' you's doin' this to 'restore the balance of Nature.' You know dat's not the real reason."

Boxer: "You're really doin' dis for ya'selves. For vengeance, bein' sore losers, and a massive inferiority complex."

Bo shrugs and says, "Well, that ta-hoo-oo."

Roaster: "Please don't tell me you's do that every time you say 'to.' Not only is it as annoyin' as snakes emphasizing dare S's, but it lessens your threat level, makin' ya's a joke instead of a danger."

Sarl: "For real. Owls and snakes in cartoon shows for toddlers have more dignity."

Monty's mate, Cata, looks and points at Sarl while asking, "And who're you? Never seen you around here before."

Though intimidated by the large number of predators, Sarl remembers one of the lessons Roaster taught him and hides his fear by projecting a voice and stance of confidence and pride. "I'm Sarl. The Predator-Queller's newest pack member. And any enemy of them, or their friends and family, is my enemy too."

Percie: "Get ready, Sarl. Looks like your training has now become a real test."

Holly Thorn's and Blackthorn's oldest son, 26-year-old Briar, comes forth to say, "You smell like a mix of house dog n' wolf. You's a hybrid wolfdog, ain't you's?"

Sarl: "So what if I am? Don't try me. I'm no noobie."

Briar: "Liar...You're eyes are wandering and are full of unsureness. Dee eyes of a noob."

Edith: "We have no grudge with you. So, since you weren't in the Predator-Queller's pack when they drove us out and harmed our relatives, you can run away now and we'll let you live.

Ted Sr.: "But fight against us, and then you're our enemy too."

Saul's brother, Vipe, nods yes and says, "We won't hold back, you'll be given no mercsssssy."

Harry: "This is your only warning."

Vixy's cousin, Pine, adds, "Choose wisely."

Everyone's eyes are now on Sarl, even the Predator-Quellers who expect a certain answer from him.

Sarl: "I'm sorry...I can't stay with you."

Predator-Queller's in unison: "WHAT?!"

The aggressors chuckle and laugh—the snakes hissing steading of Ha-ha-ing—and relax as they watch the drama unfold; their current entertainment.

Percie (angry yet hartbroken tone): "You're abandoning us and me?! How could you, after all we've been through?!"

The other four good wolves empathize with Percie. They say one should expect the unexpected, but no one mentioned how painful that could be.

Sarl: "I'm sorry Percie…No matter how much you've all taught me today, or how much wolf blood is in me, us six against all of them is suicide. If you want to tackle those impossible odds, I don't think you're underestimating them; I don't think you're deluded with confidence; and I don't think you're crazy. I think you have a death wish. If it's this dangerous to live with you five, then count me out." (1)

Note: (1)=Based on the videogame Enter the Matrix. Copyright by Warner Bros.

Roaster: "So I just wasted all morning trainin' you's, just for ya ta ditch us?! That's hours of my life I felt like I was truly accomplishing something bigger than me, and now it's for nothing!"

Sarl: "I'm too domesticated. I can't even sleep on grass, much less help you fight off all these predators at the top of the food chain."

Clara walks over to Sarl aggressively, making the wolfdog back up in fear as she says, "You broke my daughter's heart! What's ta stop me from breakin' you in half!?"

Kale: "Let 'im go, Clara." (Looks at Sarl) "I knew he wasn't cut out ta be a real wolf. From the moment I laid eyes on him, I saw a coward, a weakling. Go on, Sarl. Run away. Head back to a human's home where you can watch those Balto movies. That's where you belong: in the clean, controlled, shine of the human world. We belong in the dirt, grit, and danger of the wild."

Boxer: "I see what you mean, papá. He'd probably make us lose dis fight since we'd have to focus on keeping him safe while also attacking those clowns." (Points at predators whose smiles turn into scowls) "He's the weak-link, and one weak-link can get us killed."

Clara: "Get lost, Sarl. NOW! Before I change my mind about Kale letting you go."

After giving a guilt-ridden look at Percie, Sarl turns around and runs off with his head hanging in shame and tail literally between his legs. Percie wants to go smack him upside the head, or at the very least cuss him out, but saves that energy for the fight that's about to happen. Remembering a lesson Kale had taught her, she turns her sorrow into hate which she will need to use against the real enemies.

Harry and Canis's oldest child, their daughter Latresa, does a sarcastic yawn and says, "Now that you're done with that teenage rom-com drama, let's address how you said we were a bunch of clowns."

Boxer (sarcastic): "Yeah...So inappropriate and rude..." (Turns his head toward Roaster and rhetorically asks) "Wha'do'ya say, Roaster?"

Roaster: "You's were so wrong ta call 'em 'clowns, big bro...Dey's mainly cowards." Expecting sass, Roaster sasses back with, "You's know I'm right. You're just ganging up on us 'cuz you know you's too weak to defeat us alone."

Clara cranes her head toward Roaster as she starts walking in front of her family while she says, "So true, son. So. Very. True." She now stops and looks and points at their opponents. "But even so, just lookit how many of us are going up against them: it's 5 against 49. Now dis is just plain unfair. Dee odds're so uneven..." She turns fully around to face her family and sharply yell, "Scram!"

Kale and the three kids nod, then run away, leaving Clara all alone, but with a devious smile and confident look in her eyes as she snidely says, "Okay, now the odds are even."

The predators gape their mouths open wide while scrunching their faces to give confused looks. Then they burst out laughing. They laugh so hard that their eyes are closed and they have to hold their guts.

They don't realize their mistake until Clara has dashed up to Ted Sr., gripes his leg in her mouth, and swings him like a baseball bat into the others, knocking them on the ground. There is brief pause as their minds and bodies have to catch up to what has just happened, during which time Clara smirks and muses, " 'Bring a knife to a gun fight—stab them while their laughing!' "

The first to recover are Holly Thorn, Monty, and Harry who rush at Clara's front. She grabs the wolf's and coyote's forepaws into her own, while catching the puma's in her teeth. Having gauged each animals' abnormal strength, Clara raises an eyebrow and nonchalantly says through her teeth, "Hm. A true challengsh at lasht."

Though the three are indeed tougher than the average wolf, coyote, and puma, Clara is slightly stronger. Still holding all three animals' forepaws, Clara jumps in the air while spinning, making the three topple over each other. No one's ankles are broken as Clara had intended, but doubtless, their confidence in their strength has been put into question.

From behind, all five bobcats leap onto Clara's back where they bite and claw her vigorously. From Clara's front, Vixy's kids, Cassie and Andy are rushing toward her, barring their teeth as they prepare to bite. Still enduring the pain of the bobcats, Clara gets on her hind legs and jumps in the air, kicking Cassie with her right hindfoot and hitting Andy with her left as if Clara was a female Bruce Lee in wolf form. She had also jumped in a way that makes her fall backwards, slamming the bobcats into the ground. The snakes have gathered around her and strike without hesitation, because all they need is one venomous bite to finish the wolfess off. Knowing this, Clara does a kick up/kip-up that makes her go from lying on her back to standing on her four legs again. The snakes miss her, and gasp as they almost bit their own allies.

Clara grabs the first snake she can and gets a hold of Kissie's cousin Don, holding him by the neck so that he can't whip around and bite her. Approaching her with a raised claw is Edith, who realizes too late that Clara is using Don as a weapon. Clara digs her sharp claws into the back of Don's head to make him open his mouth to yelp, then forces the snake to bite Edith in the middle and ring digits on her massive paw. Simultaneously, Clara also uses her knowledge of snake anatomy and her strength to squeeze Don's face right where his venom glands are, forcing him to empty his whole venom supply in one second.

Eidth yanks her bitten paw free and does something drastic to ensure the snake's venom won't kill her: she bites her middle and ring fingers clean off. Her desperate self-mutilation saves her life, but has now left her handicapped. While standing still to roar in pain with her head reared up, she unknowingly puts herself directly in the path of Bush-Whackers Agave, Rose Stem, and Yucca who had been gunning for Clara. The wolves run into the bear and their attack is ruined.

Meanwhile, Clara has been using Don as a whip to fend off the coyotes Daniel, Bob, and Ashley. She then hears the pumas and snakes approaching her from her left and right sides and is about to dash forward, when searing pain engulfs her body from her back. The owls Bo, Virginia, and their adult kids Stare-Ra, Air Tiger/AT, and Strix then lift her up into the air, carrying her higher and higher.

Every time Clara struggles to shake them off is answered with a tightened grip, and after just two seconds, Clara gives up. A normal owl's maximum grip strength is 500 psi, but this owl family is stronger, and has a grip of 800 psi. Clara feels their talons digging through fur, skin, and muscle. But their plan isn't to squeeze her to death, but to drop her from a high height. They chose the perfect spot to drop her: right into the flaming bomb shelter. That way, if Clara somehow survives the fall, she will be too crippled to escape the blazing building.

Killed by her own downtime spot. Now that is an irony these owls will certainly relish.

The owls don't ask for any last request, don't make any witty one-liners, and don't gloat when they let Clara go. They simply drop her once they reach the maximum height, and flap in place to get a literal bird's-eye view.

Clara knows she is doomed. Nothing, not even she, can survive a fall from this height. All she can do is wait, and feel the heat getting hotter the closer to the bomb shelter she gets. But ever tenacious and proud, she accepts her fate without fear. Her only regrets are letting her guard down, not having her family help fight this group of predators, and not living long enough to see her kids grow to live happy and fulfilling lives.

The flames are now so close and so intense that even her high pain tolerance isn't working. Even worse, her ears pick up the cheering of the onlookers; meaning their annoying, snarky gloats will be the last thing she hears. She is about to yell the most vulgar swear word phrase in the book to spoil the taste of victory they are feeling, when the wind is knocked out of her as something collides with her body. It slows down her descent and steers her falling body so that she lands on a mattress inside the bomb shelter, along with the two who had saved her.

Kale: "You's not dyin' yet, Mi tamal caliente."

Percie: "You's okay, mom?"

Clara: "How'd you's do it?"

Kale: "My husband's instinct told me you was in trouble, so Percie y yo headed back here."

Percie: "We saw dose owls carryin' you's up, timed our runnin', and leapt off the boulder overlookin' dis shelter."

Clara: "I'll thank you's later. Right now, we's gotta get outta dis burnin' building!"

Clara is not kidding in the slightest. With the exception of the mattress and a few patches of dirt without grass, the inside is a flaming inferno that's already hurting all three wolves. All three also noticed when they arrived at the shelter that the main doors are blocked off by more flames from the outside.

Thankfully, like the log at their main home, the wolves had prepared for a situation such as this where they are trapped inside with no way out.

Kale says, "Emergency exit!" while pointing at a certain part of the ground that is a wooden trapdoor that goes to a secret underground tunnel they had dug. The three also mentally note that it's accessible by jumping from one fire-free dirt patch at a time.

Percie puts it best when she says, "Forget 'the floor is hot lava.' Dis is gonna be a game'uv 'One toe outside the safe zone, and you die.' "

Clara: "My back's all messed up...I can barely stand, much less jump..."

Percie: "Ningún problema, mom—no problem. I'll be ya's legs."

Kale: "I'll got first to open the trap door."

Percie crawls under Clara and lets her mom lie on her back. Having inherited Clara's super strength, Percie has no trouble jumping from one safe spot to another. By the time they get to the trapdoor, Kale has already gone into the secret tunnel. The cold underground does wonders for the wolves' fur and skin beneath. Miraculously, they have only suffered minor burns that their adrenaline prevents them from feeling at all.

Not so easy to ignore is Clara's seething groans from the owl talon wounds on her back.

Percie (worried): "Mom?"

Clara: "Be careful when we get back above ground. All these predators have super strength and resilience like you and me, Percie. As well as your intelligence, Kale. Every single one."

Kale: "And now that you're in no condition to fight, iz not gonna be easy to defeat 'em. Don't worry. I have a plan. Remember dose 'personal raids' we did five years ago? Boxer and Roaster should be usin' what we obtained any moment—"

From above, there is a light Whoosh!—the sound of something sharp literally cutting through the air—and then two screams come from the predators.

Kale: "—Now."

Clara smiles and says through her pain-strained voice, "Dose knives..." After hearing the sound of more knives thrown and more injured predators scream, all the pain in Clara's back suddenly stops bothering her and she energetically adds, "Don't keep me waitin'! Move faster! I gotta see dis!"

Kale: "We also need ta join Boxer and Roaster. They can't win without our help...But when we get to the end of dis tunnel, you's gonna have to stay outta sight."

Percie: "You can't fight with those injuries."

Clara (sighs): "Yeah, I know...I'm too vulnerable..." (Stern and with fire in her eyes) "For now."

Kale: "Heh-heh, dat's my Clara. Always ready for the next fight."

Percie: "Don't worry, mom. We'll hit 'em extra hard ta make up for your absence."

Kale: "Quiet. We's here."

What seems to be a dead end is actually a torn-off piece of tree trunk bark that opens like the secret door it is. On the outside, it's covered with ivy and moss; its true existence as a door invisible except to the sharpest of eyes—

—One of which belongs to three cottonmouths who are in the open doorway. Most of their bodies are on the ground, but their heads are raised yet reclined, and their tails near their mouths to waves forward and backward as they give out fake yawns.

The three snakes are in a row with one on the right, one in the center, and another on the left. The middle one rhetorically asks, "What took you sssssso long?"

Clara immediately recognizes her claw marks on the middle snake's cheek area, and says, "Kale! The middle one's out of venom!"

The two flanking Don strike, but Kale picks up the bark door and puts it in his way so that the cottonmouth's fangs hit wood instead of flesh. Even better, the reptiles' speed that enables them to strike at over six feet in less than one second works against them, because now their fangs are stuck. Holding the part of the bark that isn't occupied with snake fangs, Kale pushes out of the tunnel like a battering ram, then slams the door on flat on the ground. He can't tell if the foul stench that happens is the snakes' natural defense musk, or if they're dead, but doesn't wait to find out. He runs to go join his sons, while Percie stomps hard on the bark door. The wet Crack! makes it obvious that the two snakes, despite their own resilience, will not get back up.

Percie sees Don slithering away as fast as his body can move, and is about to give chase until Clara—knowing her daughter will try just that—says, "Let 'im go. Without its venom, a cottonmouth is just a belt. Go help your dad and brothers."

Percie does as she's told. She runs forward, turns right to go up a hill, and is back at the area where the bomb shelter is located. She sees that one puma and one coyote are dead (from Boxer's and Roaster's initial attack), while two wolves are injured from her brothers' attacks that had used knives tied to sticks using vines to create makeshift spears. Said spears are gripped in their mouths and are fighting off the predators that are still alive and well.

Just before Percie can choose an animal to attack, Stare-Ra the owl locks eyes with her and shouts, "There's the other one!"

Percie: "Way ta spoil da surprise, party pooper!"

Like usual, the owls don't speak and simply swoop down toward Percie. She judges where they will likely target, and is ready to counter attack—until a scream from Kale and Roaster makes her instinctively look over to them.

While Kale had been fighting Godmother Holly Thorn, and Roaster fighting Vul the fox, Boxer had been guarding them from attacks from behind. Kale's oldest son had anticipated Ted Sr. to swipe at him with his claws, but the ursine instead kicked Boxer in the chin which sent him flying upward like an uppercut. Too focused on fighting Holly Thorn and Vul, Kale and Roaster were each clawed hard by both of Ted's massive paws.

Kale and Roaster fall to the ground, huge claw marks now streaking down their backs, and struggle to get up. Percie only sees the last two of those events, and is punished for her distraction by getting grabbed by the owls.

Ironically, Percie has inherited Clara's super strength, but not her mother's super resilience—Boxer has the latter. This means the instant the talons go tight around her shoulders, hind legs, and back, the pain is excruciating to Percie.

In addition to Kale's and Roaster's injuries, Boxer has landed on his back and his belly is being clawed and bitten by the bobcats.

Percie lets out a scream of pain—both from her physical injuries and the emotional anguish that she, her father, and brothers are about to die. If that wasn't bad enough, Harry the coyote exposits, "There's a reason none of us broke away to chase your measly prey family...Because another predator group is ambushing them as we speak. So you can die knowing that all your valiant efforts to fight us were for nothing."

The predators are about to go for killing blows when a series of gunshots (of all things) pierces the air. Bo the owl is hit in the waist, and his youngest child Strix is hit in the right leg, causing them to let go of Percie. The other three owls do the same, frightened off by the loud sounds like all birds would be.

More gunshots crack, and Ted Sr. is hit in the chest, Rob the bobcat is hit in the left fore-shoulder, Bush-Whacker Cacty is hit in the right hind leg, and Daniel the coyote is hit in the torso.

The sound of a clip ejecting, then a new one being cocked is followed by the shooter shouting, "I've got plenty more ammo!"

Percie's, Boxer's, Kale's and Roaster's hearts and spirits shoot up higher than the moon when they recognize the voice of Sarl.

Holly Thorn shouts, "Retreat! Everyone scatter!"

She barely avoids getting shot in the head—the bullet missing her by eight inches—but doesn't stay still, even when she passes the injured Cacty.

Holly Thorn: "Grab on!"

Cacty bites her godmother's left ankle and holds on while Holly Thorn drags her fellow pack member forward, the leader of the wolves using her super strength and pain resilience to power through and drag Cacty to safety without slowing down. The other injured predators do the same, which unfortunately allows them to avoid any more bullets fired their way.

Once the predators have vacated the area, Sarl comes out from the tree line holding an AR-15 assault rifle in his mouth by the gun's carrying handle. The AR-15 is basically a civilian, semi-auto version of an M4 with the same punch and customizable options; the three on this particular model are a laser sight, vertical foregrip, and bayonet. This AR-15 was in the bag Kale had stolen from a police cruiser during yesterday's pharmacy raid, and was one of the trainings that the full-blooded wolves had done with Sarl this morning in which they showed the wolfdog where it was and how to wield it.

Sarl: "Y'all don't look so good. Need help moving?"

Boxer: "You came back, man!"

Sarl: "You didn't think I'd really run off like a coward and abandon you all, did you? I was lying to you and those jerks the whole time."

Roaster: "You deserve an Oscar, 'cuz you sure fooled us!"

Percie: "But why'd you do it?"

Sarl: " 'You must deceive your allies in order to deceive your enemies.' It's an old saying coined by the Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu. I saw it in TV documentary on the History Channel while living with my ex-owner."

Kale: "But I wasn't fooled, Sarl."

The triplets and wolfdog turn their heads at Kale and look and listen closely as the father wolf explains to Sarl, "When it comes to lying and tricking, I was once the king of that. I saw the look in your eyes while you spoke and just played along. That way, you could be our ace in the hole."

Boxer: "And that was some 'Nice shooting, Tex.' Seriously, you saved our lives!"

Percie: "Where'd you learn to do that?"

Sarl: "My owner's son was obsessed with war video games as a teen. One of his Christmas presents was a gun-shaped videogame controller for his console. I watched how he used it, then practiced when I was home by myself while the kids went to school and my owner was at work."

Kale walks up to Sarl, puts a paw on his shoulder, and reassuringly says, "Forgive me for thinking you didn't have it in you to be a real wolf of the wild just because you grew up with humans."

Sarl: "Weren't you playing along with my lie when you said that?"

Kale: "No, I meant it. I needed to add truth to my insult in order to better convince those fools. I was so wrong to even think that. Your time with humans has not made you weaker, it's only made you a better wolf in the wild. And anyone who says otherwise can go to Heck! Gimme a howl is you's agree!"

All five wolves howl, and are joined by a nearby howl coming from Clara's direction. Clara clears any ambiguity by saying, "Wolves've got great hearing. I heard the whole thing. Welcome to the wild, Sarl, you're true home!—Ack! Deese friggin' wounds! Is dis what it felt like when I gave you dat scar, Roaster?"

Roaster: "Not even close, mom. You's're way stronger."

Clara: "Awww, you're too kind..."

Sarl: "Seriously, you all need some big-time medical treatment. I can leave the gun with you and go search for your family."

Kale: "One, it's 'our' family. You's a part of it. And two, we's too beat to use dat gun."

Percie: "We's too tired ta walk too. Gah! Owl talons are now my most hated thing of all time. Bear claws are second, snake bites are third."

Boxer decides the time for jokes has passed and gives his next advice plain and simple to the wolfdog. "Sarl, it's time to 'Play Balto' again. Chisel and rip off a tree trunk big enough to carry us five, den find some strong vines to make a homemade dogsled. Finally, use ya's hybrid strength of a dog and wolf ta pull us wherever our familia is."

Sarl: "All five at once?! I can't possibly—"

Roaster: "You have to! No excuses! Our lives're counting on you!"

Percie: "You can do it, Sarl."

Sarl looks from his crush's eyes to her clawed back and confirms that they have 20 minutes at most without proper stiches. And any hesitation will waste precious time. So he gets to work.

Thankfully, the AR-15's bayonet makes cutting tree bark easy, and the four wolves in the main area make the painful transition from where they are sitting to laying on top of the tree bark. But not so easy is trying to tie knots with vines, which Sarl has zero experience with. After two minutes of failing, he decides to give up and announces his plan with, "Screw the vines. I'm gonna bite down on the bark and pull you the old-fashioned way."

Kale, Boxer, Percie, and Roaster in unison: "Sí."

Sarl already feels tired by the time he reaches Clara. But with her added weight, Sarl has to strain his muscles to move all five. His neck feels ready to snap, his legs feel like they're pulling out of their sockets, and his nails feel like they're about to break off. However, he pushes his body to the limit, seeing just how much muscle pain he can take. He follows the scents of the other hedgies and hopes they somehow have fought off the other group of predators and are coming back to his direction to check the results of the battle.

---

Since fleeing the bomb shelter, the hedgies and their friends have been using all their senses to follow a direction, help move their injured, and find either other family members or the first prey animal who can help.

And thanks to Lyra's raccoon intellect, the group is also extra wary of any more surprises, since she had noted, "Why hasn't anyone tried to chase us? If they're as strong as Clara, then only two would be needed to overpower her..."

As literal as the phrase can get, they're not out of the woods yet. They keep moving and keep watching their surroundings, not even risking diverting their eyes to their cell phones to call for help. They travel for three minutes when Lou grunts, "I've got to stop. I've got to stop!"

The animals gently lay him and the other injured ones down to finally tend their needs. The kids who were hurt just need band aids, while Gerald, Jude, Leslie, Beverly, and Elan require stitches. But Lou and Christopher are a whole different matter, and each knows how serious it is when even the ones here with the best medical knowledge look worried.

Lou: "Will it need to be amputated? And don't beat around the bush, tell me the truth."

Miranda: "If an artery or vein has been hit, or if an infection happens, yes. But I can't tell if that's the case. Until then, you and Christopher need a tourniquet to stop the bleeding."

She and Lyra reach in their purses to find what they need to help the porcupine and mink. Just when their fingers grip some thin cloth, someone shouts, "Look out! Duck!"

Miranda and Lyra are too late—the attack too fast—and find themselves painfully gripped in the talons of a red-tailed hawk. Four others of its kind also swoop in and attack those trying to help the injured. When that happens, seven ravens fly in to attack the now unprotected wounded hedgies and friends with their beaks. The injured animals fight back with their claws and teeth, but like the other predators today, these ravens (and hawks) are unnaturally strong and resilient.

And, as heinous and low as it is, they are very smart to attack the medics first, then go after the wounded. But these birds aren't the only ones capable of dastardly tactics. Seeing that hitting the ravens in the head or face isn't enough, the wounded and less-injured animals now aim their claws and teeth at the ravens' eyes. Eyes are one of the weakest spots on the body, and there's no way to make them physically more resistant to pain. Even when the ravens jam their eyes shut, it still hurts to be jabbed in them.

As for the medics being carried away by hawks, the former have syringes full of disinfectant they were about to administer to the injured, and now use those to stab the hawks before the latter can cause more damage. Miranda and Lyra pull out some medical scissors they were going to use to cut cloth to make a tourniquet, and stab them upward in between the male hawk's legs. But they only hit air since the hawk had noticed what they were doing and lets them go before they hit him. The medics fall from a non-lethal height, but not on their legs, so they are temporarily paralyzed from the pain.

To prevent a follow-up strike from the birds, Max and Scott get out their makeshift flamethrowers and shoot two fire streams at the hawks. The raptors fly away to avoid the flames, but do not retreat. Meanwhile, the hedgies' strength in numbers has turned the tide against the ravens who are now the ones pinned on the ground being pummeled in the center of the hedgies—until, with a stretch of their large wings using their abnormal strength, they fling the animals off them. Camille falls onto Max and George fall on Scott, making the raccoons lose their grip on their lighters and perfume cans. With the primary threat no more, and their targets helpless once again, the hawks come swooping back in to finish the job.

Their focus is interrupted for a micro second when they feel a stream of liquid hit their head and backs. Thinking nothing of it, the hawks continue unabated—until the sizzling of their feathers and flesh beneath completely breaks their concentration. They have been hit with sulfuric acid!

Their high pain tolerance lets them ignore most of the pain, but not all of it, and what does get through to their bodies' pain receptors hurts like nothing they've ever experienced. They veer off course but do not crash-land or run into anything.

While this has been going on, two small water balloons full of thermometer mercury hit and burst on the seven ravens who are still huddled together. The "liquid silver" mercury is not toxic to the skin/feathers, or even when ingested. The fumes they emit, however, are toxic. The ravens cough, have trouble breathing, experience chest pain, sore throats, headaches, and three start to vomit.

Before the hawks can get back on their feet, the Blam! of a shotgun is heard, and a chunk of a tree near the lead hawk—a female named Bu—is torn off from the blast.

Bu: "Humans with guns! Everyone, fly away!"

The lead raven, a male named Vus says, "Our Bush-Whacker bosses ain't gonna be happy..." before letting out more coughs. But he and his kin don't stay put, and take to the air.

One of them, a 21-year-old named Poe is suddenly jumped on by the animal who has saved the hedgies: Elroy. The possum's weight would normally be easy to shake off for this strong raven, but with the mercury fumes still causing havoc for Poe's body, the bird is forced to the ground. Elroy had held his breath, and doesn't breathe in the vapors emanating from the raven. But wanting to avoid that when he (and the others) take in their next breath, Elroy takes out a small 4 oz water bottle filled with freshwater algae containing chlorella mixed with garlic—two substances that cancel out mercury—and bastes it on the bird.

Knowing from past experiences that ravens are the smartest bird of all—and having seen that this raven has super strength—Elroy pulls out one of his two weedkiller spray nozzles wired to sulfuric acid stored in an 8 oz water bottle on his back like a backpack. "See this?" the possum sprays next to the raven's pinned down face. The ground sizzles and pops as a corrosive fume now fills the bird's nostrils. "If I feel just a tickle of your feathers moving to throw me off of you, I spray this in your eyes...And to show you I'm not bluffing—"

Poe feels liquid hit a small section of his left wing, then the acids melts through the feathers and reaches the skin. He screams out, "Okay! OKAY! AAAAAHHHH!"

Quillo: "What're you waiting, for Elory? DO IT!"

Ike: "Yeah! He attacked Grandpa Lou!"

Annie: "While Grandpa was already in pain and suffering!"

Elroy: "We need to learn more about who attacked y'all today and why. So, this bird is our POW. Don't worry, I'll lead the interrogation, and hold nothing back. He'll crack like an egg on a hot Summer day."

Marilyn: "Well thank Mother Nature you came by..."

Christine: "We owe you our lives, Elroy."

Elroy: "As lousy as they were, my parents at least taught me how to fight well. And in the case of the shotgun sound, I just imitated that, and threw a sharp rock against a weakened section of tree bark. That kind of thing I taught myself.

"But it's a good thing I was coming back from my errand to get more weapons for my bandolier." (Pats said contraption that he is wearing) "Now let's go somewhere away from the other mercury fumes and heal up."

Elroy had once again lied about his true errand, but everyone believes him. Not to mention they are too relieved to still be alive, and too tired to question him. Then, a pained grunt makes everyone look in the direction it came from where they see Sarl. No injuries can be seen, but his body posture gives the look of him feeling more dead than alive. His legs feel like toothpicks ready to break in half, his back is aching like a subway train at rush hour has repeatedly traveled over it, and his jaws feel like they could snap off his body.

Sarl uses his remaining strength to say, "Speaking of heal up—Verflixt, ihr seid alle so schwer! Darn, you are all so heavy!—these five behind me need stitches, pronto!" Sarl collapses to his knees in exhaustion, and says, "I'll be taking a nap." Then, his whole body drops to the ground like a ton of bricks.

Kale: "Someone take da gun. Use it ta fend off anyone else who isn't a friendly."

After giving the AR-15 to Ike, Drake, Annie, and Ronny—whose FPS video game knowledge makes them the best at figuring out how it works—the hedgies and their friends are finally able to patch each other up properly. They can't go anywhere right now, not in the condition they are in, but they are well armed and can recuperate in peace.

Elroy then makes a phone call to Mary to tell her what has happened and where they currently are. After a brief pause of him listening to what she says on the other line, he hangs up, faces the others, nods, and tells them, "She says she and the rest with her are on their way. We'll think of a plan when they get here."

The listeners nod and lay down to rest.

The day is saved and the battle is won, but only by the skin of their teeth. And the war is just starting.

---

You want to know something funny? I actually didn't intend to have this much action at this point in my story, but as I kept writing, I just found a way to incorporate it! Hope you enjoyed the ride, but be prepared for more emotional drama and fights.

It's gonna be a bumpy ride!