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?

13. Moving Things In and Taking Things Out

Chapter 13: Moving Things In and Taking Things Out

Lizzy and her siblings are still angry. Taking out their rage on their parents had only made them feel satisfied for a few fleeting moments. As they traveled, the girls have done some cartwheels and front- or back handsprings, while the boys broke some sticks and threw them, but nothing seems to work at getting their troubled minds off their parents' secret. They stayed quiet as their minds muse over things in frustration.

Gary decides to break the awkward silence by verbally reminding his siblings, "At least the rest of our family took our side instead of mom's and dad's."

R3 nods yes and adds, "For real. If they didn't, I'd rule them as too soft."

Sare: "Can we stop talking about that, already?!"

R3: "I'm just agreeing with what Gary said. It's the only upside of what's happened today so far. But if you want to change the subject, then by all means."

Sare: "Where are we going, Lizzy?"

Lizzy: "To Mallory's home. I need to hang out with my best friend. Maybe that'll make me feel better."

Gary: "And how does that help the rest of us?"

Lizzy: "You don't have to come if you don't want to."

Lauren: "We'll stay with you. The only ones we can trust from now on, are ourselves."

The Quad Squad nods in agreement and soon arrive at their destination. Mallory and her parents Mackenzie and Mitchell live in a den found in a tree that had fallen over, but they are currently climbing out the broken part of the tree with grubs in their paws. All three look just like raccoons—as in their fur color, masks, and ring tails resemble what one would find if s/he either Google Imaged or looked at a raccoon in an animal encyclopedia. But Mallory stands out from most raccoons by being very tall and possessing a bulkier physique for a girl her age; hence why Lizzy nicknamed her "Big Mal." The only thing bigger than Mallory's body is her heart. Nothing can get her down, and the positive energy she gives off is contagious. She is also the "queen of extroverts" who gets to know everyone within two minutes of being around them, while those around her get to know just how sociable, likeable, and personable Mallory is in the same amount of time. In short, Mallory is the ultimate cynicism-buster, and after remembering all of this, the other raccoon siblings are glad Lizzy has led them to her home.

Lizzy already feels better at the mere sight of her best friend (and secret lover), and excitedly shouts in greeting, "Hey, Big Mal!" Mallory looks over in Lizzy's direction as the latter continues, "Sorry for the unexpected visit, but my siblings and I have had a really bad day and we were hoping we could hang out with you for a little bit."

Any of the awkwardness the siblings feel for showing up uninvited will soon be erased as they know Mallory is such a caring and empathetic girl, that she will welcome them with opens arms.

That's what makes what comes out of her mouth next so unbelievable.

With a cynical and bitter tone, and spiteful eyes aimed at Lizzy, Mallory—sweet, good-natured, understanding Mallory—says, "And why would I want to hang out with a gayfer like you?"

The siblings give a dumbfounded "What?" in unison.

Was this a dream? Did Mallory just insult her longtime best friend? And did she just call Lizzy gay, as in homosexual?

Mallory: "You all heard me. Your biggest sister is gay. She's romantically attracted to females."

Lizzy draws some distressed eyes from her own siblings when she stammers out, "H-how? Did y-y-ou. Find...Out...?"

R3 gapes his mouth and shouts in an aghast tone, "It's true?!"

Sare is sickened and steps away from Lizzy while saying, "Ew! Gross!"

Mallory: "Yes, it is true and gross. A hawk flew by here and told me."

Mallory's parents are just as on-board with her daughter, as Mackenzie exposits, "We thought he was going to attack us, but said he meant no harm and told us three why our daughter's best friend really liked being around her."

Mitchell nods and says, "And talk about conniving and low." He points aggressively at Lizzy and talks in scornful rhetoric while saying, "You befriend our daughter—play with her, talk to her, and treat her like a big sister—just to make her become gay like you?!"

Normally Lizzy would put up a better fight, but after expending all her anger on her parents, and hoping to win back Mallory's friendship, she still sounds assured of herself, but can't stop the tears from falling. This makes Lizzy look desperate and weak as she first makes eye contact with Mitchell to say, "No! That's a lie!" She now looks at Mallory to explain, "I did not become your best friend to make you gay, too! I became your best friend because of how you're such of a great raccoon to be around all the time. You're like the big sister I never had, and I know you see me as the little sister that you never had."

Mallory: "Wrong tense. You were like the little sister I never had, and I used to be like the big sister you never had. But now, after hearing from the hawk, and from you, that you're gay, we're not best friends anymore. And I never want to see you again."

Lizzy: "So you hate me now just because I'm gay?"

Mallory (matter-of-factly): "Yes." (Full of revulsion) "What kind of sick, twisted, disgusting person decides they're in love with the same gender as themselves?"

Mackenzie: "It's abnormal, unnatural, and just plain wrong. Just like your freak-cousins who are raccoon-opossum hybrids. But even they are straight, so you're a bigger freak than them."

Mitchell: "That's because Nature intended all creatures to fall in love, marry, and have children with those of the opposite sex—not the same sex. A male-male or female-female marriage can't produce children. And as bad of an image that it will put in our heads, the thought of two females or two males kissing, cuddling, and being intimate with each other is the stuff of nightmares."

Mallory: "It's disgusting and gross, and should be punishable by death!"

Lizzy: "So you're saying that you'd prefer it if I was dead?!"

Mallory: "No, but it would be best if all the gays were sent away to their own continent where they could be their yucky selves. Like Antarctica: the continent that no one care about. Sure, it's the coldest place on the planet with temperatures that will kill anything not indigenous there." (Mocking tone) "But hey, the gays could just snuggle up together to keep each other warm—Bleh!"

Lizzy: "I can't believe you're acting like this toward me, Mallory! All the good times we've had, all the time we spent together—"

Mallory: "—Were me wasting the best years of my life so far, on a homo! Get out of here and never come back, gay-gal!"

Mackenzie: "And just to be sure you take our daughter's advice and move to Antarctica, we're gonna spread word throughout the whole forest about your filthy little secret. There won't be a single animal who won't know you're gay."

Mitchell: "And your family will be seen just as abysmal as you for tolerating your gayness."

Lizzy's sorrow is now replaced with anger at her so-called best friend, and friend's parents. No more tears come from her eyes, only a fiery glare as she yells back, "If that's the case, then I'm never seeing you again either, you backwoods, outdated, close-minded, homophobic bigots! Wanting to rid the whole world of homosexuals is exactly what that evil Hitler guy wanted to do. That makes you, and anyone else who hates gays, just as bad as him!"

Mallory: "Spare me. Hitler was a human, and it was humans who invented homosexuality. They'll always be the exception to the law of how Mother Nature intended this planet to work. But as an animal, it should be hardwired into your female genes to love a male. Because you aren't attracted to males, you really are a freak."

Lizzy: "And you really are a two-faced, back-stabbing, heart-breaking, terrible raccoon. It's animals like you who should be banished to Antarctica and freeze to death. That way, the coldness of your outside would almost match the coldness of your inside! Just almost."

Lizzy turns around and shoves past her siblings as she stomps off feeling worse than she ever has in all of her life. They pursue and try to reason with her.

Lauren, still the most innocent of the siblings, politely reminds her oldest sister, "You forgot to say 'Excuse' or 'pardon me,' before coming through us, Lizzy."

Lizzy (low and warning tone): "Don't..."

Gary is the most offended with Lizzy's "true feelings," since he had always looked up to her more than his other siblings. He makes his attitude clear by rhetorically asking her, "So, when were you gonna tell us that you were gay?" in the same way an interrogating cop wanting a condemning confession to be made asks a suspect.

Lizzy (through clenched teeth): "Not now, Gary. I'm in no mood."

Sensing her sister's anger, Sare decides to hold her own homophobia for later and attempts to diffuse the situation by saying, "Just for the record, none of us knew until just now. So you can't blame us for telling the hawk your secret."

Despite Sare's intentions, this turns out to be the last straw. Lizzy stops and turns around to angrily yell, "Fine! You wanna keep bothering me, then how's about this?! Why didn't any of you try to defend me from those three, like true brothers and sisters should do?!"

The other four look at each other with nervous expressions, silently select R3 as their spokesman, then look back at Lizzy.

R3: "Because, they...Had a point about how gay folks are just wrong."

Lizzy: "So you think that I—your own oldest sister—am a freak? That I'm a crime against Nature?! That I deserve to be shipped to Antarctica with all the other gay animals and left to die?!"

R3: "No...But we still think it's gross."

Lizzy's right paw grips hard into a fist.

Sare: "And abnormal."

Lizzy's left paw grips into a hard fist.

Lauren: "And weird."

Lizzy grits her teeth so hard she starts to taste blood from where her canines slightly pierce the inside of her lips.

Blinded by his prejudice against homosexuals, and feeling betrayed by his ex-role model, Gary doesn't notice the signs Lizzy is giving and doesn't take a hint. He accusingly points his finger at her and says, "And thanks to you, we'll all become outcasts of these woods. We might lose all the friends who aren't holed up with us right now, and it's your fault!"

Before Gary knows it, he is struck hard in the face by Lizzy's fist. He falls to the ground, still processing what has just happened, and that's when the nasty stuff really begins. All the hatred, humiliation, and betrayal that has happened to Lizzy—by her own family members and ex-best friend—ever since she woke up today has turned her into a vicious, mindless animal. She is now driven by only two forces: anger and revenge. And she unleashes her raw, unfettered ferocity on her youngest brother.

It is not a fist-fight; she bites, claws, and slashes with all her strength. In her animalistic rage she doesn't hear her siblings screaming at her to stop—even when they correctly note that she is killing her own brother. She doesn't see Gary trying to pathetically protect his face and body from her blows—which are all useless attempts. She also doesn't feel the multiple grips on her body when the other three pull her away from Gary. Still blood drunk, she bites off half the ear of the one who is closest to her.

The horrifying high-pitched scream of agony, along with the identity of the one she just mutilated being shouted, finally brings Lizzy out of her monstrous state.

"Lauren!" cry R3 and Sare.

Lizzy becomes herself again, but after glancing at her screaming littlest sister, and her groaning youngest brother, she doubts she'll ever be able to look at her reflection again.

Lauren—sweet, innocent, kind, and argument-ender Lauren—is screaming at the top of her lungs while holding her bleeding ear, and kicking and flailing on the ground as if in a death throe. Gary looks even worse with deep cuts and bite marks all over his face, arms, and chest. Worst of all, he isn't moving.

Lizzy thinking: "Which means he might be...!"

Sare is next to Lauren and R3 gets next to Gary, each one speaking in panic.

Sare: "Wha'do we do?! WHA'DO WE DOOOO-OOOO?!"

Forgetting his own anger, R3's instincts have him say the only thing any frightened, desperate child can say, "Call mom and dad on our phones! Tell 'em they better get here NOW, or Gary will die!"

Sare nods and starts to dial the number, but noticing Lizzy approach with paws reaching out, makes Sare yell in a spitting tone, "DON'T YOU COME NEAR LAUREN OR ME!"

Lizzy: "I-I-I wanted to say I'm SO SORRY! I got so angry I just lost it! Lauren, please forgive me!"

Lauren turns her head and curls into a fetal position and shouts, "STAY AWAY FROM MEEEEE!"

Sare uses her phone to make her smacking Lizzy away more impactful. She then dials her parents' number in a hurry.

R3: "Just hang in there Gary! Do NOT give up!"

Gary: "How...bad am I...?"

R3: "You're really messed up, but as long as mom and dad get here fast—"

Gary cries out like a small child afraid for his life, "I want my mom and dad!"

R3: "They're on their way! I promise!"

Gary goes limp, and R3 can't tell if he either passed out or is dead.

He looks up and sees Lizzy staring at Gary, then at her paws in horror. Being a teenager, R3's emotions and testosterone make him aggressively say, "HOW COULD YOU LIZZY!? YOU BIT OFF LAUREN'S EAR AND MAY HAVE KILLED GARY! OUR OWN BROTHER AND SISTER! YOU'RE A MONSTER! A GAY, EVIL, BLODDTHIRSTY MONSTER!"

Lizzy stares wide-eyed at R3, who now says, "YOU'RE NOT MY SISTER ANYMORE! I HATE YOU! I WISH YOU WERE DEAD! AND WHEN MOM AND DAD FIND OUT WHAT YOU'VE DONE, THEY MAY KILL YOU THEMSELVES!"

Lizzy's fingers grip into fists. She then gives a scowl at R3 and yells, "THEY WON'T NEED TO! I'M GOING TO KILL MYSELF! LOOK FOR MY BODY AT THE SHARP ROCK PILES OF THE NEAREST CLIFF FROM HERE!"

Lizzy runs off, heck-bent on keeping her word. She can't live in a world where everyone will hate her for being gay, injuring her sister, and killing her brother. The world will not tolerate such a creature, so she'll be doing everyone a favor, including herself.

Little does she or her siblings know that in the sky high above the site of the tragedy, that the hawks Bu, Teo, Jamai, Cen, and Sis have been watching and listening. Their beaks twist into a sneer and their eyes fill with glee.

"Step One complete," they muse. "The parents will do Step Two for us."

---

At Verm-Tech, Glenda Lafontant is finishing up her tour of the college's R&D Department for the visiting Officer Pavlov. When he arrived, Glenda got a good first impression of him. He was serious yet personable, a man with his mind on a mission but took time to have a good idle chit chat. The way he moved projected confidence, he was an active listener, asked valid and intelligent questions, and his attention to detail was unlike anything she had ever seen before. In short, he was exactly like that hero from the Die Hard movies, just as Dilbert had told her over the phone—only Pavlov was Russian.

Glenda knew a few Russian words from simple pop culture—"Nyet" means no, "Da" means yes, and a few swear words from war video games—but she has learned quite a few more interesting ones from Pavlov who has been kind enough to translate for her. What got Pavlov on her good side was the word "babushka" which means old lady/grandmother.

He had told Glenda, "There's an old saying in my native language: 'Nikogda ne spor' s babushka—Never argue with a babushka.' Think of the strictest grandmother you can possibly imagine; a babushka is 100 times more strict and stubborn. My grandfather was 19 when he became a cop, and his first assignment was to help with the evacuation of the town of Pripyat during the Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. He tried to argue with a babushka that she should leave her home immediately, and she fussed at him so hard that he considered changing careers. She refused to evacuate from the home generations of her family had grown up in, and did end up dying, but that just shows you how stubborn a babushka is. My own grandmother was such a babushka that the neighborhood kids were too afraid to play ding-dong ditch on her front porch."

That kind of talk is what caught Glenda by most surprise. Despite what Dilbert had warned her to expect, not once did Pavlov seem at all nosey. The man had every reason to ask questions or make comments that would crank up Glenda's stress levels, but he did not. Instead, he talked to her like an old friend, and if it weren't for the threat of Verm-Tech closing down, Glenda would have been honored to call Pavlov a friend.

Glenda uses a key card attached to a necklace to unlock a tennis-court sized room, steps inside, and gives room for Pavlov and tells him, "And lastly, this area is where we quality test our new traps to ensure they are nonlethal."

The room is structured as a mock-up of a house with two yards; complete with fences, plastic grass, garden plants, and a swing set.

Glenda: "We need to test traps for both indoor and outdoor situations."

Pavlov: "And the animals from the holding cells, are they used as test subjects?"

Glenda: "We used to do that, but now we use animatronics. With the decline of retail stores that's been going on since online shopping became a thing, Verm-Tech's partnership with Horror Dome—the main company that sells animatronic Halloween decorations—has saved many people from unemployment because we need animatronic animals all year round, instead of just during the Halloween season."

Pavlov: "So like you said earlier, Verm-Tech keeps those animals in the holding cells for academic purposes."

Glenda: "Yes sir. For our students to see what vermin look like in the flesh, and to help them overcome their fear of animals if they have any."

Pavlov: "Did you have a fear of any animals you had to overcome?"

Glenda: "Only spiders and sharks. But this part of Indiana is land-locked, so there's no threat of shark attacks. And as for spiders, I learned that they're far more scared of humans than we are of them. I mean, we are, like, 8,000 times their size and can kill them with little effort. But dealing with spiders is pest control's job, not Verm-Tech's."

Pavlov: "And does Verm-Tech train any of the animals they capture to not wander back into humans' property?"

Glenda: "The only animals we train are our guard dogs. The vermin animals here are used for education purposes only. It's practically impossible to train an animal that's spent its life in the wild. And even non-domestic animals taken in by humans at birth have those predatory instincts that will surface one day, which can lead—and has led—to disaster."

Pavlov: "Technically, I remember there was a way to control wild animals, and Verm-Tech was involved with it several years ago—"

Glenda: "—If you're referring to the incident involving my dad, Dwayne Lafontant, that's ancient history. Verm-Tech isn't the trigger-happy, animal-hating place it's accused of. We're like an elite version of Animal Control."

Pavlov: "I was not trying to insinuate anything about your father or Verm-Tech. That's water under the bridge, and I apologize if that's how I came off as just then. I was being too technical...it's a habit of mine. As an officer of the law, I do a lot of 'homework' before visiting any place."

Glenda: "That only makes you better at your job, and I apologize for taking offense to that. Anyway, I've shown you everything, and hope you enjoyed your tour. Is there anything else you want to see or talk about?"

Pavlov: "Da, do you know a Verm-Tech worker named Dilbert Stanton?"

Glenda: "Yes, he was my best friend growing up, and now he's my boyfriend. Is he in some kind of trouble?"

Pavlov: "Nyet. I heard that he is Verm-Tech's best Verminator, and wanted to get his opinion on the wave of animal attacks that happened in town yesterday. With someone of his expertise, I would like to know if I, as a man dedicated to public safety, should be wary of another wild animal attack in a population center."

Glenda: "He's usually busy patrolling the Elysian Fields Estates for any wild animals, but if you want to try and set up a time to see him, you can give me your regular phone number, and I can share it with him in a text. If I explain who you are and why you want to see him, he'll know it's not a junk-number."

Pavlov smiles and says, "Genuis plan." He pulls out a pen and sticky note, writes on it, and then hands it over to Glenda. "Here's my name, and cell phone number. I trust you will inform him when you are ready, da?"

Glenda: "Of course." (Sarcastic wit) "I don't want to get arrested for refusing a police officer's request, do I? Heh-heh."

Pavlov: "Technically, you'd get a reminder and a warning in this case. You wouldn't be obstructing justice if all I want to do is ask him for advice." (Winks)

Glenda can't help but give a one-sided toothless grin at Pavlov's quirkiness. "Why can't all cops be as interesting as you? You have fun playing around with the laws you're sworn to uphold."

Pavlov: "Who says cops cannot be fun? But admittedly, I am a rare breed. Anyway, thanks for your time and you have a wonderful day."

Glenda: "You too!"

Glenda immediately starts texting: Dilbert, I just got done talking and giving a tour to that cop you warned me about. He's actually a pretty nice guy. He wasn't suspicious about anything at all. He also wants to talk to you to get your opinion on if there will be more animal attacks on people likely to occur again. His non-911 number is 765-151-8800.

Note: Aside from the real area code in the part of Indiana I chose as the location of the fictional Elysian Fields Estates, I made up that phone number. I tested it to make sure it's not real, and my test was successful. You'll get nothing but an automated message telling you the call can't be completed as dialed, so don't even try.

She gets back to her work station when her phone's text notification sound goes off. She pulls her phone back out and reads Dilbert's reply: Don't be fooled. He could just be playing Good Cop. But if he truly isn't suspicious of anything at Verm-Tech, that's a good start, but I have my doubts. I'll still meet with him as soon as I can. I'll throw him completely off the trail and he'll be out of our hair. Then, we can fully focus on the animals we want dead.

Glenda sighs and texts back: You sound like a paranoid movie villain. But you ARE cute when you're like that.

A few moments later, Dilbert's responds with: Lol. And YOU'RE cute when you're so trusting of others.

Glenda's reply: Just gain Officer Pavlov's trust. He has such a charming personality it should be easy.

Dilbert's reply: THAT'S the kind of Glenda I like to hear. Giving me all the important advice.

Glenda's reply: You're welcome. Gotta get back to work. Have fun.

Dilbert's reply: You too.

She then gets a text from her mom that reads: I just pulled up the computer program that lets me see the nanobots, and the vital signs of 3 of the animals with nanobots have gone critical. We haven't done anything to them, so does this mean that something else is happening to them?

Glenda's reply: Yep. Maybe another animal has attacked them and they've been badly injured.

Gladys's reply: I don't want another animal getting dibs on them before WE do!

Glenda's reply: Not everything can be under our control, mom. All animals have to deal with predators on a daily basis. So, as they say, sometimes Nature has to take its course.

Gladys's reply: I guess so. As long as we can be responsible for at least ONE of the animals' deaths, your dad and I will be ok.

Glenda's reply: Let me know if anything changes.

Gladys's reply: Will do.

When Glenda puts her phone away, she can't help but wonder, "What is going on with those animals...?"

---

One of the animals whose vital signs are critical is Sare's due to intense stress, anxiety, and anger as she had explained to Garrett and Rebecca what Lizzy did to Lauren and Gary.

Despite the betrayal and anger the children had felt toward their mother and father, they gave their parents the utmost respect and gratitude when they showed up with their personal first aid kit and doctored Lauren's and Gary's wounds—the latter of whom will thankfully survive. Sare's and R3's worry about their injured siblings is greater than their animosity toward Rebecca and Garrett. Of course, this is largely because the two siblings now have a new creature to vent their rage on: their ex-sister Lizzy.

R3: "She said she was going to jump off the first cliff she saw. So we don't need to worry about her anymore."

Rebecca: "Are you kidding?!"

Garrett: "We have every reason to be worried about Lizzy. SHE'S ABOUT TO COMMIT SUICIDE!"

Rebecca: "Stay here! We're going to go find her before it's too late! We failed as parents many times before—"

Garrett: "—But we will NOT fail as parents this time! We're going to find her and stop her."

Lauren: "Why?! She he almost killed me and Gary!"

Garrett: "We'll explain why later. Right now, every second counts!"

Rebecca: "All of you stay here. Garrett and I are going to save Lizzy."

And with that, the two use their noses like never before to locate their oldest daughter's scent. She's not that far away, but Rebecca and Garrett run their fastest. They only slow down to avoid tripping over a rock, stick, or tree branch. They do not call out for her out of fear that the sound of their voices will only re-ignite her hatred of them, and thus make her speed up the "process."

After two minutes of tracking, Rebecca and Garrett notice some thick, long grass part as if something is moving through it, and confirm that it's Lizzy by her scent. "Thank God we're not too late!" they muse. But finding her in time was just Step 1. Now comes the hard part: convincing her not to jump. When it comes to the love the two parents and their kids have for each other, Rebecca and Garrett have already lost the battle. But if they can't save Lizzy, they will lose the war.

They will not let that happen, and proceed through the grass. When they get through it all, there is a spot of flat ground that is 5-feet-long from where they currently are to the edge of a cliff. Fortunately for the parents, Lizzy's thoughts had been a maelstrom of horrible feelings, bad memories, and focusing on ending it all that she hadn't picked up her parents' scents. Now that they are five feet behind her, she smells them and turns around to glare at them with angry eyes.

Lizzy (spitting, venomous tone): "Move one toe forward, and I'll do it!"

Most people would answer that threat with the classically clichéd, "No you won't, because you would've done it already." But that only works when the victim is scared and unsure about ending his/her life. But Rebecca and Garret see the look in their daughter's eyes, note the harsh tone she used to make her threat, notice the aggressive body language, and can just feel the hatred she is giving off.

It is no empty threat. Lizzy is neither scared nor unsure. She will do it if they make the wrong move or say the wrong things.

Instead, they make the right choice, starting with Garrett easing back his posture to a more relaxed position and saying in a gentle and understanding tone, "Alright, Lizzy."

Rebecca (same tone as his mate): "We won't come any closer unless you allow it."

Lizzy: "I'll never allow it."

Garrett: "Because of what your mom and I have done to you and your siblings; or what you have done to your siblings; or that you think we hate you because you're gay; or is it something else?"

Lizzy: "So you heard..."

Rebecca: "Yes. But Sare and R3 weren't in the best of moods when they told us, so we can't go off of their word alone."

Once again, most folks at this point would ask for the person to explain their side of the story. But knowing their daughter and how she must be feeling right now, that would be the biggest mistake, as Lizzy herself jumps the gun and explains why.

Lizzy (bitter rhetoric): "So you wanna hear my side of the story, eh? For me to recap the worst day of my life?! For me to have all the horrible feelings and emotions come to the surface at full-force?!"

Garrett: "We never said for you to do that, Lizzy. We don't want you to feel any worse than you already do."

Seeing that their plan of distracting Lizzy is working, Rebecca executes the next move by saying, "Instead, let me tell you about the worst day of my life. Fifteen years ago, I was certain that I was gay." When Lizzy's body posture relaxes and her eyes show genuine intrigue, Rebecca knows her daughter will listen, and continues, "I was so attracted to the thought of being with another female raccoon that I fantasized a human girl was one during a heist. The pheromones I emitted were so strong it caused RJ to pass out. He was unable to save Bernard when a human was about to stomp him to death, so Heather saved him—at the cost of nearly dying and being too crippled to go on heists again."

Lizzy uses her raccoon intellect to connect some plot threads which she now verbalizes with, "So that's how Aunt Heather got injured? Because of you?"

Rebecca: "Yes. As you'd expect, RJ was furious with me. I was dating Garrett at the time, but because of my gay feelings, not even he could comfort me."

Garrett: "She kept her secret hidden from me out of the fear of me breaking up with her, especially when she had been pressured by her parents to be straight so they could have grandchildren children to carry on their family legacy, what with Bernard and Mary being sterile."

Rebecca: "But all that was just the background knowledge. Now onto the worst day of my life."

Lizzy: "How can any of that not be the worst day of your life? How could it have gotten worse?"

Rebecca: "Oh, it did, and here's how. At this time, Bernard was going through a lot of self-esteem issues, and the biggest was when he discovered he could never have children of his own because he was a sterile hybrid, which made him so mad at RJ and Heather that he temporarily disowned them. I became the adult he confided to, but my talks with him weren't enough. This meant the only ray of hope in his life was that Pat would still be his girlfriend even though he was sterile, which was the case with Mary and Elroy, and De'Ausha and Ladarius. But because Bernard was sterile, Pat broke up with him because she wanted, needed, to have children. Coupled with all the other things going on in his life, he felt so bad that he almost slit his wrists. I stopped him in the only—and worst—way I could: by lying to him. I told him Patricia had rejected him out of shock, but after a few days had passed she had time to realize she did the wrong thing and now wanted him back.

"I took him to her home a few days later, and when he went to talk to her, not only did she tell him that her mind had not changed, but she was already dating another boy. He called me out for my lying and I felt like the biggest failure at life. To stop me from wanting to end my life, I just had to feel good, and only Garrett could do that for me."

Garrett: "She made an unexpected visit to my home and surprised me by encouraging me to make out with her. Previously, on the day Heather got injured, she didn't like it when I got so physical with her because I could take things too far and she was battling her gay thoughts. But that day I had to keep up with her."

Right then and there, the parents expect Lizzy to angrily remind them of their makeout addiction. But too intrigued by the story, she doesn't. Lizzy instead asks, "How could this be the worst day of your life if you were feeling good again?"

This means they are winning, so Rebecca quickly continues, "Then, when everything was finally getting better for me, Kale stopped by Garrett's home to ask if any of them had been hurt by Clara, back when she was one bad wolf. Kale was the only one in the family to figure out I was gay, and vowed to keep this a secret."

Garrett: "Also back then, my family and I hated Kale for killing my first mate. We said some nasty things to him, and he retaliated by accidently blurting out that Rebecca thought she was gay. I thought he was lying to me...until Rebecca screamed at him for spilling the beans."

Rebecca: "I was barely able to convince him to not break up with me. If he did, I would have either run away to be with my closest gal-pal, or ended my own life..."

Lizzy: "How did you two stay together after that?"

Garrett: "The only reason I didn't break up with her was because we had a special connection. She provided me with something no one else could, and I provided her with something that no one in her family could: the love of being in love with a boyfriend and girlfriend."

Rebecca: "When two people truly love each other—for their upsides and downsides, when they are angry or happy, and when they say good things and bad things—they have the right to be together. If that is how you really feel toward one of your gal-pals, then we, as your parents support you."

Lizzy now starts to feel the one ray of hope, her light in the darkness, start to shine for the first time today. But not wanting to celebrate prematurely, she cautiously asks, "Y-you mean...? You're cool with the fact that I'm...gay? You don't hate me for it? You aren't gonna try to convince me to be straight?"

Garrett: "True, it's not what we expected, but you're our daughter, Lizzy. We love you for who you are, no matter how you are."

Rebecca: "And it doesn't matter what your sexual preference is. Whether your straight or gay, we will still love you because you are still our daughter. All the good times, bad times, scary times, and stressful times we had raising you and your siblings are not erased just because you're attracted to females."

Lizzy lowers her head as she peers into herself. Her words are confused yet sure and cautious yet confident as she says, "I...I...Thought you would hate me...like Mallory now does...Especially after I nearly killed Gary and maimed Lauren...They insulted me too, after Mallory and her parents finished. I told them to stop, they didn't, and I just lost it."

Garrett: "So that stuff was true...? Well, we're gonna have a talk with Mallory and her parents. No one insults my daughter like that without consequence."

Rebecca: "No one should ever insult anyone like that. And if we can't get her to understand your "preference", we will get them to apologize."

Garrett: "And while you did take it too far with your siblings, you wouldn't have done that if they hadn't made you feel worse. You said you told them to leave you alone?"

Lizzy: "Yes."

Rebecca: "Then they should have listened. I would say that 'we raised them better than that,' but let's face it: your father and I were more obsessed with each other than we were with you and your siblings...If we had spent more time raising you all, this probably wouldn't have happened."

Garrett: "You and them failed to act properly, because we failed at raising you all properly. But like we promised earlier, we're going to change our ways. From now on, you, R3, Gary, Sare, and Lauren are our number one priority."

Rebecca: "Garrett and I have had plenty of time to makeout. We've done it so much we can practically feel that experience by thought and memory alone. It's time we fully focus all our attention, energy, and efforts on you and your siblings. Like true parents should."

Garrett: "Can we now come closer so that you can be a part of that?"

The parents hold their breath as Lizzy takes six seconds before responding, "No."

Just as the Rebecca and Garrett feel that all hope for them is lost, Lizzy finishes with, "I'm coming closer to you."

Lizzy runs to Rebecca and Garrett and wraps an arm around each of them. She wails out how sorry she is for everything she has said and done to them today, to which they forgive her and say other words of assurance. Still crying, but knowing that she will always be loved by them, she then expresses her thanks for them saving her from killing herself, for loving her even if she is gay, and for their new promise to become born-again parents.

What matters in this heartfelt moment is not the specific words being said, but the love that is being expressed, the forgiveness that is being accepted, and the vows that will be fulfilled.

From high up in the air, the hawks who have been watching and listening scowl in disgust. Their plan has only half-worked. Lizzy did turn on her own siblings, but the parents were not supposed to reconcile with her. They were supposed to be mad and force her to kill herself.

Being the middle child, Cen is more emotional and proposes in anger, "I say we kill them right now! Or better yet, go kill their other kids who are alone and helpless!"

Teo: "I would normally agree, if we were in better shape to do that. But we're barely able to keep flying, much less go on the attack."

Cen: "You kiddin'? I can use my anger to make me ignore the pain. If you four are too chicken, then it's more fun for me!"

Teo: "Alright. Let's test your theory. Get angry."

He flies toward Cen and kicks her in the injured torso, causing her to say "Owwwwww!"

The bullying these hawks are known for is not only limited to those they bully, but to each other as well. Teo exemplifies this by condescendingly saying, "What's wrong Cen?"

He pecks her in her injured right leg, causing her to cry out "Ack!"

Teo: "Feeling a wittle sore?"

He slaps her across her bruised head, causing her to cry out "Ugh!"

Teo: "Your boo-boos still ten-der?"

Cen glares at her father and says, "Stop using your super strength!"

Teo leans into her face and says with all sincerity, "I'm not."

Cen gasps as she finally realizes she done messed up. Teo's revelation also causes the eyes of Bu, Sis, and Jamai to widen, thus erasing any thoughts of following Cen's plan.

Teo: "And if those teenage raccoons are fighting for their lives and to save their dying siblings, they're gonna hit a lot harder than that." (While raising pulling one of his legs back to prepare another blow) It'll feel like—"

Cen flaps backward to put some distance between herself and Teo while quickly saying, "Okay, okay, dad! No more! I get it. I'm still too beat to attack them."

Teo: "We stick to our new plan, because we have no other choice with the condition we're in. Sure, things didn't turn out as we expected, but this is just the beginning. They have only fixed things with one of their children. The other four still hate them, and will certainly be angered at Rebecca and Garret who didn't punish Lizzy for attacking Lauren and Gary."

Bu joins in supporting her mate by adding, "And there are still other members of their family and friends who will turn on them once they hear that Lizzy is gay. Especially the ones with little children. I can't imagine trying to explain homosexuality to them, but know that it won't be pretty."

Cen: "Yeah. I guess you're right."

Bu flies at Cen and headbutts her in the chest, making the latter screech "OUUUUUUUCH!"

Bu: " 'Guess'?! It's NOT a guess. It's an indisputable fact! Humph. You always were the most annoying of your sisters. That's why your father and I love them more than you."

Cen glares at her mother in anger, but Bu seems to read Cen's heart when Bu condescendingly mocks, "Ah-woo-wooooo. Did I hurt your sensitive feelings? Are you gonna cry like you used to whenever you don't get your way?" Bu now speaks serious yet rhetorical when she says, "How old are you now? Are you still the little baby brat who has a meltdown over the littlest of things, or are you a strong adult who can take criticism and become mentally stronger from it?"

Cen: "I'm a strong adult who can take criticism and become mentally stronger from it."

Teo: "Then get your head out of your undertail feathers and start acting like you are."

Cen: "Yes, mom and dad."

Teo: "We still have things to do, relationships to ruin, and mistrusts to sow. Let's keep going."

He and Bu fly forward immediately after that. Cen would have joined them if she hadn't seen the look her sisters Jamai and Sis are giving her. At first, it's their typical, "I told you so" face. But then it turns into a smirk, and they fly to catch up with their parents.

That smirk said more than any words could have, making Cen feel worse. But she uses her anger to overcome her feelings and she proceeds in the direction her family is going. Jamai used to be best-sister-friends with Cen, until Cen started becoming so insecure and over-dramatic. Cen still wanted to be with Jamai, but Jamai wasn't having any more of Cen's nonsense. Jamai did all she could stop playing with Cen by going to be with her parents or youngest sister Sis while brushing Cen aside.

As for Sis, she was perfectly independent and competent, and especially realized this when comparing herself to her annoying middle sister Cen. Sis likes doing her own thing, and sees any time spent with her sisters as a waste of her own. She could care less about Jamai, and care lesser about Cen, but takes sick pleasure in seeing Cen get what she deserves.

Cen thinking: "Just you wait, mom, dad, Jamai, and Sis. Someday, I'll show you. I'll show all of you just how wrong about me you really are..."

With that inspirational thought comes a lift in her spirits. She now easily catches up to her family and flies in formation.

Note: Just so there is clarity, I myself am not a crusader of LGBTQ rights, but neither do I have anything against them. I am a crusader for humanity. The Bible does say homosexuality isn't right, but to make anyone's life harder on Earth than it already is, just because they're different, is a bigger sin. This is especially true when I learned during my college days how homosexuals are the number one group most likely to commit suicide when people hate them for their choices.

Adding to this, my best friend told me something his preacher had said at a church service: "Do you think Jesus walked around telling ever gay person 'Hey, you gayfer! I hate you. My Father hates you. You're going to Heck. And when you're burning down there, I'm just gonna laugh, and laugh, and laugh!'

"No, Jesus did not say that. He would not say that. He accepted everyone. And so should you."

As a philanthropist and Christian, I recommend following what my preacher said to me about the same topic: "Let God handle the 'sin' of homosexuality. As for us, we should accept who someone is and make their life here on Earth as close to Heaven as possible. Because in the end, we are all still human beings."

---

"How about the house in front of us, Mr. Kale?" asks Stevie who is with her brother Alan.

After a five-second pause, Kale's voice comes over the phone she was speaking into. "No humans inside, but dare's a pet dog. Find another one."

Alan gives a disappointed sigh and then says, "Okay. Back to searching."

Kale's voice: "Cheer up, kids, it's not you's fault. And we's found three good houses already. We just gotta find a few more and den it's move-in day—Oh, someone else is trying to call. Gotta take it."

He hangs up Stevie's and Alan's number, then answers a call from the monitor lizard twins.

Stevie gives a disapproving look at her little brother and tells him, "The raccoons, ducks, and otters have each found a house that our families can use. We've got to do the same!"

Alan: "It's not a contest."

Stevie: "Everything we do is a moment to shine, to make our parents proud, and do our species justice. That's what mom always says."

Alan: "But dad always says working together is more important than being on top."

Stevie: "Well, I'm older, smarter, bigger, stronger, and faster than you by six years. So whenever mom and dad aren't around, you should listen to me!"

Alan: "Nuh-uh."

Stevie: "Yuh-huh."

Alan: "Nuh-uh!"

Stevie remembers something she had seen in cartoons, and tries it now to win the battle early by saying, "Nuh-uh!"

Alan: "Good. You agree."

Stevie: "What?! The Bugs Bunny trick didn't work?! No fair! You should've fallen for it!"

Alan: "I've seen more Looney Toons episode in one month than you have in one year! I'm the smarter one, so you should listen to me."

Stevie: "NEVEEEEER!"

The phone rings and Alan answers, "Hello? Mom and dad?! Why are you calling us?" A brief pause later, and Alan's eyes widen as he speaks in surprise, "How'd you know we'd be fighting and not looking for more houses?!" Another brief pause and Alan becomes fully submissive, "Yes ma'am. Yes sir. We'll get back to our job."

He hangs up and the siblings go back to working together, but not before silently acknowledging how their parents had impacted themselves. Brooke's competitive nature and Hubert's laid-back nature certainly sends mixed messages when it comes to parenting, and Stevie is obviously more like Brooke and Alan is more like Hubert. But the adults always teach their kids to consider both sides of everything before making a decision. The challenge is making that lesson stick in Stevie's and Alan's mind whenever they have a sibling argument.

During the beavers' sibling rivalry, the lizard brothers have been having a much better conversation with Kale. The brothers' voices are the same pitch, so the only way to tell who is speaking is that Duke has more of an African accent, and Luke has more of an American accent—indicating which parent has had a stronger influence on which child.

Duke: "We found a'notha house to use."

Luke: "It is good enough, Mr. Kale?"

Another five-second pause, and Kale's voice says, "Yep. No pets or humans in it right now. Dat makes four. Keep up da god work, boys."

Luke and Duke in unison: "Yessir!"

They hang up, and Duke proposes, "Let's move on. I'll lead."

Luke counters with, "No, I'll lead."

Duke: "Me first."

Luke: "No, me first."

They get quiet for one second, then laugh, stand side-by-side, put an arm around the other's shoulder, and say in unison, "We'll both go first!" and walk forward.

When Jackie laid two eggs, she and Caleb had seen enough sibling rivalries in real life and in pop culture to know it was not a question of if, but when their sons would do the same. The trick was not trying to eliminate sibling rivalries, but teaching their boys how to see eye to eye and solve any sibling quarrels quickly. Being one of the few wild monitor lizards living way up in Indiana had helped the brothers form a brother/best friend bond from an early age, and this connection only shows signs of getting stronger rather than weaker. Yes, they do argue like anyone else, but their friendship allows them to get along just as fast. They never understood why so many other siblings argue with each other so intensely; they were brothers and/or sisters for crying out loud. They should love each other and stick together no matter what.

They owe this proper upbringing to their father who came from a country where bullying isn't as big as it is in America. And since some of the deadliest land predators inhabit the whole African continent, it's important to value the lives of your family and friends when each day could be their last. But it's because of this that Luke and Duke also feel "left out" of their African heritage since all they have to go on are their father's and grandmother's past stories of their home country. But the brothers have never set foot in Africa, and probably never will. Despite the dangers, they think it would be great to go where there is so much comradery, friendship, and devotion to family—at least for the monitor lizard population. It would also give them more monitor lizard friends to play with. But Luke and Duke love it here in America just as much as they love their family and friends. They would never want to give that up for anything, which is why they won't give up searching for more houses.

They silently wish more good luck to the other animals as they stop walking and start using their senses to determine if the next house they are looking at will suit the needs of their family and friends.

With so many adults either injured or doctoring the hurt ones, it's mainly up to the kids to scout suburbia for any human activity and chose houses to lodge in. Raccoons Reagan, Ro-J, Riley, Ellie, and Kelly; ducks Louise, Lenny, Moe, Barney, and Billie; skunks Maurice, Jack, Niara, and Damon; otters María, Eiyla, Cadance, and Ralph; monitor lizards Luke and Duke; beavers Stevie and Alan; badger Sara, porcupine Bea, and turtle Carolina have been chosen for the task because they were away from the bomb shelter when the predators attacked, and therefore aren't injured. They are equipped with phones, binoculars, and maps of the Elysian Fields Estates as they gather intel. They are also armed with their species' abilities such as acute senses of smell, hearing, sight, and feel. Even so, they call Kale on their phones whenever they see a potential house so that his nose can confirm (based on where the wolf smells them then the house they are mentioning) whether or not there are pets and humans inside.

Fate seems to be on the hedgies' side yet again as it's a Sunday and many humans are at church, thus leaving the streets and houses emptier than they would normally be. But it's currently 11:30AM, meaning church will end in half an hour. Come a little after 12 noon, and the streets will be busy and homes will be occupied. Although Mary had made her grand plan without factoring in church—meaning the hedgies had expected to move in when the neighborhood was all hustle and bustle—they need to take full advantage of this 30 minutes. The injured ones need more medical supplies. And fast.

So once again, time is their biggest adversary; even more so than a possible encounter with homeowners, or worse, Pierre and Dilbert.

The adults knew not to put any pressure on the young ones, but were too late to stop the wounded teenagers from saying things along the lines of "Just remember, we've got lots of critically-injured animals and no medical supplies, along with vengeful predators who could come back to finish the job at any moment. But hey, no rush."

Those words have not helped the kids' tension and anxiety, much less the 30-minute time limit of opportunity they should not waste. The ones who said that had hoped it would create motivation and make the scouts work harder, but the cold and hard-hitting motivation approach typically only works with sports teams composed of teenage or older players, not young kids. They might as well have said, "Are you worthless? No? Then prove me wrong!"

No one feels this pressure more than the ducks Louise, Lenny, Moe, Barney, and Billie. These five come from the animals who are kind of "just there," and don't really stand out in any memorable way. The raccoons are the jacks-of-all-trades and natural leaders; the turtles are the cautious yet semi-adventurous ones; the opossums are the dramatic and kind-hearted ones; the skunks and minks are the sassy ones with a lot of spunk; the squirrels are the comic reliefs with hearts of gold; the wolves are the brash and tough rogues; the bats are the shy but kind ones; the otters are the Good Samaritans always looking to brighten others' days; the porcupines are the techno-nerds; the monitor lizards, honey badger, and zorilla are the philosophical mystery warriors; the beavers are the strict yet well-meaning ones; the flying squirrels are the motivational type where reward comes only from strife; and the badgers are the big yet gentle type.

But what's so unique about the ducks other than their ability to fly? What is their personality in relation to this group of animals? That's what the five eight-year-olds want to discover and for others to know about them. Indeed, it's been a motivation their parents have been trying all their lives. Save for Jeff's choice marrying Gertrude who isn't good-looking, Jeff and Gertrude have always been the ones who go along with the flow; the ones who no one would notice at a party—and the same goes for their kids. If anyone were to go off this information, they'd say the ducks' personality is that they have none. No one wants that to be how they stand out, so even after finding a good house, the ducklings still feel unsatisfied.

Louise: "You're all my own brothers and sister, and I can't name a single thing about you that stands out."

Lenny, Moe, Barney, and Billie in unison: "Same for you."

Louise: "I know...And that's what makes it worse."

Barney: "We need to do something big."

Moe: "Something extraordinary."

Billie: "Something that'll put us on the map."

Lenny: "Something that'll make mom, dad, and all of us proud."

Louise: "Mom and dad said to always be on the lookout for an opportunity, and to take it when we can."

Barney: "But we've been trying to do that all our lives, and no luck."

Moe: "Maybe we've been looking in the wrong places?"

Billie: "Probably so."

Then, Louise sees something that really catches her eyes. "Check it out! It's that verminator's van, going into a driveway!"

By now her siblings are looking at the same place she is. Where they see another interesting development.

Lenny: "That must be his house."

Moe: "And lookit that police car! It's parking behind him."

The ducklings see the officer and verminator get out of their vehicles. As ducks, their sight is three times greater than that of a human's, but from this far away they can't hear any words being spoken by the humans.

Barney: "Maybe he's come to arrest him!"

Louise: "Maybe, but we can't tell from this distance."

Billie: "Hey! If the cop is talking to the verminator—"

Lenny: "—Then he won't be able to stop us from moving in!"

Moe dials a number and after his parents answer he says, "Mom and dad! A cop is talking to the verminator, and...they're going inside his house! It's the perfect time to move everyone in the houses we've decided on!"

Gertrude's voice: "Oh my gah, you're right!" (Voice sounds far away as she addresses those around her) "Hey folks, did'ja hear what my son just said? Great!" (Voice sounds closer now that she is talking directly to the phone) "Okay Moe, we're moving now. We're about to tell all the other kids to return to their designated groups, but we need you five to keep and eye on the verminator's house to let us know when he and the policeman are done talking. You five will come join your dad and me when the policeman leaves, or when we say to."

All five duck siblings in unison: "That's what we were going to say."

Barney: "We'll also fly close enough to hear them. Maybe they'll say something we can eventually use against them."

Gertrude: "And that's what I was going to say." (Pauses to let she and her kids chuckle) "Just be careful—all of you."

Barney and his siblings all say "Yes ma'am!" in unison. Moe hangs up the phone, has one of his siblings strap it to his back, and then they fly off to head toward the verminator's house. Feeling like they have finally taken the perfect opportunity to do their family proud.

---

As Sarl walks through the yard of the first house the hedgies intend to occupy, he can't help but feel nervous despite his long experience around humans. His states his concern in his head, "I only look like a dog up close, but from a distance I look like a wolf. And now that I don't have a human walking me with a leash, I'll resemble a wolf even more. Wehe mir dass ich ein halber wolf bin—Woe is me for being half wolf..."

As a car from a house at the end of the block starts backing out of the driveway at an angle that indicates it will be heading his way in a few moments, Sarl remembers what Percie's family told him and repeats it in his head to give himself more confidence. "Sarl, it's time to 'Play Balto' again." Now using his own brain Sarl reassures himself further by adding, "I just need to act like a dog and no one will become suspicious. And because I spent most of my life around humans, I'm the most experienced canine in the group when it comes to knowing how to behave toward humans."

As the car starts heading in his direction, Sarl sits down and scratches his ear using a hind leg. When the vehicle gets close, he stretches his forepaws out while arching his back and yawning. The driver merely gives him a glance for one second before refocusing on the road and driving past him. Once the car rounds a corner and disappears, Sarl taps the walkie talkie strapped to his neck by a collar given to him by his new family and says, "Okay. The coast is clear on the whole street, since mine and Kale's noses didn't pick up any humans inside. First group move up. You'll be settling in the attic."

RJ, Heather; Lou, Penny; Mark, Leslie, Melvin; Roger, Aleshia, Riley, Ellie; Brooke, Hubert, Stevie, Alan, Albert; Eric, and Elaina; Caleb, Jacueline, Luke and Duke; Frances, and Jim (Jackie's father) make their way to the house as fast as they can move with their injuries or helping the injured. Each group has a lockpick, so getting through the front door is no trouble.

On the same walkie talkie channel, Tiger's voice says "I am about to start my diversion of the house next door to the target building for Group 2. I'll go 'Meow' when it's time for you all to move in. You'll be staying in the basement."

Twenty seconds go by and after Tiger's "Meow" is heard, Verne (with Fred), Velma, Plushie, Meredith, Carolina; Isaac; Bucky, Emily, Annie, Drake; Rainer, Eloise, Sara; Skip, Isabelle, María; Jude and Stratford; Jacob, and Kay get over to the house and enter.

Verne asks, "Time?" to anyone in his group.

Drake is wearing a watch and after glancing at it says, "11:38."

Verne muses, "So far so good. The next groups need to wait for Tiger and Sarl to get into position, and then it'll be their turn. If all goes well, we'll all be inside our houses by 12:10 at the latest. I just hope that policeman can keep the verminators busy."

---

Meanwhile, the bears Ted Sr. and Edith have just made a successful deal with one of the prey animal families of the woods: to spare their lives if they agree to turn against the hedgies. Any refusal will be met with death, and after demonstrating their strength by bringing down a 6-inch-wide, 15-foot-tall tree by flicking it with a single clawed finger, the prey animals swore their loyalty to the bears.

The two are currently on their way to get a bite to eat—which will discredit the Predator-Queller Pack's reputation as protectors—when Ted Sr. picks up the hedgies' scents. He freezes in his tracks and takes a bigger sniff.

Edith: "What is it? What do you smell?"

She joins in herself and sniffs for five seconds when Ted Sr. answers, "Our enemies...They're up to something."

Edith: "Yes...I smell them. They're near..."

Ted Sr.: "The human settlement. At least two groups are in human houses."

Edith: "And four more are in the woods by the hedge. Most likely about to do the same thing."

Ted Sr.: "Clever...But not clever enough."

Like the hedgies, this group of predators also likes to steal human items and use them to their advantage. Ted gets out a cell phone and dials the hawks', owls', and ravens' numbers. Just like Jeff and his family, the raptors have cell phones strapped onto one their owns' backs and can easily talk while flying.

Rax the raven's voice asks, "Yew cah-alled?"

Teo's cocky voice demands, "Yo. Talk to me."

Virginia's dead, lifeless voice inquires, "What do you want?"

Ted Sr.: "Which one of you are closest to the suburbs?"

Rax: "Uhhhs. Why-aye?"

Ted Sr.: "Our targets are infiltrating human houses. If they all get in and remain hidden, it'll make it tougher for us to kill them, and for the other animals in the woods to harm them too."

Bu's voice: "Those cheeky murglaks!"

Note: "Murglak" is Star Wars slang for a disgusting animal species that everyone hates, used as an insult.

Air Tiger's emotionless voice states, "So you want the ravens to stop them. Why bother us? We're busy."

Ted Sr.: "Because we need all of you with wings to drop what you're doing and go try to stop them, you bird-brained owl."

Air Tiger's voice: "If only I could drop dead..."

Ever since her "family meeting," Cen is all the more eager to prove herself. Her voice says, "You need to see a therapist, AT. As for the rest of us, we're on the way—injuries be darned!"

AT's voice: "It's too late for me. I'll make any therapist feel so depressed and useless, they're the ones who-oo will need therapy."

Allan's nasally voice says, "As for the prey, dey'll be too busy tryin' ta get in da homes, dat all we need is one taloned strike and it's light out—poimanently."

Cen's voice: "Last one there is a sucky loser and waste of life!"

Strix's dull, monotone voice states, "All life is a waste, but we'll be there as soon as we can."

Co's nasally voice becomes full of sarcastic wit when she says, "Alright, you know somethin'? We're hangin' up. You owls're tox-ic."

Stare-Ra's monotone voice explains, "The only 'hanging' we're interested in is by a rope around the neck..."

Ted Sr.: "Just get there, try to kill a few, and be careful."

He hangs up before the hawks can make an overconfident phrase that makes life sound overly happy, and before the owls can say a depressed phrased that sucks all the likeability out of life.

Edith: "If those prey thought they could run and hide..."

Ted Sr.: "Then they've got something else coming to them."

The mates continue on their journey to make sure that if the hedgies do get into human homes safely to recuperate, the larger woods will be a much different place when they return.

---

Inside the Stanton home, Mary Ann, Pierre, Dilbert, and Pavlov have all done the usual introductions and talked about what they do for a living. But now the conversation shifts to the how and why.

Pavlov rhetorically asks Pierre, "So that's why you got into being a verminator? Over a raccoon that stole your box of cupcakes?"

Pierre: "Not just any regular cupcakes, they were from the Amelia Simmons Elite Cotillion Bakery in New York City—the place where cupcakes were invented. They make the biggest, greatest, most elaborate, delicious, and pricy cupcakes in the world. They hold that honor in the Guinness Book of World Records, and the world's greatest chefs give them universal acclaim. Every President, King, Queen, Prime Minister, Emperor, Czar, Premier, and Sultan all over the world from 1796 onward has had at least one of their cupcakes. And I don't care if you think I'm weird for being into a 'girly' thing like cupcakes, before I wanted to become a verminator, I dreamed of being a cupcake chef."

Pavlov: "I don't judge. I merely enforce the law." (In humor) " 'I am but a humble servant. Do not worship me-eeeeee.' "

Pierre, Mary Ann, and Dilbert chuckle at how personable this officer is. His polite and openly honest demeanor, with a hint of humor, makes the two listeners relax and want to open up more.

Mary Ann: "Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls reference."

Pavlov: "Da. And I like it when a person has class. I'm into all law enforcement movies; the serious and the silly."

Note: Although the history behind the date when and person who created cupcakes are true, the Amelia Simmons Elite Cotillion Bakery in New York City is a fictional location I just made up.

---

During the predators' and humans' whole conversations thus far, the animals in Group 3—Bernard, Pat, Ro-J, Reagan; Gerald, Miranda, Max, Wendy, Wyatt, Jessie; Martha, George, Marty; Marilyn, Owen, Lucas. Ty, Grace, Kelly; Rick, Luby; Amber, Jacoby, Maurice, and Jack—wait eagerly and nervously for Tiger's and Sarl's distraction to happen.

They're nervous because Kale's and Sarl's noses had detected humans in the houses across the street from where Group 3 needs to stay. The animals also have to use their hearing to determine when to move because the distraction involves Sarl chasing and cornering Tiger in the backyard of one of the houses, which means those two can't take the time to make a phone call informing the others of the exact time they need to move in.

If the humans think it's just a normal occurrence, they might not pay attention to Tiger and Sarl, and instead see Group 3 moving in across the street. And if the humans do take interest in the diversion and try to intervene to stop it, things might not end so well for Sarl, and the hedgies will be down one animal who can walk around suburbia without drawing much attention at first glance.

Because Bernard is an overthinker, he was the only one who mentioned and obsessed over these possibilities. The group wisely chose Rick and Luby to be their leaders, since Pat has to work on putting Bernard's mind at ease, but Bernard already sowed the seeds of doubt in their minds. And because the mind retains and remembers negative information easier than positive, the young adults and kids aren't at their best mentally. But Rick and Luby are well-experienced, intelligent, and still strong and quick on their feet despite their age.

Rick: "Let's keep some optimism here, folks."

Luby: "We've been through worse, so this will be a breeze."

Rick: "Just keep your ears and other senses working at full."

Luby: "Our instincts will let us know when to move in."

Some aggressive barks, meows, snarls, and hissing lets the group know that the distraction has begun.

Bernard: "Okay, let's move folks—"

Ty: "Not yet. My parents taught me how raccoons use 'the feel' to do things. And I'm not feeling it now. And for those who don't know, the feel is how raccoons can imagine the touch of something we want, be it physical or mental, while avoiding the stuff we don't want."

Rick: "Great job son. He's right everyone. Not yet."

More sounds from Sarl and Tiger happen, and Marilyn says, "Okay, they're super loud right now. Let's go."

Luby: "Wait..."

More cat and dog sounds happen, then the sound of a door opening which causes Amber to say "C'mon kids. Les go," while moving forward.

She is stopped by Ty who puts his arm out in front of her and repeats, "Wait..."

The voice of a female human asks, "What's all this infernal racket?!"

The voice of a male human from the house next to hers inquires, "Are those anyone's pets?"

The female human says, "It could be the Jameson's dog and O'Henry's cat. I'm gonna call the Jamesons and find out."

The male humans says, "And I'll call the O'Henry's. Hey Kyle, son, I need you to keep an eye on that cat and dog. Lemme know if either one actually hurts the other and I'll come out and stop it."

Kyle's voice says, "Okay dad."

The animals use their senses to figure out the other children and spouses of those two adults are also fixated on the action happening in the back yard.

Ty, Luby, and Rick in unison: "NOW!"

Injuries or not, Group 3 runs with all their speed from the hedge, through a back yard of an unoccupied house, then into the street. The house they need to lay low in is on the opposite side of the houses in front of them, so they still have a ways to go.

They are in the front yard of a house when Owen's ears pick up something and he shouts, "Watch out from above!"

The animals look up and see Cen swooping down talons-first. Because it will take too long to pick out a weapon from his golf bag, Bernard instead throws the bag itself at the hawk and hits her. She shouts in pain as the bag hits all of her injured areas at once, unlike her father who jabbed her one spot at a time. Cen falls to the ground and is too sore to get up. She expects the hedgies to capitalize on her vulnerability and attack her, but they run off to cross the front yard which will lead to the back yard of this house, which will then put them in the back yard of the house they need to stay in.

Cen laughs out loud at the hedgies' blunder and says, "Fools! You should've killed me when you had the chance! I'll rest here for a bit and then I'll kill you, nice and slowly, by beating you to death! You hear me?! You rats don't stand a chance!"

Her laugh turns into a wide-eyed stare of fear when Bernard shows up in front of her. He takes out a wedge golf club from his bag and steps on top of it to both pin her more, and to get into position.

Bernard had a proper upbringing, his parents raised him so that he would never bully anyone, except in defense. And after hearing what this bullying hawk has said she would do to his family and friends, he knows what he must say and do to defend them.

Bernard: "Fool! You should've played dead like a possum. Now that you've proven why you're too dangerous to be left alive, I'm going to kill you. You hear me?!"

As he brings up his golf club, Cen curses her impulsivity and need to prove herself that had made her fly much faster and farther than the rest of her family. They're too far away to help her!

Bernard says, "This is for all the innocent animals you've ever killed!" and swings his golf club, smacking her head to the right.

Normally Cen would be able to take the hit without feeling pain, but in her injured state, her resilience has reached its limit. She feels as soft and vulnerable as a dove, when the hit causes her vision to blur and she sees stars.

Bernard now says, "This is for my family and friends who you injured!" and swings his club harder than the first strike as he smacks her head to the left.

Cen is hit directly in her right eye which causes her vision to be lost there, and the vision in her left eye begins to darken. All of her strength has left her body, making her too weak to move a feather even when she tries.

Seeing that Cen is still clinging to life, Bernard must strike a third time. With no other words to say in the small timeframe he has, he just yells out the clichéd, "Oh what they hay, and this is for me!" With his strongest swing yet, he smacks her head back to the right, and hears a SNAP!, as Cen's neck is broken. If that's not enough to indicate she is dead, her chest is no longer moving up and down and her good eye doesn't blink. Bernard picks up his golf bag, puts it around his body, and runs to go join the others while keeping his eyes on the sky.

When he reaches the others as they travel through the back yard of the target house, Pat asks "The hawk?"

Bernard: "Dead."

Reagan: "Y-you killed it, dad?"

Bernard squats down to put both paws on his daughter's shoulders as he says, "I saw the look in her eyes while she spoke. She was going to kill us, all. As long as she lived, we would never be safe."

Pat: "The same goes for the other predators hunting us. We need to kill them, or they'll kill us."

Ro-J: "But doesn't that make you a killer, dad?"

Bernard: "You're only a killer if you do it out of enjoyment. I did it out of necessity, to protect us all."

Ro-J: "Okay, I understand."

Reagan: "Me too."

Pat: "C'mon, kids. Let's get inside. We're staying in the attic."

As the hedgies use a lockpick, they hear the screech of the other hawks. They expect the raptors to be gunning for them, but the hawks instead land at the very spot where Cen died, obviously (and thankfully) to mourn.

Once the lock is picked, they enter the house and leave the hawks to deal with their loss.

---

Pierre: "But back to why I became a verminator. Have you heard of the Bloomsbury's Golden Phoenix Cupcake made in Dubai?"

Pavlov: "Nyet."

Pierre: "It's a cupcake that costs over $1,000 U.S. dollars. It's wrapped in 23 carat gold and is made with flour that is imported from Italy. The entire thing is also completely edible...That...is...the rank amateur, hobo version of a cupcake compared to the Amelia Simmons Elite Cotillion Bakery cupcakes. Just one costs $2,500, but it's worth every penny. I heard stories about how they taste: your eyes roll back, your knees get weak, your tastebuds enter Heaven, and your brain gets blown away with pure, sweet blissful flavor.

"I had ordered 12—that's $30,000 total—that I intended to serve at my wedding to who would have been my first wife. Once they arrived at our outdoor venue, I placed them on a table to chat briefly with some high school friends of mine who had shown up. And when I turned back around, I saw a raccoon running off with them into the woods. I chased after that little bugger, ripping part of my tuxedo in the process, but couldn't catch him. That worthless hairball not only ruined the wedding dessert, but also my life. I had ordered those cupcakes in complete secret, so when I had to explain why my tux had been torn, the bride and her family were furious for me doing something without telling them first, and for coming back empty-handed. She said 'If you would blow away $30,000 over cupcakes behind my back, what else—or who else—would you mess with behind my back?!' She called off the wedding, and left me. And even though the bride's side of the family still had to pay for the wedding like usual—$20,000 total—I had already paid $30,000 for cupcakes we never got to eat.

"My parents refused to help me because this wasn't the only time I had wasted a lot of money, and they were sick of bailing me out of trouble. So I lost my condo, my car, was forced to live in homeless shelters for three years while working construction and landscaping jobs like a poor immigrant. All because of that one, freakin' raccoon!"

Pavlov: "Bozhe moy, eto uzhasno—Oh my god, that's horrible! I can clearly see now why you'd want to become verminator. But how'd you afford college tuition if your parents refused to give you more of their money?"

Pierre: "I saved the life and leg of then-Verm-Tech President Jonathan Jackson. I was helping cut down trees for a landscaping job and had been tasked with cutting down the few located at the edge of the property we were going to build on. While all the other workers were close together wearing their worker ear muffs, I was able to take mine off. I then heard a scream and followed the direction it came from until I saw a man stuck in a bear trap."

Pavlov: "Jonathan Jackson…"

Pierre: "None other. Not only that, but he was about to be attacked by a bear he had set the trap for. I scared it away, then set Jackson free, and helped him get back to the worksite where, to save him on the overly-expensive ambulance fee, I offered to take him to the hospital myself using the car of one of my co-workers. My boss said no, I said yes. Jackson then told the boss he needed someone to take him to the hospital or he'd lose his leg, to which my boss said 'In case you haven't noticed, Mr. College, we've got work to do and we can't afford to not meet our deadline. Rain has prevented us from working until today so if we don't get finished, we'll all lose our jobs. And it's your fault for being an idiot who stepped into your own bear trap.' "

Pavlov: "Chernoye serdtse Stalina—Stalin's black heart—your boss refused to help an injured man and called him an idiot?! I've seen drill sergeants show more concern for others than him."

Pierre: "You don't know the half of it. To make up for time, he forbid us from having food, drinks, or going on restroom breaks until lunch.

"But back to my story. I called him out for only caring about the job and never people, and vowed to take Jackson to the hospital even if I had to hotwire a car. My boss warned he would fire me, and I told him 'Fine! I never liked this job in the first place.' So I explained the situation to one of my coworkers who secretly gave me his keys and promised to tell my boss that I had broken into and hotwired his car so that my coworker wouldn't lose his job. I got Jackson to the hospital, and doctors were just barely able to save his leg. They said if I'd come in 5 minutes later, they'd have had to amputate it."

Pavlov: "Incredible! You were amazing. You did exactly what I would have done in the same situation. So I bet Jackson had also been impressed by your handling of the bear, and offered to pay for your tuition as a reward?"

Pierre chuckles and says, "Exactly."

Dilbert: "Man, you are very perceptive, Officer Pavlov."

Pavlov: "It comes with my job. So now that I know of why your dad became a verminator, I want to know why you did Dilbert?"

---

While the humans have been conversing, the hawks have not been taking Cen's death well.

Bu: "CEEEEEEEEEEN!"

Teo: "NOOOOOO!"

Jamai: "Little sisterrrrrrr!"

Sis: "Biiiiiiiiiig sister!"

The family of now-four wraps their wings around and buries their heads on Cen's lifeless body to sob.

Teo wails while asking, "Why did you have to fly so fast!?" The horrible truth hits him harder than a bullet train. "It's all our fault! We shouldn't have been so hard on you!"

His words make the others realize the truth of how their daughter and sister died which forces more screams of loss out of all the females' beaks.

When they're done Jamai says, "I should've supported you instead of being silent! If I had, you wouldn't have wanted to prove yourself to us!"

Sis: "Same here! I was such a bad little sister! I should have played with you more, Cen; gotten to know you better! Now it's too late! I've lost my own sister and I hardly knew anything about her!"

Bu: "And the last moment we spent together as a family was arguing and bullying you! I'll never forgive myself for thaaaaaat!"

The throes of sorrow and anguish echo throughout the whole block, but the ever-so ignorant humans that are home don't even bother looking out their windows.

Just as the loud screams of loss turn into regular crying, a monotone voice coming from behind the hawks says, "Don't weep. It's embarrassing. And spare me—and quite frankly yourselves—of your grief. Your selfish tears can't change the past."

The hawks turn around and glare at Bubo the owl who is alone on the ground, while his family is flying deeper into the suburbs. It takes all of Teo's willpower to not attack Bubo right then and there. Although that would be unmeasurably satisfying, he is more focused on mourning the loss of his daughter.

Even so, Teo speaks full of rage and sorrow as he answers the owl's cruel comments with, "Our daughter just died, and you insult us!? Give me one reason why I shouldn't break your filthy neck right now?!"

Bo: "Because it's not your fault. We're all raptors, so I heard her from miles away, and so did all of you. She was too eager, too gun-ho, and too careless. She got herself killed. She knew the condition she was in, and that she should have stayed together with the rest of you. And yet, she proceeded without caution, and then antagonized that freak to finish her off. She is to blame, not you. But use it—your pain, sorrow, and anger—to fuel your resolve."

Sis: "You have no right to say that! You don't have feelings! We do. How could you ever hope to understand, you soulless robot?!"

When Bo responds his voice maintains its emotionless monotone, which to the hawks is more infuriating than if he had replied in anger (1). The hawks would have felt much better if Bo was angry, called them out for their rudeness, and demanded they watch their attitude (1). But no, he just replies with the same indifference as if death and insults were just a common, normal occurrence like a natural disaster (1). His emotion-devoid voice makes them want to feel emotionless (1), but they are thankful that their anger keeps them from turning into the great horned owl.

Bo: "I understand loss more than you ever will. When my parents died, I cried for weeks on end, wishing that I had died instead of them. And the result of that was nothing. It didn't bring them back to life, didn't make me feel any better, didn't change a single darn thing. But it taught me a very important lesson that should help you all now: feelings make you weak, and that's your problem. But I've said all I need to. You want to waste time, go ahead. Just don't take too long, there are others we can be attacking."

Bo then flies away without looking back, not even when Jamai screams, "I'm coming to kill you right now, you heartless monster!"

But she is stopped by Bu when she bites Jamai's tail and yanks her back to the ground. Bu tells her oldest daughter, "He's right. As much as I hate to admit it, that heartless, miserable, depression-inducing, son of a motherless pig is right. Cen knew the risks and ignored her instincts."

Teo also begrudgingly agrees with Bubo as he says, "She should have known better. Should have known that she didn't have to impress us. That we had spoken to her while mad with our wounds, and at the lost fight we had at the bomb shelter."

Bu: "You girls wanna feel better? Here's how: we avenge Cen. As cliché as it sounds, 'now it's personal.' At first, that prey animal family was merely an obstacle, but now they are our sworn enemies."

Teo: "And what do we do to our enemies?"

Remembering a mantra that the hawks had invented ever since discovering their toughness, Jamai gets the train rolling by shouting, "Kill 'em!"

Sis: "Kill 'em hard!"

Bu: "While we make them feel every ounce of pain!"

Teo: "And insult them between every breath!"

Jamai: "Their pain, their humiliation—"

Sis: "—Is our joy and pleasure!"

Bu: "We'll destroy everything they ever loved!"

Teo: "And make them watch while doing so!"

Jamai: "They have no idea how horrible our vengeance will be!"

Sis: "Until it's too late for them!"

Bu: "Then what're we waiting for?!"

Teo: "Onward! Our vengeance will be complete!"

Their hearts now hardened with hate, the hawks take to the sky, leaving their deceased Cen's body laying where it is.

Note: (1)=Based on A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo.

---

Dilbert is having a much better conversation as he answers Pavlov's question of how he became a verminator.

Dilbert: "My dad told me the story of the 'Cupcake Incident' so many times so I wouldn't repeat his mistake, that it's made me hate wild animals too. I used to like farm animals, until I was attacked by a goat at a petting zoo when I was six-years-old. My dad saved me by kicking it off of me, and he became my hero and role model ever since. And after telling me the story of how he saved Jackson, I knew I wanted to be just like him when I grew up. And lemme tell ya, to have finally grown up and become a verminator like my dad, it's one of the greatest feelings any person can experience."

Pavlov: "I know exactly how you feel. All my life I wanted to become a policeman like my father and grandfather. And every day since graduating from the academy, I do their dearly departed souls proud. And speaking of verminator, were you one of the verminators who helped handle the wild animal attacks downtown yesterday?"

Dilbert: "Yes sir. I was the lead one."

Pavlov: "I thought so. Did you by any chance work alongside an animal control officer friend of mine named Bethany?"

Dilbert: "I certainly did. She was pretty cool gal, but a big stickler for following rules. On the one hand that's why she was so good at her job, but on the other, she reminded me of that former boss of my dad."

Pavlov: "Yes, she is pushy, but she gets stuff done. And unlike that ex-boss of your dad's, she cares about people, and even animals too."

Dilbert: "So are you here to see if what she said about me being an animal-hating zealot was true, officer?"

Pavlov: "You are very perceptive too, Dilbert. But I'm not the kind of officer to jump to conclusions until I learn more information about someone. How I see it, you are very passionate about your job, da?"

Dilbert: "Yes."

Mary Ann points a finger at Dilbert and at Pierre while saying, "They both are."

Pierre: "One hundred and fifty percent true."

Pavlov: "And you will do all in your power to see it done?"

Dilbert: "Absolutely."

Pierre: "Always."

Pavlov: "As will I. That shows how dedicated we are. Like all humans who put their heart and soul into the job they love because it brings fulfilment to their lives, our dedication can sometimes make us get carried away."

Dilbert: "So you want to talk to me more to determine if I broke any laws yesterday while doing my job?"

Pierre: "Are you trying to get a confession out of my son so you can arrest him and boost your career?"

Pavlov: "Now you are jumping to conclusions. And there's no need to get so defensive. This is a friendly chat, not a police interrogation. In fact, I myself have bent the laws a little in order to enforce them. I have searched a home without a proper warrant, interrogated someone before their lawyer showed up, and even violated due process by telling a bank robber that he was going to prison for 10 to 15 years right as I arrested him, instead of waiting for the courtroom to properly give him his sentence. And yesterday, I disobeyed the order to stay where I was monitoring traffic and went to the place where the animal attacks were happening in order to save lives."

Mary Ann becomes very uncomfortable with the policeman in her house, and asks with a cautious yet condescending voice, "And how often do these 'slip-ups' happen, officer?"

Pavlov: "The first three were early in my career, and I received the proper disciplinary actions, and have become a better law enforcer since. And the latter turned out to be the right decision, because I was the closest lawman to the action when the squad cars for the officers who were ordered to head to the animal attack area had their tires flattened by a wolf that used caltrops it stole from a police car."

Pierre's and Dilbert's eyes widen, which Pavlov notices. The officer says, "The way you two just reacted means something, but I'll let you tell me what it is."

Pierre: "My son and I have a history with very intelligent animals that have a knack for messing around with humans in ways we used to think were impossible."

Dilbert: "And that wolf, and its pack, are among them. I don't know where they learned to do the things they do, but it makes them a threat to the general public."

Mary Ann: "That's why my husband and son want to kill those wolves so much. Not because they hate wolves, but because animals like that, who are used to attacking people and getting away with it, will keep doing it."

Dilbert: "Because of Verm-Tech's less than stellar past, many people view verminators as a bunch of ruthless, specist, animal-haters who thirst for blood. It wasn't like this 20 years ago. Back then, people praised verminators for a job well done. But nowadays, it's as though the world is becoming like those tree-hugger animal rights groups who march with their signs and post all over social media that hunting and exterminating pests are against the eleventh commandment."

Pierre: "Those fantasies aren't reserved for Twitter fools. What makes it hard to explain is that we don't want to live in a world without animals, the entire human species depends on animals to survive, and the planet would cease to function without them. But we also don't sit in a room of complete safety shaking our head all tsk-tsk every time a rouge animal is killed by our traps. We don't want to kill animals for fun, but we don't want to see humans get hurt or eaten alive. And we aren't the type to sit around in a tame environment and judge the actions of people who run the real risk of getting badly hurt or killed by wild animals." (2)

Mary Ann: "We're worried about people's frame of minds these days. They think that animals like raccoons, wolves, and chimpanzees want to be your friends. But all it does is show how removed some people have become." (2)

Dilbert: "Even with all the changes that have happened to human civilization, we still must fight to defend our lives from wild animals just like our Stone Age ancestors. Every time someone takes their anger out on hunters and verminators for harming an animal, I believe our ancestors are rolling over in their graves." (2)

Pavlov: "Everything you three have said is true, and I can identify with it more than you think. I can't tell you how many times citizens have verbally or physically assaulted a police station or officer's house whenever a cop kills a suspect who used a black-painted toy gun, or an avocado as a fake grenade. The angry mobs always overlook—or worse, forget—that if an officer sees something that looks like a weapon, he should take the suspect out before he or she can use it, just in case it's real. In the moment, there is no time to look closely if it's indeed a fake weapon. Entire political groups have formed based solely on the misinterpretations of officers just doing their job. And yes, there are times when officers have done the wrong things, like strangling a suspect or beating someone to death, and those are good causes for citizens to be angry with those few officers who took things too far. But these are sadly becoming the exception, while the norm these days are for people to hate all police just because one had to shoot a criminal.

"People call police 'racist' and 'trigger-happy,' and spit in their faces while saying 'we should enforce the law, not be the law.' The worst, in my opinion, was when that avocado 'grenade' perp was given a folded American flag by a radio reporter..." Pavlov pauses to sigh and shake his head side to side in dismay. Then he continues, "Folded flags for the deceased should only be reserved for those who gave their lives for their country and protecting people—like soldiers, police, and firefighters—not for bank robbers who were gunned down before it was obvious they aren't holding real weapons. Because even though that suspect was wrongfully shot, he was still a criminal who broke the law. Lawbreakers are not worthy of such an honor. And if you disagree with me, then you are entitled to your own opinion as much as I am.

"But those kinds of things never happened with my father or grandfather. Back then, most people supported police and put a comforting hand on their shoulder while telling them they understood that we had to use lethal force, because we had no choice. Civilians used to understand that police feel awful having to shoot a criminal because they don't want to shoot criminals, but will if lives are in danger. What I try to tell people is to think of police shooting criminals like a soldier shooting an enemy. Do you hate a soldier for killing his enemy on the battlefield? No. If a soldier doesn't shoot his enemy when he has the chance, he will be the one who is buried. So no one should hate a police officer for killing a suspect who looks armed. They should get angry if police brutalize a suspect who is unarmed and already in a position he or she can't defend themselves—but only the few officers who do that to the suspect, not all police.

"So da, I'd say our careers, woes, and desires makes us very similar in many ways. I daresay it's we're kindred or blood brothers."

Note: (2)=Based on Bob Gymlan's YouTube video The Sankebetsu Brown Bear Incident.

---

While the humans have been discussing those deep, soul-searching subjects, the animals in Groups 4 and 5 are having to wait for Sarl to make his way to the opposite end of the suburbs where the houses these group and they will be staying in are located. Group 4 is made up of Mary, Elroy, Mira, Tim, Zeke; Richie, Lucille, Frank, Camille, Chloe; Christopher, Cassie, Connie, Chris; Claire and Bert; Houston, Lyra, Beverly, Scott, Delilah; and will also include Rebecca, Garrett, Lizzy, R3, Gary, Sare, and Lauren once those seven raccoons eventually make their way to the suburbs. The captive raven Poe is being taken in with them, unconscious and with a bandage over his right eye socket.

Group 5 is composed of Stella, De'Ausha, Laderius, Damon, Niara, Jordan, Ahniyah; Hammy, Scarlet, Sam, Aaron; Amy, Jay, Eiyla, Candance, and Ralph; Quillo, Rachel, Ronny; Boombata, Nukalawa; Robin, Nick, Alfred Jr./AJ; and will also include Tiger after he has finished all of his diversion jobs.

Zeke pokes his head out of Mary's pouch to ask, "How wong is Sar-wel gonna take, mommy?"

Mary: "He has a long distance to travel, Zeke. Be patient."

Elroy: "He's also trying to fight off the exhaustion of carrying Kale's and Clara's family. He should be taking a full day to recover before doing the things he's doing right now. He really is tougher than he looks, and it's no doubt his being half-wolf is the reason he hasn't passed out yet."

Richie: "Yeah, because I've been chased by pet dogs a lot, and they don't have near the stamina of wolves."

Tim pops his head out from Mary's pouch and asks, "Stami-whadda?"

Richie: "Stamina: how long someone can do things before they get too tired to do anything else. Like how some humans can run for a mile, and others can barely run 10 feet before collapsing from exhaustion."

Claire: "That's why my brother-in-law Mordecai leads those workout sessions. It's to help us all stay in shape so we don't get tired at the worst of times."

Bert: "Uh-huh."

Wanting to lighten the mood and pass the waiting time, Claire then adds, "And I also heard that having kids increases weight, slows you down, and tires you out prematurely. Which is one more reason I'm glad I married you, Bert. Don't you agree?"

After a brief chuckle, Bert says, "Sure do," and kisses Claire. He then decides to step outside his comfort zone by coming up with his own joke. "Hope all you m-married folks with kids don't s-slow my mate and I down."

The smile he gives, coupled with how he said something without Claire's prompt which is a rare and adorable moment, make everyone smile too. Elroy's, however, is a cynical smile at how close to home both bats' remarks really hit with him. He's about to mentally brood how he thinks he prematurely aged 10 years in the brief time he and Mary adopted the joeys, when his nose smells something wicked coming this way.

He isn't the only one who notices, because Connie senses it too and looks up. She points while shouting, "Heads up! The owls!"

While the others either brace themselves for a fight or their death, Elroy immediately gets out a pocket knife and holds it to Poe's throat. He tells those around him, "Get back so they can see me better!" They obey and in two seconds, he and Poe are in the middle of a circle.

Elroy looks at the owls who are now starting to dive and tells the avians, "Back off, unless you want me to kill him." The owls keep getting closer, which makes Elroy say, "I'll cut his throat!" The owls still advance despite the danger in which they are putting their own ally.

Thinking this is all a test of who is bluffing, and believing the owls will veer off at the last second, Elroy shouts threateningly, I mean i—!", but before he can say the T part, Stare-Ra grabs him talons-first. But rather than risk getting stabbed with his knife, she does not grip the opossum tight, and just tosses him into a nearby tree trunk. Had she been at her full strength, the toss would have cracked his vertebra in half, but she is still trying to recover from the beating she took earlier.

The other owls also had to abort their attack and not risk further injury when Mary, Richie, Lucile, Chris, Beverly, Scott, and Delilah had gotten out various long-range melee weapons (golf clubs, large knives, and police batons) while Elroy was threatening to kill Poe.

Speaking of which, Chris sees the raven a few steps away and shouts, "Connie! Knife!" and catches the serrated folding knife his sister tosses his way. Chris instantly closes the distance between himself and Poe and shouts at the owls, "I'll do it!"

Virginia flies toward the mink, who, after determining she won't veer off, jumps to the side to avoid the owl's lethal talons. She had anticipated him to duck instead of leapping to the left, but she does grab Poe. Elroy has gotten up by now and after seeing this, knows that now that their hostage has been rescued, the owls won't hold anything back.

Then the oddest thing happens: Virgina drops Poe back down to the hedgies and their friends, then gains some air and circles around for another attack run.

Group 5 who has been waiting 20 yards away from Group 4, has now arrived after hearing the commotion and doesn't hesitate to go on offense. Ronny has a pellet gun pistol and Alfred Jr. has a BB gun pistol that they shoot at the owls. Having played more shooter videogames, Ronny is a better shot and leads his targets to score hits on Virgina, Bubo, and Strix. The three owls wince from the shots since their pain tolerances aren't at full strength, but no one falls out of the sky.

Mary then holds up a paw and says, "AJ! Gimme your gun!" He throws it to her and she takes aim at the unconscious Poe and says, "We tried to warn you..." then shoots him in the chest three times. Poe wakes up screaming from pain, but the owls still try to attack the hedgies and their friends! Air Tiger scratches AJ on top of the mink's head, but the blow isn't hard enough to kill since the owl has no choice but to keep doing light hit-and-run attacks so he doesn't end up like Cen.

Mary fires at Poe's head, the BB knocking him unconscious again, but now she has to dodge Bubo's charge by flattening her back onto the ground. She shoots the owl until the gun's clip empties, and this time Bubo falls to the ground where all the monitor lizards start slashing him with their long claws.

Jordan points to the airborne owls and says, "We'll kill him if you don't fly away!"

And still, the owls do not obey! As Mary gets a large knife out from her golf bag, she can't believe the owls' actions. She thought that they would at least stop when one of their own family members' lives is now in danger, but they keep attacking like kamikazes. She is so disgusted that she demands, "Doesn't the possible death of your friend, and your own father and mate mean anything to you?!"

Virginia, Air Tiger, Stare-Ra, and Strix dodge more attacks, then fly higher and look down at Mary to tell her, "No," in voices devoid of emotion.

A voice with a New Jersey accent then shouts, "But it does to us!"

The ravens Vus, Co, Rax, Edgar, Allan, and Lenore fly in front of the owls to scold them.

Rax: "Wha-ut were yew folks thankin'?!"

Lenore (who had spoken upon their arrival): "You'd be willin' ta let my big brother Poe die?!"

Stare-Ra: "It's his fault he got captured in the first place."

Virginia: "Besides, those prey animals were too busy trying to negotiate with us by threatening him, which made them vulnerable to us."

Strix: "We had everything under control. Their deaths are all that matters. If Bubo and Poe died in the process, that's a worthy price to pay."

Edgar: "Speak for ya'self! We love Poe, and would've held back dee instant dey threatened him. But my god, you owls really are toxic!"

Unable to hold back his rage, Edgar pecks Strix in the face. The owl's already angry-looking glare becomes angrier, but his voice remains the same as he says, "Do that again, and see what happens."

Edgar: "You don't sound threatenin' if you's" (Mimics the owls monotone voice) "talk like a robot all the time. I am mad. Now I am glad. Now I am sad." (Normal voice tone) "Ya see? No one can tell what ya mean."

Stare-Ra: "We have no emotions. No fear, no rage, no joy, or sorrow. It makes us less predictable, and therefore more dangerous."

Vus: "So it's all just tew make y'all confuse yer en-uh-mees? Ah-yat least think abou-yowt, yer friends and fam-u-lee's safety!"

Stare-Ra: "The only safety anyone can truly have is when they're dead; when nothing can harm you anymore."

Rax speaks up as he addresses the whole group of predators when he says, "Enough'uve this, let's get back to—" He sees the hedgies have gone through the hedge but because transporting the injured (and captive) animals have slowed them down, they are only a few feet in the backyard of the house they plan on staying in. Rax shouts, "Cut 'em off!" to his fellow predators. While looking and talking specifically to the owls, he says, "But don't harm any of the-em while they ha-yav Poe and Bo! And we'll do the talkin'! Got it?!"

The owls already know what the outcome will be, and want to defy the ravens and kill the hedgies now, regardless of what happens to Poe and Bubo. But Virginia nods at her kids which causes them to follow in line.

The avians quickly surround the hedgies, with the uninjured prey animals holding Poe and Bo at knife- or claw-point. The Southern and Northern ravens do their best to keep their regional accents to a minimum, to show how serious they are to the groups of prey animals who have the upper hand.

Vus: "The bears have already figured ow-yowt y'all wanna stay in human homes to avoid us all until yew all recover."

Allan: "And I hope you realize dee only reason none of ya are dead is because we need ta recuperate too. We're not at our full strength anymore."

Co: "And we reckon y'all wanna keep Poe and Bo around to use as leverage over us. But has it occurred to yew how hard it's gonna be to keep an eye on the-em once y'all move in? Not to mention they'll try to escape, or make noise to give away yer position to the humans every chay-yance they git?"

Lenore: "So let's make a deal: give us back Poe and Bubo, and we'll toin our backs on ya and fly back to our homes. We also won't focus any of our other senses on any of you's, so we won't know what houses you'll be stayin' in."

All the owls, including the captive Bubo, sigh in dismay and roll their eyes while musing, "You six are so weak..." but otherwise remain silent. The ravens hear the sighs, and have a good idea why the owls are making them, but don't get distracted. They will deal with the owls' actions after they get back their own family members.

Mary steps forward and asks, "How do we know you're not lying?"

Vus: "I speak fer all us ravens that we're tellin' the truth, but I can't say the same about the owls." (Points to the hedgies with his foot) "But lookin' at those injuries of yer fam-u-lee and friends, yew don't have much time to waste. Y'all need more medical supplies than what's currently on 'em, if they're to survive."

Edgar: "So what's it gonna be?"

Mary turns around to look at the groups who then look at each other. The process takes only three seconds, since the decision is easy as it is necessary. They back away from Poe and Bubo, giving the other ravens and owls more than enough space to pick up their two and fly away. The hedgies move toward the houses only when the birds are out of sight, but hear a commotion from the front yards while doing so. Among the commotion are several German phrases coming from Sarl that he doesn't bother to translate, either because they are curse words inappropriate for children's ears or he doesn't have the time.

When one of the sounds the animals hear is a dog-like whimper-yelp, Stella says, "Sarl's in trouble!"

Elroy: "Mary and I will go help him. The rest of your get inside!"

The married couple doesn't wait to hear the others' answer, and get out their weapons of choice: Mary her paintball pistol, and Elroy his slingshot.

Being the most intelligent animals of the two groups, the opossum-blooded animals piece together what has been going on even before they see it. Obviously during Groups 4's and 5's fiasco with the avians, Sarl had been desperately trying to keep distracting the humans as it has been taking too long for those groups to move in. Whatever he did has angered the humans, and now they are looking for some payback.

From Sarl's perspective, the humans in the houses didn't seem interested in a dog roaming their yards while barking and snarling. Not even half a minute had passed when they decided to turn away and planned to go elsewhere inside. So, Sarl had to become more aggressive by ramming into their front doors, messily tearing up their freshly-planted flowers, and digging holes in their yard while aiming the dirt at their windows.

This certainly kept the humans' attention on him, but it worked too well, since three came out with a broomstick, baseball bat, paintball gun, and most of all a bad mood. They did not take too kindly to the destruction of their property, and no canine—whether domestic or wild—was going to get away with this unpunished.

Sarl did a good job holding his own for the first few strikes, and dodged the melee weapons. But when he took a direct hit in the side from the paintball gun, the pain distracted him long enough for the bat to hit him on his back. The broomstick then whacked his hindlegs and brought him to the ground where the bat and broomstick started hitting him like a piñata.

Fortunately, the latter just started as Mary and Elroy have snuck into the front yard. But Mary already foresees what will happen if she and Elroy go on the attack, and pushes his slingshot down before he can shoot a water balloon full of battery acid.

Mary: "Don't! We're the best heisters and medics in our group, and they'll be doomed if we get badly injured from the retaliating humans too."

Understanding her point, Elroy also adds, "And any severe injuries on the humans will make them retreat back into their homes before our groups are safely inside. But we also can't let Sarl get hurt too much."

Mary already comes up with a plan, chucks her gun and bag down, goes to all fours, and runs toward the humans while saying, "Follow my lead!"

With Sarl too weakened to even defend himself—his exhaustion and recent pummeling proving to much for a half-wolf—Mary hisses loudly which draws the humans' attention toward her, and Elroy when he hisses as well.

Broomstick-wielding woman: "EWWW! Giant rats!"

Paintball gun-wielding teenager: "They're possums, you fool!"

Broomstick-wielding woman: "They're still ugly and gross!"

Bat-wielding man: "But they're harmless, so relax."

After taking a closer look at Mary, the bat-wielder remarks, "Hey, check out that one. It's got a raccoon tail and mask—" A bite happens and the human yells, "YEEEEEOOOUUUCH!" half a second later.

Distracted by her neighbor being proven wrong, Broomstick suddenly loses her weapon when it's yanked out of her hands by Elroy's paws. The pure opossum then jabs it upward and hits the woman in the chin, causing her to gurgle out, "OWWWW! I think I bit part of my tongue off!"

Baseball Bat comes running in, his right arm already raised to make a swing at Mary while he says, "Bite this you freak!"

Mary internally sighs in minor annoyance at how even humans call her a freak based on her appearance, but doesn't hesitate to dodge out of the way. She then gets an idea that's so crazy it just might work. She waits for the next swing and then climbs onto the bat. Using her prehensile tail to wrap around it, the man can neither shake nor swing her off. Mary knows he'll try to swing at the ground to hit her next, and intends to jump at his face when he does so. But she doesn't realize how close to the wooden rail of the front porch she is, and the human does. His next swing smacks her back against the railing. Even worse, the bat impacts the joeys inside her pouch, whom she forgot to leave with the others in her haste to help Sarl. She drops onto the front step as Tim, Zeke, and Mira start crying, but Bat-Man is too enraged to notice, and gets ready for a killing blow.

But his rage pales in comparison to Elroy's who, capitalizing on Broomstick's distraction, has knocked out Paintball-Teen by strangling the kid with his prehensile tail after bringing the human to the ground when he jabbed the teenager in the eyes with the broomstick.

Upon seeing and hearing his mate and kids get hurt, something inside Elroy turns him into a wild beast. He recalls the deaths of his six siblings whom he actually loved, and fears he is about to have a repeat of those deaths here, only now with his precious mate and adopted kids. There is no questioning his love of Mary, but his kids are a bit more complicated. True, they aren't even his kids, but ones they just adopted, and they are the reason he hasn't slept well in weeks, have ruined his life of adventure, and have opened up old wounds from his previous family life he hoped he'd never have to reopen.

But if he just lets his current family die, he will be no different than his parents who just had three more kids right after Elroy's favorite siblings were killed; as if they wanted to pretend his oldest brother Ezekiel, twin sister Phoebe, nine-year-old brother Timothy, and youngest triplets Susanna, Malachi, and Noah never existed.

With this motivation, he runs up behind Bat-Man who is currently too focused on Mary to notice him, and whacks the humans in between the legs with all his strength. Bat-Man instantly drops his weapon and holds his injured spot while falling to his knees.

Elory snarls in a venomous tone, "Don't you DARE—" Elroy then smacks the man on the right cheek which forces him to fall on his left side. "Hurt my MATE!" Instead of running around the human, Elroy is so mad that he grabs the baseball bat and runs and jumps over the human so he can speak to his face, "OR MY KIDS!" One, two, three swings later and the man is knocked out cold.

Mary feels like bursting with pride for Elroy, but then sees something he doesn't and points while shouting, "Behind you!"

Broomstick-Woman has picked up her weapon and whacks Elroy on top of his head before the possum can get clear. He sees stars with blurry vision and his suddenly-slow muscles don't respond properly. Broomstick is about to hit him again, when Mary spin-throws the baseball bat and hits the woman in the temple, knocking her out too. Mary then opens her pouch and asks, "Are you kids bleeding or feel any broken bones?"

Tim (tears streaming down his face): "N-no mommy."

Zeke (ditto): "He just hit us weally hard."

Mira (ditto): "Pwease kiss us to make us feel better."

Mary doesn't hesitate, and all three smile and respond in unison, "Thanks mommy.."

Mary: "You're welcome kids. But you know who really saved you? Your dad."

Everyone looks at Elroy who has recovered from the hit and he gives a shrug and smile.

Mary: "I told you he loved you, deep down."

Elroy walks up and says, "I sure do. I won't lose any of you like I lost my favorite six siblings. If I did, I'd be as bad as my parents were."

He kneels down to give and receive hugs. Then turns around when Sarl goes, "Eh-hem." Finally having enough strength to stand back up, he has already gotten close to the opossums and says, "I didn't interrupt your amazing moment with your family, that's me being nice. But now that I have your full attention, I want to say, Danke dir für meine Rettung—thank you for saving me...someone you only just met a few hours ago. I never thought I'd owe my life to animals my predator instincts demand me to attack. But you five—no, your whole family—are something else. The love and care you show one another, and the lengths you go to keep them safe from harm...there truly is no word for it in this universe. I am blessed to be a part of this family and will do all I can to love, care, and keep them safe as much as you have."

Elroy: "You're welcome Sarl."

Mary: "Cousin Sarl."

Sarl: "I'd prefer, Cousine Sarl."

Mary: "Then Cousine Sarl it is."

Sarl: "I gotta leave now to be with my designated group, but just wanted to let you know about my feelings toward this family that I have before we depart."

Elroy: "Thanks again Sarl. And we'll still be in touch with our cell phones, but yeah, thanks for telling us in person."

Sarl: "Gotta go. Viel Glück—Good luck!"

All the opossum-blooded animals wave or give a thumbs-up while saying, "Good luck!" in unison. They then go into the house using their lockpicks and head upstairs to the attic.

---

Like Sarl, Tiger has experienced the same problem with the humans he must now distract losing interest in a sight as common as a pet wandering into the yard. But the cat has kept them focused on himself by leaping onto a window sill and scratching the glass in feigned feline curiosity. This worked only temporarily, but thankfully, the humans just sat down in the living room with one watching TV, another whose eyes are glued to an iPad, a third reading a book, and a fourth playing a cell phone videogame.

Making his back face the window, Tiger presses the talk button on his walkie talkie and tells Group 6, "The humans aren't looking. Now's you best chance. Hurry! It's five past 12, which gives you about five minutes tops before church-goers start returning."

Group 6 is waiting inside the hedge, and their house is in the middle of the suburbs near an EFE-only swimming pool.

On the other end of the walkie talkie, Emma says: "10-4, Tiger. We're making our move now."

With Spike suffering a cut wound across the part of his head above the eyebrows, which makes it hard to squint for a better look of something, Emma is the temporary leader of Group 6. The animals in this group are Kale, Clara, Boxer, Percie, Roaster, and Sarl when he will return; Spike, Emma, Ike, Bea; Bruce, Elan, Maddie; Christine, Mordecai, Kylie, Dexter; Simon, Celine; Jeff, Gertrude, and Louise, Lenny, Moe, Barney, and Billie when the latter five return will.

Speaking of which, Gertrude dials the cell number of the phone her kids have and after two rings, the voice of Louise answers with, "Yes mom?"

Gertrude: "If nothing important is being said by the humans, you five need to head to our target house, pronto."

Louise's voice: "It's been an average—and boring—conversation anyway. All we learned was their backstories. So yeah, we're on way—"

Lenny's voice is overheard on the phone's speaker when he scream, "AAAAAAAHHH, HAWKS!"

Moe's voice: "FLY! FLY YOU FOOLS!"

The sound of sharp talons striking the phone is heard, followed by nothing but silence.

Gertrude: "KIDS!? KIIII-IIIDS?!"

Jeff: "We gotta go help them! They're no match for the hawks!"

Emma responds before anyone can tell Jeff "Neither are you." She says, "Then go! But be careful!"

The land-bound animals can only wish the duck parents luck, and pray that their kids haven't already been killed by the hawks.

But being at the right place at the right time has brought great fortune to the duck kids. Because prior to the phone ringing, things were wrapping up at the Stanton house.

Having gotten to know each other well enough to be considered friends, Pavlov had already voiced his suspicion—and apologized for even thinking—that the animals that attacked the town yesterday were Verm-Tech escapees that were experimented on to increase their intelligence for some project with military applications.

Rather than feel offended or try to deny the claim, the Stantons had burst out laughing. This was not because they thought Pavlov was crazy, but because what the officer said was the exact same reason the Verm-Techers thought Pavlov had come to Verm-Tech and then their home.

Pavlov stood up and shook the hands of the two men and one woman while saying, "The only thing we are all guilty of is doing our homework, considering all possibilities before we take action, and having experience in dealing with ignorant people who don't understand our perspective. Sorry for wasting your time."

Pierre: "Not a chance, officer. We gained a new friend, and hopefully ally."

Pavlov: "Don't hope for something you've already got. Because yes, if Verm-Tech ever needs the law on their side, just give me a call on my cell number. Just give me yours and I'll text it to you."

Dilbert: "Can I be the first, dad?"

Pavlov: "Sure thing, son."

With the men engrossed in getting their phones out and telling Pavlov the number, only Mary Ann hears a strange sound which causes her to muse, "Is that a cell phone ringing outside our living room window?..." When the noise stops, she concludes, "Nah, just my imagination."

Then, a loud quack, followed by a hawk screech, and a blur of motion and feathers outside the window draws all eyes to the scene.

Dilbert: "What the heck?!"

Pierre comments, "More like 'what the hawk?!' Look at it! It's caught a duckling in its talons!"

But Dilbert had not spoken out of surprise of the event, but rather in recognition of the feathers on a particular duck...

Pavlov: "Let's go out there and scare the hawks away!"

Pierre: "Or, we just sit here and let nature take its course."

While running to the front door, Pavlov says, "Not a chance! Ducks are my favorite animal and ducklings are the cutest little things in the whole world!"

Pavlov flings open the front door, silently cursing the law for prohibiting firearms being shot in the suburbs while doing so, but comes up with a most unique solution. He gets out his baton and taps it so loud and rapidly on the wooden porch floor that it sounds like an automatic weapon.

The hawks are jarred by the noise that Jamai drops Barney, who is helped by Billie to fly toward the direction of the house Group 6 will occupy. All five ducks don't look back since it would slow them down, but still fear a renewed attack at any second.

But the hawks no longer come for them, but rather Pavlov!

Too saddened and angered with the death of Cen still fresh on their minds, Bu expresses the hawks' reasoning perfectly while shouting at Pavlov in animal language, "NOTHING WILL KEEP US FROM AVENGING CEN! YOU'RE THE BIGGEST THREAT TO US RIGHT NOW, SO YOU FIRST, THEN THE DUCKS!"

The four peck and claw at Pavlov with all their might, his efforts to swat them away proving useless. And in the ruckus, Pavlov's pistol falls to the floor. Just when the officer curls into a fetal position (with his arms wrapped around his neck to protect it), Dilbert picks up Pavlov's handgun and fires at one of the hawks above Pavlov.

The bullet grazes Teo's tail feathers, which causes him to shout, "FORGET THIS, LET'S GO AFTER THE DUCKS!" The raptors then fly away in hot pursuit of their prey.

Pavlov uncurls, and before he can thank Dilbert, the young man runs into the front yard, turns around to look into the sky, takes aim and fires until the clip is empty.

Dilbert scowls and grates out, "Dang it! I missed all five of those ducks!"

Pavlov: "Ducks? You tried to shoot the ducks?! Put aside my liking of ducks, and even put aside how you violated four laws just now, why did you try to shoot the ducks?!"

Dilbert: "I watched Animals Control HQ's outdoor surveillance footage from last night, and those ducks were some of the animals who attacked a SWAT team, which allowed the group of animals I've been hunting to nearly kill many officers."

Pavlov (rhetorically): "You were able to determine those specific ducks, whom we just saw for a few seconds, were the same ones who did that last night—from a night vision camera that can only show green color? Not a chance. I think you have the wrong ducks, young Dilbert."

Dilbert: "I'm telling you, it was them!"

Pavlov: "I should arrest you for what you have done—stealing an officer's firearm, shooting a gun in the suburbs, disturbing the peace, and reckless endangerment for how you could have shot me or someone in a house across the street—but because you saved me from the hawks, I will let you off with a warning." (Holds his hand out) "Now, give me back my handgun."

Dilbert does so and tells Pavlov, "I'm sorry," while the officer holsters his pistol.

Pavlov: "I forgive you. But think twice before shooting a gun next time. And be warned, I will put your law violations on record, but just for me, and not the police force's records. But if I hear you break another law—even if it's neighbors complaining about loud music—I will bring up the report, and give it for the court as evidence to possibly prosecute you. UNDERSTAND?!"

Dilbert: "Yessir."

Having heard and watched the exchange between Pavlov and Dilbert Pierre says, "Now that's not fair for the guy who saved your life!"

Pavlov: "He could have shot up instead of straight at the hawk."

Mary Ann: "What if a warning shot wasn't enough to scare the birds away? And we know the people who live across the street are on the road coming back from church right now, so there was no one to get hurt from a stray bullet."

Pierre: "Now that you've been given all the facts, has your opinion changed?"

This isn't the first time Pavlov has been humbled by his own words turned against him, but it is the most painful because of all the connections he has made with this family. In a voice that shows his humility and apology, Pavlov says, "Perhaps I was...hasty in condemning you, Dilbert. I'm sorry for being a sudden horse's rear toward you. Don't worry about any report."

Dilbert: "It's alright. I understand. You're a cop first, and a pal second."

That brings a smile back to Pavlov's face who says, "It's such a great thing that we can be honest to each other. That's the sign of a good relationship. I hope we can put this one bad moment today behind us, and keep our strong connections intact for the future."

Dilbert: "You can count on it, sir."

Pierre: "Same here."

Mary Ann: "Me too."

Pavlov: "Then off I go. You three enjoy the rest of your Sunday. Do svidaniya."

All three Stantons in unison: "Good bye to you too!"

After getting into his car, Pavlov backs out of the driveway and heads to the road that will take him back to the main highway.

As for Dilbert, the sight of the ducks has changed his priorities on his Sunday off, and he tells Pierre, "I'm going back to work dad."

Pierre: "C'mon, son. 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.' How's about we head to the swimming pool?"

If even his father is willing to take a day to unwind, Dilbert decides to as well.

Dilbert: "That...does sound like a better idea. Can I borrow one of your swimsuits?"

Pierre: "Sure."

Mary Ann: "I'll go pack our beach bag with food, drinks, and goggles."

Pierre: "But we're putting on sunscreen first! I learned the hard way that you should always put it on, even at pools."

Dilbert: "That's one of your funniest stories, dad."

Pierre: "One day when you have kids, you'll hopefully have a million good stories to tell them too."

With that happy thought in mind, the Stantons go inside to get ready.

---

It turns out that swimming pools and stories from parents are just as valuable to animals as they are for humans. Because the duck siblings recalled a story from their parents about a time when Jeff and Gertrude faced a raptor before, and how they were able to beat it at a pond.

With the time bought from the hawks fighting Pavlov, the ducklings have found the EFE-exclusive swimming pool where someone has left an upside-down chair-like float in the water. The siblings take cover under it and wait.

Billie: "I'm so scared!"

Moe: "Me too!"

Lenny: "We all are. But mom and dad will find us. We just need to hold out until they do."

Louise: "To do that, we'll let those hawks tire themselves breaking through this float, then we grab whoever gets closest to us, and pull 'im under."

Barney: "Because mom and dad taught us how to dive, and that hawks can't get out of water if they their feathers get too wet."

As if on cue, Sis has used her senses to pinpoint the ducklings' exact location and comes diving down while yelling, "A piece of rubber won't save you from US!"

Knowing that her prey is small and weak, Sis lands on top of the float and awaits her sister's and parents' arrival. This happens two seconds later and all four simply grip the float with their razor-sharp talons to puncture it. The float deflates quickly, and the instant Sis's feet are submerged, the five ducklings grab onto her feet and start pulling her under. The ray of hope instantly fades when Sis's strength (even in her weakened state) lets her lift the lightweight ducklings clear out of the water. Realizing their folly, the ducks let go of Sis and dive under, only to realize they just made another big mistake that will cost them their lives. They've got to come up for air some time, and the hawks will be waiting for them. The latter hover above the water, waiting patiently while their eyes and minds lock onto the target they choose. The quintuplets see the hawks from under the water, but also something that will give them a chance!

The ducklings get close together—causing the hawks to do the same above the water—and start to make their way to the surface. The instant before they break the surface, the hawks are pushed down into the water by Jeff and Gertrude whose heavier weight, coupled with the hawks' surprise, submerges the raptors. The ducklings weren't almost out of air either, and swim sideways to avoid the hawks, then come up for air, and fly over to their parents and perch on top of them to add their own weight.

Jeff and Gertrude peck any of the hawks who raise their heads, shoving the heads back into the water. The more the hawks try to flap their wings, the wetter—and heavier—they become. Jeff and Gertrude fly above the water, causing the hawks to try and come up for air, only to slam their feet (and body weight) down on top of the hawks' heads before they can take a breath. The ducks repeat this tactic, spamming it like a cheap move in a fighting game, until they feel confident enough to where they can just sit on top of the hawks to keep their enemies down.

The hawks are running out of air, and just have enough strength to maybe break for the surface one more time, but are otherwise prepared to be reunited with Cen.

Above the water, the pool gate opens and closes when a human pool cleaner exclaims, "Hey, what's going here?! Get outta our pool!"

The man gets a pool brush and throws it at the ducks, causing them to begrudgingly fly away. The hawks finally get their heads above the water and take in a life-saving breath, surviving by the non-existing skin of the non-existing teeth.

Their unintentional savior berates them by saying, "That goes for you too! Get out, all'uv ya!"

Upon noticing the hawks' feathers are too wet to fly, the pool cleaner growls in frustration, grabs a pool net pole, scoops the hawks out, and dumps them on the dry ground outside the pool gate. He then says, "You better dry off fast and scram! Because of you, I've gotta put extra chlorine in this pool so your bird stink doesn't contaminate it before people can arrive! You just ruined what should've been my easy-day of work!"

The hawks don't mind their cranky savior's attitude, they're just glad they didn't drown.

Which means they will survive and continue to fight the prey animals until Cen's death is avenged.

---

One hour later, after hearing that Rebecca and her family have successfully joined Group 4 in their house, Mary sends a group text that reads: Great. Everyone's safe. Just remember to keep quiet at all times.

I don't mean to discount all of our accomplishments today, but despite all the hard work, this was the EASY step. Getting inside the human houses undetected is one thing. But now, we have to remain undetected until we're fully recovered.

Nothing else had to be said, for all the hedgies and their friends know that the slightest noise could arouse suspicion, and the attics or basements leave little room to escape except through the humans if they are discovered.

Although they had no other choice given their circumstances, the animals that had survived by evading humans and predators by moving through the vast woods have now bottlenecked themselves in locations they could be easily found and defeated (3).

With that dread always looming in their minds, their need to be safer might have ironically made themselves un-safer.

But they will do things like they always do when undertaking great challenges: Take it one step at a time.

Note: (3)= Based on Star Wars X-Wing: Wedge's Gamble by Michael A. Stackpole.

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I hope you all have enjoyed this action-packed chapter, and how I try to make you empathize with the villains as much as the heroes.

The plot twists have now officially started, and they're only gonna get crazier and (hopefully) more unexpected from here on out.

Buckle up and hold onto those valuables. It's gonna be a bumpy ride!