by Colin Dann
Vixen nodded happily. There seemed to be nothing that could disturb the peace of such a perfect day. For a while longer Tawny Owl watched the cubs playing and then, finding it increasingly difficult to stifle his yawns, he made an excuse and flew back to his tree for a long nap before dark.
At dusk he awoke with a start to see a familiar shape skulking in the shadows. The scarfaced fox had evidently decided to resume his reconnaisance.
‘What on earth is he up to?’ Tawny Owl muttered to himself, as he watched the animal pause at one of the entrances to Fox’s earth. ‘He’s listening for something, I’ll be bound.’
The beast stood motionless, head cocked at an angle, for some moments. Then he sniffed carefully all round the entrance and listened again. Finally he moved slowly off into the darkness.
Tawny Owl was puzzled. ‘Very curious,’ he commented.
He was still cogitating when Fox emerged from the earth and paused while he, too, sniffed the air. Then he looked up towards the willow. ‘Are you there, Owl?’ he called.
‘Yes.’ Tawny Owl alighted on the ground beside him.
‘Have you seen anything?’ Fox asked him.
‘Scarface has been back.’ Tawny Owl described his movements.
‘I knew it. I smelt him.’
‘He must have detected your scent,’ Tawny Owl surmised, ‘and then decided to go back.’
‘Exactly. Had I been out hunting . . .’ The friends exchanged glances.
‘You can rely on me,’ declared Tawny Owl. ‘I’ll see no harm’s done.’
‘But, with all due respect, would you be a match for such a tough customer?’ Fox queried hesitantly.
‘Vixen and I together could deal with him, if necessary,’ the bird assured him. ‘And, in any case, it may not come to anything. Perhaps it’s just harmless curiosity?’
‘Perhaps,’ said Fox. ‘But I don’t like it. His secretiveness . . .’
‘Are you hunting tonight?’ Tawny Owl asked him.
‘No. I’ll stay put this time. But tomorrow I must. And then . . .?’
‘Maybe we’ll learn a little more about our interested visitor,’ said Tawny Owl coolly. ‘As for now, I think I’ll pay a call on Badger. We don’t want him to feel he’s being left out of anything.’
The next night was clear and crisp, with a bright half moon. Tawny Owl was in position on the willow branch well before dark, and Badger joined him at the foot of the tree, concealed in a clump of bracken.
When it was quite dark, Fox quitted his earth to go hunting. He gave no sign of any kind that he was aware of his friends’ presence. They saw him trot nonchalantly away in the moonlight.
For some time all was quiet. Badger shivered once or twice in the chill evening air and wished he could move about a bit. Neither he nor Tawny Owl spoke. A breeze began to whisper through the leaves of the willow, and with it another faint sound – a regular pattering sound. Footsteps! Badger tensed under the bracken. The noise came nearer . . . pitter patter, pitter patter . . . and then a long, dog-like shadow was visible on the ground. The pattering ceased. Out into the moonlight came the scarfaced fox, treading very slowly and carefully towards the main entrance to the cubs’ den.
By the opening he stopped again and looked all round warily, snuffling the air. For a moment he looked towards the spot where Badger was hidden. The moon shone full on his face, scarred and hideous from a score of battles. Despite himself, Badger’s stout old heart missed a beat. Then the animal turned again and lowered himself to creep stealthily into the hole.
At once, Tawny Owl glided noiselessly down from his perch, and Badger rushed forward. Scarface sprang back.
‘You’ve no reason to go in there,’ said Tawny Owl. ‘What exactly is your game?’
‘I’m not accountable to you,’ snarled the fox, angry at being detected unawares.
‘But you’re accountable to the inhabitants of the den who, to my knowledge, have not invited your presence.’
‘A social call from one fox to another is no concern of a bird’s,’ Scarface sneered.
‘It is in this instance,’ Tawny Owl informed him calmly, ‘as I was specifically requested to keep watch for intruders.’
‘Intruders?’ snapped Scarface. ‘Intruders? How dare you talk to me of intruders. I’ve lived in this Park all my life – and my kind with me. I’ve more right to enter this earth than those who are already in it – cubs or no cubs.’
‘Just because you were born here doesn’t mean you own the Park, you know.’ Badger spoke for the first time. ‘There’s more than enough room for everyone to live comfortably without any interference being called for. We all lost our original homes thanks to human intervention, and we came here for the very reason that it was safe from human hands.’
‘Yes, yes, we’ve all heard about your heroic journey from Farthing Wood,’ the fox said sarcastically. ‘I was at the reception party when you arrived, just like everyone else. The Park could absorb your numbers rightly enough. But now you’ve started breeding . . .’
‘Some of us have,’ Badger corrected him. ‘I myself have no mate. Neither does Tawny Owl here. But you’ve nothing to fear from our party. We like to keep ourselves to ourselves.’
‘You have to eat, don’t you? I’m sure you don’t leave the Park every time you go hunting.’
‘Of course not,’ replied Tawny Owl imperturbably. ‘Do you?’
Scarface bristled with anger again. ‘The whole of this Reserve is my hunting territory,’ he seethed. ‘From time immemorial my ancestors lived and hunted here, long before it was fenced off by humans, or even had a name. When it was still wild and unchecked countryside, they roamed here freely. And it will always be that way. My cubs will hunt here after me, and their cubs after them . . .’
‘And so on ad infinitum,’ Tawny Owl remarked drolly.
Scarface looked at him dangerously, baring his fangs. Badger quailed slightly, though Tawny Owl stood his ground. In slow, menacing tones Scarface said: ‘No other family of foxes will be allowed the freedom of the Park. Tell your gallant leader to stay in his own quarter if he values the safety of his mate and her cubs. My family is large: I have many dependents. Don’t let him think he can outwit me. I’ve lived many years and I’ve yet to be bested.’ With a final snarl, he loped off into the shadows.
‘Well, well, well,’ Badger whispered, ‘what an alarming character.’
‘Pooh, nonsense,’ blustered Tawny Owl, who was secretly shaken by their confrontation, ‘nothing but idle threats. We thwarted his little game all right. I believe he was about to do some mischief to Vixen’s cubs.’
‘I’m sure of it,’ agreed Badger. ‘But I’m not convinced we’ve seen the last of him. I have an unpleasant feeling you and I have made an enemy for ourselves tonight, Owl.’
Tawny Owl stretched his wings and shook his feathers in an effort to hide a distinctly disconcerted expression. ‘Oh, I don’t know . . .’ he began.
‘Sssh, here’s Fox back,’ Badger interrupted him. He quickly acquainted Fox with the recent events. Fox invited them down into his earth while he took food in to Vixen. They all sat silent for a while.
‘I shall do exactly as he asks,’ Fox announced finally.
‘What!’ exclaimed Tawny Owl.
‘Yes, Owl. Vixen and the cubs must be my first consideration. I won’t do anything to put their lives at risk.’
‘Quite right, my dear fellow,’ Badger concurred. ‘I should do exactly the same. That creature has a very vicious look about him.’
‘And when the cubs are fully grown?’ Tawny Owl prompted.
‘Well . . . then it might be time to think again,’ Fox said cautiously.
‘You know you can always count on our support in any way,’ said Tawny Owl.
‘I know, and I thank you for it, just as I thank you for dealing with that villain just now. But this is my quarrel. I don’t want to involve others.’
‘Any quarrel of yours is our quarrel too, you know, Fox,’ Bad
ger reminded him. ‘Remember the Oath we all took before we left Farthing Wood.’
‘Of course I remember,’ replied Fox. ‘But that Oath was sworn to ensure the mutual protection of all our party while we were on our journey. We’ve made new lives for ourselves here – all of us. I don’t want to endanger my friends for any selfish reason.’
‘Well, I think in the event of any trouble,’ Badger opined, ‘you will find that everyone will get involved, whether you request it or not. Our ties are more lasting than simply for the duration of a journey.’
‘That is indeed a comforting thought, Badger, my dear friend,’ said Fox who was evidently quite moved. ‘And Owl – what a true friend you’ve been.’
‘Oh, don’t mention it,’ Tawny Owl said self-consciously. ‘Glad to be of assistance, I’m sure.’
Just then Vixen, who had finished eating, came forward. ‘Fox told me the gist of what occurred tonight,’ she said, ‘and I want to thank you both for standing guard as you did. If you look at the cubs, you can see how successful you were.’
They could see them blissfully asleep in a huddle, completely unaware of the interest provoked by their existence.
‘They’ll soon be big enough for me to take them hunting,’ she added. ‘They’re coming along fast’
‘Yes, yes, they grow so quickly,’ said Badger fondly. ‘It’s a shame in a way. But they need to be able to stand on their own feet as soon as possible.’
‘Never more so than in the present case,’ Tawny Owl remarked, but Fox gestured him to silence.
‘Well, it’s been an eventful evening,’ he summarized. ‘Owl, Badger, I’m sure you both feel the need to eat. We’ll keep in touch.’
Badger took this as a hint that Fox wanted to be alone with his family and began to amble towards the exit, but the somewhat insensitive Owl lingered.
‘No hurry, no hurry,’ he said. ‘My stomach takes second place to the pleasure of your company.’
‘Now, we mustn’t outstay our welcome,’ Badger said pointedly. ‘Fox has other claims on his time.’
Tawny Owl noticed his gaffe but endeavoured to appear unconcerned. ‘Of course,’ he said, ‘I just wanted to make it quite clear I was not in any discomfort.’
Badger had already made his farewells and left the earth.
‘I’ll be on watch again tomorrow evening,’ Tawny Owl assured Fox awkwardly. ‘Never fear.’
Fox smiled. ‘All right, Owl. Thank you.’
Tawny Owl cleared his throat. ‘Well – goodbye,’ he finished lamely, and finally left them alone.
The time came when the four cubs were ready to go on their first hunting trip. Many of Fox’s and Vixen’s friends came to witness this important outing, among them Badger, Mole, Weasel and, of course, Tawny Owl. It was dusk as they gathered outside the earth, and watched Vixen shepherd Bold, Charmer, Dreamer and Friendly towards the entrance.
The cubs emerged with various degrees of enthusiasm. Bold looked keen and alert; his robust young body was tingling with excitement. Charmer stayed close to her mother, watching her every movement, but Dreamer, as usual, seemed to be in a world of her own – wandering off to sniff at a patch of grass or a twig as if she had all the time in the world. Friendly made a beeline for the onlookers, wagging his tail furiously as he recognized each of them in turn.
Vixen called them together again and had a few last words with Fox, who impressed on her once more not to attempt to hunt outside their own corner of the Park. She took a necessarily quiet farewell of him and of their friends and led the cubs away. Shortly afterwards Fox followed, making sure he was out of sight and keeping far enough behind for his scent to remain undetected. For, although it was Vixen’s job to instruct the cubs, he was determined to be within reach should anything untoward occur.
‘Keep close to me,’ Vixen told the cubs, ‘and there’s no danger. Do you understand, Dreamer? No wandering off!’
‘Don’t worry, Mother,’ the cub replied. ‘I’ll stay with you.’
Bold was snuffling the night air keenly as the little group trotted on. A hundred exciting scents were wafted to him on the breeze and his young feet fairly danced along in his exhilaration.
‘I want complete quietness now,’ Vixen ordered, as she led them into some long grass. Friendly, who had been chatting to his sister cubs, fell silent. They followed their mother in a line, nosing their way through the tall stalks. A variety of insects scattered in their wake – beetles, crickets, spiders and earwigs. Some tumbled into their path, and following their mother’s example, they snapped them up. They quickly discerned which were to their liking.
But Vixen was after larger game. They arrived on the banks of a stream rich in water-rats. She showed the cubs how to exercise their patience while nothing seemed to appear; then, when the prey was spotted, to freeze if it approached or, alternatively, to stalk it from behind. She showed how to pounce and pin it with front paws and how to render it immobile with the jaws.
The cubs at first were clumsy and too eager, and for a long time they caught nothing. The water-rats were far too nimble and knowing for them. But Bold caught a water-shrew at the stream’s edge and this success spurred him on. Vixen helped the others and, eventually, Charmer and Friendly were also successful. Only Dreamer, who had eaten rather too many insects and earthworms on the way, showed little aptitude.
‘You will go hungry tonight,’ Vixen told her. ‘Then tomorrow perhaps you will try harder.’
All the time Fox watched them from further downstream. When he saw they were about to leave he disappeared. He was satisfied that there was no danger abroad and that they would soon be safely back in the den again. He had completely failed to notice a familiar figure, hidden in the shadows on the opposite bank. Scarface had also been watching the cubs’ lesson, but from a quite different motive.
At that very moment in another area of the Park his mate was going through the self-same procedure with her cubs. Scarface looked with anger and resentment at Vixen’s cubs, comparing his own unfavourably with them. Vixen’s seemed sturdier and more agile. In reality only Bold was bigger, but he likened the cub’s brother and sisters to him in his mind’s eye. He jealously watched Bold’s dawning skills and knew that he could be supreme among all the foxes one day. ‘But that shall not be,’ he muttered darkly to himself. ‘No interloper will supercede me and mine while I live. This young cub must be dealt with before he grows any more.’
He watched Vixen set off with the cubs following, and then swam across to the other bank silently. As they re-entered the long grass, he ran quickly round the outside to head them off. Vixen emerged first, then Charmer and Dreamer, and finally the two male cubs. Scarface set up a loud yapping and barking to startle them. Vixen halted stock still, but all four cubs leapt into the air in alarm. She saw the hostile fox speeding towards them.
‘Quickly!’ she cried. ‘Run for the earth!’
The cubs set off as swiftly as their legs could carry them, while their mother faced about to encounter their attacker. But Scarface twisted out of her reach and raced after her young ones. In no time his longer legs brought him up to their heels. He knew he would have time only to catch one cub, and he immediately singled out Bold for attack. Running in amongst the cubs, he scattered them and isolated Bold by shielding him with his body. Then he bared his fangs and prepared to lunge.
But Bold was not so named for nothing. Taking Scarface completely by surprise, the plucky little animal snapped at the old fox first, and bit him neatly on the foreleg. Scarface actually fell back a pace or two in utter amazement at the cub’s audacity. For a moment he was dumbfounded; then, with a wild snarl, he sprang forward again.
By now Vixen, with her famed swiftness, was catching up with the aggressor. As she ran, she let out a piercing scream as a signal to Fox. The eerie cry cut through the night air like a knife, and was heard not only by Fox but by a number of the other Farthing Wood animals.
Before Scarface could aim again at Bold, Vixen was in bet
ween them, snapping viciously at the hideous muzzle while she protected her bravest cub. The other three were now out of danger and well on the way back to their den. While Vixen and Scarface lunged and feinted at each other, growling horribly the whole time, Bold ran round his mother and bit his enemy from behind with his sharp young teeth.
Scarface was in a fury – the attacker became the attacked. As he swung backwards and forwards, he spied in the distance Fox galloping in their direction. He knew it was time to break off the contest. With a final wild snap at Vixen which caught her a glancing blow on the shoulder and made her yelp, Scarface broke free and made off at a good pace back to his own kind.
Fox saw this as he approached and felt inclined to race after him, but Vixen’s cry of pain had decided him to attend to his family first. He was quickly assured when it became obvious Vixen had only sustained a scratch. While he comforted his mate, Fox said: ‘That creature is beginning to interfere a little too much in our affairs. If he wants to really stir up trouble, I’ll give him something he didn’t bargain for.’
‘He was after Bold,’ panted Vixen. ‘I don’t know why – the other cubs didn’t interest him.’
‘Where are they?’ Fox asked quickly.
‘They got away, luckily. They should be back in the den by now.’
Fox sighed with relief and then smiled down at Bold, who was wagging his tail as hard as he could, begging for recognition.
‘You’re a game one,’ his father said to him. ‘I saw you helping your mother.’
‘He was defending himself before I came on the scene,’ Vixen told him. ‘He bit that hateful creature before he had a chance to be bitten.’
‘No, did he though?’ Fox murmured. ‘What, he attacked old Scarface?’ There was pride in his voice. ‘My word, that is something.’
‘I thought he was going to kill me,’ said Bold quietly, ‘so I had to do something.’
‘Well, you certainly seem to be able to look after yourself,’ Fox praised him. Yet, even as he spoke, in his heart he knew the brave little cub would from now on be the prime target for their enemy – even more so than before. Scarface would never forget his humiliation of this night.