Ah, if only you could know what your enemy was thinking, of course if you're the reader you can and thet cant, such is the beauty of writing....ok I have no idea what I'm talking about so...enjoy!

Chapter 2- Fresh starts

“This is not going to go down well.” The blue fox muttered to himself as
he entered the den. “He is not going to like this at all.”

As soon as the blue entered the den, he instantly started to walk
toward another blue fox who was lying in the darkness.

Slowly he came into speaking distance and looked up.

“I'm sorry to disturb you father, but I saw two new foxes not far from
our territory...Red foxes.” he said nervously.

The other fox looked up at this, his dead eye glaring out of the
darkness. The blue held his breath, waiting for a reaction.

“Red...The Farthing wood lot.” growled Scarface, standing up.

Scarface walked towards Bounder, who stood his ground despite being
terrified of his father.

“You sure they were reds?” asked Scarface, standing over his son.

Bounder nodded nervously.

“I’m absolutely positive that they were reds.” He replied. “There’s no
mistaking that shade of colour...even though it was dark.”

Scarface scowled and said nothing. Bounder shifted slightly under his
father’s harsh gaze.

“Did you hear anything useful?” asked Scarface finally.

Again, Bounder nodded nervously.

“I managed to pick up bits and pieces of information, but nothing
useful.” He replied.

“In other words, you didn’t do your job properly.” roared Scarface,
causing his son to cower in fear. “Please tell me that they didn’t see
you.”

Bounder winced at his father’s words.

“Well, one of the new reds did look in my general direction.” He said
before he could stop himself. “But I don’t think he saw me.” He added
rather hastily.

A vein in Scarface’s head bulged out as Scarface’s anger increased.

“But he could’ve smelt you!” he yelled angrily.

This time Bounder didn’t try to hide his fear and backed away from his
father a few paces. Luckily for him Scarface was too angry to notice.

“So have another pair of Farthing Wood foxes in this park.” muttered
Scarface angrily, pacing around his den. “This is going to make things
for us a lot harder.”

As he said this, Bounder remembered something he had heard during his
spy mission.

“Father, the red foxes...they’re not from farthing wood.” He said.

Scarface stopped pacing and looked at him.

“Are you sure?” He asked.

Bounder nodded confidently.

“Yes, I heard the two males tell the two Farthing Wood foxes that they
were both from separate places months away from here.” He said,
scared of his father’s possible wrath for not mentioning this.

However, Scarface’s anger seemed to have vanished.

“Well, that makes things slightly better.” He said, thinking hard.

Silence fell over the den as Scarface thought of his options.

“We could use this to our advantage.” He said thoughtfully after a long
time. “If we can somehow turn one of the newcomers against the
Farthing Wood lot, we can use him to help our cause against him.

Bounder thought about his father’s idea. To him, it sounded like a good
idea, except for one little thing.

“It’s good, but I thought we were against reds, not allies with
them.” Bounder stated finally. “What will we do with the red later on
when we have accomplished everything?”

Scarface thought about it and shrugged.

“When our need for the red is finished, we can just kill him.” He said
dismissively, looking back at his son. “Nice work tonight. I’m now
assigning you to keep an eye of these newcomers, and report to me
what they do with the Farthing Wood lot.”

His son smiled and bowed his head respectfully. Bounder was secretly
pleased that he had been given such an important job.

“Thank you father,” He said, proud that he had impressed his father. “I
promise that I won’t disappoint you.”

=======

Slash looked over at Dare with a grin as they walked towards Fox and
Vixen’s earth. Since meeting the two of them, winter had seemed to
become so much more bearable to Dare and Slash thanks to visits from
Fox and Vixen, who had supplied them with extra food.

These visits had also created a friendship between the two groups, but
all the same Dare and Slash hadn't been expected to be invited to the
first time the couple's cubs were coming above ground.

As well as that this it would be the first time they would be among the
rest of the Farthing wood animals, so this had to go well for the two of
them.

“Don't say it again.” Dare said before Slash could open his mouth. “I
know how much this means, I know they'll be fine with us as long as we
be ourselves.”

Slash nodded and looked forward, they would be there soon and they
would be themselves. Nothing more would be needed.

Things went as smoothly as hoped. To begin with, both Dare and Slash
were a bit nervous and awkward in the company of the other animals.
After a while though, the two of them felt slightly more relaxed and
began to socialise with the others with greater ease.

Determined to become accepted and look like he was willing to become
part of them, Slash did his best to get to know the others that were
there, talking with them and swapping stories about previous
experiences.

While Dare talked with the others and slowly became accepted, he
preferred to keep to his solitary side and watch the cubs. His attention
kept wandering to one that kept wandering off before one of her
parents picked her up and placed her back near her siblings.

“Proper little dreamer that one.” he said quietly to himself. “I think when
I'm around I should keep an eye open, no sense in being under cautious
and letting her wander off.”

Dare quietly told Slash of his plan to watch the cub, to which Slash
quickly agreed to. Somehow, both of them knew this decision was going
to play a big part in the future.

Eventually, Fox called for everyone gathered to be silent. As he did
this, Dare and Slash knew that the time had come.

“As you all know, we have two newcomers to White Deer Park.”
announced Fox.

Everyone turned their heads to look at Dare and Slash. Both of them
didn’t seem to be bothered by the scrutiny the animals were now giving
them.

“These two have been living here for a couple of months now, and I
believe that it is time that we offer them the option to take up the Oath
of Mutual Protection if they choose too.” continued Fox, looking at Dare
and Slash.

Fox’s words were met with nods of approval and acceptance from the
animals gathered.

“Dare and Slash, do you both chose to take up the Oath of Mutual
Protection?” asked Fox.

“Yes I do.” replied Dare, before looking at his companion.

“I am willing to take up the Oath.” said Slash confidently.

Fox smiled with satisfaction at their decision before looking at Badger.

“Care to do the honours, my old friend?” asked Fox.

“Yes, I would Fox.” replied Badger, turning towards Dare and Slash.

“Now repeat after me,” started Badger. “I name of animal.”

Dare and Slash both stated their names one after the other.

“Do solemly swear not to eat, kill or otherwise harm another animal that
is under this oath.” continued Badger.

“Do solemly swear not to eat, kill or otherwise harm another animal that
is protected by this oath.” repeated Dare and Slash.

Fox and Vixen both smiled at them as they completed the Oath.

“You’re now part of the Farthing Wood animals.” said
Vixen. “Congratulations to the two of you.”

The other Farthing Wood animals came up to them and gave their
congratulations for taking the oath and for their choice to join them.
Dare and Slash both felt satisfied with their choice, and they were both
happy to feel accepted by the others.

Only one animal didn’t congratulate them and approve of their choice.
Nearby in some bushes some distance away, Bounder witnessed the
two of them taking the oath. He cursed under his breath when he saw
them repeat it.

“My father is definitely not going to be pleased when he hears that they
have joined them.” He thought rather unhappily as he turned away and
headed back towards blue territory. “And it certainly wrecks father’s
plan to turn them against the Farthing Wood lot. But then knowing my
father, he’ll have a way to make them join us.”

Slash (C)  Slash-Fox
Dare (C) Me
All other characters, setting and universe in general (C) Colin Dann