A tod and a vixen have different views on life,
but it doesn't stop them from growing old (and crotchety) together.

Inspired by  poetigress's Thursday Prompt


oOo

My old back isn't half what was, so when I went to feed the chickens I sat down for a bit to take the weight off.

The chook-chooks knocked over the little wooden ramp of their house again. Little devils do that all the time then expect me to sort it out. As if it was my fault they can't get into their shady home when the sun is high! So I picked it up from the dirt, turned it over and placed it against the house once more. And today, some ants were on it.

I watched the little things busying about. Some had little white grains in their mouths. Food for their ant babies I guess. They were all a-muddle when their world turned upside-down and up to the sun. They were lost, many ant-miles from where they started, and all in the blink of a tod's eye.

Down where the ramp had lain, a small army of ants cleared off to their bivouac, dismayed their cover was blown. It was an orderly gathering of their rations and baggage as off they went, their comrades gone and forgotten on the faraway ramp.

She came over, complaining. I was standing like a fool, she said, one arm as long as the other, when there's work a-plenty to do. I just started to explain about the ants when our rooster darted up the ramp, saw only food and ate every last one like a gunner taking out an enemy charge, until all the lost ants gone.

I felt sad but didn't know why. She frowned at me. I said it was just like our own life, one tough battle after another, forever, until we were gone for good. She looked at me for a bit, then went into the kitchen. She returned and placed an eggcup in my paw.

What's this, I said.

It's your prize, she said.

For what, I asked.

For the bloody obvious, she answered. Now get the chooks fed and clean up this yard. Dinner's yet to be made.

I looked at the eggcup and frowned. There's few things more irritating than a hard-minded vixen.

oOo