The great wars of nature reserves. Chapter Nine: Punishment and blasphemy.


Tyran had long ago married Covin's sister, at least after his father's death. Her name is Pearl, she is the most beautiful vixen of all in the silver fox clan. She is also like her mate, a bit arrogant and dislikes the red foxes, sometimes. But deep down she is both weak and caring, she has no direct evil intention to kill anyone, even though she is the mate of a ruthless gray fox.

She is also a good friend of Shiny and is the mother of her and Tyran's two fox cubs, Rogue - the little vixen, and Reaver - the little fox. Both she and Tyran live happily together of course. But when it comes to his commitment and responsibility, she respects that.

And she sometimes gets help from her brother, when she can't handle everything herself, especially not when she has to go out in search of some food for her hungry little ones. Right now, both she and Tyran are together with their cubs for a while. Because he has been through something terrible that he would rather not think about.

He explained to Pearl that his own bodyguard is dead and several of the silver fox guards have been beaten by the animals from Farthing Land. And he is also a little terrified that he will be blamed, since he is responsible for his ideas about the secret prison, and that Plucky is saved. But Pearl comforted him a little.

Pearl: "So, so, Tyran. It'll work out."

Tyran: "Ha! That's easy for you to say. Don't you think Silver will probably execute me if he finds out about this."

Pearl: "But it's not certain that he will. You have a family, right? And I need you more than that. You're the best father to Reaver and Rogue. And they'll probably be like you when they grow up."

Tyran: "My beloved, Pearl. You don't even know what I've been through in my life, before you and I met."

Pearl: "No, but I only know one thing: You're my sweetheart. That's the only thing that matters to me and to you and to our lives."

Tyran: "Sigh! Very well... Let's hope you're right. But I highly doubt it."

Pearl: "Believe me, Tyran. It'll work out."

But that's where she was wrong. Outside their little cave home, Covin appears, just in time. He calmly walked in, panting a little heavily with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.

Tyran: "How are you, brother-in-law? You look like you've been chasing hares all day?"

Pearl: "What's happened to you, Covin?"

Covin: "Huff! Huff! I have bad news to tell you two."

Pearl: "About what?"

Tyran: "What bad news?"

Covin: "Silver..."

Tyran: "What's wrong with him, then? Is he sick with old age?"

Covin: "No, worse! He's officially deposed you as deputy and is letting Blaze take over the whole thing with blue and gray fox troops."

Tyran: "WHAT!? Is that true?"

Covin: "Mhm... Besides, you're being held in absentia. They're on their way here to pick you up. You can't stay here any longer!"

Both Tyran and Pearl looked at each other and realized that it wasn't going to work. And their two cubs, who had been playing for today, also came into the family's rock cave and also learned what had happened. But after a moment later, when Blaze's troops were almost there, Tyran told his family, probably for the last time.

Tyran: "I don't know how long I'll be gone. But you, Covin, will take full responsibility, from now on. Is that clear?"

Covin: "Yes, Tyran. I promise."

Pearl: "Take care, my dearest mate."

Both Pearl and Tyran nuzzled each other's cheeks one last time, until their cheeks parted and he prepared to leave. Only his two cubs, Reaver and Rogue, didn't want their father to abandon them.

Reaver: "Do you really have to go, dad?"

Rogue: "Please, daddy! Don't leave us!"

Tyran: "You two will probably be fine without me. And one of you has to take care of your mommy too. Right?"

Both Reaver and Rogue eventually understood what their father meant, and did exactly as he wished. Their father walked out of the rock cave, then he started to run away. Both Covin and two cubs watched Tyran disappear and waved goodbye to him. Except for Pearl, who began to get tears in her eyes and was filled with grief and pride for her beloved husband.

Many minutes passed, until Silver heard the news that they had finally captured Tyran at the border of White Deer Park's fence. After a while, Tyran had stood before the council and received the decision to execute him. They then led him to the large pit, which is called the cauldron. Down there, the Beast awaits his new victim and dinner.

But the one standing next to the pit and keeping the Beast company was of course Silver, who immediately got up and walked calmly up to Tyran. The guards had to back up a few steps, letting Tyran meet his godfather one last time. Tyran was of course very nervous and worried.

He probably knew that Silver would not give him any more deferment at all. When the supreme leader was close enough, he stopped in front of Tyran, his gaze icy with disappointment. And Tyran understood why he was staring like that and made the best of the possible situation.

Tyran: "Silver, let me explain. It's not what you think."

Silver: "Then why didn't you report to me? Are there more things that you know that I don't?"

Tyran: "Yes, Blaze is the one who was supposed to be in charge of security with our prisoner and the surveillance. But..."

Silver: "Don't blame him, Tyran! I know everything! Not only was your bodyguard, the big wolf, shot by the warden, I've also learned that my granddaughter, Silvia, has been there at the old sawmill! Even my bodyguard knew! Because he has been in farthing land and snooped on the red foxes and also found out the truth about Shiny and her three cubs' escape!"

Silver's tone was both icy and harsh. Tyran only grew more and more nervous, until Silver asked him in a serious tone.

Silver: "Did you also know that Shiny was trying to get to White Deer Park and succeed came there?"

Tyran: "Uh...no, I didn't know that?"

Silver: "What was one of her cubs doing there, then? Have you already forgotten that I sent you and your troops to search for my daughter and her three cubs earlier, right?"

Tyran: "Yes, but it was early autumn when we started looking for them.

Silver: "Exactly, and then you told me that you couldn't find them. And I assumed that she didn't know the way to White Deer Park. But apparently I was wrong. She must have met this red-brown fox somehow. Otherwise Silvia wouldn't have ended up there in farthing land either."

Tyran realized that he couldn't stay silent for long and started telling the real truth.

Tyran: "Shiny is dead, Silver."

Silver stared a little puzzled at what Tyran said and tried to understand what he really meant by that.

Silver: "What were you talking about?"

Tyran: "That's true. What I said about her being missing isn't exactly the same thing. She died during the heavy rainstorm, with lots of boulders all over her. But how Silvia managed to make it through the mountains and then meet Swift and his future mate, I don't know."

Silver's eyes widened in surprise, but at the same time he felt frustrated about knowing the truth. But he kept his calm anyway.

Silver: "So you've been lying to me, all this time..! But why haven't I been told the real truth about her death, anyway?"

Tyran: "Well, there's no reason to bring it up. Because you hated Shiny, of course. And you probably wished she had died a little earlier, like her mate, Blueface."

Tyran probably wouldn't have said that. Because right now Silver's anger is just too great. It became silent for a few seconds, until Silver hit Tyran on the right cheek really hard with his right paw, making him back away. And three guards hold him down with their jaws and forelegs and paws, while Silver spoke his honest opinion.

Silver: "It's one thing what you think, Tyran. And that I can't get one of my children and grandchildren to agree with me and my views. But hating my own family. Oh no, is against my principles..! And although Shiny was a bit against me sometimes, she was still my daughter. And you should never have blasphemed Shiny, or her beloved hero - Blueface... ever!"

Then he snapped his right paw-finger and pointed down into the cauldron, ordering the guards to throw the traitor down, before Silver turned around and walking away. Tyran had to fight out of sheer panic and try to get free, but three guards still held him and taking him to the edge, until they pushed him down into the pit of the cauldron. He landed a little hard on the stone ground, despite it being slightly covered in snow.

Now Tyran lay completely still and did not move. But when he regained his consciousness and also the clearest vision, he saw how the Beast has stood in front of him and stared at him with a happy face and smiled quite contentedly. Then the Beast's right paw was lifted up, as high as possible in the air. And before Tyran realized that his fate was coming, the Beast said.

The Beast: "Two traitors in the same paw-strike. Such father, such son..!"

Then his right paw quickly pulled down towards the victims' face, and from the pit, Silver heard a paw-strike sound from his bodyguard. He sighed very heavily and felt that it was over for Tyran's suffering. Even if Tyran has a family, the Council's laws cannot be changed at all. After later, Blaze has gone to Tyran's family and told everything that has happened.

Pearl was of course devastated when she heard that and cried a little in despair, and her two cubs also cried over their father's tragic death. They were able to be with their poor humble mother in her arms and all three hugged together, while they cried for a while. The only one who didn't intervene in the grief was, of course, Covin, who naturally became both angry and sad at the same time.

Covin: "You and Silver are really ruthless! You will get paid for this!"

Blaze: "If I were you, I'd be a little more thoughtful. You can never be too careful when it comes to Silver's wrath."

Covin: "And you are now the only deputy supreme leader of the silver fox clan. Do you really think you can succeed?"

Blaze: "We'll see."

Covin: "The red foxes will defeat both you and your troops, anyway."

Blaze: "Ha-ha! Not as long as we have his "The beast" on our side."

After that, Blaze turned and walked away with his satisfied smile, while Covin looked at Blaze for a while, then at his sister and her cubs having calmed down from all the crying. Covin has finally realized that he has been a little unfair to his older sister, and didn't think Tyran deserved to die in this cruel way either.

Covin: "I have no choice. I have to go to the red foxes in farthing land."

TO BE CONTINUED.