The great wars of nature reserves. Chapter Thirteen: The interrogation and the surprise.


There are plenty of badgers in White Deer Park. Special for the two couples in farthing land. Both Shadow and Hurkel have been together for over almost three years now. Although Shadow is a very friendly and sometimes carefree female badger, she is very smart and never used to be so insecure deep down. Except for the time when her friend, Big Bold, saved her from the fox scissors trap she happened to fall into.

She is so deeply grateful to Big Bold, and she also remember how they first met, when he ran away from home. And her mate, Hurkel, is quite a friendly and funny male badger. But he is deep down insecure and tries to be very careful. They had also given birth to a few badger cubs earlier, and are now grown up and living their lives in another part of the nature reserve. But both Shadow and Hurkel did not need to be so worried.

Because they know that their fully grown badger cubs knew about the Beast's existence and are very cautious too. But right now the two badgers and all the animals are gathered outside Fox's den. Along with the traitor who is arrested and a gray male fox who is visiting and telling everything that has happened. Rebel was the first to be completely amazed to hear Covin's story.

Rebel: "Is that true, Covin?! Did Silver execute Tyran?!"

Covin: "Yes. And Blaze is currently the sole deputy supreme leader of the fox troop. They have planned to attack the entire fox family and all the animals that are here in farthing land. Together with Silver's bodyguard, the Beast."

Old Fox and old Vixen looked at each other worriedly and thought it sounded rather unpleasant and dangerous. But old Fox got up and walked a little closer to Covin and asked a few questions.

Fox: "Do you know exactly when they're going to strike, Covin?"

Covin: "I don't know. And it's absolutely true what I'm saying, Fox. I'm not even in the fox troop at all. Because some of us blue and gray foxes have families and cubs to think about."

Fox: "How long have you known Tyran?"

Covin: "Last winter. My sister, Pearl, and he met just then. And she has two cubs that were born in late summer. But after his execution, she and her two cubs became very, very sad."

Vixen: "Oh, I can understand that. Poor Pearl and her cubs."

Fox: "But did he know about the wolf's death and had planned to escape from the silver fox clan, Covin?"

Covin: "Yes. He never thought anyone would find out about this total fiasco, even though he was the one responsible. Of course."

Fox: "Yes. So?"

Covin: "So, the mistake was that Blaze had become more and more loyal to Silver and found out the truth, after his brother and your son beat up their guards and then rescued Plucky from the old sawmill."

Friendly: "That's right. Me, Ranger, Rusty, Roamer, Pace, Faith, Hurkel and Bolt have had to give them the hard fight, while Swift, Rebel and Spike were able to find my nephew. Although we also didn't know that little Bold and Silvia would of course be involved in our rescue operation, right then."

Ranger: "Yes, that's true. And right now it looks like I'll have to fight my own brother during their attack. If and when they attack us, of course."

Fox: "We'll make plans on what to do. But first of all, we'll interrogate this female stoat, who is responsible for everything, both sneaking and leaking the information to the Beast."

All the animals gathered around looked at the female stoat, who was sitting next to Covin. She had just woken up and had been part of the foxes' conversation. Actually, the female stoat wanted to run away, but after the incident she had experienced this morning, she felt that it was no idea to run away anymore. She admitted that she was a spy all along and had leaked the information to the Beast, even though she didn't want to.

Fox: "Why did you tell the Beast everything?"

Swift: "And why are you sneaking around so discreetly?"

Both old Fox and Swift were understandably very curious about why she did it. The female stoat took a breath and sighed a little easier and answered their questions.

Stoat: "He says the silver fox clan knows about me. And they also knew that I was the one who leaked the information to Lady Blue about these poachers, of course. They are threatening to take my life if I don't give up the important information."

Fox: "Mhm, I see."

But Weasel and Measly calmly walked up to the female stoat and were both a little too angry and disappointed.

Weasel: "So you meant that I was blamed for the information about the poachers last time? Is that so?"

But the female stoat started crying and tried to wipe tears from her eyes and tried to admit to Weasel and her mate, Measly.

Stoat: "Yes, but Scarface didn't know it was me. Because we look almost the same. Except for the color of the fur, of course. Forgive me, Weasel."

The female stoat cried a little from her misfortune. Both Weasel and Measly felt a little too harsh on the poor stoat and began to feel sorry for her a little. At that moment, Hurkel walked over and sat next to the crying stoat and put his left paw with the digging claws on her back and comforted her and said.

Hurkel: "Don't cry so much, my friend. The weasels didn't mean to be so cruel for you. We all here understand how you felt. You've just been forced and exploited to work for those silver foxes who are so mean and dumb for you. But I would never be that stupid for you. Because I'm a kind badger and just wanted to help those animals who are having such a hard time in their lives. If you know what I mean, Stoat?"

The female stoat looked at Hurkel's honest face and tried to understand what he meant. But his beautiful mate, Shadow, and his mole friend, Mossy, who is sitting on Shadow's back, also agree with what Hurkel thinks.

Shadow: "Yes. Hurkel has the point, Stoat. If you need a friend who understands you, just ask my dear mate. He's the one who can make most of the animals here like you and get good advice from him."

Mossy: "Yeah, yeah, it's true what Shadow says, Stoat."

Even the weasels, the fox family and all the animal inhabitants agree and nod their heads. But the nice comfort, the female stoat began to feel too comforted and promised to tell everything she knows after her sneaking. Old Fox looked at Whisper for a brief second, and he nodded to her for permission to go up to the stoat and ask her the interesting question.

Whisper: "Have you been sneaking on my son's family lately? And not just the other animals that are here in farthing land?"

Stoat: "Yes. I have."

Whisper: "Did you also find out about his and Scarlet's cubs being with Silvia so much and calling one of them a traitor to the silver fox clan?"

Stoat: "How do you know?"

Fox: "There's also been some word of it, Stoat. That you apparently found out about Little Bold and Silvia's relationship and then told everything to the Beast, who then told Silver."

Russet: "If you did and my grandfather knows everything, it's a shame for you..!"

Russet calmly walked up to the female stoat and growled a little threateningly at her. Because she probably knows that stoats are too untrustworthy. Maybe too often sometimes. But when the stoat sees Russet's face with a little anger, she remembers what it was like when she first met Lady Blue. She thinks they look scary alike, except that Russet's fur is a little darker than Lady Blue's.

Russet: "Well, have you or not?"

But the stoat immediately shook her head and answered completely honestly.

Stoat: "No, he doesn't know about it. Silver doesn't know anything yet. Only the Beast knows about it and nothing else."

Ranger: "Are you sure?"

Stoat: "Yes, absolutely. If Silver had known, he would have gone mad and ordered all his fox troop to attack long ago."

Old Fox, Ranger, Swift and Rebel now began to understand what she meant. But still, most of the animals think it sounds very illogical and reasonable in some way.

Bolt: "Very strange of the stoat's story. If the Beast knew about Little Bold and Silvia's relationship, why didn't he tell Silver in that case?"

Swift: "He probably wanted to wait with the interesting information for Silver. Until they have taken control here too, although more discreetly of course. Or what do you think about it yourself, Fox?"

Fox: "Your theories rarely used to be completely wrong, Swift. So I believe it too."

Covin: "I also agree with you two. Because I didn't even know that a red fox was with Silver's grandson."

Hurkel: "Of course most animals would like to keep their own secrets to themselves. Especially when they are alone together."

When Hurkel said that word of truth, he looked at both little Bold and Silvia and fixed one of his eyes on them. The two adolescents looked at him a little surprised at first, then at each other and grinned and blushed so sheepishly. Little Bold's two siblings and a few other animals laughed a little at their embarrassing behavior. Everyone, except Diamond, Russet, Scarlet and old Vixen thought they were so cute together.

Vixen: "They're like Ranger and Charmer. When they first met, they also wanted to keep it a secret from each other for a while."

Friendly: "Until I found out about them and ruined the whole thing for my sister."

Charmer: "On the contrary, Friendly. If you hadn't done it, you probably never would have met Russet later on."

Russet: "I agree with your sister's words, Friendly. The color and appearance don't matter. The main thing is who is so cute. And you were absolutely the cutest and proudest red fox I've ever seen and met, you handsome fox."

Even Friendly blushed a little at his shyness and felt a little embarrassed by Russet's honest and loving words to him. And both Ranger and Charmer looked at each other for a while, before they also laughed at Friendly's sudden shyness. And all the animals around laughed even more, until it soon became quiet again. But then old Fox thought of something important, after he had finished laughing.

Fox: "Oh yeah, that's right! I have something important to ask you, Stoat."

Stoat: "Which is?"

Fox: "What made you scream first, then fainted?"

Stoat: "Fainted, me?"

Vixen: "Yes. Swift and Covin told us that you apparently met some animal that made us hear you scream so terribly."

Hurkel: "Yes, exactly. Is it the Beast you met?"

The female stoat feels unsure if she should really tell the truth about what she had seen and then fainted. But Hurkel comforted her again and said.

Hurkel: "You need not be afraid, my friend. We can understand you and your concerns."

But simply put by Hurkel's kind words, the stoat felt that she had to tell it.

Stoat: "I saw a terrible stag and I was terrified to death to hear his terrible roar of anger."

Fox: "A stag? What stag you have see and meeting?"

Stoat: "Trey!"

When old Fox heard what she said, his eyes widened in shock. Even all the animals' laughter quickly turned to both shock and astonishment at what the female stoat said.

Fox: "Trey?! Are you really sure?!"

Stoat: "Y-y-yes..! He is much angrier than any stag can be."

Fox: "Trey, alive! Is it really possible?"

Perry: "It is very possible, old Fox from farthing wood!"

Old Fox and all the animals looked up at the tree tops and saw the peregrine falcon, Perry, sitting on a tree branch next to two squirrels - Woody and Jester. Perry looked both worried and concerned.

Perry: "I saw him a little while later. He was completely mad and has huge wounds on the side of his body, which were cut by the claws of a lynx."

Mossy: "But how could he survive the fall from the cliff, then?"

Spike: "Yes! I have to agree with that! It's completely impossible!"

But the grey heron, Whistler, calmly walked over and stood next to Covin, Stoat and Hurkel, then he gave a good reason why.

Whistler: "When I was out flying last time, I saw Trey land in the river right next to the cliff, before I could save both Mossy and Spike's lives from the silver foxes' territory."

Spike: "Aha! Well, in that case, we kind of understand how it happened, then?"

Rebel: "If he survived the falling cliff, that means he's going berserk right now, right?"

Swift: "Not impossible, Rebel. But he probably won't come after us this time."

Vixen: "Swift's right. Trey's probably hunting the beast right now. Isn't that right, Fox?"

Fox: "Yes, Vixen. And you, Swift, and Rebel guessed right too. Because if he's going berserk, it won't be easy to convince him to calm down until he gets his revenge."

Friendly: "So, what do we do now?"

Ranger: "We have to tell Laird, of course."

But then suddenly the little mole, Mossy, felt his body shiver a little from the cold wind and that something even worse was coming. He put one of his digging claws from his left paw in his mouth, then took it out and pointed it in the air and said.

Mossy: "I don't think we can do that right now, I'm afraid."

Hurkel: "Why not, Mossy?"

Mossy: "Because the snowstorm is coming here soon. I can feel the cold wind from the north, Hurkel."

Shadow also thinks it's getting colder and colder with the north wind and Mossy is starting to understand the truth.

Shadow: "Mossy's right, Hurkel. I can feel the north wind blowing a little."

Swift: "A snowstorm? Is it really possible, as your mole friend says?"

Vixen: "Mossy never used to be completely wrong about his statement, Swift."

Whisper: "No, exactly. Especially not when we had a big hurricane here in White Deer Park before."

Charmer: "He has a really good sense of smell and used to get a nasty feeling that something was going to happen here."

But just then the two owls have returned to their friends and sat on the branch of another tree. Old Fox and all the animal friends were waiting for their report.

Fox: "Owl and Hollow? Have you two found out about their progress in the blue and gray foxes' territory?"

Owl: "They apparently had a meeting a while ago, together with Blaze and Silver. But they seemed a little discreet and plan to wait with the attack on us for the time being."

Hollow: "That's right. They apparently have found out that there will be a snowstorm here, and soon. Because we saw further north that the sky is covered with black clouds and that it is snowing a little over there too."

Now everyone realized that Mossy was right again as usual. Old Fox thinks that it is not worth doing anything about it for the time being. But he tells all the animal friends that he will think about the solution for a while, until he has made his decision and will tell them. All the assembled animals nodded their heads and agreed with old Fox's decision.

Fox: "Good. Then I consider our meeting is over for today."

But the poor female stoat wondered what she would do and where she would go, if the Beast found her. Both Hurkel and Shadow managed to convince her to stay with them until the danger was over. She is very deeply grateful for that. Moreover, the badgers are neighbors of Weasel and Measly.

Measly: ”Even if the stoat is a traitor to farthing land, we can at least give her another chance, Weasel."

Weasel: "You might be right, Measly. It's never too late to make amends for her."

The two weasels also agreed and gave her forgiveness. And that was enough to make the female stoat feel better and happier, even though she has repented of everything. And Mossy felt sorry for the poor stoat, but he also got to know her a little better, like a real friend. But what happens later during the blizzard, you'll all know next time.

TO BE CONTINUED