Fox's Feud Read Online Free Page B

again,’ Bold said. ‘She’s always doing that. I’m sure she’ll be all right, Mother,’ he added comfortingly.
    ‘We must search for her,’ said Fox. ‘Badger, will you take Bold back to join the others?’
    ‘Of course, Fox. Anything I can do – you know that.’
    Fox and Vixen split up to comb different areas, calling softly to their lost cub. Inside the earth, the three other cubs and their guardians waited anxiously.
    It was Fox who found her. Vixen heard his cry – an angry, baffled cry of distress. She found him standing over the body of Dreamer. She was dead, and her young body had been badly savaged.
    There was no doubt in their minds who had done the deed. Fox’s face was very grim. With menace he said: ‘Now indeed he will have a fight to contend with.’

The savage killing of an innocent cub was a considerable shock to the Farthing Wood community. There were those who thought it should be avenged, while others advised greater caution. Amongst the smaller animals there was widespread alarm. They had thought themselves safe and now it appeared there was a new threat to their lives.
    The strongest advocates of taking revenge for the death of Dreamer were the birds – Tawny Owl, Kestrel and Whistler. Fox, however, was wise enough to recognize that, in the event of a prolonged state of conflict, they stood to suffer least. Their wings were their constant passport to safety. For a long time he brooded over what course of action to take. Vixen’s grief was an achingwound in his heart, and he itched for battle. But he did not want to further endanger the survival of his other three cubs. So for the time being Scarface’s blow remained unanswered.
    Over the next few weeks the cubs were never allowed to wander far, and at night both Fox and Vixen accompanied them on their hunting trips. Soon the three were very nearly as big as their parents and Bold, in particular, was wishing to become more independent. It was Vixen who finally said to Fox: ‘We can be overprotective, you know. Shouldn’t we be encouraging them to rely more on themselves now?’
    ‘I suppose you’re right,’ Fox acknowledged. ‘But do you think they’re ready to meet all the dangers around?’
    ‘Time will tell,’ said Vixen realistically. ‘In any case, the dangers you are referring to will always be present. The cubs are aware of them, too.’
    Fox relented. ‘I’ll tell them they’re free to go where they choose, but within reason. We don’t want to invite trouble.’
    The next day Fox and Vixen hunted alone, and the cubs were left to their own devices. Bold was eager to explore further afield and, before he left them, he made Friendly and Charmer promise not to mention this.
    With what sense of freedom and adventure he set off in the moonlight! His natural confidence made him feel he was equal to anything and he trotted along quite fearlessly. He went first to the stream of the water-rats and slaked his thirst at its edge. He had never been to the other bank and, without further ado, dog-paddled easily across. Here there were new smells, new sounds to absorb. Bold watched an owl flitting from tree to tree, calling in its metallic voice to its mate. A stoat brushed in front of him, intent on its own business. Bold caught himself a morsel and paused to eat it under a birch tree.
    ‘Hallo,’ whispered a voice nearby. ‘I don’t think I know your face.’
    Bold looked around him and detected a movement under a gorse bush. He looked closer. ‘Oh – hallo,’ he said in reply. ‘You must be Adder.’
    ‘That is the case,’ said the snake.
    ‘My father has often talked to me about you,’ Bold went on.
    ‘Really? What did he say?’
    ‘He said you were a remarkable creature,’ Bold said innocently.
    Adder chuckled. ‘Not so remarkable for a snake,’ he said. ‘But it seems we legless individuals always appear unusual to those who have them.’
    ‘I don’t think he was referring to that aspect at all,’ Bold