Prone To Wander (rough draft)

Chapter Thirty One (Epilogue)

When the sun came to greet the new day, Malaki wandered away from the group, and found a place to sit beside the new grave. Angus saw him leave, and was quick to follow. The puppy started to nuzzle his friend, but flinched when his cut nose met wet fur.

Malaki looked up, “That's a nasty wound,” he said, wiping away his tears, “Did anyone help you clean it?”

“Mommy did... not that it's really much of a wound,” Angus pawed at the fresh turned earth, and whimpered.

“Thank you, Angus. There might've been two graves if you hadn't rushed ahead like you did.”

“And thank you,” Malaki heard, and turned to see that his uncle Ruben had followed too, “Or I'd be grave number three. You do realize, you saved my life. Don't you?”

The young squirrel nodded his head, as the tears started coming again, “I'm so glad you're alright, but... but why couldn't anyone save Vincent?”

“I'll be asking myself that question for as long as I live. I can't answer it. But what I do know is that he truly enjoyed his life here, and loved and appreciated all of his friends. I'm sure there isn't a creature here that he wouldn't have given his all for... and been honored to do it.

“Now, I'm sorry to ask, but would you come back to the group? Quinn says we all need to talk about something.”

When everyone... or very nearly, everyone... was together again, Quinn began. “We're in trouble,” he said plainly. “The Captain got away. He's been injured, maybe not enough to kill him, but maybe enough to make him mad. What's worse is that we're not just up against ermines anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Ruben asked, “I didn't see any other creatures with them.”

“Didn't you hear the Captain when I told him to let Malaki go? “Yes, a very nice threat”... does that remind you of anyone?” The others were silent. “I only know one beast that would compliment someone who threatened him like that, and that's Liam.”

“Of course, that's what he said to you at the river!” Ruben interjected, “I remember now. But why would Liam be helping the ermines?”

“My guess would be, they offered him something, not that it matters much. The point is, while you might be the only one making friends with vicious creatures, Captain Rembrant is at least making aliances. There's no telling what that could mean for us.”

“Then it was Liam who started the fires. That's why no one could catch the scent of the enemy, everyone was searching for ermines, not that raccoon.”

“Well, then,” Arkadi grumbled, “I should've killed that beast after all. Regrets aside however, I think Niki and I have agreed to move closer to the clearing. There's a fallen tree, not far over the line, it's been a nice place if I need to get out of the weather. We'll dig it out properly, and den there from now on. That way, one of us should always be close enough to hear if we're needed.”

“Since you'll be so close,” Malaki said, “I can help with teaching the puppies how to hunt. I can't give lessons like Vincent did, but they can at least practice tracking and chasing.”

“I'm sure they'd like that,” the dog replied, “And don't worry, I can handle the lesson part.”

The thought of having the dogs nearer was comforting, and everyone felt certain that Captain Rembrant wouldn't be coming back to the clearing any time soon. Wherever he was though, he was sure to be scheming. And if he was willing to work with other creatures to get his revenge, or his recompense as he called it, then there was no telling who the group could trust. This lead to a new rule, that any newcomer to the clearing had to be approved by Ruben, Quinn and Arkadi, regardless of what kind of creature it was.

The problem of lost resources, was a very different concern. The store houses could be rebuilt, but in the beginning of winter, could they be refilled? The answer was an unfortunate “no”. They stored what little could be found, mostly acorns, walnuts, and a few mushrooms. With few other options, Cavan's idea was used (more or less), and Ruben and Malaki became avid bird hunters. Through the winter it was almost exclusively birds roasting over the firepit, especially when the stream froze over and no fish could be caught. But thankfully the other prey didn't disappear as fast as the Captain might have liked. The dogs and raccoons were able to get through the winter quite well.

It was towards the end of winter that the friends noticed a real change in the forest. Arkadi told the others that there were coyotes marking along his territory boarder. And no deer, no foxes, nothing at all, wanted to be where the dog and coyote territories met. This meant very little prey was passing through, and it forced the predators to roam further for hunting. The good news was that the puppies were growing fast, and would soon be able to help with the hunting. And they were already willing and able to protect their friends from some dangers... as Angus had proven.

Despite it all, there was a kind of peace to the clearing, and some days they nearly forgot that someone was plotting against them. Then there would be reminders. Evidence of ermines would suddenly be found in their part of the forest, food cashes would be raided, they were small annoyances really... but always left the friends wondering when the Captain might make another move.

The End...
or is it?