The Fable of the Stray Fox-Happy Ending

The Fable of the Stray Fox

The Fable of the Stray Fox

Just like people the animals hold their own societies, but whilst we elect to live in houses within or outside of cities the animals choose to remain outside all together. Take the fox, perhaps the most cunning and certainly among the dangerous of all animals to roam the woods. The foxes reigned proud in the centre of the woods, kings and queens among the animals there, feared and respected by all who wasn't a fox.

However like the societies of man, the foxes were capable of being unjust and cruel. In the coven of the foxes was born a youngling, he wasn't a runt nor was he a high ranking male but yet he was spurned by all whom was a fox. He wasn't sure why, he didn't feel too different from all the others. He walked like they did and acted like they did yet no matter what his endeavours it only got him shame from his parents and hatred from the coven. So the young fox grew to be alone.

The years and the foxes were unkind to the young fox, he learned to accept and adapt to this, and he found strength in solace and comfort in being alone. He still didn't know why they didn't care for him, perhaps this was just the way things were, things didn't have to be fair and it appeared there wasn't always a reason creatures needed to be cruel.

Time came for the foxes to mate, the young fox had grown hardened from the cruelty and accepted he wouldn't find a mate so made no attempt to woo or flirt. Through the years the other vixens had offered him no kindness so he expected none now, but to his surprise one approached him offering such. Confused but accepting in hope for finding someone, the young fox felt joy.

With the foxes there is often competition for the females, the young fox expected this and was prepared for the jealous alpha. However hope gave the young fox strength, he outmanoeuvred the alpha and with a flash of his claws he had his rival on the ground. Then reality came down and crushed the poor fox's spirit, the vixen had been using him to rouse the alpha and looked upon the young fox not with kindness but with fear and scorn. Hope had served to break the young fox's heart and the joy had left as quickly as it came.

He would not be banished, that would give the coven a sense of satisfaction. So he left them as final insult against the coven. Now the young fox had become the stray fox, respected by no one but feared by all who was a fox.

The stray fox survived and adapted to being on his own, he hunted alone and with stealth. Whilst out for food he heard the cries of a lost duckling, upon seeing the fox the duckling felt its hour had come, its end would serve to satisfy the fox's hunger. The stray fox did no such thing; he picked the duckling up and took it back to its family. Dismayed and confused the duckling was stunned, no time to show gratitude as the stray fox had already retreated back into the woods..

The years passed again, and the stray fox survived alone but whenever he happened upon a lost animal, be it predator or prey it mattered not to him for he would guide it back to its family and leave without hesitation. Whilst the Stray Fox was not alien to displaying compassion it seemed he had lost all hope of receiving it.

The seasons passed and until spring was upon the woods, the stray fox was alone as always prowling throughout the woods without fear of any creature and without any creature fearing him. Once more he happened on a lost youngling but not fowl or other innocent but a fox cub. Instinctively he was keen to leave but remembered his own past and was akin to the lost lonely cub so took it back home nevertheless.

As always when a lost youngling was found by the stray fox he got it home, and as always he intended to leave soon after. But not this time, the youngling led him to a lone vixen and not the fox coven. Overjoyed of having her child back and surprised to whom she owed thanks the vixen offered the stray fox something he had long since stopped hoping for: Affection and soon after love.

The woods now have its guardian, the legend of the stray fox lives on through his children. Feared by none and loved and respected by all who isn't a fox. Whilst kindness can come from those who receive none, we must never forget to always hope.