Eric and The Fox
Chapter 13 - A Bizarre Badger Meeting
Chapter 14 - A Badger Trap
“A long climb but worth the effort,” said Sylvie. “At least now we are above the perpetual fog.”
“Ah yes, but we also lost our cover,” said Lucas. “Fog hides a lot from inquisitive eyes.”
“Are you always this pessimistic Lucas?” asked Sylvie.
“No, but I am a realist. Look, I do believe we have been spotted. Badgers up ahead coming this way,” said Lucas calmly. “It might be a good idea to hide my fox friends. Eric and I will negotiate if we can.”
“Bother,” complained Eric. “I was hoping to get a little further along before we met some unfriendlies.”
“Well hello there, friends,” cried one of four badgers who constantly interrupted each other.
“So wonderful to see you.”
“My goodness you must be tired after the hike up the ridge.”
“It is rather steep, isn’t it?”
“Please rest a bit.”
“Can we fetch you some water?”
“Where are you going this late in the afternoon?”
“It will be dusk soon.”
“Can we help you find some shelter?”
“Hmm. I think we found the colony badgers under the ‘kind or silent spell’,” Lucas said to Eric smiling.
“Seems so,” answered Eric chuckling. “Why thank you fellas. We prefer to keep going for a little while. By chance do you know where we might find Mama Bear?”
Hearing this odd and unexpected conversation, Sylvie, Vivian and Rod peered over the ledge of their hiding spot.
“Oh hello, who are these delightful creatures? Such lovely sweeping tails,” commented a badger.
“These are our friends. They would also like to find Mama Bear,” explained Lucas.
“Oh Mama Bear. Hmm. She will soon be settling down to hibernate. But she often watches over The Champlain Hills - such a dreary place isn’t it? - from the top of this ridge where it divides at The Champlain Lookout.”
“Is it far from here?” asked Eric.
“Yes, a day or two for a badger.”
“And there are some very unkind badgers up ahead.”
“Oh how many?” asked Eric nonchalantly.
“A few dozen, perhaps more.”
“Okay, thank you, for the warning,” added Lucas.
“Would you like our assistance?” asked a badger. “To distract the unfriendly badgers up ahead while you pass by safely?”
“Why yes, that would be most gracious of you,” answered Eric, rather hesitant to trust these characters, spell or not.
“What would you suggest we do to distract them?” asked Lucas.
