Falling Fences
By Misterebony
An Unofficial sequel to Held in Captivity, and a Prequal to Sweetiepie and Witch in the Woods, all by Alex Reynard.

(NOTE: CURSE YOU ALEX! Your work Held in Captivity touched my heart deeply, deeper every time I read it. And every time, I wanted to make a sequel. At last, I have done it. I have reasoned it out in my head as best as I can, and this was the result. I dedicate this story, therefore, to you Alex, and thank you for the inspiration. Hope you like what you see.)

PRELUDE

The fence. That was the term given to the great barriers between predator and prey areas. But they were more like prison walls than fences, over two stories tall and topped with sharp barbed wire, with only a couple small gates to allow exchange between the governments. Here and there were breaks in the fence, where preds and prey slipped through for many reasons. Preds would slip through to catch their prey, and take them home to eat. Prey would slip through for bombing runs, to kill preds usually in (They felt) justified revenge.

The fence was the symbol of hate. 

This is the story of how and why it fell.

It began with a crisis, as most things do. This crisis was the growing population of fursons on both sides of the fences, and the lack of food to supply them. The terrorist attacks increased, as did the disappearances of prey furs.

But also on the increase was a movement on both sides that was seen as the ultimate evil: The Lydia Movement. It was the idea that the fence did not have to be there, that there had to be a better way. 

How did the fence fall? Why did it? All you need to know is here. And it begins in the prey zone, close to the fence, with a young bunny.

Chapter 1

"And they all lived happily ever after." The bunny woman said, cradling her belly. She was pregnant. Again. 

In the bed, by the chair where she sat to read the story lay a young bunny boy named Adam. He had gold fur and blue eyes, and a cute set of floppy ears that went straight when something startled him. He wore cute PJs featuring his favorite cartoon characters, Pokey and PomPom.

PomPom as the bunny. Pokey was the wolf that wanted to eat him.

His mother, Eve by name, closed the storybook and replaced it on the shelf. She leaned down and kissed her boy on the cheek.

"Mommy?" The little ten-year-old asked. "Why did the mouse cross the fence?"

"What?" Eve said, giggling. 

"In the story. Why didn't he stay with his family?"

The mother smiled. "Because he wanted to make a friend."

The bunny smiled. "And so did that cat right?"

The mother nodded. "Yes. Sometimes, species does not matter, as long as you got friends."

The bunny nodded. His mom tucked him in nice and tight, then went to turn off the light. She looked at her son as he spoke once more.

"Mom... did you ever meet a predator?"

The mother smiled. "I have son, yes. Once. Now go to sleep." She shut the door, leaving the boy bathed in darkness. But that was how he liked it. He giggled some as he heard his mom go to bed, and he himself got out, reveling that he was wearing his shoes.

He had to meet his friends at the forest area, after all. He slipped on a nearby coat, and grabbed a hat. Carefully he opened the window...

And was belted by a pebble.

"Ow!" He said, eeping as he looked about, hoping his mom did not hear. He looked out, seeing the squirrel shrug his shoulders, his bright red tail frizzled as he realized he just belted his buddy.

"Tom Tobias Thompson I should kill you for that!" Adam said. "Or maybe I should let Maira do it instead."

The squirrel giggled, leaning a ladder over to let Adam get out from his room on the second floor. He looked about it as he climbed down. It was a nice room, with lots of children's books, a new game system, a fancy alarm clock, and tons of posters and toys from his favorite cartoon. As he climbed down the ladder, he remembered the last episode, where the wolf tried to trick the bunny into bathing in the stew pot. 

he giggled at the thought, landing with a smile. Tom giggled and hugged his buddy. "sorry for the hit man, but I had to make sure you were up. Maira will be waiting for us."

Adam nodded. "The others on their way?" He asked.

"Yup. We are late."

"Sorry, mom was reading the story again, about the feline who came to live on preyside." He smiled and ran after his friend, heading for the woods, where his friends would be waiting.

Especially Maira.

*****************

He was right. When he arrived, a group of about nine cubs were there, sitting about some lights, talking amongst themselves. Most of them were mice or bunnies, but there was also a cute chipmunk with buckteeth and a big tummy was there, and a fox.

Yes. A fox. Red fur, green eyes, big fluffy tail, and a toothy smile. She was named Maira, and she was their best friend ever. Tom and Adam hugged the fox girl as they arrived.

"You're late guys!" She said. "I could bite your ears off for that Adam. And you Tom, knowing what would happen tonight!"

Adam looked to his friend. "Tonight? You mean....?"

Tom nodded. "You didn't scare me about being food for Maira. We decided in class remember? By lots? I got the one with the pink heart. I get to feed her family."

A mouse girl awwed. "Lucky! We haven't got enough food at our house for meals. I wish it was me getting fattened up and..."

Maira smiled. "Just so you know guys, I really do appreciate this. Everyone on our block knows about what is happening, and they wanted you all to have these." She brought out her surprise from her pouch. Inside were containers of cookies and some veggie platters, all marked with an 'L' in cursive.

"Lydia would be proud." Adam said, taking his batch. "I'll leave them as a surprise for a family in town. Poor guys got no food anymore."

"No one does." A rabbit boy said sadly. "Everything is so expensive no one can afford it. What about predside?" 

Maira sighed some. "No good. The last terrorist attack took out another prey farm. Don't they know those prey went willingly? Isn't it bad enough everyone has to be secretive about it anymore?!" She whimpered, a mouse by her hugging her. "I'm all right, it's just everyone on both sides is starving, and daddy keeps saying war is coming."

Adam nodded. "My did says that too, every day he comes home from the border."

Maira smiled. "I'm just grateful there are groups like you guys." She hugged each of her friends, then opened the sack. "Okay Tom, in you go."

Tom smiled and shook hands with Adam. "I'll make sure Maira tells you how it went. I just hope I am a help. Better still, now my mom and dad can give my younger brothers my share of food."

Adam nodded. He then stood and began to recite the line. "Just as Lydia gave her life to try and make peace, so to now does Tom give his life for others to live. May he be happy in his final days, and tasty too. Lydia, we remember your sacrifice, and make this one for you now."

With that, Tom climbed into the sack and Maira sealed it up. She licked her lips as she put it over her shoulder. "Let's go Tom. Mom's waiting for you with a big cheesecake." They set out, waving bye to their friends, Adam smiling. He looked to one of his friends who sighed.

"Too bad this will be the last time they get fattened. Maira told us prices are up on her side as well. Her mom cannot even afford cheap burgers anymore."

Adam nodded. "If only adults would listen to us, and see there is a better way."

CHAPTER 2

Later that evening, Maira was slipping through the fence. She had to be careful, especially now that she had a very delicate cargo with her. But once she was through, she was safe. Slipping into the hole was a tight squeeze, and she had to seal it behind her, but she got it done, finally.

"Hew! We're safe Tom." She told her mouse friend. "And mom is waiting for us." 

Tom climbed out of the sack, smiling wide. "That was fun! Worth being food already."

"Fun for you, but you are way too fat!" Maira said, poking his tummy. He was about to argue when a predator in red armor stopped them.

"Hey there! Maira!" The pred said. "You are out late, past curfew! Don't you know there are cann canns out here?!"

Maira shrugged. "If they get me, at least I was able to fed a fellow furson." She giggled and walked off with her friend/dinner, leaving the guard chuckling. As they left he made sure to seal the other side of the fence hole, so no one would find it. After al, he was part of the Lydia Movement as well. 

Maira and Tom walked on eager to head for her home in the ghetto area. It was a dingy town,  with broken windows in some of the buildings and fursons as skinny as a skeleton sleeping in the streets. Some looked hungrily at the two cubs as they continued on to one of the buildings, where Tom would meet his fate. But as they went, an alarm went out.

"Oh God not now!" Maira said, wide-eyed and white with fear. Tom looked about for a moment, then got down as shots rang out. Maira moved with him over to a corner, where a family of homeless felines huddled together for cover. Tom saw them and his heart broke.

Maira, meanwhile, watched as the local police went off down the street, gunfire in the air. That meant terrorists had broken through again! She watched as they left the car, only to be hit by automatic fire. Huddled close, she watched as the night lit up with fire, and the sounds of explosions rang in her ears.

"Tom, we got to go!" Maira said. But Tom did not answer. She looked at him and saw why. The felines, hungry as ever, were smiling now. Tom had given himself to them, letting them eat him up. He had been given something to dull the pain, and now the family was preparing him to cook over a makeshift fire. He smiled at Maira, who understood.

"I'll tell mom." She told her friend, the mouse smiling as the kids hugged their dinner, thankful for such a big meal. Maira looked to them and nodded. "A gift from the Lydia Movement." she whispered.

"God bless you both." The mother said. "My babies haven't had mouse in days." She pat the mouse's head, slowly roasting him over the little fire, another fire raging down the street.

Maira knew what story would be on the news tonight, and not the kinder one either.

CHAPTER 3

"Reports speculate that 39 were killed in the bombing of the square, including five officers sent to stop it. Local officials blame preyfur radicals unwilling to accept their fate as animals for the slaughter of innocent children in our fair city. Sources state..."

Click.

Elene shut the television off, tears in her eyes. Another attack, making four this week alone. She sighed as she sat on her bed, tears falling from her gray-blue eyes.

Elene stood up, stretching some as all wolves did after sitting down for awhile, and looked in the mirror. She had to make sure she looked good to make her proposal to the council. She was a pretty wolf, with a shapely body but a slight pudge in the middle, gray fur, and a cute little black nose. Her long face had a pleasant smile to it, and she wore a pretty dress made from lamb wool: the very lamb she roasted in the oven not too long ago.

Not that it mattered. She was a witch after all, and said lamb was all right, back to normal, woolly coat and all. He had been such a joy to fatten up, and tasted so yummy with the mint jelly.

but she had a bigger thing on her mind than dinner. She was worried about the world. 

The madness had to end.

*****************

As she left her little cabin, she looked about. The sun was coming up now, and shining on the little city in which she lived. It was a combined society, where witches and warlocks, preds and prey, young and old, all lived together in peace. The kind of peace she had hoped for the world.

As she looked, she saw Daniel, the mouse, coming out to take his morning run. How long had it been since he came here? 20 years? 30? She did not know. She just knew he had chose to stay somewhat young, his appearance suggesting the age of about 9 years. His surrogate mother, Melissa Evergreen, came out of their cottage soon after, the pretty fox witch starting to show her age now. She still had those green eyes and nice smile, and she still had her lovely red fur, but in parts it was starting to gray. Not that she minded, she liked the idea of looking like her grandmother. She also was getting plump from all those rich mouse dinners she had.

How Elene envied them, so happy while she was so alone and so worried for the world. She waved to the duo, who waved back and came to her.

"Morning Miss Elene!" Daniel said. "Enjoy your roast lamb last night?"

Elene giggled. Little guy was so perceptive. "He was so tasty Daniel. Filled me right up. Though I could go for some mouse pie!"

Melissa giggled as Danny leapt away from the wolf witch, trying playfully to snatch him up. She smiled as he ran off to find his friends, leaving the two alone. "You going to the council today?" She asked. "Everyone is talking about you going to them."

"I have to." Elene replied. "The situation is much worse then when you went Melissa. I have seen the signs. It won't be long before war breaks out, and when it does..."

Melissa nodded. "But there is still hope. I mean, there are rumors that the groups have organized into one now, working in small cells but still interconnected in some small ways."

"Exactly why I need to go. I saw the signs. Unless someone can make a stand who the world will listen to, the war WILL come. And we will be involved." She went off, saying no more. Melissa watched the wolf head for the large building at the center of town, and began to pray for the best.

***********

The council was not entirely made up of adults. In fact, most on the council were considerably younger than some would think could hold a public office, and yet here they were, in leadership of the fursons in this little town. There were also a mixture of preds and prey on it, either side having precedence in this society. Besides, it was more a formality thing, with everyone preferring to just have fun, make love, and eat each other.

Still, Elene made her proposal to them. Upon finishing, the council looked to one another.

"Miss Elene, we are aware of your talents as a witch, able to disguise yourself, reform your meals instantly, make people fly, and all that. However, your proposal has us questioning you. We know you live alone, with no kids of your own. You were left not far from here as a baby, as we recall. How then can we not see this as an attempt to try and locate a child for yourself, and nothing more?"

Elene smiled. "Because, though that is part of it, I want to prevent the coming war. We all know the food supplies for both sides are getting low. If we do nothing, then they will war solely to get food. Our only hope is to locate fursons who can find an alternative. And I think I know where to look. Preyside, near the border, I sense those who might have the answer."

The council smiled. "No need to explain to us. Even if it WAS just to get a chew toy for yourself or to get fat on reformable cubs for awhile we would say yes. You leave at once to fulfill your destiny."

The wolf smiled. "Thank you! I won't let you down."

The council laughed. "Let us down? Impossible! Just make sure you find us some ideal meals too, okay?"

They all laughed at that.

*************

An hour later, Elene was packing up some suitcases, smiling as she knew they would be empty until she reached her destination. Melissa and her 'niece', Belinda Willow, were there to say good bye. 

"I wish you could stay a little longer." Melissa said. 

"Yeah! Danny is in the oven getting roasty toasy in a big fat pie!" Belinda said, rubbing her belly. Elene looked at her and chuckled. Though she looked 16 now, she acted more like a hyperactive 5-year-old. The mouse witch was dressed in full garb of ancient witches now, from the nice clothes to the pointed hat.

"Were I could stay Belinda baby." Elene said, patting her head. "But I got an appointment."

"Ah well, more for me! I want his little footpaws and his arms and his legs and..."

"BELINDA!" Melissa said with a smile. "And what do I get of the pie?"

The mouse smiled. "My burps!"

Elene chuckled. "I'll be dining differently for awhile, unless I get really lucky. So I will wait until I return. Please, when you hear I am coming, can you get some rabbit stew made from the triplets?"

Melissa nodded. "Consider it done." She hugged her friend, and waved good bye as she climbed into the car. it was a nice car, an Aston Martin DB5 in black. Waving one last time, off she sped, unsure what she would see, but knowing something was waiting for her.

Witches may know the future, but not many peek at the last page of the mystery when it is just starting out.

CHAPTER 4

School sucked for Adam, and for most of his friends. Most classes were okay, and he did well, but there was some classes he hated, like the current events courses all prey were supposed to take. Adam knew the real reason was the old idea of indoctrinating hatred of all predators, no matter what their background or their true ideas. 

Needless to say, he and his buddies got VERY low grades in it. Not low enough to fail, much to the dismay of the teachers, but low enough to keep them off the honor roll, and to make it clear they did not agree with the propaganda.

He was in such a class now, being taught by a big rat (in more ways than one in Adam's opinion) on the situation of the world.

"As all of you know, food prices are going up. The reason for this is to keep kids like you svelte, so predators won't eat you. While a food shortage is rumored, the rumors are usually started my extremists, like the Lydia Movement, a group that personifies evil."

One of the classmates, a new one, raised her hand. "What is the Lydia Movement sir?" She asked.

"Why, only the most evil organization of all time." The rat said. "They are based on a coyote girl from years ago, who crossed into prey territory and killed the leader of our fair city. Since then, cults around her name have surfaced, saying we must be like her. In other words, we must kill our own race like she did."

The girl nodded. Another person raised his hand. "Sir, I heard on the news that food shortages are due to predators. How?"

"Easy Jack. They are because predators not only command large farm areas of their own to fatten captured cubs, they also attack farmers within the prey only zones."

Adam sighed, not paying attention, just doodling in his notebook. As he did, he felt a note put into his lap. He looked down and saw a cursive L on it, the sign of his group. He looked about and saw one of his buddies, a pretty fawn, nod at him. He opened it and chuckled.

It bore a picture of the professor, tied upside down to a tree, as the kids danced about him.

"Mr. Wallace." The teacher said sternly. "You find something funny about this?"

The bunny nodded. "Yes sir. I just find it funny that preds would waste their time growing veggies and stuff  if all they ate was meat. If it were me I'd rather have bunny than brussel sprouts!"

Everyone in class laughed at that, except the teacher who pointed at the door, red faced. The bunny got up, members of the movement winking, indicating how proud they were of him.

He felt proud too. Once again, he had NOT been brainwashed.

*********

The principal sighed as she sat in the desk, the big deer woman tapping her hooves on a keyboard. She sighed softly as she looked to Adam.

"This is getting monotonous." She said. "Seems every week you are sent here, yet you have some of the highest grades in school. The highest. Cannot very well expel you for that. Yet I can give you another detention."

The bunny shrugged. "I don't mind, your just doing your job."

The deer sighed. "This is a serious matter Adam, not something to take lightly. Some of your pranks, wisecracks, and jokes could be seen as treason against the prey democracy. You could be shot for some of your things if you did them with a soldier nearby."

Again, the bunny shrugged. "I don't care. I believe how I believe, and I won't let anyone change that."

The deer sighed. "Well, you better change how you believe Mister Wallace, because in the real world your beliefs will not work. Learn to actually say the truth about preds and prey and you might learn something. These ideas that not all preds are evil for one thing."

Adam smiled. "You ever met a pred?"

The deer sighed some. "No."

"My mom has, and my dad."

"Oh no, here we go again."

"Nice guy too. He asked the weather and everything, and mom just..."

"Oh just get out of here and back to class smartass." The deer said. The boy got up triumphantly, and walked out. The deer watched as he left, then began to smile.

She liked this troublemaker. A LOT. But she sure could not say it. She could not say that she preferred kids to have a brain than to just go along with beliefs.

She would be shot if she did.

*************

After school, the friends gathered together, as did several others, including a couple teenagers. Word had spread how Adam had stood his ground on his views yet again. for kids, that was COOL.

And for the Movement, it was a shining moment.

"Man Adam, you are a real shithead!" A teen said. "One of these days the school will fuck you good for your belief and boom boom bye bye bunny!"

Adam smiled. "And when that happens at least three others will replace me!" The others laughed some and  started the walk home, a few bullies looking at them. But when they saw just how many there were, they decided to leave them alone and find a predlover who was on his own.

"Man, the bullies around here have gotten soft." One of the teens said. "Must be the hunger pangs."

The group nodded, gathering at a few benches near the park, not too far from the residential areas. "Yeah. Lucky for us we grow our own. But even seeds are getting expensive now, and the crows are not as bad as some of the young furs."

"Let's face it." Adam said. "There are just too many of us preyfurs."

The oldest one of the group nodded. "Yeah, and it don't help that our government tells us to get bigger families so there are more of us to fight the preds. I think we should have bigger families, then go feed the preds."

"That don't work either though." A 14-year-old mouse girl in the group said. "Not all preds are nice like Maira. Some of them fit those stereotypes very well. Remember the stories she told us about first prey? eeech! I get nightmares from those tales!"

"Me too. Last thing I want when I get caught by a pred is to be bound and killed like an animal."

Adam nodded. "Too bad they don't know their is a better way."

Everyone nodded. 

"Well, I got to go. I'm taking a gift to Vincent." 

The furs nodded. "On your way to see your dad?" One asked.

"Yeah. Only time I like going to the fence: to see those two. Later!"

The furs waved, reminding him of his homework as they left. It could wait though. He found seeing his friend to be more important than some stupid report on the killer carnivores.

That, and seeing his dad.

***************

The Fence was never something Adam liked to visit, because of how scary it looked. It was over two stories tall, with lots of barbed wire at the top. Several guards walked along the ground, toting rifles that could turn him into bunny burger in thirty seconds. He hated the sight of them, but at least he was thankful whenever he saw one that showed him a cursive ‘L’ hidden under his uniform: those were the secret supporters of the Lydia Movement. Their job was to allow the preds who are nicer, and send back those who would do harm and enjoy every moment of the pain those they caught felt.

He looked for his father among them, but was stopped by a standard guard, a large squirrel who had large muscles and a shotgun.

“This is a restricted area kid. Head back or be arrested.”

Adam chuckled and reveled his pass, a gift from his father. The man looked at the credit card sized document and then back to Adam.

“Hmmmm… little young to e getting one of these… but it IS genuine. Looking for someone?” He asked.

“Yeah, Sergeant Walters and Corporal Richards.” Adam said. “One is my friend. The other is my dad.”

The soldier chuckled. “I figured as much. Walters is in a conference right now, and cannot be disturbed. But as for Richards, well he is up in the watchtower. You may see him now, your father will be awhile.”

The boy smiled. “Thanks.” He headed for the watchtower, eager to see Vincent. Though he had told the guard he was his friend, Vincent Richards was more like a foster uncle that needed caring for. Adam swore that his visits and Maria’s gifts were the highlight of his life. He needed it, what with things he had been dealing with for years.

As he climbed the tower, he saluted several guards, those with the L recognizing him and smiling, those who did not checking his pass and making sure all was clear. Eventually, he reached the top of the tower, at a door marked “SPY, CORPRAL RICHARDS”, where Vincent was stationed.

Danny opened it reveling the tiny apartment where Vincent lived. A cot was on one wall, and a small fridge and a cooktop on the opposite one. On the far wall was pictures and clippings of a young mouseboy who looked a little older than Adam, but who seemed to also be older in other ways. Adam looked about and saw the ladder from the ceiling come down to the floor, meaning he was up in the observation area. Adam took out one of the packages that Maria gave him yesterday, and started up.

Sure enough, there was Vincent. He was about 42 years old but looked much older than that, his brown-gold fur having plenty of gray in it as well. His eyes were somewhat saggy from years of misery, but when he looked to Adam a pleasant smile came on his face.

“Well well well, Private Poophead!” Vincent said playfully, lifting Adam up and off of the ladder into the observation area, which was basically a soft chair, a rifle, a pistol, and a spyglass. All of the towers had this, but Vincent also had a small medallion with that same mouse in a picture attached to the wall. He hugged the boy and smiled. “Where have you been you little ass?”

“Oh, farting on my teacher and crapping in his car.” The two laughed. It was a traditional greeting they shared. They both knew of the teacher and had no respect for the rat, so they loved to joke about him. Adam loved it, it was the one time he could swear and cuss and he wouldn’t get in any trouble. Of course, he knew that on some days Vincent would rather just hug.

“Got something for ya, straight from predside.” Adam said, pulling out the container of baked goods. Vincent took one and nibbled on it, moaning in delight.

“Wonderful as usual. I swear, a prey creature in this furson’s hands would be so tasty no one could resist eating him or her all up.” He sighed some and was silent for a moment, looking towards the slums on predside. “Hope they are okay. There was more activity last night.”

Adam was wide eyed. “What?”

Vincent nodded. “Terrorists again. They bombed several buildings, including some apartments and a school. Several pred cops were shot.” He stood up and looked out over the area. “It’s sad. Down there behind me prey complain about all they do not have, and over there in predator country they really do NOT have much. Yet we kill in the name of preserving our own. And it doesn’t help that there are still those clinging to the old idea of hate and fear and cruelty on predside either. I had to execute a bear the other day who killed a squirrel baby, and had no remorse over how cruel he was…”

Adam came over and stood by him. “But there are others. Preds with the Lydia Movement.”

Vincent nodded. “Yeah. The first gang I am a part of that I actually am proud of being a part.”

They stood there and looked out at the world, one dreaming of a peaceful future, one remembering a shame of his past.

Neither saw a fancy looking Aston Martin head on through the fence, on a mission of great importance.

CHAPTER 5

It would take another hour of constant driving before Elene reached the address in her mind. As she went, she made sure to put on her spell of hiding. She looked in the rear view window to make sure it was working, smiling when she saw a cute and sexy bunny woman staring back. Finally, she saw the address she had seen in her visions about where she must go: No number, Peppy Hare Drive. Elene smiled as she pulled up to the house. A bunny waved as she got out, walking down the street with her giggling baby, and she waved back.

Of course she would wave. To that bunny, she would look like one of them. Of course, the baby might have seen who she really was. Not that she minded, babies were both fun and cuddly.

She pulled out her suitcases and walked up to the large home, looking like it had not been lived in for some time. Windows were broken out and, though the home was still quite adorable, it also looked like a home a ghost would live in. The idea gave Elene a shiver of delight.

"Well, it will be lived in now, at least for awhile." She said as she got out a key for the door. She got it by mail when she had bought the house. The address she gave was false, but it worked for the retailer who just wanted some cash. “Hope the ghosts don’t mind.”

She went in the house and was delighted to see that, despite it not being lived in for awhile, the house was nice sized and quite clean. She smiled and set down her suitcases on the floor, and opened them as she closed her eyes. A pink wisp of smoke flowed out, heading through the house. By the time Elene opened her eyes, the home was all set.

The living room, where she now was, had a big white rug on the floor, and a big sofa on the far end of the room. A BIG television was in the far corner of the room, with a satellite receiver and a game system hooked up to it. The wolf chuckled as she realized she had brought some of her predside games, and hoped no one would notice. She smiled and headed into the kitchen, delighted at seeing the big oven, a stocked fridge, the pantry loaded with goodies, and a counter for preparation in the middle of the kitchen. On the other side of it was a table where she and her guests could eat. With that done, she headed upstairs to see how her bedroom looked.

She stopped on the way, seeing what appeared to be a boy’s room. This, apparently, was for a future guest. She looked about in it and smiled, seeing a lot of blue about it, from the blue sheets to several blue outfits. On the bed was something that made her especially hopeful though: it was a plushie… of a wolf.

“Well, that’s a good sign.” She said with a chuckle. She headed for her room, and was delighted her whole collection of books had been unpacked into here, and that the room had a nice oak framed bed. On it was a copy of the story “My Best Friend” by Alexia Reynolds. It was her favorite story, about a mouse and a cat who meet and run off to find happiness at the camps. She smiled as she stroked it, lying on the bed. She would see her clothes later, satisfied with the jeans outfit and T-shirt she was wearing right now. She chuckled as she felt a big hat on her head.

“I knew I forgot something.” She said, taking off her witches’ cap. She set it on the bed by her, and reached over to the end table. She chuckled as she saw it was her favorite cookbook. It had a cute, colorful cover on it, with the same cat and mouse as the storybook. She began to read it, whetting her appetite, though she knew that for awhile she would be eating fast food and veggies. But she didn’t mind.

************

About an hour later, she was all unpacked and went down to check out the news. She was not surprised that there was nothing about the bombing, but there was something else that was a headline story. It was about a prey family, cubs and all, arrested. She listen closely.

“The demonic Lydia Movement reared its head again today, as the family of Thomas Thompson was arrested following the disappearance of their son. Searching the house reveled their involvement with the group, named for a murderous predator woman from several years ago. While they refuse to give names or acknowledge their guilt, officials are certain they will talk. They are set to be tried sometime later this week.”

The wolf sighed. The Lydia Movement. Named for the coyote who gave her life trying to find peace. This was whom she had to try and find. She was certain of it. But the thing was the group was highly secretive, so finding them would not be easy.

They had to be. On predside, members of the Lydia movement are seen as radicals who try and personalize animals. Those members are isolated and hated by their peers. On preyside it looked like the problem also existed, and Elene could sense punishment for being a part of it was far worse. 

Yet their ideals were exactly right. She had been doing research on them, learning they worked to feed the poor and needy on both sides, prey getting tasty veggies and fruits among other things, and preds… well, they got happy donations. What she especially liked was that the cubs off to be food were treated with kindness, like those back home.

This was her mission: to contact the Lydia Movement and find some way to prevent the war, and fast.

Because, from the look of things, time was running out. 

CHAPTER 6

Adam smiled when his father met him at the gate. The large bunny was a big, strong rabbit, wearing a camo suit that bore his last name and rank, as well as medallions for sharpshooting and bravery in the course of duty. While Adam’s father was none to happy about the sharpshooting one, he loved the one for bravery, because it had nothing to do with the fence. It had to do with a family of mice he saved from a house fire a few years ago.

Better still, he was the reason that Adam was in the Lydia Movement in the first place. He was sort of a leader of it, running a secret webpage which featured colorful cartoons, a chatroom for both predators and prey (Which was closely monitored), and various essays that people write in using fake IDs. Adam thought it cool, because it as like living as a sort of secret agent. The excitement made it all the more fun. Right now, they were on their way home, the two munching on the last of the cookies Maira gave Adam.

“mmmmm… these are wonderful kiddo.”  Adam’s dad said (whose name, by the way, was Seth). “Be sure and give your friend my regards.”

“I will dad.” Adam said. He sighed some as he looked to the now abandoned Thompson home. “Dad, what will happen to them?”

Seth sighed. “Not sure son. The government is becoming more and more secretive about this whole thing, save for the same old propaganda that preds are evil, food is running out, and we need to kill all the predators.” He held his son, neither one of them saying anything for awhile. The walk was a long one back home, but finally, they reached it. Adam’s happiness returned when he saw his brothers and sisters.

Like all rabbit families, his was extremely large. But like him, almost all of them secretly wanted o be eaten up. Even the youngest among them, a little two-year-old girl, liked the idea of being eaten (she even knew how she wanted to be: baked in a big carrot cake with lots of gooey frosting. Yum yum.). Adam giggled as he hugged his many siblings in turn, over a dozen in all, and went inside to unpack his school supplies.

His mom was there, tapping her foot. “Hi mom.” He said.

“Your principal called again. This is the fourth time this week you know.” The mother kept her stern face. “Kicked out of current events again?”

Adam nodded. “I won’t let them brainwash me mom. Ever.”

“Son, no one is trying to brainwash you. Between you and your father having conspiracy theories, and your brothers and sisters drawing those pictures… It’s a wonder I get ANY sleep!”

Adam chuckled. He knew she did not mind the Lydia Movement’s ideas, but was not for it herself. Yet he could not help but tease her. “Well, if you get tired of me, just sell me to a predator.”

She giggled softly. “They could not pay me enough.” She hugged her son, then looked to Seth. “As for you, Mr. Security Guard slash Conspirator, don’t expect me to give you any dinner until I get some sugar.”

The uniformed bunny smiled. “You mean like a cupcake, or a kiss, my darling Eve?” The mother rabbit groaned and hugged Seth, the two kissing. “I see the kids did their chores right when they got home.”

Eve nodded. “They even got supper started. Sorry there will not be seconds on anything.” The bunny boy smiled.

“I don’t mind myself mom. Today has been too exciting and too wonderful to eat much. Except maybe some spaghetti.”

Eve smiled. “Glad to hear that, because that is what is for dinner.”

Both son and father rubbed their tummies.

*****************

After a delicious supper (Adam’s older sisters were geniuses in the kitchen, the pasta was wonderful), Adam sat with his brothers and sisters in the living room and watched a cartoon video of Pokey and PomPom. The kids who were not watching, mainly older ones than Adam, were studying for tests or working on homework. One of his siblings played on a portable system with Adam, a card game they both liked.
“Mommy said you got in trouble in big brother.” Adam’s opponent said, summoning another creature to fight. Adam countered but was clearly beaten for sure.

“Nah, just was outspoken is all. Have to watch what I s…. oh come on!” He oied as he lost yet again to his younger sibling, who giggled.

“You got to do the dishes tomorrow, that was the bet!” The bunny giggled, turning off his game. Adam sighed and hmphed.

At least he would be able to go to the store tomorrow before that. Hopefully he could get some cheats for this game, he was getting tired of losing. Dreaming of then, he sat back and watched the movie with his brothers and sisters, laughing as the bunny escaped the wolf yet again.

He would be asleep soon after.

CHAPTER 7

While Seth took many of the kids to the park to play and run, Adam and his older sisters Cora and Wilma went with their mother to the store. The sisters went to improve their cooking. Adam went to have fun with the girls.

He was sometimes called a sissy for going with his mother instead of playing football with the other kids, but most felt otherwise who got to know him. His sisters, however, were more than eager to play with their brother and tease him a little like sisters would. 

Still, the time shopping was nice for Adam. He got to spend some time in the toy section, looking at trading cards and video games. He especially liked the look of a party game he could play with his younger siblings.

And that was when he saw something that shocked him. As he looked up from the toys, he saw a big bushy gray tail going down the isle. Attached to it was a wolf woman, out in broad daylight, waving to prey like she was always there. He blinked once, then again, to make sure he was seeing what he saw. When he confirmed that, yes, this WAS a wolf, he could not help but smile. Her beauty seemed to make Maira look somewhat homely. She was a fox of a wolf.

As he thought that, the wolf woman turned and giggled. “Like what you see cutie?” She asked, looking RIGHT AT HIM. He blushed and stammered for words. “Don’t worry, only you can see me in my real form.”

Adam ahhed. He was not surprised or scared in any way, something the wolf seemed to be delighted about. “Well, that explains why fursons normally very snooty about preds are so nice to you.” He smiled and looked at the games again. She looked with him, picking out the party game she put down.

“I like this one. Bunch of prey critters in a competition to get the golden carrot. Cliché, but fun.”

Adam smiled. “You played it? I thought games like this were unavailable in predside.”

She smiled. “Not where I live.” She extended a paw. “My name is Elene. Elene Maplewood. And you are?”

The bunny took the wolf’s paw and shook it. “My name is Adam Walters.” He smiled some. “This isn’t a trick to capture me is it? I don’t like trickster predators.”

Elene chuckled. “Maybe. I do love a young bunny every now and then. Especially with red wine.”

Adam giggled some. Elene chuckled some as he did. “You seem amused at that. I’d think you would be scared to be food. I might gnaw your throat!”

“Nah.” The bunny said. “If there were true, you would have lured me away from so many eyes. No, I think you are a nice pred, like the ones in my mother’s stories. And speaking of which…” He smiled as he saw his mom and sisters coming closer. They waved at Elene. To them, she looked like a bunny, and a pretty one at that. The sisters hmphed some.

“I need a figure like that mom.” One said. “The guys would breed me for weeks!”

“CORA!” Eve said, wide eyed and embarrassed. “Such talk!”

Elene chuckled. “Oh I don’t mind. I was like that myself at her age. I’m Elene.”

Eve smiled. “Eve. These are my oldest, Wilma and Cora, and you seem to have already met Adam.”

Elene nodded. “Yup. He’s so cute I could just eat him for dinner!” All of them laughed at that, though Adam and Elene laughed for a very different reason.

See, they both liked that idea very much.

****************

The group talked all the way through the store. Elene gave Eve a false story mixed with truth, on how she just moved to the neighborhood to see the fence for herself, among other things. She also came looking for some kind of work. Eve sighed some.

“Sadly, that there is little of anymore. Seems we all are working for food, and not much more. We can’t even use our car since we need the money elsewhere.”

Elene nodded. “Isn’t the government doing anything about it?”

Cora chuckled in an unamused way. “Yeah they are. Complaining about it, gearing up for war, and raising prices to fund said war. Based on what we see, preds have to either surrender or die in their eyes.”

Adam chimed in. “Maybe we need to turn to others then for help.”

Cora looked to him and chuckled. “Always the optimist. Face it kiddo. Either prey submits or preds do. And neither will. Believe you and me, war is coming.”

Adam was about to say something when his mother chimed in. “Oh no! I bought to many groceries. We don’t have room on the bikes for anymore.” She looked to Elene, packing her Aston Martin. “Excuse me… I feel I can trust you… could you drive my boy home?”

Elene was wide eyed at the suggestion. “Me? You sure? We just met after all and…”

“Oh please, I really need the help.” Eve begged. She showed that the mopeds she rode here were indeed loaded. “Just follow me. We don’t live far from your place.”

Elene considered for a moment, then nodded. “All right. Just lead the way.” The bunny women smiled, the mother because she could get her son home, the daughters because they did not have to share the seat with their brother. But Adam was more than happy to ride in the fancy car Elene had. It stunned him.

“How can you afford this?” He asked curiously, climbing into the Martin. Elene smiled and got in.

“Oh, this is an organic car. Runs on solar power, electric, organic fuel, whatever is needed.” She smiled. “Lady Bond gets me where I wanna go, no matter how the gas prices go.”

“Lady Bond?” Adam asked, his ears flicking some in curiosity. 

“Yup. That’s her name. Seductive, but deadly, like a spy. And of course, all cars are ladies.”

The bunny giggled some. “Does that mean we are in her tummy?” Elene laughed at that. “Just kidding. It’s a nice car.”

She smiled and started it up, following the three mopeds. She smiled and turned on the music, listening to some rock and roll with her little passenger, who sat and smiled, just watching things fly by. Finally, the mopeds turned onto Peppy Hare Lane. Elene could not believe her luck: the home in question was not far from her own home. She was wide eyed as she pulled up to the home, the father returning with most of the kids, the sight of so many little kiddies made her mouth water, and threatened to expose who she really was. But Adam smiled.

“You’ll get your chance I think.” He said, winking. “Most of them want to be eaten anyway.” He got out of the car to see his mom and help her unload the little vehicles. Elene smiled as one of the youngest kids came over, giggling some as she tried to open the door. 

“Patty, please.” The mother said, coming over. “Thanks for bringing my little guy home. Why don’t you come in and have a bite to eat? We don’t have much as many as there are but…”

The disguised wolf shook her head. “No thanks. I need to get home with my groceries. Maybe another time.” She smiled and shook the bunny’s hand, then started to pull out of the driveway, smiling happily. Adam knew who and what she was, which meant he was the one he was supposed to meet. But seeing all those bunnies was not good for her own tummy, which groaned in complaint at the sight of so many cute little morsels.

“OH come on girl.” She told her tummy. “We are here on a mission, not to pig out. Oh no, there I go mentioning food again…”

********************

Later that evening, after she had unloaded her groceries and put them away, she got a knock on her door. When she opened it, she was shocked to suddenly get a HUGE hug from a little six-year-old bunny.

“Brother was right! You ARE a wolf!” The bunny said. Elene realized that the bunny must be one of Adam’s little brothers. “Are you a nice wolf?”

Elene chuckled and lifted him up. “I am indeed. But I am also a hungry wolf.” She licked her chops.

“That’s why I am here! I was going to the fence anyway, but if you are nice you can eat me up.” He smiled and started to remove his clothing, reveling how chubby he was despite the lack of food. “Nice and yummy treat to say welcome to the neighborhood!”

Elene chuckled some and took the bunny into the kitchen. “Come on then.” She said, setting him on the counter. “I got a recipe here for bunny pot pie.”

The little bunny giggled. He sat there and watched, but was in for the shock of his life as Elene decided to give the little bunny a show.

He was wide eyed the whole time.

CHAPTER 8

The next day at school the large bunny family was talking away about their newest neighbor. All of them vowed to keep it secret, and Adam knew they would all keep it.

“Man, a real pred!” Cora said, walking with the younger kids to the school. “Are you sure? She looked like a bunny to me. Maybe you were mistaking?”

Adam shook his head. “Nah, I even made sure. Floppy went to see her yesterday. And he is not here is he?”

The brothers and sisters nodded. “True. A real pred! Oh sis, we need to give her a big feast!”

Cora looked up and started to chuckle. Adam tilted his head. “What’s so funny?” He asked. Cora smiled and showed him. There, just getting off the bus, was Floppy, the little six-year-old bunny, and good as new and unhurt in any way. The bunnies looked at Adam, confused.

“Nice story bro. Tell me, How does Elene eat if Floppy is right there, hmm?” Cora said. “I think you owe her an apology after school.”

“But… but I… she…”

The others smiled. “We don’t care bro. It’s the poor who need us more anyway. Would have been nice though. Wolves are so pretty.” They all agreed to invite her over anyway. Cora just teased Adam about it all day long, and got a lot of giggles about it. But for Adam, it was no joke. Was his eyes playing tricks?

He went over to his brother, determined to find out once and for all whether or not he was crazy. Floppy, however, answered his question for him.

“Big Brother! Big Brother!” He said, hugging Adam. “She… it…. She’s really a wolf!”

He knew it! “I guess she wasn’t hungry then huh? You’re still here.”

“No, I got all ate up!” He said. “She said I was delicious!”

Adam looked at him, not believing. “Come on Flops. No joking.”

“I’m NOT!” He insisted. “I was on her counter, and she gave me some weird liquid to drink. I drank it, and then she began to make a pie crust. She was going to make me into a potpie. I watched some as she chopped up veggies, then motioned for me to lie on the cutting board. She gave me a kiss, and then… I was chopped up!”

Adam laughed. “Oh come on. You are really getting weird bro.”

“It’s true! It didn’t even hurt, no blood or guts or anything! I was just chopped and sliced, all but my head which she set aside so I could watch. She put in some gravy, put on the top crust, and put the whole thing in to bake. She then decided to swallow my head as an appetizer…”

“Wait… you mean like, swallow it whole?” Adam asked. Floppy nodded.

“Yeah! It was so cool. I could feel the rest of me baking in the oven, and yet my head was taken in like a big jawbreaker. I cannot tell you how long she was licking at me, it tickled so much! Finally, She gulped me down, and said ‘oh, what a yummy appetizer.’ I was asleep after that. 

“But then… I woke up in a big bed. It was a big blue room! Kinda like yours brother, with a cuddly wolf plush! Even had one of the eyes missing.”

Adam was wide eyed at that. “What?! How close was it to my room?”

“An exact match brother, except more books and what looked like a big burger bun for a chair! Anyway, she came in with a HUGE tummy, and told me I could stay the night. She told me to tell you everything tomorrow, and to say what she really was to you when I was done with my story.. which I am, so I guess I can tell you now. Brother, she is a WITCH! A real life, magic using, child eating witch!”

Adam’s jaw dropped. He did not want to believe it, but the more he thought about it the more it made sense. She was indeed like the witches in her mom’s stories, able to change form and eager to capture young kiddies. He knew, in the back of his mind, that Floppy was telling the truth.

“Floppy… don’t tell anyone, okay?” Adam said all of a sudden. “NO ONE.”

“But brother…” Floppy complained.

“No buts Flops! Swear with the ears.”

Floppy sighed, their ears touching for a moment before Adam knotted one of them. He then recited the oath. “This promise we keep as bunnies do. If either one tells, that one is through.”

Floppy repeated it, but giggled as it was untied. He then reveled his paw was crossed. Adam oied some, but Floppy smiled. He would keep his word… for now.

But for Adam, he had to learn more. A real witch! He had to meet her… no, he had to introduce her to the others. All the others. 

Maybe she could help make the goal of the Movement come to pass.

**************************

Elene chuckled as she remembered her dinner last night, leaving the bathroom after her afternoon shower. She patted her still rounded tummy, still full of yummy bunny meat and pie stuff, the last sign of her tasty meal. As she went downstairs, she heard a knock on the door. 

“Who could that be?” She asked. She opened it, happy with the answer. There, smiling, was Adam, arms crossed, still in his school clothes. He had come right from school to her home, and was eager to get some answers.

“Hello Elene. I need to come in. Please.”

Elene smiled and stepped aside. “I’ve been waiting for you Adam. You are probably surprised to see Floppy alive and well. Little guy was stunned himself when he came to.”

Adam nodded, following her to the kitchen. “He told me a wild story how you chopped him up for p…” He stopped short as he saw what was left of the pie, pulled out of the fridge. The last slice for the wolf. She popped it in the microwave and then sat down. Adam was wide eyed. “He…. No… no way…”

“Yes way, little morsel.” Elene said with a wink. “But then, you already knew didn’t you?”

Adam chuckled and scratched his head. “Yeah I guess so. It was the only way you could go without being seen.”

Elene nodded. “You are correct. Even the best disguise would not have fooled some of those scanners in there.”

“So… you ate Floppy up huh?”
“Most of him yes. He is quite tasty. But I like my meat a little… older.” She smiled, licking her lips. Adam knew what she meant and knew he wanted it. To be eaten and live through it would be wonderful for the bunny, so he made no effort to run.

“So, guess I am the after school snack huh?” He asked. “How will you do it?”

The wolf pondered as she took out the last slice of bunny pie. “Well… I already had pie. Yummy stuff. But I kinda want something more natural today. But first, does your mom know you are here?”

Adam nodded. “Yeah, I’m here to apologize for calling you a witch. My sisters told mom.”

Elene chuckled. “Oh is that so?” She said. “Well, then you have to be punished.” She smiled and took out a rather foul smelling potion. “This one might just do the trick. It will let me do something to you only a snake could do: swallow you whole and wriggling.”

Adam was wide eyed. “Swallow… whole?! No way!”

The wolf smiled and came closer, downing the potion. “Yes way.” She unhinged her jaw with a sickening pop, and came within grabbing range, never losing that playful grin. Adam chuckled and began to remove his clothes, curious about this.

“Will it hurt?” he asked as she reached for him, now in naught but his fur. She smiled as she picked him up.

“Not a bit, my cute snack.” She said, licking her chops as she opened as wide as she could to take him in. The boy went wide-eyed as he was thrust in headfirst, and he subconsciously began to wriggle and squirm. She bit just a little, trying to relax him, but he was to excited and scared to stop wriggling. If anything, the feel of her fangs only made her wiggle and squirm more. Her first swallow made him laugh with delight. Oh God, he thought, I’m…I’m really doing it…I’m feeding a pred… Oh Lydia, if this works…

He kept the rest of his thought open as he was pulled in further, getting a nice view now down her throat all the way to the gurgling stomach. It was like it was singing to him, telling him to come in and rest, come in and be part of Elene. And he was more than happy to oblige. Another swallow and he stopped struggling, shutting his eyes and letting his sense of touch see what was around him and how it was. The answer to that made him smile and sigh: It was wonderfully soft, a little wet, but also had an odor that was not unpleasant or terribly wonderful. It just… was.

Elene, meanwhile, could taste the boy’s excitement and his natural flavor, unspoiled by cooking or seasonings. It was simply his meat, which tasted wonderful to the wolf. As she ate, she imagined herself as a primitive quadruped wolf, and Adam her kill, being eaten like a yummy treat. But now it was so much better. She could feel him wriggle inside her, and could feel him fill out her tummy, getting cozy as she ate him up.

And comfy Adam was, the tummy nice and soft despite having some acids already in it, numbing his ears as they went in. He knew he was already being digested, but he did not care. He trusted his new friend that all would be well. His brother, after all, had survived being chopped up and gobbled up, so he had no fear he would also survive. So, he waited as he was sent all the way to the tummy, Elene having gobbled him up with a couple final gulps.

“Ahhhh…. Delicious! Kinda sweet too. I think I may try a cake with you in it once you come back.” Elene said. The bunny could feel as the wolf witch rubbed her tummy right where his head is. The feeling is quite nice, and he cannot help but sigh happily.

“I’m getting kinda sleepy Miss Maplewood.” Adam said, yawning. He knew he was running out of air, and soon he would be nothing more than meat in her belly. But he was not afraid. He trusted Elene with his life, and he knew she would not hurt him, despite her being a pred. As he started to drift, he once more thought of Lydia.
Maybe this was what she had in mind, he thought. He could see her crossing the fence, flowers in hand, wanting only peace. And he could see the result, when that cop…

He saw no more, slipping into unconsciousness, unable to fight back a single tear for Lydia. The juices dried it up like water in the desert, and he began to be digested.

*******************

Eve smiled as she saw her son return home, a big smile on his face. He was gone for over two hours, so she had been worried that he had upset her or gotten lost, but she had called and told her all was okay. She knew in the voice, somehow, she was telling the truth.

“Well, did you apologize?” She asked. Adam nodded.

“She thought I was sweet.” He said truthfully. “Even invited me to come again sometime.”

“Such a good boy. But make sure you do your chores first this time, all right?”

Adam nodded. “I will.” He looked to Floppy and winked. He started to giggle, knowing what happened. Adam said no more, just heading for his room to think and plan. He would keep it secret for now, but he still had work to do for the Movement.

CHAPTER 9

The next few days went along very well, though not according to the news. According to them, preds were hoarding more food and stealing more prey. Adam also heard that on predside a restaurant and several apartment places were bombed. But the movement WAS having an effect, small though it was. Online, the amount of people that came on grew, many thanking the movement for food they would not otherwise have. A few even sent money from BOTH sides of the fence for donations to those less fortunate. But the effect was still very small, and the numbers not even enough to fill one city. Still, it was a start.

Meanwhile, when he got free time Adam would spend time with Elene, talking with her about things going on, about the news, about the families. One by one, each one of his brothers and sisters, save for Cora and Wilma, went to see the witch. Not all were eaten of course, and not all even saw that she was a wolf. But every one of them had a lot of fun with her. She became, in a way, like a foster aunt to the Walters family, helping out the family as much as possible. But Adam never asked much about Elene’s past or where she came from. He did most of the talking, and she would listen intently, memorizing every word. Most of their talk was about school and about the current events class, which was getting worse every day. There was also talk about the happy times of his family, including picnics and stories and tons of jokes. Elene talked mainly about spells she could do, from turning people into stone ( a spell she had taught Belinda back home) to traveling through the air to, of course, cooking cubbies without harming a one of them. 

One day, When Elene had made Adam a nice big batch of cookies to fatten him up thanks to her magic, Adam began to ask some serious questions. “Miss Maplewood?” He asked.

“I thought we were on a first name basis Adam Apple!” She said, setting down a big cookie before him.

“Sorry… Elene.” He said with a blush. “Were you always a witch?”

Elene shook her head. “No little one. No one is ‘born’ a witch. Anyone can be one, it just takes time and practice. I bet you could be a little warlock as much as you play as one in our games.”

Adam chuckled. “Magic is really cool. I often think that it is…” He stopped himself before saying anymore. He was careful who to share certain things with. “Anyway, what happened?”

Elene sat. “You want to know the whole story, or the Readers Digest version?”

Adam smiled. “Tell me the whole story. Please.”

She sighed and began to speak. “Well, when I was little, like your brother Floppy, I had a friend. But this was no predator like me. He was more like you. He was an adorable little coon boy named Robert. I used to tease him about him being Robert the Robber, and we played a lot, sneaking through the fence to the woods on his side, so we could play and cuddle.

“Then one day, I went to meet him, and he did not come. I waited and waited, but he never came. I was heartbroken, especially since tomorrow was my birthday. But I said nothing, and snuck back home, where I could smell roasting meat. I went in and saw my mom basting the meal, when I was mortified.

“There, on the table, was Robert’s head, cut off with the very knife that my mom was using to take a taste of his rump. I saw his face, a look of sheer terror frozen in his eyes, and my heart broke. I cried out to my mom asking why she had done it to him, he was clearly scared. You know what she told me?”

Adam swallowed. “What?”

“The fear is what makes the meat so nice and tender.”

“How awful!” Adam said. “What did you do?”

“I ran to my room, mom coming after me. She asked why I was so upset, and I told her. EVERYTHING. I told her that he was my friend, and we played together often, and that one day I had hoped to marry him. Believe it or not, she thought I was joking! She thought that I…” She started to cry, wiping her eyes. Adam hugged her. “It’s all right, she soon saw it was no joke. She saw how hurt I was, and just held me. She was not a bad mother, but she was one who clung to old ideas about preds and prey, ones where we have to be cruel to our meals to make them yummy, where our animal desire to hurt those weaker makes us strong. But she was a mother, and knew Robert was my friend, so she held me.”

Adam sighed. “Poor Robert. But… forgive me, but… do you think he would have been your meal?”

“I don’t think, I know. You see, mom told me that I had to leave, if this was how I felt. Not because she was ashamed, but because she knew of fursons who knew the Art. Magic, Adam. She knew that I had potential to be a witch, to rise above the old hatreds and embrace the arts that they had killed. You see, a fallacy is that we, as fursons, always hated one another. That is not the case. There was a time when witches and wizards made it so furs could eat each other silly, until we got fat and happy from so much rich food. It was a happy time. But then there came those who saw pred and prey together as evil, and they began to stir up problems. BIG ONES.”

Adam was wide eyed. “You mean… war?”

“If it were only that. This was not war, it was a genocide. The so-called Divine Claws, a fancy name for a bunch of killers and murderers, accused magicians of doing evil things with their magic. Things like raising the bones of the fallen to kill, hypnotizing the innocents into sexing them, even making pacts with the devil himself in exchange for unending power. Hardly the truth, since the Art was not based on the devil at all. But the public bought it. One by one witches and wizards of all forms began to be hunted down and killed. All who did not support the idea was also slaughtered. It’s hard to say to a little boy, but it is true.”

“Is that when the time of mass killings began?” Adam asked. Elene nodded.

“Yes. When the magic users were forced into hiding, the predators saw themselves as the rulers. They began to hunt down and capture prey alive, skinning them while still moving and eating them like animals. Prey fought back, making weapons like those used by the ancient Man. In time, the only solution the prey saw was the Fences. And they erected them to shut out the preds. Or so they said.

“In reality, the preds were actually the losers in those times, because there were just so many prey to catch, and they were all armed. Many preds betrayed their brothers solely for food, eating whole families of bunnies and mice as a trade for information. But when you look at it in the grand scheme, everyone lost. For thousands of years that symbol of hate still stands, a sign of unending evil. As long as it stands, prey will kill to ‘protect their families’ and preds will go on raids to ‘slay animals’.

“But, when I ran from my mother, I found another way. I ran deep into the predator territory, far from the fence, far from that sign of hate and my own grief, to a place in the mountains. There, I meant the most unlikely person I would ever meet: A Squirrel by the name of Anora Redwood. She was an ancient squirrel, older than most of the rest of us, and one of the leaders in The Art. She seemed feeble indeed, but her beauty was beyond compare. And she taught me all I know. But to ease my pain, she did me a kindness: she brought to the world the spirit of my friend, Robert.”

Adam sat on the edge of his seat, the story quite exciting to him. “He… he was alive?”

She shook her head. “No, he was dead. But he was sure a handsome ghost, and he smiled at me. He told me he forgave me and asked me how he tasted. I said I could not eat my friend, It hurt me so. He told me the time would come when I would, and it would make me feel wonderful inside.

“His spirit stayed with me for weeks, aiding in my early training, and helping me through the Witches variation on First Prey: The Bonding. It is a time when we would search for a cub either in the colony or in the outside world to eat and reform. It is slow the first time, takes days to bring them back. But when it is over, it is a sign that we are full witches, and can do anything with our power, even have vore as a sign of love, of giving yourself away to another, wholly and completely.”

Adam smiled at the thought. “Like a gift, right?”

Elene nodded. “Like the best gift.”

The two hugged one another, Adam wondering what it would be like to be a real warlock.

CHAPTER 10

“Elene,” Adam asked, after a brief pause. “Why are you here now? Doesn’t it hurt you to be this close to the fence?”

Elene nodded. “It does little one. The forest where we used to play is a mere stone’s throw away from this very house. But I had to come. I have a mission here of sorts.”

Adam tilted his head. “What kind of mission?”

“To answer that, I must ask you, have you ever read a story book called My Best Friend?”

Adam chuckled. If she only knew how MUCH he knew that tale. “Oh I read it all right!”

“Then you know what happened to the cat and mouse in that tale.”

Adam nodded. “They ran away to a place where preds and prey could be friends, and love ruled all, far over the mountains.”

Elene smiled. “Well, it is from a place like that I came, a place where peace rules all. We even eat each other until our tummies burst, and run around with naught but our fur.”

Adam chuckled at the thought. “Sounds fun! My family would love a place like that, even my big sisters. Well… if there were a lot of cute guys.”

Elene chuckled. “Oh yes indeed. LOTS of them. But that is beside the point. The key is that here, where the rules of the fence dominate people’s minds, there is no peace anymore. Food is starting to decrease in supply, hatreds are growing, and attacks on both sides are getting worse. The lines are being drawn, and the forces are mounting up for a war. THE war. One where neither side will stop until the other is totally wiped out.

“I have come to try and find some way to prevent that. Somehow. But I cannot do it alone. One tried and failed, though her attempt still resonates through the hearts of many peace loving creatures. She was a little coyote girl who crossed the fence, bearing flowers and crying. She came to be with her friends, to surrender and just make peace. But the cop who met her was one who wanted war. He would not let peace sound out, so he shot her.

“But her death was not in vain. Her sacrifice inspired groups to form, to make similar sacrifices, to do what they could for peace, and to bring about the end of the Fence once and for all in some way. They symbolize the idea that no matter how different we are, there is a way to bring peace. They even say that they would be willing to be food for the preds, if they only knew it would bring an end to war.”

Adam nodded. “Inspired by that coyote…. Lydia.”

Elene was wide eyed. “You know her?!”

Adam nodded. “She is called a mass murderer to the public, but not to me or to those I work with.”

“That means…” Elene said, starting to smile.

“You have found those you were looking for: The Lydia Movement. I had hoped you were, because I think your power might be able to help us fight this hunger.”

Elene sighed. “Alas, all the witches left would not fulfill the needs of every furson. Magic is strong yes, but there are millions to feed, and the creation of all the needed food would take more energy than all the witches combined. But maybe I can help in other ways.”

Adam nodded. “Let me take you to a friend tomorrow, one more mature than I, and he might have an answer as to how we can best work this thing out. If there IS a way to prevent war, maybe we can find it.”

Elene nodded. “Take me to him.”

Adam shook his head. “Can’t today, I got to go. Meet me after school tomorrow, in the playground area.” He took out a small handkerchief. “Take this too. Our symbol is on that, and if you see anyone with that symbol, they are part of the movement.”

Elene chuckled, seeing the pink cursive L on the hankie. The wolf looked at him. “Even preds?”

Adam chuckles. “My friend Maira IS a pred. It is through her family that we provide banquets for those in the slums beyond the Fence.”

Elene smiled. “Like you give me huh?” She asked. He nodded some. “Well, I’ll hang on to this then. But I am kinda hungry though…”

Adam chuckled. “All right, I got time.” He smiled and started to undress, when she stopped him. “What? I thought you…”

Elene smiled and withdrew a potion. “I got something that is a lot faster.” She gave him the potion, which tasted like liquid cocoa. He soon saw what the potion was for as he felt his whole body began to stiffen up. Unable to move, he fell forward into her arms, and she lifted him onto the table. There he saw his paws round and become part of his arms, little black dimples forming on them, his fur turning into a light tan color. He realized with a smile what was happening. She was changing his form into that of a great big chocolate chip cookie. He looked at his clothes and it confirmed his theory, them taking the same color with a frosting outline to mark the clothes. She smiled and sat down, watching the transformation finish as his eyes turned into big chocolate chips, and his smile frozen into frosting. 

“Mmmmmm, a yummy bunny cookie.” She said, tearing off a leg and taking a bite. Melted chocolate leaked from it, making a large mess. “Nice and moist and chewy. Could use some milk though.”

Adam moaned in delight, loving the feel of being witch chow yet again. He could not wait until tomorrow though. A real witch! Someone who could help the movement in ways he could never have imagined!

Of course, Elene was happy as well. Without even thinking about it, she had found the Movement she was looking for. Now all she had to do was help get all the members united. The taste of the sweet cookie seemed to reassure her that things might just work out. Just how they would she was not sure just yet.

************************

Adam’s mother smiled as she saw her son come in. “You greedy thing you!” She said playfully. “You eat supper with Miss Maplewood?”

“Sort of.” Adam said. “She made me a big cookie for dinner.” He chuckled a little, though only he got the joke. But in the corner of the room, Cora hmmed some, suspicious. As they all left the kitchen, she got out her cell phone. She had a call to make.

Things were happening she was unsure of, and she suspected that there was evil afoot…

CHAPTER 11

Seeing the Fence again like this after so long was hardly a pleasant reaquaintance for Elene, but the pass that Adam’s father had provided had done its work. And she was especially happy when she saw that there were a good number of guards loyal to the Movement. They waved when they saw Adam and a couple whistled at Elene. She only blushed as they did.

“Animals.” She said, Adam chuckling. They soon reached the watchtower where Vincent was stationed. 

“Here we are.” Adam said. He looked to Elene. “Vincent is kind of like an uncle to me, and a good friend. I see him whenever I get gifts from Maira. I also come every now and then just to see how he is doing. Sometimes I think I am the one who keeps him going, after all he has been through.” He sighs and knocks on the door. “Vincent! You home?”

After a brief pause, the door opened to revel Vincent, whose eyes were red from crying. In his hand he held a framed picture of a young mouse boy. But he tried to hide it when he saw Adam and his friend. “Ah, Adam, come in, come in! You need to visit more shithead, or I might just attach you to a fishing pole and go pred fishing!”

Adam chuckled and hugged Vincent. “If you did, you would catch a whopper for mounting on the fireplace.” Vincent returned the hug, then looked to his friend. The mouse was wide eyed. 

“How..? How did a wolf…?”

Adam was wide eyed as the door was closed. “You know? How can you see her and no one else can?”

Before he could answer, Elene did. “I am the one responsible for it Adam. Lowered my disguise so he could see me.” She smiled. “I’d like to help the Movement, if I can.”

The mouse chuckled. “That may be hard with recent events. Adam, I have been meaning to tell your father. There was a big attack last night. A whole bunch of preds and prey dead in the streets on predside, mostly kids too, teenagers. Its bad news man. The government is already planning to retaliate for the deaths of prey, and the preds are starting to build their forces as well. We need to tell Maira to play it safe for awhile.”

Adam nodded. “I’ll tell her tonight, when we see her.” Adam looked over, seeing Elene stare at the many pictures of a young mouse. “Elene?” Adam asked. 

“I’m sorry, it’s just these pictures. Tell me Vincent, who is this?”

Adam was about to say something when Vincent silenced him. “No Adam, she needs to know. His name is Daniel, and he is… was… my brother.” He sighs some. Elene came over and sat by him.

“Tell me, maybe I can help. It will show you can trust me.” Vincent looked into her eyes and nodded softly. Adam knew part of the reason he was compelled to tell had to be magic, for this was something he never shared with anyone, save him. So, he sat back, and listened.

“All right… It started a long time ago, when I was just a cub, only a little older than Adam. Daniel was a few years younger than I, but we were so close in age that him and I were inseparable. Better still, our mom was close to us, at least at first. I thought life could not be any better.

“Then one day, mom moved away in the night. I found out by our father pulling me out of bed and pointing me out the window. ‘Your mom has left you, wimp.’ He told me. I knew then that the troubles were about to begin. It started out simple enough, just the occasional spanking or fist to the face. But as I got older the beatings got worse, and it was made even worse by the fact that I would stay up, hearing my dad do the same thing to my brother… and not doing a thing about it.

“Then… he crossed the line. He took me to his room and stripped off my clothes. I stared in horror as he withdrew his…” He stopped here, starting to cry. “He… he raped me.

“After that, I saw him and Daniel as my enemies. I told Danny to go away or I would beat him up like father does. At that exact moment, dad looked to me and threw me money.

“’about time’ he told me. I was so angry I could scream. But I kept up the tough act, because it stopped the beatings and the rapings, and it focused them on Danny. I hung out with the school trash, punks who wanted to bomb preds and rape the cheerleaders, and pis on the supporters for peace. Each time I got tough at home I got money and was not beat, so I kept it up. Then, one day, I could not take it anymore. One of my friends knew I was going through a hard time, and came to me. He offered to have me go with him to a big party, away from school, away from parents, just girls, booze, and beds. I said yes, eager to get away.

“It was fun… at first. The biking and the parties were wonderful, and my buddies and I were rallying against everything. Then, they brought me a surprise: A mouse girl, tied up at the wrists and gagged, captured for our fun. I asked if we would get in trouble, and they said, and I quote: ‘Prey NEVER get in trouble for rape and abuse! Preds will get blamed and we will get off!’

“I took her into the room, since she was just for me, and started to remove my clothes. But As I saw her, terrified, begging for mercy, I saw what I had become. I was my father all over again. I took my knife out and cut her bindings and ungagged her. She looked at me with soft eyes, and then embraced me.

“For the first time in a long time, I felt happy. I just held her, and she held me. Finally, the door opened, and the guys saw what I was doing. I didn’t think, I didn’t act, I just said I wanted out, I wanted to go home. They looked at me, then at her, and pulled out  a pistol. I watched in horror as they fired at her, shooting her in the head. I glared at the guys, two of them look horrified, but the leader was smiling. And it was he who pulled the trigger. He pointed the gun at me, and said, ‘no one leaves, unless they die.’ But I had other ideas. I threw the knife I had at him, and it hit the guy in his neck.

“The gun went off, grazing my shoulder. I saw him hit the floor, and I was white with fear. With a sudden realization I realized what I became, what dad wanted me to be: A killer, a rapist, and a weapon to fight the Predators. And it was then I remembered Danny, and knew I had to get him out of there.

“The other two took me back to town, and said they would tell no one about what happened, and I ran home. But when I got there, I was greeted with a horrible sight. The smell of pis and shit was larger than ever before, a sign that dad had never gotten up to beat anybody, just to drink. He sat there in the chair, oblivious to me, as I called for Danny. When I got to his room, I saw that the covers were off and no one was there, but the clothes were all there, and there was no sign the bed had been slept in for days, even weeks. I had been gone almost a month, and I realized that, just as I had left, so had Danny.

“I turned to my father and screamed at him, asking him where my brother was. He shrugged and said. ‘I’m rid of him and of you, get out of my damn house.’ I lifted him off of the chair, the smell of his breath about knocking me over, and I screamed again, asking where he was. He just laughed. ‘Kill me if you want bastard.’ He said in a drunken look of defiance. ‘Kill me like I killed your mother. Make me proud in my final moments, or be the wimp I always knew you to be.’

“I almost did kill him. But I would not give him the satisfaction of getting rid of my brother, killing my mother, and making me a monster. I pushed him back into the chair and ran from there, my tears starting to form. I found out from other sources that he has been selling coupon books in a nice little section of town not too far from home. So I went there to find him. I never did. The closest I got was seeing one of the coupon books in front of an abandoned house. From it, I could smell the definite smell of a fox.

“I knew then what had happened. He was dead, killed by the preds. But, when I looked, there was no signs of a struggle, nor any signs of unhappiness. Even though the house was empty, it was cozy. I realized the pred must have at least been kind to Danny, something he did not know at home, and I wept.

“I kneeled there, in the empty home, crying like a baby, begging for forgiveness from the powers that be. I hated what I was, and wanted to change. No answer came, save a flyer asking for boarder guard applicants. 

“So I left the little town I grew up in, left the punks and the abuse and the monsters, to here. I never let myself love another, but I did learn to forgive the preds. I saw how hard they had it, and I could relate to their pain. So, I joined the Movement, to repent for my sins and make my peace with Danny’s ghost. Every time I have to kill a predator, I can feel his anger, but every time I am able to help one… I can feel him hug me. My little brother…” He stopped here, the tears by now soaking his facial fur. Adam hugged him, and Elene wiped her eyes. But then she remembered something…

“Wait… you said his name was Daniel right?”

Vincent nodded. “Yes.”

“When did this happen?”

“About 30 years ago.”

Elene smiled softly. “Vincent… Vince… I know where he is. He is alive and well.”

Vincent stood up. “He IS?!” He looked at her. “Does he remember me? He must, if you know my nickname! Please, I must see him. I have to tell him how sorry I am.”

Elene smiled and held his paws. “I’ll arrange it. It will be a couple days though. Can you wait that long?”

Vincent nodded, smiling for what appeared to be the first time in a long time. “I waited much longer than that. I can wait two more days.”

CHAPTER 12

With all that had been happening the last few days, Adam had been pretty busy. So, when he went to the meeting in the woods with the Lydia Movement, he was much more tired than usual. He was not too tired though to smile at his friends, especially Maira. Word had spread to the movement about their new friend, and the point of the meeting tonight was not just to talk about who would go to feed the preds, but on an easy way that the witch could help. Adam was delighted that his friends believed him, but it turned out there was a reason for that: one of them had seen Elene themselves the other day, curious about the new neighbor, and had spotted Adam in the soup pot. 

“Whoops.” Adam said when he found out, the others giggling. “But then again, how did you know I wasn’t just taking a bath?”

“Well,” The raccoon said, chuckling, “one, it was in the kitchen, and two, she was slicing in veggies. It’s okay though, I was dessert.”

Maira smiled. “Wow, a real witch! And she’s a wolf too! I wanna meet her.”

Adam chuckled. “You all will. She is going to be coming tonight. She wants to help the Lydia Movement, not just here, but everywhere. She thinks we can do something if we unite. Not just feed one another, but something much bigger: bring the Fence down.”

Everyone was silent for a moment. Then Maira spoke up. “You.. you think we can? We are just kids after all!”

A mouse spoke up. “I think we can do it. We helped bring rouge furs on both sides to justice, fed a whole city… no, two cities, and got preds and prey to meet on the net. I think we really can do it. It’s just the how that will be tricky.”

“And that is where I come in.” A voice said. Everyone turned to see the wolf woman, dressed like a real with, pointed hat and all, with a red velvet dress and long black cape. She smiled as she came over to the circle of friends, smiling. “Ironic isn’t it. Years ago this is where I met my friend in secret, and now the forested area is here again for an even better purpose. Lydia would be proud of you kids.”

Maira stared at the wolf for a long time, and finally came over. “Wow… a real witch. Mom always told me I’d meet one day, a nice witch who eats kids for dinner.”

“Oh I do. As some of you know. But we have work to do tonight kids. There are many like you all over the world, loyal to Lydia and eager for peace. But the key is uniting them. Now, I have some friends coming in a couple days who might be able to help, but the core of the idea rests with you. You cannot do your good work in secret anymore. Make it public. Have people spread the word of the Movement, and not just on the net, but in the schools, on the television, everywhere.”

“It’s risky.” A chipmunk said, munching on a nut bar. “Anyone associated with the Lydia Movement around here gets arrested. Like Tom’s family was. There wasn’t even a real trial! Just sentenced to life in prison, the cubs sent to the army to be ‘reprogrammed’ to better serve prey.”

“Then they were martyrs.” Adam said suddenly. Everyone turned to him. “I, for one, am not afraid of the law anymore. Let them catch me. Like I said in school, If something happens to me, three will come in my place. I will not take the sh…” He stopped, remembering the age of some of them. He coughed and continued. “In any case, we cannot just sit back and let war come. If we have to make Lydia public, then let’s do it. If there was only some way we could get help from the media.”

“There is.” A squirrel said. “My dad works over at the newspaper. He can publish some editorials we can write up about things we are seeing.”

“Won’t he get fired?” A bunny asked. The squirrel shook her head. 

“Not for that, I don’t think. It is opinions, not hard-line news.”

Maira smiled. “And I can have mom and dad get word out through the restaurants. If you guys are up for it, we could hold a special dinner for some of the homeless.”

Adam chuckled. “I hoped you would say that, I brought a surprise.” He whistled, and from the bushes came several young cubs, all smiling at Maira. She was wide eyed and her lips quivered. “Just as Lydia gave her life to try and make peace, so to now do these children, donations from many families loyal to us, give themselves for others to live. May they be happy in their final moments, and tasty too. They all make the sacrifice as you did for peace.”

The children nodded in agreement. One spoke up. “We don’t want to be killers, we want to bring peace and hope.” Maira burst into tears, hugging them, Elene looking on proudly. 

“I can help them get across the border.” Elene said. “My magic can help with that. But once beyond you are on your own.”

Maira nodded. “I understand. Just leave it to my family. Word of this kindness will reach all over, I swear it!”

But even as they talked, Elene sensed someone was watching them. “Wait… hold on a second.” She got up and looked, but the feeling was gone. Adam came over to her as the kids talked amongst themselves.

“What is it?” Adam asked. 

“Adam… I think we went public. But not in a good way.” She looked to where she last saw a shadow, somehow knowing that something horrible was due to happen. What, she did not know.

*************

In the center of town, at the Mayor’s residence, word of the kindness of the Lydia movement was already reaching some of the public, and the mayor was having a hard time making sure it did NOT reach the public. In the cushioned chair on the other side of the desk, a rat sat there, a chuckle of amusement on his face.

“You seem a little… agitated, mayor.” The rat said.

“Shut up Wallace.” He replied, the groundhog mayor turning to him, showing his layers of flab. “You were supposed to be teaching these kids about the EVIL of Lydia, not letting them continue to undermine it. Now, I am getting calls, the police are getting calls, the station is getting calls, and they are all saying the same thing: The Lydia Movement Is Right. No War!”

“Dust in the wind, Mayor Tubbycheeks.” The rat said, standing and straightening his suit. “The attacks on the prey are all that matter, and that is what the taxpayers understand and believe. The more we play up how bad they are, and the more we say how every missing cub is actually an attack by preds, and not prey psychos working for us, the closer we are to attacking and wiping out the preds once and for all. Then we will be free.”

“Not as long as the Lydia Movement exists.” The mayor said. “Until they are found and silenced, they are still a threat.”

“Maybe not. All we need now is a final trigger to begin the war. Something big. Something horrible.”

At that moment, the door opened, and a shadowy figure came in. The mayor looked and smiled, as did the rat, who spoke. “Ah, my prized student. You have news for us?”

“My part of the deal first.” The voice replied.

“Ah yes, of course. One bound up teen for you to use as a breeding tool awaits you in the other room. People think the preds got him so no one will miss him. But first, you have the info?”

The shadow moved forward. “Oh I got info all right: The next plans of the movement. They plan on sending a bunch of willing cubs over to predside for a big feast for homeless fursons, and they plan on making it public, not to mention a bunch of nicey nice things they have been doing over here. The one behind it is one of your current events students.”

The rat chuckled. “Who?”

The shadow came forward, reveling a pair of long ears. “His name is Adam. Adam Walters.”

The mayor smiled, and the rat chuckled. “You did well.” He opened the door, and the shadow went in. But the form let out a scream as she saw the ‘bound fur’ before her: A little rabbit, bound and scared. The shadow came out, only to have the rat grab her wrists. 

“You BASTARD! Adam was right about you, you are a creep!”

“Yes, I am. And proud of it. I am tired of our government not using the advantage we had for all this time. Now, we are taking matters into our own hands. We will ignite the war, and make all loyal to us VERY rich. And if you try and warn Adam about our plans, or ANY member of the Movement, that bunny will be used as bait to kill the Lydia Movement AND start our war. As for your deal, who would want to sleep with a rabbit like you anyway, so softhearted and yet eager to fit into the crowd. The only one who will be in bed with you… is me.”

“You… NO! HELP!”

The mayor opened the side door, letting the rat take her into the bedroom. He chuckled some and sighed in relief. “So, now chaos shall run thy course.”

He sat at the desk and started playing the music, as in the other room the rat had his way with his former student. A small price to pay for things finally working out. Now the hunger problems would end, and the preds would all be dead. The e remembered he had a few calls to make. Only a few calls away from his rise to power.

He picked up the phone and called the boarder guards, one loyal to him answering. “Yes, this is Mayor Tubbycheeks. I got a special mission for you…”

CHAPTER 13 

Elene was nervous when she drove back home that night. It had gone too smoothly, she knew it, but she had said nothing to the others. All she could do was hope for the best. As she pulled up to her home, she could feel something a little out of place.

“Someone is in there.” She said, getting out of the car. She walked up to the door of the home suddenly, and was in for the shock of her life. There, standing in her kitchen, was a rat. It was not the same person who saw her, but she could sense the two had had recent contact. VERY recent.

“Hello Elene.” He said with a chuckle. “So nice to finally meet a bunny like you.”

The wolf remembered her disguise and chuckled. “You got a lot of brass breaking into my home. Like to tell me why?”

“Of course. I want to know why the same car that was spotted at the Fence not three minutes ago is now parked right outside this home, where such a pretty bunny lives.” He chuckled. “Could it be that you have been transporting cubs?”

Elene was wide eyed. Her magic had missed one of the guards! In her eagerness to help out the Movement, she had not double-checked to make sure they all would forget. A rookie mistake. “And if I was?”

“Well, then you are under arrest. Like the other members of the movement will be.” He picked up a phone and began to dial. Elene hmmed and concentrated hard. There was still a way to make things right. She listened carefully as her spell went into effect, and started to giggle as the officer got mean with the rat.

“What… what do you mean they were PRED cubs?!…. No, we have an eyewit… he… he DENIED IT?! You sunofabitch! I know you are… what?… no, you will not hang …” He slammed the receiver to the phone, and looked to the rabbit. 

Only, she was not a rabbit anymore. Before him stood a wolf, who looked stunningly sexy but bore several sharp teeth. The rat was wide eyed as he realized what it was he was looking at.

“Oh my God… A fucking WITCH!” He said. “You…you’re…?!”

“That’s right.” She said, bearing her teeth. “And I intend to make sure you do not harm anyone.”

The rat chuckled. “Even if you kill me, my friends know about your plans. And I got people watching Adam VERY closely. Anyone tries to warn him, and he loses his little brother, Floppy.”

Elene was wide eyed. “You… you sick bastard!”

“Oh it gets better!” The rat said with a chuckle. “I can tell you all this now because our plan is already set. After all, we know where that little predator girl lives. Preds must DIE, young and old, no matter who they are or what they are.”

Elene sighed. “You might be in for a surprise.” She held her hand out, and watched as the rat slowly began to shrink. “But enough talk. I worked up an appetite, and unlike Adam, I will not reform you.”

The rat was wide eyed. “Wait… reform?!”

She picked the rat up. “Oh yes, a little miracle that science might just figure out. The ultimate answer for world hunger. See, I could eat you, and you would come back. But you… you do not deserve that pleasure.”

The rat chuckled. “Kill me then, like the pred you are.” He said. “It just proves my point.”

Elene hmmed. “You’re right, it does doesn’t it. So I got a better fate for you.” She took him into the bathroom, and mumbled some words. He started to flatten out, screaming as he realized what he was turning into.

“Life is so shitty sometimes isn’t it?” Elene said, going to the bathroom. At least now she had some toilet paper, but now she also had a problem. She knew there was going to be something horrible about to happen, and she had no way of warning anyone.

But there was something else she COULD do. She went upstairs to the one room she had not entered, and was relieved to see it was a computer room. She sat there at it, knowing she had very little time left. Typing as fast as she could, faster than most could, she made her messages for all to see.

“Please… let this work.” Reading it over, she pushed SEND.

It was the only hope left.

CHAPTER 14

The next day, Adam was smiling happily. Things were starting to work out, and he confirmed it as he saw the newspaper. In it was a series of editorials from many people around town, saying how they had been helping people around the city. But his hopes were soon dashed as he saw the news.

On it was the family of the person responsible for the editorials being in the paper in the first place.

“Linked to the villainous Lydia Movement, Daniel Reed and his family have been arrested today due to their connection with the group. Unidentified sources have confirmed this group has even gone so far as to recruit children to it, forcing themselves to sacrifice to preds or be killed. Sources claim concrete evidence will be provided tonight. Connected to this, three other families have been put under investigation in relation to the disappearance of several cubs from a local orphanage. While no evidence is found of theft…”

Adam watched no more. Elene had been right. The Lydia Movement had indeed gone public, but not in the way that they had hoped. He saw his father watching it, sighing softly, then looked to his son.

“I know you were involved in this Adam. What happened? And where is Floppy today, over at Miss Maplewood’s again?”

Adam was about to answer when the front door opened. Cora came in, her fur messed up, dark circles under her eyes, and bruises all over her. Her father and mother rushed to her, as did the kids. All just asked one thing.

“What happened?”

She looked at them all and straightened up. She looked at them all and walked past them, giving an answer to them all. 

“Nothing. Just let me be.”

They watched her go to her room, Wilma leaving it just in time to see it lock. “What happened with her?”

The parents said nothing, but started to get ready for the day, worried about Cora. Adam, however, knew something serious was up, and went to check on her. He knocked on the door, hearing her crying.

“Cora? Can I come in?” He asked.

“NO!” She screamed. “You leave me alone you backstapping pred lover!” Adam was wide eyed as he told her that, something she NEVER told him before. Carefully, he opened the door. After all, he knew how to pick the lock from all the times he read her diary.

She lay there on her bed, crying, holding her arm. “Did I say come in you shithead?! Get out!”

Adam stood his ground. “Not until you tell me what is wrong.” He sat by her. “It’s not my love of preds, because you tease me about that all the time. So… what is it?”

She looked at him, right in the eyes. “I… I cannot tell you. If I do… just get out of my room and don’t come back. I don’t want to be around you or anyone anymore. Some of my buddies are picking me up in an hour.”

Adam looked at her. “Not want to be… Cora, you’re not serious!”

She looked at him. “I am.”

“But…”

SLAP! She hit him hard with her paw, sending him off of the bed. “I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU ALL!”

Adam looked at her, lips quivering. “Cora…” He got out, before running from the room. As the door slammed, Cora collapsed. She did not hate her brother. She never could. But if she told him or anyone she saw last night the truth, they would kill Floppy. Maybe he was already dead. It did not matter. Fact was now that she had to report to her new life very soon, and say goodbye to those she loved. It was a fitting punishment for what she did.

But then she realized there was another way. She smiled one last time and went to the window. “Goodbye guys.” She opened it, and pulled a small note from her pocket, setting it in her diary, locking it up. She knew Adam would come in to read it, and see her note. At least she could do that. That done, she climbed out of the window and headed for the Fence.

***********************

She walked slowly, knowing what she was doing was suicide. But she had to. A rat had raped her, and she was no good for anything else but some predator to rip her throat out. She had betrayed her own brother, and her father. And for what?! Just for a promised hot guy slave to fulfill her sick needs, not for any cause what so ever. She was worse than a terrorist, worse than Lydia.

No. That was not true. Lydia was NOT evil. She knew that. And in a way, she was probably doing the same thing that coyote did some time ago: going to predside in surrender. She saw no hope other than to just give up. Or… did she see something more? 

As she reached the Fence, she saw one of the cracks, hidden b some brush. This was it. She looked to preyside one last time, and crawled through the crack. Maybe by her death she could do what Adam was always doing: giving food for those who needed it. Besides, mom and dad needed more for the little ones anyway, she would not be missed.

Bu she would. By Adam. By Floppy. By all her brothers and sisters, who she knew she would miss if they got eaten. Why would they want to feed these murderers? What did they see?

What she was seeing now. She saw the predators, coming closer, not believing their eyes. Some of them were just kids, starving away. She was astonished also that they did not just pounce her and rip her throat out. They were like her. Cautiously, she lifted her arms up.

“I surrender.” She said. The preds came closer, she could feel their hot breath on her fur. She closed her eyes and waited for one to rip her throat out, to kill her. But nothing happened. Instead, they just hugged her, seeing not food, but a friend. She opened her eyes and saw them smile at her.

“Then we will treat you well.” One said. “I myself was blessed only a few days ago, when a mouse surrendered himself to my little ones.”

“I too received a blessing.” Another said. “A pair of squirrels. They made the best cake I ever ate.”

Cora was wide eyed. “The… The Lydia Movement?”

They nodded. “Yes. We give what little we have because of how much they give for us. Secretly, we send our food and drink to them. How can we do elsewise, now that, little by little, we see we are not so different.”

“But… why? I thought you wanted all prey to submit, and takeover our land!”

A coyote woman, old and gray, stepped forward. “I for one used to… until I lost my sister. 70 years now since she was murdered. And all she wanted was peace. Oh I first I wanted revenge, but then I saw a miracle. I saw that her memory had affected not only predators, but prey as well. I support them now, but in secret.”

Cora was wide eyed. “And… who was your sister?”

“Her name was Lydia.”

Cora looked to her. “Listen, I have a favor to ask. Please. People on the other side are going to try and do something horrible, something that would make the war start. I beg of you, do what you can to prevent that war.”

The coyote nodded. “I will, for Lydia and for everyone. I myself have kept record of all the good work that has happened here.”

“There is something else… My little brother… he is held hostage by the Mayor, so I cannot tell the Movement directly. Please, someone, save him. I’ll do anything to correct the wrong I did.” She looked to them. “I wanted to expose the Movement, so I could be cool and fit in, and get the guy. I got a guy all right: my old teacher raped me. I know in the eyes of Heaven I am damned now, but I hope at least I can have someone save my brother, and lead others to do the right thing.”

The group talked amongst each other. Finally, a pair of foxes stepped forward. “Stealth is our game. We did raids for some time before the Movement began helping our families, so we can repay it by rescuing your brother. We will also send word to Adam…”

Cora smiled and hugged them. “Thank you. But I have already done that part.”

They nodded and started out. Cora looked to the rest of them, and saw how hungry they looked. She knew what her final act must be. “As for the rest of you…. Feast upon me… I owe your people that much.”

They drew close and surrounded her, and she closed her eyes. She could feel their fur surrounded them, overpowering her senses. Then, she blacked out.

*********************

Adam was indeed already in her room, trashing it. He had skipped school to try and learn what had happened, but his sister was gone. 

The Coward! Why had she gotten so mean?! What happened? He tore open her end table drawer and emptied it, her diary falling out. He picked it up and began to rip at the lock, when a small sheet of paper fell out of it. He saw it fall and threw the diary aside. He saw the paper and picked it up, starting to rip it, when he saw the words “To Adam, Who I betrayed.”

Adam saw this and opened the note, not knowing what was in it. As he read, he began to cry.

To Adam,

By now, I must have forced you away, like everyone else. I had to Adam, you are being watched. They have Floppy, but I plan on getting help, somehow, to get him back. I figure, if I am gone, they have no reason to keep him, so they should release him when they hear I went to the preds. 

Adam, I was the one who was at your meeting last night, listening in. They are going to try something awful with those orphans, I just know it now. And I think, if they find out I told you, they will include Floppy in the mix, maybe even other members of our family. I saw Elene there too. Why the bunny was helping I do not know, but that fox girl sure seemed to like her. It does not get any better Adam… I did not do it because I hate the Movement or because I like the idea of war: There is this cute guy in my class who hates the idea of peace, and I wanted him to breed me. I was promised that would be the case, but the promise was broken. Instead, it was your teacher who did me. It is only fitting I guess, I was stupid to trust him.

I know no one would ever forgive me, since I may have started the war. But at least I did the right thing in my death. I’m doing what hose cubs do: giving myself to the preds. You are right Adam, I know now it has to come to this. You know better than anyone, even dad, how to do it. I saw that last night. Please Adam. Don’t let the war happen because I was stupid. Do something about it. I ask this as my last request: Make it public. STOP THE WAR.

I will always love you Adam. I do not know if my spirit will get to heaven, but I do hope I am allowed to see you from the afterlife, in an age without the Fence. You can do it Adam, I believe it, because I think you know how. Please correct my mistake Adam. I will always love you.

Your sister,
Cora.

Adam was in tears when he finished reading it. He was aware only after awhile that he was not alone in the room. He turned and saw his mother, who had come home to make supper, and saw the mess.

“Adam?” She asked, worried. Adam simply got up and looked at her.

“Mom… I got some things to do.”

His mother did not say a word, the look in his eyes focused like never before. Something was happening, and she knew that she could not stop him from making it happen.

And, deep down, she knew also that she probably did not want to.

CHAPTER 15

Predside was bustling with activity close to the border, the spies up in the tower smiling as the willing cubs were treated like family. The chefs were careful not to hurt their little friends, since they had been kind enough to help out so any who were in need. It seemed like all was going to be well at long last.

But then, some troublemakers started to show up. They were preds loyal to the old ways it seemed, and seemed to be eager to cause a fight. Vincent watched this on the edge of his seat, picking up the rifle, but not daring to fire lest it start the war. But he knew it was already starting.

“Well well well, fresh meat!” A tiger said, looking at one of the orphan mice, suddenly afraid. “Our anonymous tip was right, these soft hearts WERE holding out on us!”

Maira stepped forward. “You get enough as it is from those raids on the innocent lives. These ones volunteered to help the homeless!”

The tiger laughed. “Volunteered huh? Since when do meats get a say in who they feed? And since when did we have to soften our ways.” He spoke aloud to all gathered. “These bastard children are trying to take away our natural right as the dominant species! We have a duty to our families and our friends! These should not be treated like equals, they are MEAT! So, let us eat them as our ancestors have!”

The crowd began to nod and side with the tiger, Maira calling out. “No! They are just children! They came willingly!”

“SLASH THEIR THROATS!” The resounding cry came. Maira looked to her parents, scared. They came to her and held her.

“How did so many killers gather? Who called for them?”

Maira shivered. “I don’t know… No… those eyes yesterday, at the camp… one of them must have…”

The mother nodded. “It would make sense. We were careful to try and keep the ones of the old way out of this. But it is too late. They are here now.”

Maira was about to say something when an explosion was heard behind her. Vincent, from his tower, looked back to preyside and was wide eyed. The terrorists were now blatantly out in the open, acting like conquering heroes out to save the prey at the last moments before the preds killed them. But Vincent saw that they had also slashed three border guards, and blown a hole in the Fence the size of a large door. The debris fell all about, hitting some of the predators and one f the prey, the latter having his leg trapped. Vincent raised his gun, but another guard pointed his at HIM!

“Don’t try it Lydian.” The fellow guard said. “Or you’ll be killed. This war is long overdue.”

“You bastard… you’re one f the terrorists too?!” Vincent asked the guard. The guard nodded.

Below, the prey militia got in line like they were an official army, and the preds looked to them. They glared at one another, the prey terrorists chuckling.

“So,” the tiger said, looking at the cub in his arms. He had just about slashed his throat when the bomb went off. “The meat has decided to fight.”

“We watched long enough as you kill everyone!” The terrorists said. Sadly, other prey were there too, backing the militia. 

“And what about you? Bombing our families, our orphanages, and most importantly our children!” The tiger said, the preds in full agreement. “At least when we kill it is not just to kill!”

“We will kill only to defend OUR land.” The militia said. “And the best defense is a great offense. In other words, we will KILL ALL OF YOU FUCKING BASTARDS!”

The sides shouted and began to throw rocks at one another. A riot was starting and the lines were drawn. But in the center of it all ran Maira, raising her hands, making everyone silent for a moment. She looked to both sides and tried to find words to speak. But before she could, she saw a sight that made her wide eyed with fear.

There, in one of the towers, was Adam’s little brother, Floppy, bound up by what was supposed to be predators, but was clearly a groundhog and a rabbit. They had him ready to drop into the group of bloodthirsty preds, and were eager to do just that.

“Let him down!” Maira screamed in fright, making everyone look. The preds started to cheer and the militia aimed their weapons at Maira.

“You drop, we shoot!” The militia told the mayor, acting their part perfectly. That, after all , had been the plan all along. Kill a child on each side to begin the riot, and in the process the war. The groundhog mayor looked to the frightened rabbit and chuckled.

“Say good bye bunny. You will usher in a new age of hate, and the end of the preds!” He raised the mouse up…
And a shot rang out. The ground hog dropped the mouse over the side, into the waiting arms of a fox, who had scaled the building while his partner had snuck into the tower. The preds watched in confusion as the rescue took place, no one acting for a moment as he crawled down. There, the fox set the mouse down by one of the prey, smiling. 

“Poor guy looks like he wet himself.” He said softly. He looked as his partner came down, a limping groundhog trying to give chase but finally falling down the steps. The prey stared, perplexed, as this act occurred. But the militia were determined to cause the war, as was the mayor.

“What are you waiting for idiots!” The mayor said. “We planned for too long for this! FIRE!”

They raised their guns, but were met with a surprise. Above them dropped another force of prey, but this one stood between the terrorists and Maira, full automatics ready to bear. With them, in choppers above, were all sorts of news helicopters and press, who had been watching everything that took place. EVRYTHING. Even the most bloodthirsty of preds was touched by this, the tiger heading for Maira.

“Hey kid, you all right?” He asked, still in his gruff tone, but with a face like he cared. Maira nodded.

“Yeah… but I need some new pants now.” She said. The cubs came close to Maira and hugged her, the tiger perplexed. 

“Well now, a prey hugging a pred, and prey DEFENDING preds.”

“Not just prey, kitty.” One of the soldiers said, removing his helmet… reveling his canine features. “We all got a tip that someone was going to try and start something here, so we came as soon as we heard to check it out. News choppers in the area confirmed our suspicions. Seems that tip you got was given by a few warmongers. We made a trace on your mails.”

The tiger was perplexed. “My mail?! Why mine?”

“The tip said to specifically check yours. Once we got the link, we cross referenced it to others.”

“And who was the source of the information?” The tiger asked. The canine smiled.

“The Lydia Movement.”

Everyone present went wide-eyed. A prey spoke. “Impossible! They are all terrorists! These ones are part of the movement!” The prey pointed at the blood hungry preds. But then a small voice came, one that Maira and Floppy were wide eyed at hearing.

“No! I am a part of it!” He said. The groups parted on preyside, reveling a small rabbit, who suddenly looked very grown up. Little Adam. As he walked, behind him came a whole army of prey cubs, summoned thanks to the editorials that were published, and following right behind Adam. Another voice rang out on predside which shocked Adam, making him stop.

“As are we!” The female voice said. The preds parted, reveling bunches of predator cubs, and one rabbit girl. Cora. With her stood two aged coyotes, holding a banner that had the picture of a young coyote girl, the pink cursive L on both sides of her. Into the center of this group, right at the break in the Fence, they met, Adam looking to his sister. She cried on seeing him.

“I owed you this shithead.” She said. “I caused the mess, I wanted to…” But she never finished, as Adam hugged her tight, everyone in the Movement clapping at the sight. A voice rang out from predside, calling for silence.

“HOLD IT! HOLD IT!” He said. “What is this?! I thought the Lydia Movement was a bunch of adult terrorists! They are all… kids?!”

“Not all.” Adam said. “But mostly. Like Lydia was when she gave her life.”

Everyone murmured at that. One of the soldiers looked to the boy and smiled. “Something tells me you got something to say kid. You have a look in your face that says you do.”

Adam nodded, and looked about. There were so many here, and above, news choppers were looking right at him. If he wanted to say something to reach the whole world, he had to do it now. He looked to the officer. “Can I have a microphone or something, so people can her me?”

A pred spoke up this time. “Here, take mine. Any kid who gave my daughter a treat like your group did deserves his say.” He handed the kid a mega phone, and Adam smiled some. He looked to the Fence and knew how, and where, to make his speech. Slowly, he began to climb the broken pieces of it. Everyone watched as he went higher and higher, some wanting him to fall, others hoping he would not. But he made it to the top, to the one spot on the whole fence not covered in wire. When he got there, he looked again at the groups. He saw Maira’s family, and his own. He saw Cora, alive and well and crying, and he Saw Vincent in the tower, now pointing a gun back at the fur who tried to betray him. He saw the foxes, who had saved his brother, and Floppy, whose tears were now of joy. And he finally saw Elene, who just arrived on preyside, nodding at he boy. 

But he saw more than that as he stood there. He did NOT see predators and prey. He saw fursons, young and old, and all eager to hear him. He looked to heaven, to Lydia, and begged for the right words. With a single breath, he began his speech.

CHAPTER 16 

“Friends, Predators, Prey, young and old, I am Adam Walters, a leader in the Lydia Movement. For my whole life, I heard the stories about how predators would sneak over and kill my family just for the right of first prey. And I also heard how prey would go on attacks, bombing so-called important installations, not for justice or glory, but simply for revenge. I tell you now, that neither one is right. Both sides have seen only hate, and I knew there had to be another way.

“Then, my mom read me a story. A story both sides forbid. A story of peace called My Best Friend. This story tells a story of a mystical place where preds and prey play together, and the two words do not exist. We are fursons. That one word got me thinking. I may be only a kid, but I knew enough to know that was the first thing that actually made sense to me. Then, I heard about Lydia.

“Lydia had to be the single bravest person I had the pleasure of knowing, at least in spirit. She was no killer as prey say, nor a coward as preds say. I saw what she did… and how she died. I believe she knew she would die, and fully accepted her fate. But she did not want to be a killer anymore. She just wanted us to be friends. By chance, her simple gift of flowers did not go unnoticed. Our group, in the vast numbers you see here, is but a small number of the many who were touched by this.

“In her memory, we made our group. We saw the problems with the food and saw our own solution: a simple trade of cubs for food. The so-called disappearances the media was jacking up as pred attacks were actually kids who gave themselves as Lydia did. We do not corrupt her sacrifice for the sake of peace, we try to duplicate it. She was, in many ways, our hero.

“Yet we know that we as kids might seem odd to the adults. Yet look now. Every one of those cubs there was from an orphanage that supposedly lost a lot of kids to preds. In a way they were right. But if you ask them, not one would have it any other way. We see the suffering, the Movement does, and we do what we can to help solve it. But as long as this Fence stands, we know we are just delaying the inevitable. Sooner or later, the food will run out. Not because we want it to or don’t try not to. It will be because of our old belief. Preds believe that prey must be hunted down and gorged upon, and prey believe in lots of kids, so many they cannot support themselves. And you now have this new idea that war is the answer. It may seem like it, but I tell you now, what do you gain? If the prey wins, sure we get pred territory, but in the end we will grow still larger, until we fight amongst each other worse than ever, only now with no preds to blame. And if the preds win… will, let me ask you, do you think you will stop at eating us? What happens when we are gone? Won’t you decide that neighbor kid looks tasty and steal them? In the end, there is nothing to gain… only everything to lose. A war would only bring our extinction, like it did for the ancient race of Man. 

“I tell you now, this Fence is the key. And not just the one we see, but the one inside us that keeps us from doing anything but hating the other species. If we tear it down, maybe we can start a new age. Not where preds kill and eat solely for the thrill, but where prey give themselves lovingly. Is it not an ancient ethic that we give all we have to those we love? What if that one we love happens to be a predator? In my case, I myself would gladly feed Maira and her family, I love them so much. And I know my family, on the whole, would feed the preds every day if they could. I ask you now, are there others who would do the same?”

He fell silent here. He hoped for an answer, and he got it. To his surprise, a TON of hands went up. Even Vincent, from the corner of his eye, raised his hand. As did Cora, her arm around one of the foxes who saved their brother. Apparently, he was a teenager.

“I’ll take that as a yes.” He said, the group chuckling. He looked up. “Lydia, You did not die in vain then. You got your message across.” He returned his gaze to the furs. “I will not lie to you. This will not be an easy change. There will still be preds who want to hold to the old ideas, and prey who think the only good pred is a dead pred. Nothing changes overnight. But if we work hard, not just here but everywhere, it WILL change for the better. And we will finally reach that mythical land, where the words predators and prey perhaps disappear, and we just all each other Fursons. Because, in reality, that is what we all are.  My name is Adam Walters, and I say let’s tear this Fence down, and start a new age for all of us!”

All was silent as he finished, then Adam started to hear people clap. The sound grew, and grew. The clapping got whistles added to it, then cheers. Even the soldiers were cheering for this new idea. Adam was surprised at how well his idea was received. But then, he did not say anything that apparently was not already there all the time, waiting for the right trigger to set it off. As he climbed down, he saw as predators and prey set to work, holding each other tight in hugs and love, then setting to work with hammers, chisels, axes, and whatever else they could find, tearing down the wall. Even the terrorists, seeing the truth in Adam’s words. Opened fire on the wall with their weapons, blasting away the tops of the fence. 

But it got better. A soldier came close to Adam and smiled. When Adam looked up, he saw that soldier was his father, and his mother was by him. They both were smiling at him, tears in their eyes.

“We received word son.” The father said. “Fences are coming down all over. Some are trying to stop it but the preds and prey are both working to bring them down. The war is at last over son.”

“Over?” Adam said. “I thought it was never fought!”

His father smiled. “Some wars don’t use bullets son. They are fought with feelings. And thanks to you, those feelings are changing. It will take time, but people are taking the first step.”

His mother smiled. “I am so proud of you!” She said, hugging her son. But then something hit him.

“Wait a sec! How did the military know to come here? And the news guys?”

“That was my doing.” Elene said with a giggle. “See, I know a little on how to bring attention of something to a bunch of warheads. They came looking for a fight, but when they saw the good Mayor out for a bid at power, well, they stepped in to defend the innocent. Natural paternal instincts exploited for the greater good, you could say.”

Adam scratched his head, not fully understanding, but getting the general idea. “So, you set up those who set this up?”

Elene blushed. “Not exactly. Let’s just say we got lucky.”

Vincent came over at this time, lifting Adam up and tossing him in the air. “You little ass you did it!” He hugged him. “Oh, if Daniel could see this now.”

Elene ahhed! “Oh dear, I almost forgot! Where did they get too?” Elene went into the crowd, and shouted so loud her lungs could have burst. “HEY MELISSA! DANNY BOY! SHOW YOURSELF!!!!”

Everyone stopped what they were doing and parted again. And there, on the far end, Vincent saw a sight that made his heart burst and his lips start to quiver. Standing there was a beautiful fox, dressed in a green dress and a pointed hat. And behind him came a mouse. But it was not the little kid mouse that Elene remembered. This one was full drown, his form muscular but with a slight tummy, his eyes shining, his tail swishing some as he saw Vincent. The two approached each other and looked into one another’s eyes.

“D… Dan?” Vincent said, a tear falling. The mouse, indeed Daniel as his full grown self thanks to Melissa’s magic, nodded. Vincent hugged his brother and wept. “Oh Daniel, I’m so sorry… I should never have left you alone with…”

“Uh..Vince?” Dan said, smiling. “You’re making a scene. Besides, if that never happened, I never would have met Melissa, and I would never be so happy. I actually owe you for that bro.” Vincent smiled and the others clapped, especially Adam. 

Indeed, this was a very happy night.

EPILOUGE

Needless to say, the Fences all over the world fell because of that brave rabbit. His speech moved not only citizens, but leaders of the world as well. Long hidden lovers and friends openly confessed their star-crossed relationships, and for the first time faced open arms, not closed minds.

Of course, the problems did not go away. The leaders began work on new laws for one thing, laws that made the eating of prey no longer a secret act, but a sort of business. Cubs would donate themselves for restaurants and stores as food, and in exchange the family received large sums. As for the kids, they were to be well treated and pampered. Exceptions were SEVERELY punished. Of course, such a law took time to pass, and in the mean time police had to be on their guard for cruel predators and booby-trapped prey. But considering what COULD have happened, it was still a much easier thing to control.

As for Mayor Tubbycheeks, he did not live to see these changes. The news tapes condemned him and his terrorist groups and linked him to many cases were preds were falsely accused. As a final act of the old fashioned ways of preds, they became the final acts of first prey for the loyalists. The taste alone of the mayor was enough to make many of them decide it was MUCH better to have willing meals than those who are just willing to bring pain. In his place, an ironic twist of fate put Seth, Adam’s father, as the new Mayor of town. Eve served as his advisor, though both really answered to Adam more often than not. 

Most of the rest of their family became the first ones to volunteer to be food cubs. In fact, rabbits were among the first group to be volunteering en masse as food cubs. As a result many bunny families continued the tradition of mass breeding. Cora, of course, was the exception. She and Wilma would become the first prey to ever work in a predator restaurant, and would eventually be a meal for those two foxes who saved her brother. She went with a big smile, never happier in her life, though she left behind well over 40 kids in her place!

Maira and her family continued on as usual, though they made sure to get programs for homeless fursons started, pred and prey both. It was Elene’s father who had the idea of creating food shelters, where cubs could chose to come as food, or just to get a meal. It was the best thing since sliced bread in the new Furson Communities.

Adam would eventually return to Elene about one month after the speech to find she was packing to leave. He stopped at her door and was wide eyed.

“What are you doing?” He asked. “I thought you would…”

“My work here is done kiddo.” Elene said sadly. “Now that peace is starting to flow, I’m going back to the communities. They will still stay hidden for many years. Consumption may be all right now, as is prey/pred relations, but magic is STILL taboo. My time of being out in the open is not yet come.”

Adam shook his head. “Please don’t leave! We don’t want you to go!”

Elene sighed. “Adam, you have a life to live here. I see that you will be the father to many young bunnies, and they fathers of many more. But me, I have to get to work on making reformation real for everyone. Our community will stay hidden until the day when we can make it a reality.”

“But… I’ll never see you again then…is that what you are saying?!”

Elene laughed. “Oh heavens no! You know us witches… we like to eat little kids, and a meal like you is too tasty to stop eating altogether. We will see each other again, and often I think. Just my home is calling and I must go to it.” She hmmmed. “Say, I have an idea. Why don’t you come for a visit? Right now? I think you could stay for a week or so, and then, when it is all done, I’ll fly you home on my broomstick.”

Adam smiled. “I’d like that.”

Elene pat his head. “Great! I’ll meet you over at the house. Be ready!” Adam headed out, smiling, while Elene sighed some. She knew that he and her would cross paths many times in his life, though he would not stay with her at all. But she knew that going in. Besides, her heart could not be happier. The Fence had fallen. 

Elsewhere, others were heading for the valley too. Melissa had turned Daniel back into the bright, giggly little boy he always was, but now he was not the only kid. By him, dressed in a white T-shirt and Jean shorts, was another little mouse boy, his tan fur shiny as it once was. Vince, now once more the little 12-year-old he wanted to be again, was determined to grow up all over again, with his brother at his side, and with a new mother, caring and loving. She smiled at the thought of TWO mice for dinner, wondering how Belinda would react at seeing Vincent.

Moreover, She giggled at the thought of what Belinda might DO when she sees Vincent. That thought made her laugh out loud. Loading her car, she called for the two mice, looking around. The Fence was gone from view, save for a small section and a tiny plaque. On it was these words.

“This portion of Fence remains in memory of Lydia, a young coyote who gave her life for peace, and whose dreams never died. May she rest in peace.”

Melissa smiled and shed a tear. She watched as the two mice piled in the car, Vince speaking up. “Hey! There’s no room back here, the picnic basket takes up the seat!”

Melissa giggled. “That is what you sit in. I thought maybe some mouse sandwiches on the way home might be tasty.” Vince tilted his head, while Daniel climbed right in with a chuckle. 

“Come on bro! You are going to LOVE being witch chow. Trust me, Mommy is a lot of fun to be eaten by!”

Vince giggled. “Yeah, I have a feeling you are right. Just no Mayo on me please. I hate Mayo.”

“Fine by me, saves more for my fanny!”

Melissa laughed at that, watching as the duo climbed into the basket, Watching as Elene pulled up by her. In her case, Adam was already all set for eating, turned into gingerbread and sitting on the seat, his bunny ears nibbled away at. Melissa grinned.

“I thought all Easter bunnies were supposed to be chocolate!” Melissa said, climbing into her car.

“I prefer cookies. It’s a witch thing.” Elene said, pulling off a bunny foot. “Now, this should make me lucky.”

Everyone giggled as the cars hummed to life, driving away deep into former predside. The two witches smiled as they saw preds and prey playing in the streets, cubs playing in storefront windows waiting to be bought, and watching as predator families came out of stores with little cubs in hand for cooking, said cubs laughing.

“Won’t be long before witches are obsolete in this world.” Elene thought. “The furs are finally seeing what we knew all along: There is a better way.”

With that thought warming her heart, the two witches drove into the distant sunset, a fitting symbol as the age of hate was coming to an end. With a song in their hearts and tasty cubs traveling with them, they disappeared into the distance, confident the world was going to be a better place. 

THE END

(Author’s Note: Well, there it is. This was meant to be only about ten pages worth of writing, just a little vore story set in Alex’s world, but all that changed when I began to type more and more. I was dealing with my thoughts again, like I did with my other work, Servanus. I tried to cover topics like stereotyping and stuff like that, but I also wanted to show something I know to be true: sometimes, a lot of time’s the kids of this world know better than the adults. I see some kids who are braver than their parents could ever hope to be, and other kids who, I think, should be the ones in charge. Adam represents those kids, the ones who are not afraid to stand up and fight for what they believe in. I also want to say one last thing: Thank you Alex Reynard. If it had not been for your Held in Captivity, I could not have made this. I do not know if the ideas in the two stories are reasonable in our world or not, but I do know that we have to live with the hope that things can always get better than they are. )