The Hunt for Elsewhere by Beatrice Vine

Author:Beatrice Vine [Vine, Beatrice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Young Adult
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Saxton did his best not to feel too disturbed by what had happened to him at the landfill. Dante tried to be supportive, explaining his behavior away as having been too long without food. The fox, however, sensed a deeper problem. He wasn’t compelled to stay merely because of hunger. He had wanted to stay because it was easy, something any other fox would do.

After traveling for nearly a week, Saxton decided they needed to ask a local inhabitant for directions. They came upon a ranch in the middle of the night, and he reasoned this was as good a place as any to ask for help.

“You better keep your distance,” Saxton whispered as they crawled beneath the thick bushes. “This is a sheep farm.”

Dante brushed the leaves away from their faces with his paws, providing them a clearer view of the farm below the hill. “What? You don’t think I can handle temptation?”

“I know you can handle temptation far better than I can,” he replied, “but just seeing you will probably cause the herd to panic.”

The wolf looked at the sheep, which, Dante had to admit, looked more than a touch appetizing. He tried to ignore the fact he was salivating. “I see your point. I’ll howl if there’s trouble coming.”

“I’ll be back soon.” Another rustle of leaves, and Saxton silently slipped away. Dante watched as he treaded down the field’s slope and leapt upon the top of the sheep pen. Saxton navigated the narrow wooden planks as though on a tightrope, and jumped onto the other side.

Most of the sheep were kneeling on the grass, sleeping. He didn’t want to disturb then, so he whispered, “Excuse me, I—”

A ewe resting close to him opened her eyes. It took a moment before her eyes bulged from their sockets and she was on her hooves, baaing with fright.

“Exile! There’s an Exile among us!”

All at once, the other ewes, rams, and lambs began shouting in unison:

“Exile! There’s an Exile among us!”

Stunned by the noise, Saxton lowered his ears and shouted, “I am a fox, not an exile!”

“Foxes are Exiles!” Baaed a ram.

“Exiles!” Another ewe agreed. “Like the deceitful snakes, the arrogant owls, the greedy rats, and the wrathful wolves!”

“And the lazy goats, the conceited deer, and the gluttonous pigs— all fools!”

“But that’s nearly everyone!” he exclaimed, aghast. “Where on earth do you get your silly ideas?”

“Silly ideas!” a sheep scoffed.

“How dare you insult us!” said another.

“How dare you insult our Keeper of the Green!”

“He hears our prayers and protects our wool, a greater protector you’ve never seen!”

“He raises the sun and lowers the moon; he grows the grass, and brings death at noon!”

“And those who don’t believe in him are damned, damned, damned.”

“Baa baa, to the Green Keeper!” the sheep sang. “Baa baa!”

He couldn’t decide whether to feel angry or confused, and so Saxton finally asked, “Who’s the Green Keeper?”

By the looks on the sheep’s faces, he realized he should have bitten his tongue instead.

“He is the guardian of all that is good.

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