~Cody’s Dilemma~

Cody slunk out of the Burrow with his head hanging and his tail drooping. Lyn and Hugo don’t want me. He watched his paws as he put one in front of the other. His head hit something soft, he looked up into the angry face of Noctus.

“I, oh-ur-H-hi.” Cody said awkwardly and backed away from Noctus.

“Hmmf.” he replied. “What were they talking about in there? Get away with murder and now they’re running for it? Cowards.”

“N-no.” said Cody, trying to defend his siblings, would they do that for him? Hugo maybe, but Lyn? Cody didn’t know.

“They don’t want you.” said Noctus flatley, echoing his thoughts.

How much did he hear? Cody wondered.

“Will you go anyway?” Noctus asked, he seemed to be looking at something else, he didn’t make eye contact with Cody as he asked these questions, and his voice was distant. Cody wasn’t sure if he would go or not, his siblings didn’t want him at all, but would going anyway show Hugo and Lyn that he wasn’t just a wimp all the time?

“You should go, I know I might.” said Noctus.

“Yeah, wait, what? You’re going? What would you care, I thought you hated Lyn and Hugo, especially after …” his voice trailed off into a sniffle, “wouldn't you like it if they left?” Cody finished quietly.

“I have my reasons! And it’s none of your business what I do, I hate you, you killed my sister.” said Noctus defensively, looking Cody in the eye now. Cody backed away again.

“It wasn’t me. You really think it was us that … that killed her? It was the crows, she was my best friend.” said Cody through gritted teeth.

“Fat lot of good that did you.” said Noctus, still avoiding Cody’s eye.

“I DIDN’T KILL HER! SHE WAS MY BEST FRIEND,YOU THINK I’D KILL HER? YOUR QUERY IS WITH THE CROWS! HOW DARE YOU SAY I WOULD KILL HER!” Cody shouted, tearful and outraged.

Noctus looked bored, “yeah, yeah.” he responded.

“Are you as stupid as you look?” Cody snarled.

Noctus laughed dangerously. “Say that to my face.”

“Now what's going on?” Swift came through the barrier, with two plump rabbits dangling from her jaws, she dropped them under a small oak sapling and padded over to her sniffling son and Noctus.

“What's going on?” She asked again.

“H - he. . .” said Cody, shaking with rage, he wanted to say something insulting, he wanted to hurt Noctus in any way he could.

“See you the day after tomorrow.” Noctus snarled under his breath and padded off towards his Burrow, leaving Cody with his mouth hanging open mid speech.

A day passed, Lyn and Hugo spent most of their time whispering to each other excitedly and Lyn seemed to be overloading Hugo with questions most of the time. Cody continued to feel sorry for himself, no friends, he had lost Foalan, he had no one right now, he felt alone, he couldn’t talk to Hugo or Lyn about going out, they would just call him names and leave the Hollow some other time, and he couldn’t tell Mother, for if he did, then Lyn and Hugo would definitely hate him. His siblings continued to mutter and Cody was too busy telling himself they were talking about him to truly listen to what they were saying. But once he did hear what they were saying. It was early one morning, Cody had been asleep, but was woken by a shout of surprise, but then he heard Lyn and Hugo talking. “We're going out after the rain for a day, right?” Was all he heard before he fell asleep again. If he had stayed up he wouldn't have been fed the false information, he would have known, he could have planned. He would have understood but sleep overcame him, and he didn’t know, and he didn’t plan. He only followed blindly. He fed his anger towards Noctus like a fire adding little twigs and leaves to keep it from burning out. It poured and poured like Hugo had said and Cody spent most of his time staring at Noctus from the mouth of the Burrow, his fire slowly burnt out until he almost forgot Noctus in his panic. He didn’t know if he was to go with Lyn and Hugo or not, if he stayed, he couldn’t prove himself, if he went, Mother would be furious. They were only going out for the day, or so he thought! They would come back before Mother could miss them, if only he knew! For better or worse Noctus helped him to a decision.

It was the day Hugo and Lyn were supposed to be leaving, they were huddled near the barrier, pretending to be having a conversation, but they were both just biding their time. Nyko hadn’t left her Burrow since Foalan had died. Her muzzle could be seen poking through the shadows every once in a while. Cody’s father had brought a rabbit to Nyko and Alpine as a gift. The next morning it had been found massacred near the entrance to their Burrow, it had almost been beaten into a red, bloody mess. Cody felt a bit sick when he saw it. Noctus was lying where his mother normally did, with her same watchful, sly expression. A little less sour though. He was watching Lyn keenly through beady eyes, this made Cody suspicious, why did Noctus want to go with Lyn and Hugo anyway? A spark of anger lit the fire in Cody’s chest once more as he saw Noctus.

What does he want? He decided to ask. Anger made him feel braver, and perhaps stupid. He stomped up the hill towards Noctus.

“What are you doing?” Cody tried to sound cool and casual as he spoke, but his voice broke and Noctus eyed him. Cody had a strong feeling that he needed to impress the older fox, he stood tall and straight. “Very keen on my siblings, aren't you?” He said slyly, or he tried anyway.

Noctus gave another dangerous laugh and eyed Cody suspiciously. “What do you really want? I want to know what you really want, why do you care if my siblings go out into the WideWorld for the day anyway?” replied Cody.

“See you later.” said Noctus, and with a swish of his tail, he disappeared into his Burrow.