The Battle of Redwood Forest

Fielder Fox crouched down among the shrubbery while watching a squirrel gathering some nuts that had recently fallen from a tree. The little rodent had no clue that he was being sized up for a meal as he picked his own food from the ground. Fielder licked his lips, already thinking of how much he would enjoy the tasty treat. He just had to wait for the furry red fellow to get a little bit closer to his hiding place.
Suddenly, before Fielder or the poor squirrel knew what was happening, Blaise Buzzard swooped down and grabbed the small mammal. As the squirrel's nuts dropped, Fielder was left staring at the sky while the bird flew away with his dinner.
 
Fielder slunk back to his den to find his wife Flora, and the rest of his family. As the young cubs played together in the clearing just outside it, Fielder sat himself next to her.
"I've had enough of those birds," he muttered angrily.
"Was another meal stolen from us my love?" asked Flora.
"It was that buzzard again. The same one. The one who thinks he owns the forest," grumbled Fielder.
"But this is our forest," his wife replied, "We have been here a lot longer than him."
"That's right," said Fielder, "I have always been Master of Redwood and I'm not about to let someone else step in and take that from me!"
"What are you going to do?" asked Flora.
"I'll show him. I'll show him who the real Master of Redwood Forest is."
"How are you going to do that?"
"Everyone will know that this is my forest when I catch Blaise Buzzard and have him for dinner," Fielder smirked.
 
The next day Fielder Fox went out through the woods searching for his sworn enemy. He wandered about with his head craned towards the sky, keeping watch for movement. Every now and then he spotted a songbird or two, and the odd flock of finches, but he saw no sign of Blaise Buzzard.
"This is no good. I'm too low down to search for that bird," Fielder grumbled, "I'm going to need some help."
 
Most of the animals of Redwood Forest kept to themselves and looked after their own, but the predator animals of the land had always been respectful of one another. Fielder did not much like asking for their assistance, but enough was enough and the time had come to do something. So he went to each family and asked for a representative to meet with him for an important discussion.
 
Back at his den, the representatives had arrived. There was Barley Badger, Garnet Grass-Snake, Asher Adder, Warren Weasel, and Sable Stoat. They sat with Flora Fox while waiting for the meeting to begin.
"Thank you all for coming," Fielder Fox welcomed his guests, "For a long time, we the ground predators have been in charge of Redwood Forest. But recently we have seen more and more sky predators coming and taking what belongs to us!"
"That's right," said Barley Badger, "Before Blaise Buzzard arrived, the only big birds around here were a few crows and magpies. They were no bother. Now there's all sorts! My husband and I keep having meals snatched from under our noses!"
"Ssssso true," hissed Asher Adder, "That Blaissse isss the leader of the hunter birdsss and hasss invited hisss friendsss into our home!"
"Yeah!" exclaimed Warren Weasel,"And we never wanted him 'ere in the first place!"
"Sssso? What do you propossse to do about it?" asked Garnet Grass-Snake.
Fielder Fox nodded, "If we want to do something about these hunter birds, we will have to help each other and work together."
"What you got in mind?" Sable Stoat queried.
"We have to use our hunting skills to catch all of the hunter birds. We have to show them who is really in charge around here!" proclaimed Fielder.
"How do you expect to do that?" snorted Warren, "Them birds are fast and they can fly!"
"We are bigger and stronger than they are. If we can catch them, they will be no match for us!" insisted Fielder.
"The weasel has a point Fielder," noted Barley, "The question is 'how?'. None of us can fly, and we have no way of finding them. Our strength is no use until we can catch them."
"I have an idea," Flora said, "We are in charge of this forest and all of the creatures in it. All the mice, shrews, hedgehogs, and the rest belong to us. They will do as we say if we ask them."
"No they won't!" spurted Garnet,"If they sssee usss, they'll run a mile. They would get rid of usss too if they had the chancsse!"
"That's why we have to lie to them," explained Flora, "The hunter birds catch them too. If we tell the small animals that we will protect them from the hunter birds if they help us, they will trust us and do as we say. We'll tell them that from now on, we will only catch and eat birds."
"That bit makes sense to me," smirked Warren, "But what good is the help of the small animals if we can't catch the hunter birds? They're hardly going to do any better!"
Flora explained further, "The small animals won't be catching the hunter birds. The hunter birds will be after the small animals, and we can use them as bait. When the hunter birds swoop down to grab the little creatures, we will be there to grab them!"
Fielder smiled broadly at his wife. He was very proud at how clever and resourceful she was, "So that's the plan. We will convince the forest animals to help us. And I personally will catch and kill Blaise Buzzard!"
 
Later that day, Fielder and Flora Fox made their way to the long grass where a family of mice lived.
"Mice!" Fielder called,"Come out so we can speak to you!"
There was silence for a moment.
"Mice!" Fielder called again,"Come out. We need to speak with you!"
"No," a squeaky little voice replied.
"Come out please. I know you're there!" shouted Fielder,"This is the Master of Redwood Forest calling!"
"If we come out you'll eat us," the voice squeaked again.
"We promise not to eat you," Flora announced,"We have come for your help."
Moss Mouse cautiously came out of his hiding place with a quizzical look on his face, "You want our help?"
"That's right," said Fielder, "We need you and all of your friends to help us take back the forest."
"I'm not really sure what you're talking about or even why you need me to get involved," squeaked Moss.
"As you know the forest has recently seen some new birds move in," Fielder explained, "We don't want them here. This is our home and they are not welcome."
"Well excuse me for saying so," replied Moss,"But you foxes have never done anything to help us mice before. In fact, we'd be better off without any of you."
"We understand that," smiled Flora, "And that is why we have come to make you a promise."
"What kind of promise?" asked Moss.
"It will sound better coming from the Master of Redwood sweetheart," Flora whispered to Fielder.
"If you help us get rid of the hunter birds, we promise on behalf of all the foxes, badgers, weasels, stoats, and snakes of Redwood Forest, that we shall no longer eat the small animals of the land!" announced Fielder.
"I see. So instead of eating us, you will start eating our berries and nuts instead?" Moss asked.
"Not at all!" Fielder responded, "To show our thanks to you for helping us get rid of the buzzards and their friends, we will only eat birds."
"I still don't really understand why you want to get rid of the hunter birds," said Moss, "There's plenty of room in the forest for all of you."
"It's not about room!" snapped Fielder.
Flora stopped him with her paw,"It's about protecting what is ours. The hunter birds are taking the food from everyone in the forest. We foxes can get by just fine if they stay, but you and your family will be in great trouble. The hunter birds love to eat mice, but they also like taking berries and worms and nuts. If they don't eat you, they will have you starve to death by taking your food."
Moss was surprised by what she said,"You want to protect us?"
Flora nodded,"That's right."
"So let me see if I understand," said Moss,"If we help you scare away the hunter birds, you and the other hunter animals will leave us in peace forever?"
"That's right," nodded Fielder Fox.
"In that case, we would be happy to help you," smiled Moss, "This is a special day for all of us!"
 
Moss Mouse agreed to spread the news to all of the other small animals in Redwood Forest and gather together some representatives. All of the creatures were very happy to hear that their days of fear would be over if they helped the hunter animals scare away the hunter birds. The last animal Moss had to visit was Beamer Bat who lived in a roost at the top of a bent old barren tree at the edge of the forest. He scurried as far as he could manage up the trunk before calling out.
"Beamer Bat! I have some news for you!"
Beamer yawned, woken from sleep, and called back, "Who is it?"
"It's Moss Mouse. I have some incredible news. You need to hear this!"
Beamer poked his head out of his roost and used his wing to shield his eyes from the bright sun, "What news?"
"Come down. It's no good me shouting to you!"
Beamer was not too happy about being woken up and asked to come out of his roost to talk to a mouse. He was a night animal, and had no interest in being awake during the day. This news seemed important though, so he decided he best find out what it was, just this once. He jumped from his hollowed tree and glided to the ground where Moss could speak to him properly. There, Moss explained how Fielder and Flora Fox had promised never to eat any small animals ever again if they helped scare away the hunter birds.
"That sounds all well and good to me," said Beamer,"What do they want us to do?"
"Flora asked me to get a group together to meet them and discuss it. We're supposed to gather at the fallen oak," Moss explained.
"I suppose you want me to come?" Beamer asked grumpily.
"You can if you like," replied Moss,"But I think I have enough now if you'd rather go back to sleep. I only wanted to tell you the news."
"In that case," yawned Beamer,"I think I will go back to my roost. Thank you for telling me about everything."
"You're welcome," smiled Moss,"I will let you know if we need anything else!"
 
The time had come for the representatives of the small animals to meet with the foxes at the fallen oak. Gathered together was Moss Mouse, Saffron Shrew, Hickory Hedgehog, Scout Squirrel, and Laguna Lizard. However it seemed that Fielder and Flora Fox were yet to arrive.
"What's going on Moss?" demanded Saffron Shrew.
"They're probably just late," replied Moss.
"Maybe this was just a way to trap us all!" gasped Scout Squirrel,"I think we should turn tail and get out of here!"
"No no, let's just wait a little bit longer," suggested Moss.
"I'll give it a few more minutes, but if it's any longer, I'm not sticking around," grunted Hickory Hedgehog.
The group of small animals were completely unaware that they were already taking part in Flora Fox's clever plan. As they were all stood about in the open, Fielder and Flora were nearby hidden among the bushes, keeping watch. Meanwhile, Sable Stoat and Warren Weasel were inside the fallen oak watching through little holes, and Asher Adder and Garnet Grass-Snake were camouflaged in some long grass. They were all waiting for a hunter bird to come by and spot the mouse and his friends.
"I've had enough," snapped Laguna Lizard,"I think we should leave."
"Hmm...," Moss murmured," Maybe you're right. To think the foxes would ever protect us. It was too good to be true!"
Laguna nodded, turned, and began to waddle away. At that moment she saw the deadly talons of Kite Kestrel coming directly towards her. She darted out of harm's reach but Kite barely missed her. The other small animals panicked at the sight of the hunter bird and dashed in all directions. Kite's eyes flicked from one to the next as he tried to decide which to grab, but hardly two seconds had passed before Fielder had leapt from his hiding place and dug his claws into the bird's back. Kite was pinned down and Fielder barked out,"I have him! Come back friends!"
The small animals stopped in their tracks and looked back to see Fielder holding the kestrel in place.
"I told you that I would protect you from the hunter birds. This is our first victory working together!" With that Fielder bit down and snapped Kite's neck.
"I'm sorry we doubted you," squeaked Moss timidly.
"Thank you for saving me!" cried Laguna Lizard.
 
Fielder Fox held the body of Kite Kestrel in his jaws and marched through the forest. He wanted everyone to know what he had done. He wanted the small animals to think of him as a hero, and he wanted the hunter birds to fear him.
 
Kail Kestrel was Kite's sister. She was distraught about the death of her brother and wanted to do something about it so she decided to visit Blaise Buzzard in his nest. He had built it near the top of the highest and biggest tree in the forest, so he saw her approach.
"Kail Kestrel, what brings you to my nest?" he asked.
"Have you heard about my brother, Kite?" she replied.
"I haven't. What has he done?"
"He did nothing Blaise. He was simply hunting, when a fox attacked and killed him,"
"A fox?" Blaise was surprised to hear that this had happened.
"That's right. He killed Kite then marched through the forest to show everyone what he had done,"
Blaise was a proud bird and was not happy to allow his friends to be hurt,"Listen Kail. I brought you and our friends to this forest. We're much faster and cleverer than those foxes. If they want to start causing trouble, then we can finish it."
"What will we do?" asked Kail.
"Let's go and speak with the wise birds. They have been here longer than any of us. Maybe they can help us think of a plan," Blaise suggested.
 
Blaise led Kail to the large ancient tree at the centre of the forest. Near the top was a hollow with a big nest inside where lived Caddock Crow, Raine Rook, and Marsh Magpie, three of the oldest birds in Redwood. They were known by everyone in the forest as the wise birds.
Blaise landed on the branch closest to the entrance to the hollow and called out to them,"Wise birds. We have come for advice. May we come in?"
Caddock Crow cawed back, "Enter."
Blaise and Kail hopped inside to find the three wise birds huddled together in the shadows of the old tree.
"Caw!" Raine Rook squawked,"You are here about the Fielder Fox and Kite Kestrel?"
"That's right," Blaise nodded,"We need your advice about what to do next."
"What do you want to achieve?" asked Marsh Magpie.
"I brought my friends here so we could be safe and have lots of food. If the foxes are going to be a danger to us, then I don't want them here any more," Blaise announced.
"We have been here much longer than you," said Caddock, "and so too have the foxes."
"And the badgers," added Raine.
"And the snakes," added Marsh.
"What does that mean?" asked Blaise.
"We will tell you what you need to know, as birds we should flock together," Caddock told.
"But we will not help you any further than that if you want to cause trouble," explained Raine.
"We have lived in peace here for a long time, and we do not want to be drawn into danger because of you," stated Marsh.
"So tell me what you will, wise birds. Let's hope that's all I need," said Blaise impatiently.
"Fielder Fox has become the Master of the Redwood Forest's land animals. They all listen to what he says. The badgers, the weasels, the snakes, even the mice and hares," Caddock began.
"They are all working together to get you and the other hunter birds out of the forest," continued Raine.
"Killing Kite Kestrel was Fielder Fox's way of scaring you away," finished Marsh.
"Killing one kestrel doesn't scare me!" exclaimed Blaise Buzzard.
"You must be careful," warned Caddock.
"One kestrel may not mean much to you," stated Raine," but what you do next might mean many more."
"That is why we will not help you if you decide to get revenge," explained Marsh.
"I don't need your help," insisted Blaise,"There are enough hunter birds to fight the hunter animals without you."
 
Blaise led Kail out of the hollow feeling more angry about the foxes than before,"We will get rid of those foxes. We don't need those wise birds!"
"But Blaise," said Kail Kestrel,"The hunter animals are bigger and stronger than us. We can't fight them."
"We are faster and can fly," insisted Blaise.
"That didn't help my brother," sniffed Kail.
"He was alone. We will have larger numbers!" told Blaise.
"What do you mean? There aren't many of us, only a few kestrels and owls."
"If the foxes can get help from the small animals, then we can get help from the small birds!" proclaimed Blaise.
 
Blaise Buzzard spent the rest of the day telling his friends among the owls and kestrels that he needed their help to fight the hunter animals, while Kail Kestrel was sent to speak to the small birds of the forest and get their help.
As day changed to night and the sky began to turn dark, Kail Kestrel reached the roost of Beamer Bat. She perched on the edge of the hollow.
"Hello? Anybody in there?" she cooed.
Beamer shuffled out into the open to meet the kestrel.
"What kind of bird are you?" Kail asked staring confused at Beamer's wings.
"I'm not a bird," answered Beamer.
"But you have wings like a bird,"
"I suppose I do,"
"And you live in a roost in a hollow in a tree like a bird,"
"Yes, I suppose I do,"
"Can you fly like a bird?"
"I can,"
"Then you must be a bird," concluded Kail Kestrel.
"Well, if you put it like that, I suppose you could say I'm a bird. But in many other important ways, I'm not,"
"Are you a land animal?" asked Kail.
"Not really, but I have lots in common with some of them,"
"Right. Well as long as you aren't a land animal, and you are a lot like a bird, I think you should be informed of the news," said Kail.
"What news? I thought I already had the news."
"You can't have. I'm the only one spreading it,"
"Well in that case, let's hear the news,"
"Blaise Buzzard is bringing all birds together. All of the hunter birds have promised to never eat another small bird if we can chase the hunter animals out of Redwood Forest,"
"Then what will happen?" asked Beamer Bat.
"Once all the foxes, badgers, weasels, stoats, and snakes are gone from Redwood Forest, the hunter birds will only eat the small animals. That's our promise."
"This all sounds very familiar. But I'm happy to hear it anyway. Thanks for telling me,"
"You're welcome. So you will come to help us when we attack the hunter animals?" asked Kail Kestrel.
Beamer Bat looked blank,"I'm sure I'll be there."
"Great," said Kail as she began to flap her wings,"I will see you again soon strange furry bird."
With that, she left and swooped away back towards her own nest.
Beamer Bat was confused and worried now. He had just been promised to be kept safe if he helped the hunter birds get rid of the hunter animals, but not long ago he had been promised to be kept safe if he helped the hunter animals get rid of the hunter birds. He was not interested in eating small animals or small birds, and apart from anything else, he did not much like the idea of attacking any kind of hunter creature with bigger teeth, claws, or talons than he had. The trouble was, he thought, that if he did not pick a side, then he might not be protected by anyone, but if he did pick a side he would be in a lot of trouble if they were beaten. He would have to pick the right side for him, but neither side was any better or worse than the other as far as he was concerned.
 
Kail Kestrel met with Blaise Buzzard and Oakley Owl the next morning at a treetop overlooking the mossy pond.
"Did you tell all of the small birds?" asked Blaise.
"I did. They should be here soon," nodded Kail.
As Kail had said, it was not long before Shade Sparrow, Bay Bullfinch, Whimsy Woodpecker, and Racer Robin arrived.
"Do you all understand why you are here?" Blaise questioned them.
"Yes," pipped Bay Bullfinch,"Our families are all hidden in the treetops just like you asked."
"Ssh!" Oakley Owl hushed them and pointed towards the pond,"Here he comes!"
 
Wriggling along through the grass, Asher Adder was making his way to the stone he liked to sleep under. Sometimes he was lucky enough to catch a frog or newt while he was there too. It was his favourite part of Redwood Forest. Usually birds and small animals would keep away from the pond when they knew that Asher was there, but today was going to be different. Asher Adder had no idea that he was being watched as he curled under the rock.
"Wait for me to signal you," instructed Blaise, nodding to the other birds as he glided from the treetop.
He settled himself down a few hops away from Asher and his sleeping stone.
"Blaissse Buzzssard?" hissed the snake as the bird landed,"You're brave to approach me!"
Blaise kept his distance.
"I wouldn't dare come any closer Asher Adder. I heard that you are good friends with the foxes now, and that the foxes are after us hunter birds,"
"I'm fassster than you think you know," Asher boasted,"If you don't want to feel my fangsss, you'd besst back off a little further."
"Thanks for the advice," Blaise smiled, then stepped back a few more paces.
Asher returned a wicked grin and began to unwind himself, poking his head out from under the sleeping stone,"Jussst a bit more I think bird."
Blaise nodded and hopped away a little further.
Asher Adder slid himself out from under the stone some more,"Jussst ass I thought. You hunter birdss aren't going to lassst long here if you aren't brave enough."
Blaise spread his wings and yelled loudly,"Cawww!!"
The signal had been given. Shade Sparrow, Bay Bullfinch, Whimsy Woodpecker, and Racer Robin swooped in fast towards the snake followed by their brothers, sisters, and cousins. Flocks of little birds pecked and dug their sharp claws into Asher. Blaise Buzzard watched from his safe distance. Asher whipped around trying to bite and bat away the little birds, but there were far too many of them and they were very quick. Bay Bullfinch charged his full bodyweight into Asher's jaw, knocking him over. Whimsy Woodpecker glided onto Asher's neck and began using her powerful beak to bash his head.
The flocks of birds gathered round Asher Adder as he lay passed out and defenceless on the ground, but they did not stop pecking and clawing. After a short while Blaise Buzzard let out another loud caw and the little birds backed away from the snake. Blaise hopped nearer into the space that had been cleared for him. He looked at the body of Asher, bent and ruined as it stained the grass checking for any sign of life. He paused for a moment, confident that the birds had beaten the snake, but wanting to be completely certain. Harshly, he thrust his own deadly talons into Asher's side, breaking off a number of scales. Asher Adder did not move.
"Victory!" yelled Blaise Buzzard, "This will show those hunter animals who really owns Redwood Forest! It's time they gave up!"
The little birds chirruped and hopped about excitedly as their leader took the lifeless snake in his claws and carried him into the sky.
 
Blaise Buzzard swooped high in the air, circling about several times with Asher Adder dangling from his feet before gliding towards the fox's den. He dropped the broken body of the snake to the ground near the entrance and perched himself on a branch a short distance away.
"Fielder Fox! Come out and meet me!" he cawed loudly.
A few moments later Fielder Fox emerged from the hole in the ground, cautiously sniffing about before completely showing himself. He saw Asher Adder laying still a few feet away and bounded over to him. With a snarl he glared at Blaise Buzzard.
"Did you do this?"
"Of course I did. Just like you killed Kite Kestrel," replied Blaise.
"You're not wanted here Blaise Buzzard,"
"And we don't want you here Fielder Fox,"
"This is our forest, bird,"
"Not any more, dog,"
"You should take your friends and leave forever," growled Fielder Fox.
"I'm not going to do that. So you had best take your friends out of the forest before we kill anyone else," snapped Blaise Buzzard.
Fielder Fox and Blaise Buzzard scowled at one another, neither one wanting to do anything that would make the other think that they were scared. However, they were both worried. Blaise Buzzard thought that the bigger, stronger animal could crush him and snap his neck with ease. Fielder Fox thought that the fast, flying creature might get the better of him and tear him to pieces.
Flora Fox had been watching from the safety of the den and decided she had better help her husband. She darted off as quick as she could to find some friends. Kail Kestrel and Oakley Owl had also been watching from the treetops and thought they had best gather the other birds.
"Why don't you attack me buzzard? Are you scared?" Fielder taunted.
"I'm not scared," clucked Blaise,"I can wait here all day!"
"This is our forest. We were here first," Fielder growled.
"There's enough room in this forest for all of us. But we'll be better off without you here," squawked Blaise.
The three wise birds flapped over to another tree in between the two leaders.
"This fighting has to stop!" cawed Caddock Crow.
"We can all live together and share the forest peacefully," trilled Raine Rook.
"There is no need to compete with each other!" crowed Marsh Magpie.
As the wise birds spoke, several creatures of Redwood Forest arrived at the den, the animals scurrying about on the ground, and the birds finding places to overlook the quarrel among the branches.
"This is my forest," said Fielder the proud fox.
"This is my forest," said Blaise the greedy buzzard.
"You should leave now," said Fielder the angry fox.
"You should run away," said Blaise the boastful buzzard.
"Come on animals! Let's show those birds who Redwood really belongs to!" commanded Fielder.
"Go on birds! Prove to those animals that we are the masters of the forest!" ordered Blaise.
The mice, lizards, shrews, and squirrels charged out of their hiding places and leapt at the trees to try and get at the birds. The sparrows, starlings, finches, and pheasants swooped to the ground to swipe at anyone they could.
Fielder stood near his den with Flora and the other hunter animals.
"There's no need for us to get involved while all the little creatures are fighting for us," Flora purred.
Blaise Buzzard, Kail Kestrel, Oakley Owl and the hunter birds kept watch from the tree branches.
"This will prove to the foxes that us birds are much stronger," Blaise smirked.
Caddock Crow, Raine Rook, and Marsh Magpie shook their heads and cried as they watched the battle below them.
Hickory Hedgehog was curled up with his spines pointing out and poking any bird that tried to scratch him. Racer Robin sped about the clearing, pecking at animals then darting away before they could get him back. Scout Squirrel was leading his cousins up and down the tree trunks knocking birds of their perches. Bay Bullfinch was barging rodents off their feet to make it easier for his friends to get to them. Heathcliff Hare rushed about the place confusing any birds that tried to follow him. Hail Heron used his size to shield his smaller friends. Laguna Lizard had lost her tail when Tawna Thrush had bitten and pulled it off. Shade Sparrow had bent his wing when Verrill Vole had yanked it backwards. There was biting and scratching and pecking and clawing in every direction. Squawks and screams and yelps and cries filled the air with horrible noise.
The hunter animals and hunter birds kept their distance.
 
Beamer Bat was late. Both Flora Fox and Oakley Owl had visited him to ask for his help, but he had stayed in his roost. He did not know which side to join. He had still not decided, but thought he should go and see what was happening. On his arrival, he was shocked to see all the mice, sparrows, shrews, wrens, squirrels, finches, and all the rest fighting each other. He came to rest on a tree branch and hoped no one would see him there. He wondered why the hunter animals and hunter birds were not fighting.
Beamer could see the wise birds crying and felt sorry for them. They were like him. They had been in Redwood Forest for as long as the foxes and badgers and stoats and snakes, but they could fly and lived in the trees like the kestrels and owls. They cared about everyone in the forest. They never ate the little animals. They ate fruit and bugs like he did.
"Why is everyone fighting?" shouted Beamer Bat.
There was too much noise going on for anyone to hear him. Beamer Bat did not know what to do. He flapped about trying to get the attention of the squabbling creatures, but no one took any notice. He did not want to go near the hunter animals in case they thought he was a bird, and he did not want to go near the hunter birds in case they thought he was with the animals. So Beamer Bat winged his way over to the wise birds.
"Wise birds!" he yelped,"Why are they all fighting?!"
Caddock Crow wiped his teary eyes,"They are all so foolish."
Raine Rook shook some teardrops from her bill,"They are all so greedy!"
Marsh Magpie sniffed,"They are only thinking of themselves."
Beamer Bat took another look at the rabble below and shed a tear of his own.
"Please stop the fighting," he urged the wise birds.
"There is nothing we can do," Caddock sighed.
"They have made their own minds up," Raine whimpered.
"They did not listen to us," Marsh huffed.
"Please, just get their attention!" Beamer begged.
The wise birds nodded and Marsh replied,"We will try."
The three wise birds were old, but they could be very loud if they needed to. They could be much louder than Beamer. They flapped and squawked and cawed and screeched as noisily as they could.
Down below them, the mice, pheasants, shrews, thrushes, voles, finches, hares, partridges and all the rest noticed the commotion above. Scarred, bruised, and cut the small animals stopped fighting to see what was going on. Some took the chance to sit or lay down and rest, while others limped away to lick their wounds.
"What's going on?" screeched Blaise Buzzard,"Why have they stopped?"
"What are those old birds doing?" barked Fielder Fox.
The wise birds stopped flapping and cawing to let Beamer Bat speak to the crowd.
"I am a bat," Beamer Bat declared,"I am a bit like you on the ground, and a bit like you who live in the trees. For as long as I have lived, I have never known a mouse to bite a sparrow, or a chaffinch to claw a frog... until now. All of you little creatures are hurting each other because the hunters are having a disagreement. But when the fighting is over, the hunters are going to carry on hurting you and looking after themselves. Why are you doing what they want you to do? They have never been your friends and they don't want to help you now. Let them argue between themselves. I may not exactly be a bird, and I may not exactly be a ground animal, but I know that I am one of the little ones, one of you, and we shouldn't let the bigger creatures hurt us just because they can."
 
The little animals and birds looked ashamed of themselves as they realised what they had been doing. Moss Mouse hobbled over to Whimsy Woodpecker and helped her onto her feet.
"Don't stop now!" barked Fielder Fox,"The hunter birds are still here!"
"Use your claws!" screeched Blaise Buzzard,"Don't give them a chance!"
"We trusted you," Moss Mouse squeaked breathlessly.
"You wanted us to help you, but you don't care about what happens to us!" sputtered Whimsy Woodpecker.
"The little creatures know how to live together peacefully," spoke Caddock Crow.
"But the hunters could only think of themselves," sighed Raine Rook.
"Now look at all the damage they have done!" Marsh shook his head with sadness.
"Don't you understand!?" Fielder Fox growled,"If we don't kill them, they will kill all of us!"
"Those animals hate us!" squawked Blaise Buzzard,"If we don't make sure every one of them is gone, they will eat us!"
"No!" piped Beamer Bat,"The only argument is between the hunter animals and the hunter birds. You should not have got anyone else involved!"
"We told you not to cause trouble," crowed Marsh Magpie.
"Now you can sort out your own mess!" Moss Mouse huffed.
"We're not hurting anyone else for you any more!" chirped Racer Robin.
Fielder Fox and Blaise Buzzard glared at each other.
"If you want to stay in the forest, you had best keep out of my way," Blaise warned.
"I'm staying, and if I see you anywhere near my home, I'll have you for dinner," Fielder barked.
“That’s enough!” yelled Caddock Crow.
“We don’t want to hear any more of your arguing!” shouted Raine Rook.
“Neither of you can stay in Redwood Forest!” commanded Marsh Magpie.
Fielder Fox and Blaise Buzzard looked bewildered.
“This is my forest!” Fielder snarled.
“This is my forest!” Blaise snapped.
“This is our forest!” Caddock cawed, “We all share it. The mice and the sparrows and all the rest of us have learned to live together peacefully and have done so for a long time. But you hunter creatures can’t seem to do that. And now, because of you, all of us are at each other’s throats. We would all be better off without you.”
“We can see now that us little creatures working together are a match for any of you hunter creatures,” Beamer Bat yapped.
“And from now on we will protect each other without your help,” pipped Moss Mouse.
 
Fielder and Flora Fox suddenly realised that they were surrounded by all sorts of small creatures. There was far many more of them than there was foxes and badgers and snakes and weasels. Blaise Buzzard and Oakley Owl had realised the same thing. The sparrows, finches, and wrens outnumbered the hunter birds by a huge amount. They could fight, and the would kill a lot of small creatures, but they would not win, and they would not live, and they would definitely not be Masters of Redwood Forest.
“Let’s take the children and go,” Flora whispered to her husband.
“I think so too,” murmured Fielder Fox.
Without saying anything, the foxes and their hunter animal friends walked away from the small animals. As they did so, Blaise, the kestrels, and the owls took flight. It was time for them all to leave Redwood Forest. They had no more power there.
 
Redwood Forest was a much happier, more peaceful place with the hunters gone. The small creatures were able to share food with each other, and were free to roam the woods without fear of being attacked. On the rare occasion that one of the hunters tried to sneak back into the forest to find a snack, the creatures were all ready to help their friends and protect one another.
Some of the animals were left wondering who should now be the Master of Redwood Forest. Without Blaise Buzzard or Fielder Fox to support, they did not know who was left to be their leader. So they got together to discuss it. Eventually they all agreed that there should not be one leader. Blaise Buzzard and Fielder Fox had shown them that when there was only one who had command over all the others, they could be selfish and proud and then bad things could happen. Instead the animals and birds agreed that there should be a group of leaders. They would all be able to help each other look after Redwood Forest. They chose Caddock Crow, Raine Rook, and Marsh Magpie because of their wisdom, they chose Moss Mouse for his bravery, his willingness to listen, and his compassion, and of course, they chose Beamer Bat for being able to show them all what was right when they needed it most.