Law of the Woodland

A young raccoon family, The Theodore Waddodles, live in a rock den high atop a hill overlooking a sleepy cove on Hollow Lake. From their den on East Bay, they can see all the crystal-blue lake. Hollow Lake is a beautiful place, a haven for wildlife where everyone lives in harmony to preserve a peaceful balance of nature.

Food is plentiful. Spring-fed brooks, swimming with plump brook trout, rush downhill to nourish the lake. Colorful wildflowers, fragrant pine needles and graceful ferns cushion the forest floor. Glistening amidst tall pines stand white birch and stately hardwoods. The Waddodles believe Hollow Lake is the most heavenly place to live in The Great Northern Wood. Unless enemies invade or hunters threaten their lives, they rarely stray far from home territory.

The warm balmy summer came to a close; the sunny crisp autumn days grew shorter and colder. Too soon, The Waddodles said good-bye to their magnificent Indian summer. Instead of colorful trees shading the forest, barren hardwoods towered over deep piles of dry leaves and brown withering ferns. Each day their lives grew more difficult. Hunters barely carted off their 'trophies' when a brutal blizzard swept in with a fury, freezing them to the bone.

For days the blizzard raged with no relief in sight. Strong winds and frigid temperatures silenced and crippled the forest. Ferocious ice storms and bitter winds attacked often, causing great hardship and misery for all wildlife. Snow laden trees bent low to the ground enfolding deep drifts along the shoreline. Even the churning cove waters of East Bay froze over, along with the calmer waters of Hollow Lake. Unable to roam, the animals hibernated much earlier than usual. The Waddodles stayed hidden in their den seeking shelter from the storm.

Their winter seemed unending. Each torturous day brought greater suffering. Survival appeared bleak. Deep drifts made it impossible for Theodore to locate food. The family huddled together in their freezing den, praying for relief from the storm, waiting for the blizzard to end.

Theodore grew frightfully concerned for his starving family. Each day, his young twin sons, Teddie and Freddie grew weaker and thinner. His pregnant wife, Harriet, needed nourishment for the babies she was carrying due in spring. Adding to their misery, enemies began invading their territory. No longer was East Bay the peaceful haven it once was. Daily, a local hermit, Old Mr. Grump hunted them with his double-barreled shotgun and bloodthirsty hounds. Two wily red foxes, The Ruffin Twins, stalked their every move, jeopardizing their lives.

Old Mr. Grump, the only human living on East Bay, was ornery and mean to everyone, even to 'old timers' like himself who were born and raised at Hollow Lake. Lake residents referred to him as 'that strange old hermit'. Children called him 'the grouchy old geezer'.

When animals dared cross into Grump territory, he trapped them, shot them with his double-barreled shotgun or sicced his bloodthirsty hounds on them. When he spied human intruders he shouted in warning, "Git outta here yah interferin' city folk if yah knowed what's good fer yah! Pack yer datblasted bags and vamoose back tah where yah come from."

He ignored hunting rules and regulations and hunted and trapped at will. Tracking furry raccoons was his favorite 'sport', one he mastered to perfection. He shot raccoons, collected their pelts for furriers, ate their meat or fed them to his hungry hounds.

Many animals died encountering Grump’s double-barreled shotgun and bloodthirsty hounds. Now his main target was Theodore Waddodle, who he called 'that datblasted varmit'. Also, he feverishly tracked The Waddodles white-tailed deer friends, Clara and Zoe, from The Grassy Meadow.

Two hateful red foxes, Jake and Rudy Ruffin, moved into East Bay and made it their playground, pursuing The Waddodles with a passion, creating great havoc in their lives.

The blizzard nearly broke The Waddodle’s spirit. Terrified, feelings of hopelessness overwhelmed them. Each day, they grew weaker and thinner. Helplessly they waited for the blizzard to end and for their enemies to retreat so they could feel warm and safe again and so Theodore could hunt and fish and try to find enough food to keep them alive.

As frigid winds whipped throughout the den, Theodore and Harriet cuddled their twin sons trying to console and warm them the best they could.

Theodore vigorously massaged Teddie and Freddie’s arms and legs, noticing how pathetically thin they had become. "We must keep your circulation flowing and your muscles toned, fellows." Desperately, he turned to his wife. "This cannot go on any longer, Harriet. The boys need food." He hugged his sons tightly, and then struggled to his feet.

Harriet's eyes glistened with fear. "Theodore Waddodle! Surely you are not thinking of venturing out in this storm? It is insane!"

He waddled to her and held her close. "I have no choice, Harriet. The boys are wasting away before our eyes. I am ashamed to admit I have not provided well lately. But I will find food today."

Harriet sensed her husband's desperation. Her heart poured out to him. She embraced him, wanting to comfort him. "Do not be so hard on yourself, dear. You have done your best. It is not your fault you cannot find food. No one can in this blizzard." She pleaded with him. "Please do not go out there, Theodore? You cannot battle those driving winds. You will suffocate in the deep drifts. Be patient. Somehow, we will manage another day."

He grasped her shoulders, looking deep into her eyes. "We cannot go another day without food, Harriet. We will starve! The boys are losing muscle. I cannot bear to listen to their stomachs rumble another day.”

"Dad's right, Mom,” Freddie whined. "My stomach is empty. It's growling bad! Hear it? I got awful cramps! They hurt!"

"Quit complaining, Fred," Teddie warned. "You're making Father feel worse than he does already."

"Well! I do hurt!"

"Boys! Do not squabble!" Harriet ordered. "We are all hungry and on edge. Let us try to be more patient with each other." Terrified for Theodore's safety, she watched him head toward the door, knowing it was useless to try to stop him. She tried to hold back her tears, pleading anyway. "Please wait until morning, Theodore? The winds will die down by then."

He turned to her, his eyes glazed with sympathy as he surveyed his emaciated sons. "I cannot wait, Harriet. Look at them! There is no sparkle in their eyes. They are nothing but skin and bones! Morning is too late. Those winds will not die down. I must do something! I cannot watch you suffer any longer."

Freddie pulled at the skin under his arm. "Dad's right, Mom. See how skinny I am? My fat's all gone!"

Teddie hissed. "Quiet, Freddie! You're not helping."

Theodore tousled Freddie's fur. "Do not fret, son. We will put some meat back on those bones. I promise." He bent down, stretching out his arms. "Come here, fellows. Give your ole dad a big hug. Wish me luck."

They ran to him, smothering him with hugs and kisses.

Theodore could feel their stomachs rumble against his chest. Holding them a little tighter and longer than usual, his eyes glistened with compassion as the boys clung desperately to him.

Reluctantly, he released them and waddled over to comfort his wife. "I am going now, Harriet. Do not worry. I will be careful. I promise."

She cried, embracing him. "Please reconsider, Theodore? I beg of you! Do not go out there!”

"My mind is made up. I am going! Now!”

Tears welled in Teddie's eyes. "Be careful, Father."

"Yah Dad," Freddie coaxed. "Bring home some good eats ...like meat or fish. Don't bring any garbage crap like those egg shells, bones or peelings you bring sometime."

"Freddie!" His mother scolded. "Your father will bring home what food he can find. We are lucky to get any food in this blizzard."

Ashamed, he hung his head. "I know. Sorry, Dad."

Theodore smiled at Freddie. "Do not scold him, Harriet. Freddie is telling the truth."

Freddie nodded. "Yah! I'm just telling it like it is, like Dad says I should."

Theodore smiled and patted his head. "Yes you are, son, and you are absolutely correct. Trust me, Freddie. I will find better food today." He embraced Harriet, tenderly patting her abdomen. "Do not forget, dear, we have our babies to think of. You need nourishment as much as anyone."

Harriet caressed her abdomen and smiled, trying to appear brave. "We are doing just fine, Theodore. The babies are growing bigger and stronger each day." She placed her paws over his, pressing them to her abdomen. "Feel them move?"

Theodore stood tall. His eyes twinkled. "Yes! I do! Their kicks are strong! It is miraculous, especially after all they have been through." He winked at his sons. "That proves they are made of strong Waddodles stock. They are brave ‘little troupers', just like their big brothers."

Harriet leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "It is not just the blizzard that worries me, Theodore. It is the danger! Lurking everywhere!"

Nothing got past Freddie. "Yah Dad! You better watch The Ruffins don't get you, or Old Mr. Grump and his hounds."

Harriet sighed. "Honestly Freddie, I swear you could hear a feather drop."

Theodore chuckled, tousling Freddie's fur, winking at him. "You're a 'chip off the old block', Freddie Waddodle." Playfully, he chucked his chin. "Do not worry, son. No enemy can outwit your father.

Freddie smiled proudly. "That’s for sure!"

Teddie's eyes sparkled with tears of pride and fear. "That's because you're the bravest fastest climber in this whole wide woodland, Father. Everyone knows that!" He nodded, needing reassurance. "You will be home before we know it? Won't you?"

Theodore smiled at his namesake. "You bet, son!" He ruffled Teddie's fur. "Thank you for your courage and spirit, Teddie. It's good to know I can depend on you."

Teddie blinked back his tears. "You're the best, Father!"

Freddie blurted. "You can depend on me too, Dad."

Theodore winked at him. "That' is what I like to hear, Freddie." Looking deep into their eyes, he said, "Keep thinking positive, fellows. Concentrate on good things. Think of this struggle as a learning experience. Surviving tough times helps build strong character. Remember to...always look forward, never behind."

They nodded. "We'll remember!" "Don't ever lose hope or faith in yourselves. Your future is bright. Never forget that." He winked and patted them. "Times will improve, fellows. Soon you will be laughing and joking about this blizzard and having fun and smiling again."

"I hope so," they murmured

"While I am outside doing my job, I am depending on you fellows to do your jobs in here. Take good care of each other and your mother for me."

Teddie promised, "I will."

"Yah! We will!" Freddie echoed.

Theodore nodded. "Good! I know you will do what I expect you to do." He took their chins in his paws, kissing each on their upturned noses. "I am very proud of you both."

"Thanks, Father!" Teddie said. He tugged on his arm. "Just one more thing, Father?"

"What is it, son?"

"Am I a 'chip off the old block', too?"

"You bet, partner!" He hugged Teddie close.

Teddie's eyes glistened with pride. "When I grow up I want to be brave and strong just like you, Father."

"Me too!" Freddie blurted.

Theodore smiled and patted their heads, then wiped the tears rolling down their cheeks. "You will be, fellows. Now promise me, do not leave the den…for any reason?"

"We won't," Teddie promised.

Theodore winked at Freddie. "That is an order, Freddie Waddodle."

"I know."

"I will be back soon. If I am late, do not worry. This storm could worsen and force me to take cover until the winds die down."

Everyone looked worried, still hoping he would change his mind about leaving.

Theodore embraced them, reluctant to go. Eyeing each in turn, he smiled. "I love you all very, very, much."

"We love you, too," they chorused, choking on their words. The boys clung to him, not wanting him to leave.

Finally, Theodore pried them loose and kissed Harriet, one last time. "Do not look so glum, dear. I will be fine. I love you, Harriet."

She smiled. "I love you too, Theodore."

He stood taller, gathering his courage. "Well, family…duty calls! Chins up, boys!"

Harriet sighed wearily, watching him head for the doorway.

Carefully, Theodore scooped away the snow blocking the entrance. He turned to them, smiling bravely, saluting them. "I am off! Wish me luck!"

"Bye Dad!" Freddie called. "Find some food!"

"Good luck!" Teddie called. "Be careful!"

"Be…very…very careful, dear!" Harriet warned, clutching the twins tightly.

Theodore dug through the snow. Strong, freezing winds lashed out at him, causing him to stumble. He steadied himself, then slowly pushed his way outside. As he climbed through the doorway, he called over his shoulder, "Do not worry. I will cover the hole before I leave."

Frigid winds whipped throughout the den. Terrified, Harriet wiped her eyes, calling one more time, "Take good care of yourself, dear! I love you, Theodore." She gathered her sons to her, trying to shield them against the cold.

When outdoors, Theodore packed snow tightly over the doorway. Stumbling against the wind, he braced himself to face the brutal blizzard, determined to succeed.

He plunged through drifts, much larger than himself, promising aloud, “And I will find food. I will not return until I do."

Barely had Theodore left when the wind's icy tongues broke through the doorway, chilling them to the bone. The twins burrowed deeper in Harriet's warm coat trying to soak in what little warmth she could give them.

She cradled them in her arms, thinking about Theodore battling the blizzard, cold and alone, praying his weakened body could survive the dangers he would encounter during his search. There was nothing she could do but wait and worry. She tried not to think of all the starving enemies seeking food, knowing her husband was a vulnerable target.

Shivering and hungry, petrified for Theodore's safety, they waited for him to return, praying he would endure, hoping he could find enough food to keep them among the 'Survival of the Fittest'... for one more day.