Chapter 10: The Fugitive Act

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"I've got no choice, young wolf." Williams III sighed. "The law is the law."

"You should be executed yourself, you selfish hypocritical snake!" Mother wolf shouted, pushing Father Wolf out of her way and facing Williams III. "We're not gonna let you banish our daughter!"

Several armed patriots pointed their rifles at Mother Wolf.

"Put your weapons down now." Williams III said, holding his hand up as the patriots do just that.

"Please, Ridley!" Mother Wolf suddenly begged. "Let us deal with Madeline. We'll ground her for life. We'll lock her up in her room and keep her from speaking to anymore humans. We don't want to lose our daughter. Please..."

Williams III put his hands on his waists and let out a regretful sigh.

"I don't know what else I should do, ma'am." He said sadly. "I can't allow your daughter to go off with a warning. The law's the law. I'm sorry. I have to banish your daughter."

"Noooooooooooo, PLEASE!!" Mother Wolf cried, collapsing to the ground. "You can't do this to my daughter!!"

"I HAVE to." Williams III said quietly. "It's the law."

"Hey!" Father Wolf growled at Williams III. "If anyone's gonna punish our daughter, it's gonna be me and my wife!"

"If you try to stop us," Williams III said sternly, "we will burn your entire home down and have all of you banished from the Thirteen Colonies for life. What's your choice?"

Father Wolf continued to growl. Then, his growling softened. "You CAN'T banish our little girl!" He cried, tears finally dripping from his eyes. "Just give us a chance to handle her ourselves! Please!!"

"You will come with us and help us find Madeline and Arvid." Williams III ordered, ignoring Father Wolf's pleas. "Now come, everyone! We got ourselves some fugitives to hunt down."

Meanwhile...

Madeline and Arvid walked along the quiet landscape where very few leaves began to pepper the ground. Like a snowfall but with leaves.

"Well, how about that." Madeline said with a smile. "Is this not a beautiful sight for sore eyes?" Arvid didn't utter a word. "Wow, look." Madeline said pointing with her paw at a small cave covered in leaves. "That's perfect. We can stay there for now until tomorrow." Arvid still didn't utter a word.

Madeline and Arvid walked into the cave and Madeline took a nap while Arvid remained quiet and awake. His head was down and his skin turned pale as he continued to remember what he is currently doing. A small pile of leaves blew into the cave and Arvid stared at it in the complete opposite of awe. He gently picked up one of the leaves, stated at it for a little while, and then crushed it in his hand. That leaf seemed more free than me... He thought sadly. And if I was a leaf, Father would surely crush me the way I crushed this leaf.

Midnight...

Arvid finally fell asleep as the moon shined into the glistening cave. Madeline suddenly woke up and stared into the moon's light. She slowly got up and walked out and stared into the moon. Beautiful... She thought in awe. Just how God intended it to be.

          

"Are you doing all right?" Arvid suddenly said, sitting next to Madeline. "You seem........tired."

"Stop it.." Madeline said, playfully nudging Arvid's shoulder. "Listen, Arvid. I'm sorry for dragging you into this problem. We don't know each other very well and I made you run away with me as fugitives... You must think I'm a fool."

Arvid looked away in regret. "I guess I need to learn to be more nicer to you.." He sighed. "But, I still blame you for getting me on Father's death list."

"I understand." Madeline sighed. "I would blame me too for all of this. ..........You should get some sleep. I would like to be alone for a little bit." Arvid nodded and went back into the cave.

Goodness gracious, what have I done...? Madeline thought regretfully. I really did it this time... Father will surely kill me.

Snap!

"What was that?" Madeline whispered to herself. She heard a strange noise coming from within the woods. She slowly crept towards the sound and found a brown boulder.

"Strange..." Madeline whispered to herself.

"BOO!" A voice suddenly exclaimed.

"AUGH!" Madeline suddenly yelped, as she jumped back. The boulder was actually a squirrel.

"Were you surprised, young wolf?" The squirrel said with a sly smile.

"I really was." Madeline said, getting back up. "Who are you?"

"Call me Reginald. Or at least Regi." The squirrel said, extending his hand. Madeline shook it. "What's a wolf like you doing all the way out here?" Regi asked.

"We're.......on the run from the law." Madeline said nervously.

"So, you are a criminal then." Regi asked suspiciously. "And, what do you mean we?"

"I talked to a human. Now, both of us are on the run from the law. In the form of our Fathers."

Regi stared at Madeline suspiciously. He didn't know what to do. "Soooooooo, you're not dangerous." He asked Madeline. Madeline shook her head. Regi continued staring at her.

"Are you okay?" Madeline asked.

"...............Listen, if you're on the run and need a better place to stay, you should come rest at my family's house." Regi said. "Come. I'll show you." Madeline followed Regi through the woods with concerning thoughts in her head.

I'm surprised he would trust a stranger. She thought. A stranger who also happens to be a predator.

"Here she is." Regi said, pointing at a cabin.

"You.........live in a cabin?" Madeline said, tilting her head in confusion. "Should you be worried that humans might show up and chase you out?"

"No human has come here in years. It will be fine, Maddy." Regi said with a friendly wink.

"Please do not call me Maddy." Madeline said with slight annoyance. "And how did you know my name? I never told you."

"I know the names of all the woodland creatures, Madeline." Regi said. "Now, come inside. My wife's cooking acorn soup."

"That......does not sound good." Madeline said in slight disgust. "But, I need to get Arvid before I consider anything."

"Who?" Regi asked in confusion.

"Arvid is the human I ran away with." Madeline pointed out. "He's sleeping in a cave."

"Well, go get him then." Regi said. "But, if he tries anything, it'll be on you."

Madeline walked back to the cave and gently woke up Arvid.

"Arvid, Arvid." She whispered, lightly nudging Arvid's shoulder.

"Huh, what-?!" Arvid stuttered, waking up. "Madeline, why did you wake me up? It is already tomorrow."

"I found a better place for us to stay at." Madeline said. "Come on, let's go."

Madeline led Arvid to Regi's cabin.

"This cabin doesn't look stable." Arvid said, staring up at the cabin. "Are you sure this is better than the cave."

"Trust me." Madeline said, dusting off the dusty door. "It will be like a home away from home." She pushed the door open and saw a group of squirrels waving at her.

"Hi, Maddy!" The squirrels said. Madeline rolled her eyes in annoyance once again.

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