EIKOSIDUO - THE LAST MATCHMAKERS

Chip opened the door to the kitchen as he was about to go back into the living room. At that moment, Gadget had planned on entering the kitchen, so their eyes met. When they looked at each other, however, all they saw was sadness and anger, expressed in ears and tails. They both knew what they wanted, and they both knew that it would never happen now, ever. And they *both* knew whose decision it had been for that. They unlocked their gaze one moment later, and went by their way. Just as Chip left the kitchen, he heard the door knocking, so he went to answer. When he opened the door, a gorgeous female chipmunk kissed him square on the right cheek, with her tail quivering again. However, Chip noticed that it was a very light kiss this time, not anything like what he received the other day-

“Hello, sugar,” said Clarice, now clad in a long light-orange dress. Her voice was sweet and cheery. “Is Dale here?”

“Sure. Come in and sit down, and I'll go get him.” Clarice entered and Chip closed the door. He led her to the couch and she sat down, and then he went to look for Dale. As he entered the hallway, he noticed that there was a light on at the very end. He padded toward the storage room, which was originally supposed to be the Oakmonts' room. The door was open, so he entered and was very much surprised to find *Dale* inside. He was just standing there, ears straight, among all the stacked boxes and bags, looking at the window, apparently lost in thought. Apparently, because one moment later, he turned and saw a very surprised Chip behind him, who asked,

“Dale, what are *you* doing in here? I thought you never wanted to come in-”

“Well, Chip, I was rememberin' a suggestion the psychologist gave me, and I decided to follow it and face my trauma again. I guess it was about time I stopped actin' stupid and just come in here. This is just a room now. It could have been Foxy's and mine, but it's not. Still, it makes a great storage room, doesn't it? We've needed one for a while now:” He trailed off again. Chip's reaction at this statement would have been one of bonking, but for some reason, it was just not in him now. Also, he was more concerned with something else that Dale said. He lowered his ears,

“Dale, you *haven't* been acting stupid. We all understood if you did not want to come in here. We all know how difficult it was for you-”

“Yes, it was. And-thanks for understandin'. But I suppose I also have to stop thinkin' of what happened-or what *could* have been:” That was easier said than done, and they both knew that. And in order to do so, Dale needed to get his mind off this and on to something else:

“Dale, someone's here to see you.”

“I know. Clarice is here.” Chip stood back for a moment.

“H-how did you know *that*?” Dale turned fully and replied,

“I can smell her perfume a mile away.” Here, Chip expected Dale to say that with a smile, but again, he did not smile. And again, it simply wasn't in him anymore to even *try* bonking him-

Fear then pounced on him again as he saw Dale *pad with difficulty* past him and into the hallway. He was practically limping! He was *dying*:

Clarice looked up when she heard Dale shuffling.

“Hello, sugar!” she greeted jovially, ears up and tail quivering.

“Hello, Clarice,” he said, mechanically again, bursting her bubble once more, as her ears laid flat and her tail stopped moving. “What brings you here?” Clarice almost felt like slapping him silly, but she controlled herself.

“Um, well, Dale, I'm performing again tonight, and I was wondering if you and your friends would like to come?”

“I'll have to check with my boss.” Dale then turned and looked at Chip, who was now behind him, “Mr. Maplewood, do we have any cases tonight?” Chip was a trifle shocked when his best friend addressed him so formally. Dale was dying, *and* he was already dead at the same time. As for his question, Chip wanted to go and look for Foxglove-

Dale was not looking at him.

Dale was looking at *Clarice* again.

And *she* was looking straight back at him-

Did Dale's tail twitch just now?

“Well, no Dale, we don't have any cases tonight. Unless Clarice can give us another tip?” She blinked for a moment, and replied,

“What? Oh-um, no, Chip, I haven't heard of any more trades going down.” Dale then asked,

“Clarice, how did you know about the trade Capone was going to do? I mean-*you* don't use drugs, do you?” A coy smile came on her face, bringing her ears up again, as she replied,

“You know I wouldn't touch that stuff with a ten-foot pole, darling, but unfortunately there are plenty of creepy mammals who'll offer anything to anyone who's loaded like I am. Also, being a celebrity *does* unfortunately bring you in contact with the animal underworld. You wouldn't *believe* the stuff I heard-just *heard*, mind you-back in Vegas. So, I decided to use my knowledge for something useful and help score another point for the good guys.”

“And we scored a BIG hit against Capone and his thugs!” exclaimed Dale, but still without any smile or tail movement. “We owe you one, Clarice. Thanks.” Clarice lowered her ears and was about to start blushing at this complement, but Dale's tone was dead enough to make even Gallagher put away his watermelons.

“Y-your welcome,” she replied, with her coyness abruptly cut off. But there was something else. Chip saw that Dale was *about* to crack a smile, not to mention he was staring *very* intently at Clarice's face. Maybe they wouldn't need to look for Foxglove tonight. Maybe-

Another female had come back for *Dale*?

“Well, Clarice, since we don't have a case tonight, I suppose we can all go and see you perform again. But-are you busy right now?”

“Now? No, rehearsals just finished an hour ago.”

“Would you like a tour of Rescue Ranger Headquarters? You know, see what we've done and built, like the way you've taken us to see what *you've* done.” Clarice thought for a moment, and replied,

“Sure, honey, I'd love to have a tour of your place!”

“Great! Dale, please take Ms. Tamiassara on a tour of the tree house.” Dale suddenly turned to Chip. He *knew* exactly why he had asked him to do that, and he was *not* pleased in any way.

“Yes, *Mister* Maplewood,” he growled. Also, the look Dale gave him actually made Chip lower his ears and shiver. With stiff ears and tail, Dale then took Clarice's paw, helped her stand, and led her into the hangar. As they left, Chip wondered if this had been a wise move. But Dale *needed* another reason to live! He didn't have to marry Clarice tomorrow, but at least, maybe he would like to *see* her tomorrow, because she would *come back* tomorrow, maybe-

Another knock on the door interrupted his train of thought. And he was quite surprised when he opened and saw-

“Otis!!” he hissed, stiffening up, padding outside and closing the door. The last thing Dale needed now was to see another bat, and a *male* one at that. “What are you doing here?!” Otis yawned lightly for a moment, because it was still early evening. He swallowed another yawn and replied,

“Yaaa-sorry, Chip. This is kinda an emergency. Foxglove's not feeling well.” Chip wanted to scream at this, but he kept his jaw clamped. He whispered, knowing Otis would have no problem with that,

“Foxglove??!! Do you know where she is?? What happened to her??!!” Otis proceeded to explain what had happened to Foxglove since the tragic night. Chip gasped when he heard that she had been at The Nutshell when Dale sang that song. And his heart sank when he heard what the doctors had told Otis: the same thing that was happening to Dale was happening to *Foxglove*.

“Foxglove is *dying*,” he concluded.

“*Dale* is dying,” added Chip. Now it was Otis' turn to have his ears droop and his heart sunk as he heard Dale's side of the tragedy. While he knew that Foxglove had been madly in love with the chipmunk, he never realised just *how* much it had been the other way around. And he knew now that Foxglove would never be his. Dale and Foxglove were meant to be together, or, at least, they were supposed to be good friends.

“The psychologist suggested that those two should try to reconcile, or at least part on friendlier terms. Were you told the same thing?”

“Almost,” replied Chip. “But Dale refuses to go back to her, *or* find someone else!”

“Foxy's refused as well. What do we do now?” Chip covered his eyes and tried to think. Think, think, think-

“Wait here,” he said. He then dashed back inside:

“And this is the storage room. Originally this was supposed to be Foxy and mine's, but-we had a change of plans. Still, I'm glad we made good use of it.” Clarice was torn between being with the most handsome chipmunk in the world and hearing the most monotone description of a detective agency. She wanted to kiss him and slap some sense into him at the same time. Hmm, that *might* work-

“Dale,” she said, trying to sound as comforting as possible, “I'm sorry for everything that happened. You didn't deserve-”

“Clarice,” he interrupted. He was actually beginning to think that he *did* deserve it, after all the goof-ups he did, “Don't be sorry. It wasn't your fault. And-it's over-and it'll never happen again.” Compassion and tenderness then filled Clarice's eyes, and she drooped her ears and tail,

“Dale, darling, please don't say that. I understand if it was hell for both of you, but-you're cheating yourself out of something wonderful! The pain-comes with it-I know-but it's better than not loving at all-” Dale then looked into her eyes, with pain showing in his eyes, ears, and tail again,

“Clarice, I know what you're implyin', and I *do* want to love. And I'll always love Foxy, Gadget, *and* you, but-I *can't*-it's for the sake of the Rescue Rangers-and future generations.” Confusion now jumped on her face.

“What?” Dale sighed,

“It's a long story. But what happened to me-and Foxy-is *not* the first time that it's happened to someone from my family. The Oakmonts are under a curse, and it must be broken *now*. Maybe you don't believe in curses or that type of stuff, but we've had contact with the supernatural side of things. Trust me, I *know* what I'm talkin' about.” Clarice was about to ask something else when Chip entered.

“Clarice, we'd love to go to The Nutshell tonight:”

Dale, Monterey, and Zipper were sitting by themselves at a table in front of the stage.

“Looks like Gadget found plenty of things to fix backstage,” said Dale, “they're sure takin' their time.” Monterey kept glancing at the door, and appeared to be a tad nervous.

“Ah, you know Gadget, mate. She wants everythin' workin' just fine or she won't be able to sleep at night. And you know Chipper's 'urrying 'er along.”

Backstage, Gadget *was* working on the sound set-up, but that was not the main reason why she was there. She, Chip, and Clarice were waiting, and discussing the plan.

“You've got the lyrics?” asked Chip, with nervous ears and tail.

“Right here.” Clarice handed him a folded paper, which he opened and read. One minute later, Clarice asked him, also with nervous ears and tail, “And *that* is going to bring them back together?” She couldn't help but feel afraid. When Chip told her that Dale was dying, she immediately offered to help him in anyway possible.

“Music is powerful,” he explained. “Foxglove was here when Dale sang his song, and according to Otis, she almost jumped at him. If you can coax them the right way, through music, they may either reconcile, or at least be friends again.” Clarice was quite torn by this plan. The only way she could save the love of her life was to sing a song that would make him fall in love again-with someone else. And she more than anyone knew the power of music, so it had been up to *her* to choose the one song that would be perfect for the occasion. Then again, there was the chance that they would simply be just friends again, and *then* she would give him, just him, *another* song she had *already* chosen-

“All set,” said Gadget, coming up to them. “The air conditioning is aimed at a right angle relative to Dale's position and Foxglove's path to his table. He shouldn't be able to detect her until the last moment. Also, your sound system is now 23.43% more efficient. The rest of the band is ready as well.”

“Good,” said Chip, with his tail twitching nervously. “Otis should be here any moment now.”

Monterey and Zipper kept glancing at the door. With all the animals that were padding about, it was a trifle difficult to identify who was entering and exiting. Male squirrel entering, nope. Female chinchilla exiting, nope. Male mouse entering with female shrew, nope-

“Monty, are you expectin' someone?”

“Uh? What? Oh, no, Dale, I'm jus'-um-I thought I saw me Pop come in 'ere.” Zipper slapped his face when he heard that response.

“I thought your dad was in Alaska right now.”

“Well-um-like I said, I *thought* 'e came-”

Two chiropterids, male and female, entering.

Monterey nodded at Zipper, who then flew off backstage.

“He got impatient, too?” asked Dale. “What's goin' on?”

“Nothin', mate. 'e prob'ly jus' went to see what was the 'old-up.”

“Are you okay, sis?” asked Otis, with nervous ears and tail himself, unlike his sister.

“Well, I'm a bit nervous. This place didn't exactly give me a great first impression. Still, the doctor said I *had* to face my fears, right?”

“Yes. And remember, this is just a restaurant. That a bad thing happened here, well, so it did, but we shouldn't let that stop us from getting some great grasshoppers!”

“Yeah, I guess you're right. Um, Otis, why do you keep padding backwards in front of me and blocking my sonar?”

“I am? Uhh-” Otis turned for a moment to give the place a quick scan. Then, he heard Monterey just in front of him. He then suddenly stopped and whirled Foxglove around so her back was toward Dale's table.

“What?” she asked, quite annoyed. Otis pretended to scan in front of him, when he was actually nodding to Monterey.

“Monty, where are *you* goin' now?” asked Dale. The Aussie kept glancing back and forth from Otis to the stage. He replied with nervous ears and tail,

“Uh, the little mouse's room. Be right back.” Monterey then made a hasty exit to the backstage door, just as the lights dimmed again.

*Hey, the bathroom isn't _that_ way!* thought Dale.

“They're here,” said Zipper, as he flew into the backstage area, followed shortly by Monterey.

“Excellent. Gadget, prepare the lights!” replied Chip. “Clarice, get ready!”

“Otis!!” she hissed.

“Um, sorry, sis, I thought I heard a 'shell' in front of us. But never mind. Our table is right here. Er:excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom.” Otis was slowly leading Foxglove to Dale's table without letting her scan it. He whirled her again and sat her down on Dale's left before she could figure out what was happening, and then he ran off backstage.

Foxglove was about to protest, when her sonar detected a disturbingly familiar arm and paw resting on the table.

Dale was about to tell the couple that suddenly appeared behind him that this table was already taken, when he suddenly sniffed a disturbingly familiar scent emanating from his left.

They both froze again, while their hearts raced.

Sitting a mere two centimetres from each other, was the love of each other's lives.

So close, and so far away.

Both of them desperately wanted to embrace each other and press their muzzles together, but every muscle in their bodies was locked in place. They couldn't even turn to look at each other, but instead kept on staring straight ahead to the stage, because they *knew* that if they looked at each other they would lose control, much the same way Dale lost it when he finally brought himself to look at her eyes on that wonderful night one year ago-

All they could do now was breathe slowly and deeply, letting each other's scents fill their olfactory bulbs and invoke memories, pleasant and painful, happy and sad, wonderful and tragic-

But all ears and tails remained immobile.

Finally, it was the male who spoke.

“H-hello-Miss Foxglove:” he stuttered.

*OUCH!!!!!!* thought the female. That was the second time he had addressed her in that manner. And that politeness was hurting her more than he could ever imagine. His voice was still hoarse, pained, monotone, devoid of life----*dead*?

“Hello--Mr. Oakmont.” She couldn't bring herself to say his name to his face. She couldn't even bring herself to wave her wing at him, much less coax him with her *long* eyelashes. Dale, meanwhile, also noticed that Foxglove sounded tired, almost as if she was about to sleep. He decided to snap out of whatever was pushing him down, and tried again,

“Uh:hi, Foxy. Whatcha been up to?”

“Oh, you know:stuff.” It was the exact same greeting they used when Foxglove came back to the tree last year. But back then, it was spontaneous, coy, even somewhat embarrassing for Dale, but now, it was cold, mechanical, pained, lifeless-*dead*:

Clarice, who had been watching this from just behind the curtain, commented,

“I'm going to need a *jackhammer* to break *that* ice!”

“You *have* a jackhammer,” replied Gadget. “I've just read the song, and it sounds like it should work with no problems-” Chip, Monterey, and Zipper gasped at this statement. While they knew that Gadget's inventions had the small quirk of breaking down practically any time Gadget said the NP words, this was the first time they heard her apply those words to someone else's plan.

“What?” asked Otis and Gadget, the former wondering if the others thought she said something tremendously rude, from the way the rodents had their ears and tails.

“Let's just say we're now hoping against hope that this plan works,” replied Zipper. Then, under his breath, he added, “And we're now hoping that Gadget didn't just jinx the whole thing.”

The stage lights turned on and the emcee padded out from stage left. The batmaid and chipmunk looked/echosounded up at him and the band that was also assembling on stage: a female shrew on keyboards, two male mice on guitars, a male gopher on bass, a female rat on drums, and a male and female canaries on back-up vocals.

“Welcome once again, males and females, to The Nutshell! Once again tonight, we have the lovely Clarice Tamiassara, who will be performing a special selection of songs dedicated to all you wonderful couples out there.” Dale and Foxglove suddenly stiffened. *THAT* was the reason why they were brought here! “So, without any further delay, here she is::Clarice!!” The chipmunkmaid padded slowly from the stage right to the main microphone as the audience clapped and whistled, except for one certain rodent and chiropterid. It was the first time Foxglove heard and saw her. “That's Clarice,” said Dale, mechanically, “she's an old friend of me and Chip. She came for a visit shortly after-everythin':”

“Hello, again, all you wonderful mammals and such!” she began, though without as much joviality as before, and taking the microphone from the stand. “Thank you once again for coming. Tonight, I want to sing a special song that I want to dedicate to all the couples that are here, but especially,” she glanced down and looked at Dale and Foxglove. The batmaid *was* beautiful, but she seemed kind of sad, tired, *pained*--quickly, she looked straight ahead at no one in particular, “To a *certain* couple.” She placed the microphone back on its stand and added, “You know who you are.” At this point, Dale wanted to find Chip and repeatedly connect his jaw with his fist, while Foxglove wanted to find Otis and give him the worst insult she could come up with:

“You're mean.”

The music began. It was a slow song, mellow sounding, depressing almost. Clarice laid her ears back, and sang,

“*I've gotta take a little time,

A little time to think things over.

I'd better read between the lines

In case I need it when I'm older.*” A crescendo filled their ears as she added,

“*::oohhhh-WO-ho!!*” Dale and Foxglove just looked/echosounded at her.

“*This mountain I must climb

Feels like the world upon my shoulders.*” Both winced at this. Their shoulders *did* feel heavy.

“*Through the clouds I see love shine.*” For everyone else, maybe. But not for them. They had already decided.

“*It keeps me warm as life grows colder.*” Once again, a memory slapped their faces, a memory of what Foxglove told Dale last year in that steeple. Pain once again filled their hearts and throats, and their ears and tails reflected that. Clarice continued,

“*In my life!

There's been _heartache_ and pain!*” And it was true, Clarice had also felt what they felt.

“*I don't know

If I can _face_ it again!*” Actually, *she* could. And both Dale and Foxglove *knew* that *they*, could, too. But they had already decided:

“*_Can't_ stop now! I've travelled so far,*” From Las Vegas, from a life of obscurity, from a life of clowning around-

“*To change-this-lone-ly life--*” But their lives had *already* changed! And for the better, too:right? Lonely? Maybe-maybe-

The rest of the performers chorused with Clarice:

“*I want to know what love is!*” Odd, they *already* knew what it was, and knew so *perfectly*.

“*I want you to show me--!!!*” Dale stiffened again. Was she referring to Foxglove showing him her love, or *herself* showing him her love, or *him* showing either of them?

“*I want to feel what love is!*” Clarice was now staring at Dale again, who actually began to sweat at this point. Foxglove, meanwhile, was reminded of the last words that she said to Dale before she left. To *feel* her love for him:

“*I know you can show me--!!!” Foxglove suddenly noticed that Clarice was staring at the love of her life. For a moment, she felt like-doing something to her-but-but she knew she couldn't. Dale was no longer hers. She had no right to feel jealous. Clarice ended the chorus with a calculated moan,

“*Heyyoohhh:!!!:oooo-*” The music continued, and the couple on the front table looked/echosounded down at their arm/wing for a moment. Their hearts were getting “holey” again. Clarice glanced at them, and continued,

“*I'm gonna take a little time,

A little time to look around me.*” They had taken time to look as well. Not much had turned up, except some annoying arthritis. The back-up singers oo'ed for a moment, and Clarice continued,

“*I've got nowhere left to hide.*” No. They couldn't hide from each other, as much as they tried.

“*It looks like love has finally found me.*” They stiffened again. Were they *truly* meant to be together? Were they just kidding each other by letting each other go? Or-was Clarice referring to herself and Dale? Or Foxglove and Otis?

“*In-my-life!*” She was more insistent now,

“*There's been _heartache_ and pain!*” On all three of them now. Unbearable pain again:

“*I don't know

If I can _face_ it again!*” They couldn't. It was too horrible, too painful to even be described:

“*Can't stop now! I've travelled so far,

To change-this-lone-ly life--*” *To change _your_ life, Darling. To change it for good, to make you feel love, from whoever you choose!* Dale and Foxglove continued looking/echosounding at the table, as the song chorused again.

“*I want to know what love is!*” *Foxy, I _do_ want us to get back together:*

“*I want you to show me--!!!*” *Cute Stuff, please, show me that you still love me:somehow:please:*

“*I want to feel what love is!*” *Foxy, I _want_ to feel your love again:*

“*I know you can show me-!!*” *Dale, I want you in my wings again, but-but-* Clarice then pitched her voice higher, and stiffened her ears and tail, still insisting,

“*I want to _know_ what love is!*” *Odd,* she thought, *they aren't moving at all.*

“*I want you to _show_ me--!!!*” *Something's wrong. They aren't even looking at _me_*!

“*And I wanna feel,*” she added.

“*I want to _feel_ what love is-!*” She extended a paw to them and cried,

“*I know-!!*”

“*I know you can show meee---!!*” Still nothing. This would require drastic measures. Clarice continued,

“*Let's talk about love:*” She removed the microphone from its stand again, and padded off the stage while the singers chorused without her,

“*I want to know what love is!*” She placed a paw on their table and sang,

“*_Love_ that you feel innnnside-*” Yes. The pain in their chests was a sign of *true* love. And they would *always* feel it, because they had decided:

“*I want you to show me--!!!*” Still nothing. She padded around them, near Foxglove, knowing that the next line would be sarcastic.

“*I'm feeling so much _love_!*” *More like tension*, she thought, moving behind them.

“*I want to feel what love is!*” Dale closed his eyes for a moment, and for an instant, he saw the batmaid of his dreams. No. He would never be worthy of her. Especially now.

“*Ooh, you just can't _hide_!*” *I can't hide from you, Cute Stuff. Your sonar profile is always in my ears! You're always with me, and it's driving me crazy!*

“*I know you can show meee----!!*” Clarice moved to another table, apparently giving the patrons a good show. She called out,

“*Haaaaaah:wo!!!*” and joined the singers again,

“*I want to know what love is!*” Dale and Foxglove were breathing faster, not being able to get enough of each other's scents. This song would have to stop soon.

“*Let's talk about love:!:ohhh:*” added the male canary. Talk. Yes, they needed to talk.

“*I know you can show me-!*” Show? Show how sick they've got? To finally show each other *why* they can't get back together, even if they tried? Clarice continued,

“*I wanna feel:*” She let the singers continue while she continued pushing,

“*I want to feel what love is!*” *Dale, Foxglove, can't you see what we're trying to do here?*

“*And I wanna feel it too-

And I know, and I know-*” *We're trying to save your LIVES, consarn it!!!* She joined the last line,

“*I know you can show me-!*” The gopher suddenly added,

“*Coming back for you-!!*” A male mouse squeaked,

“*YEAAAAAHHH!!!!!!!!*” This sudden burst caused Dale and Foxglove to shiver. It was pressing at them, *pushing* them to initiate some sort of discussion, to talk of something that needed to be put to rest-*buried*-once and for all-

“*Ohhh:*” sighed Clarice, as she went back on stage again. The singers chorused alone as she set herself up again.

“*I want to know what love is!*” She chattered at them,

“*_I_ wanna know-ow-ow!!*” She was in pain as well. Pained in seeing two wonderful mammals in such a depressing act of self-destruction. She let the others continue,

“*I want you to show me-!*” One last chance,

“*And I wanna know, I wanna know, I wanna know-!*” *Dale, Foxglove, don't you want fulfilment? Don't you want to LIVE? _Please_, I beg of you, just look up at each other!!*

“*I want to feel what love is!*” the others chimed. *This isn't working! They're already dead!*

“*And *I* wanna feel---!*”

“*I know you can show me-!*”

The music faded, and stopped. Dale and Foxglove would have sighed with relief, but the tension was still there. Their breathing patterns *were* slowing down, but all their muscles were still locked in place. Clarice looked at them,

“We'll take a little break now. Be right back.” The performers left to stage right, and Clarice went to talk to the other Rangers. She drooped her ears and tail and cried,

“Chip, Gadget, I'm sorry! It didn't work! They-”

“They're just fine,” said Otis. “Throughout the song, I heard them shuffling just a little bit. You got to them, trust me.”

“We were worried there for a minute, too,” added Zipper. “But Otis kept an ear open on them.”

“Hey! They are starting to talk again!” he whispered.

“Do you want me to sing another song? Just to coax them a little more?”

“Not yet,” said Chip. “We'll let this sink in for a minute.”

The chiropterid and the rodent were still looking/echosounding at the table, with black holes in their chests once more. Their ears were up, but stiff, as were their tails. The song *had* got to them, and it was time for them to talk, whether they liked it or not. The batmaid began, though not by conscious choice.

“*Dale-*” her voice cracked again, “I've-I've missed you:”

“I-suppose I've missed you as well, Foxy.” She had trouble continuing,

“Dale-I-I-keep-*dreaming* about you---about *us*--you know:” He stiffened for a moment.

“Well, Foxy, um, every night, uh, I have the same dream with you as well.” A small pause as Foxglove realised just how much *he* was going through as well.

“It's driving you crazy, isn't it?”

“I-I try not to let it get to me. After all, you're livin' with the *bats* now, right?”

“Y-yes.”

“Have-um, you found any of your family?” She took a breath, and replied,

“No. All of my family is dead. And no animal knows what their names were.”

“Oh, sorry to hear that.” For some reason, yet another part of Dale died at this point. Since Foxglove never knew her parents, she never knew her last name. He *wanted* her to have *his* name, a precious gift that would be given to her the moment she said “I do”, but now, she was forever rootless. His name would never be hers now. And while Foxglove knew Dale meant what he said, it held no comforting value whatsoever. Maybe it was the *way* he was speaking-

“How did your parents take this?” she asked.

“In shock. But it was Chip who took it the hardest, but he's calmed down now.” Both remained quiet for a while, wishing to know what to say next. Dale then decided to apologise, “Foxy, I'm-”

“It's all right, Dale,” she interrupted. “You-you made the right decision. I have found the bats again, and they helped me find a job as an interpreter. I'm-I'm out of danger, like you wanted.” Dale sighed in slight relief. His parting wish had been fulfilled, but at a *very* high cost: their *lives*. Then, he decided to get to the bottom of this present predicament,

“Did the bats set you up for this?”

“Yes.”

“The guys were in it too, I suppose. They care about us, but-but-they just don't know:” Another pause, as the horrible memory ran through their heads again.

“Dale:” she trailed off.

“Yes?”

“Dale-you play the bass wonderfully.” It took only one moment for him to realise what she was talking about.

“You-you were here the other night? But-how did you know-”

“I didn't. My, um, friends brought me here, and I entered just as you started singing.” Dale sat quietly now, looking at the table, ashamed of himself.

“I-I didn't see you. I'm s-”

“Don't be. It was a beautiful song. And-what have *you* been up to?” Dale sighed,

“The usual. We've been fightin' crime and solvin' cases-”

“I also noticed you've been pumping up.” True, from what her sonar was able to pick up the other night, *and* by the way she was madly echosounding at his left arm, she had noticed.

“Y-yes, I have. I've changed-plenty of things after you left. I-I'm no longer a Goof-up.” Yes, the Goof-up was dead, as was the Comedian and the Clown. But there was something else he needed to tell her, and he wasn't sure how to break it to her. “Um, Foxy?”

“Yes?”

“Remember all those cases I told you about, when I went to outer space-twice-and I ate all that chocolate in the jungle--when I nearly drowned in a sewer--when I found that meteorite--and the times I got zapped by Freddie and some aliens?” As far as she was concerned, *he* was the hero of all those cases. But now, she had the feeling that something else came along with being a hero.

“Y-yes:”

“Well, um, I think that all of that is catchin' up to me now.” Foxglove's heart skipped a beat. She wasn't sure what he meant by that, and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out. But something inside her pushed her to ask,

“Dale-are-are you all right?” He sighed,

“N-no. I-haven't been feelin' too well lately-I thought it was because I quit all the goofin'-up, but-the doctor didn't think so. I'm havin' trouble workin' out. But it's nothin' serious.” Foxglove sighed in relief. At least he didn't develop a terminal disease or anything. “Foxy?”

“Y-yes?”

“It-it's not serious,” he insisted, “but-I'm glad you weren't here to see me like that, with all my medication. You-wouldn't have liked it. You-you're much better off bein' where you are. I-I know now-that-that we made the right choice.”

A pipistrell stiffened backstage.

“Well, Dale, if it makes any difference, I haven't been feeling too well either, I suppose. I kinda get sore when I fly. I suppose-” she choked for a moment, “-I suppose that you wouldn't have liked to hear-er-see me like that, either.” He was suddenly gripped with terror. She was sick, too? It may not have been his fault, but seeing her ill, that-that-

“Will you be okay?” he asked.

“Yes, I think-” They hushed again. Supposedly, it was adding up.

“Foxy, I really *do* want to feel you lovin' me, but-not in this condition. It's not fair to you.” She winced at this, and so did Otis. They were breaking up again.

“It's not fair to you either,” she replied. “I suppose it *was* better that we called it off before this came on to us.”

“Foxy, I want the best for you. I'm not the best, and I'll never be. I'll just have to stick to my job now, and do what I can. I-we-I think we did right.” She thought for a moment, wanting to cry. But she couldn't cry.

“You *were* perfect for me, Dale, but-*you* know yourself better-I guess. I know I'm not perfect either, so I guess it wouldn't have been fair to you, either.” Silence again. *Foxglove, you were the most perfect female in this universe!* She echosounded at the ceiling, and also looked at it with pained eyes. “You did right, Dale. Don't hate yourself because of it.” He looked up a trifle, and replied,

“I don't. I-just had to kill the Clown that was hurtin' us all. It wasn't easy, but-the team is better off without him. And-I know you are too.” What? He killed the Clown? The Comedian? The one who made her laugh all those times? Did another part of herself die just now?

“You killed the 'Clown'?”

“I had to. Everythin' he ever did only caused trouble for us-for you. I quit all the jokes and stupid comments and the foolin' around. The Clown, the Comedian, and the Goof-up are dead. Segoleh is dead. I changed my name to Dale Hastahah Oakmont.” The chiropterid winced, and even gasped slightly upon hearing about the new personality, of which neither she nor the Dale she fell in love with had a part of. Half of herself suddenly vanished into thin air, half of herself was suddenly DEAD- “I've studied cookin', mechanics, stealth, and detection, and-I've become better, I think, but-even if you were still with us, you'd still be in grave danger. I don't want you to live like that. You deserve a lot more than what I could give you.” The batmaid shivered. He was letting her go again.

“Dale, I-” For a moment, as she tried to recover, she thought she heard her life flash before her ears, as if she was actually dying-

No.

She was *alive*; maybe not so well, but *alive*. And as he had let her go, she now needed to let *him* go, so he could live as well. She stumbled, “-thank you for thinking of me like that. And-on my own-I've developed my language talents a bit more. You helped me-” another crack, “-by setting me free.” It seemed that all their blood drained from their torsos at this point as they shivered again. It all sounded so logical, and yet-

“Foxy, I was hopin' very much that you would find someone of your family. You've seen how Gadget gets every time she thinks of her parents. I-really-*really*-didn't want that to happen to you anymore. I--*I* wanted you to have my parents for your own, so you wouldn't have to talk to tombstones like Gadget--erm, have you done that?” She sighed,

“No. But now that you mention it, I might, just as soon as I find out where my parent's graves are. But it's not all that bad, Dale. I've been adopted by--another family--and-I now have a brother and sister-sort of.” Dale sighed in relief. She *had* found something better.

“Enjoy your new life and your new family, Foxy. You deserve to. You helped us for a while, and now you can live life free of danger.” She wanted to kiss him so badly, but that robotic tone of his was practically repelling her, not to mention that new *name*:

“Keep rescuing others, Dale. Keep working out. You are very valuable to the Rangers. You are a great friend.”

“Let me know if you find someone else. I'll be happy if you love someone who can give you all you deserve.” *Dale, _no one_ could give me more than you!*

“I'll let you know. And-thanks, Dale-for everything. ” This was it. The final conclusion. All was settled, and there were no doubts about it. It was perfectly logical. And Dale's chest was about to implode with every word Foxglove said. They sat quietly again, and a few moments later, the batmaid pondered,

“They would have made a lovely couple, don't you think?”

“Chip and Gadget?”

“Dale and Foxglove.” The sciurid sighed. Once more his mind explored what *could* have been.

“Yes,” he replied. “They would have been a wonderful couple. They had a lot goin' for them---well, *she* did, at least. He constantly felt worthless and insignificant. He felt he could do very little as a Rescue Ranger-until she came along. She believed in him, she *came back* to him, and he got his confidence back, even to the point of wantin' to develop both the Detective *and* the Comedian. But if he had done that, it would have brought to them very-*very* bad things later on.”

“She loved the Comedian, and else everything about himself, whether it dealt with the Rangers or not. He also helped her confidence by believing in *her*, and helping her leave a life of crime, and by finally returning her love. She wanted to also be a Detective and Comedian, to be one with him-[sigh]-it's so sad they had to die.” Another bat and a chipmunkmaid froze in fear.

“They were good mammals. They always tried to help others. We'll always miss them--but now-we must move on.” They hushed one more time, and a minute later, Foxglove concluded,

“Dale, thanks for everything. Thanks for loving me, and rescuing me. Thanks for taking me back, and-and-thanks-for setting me free.” He sighed again, and also concluded,

“Thanks for lovin' me. Thanks for comin' back. Thanks for understandin'. Thanks for not hatin' me or gettin' angry with me. And thanks-for helpin' me see what was wrong with me.” She did not reply for a moment, but finally, the chiropterid slowly stood. Her joints ached again, for some reason. The medication must be wearing off.

“Thanks-Dale-and-and-good-bye.”

The black holes suddenly disappeared.

And both the rodent and the chiropterid stopped feeling anything, good *or* bad.

Otis and Clarice didn't know whether to cheer or cry or to wag or stiffen their tails or to raise or lower their ears. They appeared to have parted again on friendly terms, but it just looked and sounded so horrible watching and hearing them part like that.

“Good-bye, Foxglove,” was all he could say. With difficulty, the batmaid left the club, leaving the chipmunk by himself. Backstage, two chipmunks, two mice, a fly, and a bat did not know if they had succeeded or failed:

EIKOSITREIS - ANOTHER FUNERAL

“A funeral?” asked Richard. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Richard, Gadget's parents had their funeral. Maybe an owl ate my parents, but they at least deserve some sort of ceremony. Please? Let me just say good-bye to them. I never did, and--that may just be what has been eating at me all this time.” Otis shook his head,

“But Foxy, that owl lady might still be in that park!”

“Or she might be dead. It's been twenty years, you know. Either way, it doesn't matter now. We'll go during the day.” If Otis didn't know better, he could swear that this was practically a suicide mission. Foxglove's reactions at The Nutshell several days ago were very unsettling, even if she and Dale had parted on friendlier terms. Now she wanted to do this. It seemed natural, to attend a funeral, and yet so suicidal to have it near a place where a *known* predator lived. Perhaps they shouldn't go alone. Perhaps this might be another opportunity to do something about her and Dale-

“Foxy, are you sure you don't want to bring the Rescue Rangers along? After all the time they spent with you, they *may* want to say something on behalf of your parents-”

“No, Otis,” she replied firmly. “The Rangers and I have parted our ways. This is not their world anymore. This is *ours* now. They never knew my parents, and neither did I, so this is something I must do myself, with your help, of course.”

“Do you want me and Richard to keep our distance?” asked Rosie. “If that's the way you feel, we don't want to interfere with anything.”

“No, no, it's okay, Rosie. You two and the other elder bats are the closest thing to parents that I've ever had, so it's okay if you come along.” It was true. This was more or less what Dale wanted: her finding someone else. And she had found others who loved her. So she had decided that after the funeral she would sneak back to the Ranger's Headquarters and leave Dale her final note. He, too, must find someone else, and the note appeared to be the only possible way of making that happen. Dale had his life to live, and now she had to live hers, in this cave outside of New Jersey. It wasn't all that bad, it had all the comforts of a typical chiropterid home, including customised furniture that was bolted to the roof of the cave. She went to a cabinet and prepared her prescription again.

“Sess, are yew shewre yew wann tew dew theyes? Ah'm worrey'd 'bout yew.”

“Don't be, Feyyanna. I'm all right, really.” Foxglove then took another pill and drank some water.

“Nowe, yew AIN'T!!” she finally exclaimed, tail and ears stiffening, trying to knock some sense into her adopted sister. “Yew're dayen'!! Ann yew HAYAVE BINN dayen' sennse yew'n Dayel splett!!” Foxglove swallowed and echosounded at her.

“Feyyanna, Foxglove is already DEAD. I'm no longer Dale's wife. I am now your sister! Please, let me say good-bye to my parents. Maybe things will get better after that.” Feyyanna calmed down a trifle and relaxed her ears and tail.

“Oh, awl raght. But are yew shewre yew'll bay fann ayefter theyes?”

“Yes. I will-maybe-” The others hoped. They could only hope:

EIKOSITESSARES - USE THE FORCE, LUKE

Once again, Dale limped outside to look at the sunset. He surveyed the sky in general, and this time, there were dark clouds to the west, showing an occasional flash of lightning. *Looks like a storm will be comin' in tonight,* he thought to himself, as a light breeze began picking up. He turned his attention back to the sun, and tried to look at it without the torment of memories. It was a natural phenomenon, of course, one that happened every single day, on mostly every part of the planet. There really was no reason why it should be a continuous reminder of what could never be.

Inside, the other Rangers were looking at him through the window, afraid. Afraid because they saw him beginning to have difficulty breathing, afraid because his medication list had increased, afraid because though the doctor said his most recent tests were inconclusive, they *knew* he was dying:

Zipper then landed next to where Dale was sitting.

“Penny for your thoughts?” he buzzed. Dale thought again for a moment, and with a sigh, he replied with low ears and tail,

“You'd think that a guy who forgets things so easily wouldn't have any problems forgettin' *one* person,”

“Dale, she was part of you. You can't forget yourself, so I guess you'll never forget her.”

“Oh, I don't know about that. Maybe if I go to a hypnotist and have him erase her from my head this will all finally be over-”

“NO!!” The sciurid turned a trifle, stunned by the muscid's outburst. “If you do that, you will DIE! If you kill her within you, you will kill yourself!!” Dale sighed in frustration.

“Zipper, do you still believe that nonsense? All I have is arthritis! And I'm GLAD Foxy's not here to see me like this!!”

“Dale, look at yourself. Do you really think that nothing serious is happening to you?” Dale did not respond. He knew perfectly well the seriousness of his condition, and he was perfectly satisfied that the one person he loved most was not here to see him this way. The wind began picking up at this moment, moving some leaves about.

“Maybe if Gadget invented a time machine, we would be able to go back and make sure I never met Foxglo-”

“DALE!! Listen to what you're saying!! And look at what you've done to yourself!!” Dale then looked at Zipper, with angry ears and tail,

“What? *What* have I done to myself? And why *shouldn't* I have never met Foxglove? Maybe we all would be better off if I hadn't asked everyone to go see that movie with me! Maybe-a lot of pain would have been avoided-maybe:but look at me now. I'm a better detective, I can cook without burnin' food or breakin' the dishes, I haven't broken ANY of Gadget's stuff, I can fly BOTH planes *without* gettin' us caught in the jet stream, I can move with stealth, I can smell better, AND I haven't got anyone in trouble by playin' super spy, have I now?” Zipper winced at this last phrase. True, that time Dale got *everyone* in trouble. But he couldn't deny that he himself had fun. He couldn't deny that he enjoyed the thrill of the whole thing. “Zipper, you and the others have bailed me out so many times, you have taught me so much, and now, I can finally give somethin' back to everyone, after all the bad things I've done to you!”

“But Dale, none of this is worth it if you kill yourself in the process!! You didn't have to kill the *fun* part of the rescue! You didn't have to kill the Comedian-”

“I KILLED THE *KLUTZ*!! I KILLED THE *CLOWN*!!”

“AND YOU TOOK THE COMEDIAN WITH THEM!!”

“The Comedian nearly *killed* you. Nearly killed us all. NEARLY KILLED MY **WIFE**!! SEGOLEH *DESERVED* TO DIE!!!” More branches began swaying in the increasing wind, also causing his fur to ruffle dramatically.

“But Dale, don't you get it?? By killing him, you have killed *yourself* now, and now you're going to die for good!! Trust me, I *know* what I'm talking about!!!”

“I *seriously* doubt that,” growled the chipmunk. “Of *all* people, one would think that *you* would know when someone is *dead*!!! And do I look *dead* to you???!!!” The fly paused for a moment, wondering how he was going to break this to his friend. He took a small breath, held it, and fired,

“Dale, ever since you came back, I've almost crawled on your face *nine* times now. And the only reason why I haven't is because when I'm about to do so, you suddenly move, or blink, even!! Dale, part of you is DEAD!!! And the *rest* of you is *dying*!!!! Hastahah didn't replace you, he's KILLING you!!!” Dale turned away and looked at the dark clouds covering the sinking sun. He then laid his ears back again and whispered in pain,

“Don't you think I know that? Don't you think that *maybe* I might miss the Comedian as much as the rest of you? Don't you think that *maybe* it was the second most horrible decision I had to make? Don't you think that *maybe* I WANT to bring him back? But I CAN'T!!! It's IMPOSSIBLE!! I can't bring ANYONE back from the dead!! AND *I'M* *ALREADY* ***DEAD***!!!!!!” A sudden wave of arthritis pain calmed the sciurid down. “It-it-was somethin'-that you had to be there to understand. You had to be there when I killed him. If you had, then you would know that I simply can't bring him back!”

“Dale, please don't say that!! You know nothing's impossible! Maybe if you tell us what happened, perhaps we'll be *able* to bring him back! Maybe not completely, but just enough to get you *smiling* again! Please, Dale, we've lost Foxglove, we don't want to lose you, too! Perhaps we can help you find a balance in-Dale? Dale?” Dale had his ears up, his tail was stiff, and he was unusually silent. The sunset was over, but he still looking toward the west. Or, that was were he was facing, for he had a blank look in his eyes. Then, his breathing became more laboured. Something began pressing in his chest again, but he couldn't tell what it was. He slowly began to turn back to Zipper, and as he did, his fur began ruffling. Zipper became quite scared at this, because he knew it wasn't the wind that was causing Dale's fur to stand on end.

“Dale? Is something wrong?” Dale brought up his right paw to his chest. Something was causing him unbelievable pain, something within him was sensing-

DANGER.

Something then began ringing in his brain. Not in his ears, but within his head, his very soul. Something was trying to bring back a memory, a *deja-vue*. He had sensed this before, but where?

Suddenly Foxglove's voice came to mind. Her voice, her sweet, soft voice, her voice which at many times he could never hear because it was in ultrasound mode-

And he never heard it?

Or did he *think* he had never heard her sonar?

Or, perhaps, not in his ears, but-but-*inside* him?

Had he got *that* close to her that he could actually *sense* her sonar?

No, this was ridiculous. He had never heard it, nor did he ever *know* when she was using it. Furthermore, he had no idea where she was, though he knew perfectly well that the ringing was coming from the left of the sinking sun, southwest to be exact, and even if he *did* know where she was, she would be too far away for him to hear her anyway-

Huh? What? Where did that reckoning of direction come from? Where-where-

He hunched over a little bit, as the pain increased. And though he tried to fight it, he could not deny that the following was repeating itself in his head,

PING PING PING PIIIIIIIIING PIIIIIIIIING PIIIIIIIIING PING PING PING PIIIIIIIIING PIIIIIIIIING PIIIIIIIIING PING PING PING PIIIIIIIIING PIIIIIIIIING PIIIIIIIIING-

Nor could he deny that what was sounding in his head was the International Morse Code SOS signal.

Zipper was panicking by now,

“Dale!! Do you need a doctor?? Is something wrong with-”

“GeteveryoneontheRangerPlaneandfollowme!!” he finally burst, unable to contain himself any longer. “I'lltaketheRangerWing!!Somethin'swrongandsomeone'sintrouble!!HURRY!!!!!” The tamias then painfully ran to the hangar, as the wind picked up more speed and began swaying larger branches, and as dark clouds moved in above Rescue Ranger Headquarters:

EIKOSIPENTE - NIGHT OF THE STRIGIDÆ

A flock of verspetilionids circled a park on the southwest area of New York City, Staten Island, again. It was still some time before sunset, but they still echosounded at the whole area several times, searching for any predators. It was a rather unusual flock of bats, since they were carrying daisies, magnolias, tulips, and foxgloves on their foot-paws, losing a few petals to the west wind that was beginning to pick up.

“This was the park?” asked Foxglove.

“Positive,” replied Richard. “The trees have changed a bit, but the buildings and statues haven't. Also, the foxglove plant is still right there, Foxglove.” He pointed to a large plant that was near the centre of the park. With the area clear of predators, Otis, Foxglove, Feyyanna, Richard, and Rosie landed next to the vine, which had long strands of purple flowers hanging from it. Still, all of them kept a wary ear open for trouble, and it was of no surprise that all of them remained rather scared. Rosie held her husband close, as painful memories came to them now. But this was the way Foxglove wanted the ceremony done. And it shouldn't take long, or so they hoped. They took their flowers, and padded next to the plant. It wasn't a tombstone, but it was still the next best thing, since it was directly above it that Foxglove's parents lost their lives.

Foxglove echosounded at the plant. As hard as she tried, she simply couldn't bring this plant to match any memory in her head. Was this the *right* foxglove? Did she even have the *right* bats? Then again, how many *other* bat couples had lost a cub this way? But again, she *was* there as a result of the process of elimination, not necessarily because of irrefutable evidence. That, or her parents had abandoned her.

She shivered as she considered that option, remembering the fake letter Fat Cat sent her. It *was* a possibility, and yet, all the chiropterids she had interviewed had led her to this. Maybe some of them had lied to her. Maybe:

She quickly put that thought out of her mind. She preferred to have parents who were mercilessly killed than parents who mercilessly abandoned her. She nodded at Richard, who lowered his ears a trifle, and began,

“Fellow chiropterids, we are gathered here to bid farewell to a husband and wife who perished here. They were unknown, and yet known, for they both now live through the life of Foxglove. We can only hope that both of them were as loving and caring as their daughter. Both were brave, and both knew the meaning of love, for they both joined their lives together to create another, and they both gave their lives to save it. May they rest in peace. Foxglove, do you want to add something?” Foxglove padded up to the plant. She had to admit she felt silly talking to a vine, but it was better than nothing. After this, she would take Richard and Rosie's offer, and leave Dale her note. Her ears drooped a trifle as she began,

“Mom, Dad, I miss you. I wish I could have known you just a little bit better. I hope you'd be proud of me now, because I gave myself my own name, and I survived on my own for a while. I-also-took the wrong path for a while-but only because I needed friends-and then-then I met the most handsome mammal on this planet, and-and-after a brief battle with my former boss, I renounced evil and joined him and his friends, the Rescue Rangers. During my time with them, I helped and rescued many people and animals-and-and *also* learned what true love was. Dale-he was my fiancée-loved me so much that he did not want to hear-er-see me get hurt, so he let me go.” She paused. For a moment, it appeared as if she was going to cry, but again, she couldn't. Otis, meanwhile, kept echosounding at all around him. They *weren't* taking long, but it sure felt like it. “I then searched for you, and I found you here. Now, my new bat friends got me a job as an interpreter at the Rescue Aid Society, so I still help other animals and people. I-I got adopted by a brother and sister, sort of. I'm living with the bats now, as you probably did, so-I guess I'm doing okay. I have a touch of arthritis, but it's nothing serious,” she lied, and she knew it. “Mom, Dad, you-weren't the only ones who perished here at the talons of an owl. Others have suffered too, but in my search for you, I was able to give them peace, even though their daughters died. I-I suppose you would be proud of me and of what I've done. Mom, Dad-thanks for saving my life. I-really wish you could be with me-and I miss you.” She put her foxgloves on the plant, and concluded, “Good-bye, Mom and Dad.” The others then padded up and placed their flowers on the vine as well. To add the final seal, each chiropterid picked up a few pebbles and placed them under the foxglove. Foxglove stood back at this, and the finality of it at last sunk in.

Her parents were dead.

And in a way, so was she.

The batmaid then turned and left her previous life forever.

The others turned and followed her, and padded away from the plant. They weren't in any real hurry, after all, the park wasn't that big, and New Jersey wasn't that far away.

Wings flapped.

All five bats suddenly looked up, and echosounded at the entire sky, stiffening their ears and tails

A pigeon flew by some distance from them, not an owl. Besides, sunset was barely beginning. Owls *were* nocturnal, after all.

No, the flapping didn't come from that precise direction, and it *wasn't* that loud, either.

Instead, it was actually barely audible.

Instinctively, the flock took off and sped toward the safety of the main city.

More flapping was heard, very soft, TOO soft, and *closer*.

They all madly echosounded all around them, trying to locate the source of the flapping, but they couldn't hear or see anything.

Were owl feathers too soft to effectively give a sonar echo? Did they actually *absorb* ultrasonic sound waves?

But even if they did, they would be able to detect a “hole” in the return signal, indicating that nothing was there, and yet they would know when the “nothing” had moved.

Then again, that would only work if that “nothing” was backed up by something solid, like a building or a tree, or even the ground.

All suddenly echosounded at the darkening sky above them.

Still nothing.

They were barely able to detect the thick clouds, but even if the sky was completely clear, and if an owl was coming at them directly from where the sun was, they would still be able to hear the beak and talons, which would be very difficult for any bird of prey to hide.

They heard neither a beak nor talons.

So they were all right now. Though the sky was now rapidly being covered with storm clouds, they were almost at the edge of the park. They were safe now.

Flapping was heard behind them.

Suddenly turning around, they saw/heard-

Nothing.

Sighing in relief, they levelled off and exited the-

“STRIGIDÆ!!!!!!!!!!”

Directly in front of them was the largest owl they had ever heard, diving straight toward them. A humongous brown female owl, with iridescent brown eyes, a razor sharp grey-brown beak that resembled a staple puller, and brown-grey feet with black daggers at the end of each toe.

Squealing their lungs out, the pipistrells tried to disperse, but the owl lady flew too quickly for them, even for her size. She forced them back into the park by flying in rapid circles above, below, and around them, herding them like cattle. As she did so, she also moved them further and further to the centre of park-

*Is this how my parents died?*

Feyyanna then began screeching as loud as she could, in ultrasound,

“SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOS-”

“What are you doing??!!” screeched Foxglove, also in ultrasound.

“Cawllin' fer HEYELP!! Whayat doss et SANND lakk Ah'm DOENN??!!”

“But we're in the middle of the park!! There are no bats here now, and any bat outside the park would still be asleep or too far away to hear us!!”

“Yew gatt a BEDDAR ayedeya???” All the chiropterids then began screeching SOS in various ultrasound frequencies, but Foxglove screeched the following,

“Code 936!! Code 936!! Any units respond to ultrasound alarm 936!! Track ultrasonic SOS signals to a park in East Staten Island!! Code 936!!! Code 936!!!!”

“What's all that?!” asked Otis.

“They give all RAS members a emergency code list! I just hope they find us!!”

“What do you mean 'find us'??!! Doesn't anyone of the RAS know you're here?”

“Um-no-not really-it never occurred to me to say anything to them!!”

“What???!!! You mean we're all alone here??!!!”

“I doubt any small mammal would want to be near an owl!!”

“Oh, ######!” cursed Feyyanna. The bats then continued screeching their SOS calls, when the owl lady screeched again,

“STRIGIDÆ!!!!!!” interrupting them momentarily, causing them to lower their ears back a trifle. They all echosounded at her for a moment, in complete terror. She held them in a position directly above the centre of the park, having them hover between her round-ups. “It's best if you keep flying, 'cause you'll taste better that way!! HA HA HA!!!!” she jested. Her paused, low, guttural voice resonated in dangerous vibrations within them.

*Was this the same owl lady who killed my parents? The same one who killed all those other bats?*

“Who are you!!!” screeched Foxglove, finally, in a frequency the owl lady could hear, and with defiant ears and tail. The owl lady slowed down her round-ups, but kept her eye on the batmaid,

“My name is STRIGIDÆ, LADY AND GUARDIAN OF THIS PARK!! No pigeon, crow, sparrow, or swallow dares to cross my domain, much less IMITATORS like YOU!!!!!” That last comment threw them off for a moment.

“What do you mean, 'imitators'??!!” asked Rosie, also with stiffening ears and tail.

“You are IMITATORS!! WHERE are your feathers??!! WHERE are your beaks??!! You leathered mice MOCK the true avians!!!!” Foxglove protested,

“We're BATS!! We were *born* this way!! We're no imitators!!”

“You mock the TRUE birds!!!” she insisted. “You use leather instead of feathers, you are covered with HAIR, you make NO NESTS, you are PHONEYS!!!!! Now, you DARE trespass my domain, and for that you shall DIE!!!!!” She continued circling them, hooting in triumph.

“We're *mammals*!! Of *course* we have no feathers or beaks!!” replied Foxglove. “But what makes you think we're an insult to avians??” StrigidÆ suddenly hovered in front of Foxglove, and looked into her eyes. The fact that she had somehow learned to hover was scary enough, as her ears and tail showed, but even more so was looking at one's own reflection in her hateful eyes, and hearing her sinister voice right in one's soul,

“You EAT the food of other birds!! You all eat BUGS, and leave none for the TRUE birds-!!”

“Hey, not ALL birds eat bugs, do YOU??!!” asked Otis, also with defiant ears and tail, trying to get StrigidÆ's attention away from Foxglove. Richard added,

“We only eat bugs at night, when the rest of the birds are sleeping!! And those that *are* awake are YOUR kind, the meat eaters!! We steal food from NO ONE-!!” The bubo suddenly moved next to him, and with an incredibly fast wing slap, sent the pipistrell fluttering helplessly to the ground.

“RICHARD!!!” squealed Rosie, as she and the rest flew down, as the owl lady apparently allowed them to. Richard was able to recover just before hitting the ground, but nevertheless he landed quite hard. Rosie landed next to him and held him, while the others remained hovering above the couple.

“Don't interrupt me again, you insolent VAMPIRE!!!!!” All the chiropterids winced at this insult, as the strigiform continued flying in circles. “My job is to rid this world of parasites like YOU!! You are MICE!! And you KNOW that I love mice, and the fact that you have wings just makes the hunt a lot more interesting!! It's been a while since I've had such a delicious looking buffet like YOU!! A HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!” The bubo continued flying around them, hooting sinisterly. All the pipistrells were scared to death now, with low ears and tails, not knowing what to do. Richard slowly stood, with a wing to his head, having recovered a bit more. Then, Feyyanna's ears and tail perked up, as she remembered something she had heard back in Texas: StrigidÆ was rounding them like *cattle*, but since there was only *one* of her, she hoped, then they just might be able to-

Speaking in ultrasound again, she said,

“Awl raght! Ayt the kewnt uff threeye, evvreywann flaye OPP enn sepp'rett dureckshuns!!” The bats then hovered, bracing themselves, with Richard and Rosie beginning to hover a few moments later. Feyyanna waited until StrigidÆ made a horizontal sweep, leaving the sky free. “Wann:tewe::::THREEYE!!!!” Suddenly, the five chiropterids shot upward in five separate directions and spread out. The strigiform was completely incensed by this,

“NOOOOO!!!! STRIGIDAAAAÆEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!” and she flew after the bat nearest to her: Otis.

Otis turned around and heard the owl lady speeding straight toward him. Panicking and laying his ears back, he flapped his wings as fast as he could, but StrigidÆ was catching up.

*Is this what a moth feels like?* he thought. But just before StrigidÆ sank her talons into Otis' back, he remembered a trick that some moths played on him. Suddenly, Otis dove in an underloop, causing StrigidÆ to overshoot him. The owl lady was distracted for a moment, having suddenly lost her prey. She then began pulling up to start another attack, when suddenly she saw in front of her-

A tree.

Hooting in rage, the owl lady painfully pulled up higher, trying to avoid the trunk, at least, and hoping she would get through the branches. Closing her eyes and pulling her wings in, she shot through them all right, but with plenty of scraping and bruising. Emerging from the treetop like a cannonball, with some feathers, leaves and twigs trailing behind her, the avian extended her wings again and glided for a moment, trying to shake away some of the pain from her head. Then, she opened her eyes, reddened with rage, turned, and saw Otis again.

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” she hooted again, beginning another dive, a much faster one. Otis heard her and began zigzagging around the park, trying to slow her down by moving near trees, bushes, vines, fences, and some statues. But StrigidÆ knew the park well. It was *her* park, after all. Once again she was going to sink her talons into Otis' back-

-when Foxglove suddenly flew in front of both of them, and aided by her tail membrane, hurled a scoop of dirt straight into the owl lady's eyes. StrigidÆ hooted in pain. She couldn't see, she couldn't hover, and she couldn't land. All she had left to do was fly up and up in circles, trying to shake the dirt off her eyes and head. Otis perked up his ears and echosounded at Foxglove for a moment, and then asked, in surprised ultrasound,

“Where did you learn to do *that*???!!!”

“From a movie I saw with Dale once! Now let's get outta here!!”

“Pick up more ammo!!” screeched Rosie. “One shot won't hold her back for long!!!” The pipistrells thusly swooped to the ground, picked up dirt in their tail membranes, and shot toward the edge of the park. Richard was lagging, however, due to his injury *and* due to the ever increasing wind. StrigidÆ, meanwhile, above the centre of the park, having shaken most of the dirt from her eyes, tried to focus on the verspetilionids below her. She saw them approaching the edge of her domain, but she focused mainly on the one who threw the dirt: Foxglove. Knowing when to hold her tongue, the strigid silently dove in right toward her.

Though an owl's feathers are designed to have the owl fly with stealth, Foxglove and the other chiropterids were still able to hear the sound of the dive behind them above the wind, which was howling through the trees now. Foxglove waited a moment, preparing to throw the dirt again. She then turned-

-and the owl lady was not there.

“Huh? Where did she go?” she asked. The other bats also turned around, and did not see nor hear StrigidÆ anywhere. Echosounding madly again, they scanned the whole area, but she simply was not in their sonar range. They turned back again-

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”

And the owl lady in front of them threw STONES.

Foxglove took a direct hit on her right shoulder.

Otis took a direct hit on his head.

Rosie took a direct hit on her left side.

Feyyanna was able to dodge the stones, but not without slamming into Richard, who was on her right.

All the verspetilionids dropped their payloads, and fluttered painfully to the cement. They were all bleeding save for Feyyanna and Richard.

“I can play your games, too!!!” hooted StrigidÆ, flying down to them. Feyyanna, Richard, and Rosie fell in a heap, with Foxglove and Otis some ways to their right, due to a sudden gust. StrigidÆ then walked up to Otis, picked him up with her talons, and flung him to the pile. She then walked up to Foxglove and did the same. All the bats laid there, half-conscious, unable to even lick their wounds. Walking victoriously toward the mammals with an arrogant swagger, and with the wind sinisterly ruffling her feathers, the avian hooted,

“You really think I'm stupid, don't you? You really think I'm some sort of deranged fowl who is completely CRAZY??!!! You think I'm UNREASONING?? UNINTELLIGENT??!! Completely incapable of learning ANYTHING because of my supposed INSANITY???!!!” she paused for a moment, letting some thunder rumble dramatically in the distance. “I am a GUARDIAN!!! I GUARD this park!!! I guard it from PARASITES!!! And now I can FEAST!!!” She grabbed Foxglove again, looked at her hungrily, and opened her razor sharp beak, ready to cut her head off.

However, since she had picked up Foxglove, she had removed the obstacle that was holding Feyyanna down. She was the least hurt of them, and when she echosounded up and heard the owl lady about to eat her sister, she did what any self-respecting loving relative would do: she laid her ears back, and suddenly jumped on StrigidÆ, slapping her wings on her face, and squealing insanely. This caused StrigidÆ to drop Foxglove, but moments later she whacked Feyyanna to the cement, nearly knocking her out.

“Okay, you want to be first??!! FINE!!” She grabbed Feyyanna now, and was about to bite her-

-when this time, a net fell over her.

“RESCUE RANGERS AWAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!” chattered a chipmunk above them, with another sciurid, two murids, and a muscid yelling the same thing a short distance behind him.

The bats were too stunned to hear the noisy Ranger Wing and Ranger Plane above them, added to the fact that the wind was practically drowning all sound now. And the owl lady was too concentrated on her prey to even notice the aircraft behind her.

“:::*Dale*:::” moaned Foxglove, opening her eyes and looking and echosounding up at her Rescuer, her Comedian, her Goof-up, her Clown, her Klutz, her love, her only one.

How Dale was able to find them was something he would never know. All he knew was that someone was in trouble, in DEEP trouble, and that Foxglove was possibly that one. It was almost as if the pain in his chest served as a homing device that led them to this park in Staten Island. And he knew that the pain had something to do with it, for a sharp pain shot through his right shoulder just moments before they arrived, even though nothing had actually hit him there. Or maybe some debris was blown in his direction and he didn't notice it until after it hit him. Or, perhaps, he was being guided by ultrasonic sensing abilities he didn't know he had, or even perhaps by an Unseen Hand. But whatever the means, he had found her, and her new “family”, as he deduced the others to be.

The others on the Ranger Plane became totally scared when Zipper told them that Dale had taken the Ranger Wing and headed southwest. They had no idea where they were going or why, so all they could do was hope that Dale had not snapped. Gadget was actually considering jumping over to the Ranger Wing and disabling it, forcing Dale to land, but the increasing wind and the thunder in the distance made that idea sound not too good. She was about to launch grapplers to the Wing when they arrived at the park.

“It's Foxglove!!” chattered Chip, above the wind. “I don't know how, but Dale found Foxglove!!!” Hope was again raised in the Rangers, hope that maybe this would settle the Comedian Issue once and for all, hope that maybe all of this would help Dale and Foxglove see what they had done to themselves-

“And it looks like she and 'er bat friends need 'elp!!” added Monterey. Zipper sounded his bugle call, and they all yelled the Rescue Ranger battlecry, with stiff ears and tails all around.

Both aircraft landed on opposite sides of the chiropterids, and the Rangers jumped out to help them. The strigiform hooted in rage and tore at the net that was holding her. Zipper then grabbed a rope and began tying the owl lady with it. Chip, Gadget, and Monterey ran to get the pipistrells on the planes, and Dale was about to do the same, but he noticed that the bubo was tearing though the net now. So, he jumped back on the Ranger Wing, loaded the back gun, and fired a plunger harpoon straight into the owl lady's right eye. He grabbed the rope and ran toward her, preparing to wrap it around her as well. StrigidÆ hooted in rage as suddenly half of her vision was cut off.

“Miserable mice!! I WILL EAT YOU ALL!!!!!!” She continued struggling and tearing at the net and ropes, when Gadget called out,

“Dale, Zipper, get out of the way!!” They all turned and saw Gadget having turned around the Ranger Plane, pointing it at the owl lady. Dale and Zipper ran to one side, and Gadget pulled down a lever. Another net shot from the nose of the Ranger Plane and fell on StrigidÆ. Struggling to poke her head out of both nets, she hooted,

“YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU MESSED WITH STRIGIDÆ!!!!!!” Suction cups don't stick too well to feathers, but it was surprising to StrigidÆ that the plunger would not come off. She gave it a really hard yank, and nearly pulled her eye out. She saw feathers stuck to the glue on the plunger, incensing her even further. When the strigid did manage to pull her head through the net, Richard, Rosie, and Otis were already on the Ranger Plane, licking their wounds, with Gadget hastily dressing them. Chip and Dale then picked up Feyyanna while Monterey picked up Foxglove, who was having trouble licking her bleeding shoulder, and they took them to the Ranger Wing. This was going to be a tight fit, and they would need time to take off, because both aircraft were almost overloaded. Monterey began dressing the bats' wounds while Gadget and Dale activated the motors. StrigidÆ continued to tear through the nets and ropes, but by the time she was halfway free, both planes were on the air, heading back to the Rangers' Tree. Since the Ranger Plane had a balloon and carried only five passengers, it was able to fly higher than the Ranger Wing. Gadget still remained behind Dale, however, just to make sure he didn't go berserk again. But it seemed that they were all safe now. The pain was gone, practically. Dale struggled to keep the Ranger Wing level with all the wind gusting around him, and he was just about to clear the park-

-when he saw Clarice below him, running *into* the park.

“:::*Clarice*:::” he gasped, fear gripping him once more.

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”

All turned and saw/heard StrigidÆ, with pieces of torn net and rope around her neck and talons, flying straight toward them, and making a dive for the heavier Ranger Wing. Gadget looked below her-

“Oh, no!” she cried, finally seeing the chipmunkmaid. “CLARICE!!” On the ground, Clarice heard StrigidÆ's battlecry. She looked up and saw both planes, and the owl lady as well. Instinct set in and she immediately lowered her ears and tail, whirled around, and dashed back to the edge of the park, on all fours. On the Ranger Wing, Zipper moved to the gun and fired the last of the nets back at StrigidÆ, but the owl lady saw them coming. And just as she dodged the nets, lightning flashed, enabling her to see another animal below her, running to the edge of the park.

“AH!! MORE RODENTS!!!!” she hooted in delight. So she changed her trajectory and made a straight dive for Clarice. When Dale saw this, he wanted to scream, but something jammed the scream in his throat. Zipper knew he could not fire another dart without risking hitting Clarice. Dale knew that too, so his paws were tied as well. Gadget knew that as well, but she *also* knew that the owl lady *didn't* know that *she* had incredible aim. Just as StrigidÆ was about to clamp her talons on Clarice, grappler jaws closed on both of her wings, destabilising her. The strigiform hooted in pain and pulled at the ropes and tried to climb, destabilising the Ranger Plane, but not before one of her talons swiped Clarice's back, tearing her dark blue blouse and nearly tearing her backbone as well. Her light blue skirt remained intact, fortunately. The chipmunkmaid stumbled and fell, rolling a few times before finally stopping next to a bush, unable to move due to the pain and shock. Gadget fought to keep the craft level, but the owl lady was too strong, and the mousemaid felt the plane beginning to spin. This time, however, there was no bubble gum to interfere with the grappler controls. She yanked on a lever, and the ropes let the plane loose. But she couldn't regain control. All the occupants of the Ranger Plane screamed as it plunged downward. The ropes wrapped themselves around the owl lady's wings, causing her to fall as well. The wind tossed the Ranger Plane into a bush, popping the balloon and effectively rendering it useless, while StrigidÆ fell on the dirt about one metre away from Clarice.

“:::*Gadget*:::” said Chip, with the name nearly choking in his throat. Dale then turned and landed the Ranger Wing between Clarice and the downed Ranger Plane. He jumped out and ran toward the downed chipmunkmaid. Monterey and Zipper jumped/flew off and ran to the Ranger Plane. Just before Chip jumped off, he told the batmaids,

“Foxglove, you and your friend stay here! We'll get the others, and prepare for a tight fit!” Dale, meanwhile, had reached Clarice. Her blouse had a big tear on the back, and he could see the scratch on her hide bleeding now. It wasn't too deep, but it looked very painful, and it made him lay his ears back.

“Clarice! Can you get up??” She looked at him for a moment, unable to raise her ears or tail, and replied,

“Well, darling, it looks like that's something I *have* to do, doesn't it?” Wincing, she slowly stood, as Dale steadied her. Foxglove looked and echosounded at this action. She saw and heard Dale gently leading Clarice to the Wing, and as her ears drooped, she suddenly realised that she no longer felt jealous. Or, more correctly put, she no longer felt anything. Her emotions were gone now, save the instinctive one of fear and terror because of the owl la-

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” Just as Dale and Clarice were about to get on the Ranger Wing, the owl lady hooted again, and she charged at them. Dale then picked up Clarice in his arms, and ran off to a bush with her chattering in pain, leaving Foxglove and Feyyanna in the Wing. For a moment, Foxglove thought that Dale had finally abandoned her, leaving her to her fate. With an injured shoulder, she would not be able to escape. Then again, Dale already had his paws full with Clarice, and she knew he could not rescue everyone at once, only the one closest to him.

Her ears drooped even lower.

This was it.

She would have the same fate as her parents.

She would die at the talons of an owl.

Oddly enough, she realised that she actually *wanted* the owl lady to end it now, to end this whole business right here and now, to end this miserable life she had been living and which was now not worth a gnat's wing-

One-half second before StrigidÆ hit the plane, Feyyanna jumped, grabbed Foxglove's shoulders, and flapped as hard as she could, and with the help of a sudden gust, she lifted both of them to safety, temporarily, at least. Since she was not used to carrying as much payload as Foxglove did, and the fact that her head and neck still hurt terribly, she was quickly pulled down, and both fell on the ground again, with Foxglove squealing from the pressure applied to her injured shoulder.

StrigidÆ, meanwhile, smashed into the Ranger Wing, snapping its wings and tearing the motors from it. *Both* aircraft were useless now. The owl lady's attention stayed on the plane, however; her rage had made her temporarily forget the edible targets around her. Chip, having seen this, ran to help Foxglove and Feyyanna while he left Monterey and Zipper to take care of the others.

The Ranger Plane was useless. Besides having its balloon popped, one wing had snapped as well. Its occupants were slowly regaining consciousness, but they were all still alive, which was an immense relief to Monterey and Zipper. He first looked at his best friend's daughter. Gadget had her right goggle lens cracked and she appeared to be bruised around her right eye as well, but no other damage was evident. Monterey first proceeded to help Otis, who was nearly unconscious, when one more time his ears perked up as the owl lady's battlecry rang through the storm,

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” The owl lady was now tearing at the bush in which Chip, Dale, Clarice, Foxglove and Feyyanna were hiding under. And there was no place left to run or fly without being totally uncovered for at least four metres, enough space for StrigidÆ to snatch her prey. Monterey saw this, and he told the others,

“Wait 'ere. I'll go 'elp the lads!!” He jumped off the Ranger Plane and ran to the Ranger Wing, with Zipper following. Under the other bush, above the howling wind, booming thunder, and the hooting owl lady, Dale was scolding Clarice,

“Whatthe######doyouthinkyou'redoin'hereandhowdidyoufindus????!!!” Foxglove winced a trifle when she heard the curse. The Comedian she knew hardly ever swore, much less so nastily, even under such stress. Was he truly dead?

“Itookthesewers!!!” she gasped, her back still in great pain, but matching his stiff tail and ears.

“What??!!” asked both males.

“Whenyou'reacelebrityyoulearntomakeaswiftgetaway!!IgottothetreewhenIsaweveryonetakingoffandItrackedyoudownfromthesewers!It'squitesimplereallyonceyouknowyourwayaroundit'salmostliketakingthesubway!!!” That response did not make much sense. Hastahah chattered again,

“Andjusthowpraytellwereyouabletotrackusdownifyouwereundergroundandwewerethreehundredfeetintheair???!!!” Clarice looked angrily into his eyes and explained,

“WellifyoumustknowitkindahelpedthatyouwereonlyflyinginonedirectionANDIjusthappenedtosurfaceontherightdrainsattherighttimestomakesureyouwerestillflyingtowardthisplacebutIkindalostyouwhenyouwerecomingdownbutit'snotasifyourplaneisinvisibletoallotheranimalsandjustsoyou'llknowIhaveafriendwho'sapaparazzidefectorandshetaughtmeeverythingsheknewpreciselytofightBACKthepaparazzis!!” Dale's face took a stunned take for a moment, but only for a moment.

“Andjustwhythe######didyoucomehere???!!!ThisisaverydangerousmissionasitisandwealmostfinisheduntilYOUcamealong!!!!Wecan'tevengetbandagestowrapyouupnow!!!” chattered an angry and deceased Comedian.

“WellIWASgoingtoinviteyoutoanothernightattheclubbutifyoureallywanttoknowtherealreasonwhyItrackedyoudownisbecauseallIwantedwastobewithYOUstoooopiiiiiiid!!!” Dale reeled at that statement, and even laid his ears back.

She *had* come back.

And come back to HIM.

*THREE TIMES*.

Because she *truly* loved him, as Foxglove did.

She risked life and limb to be with *him*, also the same way Foxglove did. Why couldn't ANYONE realise that if they continued to love him they would get tremendously hurt, or worse!!

Foxglove, meanwhile, had heard enough chipmunk chatter before, so she was able to decipher the previous conversation. Clarice's last statement, however, almost brought jealousy out from her again, and her last insult actually made her feel like defending her male somehow. But again, she knew Dale was no longer her male. Clarice was more beautiful than she was. Clarice was a *chipmunk*. Clarice was what Dale needed. Clarice was the one Dale needed to find. Dale *had* found someone else, or more exactly, someone else had found Dale. Their previous life was now truly over. Once this was all over, she would give him her note, tonight, if possible. Dale *needed* Clarice-

*She* was now letting go of Dale-

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” The owl lady was halfway through. “No plant has ever stopped The Guardian from her dinner!! STRIGI-OOOOOOOFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!!!” Her battlecry was abruptly cut off, for her talons were suddenly knocked from underneath her, and she now lay on her right side.

“That's 'cause Monterey Jack Colby was not around to stop ye!!!!” squeaked the Aussie behind the owl lady, holding a piece of wing from the Ranger Wing, with his ears laid back and his tail tensed. Zipper then began buzzing all around the owl lady's face, trying to get her more distracted and disoriented. StrigidÆ then swung her wings all around her, but she could not swat that annoying fly. Over at the Ranger Plane, Gadget was looking at what her father's best friend was doing. She then turned back to the verspetilionids and tried to help Otis stand, but a quick calculation made her realise she would take too long.

“Chip! Dale! I need help over here!” she squeaked, trying to make herself heard above the storm.

“Yore frenn's cawlenn fur heyelp!” relayed Feyyanna. Chip had to think fast.

“Claricefromwhatstormdraindidyouenter?!”

“Thedrainisnexttothesidewalkthatway!” She winced and laid her ears back as she pointed toward a spot on the sidewalk, some twenty metres ahead of both downed planes.

“TakethebatsoverthereandDON'Tcomeout!We'llhelpGadgetandMontyandwe'llberightwithyounowRUN!!!!!” The males then ran to the Ranger Plane while the females ran to the sewer. Well, they didn't actually run, since all three of them were heavily injured, so they had to help each other limp toward the sidewalk. The batmaids had Clarice between them, with her arms around each of them for support, and for helping them keep their wings closed, due to the ever-increasing wind. As Feyyanna continued sounding her SOS signal, Foxglove couldn't help but notice that Dale never touched her all the time he was with her. So, with limp ears and tail, she simply continued sounding the RAS call.

Chip and Dale arrived at the Ranger Plane,

“We've got to follow Clarice! She'll take us to the sewers where we'll be safe! GADGET!!” chattered Chip, lowering his ears, when he saw her sporting a black eye. “Are you okay???!!!”

“Never better!” she replied, as she tried to stand from the pilot's seat while reaching for her trusty plunger harpoon. As she did, a horrible squeak shot out of her throat. “MY ARM!!!!!!” she finally vocalised moments later, with low ears and tail. All three rodents looked at her arm. The right coverall sleeve was torn, and her arm had a deep gash in it. Her left hip was also in pain, but not as much as her arm was. “Chip, take my plunger-harpoon!” she exclaimed, nodding toward the weapon on the floor of the craft. He did, and they then helped her out of the Plane, and proceeded to help the other chiropterids. No time to lick wounds just yet.

Strigidæ, meanwhile, was now back on her talons, and she was looking at Monterey and Zipper with hungry eyes. Doing so, she was facing away from the aircraft and the escaping mammals. With pieces of ropes and nets flapping all around her, she examined the rodent in front of her, almost as if she was looking at a menu. Lightning flashed again.

“Hmmmm, you're a juicy rat, all right!”

“MOUSE!!!” squeaked the Aussie.

“You both taste the same anyways! Perhaps I'll just eat you and maybe one chipmunk, and save the rest for tomorrow, mayb-!”

“Oof!!”

The owl lady turned and saw two chipmunks, one mouse, and two bats some distance away from her, struggling to get to the sidewalk despite all the gusts pushing them to the side. Some had bandages around them, whipping in the wind like flags of surrender. One bat had apparently fallen and “oofed” in a frequency she was able to hear above the storm. She then saw two more pipistrells and another tamias already at the sidewalk.

“NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! MY DINNER'S GETTING AWAY!!!!!! STRIGIDÆEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!” She then turned fully and prepared to fly again.

At the drain, Foxglove called again, “Code 936!! Code 936!! Any underground units respond!!!”

“Wheyere the ###### arr yer RAS frenns, ennywayss?!” asked Feyyanna, getting more and more desperate. Suddenly, both batmaids heard a response echo its way up to them,

“This is Underground Unit Five responding to an Ultrasound Code 936! We have a fix on your position! ETA is-five minutes!” Foxglove screeched,

“Send ærial recovery units and medical teams for rodents and chiropterids!! We're being attacked by a deranged-!”

“AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!” Clarice's chattering scream suddenly interrupted Foxglove. The chipmunkmaid, of course, did not hear what the bats were saying, so she was looking at the others who were coming, and then she saw Strigidæ suddenly turn and fly straight toward them. With her scream, however, all the mammals looked/echosounded up and saw/heard the avian above them, and about to swoop down on the second group. All ears and tails laid low and stiff now. Right then, however, a piece of Ranger Wing wing slammed on Strigidæ's head, causing her to fall again. The group scattered just before she hit the ground, and she tumbled several times before stopping, face down, and with her head bleeding. The group immediately reassembled and continued toward the drain. Strigidæ turned, however, and looked back at Monterey, who now grabbed another piece of wing. The owl lady slowly stood; her rage now totally out of control. Her final choice was this fat mouse.

“Okay, fatso, you asked for it!!” and she began walking toward him, spreading her wings and clacking her beak, with flashes of lightning all around her. But the gusts didn't seem to even budge her, not even with her spread wings.

“Go a'ead and try it!!” growled Monterey, still with stiff ears and tail. “I once wress'led with an African vulture back in Zimbabwe, and I left that bloke featherless!!”

“Vultures are GARBAGE COLLECTORS!” she hooted. “*I* am a GUARDIAN, I AM STRIGIDÆEEEEE!!!!!”

“And I'm 'Monterey' Jack Colby, Rescue Ranger!! RESCUE RANGERS AWAY!!!!!!!”

“And I'm Zipper Lightringer, Rescue Ranger!! RESCUE RANGERS AWAY!!!!!!!” The mammal, the insect, and the avian slowly walked/padded toward each other. At the drain, Chip chattered,

“Monty can't handle that owl lady by himself!! Dale, you and I will go help him, everyone else stay here! Let's go, Dale!!” As the rodents left, Rosie, with perked up ears, had apparently made contact with another chiropterid in the distance and was speaking in ultrasound,

“YES, we're in trouble!!::Fly over here NOW!!!!!::YES, there's an owl over here, why do you THINK we're in trouble??!!” More thunder interrupted her, causing all the verspetilionids to wince and cover their ears. “Get all the help you can, including a medical team!!:::NO, WE DON'T HAVE NO TEN ###### MINUTES!!!!!!!!!!” She exclaimed, stiffening her ears and tail. She then turned to Foxglove and calmly explained, “I suppose that bats in general aren't as well organised as the RAS!”

Monterey rolled up his sleeves, and Strigidæ jumped, ready to pounce on him. At that moment, Chip laid his ears back and fired a plunger, hitting Strigidæ square on her tail. The owl lady's eyes widened like never before, and she also hooted in a *very* high pitch. Just as she came down, she covered her tail with her wings, and was about to turn to see who had done to her this humiliating act. That was all the distraction Monterey needed, so he swung the piece of wing, and knocked the wind out of her. The owl lady doubled over with an immense “OOF”, and Monterey swung again, whacking her face with a crack that was heard even with all the howling wind and booming thunder. The bubo fell on her side, with a cracked beak.

“Monty, run!!!!” chattered Dale.

“Our job 'ere's over, mate,” he told Zipper. “Let's skidaddle!” He dropped the wing, and ran to the sewer with the others.

Strigidæ slowly came to her senses, as she felt a few heavy raindrops fall on her body. She turned, and had trouble focusing on her dinner, which was running off toward the sidewalk. She had been defeated by MICE, by RODENTS, by PARASITES, by her PREY, by what she only knew as FOOD. FOOD had outsmarted her and overcome her, and now, she was left on the ground, out of breath, out of strength, and now, out in the rain.

The rodents and chiropterids slowly climbed down the sewer opening, and the dipterid simply flew down, just as the rain began. The injured ones had great difficulty in this, so it was sometime before they were all inside and limping next to the foul-smelling river on their right. When Monterey finally placed Gadget down next to the rest, everyone breathed sighs of relief and relaxed their ears and tails, if not just downright drooped them. The owl lady was defeated, and though they were heavily injured, they were still alive. Gadget, after discreetly licking herself, had torn what was left of her sleeve and used it as a makeshift bandage on her arm, so her bleeding was stopped. She and Feyyanna then took Clarice aside and tended to her injury with bandages she'd hastily snatched up from what was left of the Ranger Wing. Since this required removing her blouse, the males politely turned away and hushed their sonar. Not that it would have mattered, because suddenly a heavy downpour began, echoing and resonating all over the sewer, along with the immensely loud thunder, which had the chiropterids wincing and covering their ears again. The others also did what they could to groom their own wounds. A few painful minutes later, Clarice pulled her torn blouse over herself again, but kept her left paw pressed on the bandage on her back. She then looked at the others, and she too felt relief, along with fatigue. Chip then looked at her and asked, a trifle loudly,

“Well, you know your way around these parts! Which way do we go now?!”

“Downstream!” she replied, slowly padding up to Dale and leaning on him for support. Too tired to even speak, they all slowly began limping to where Clarice was leading them, back to safety. Foxglove noticed again that Dale was holding her steady, much the same way Feyyanna was steadying her, *and* that he had his own paw over her injury as well. No jealousy overcame her now, because she knew Clarice was more injured than she was. She was about to comment on something, when the downpour intensified. The pounding of raindrops and the continuous thunder made the pipistrells feel uneasy because downpours of this kind were *very* noisy to them, and it was very difficult to tune out the ultrasound noise along with the electrical explosions, so they avoided flying in this type of weather. They slowly continued on their way through the sewer, and it wasn't too long before the rodents began feeling uneasy as well. Something wasn't totally right. They all looked/echosounded around the darkness about them. The tunnel resonated eerily from the heavy rain and thunder and the splashing of the water coming down into it, and the river beside them flowing faster and faster and with more and more water-

Suddenly all the bats uncovered their ears, stiffened them, and screeched, “WHAAAAATT??????!!!!!!”

“What what?!” asked Clarice, turning to them in alarm. Richard then relayed what they were hearing in ultrasound,

“Code 304!! Code 304!! This is Underground Unit Five sounding a 304!! ALL units clear the sewers IMMEDIATELY!! Major cloudburst in progress, flash flood warnings are sounding out from upstream!! All units clear the sewers NOW!! Code 304!! Code 304!!” Ears were laid back and tails stiffened again.

“We've got to get outta here!!” chattered Chip. They looked and echosounded all around them, but all the exits were practically waterfalls now. Gadget made another quick calculation, and squeaked,

“From the intake and absorption rates, this tunnel will be flooded in four minutes and 49.5 seconds, unless the rain suddenly stops, which is highly unlikely, since cloudbursts generally last-!!”

“A side tunnel!” moaned Otis, waving a heavy wing to an opening up ahead. “I don't hear water coming down as heavily from there!” Clarice chattered,

“That's because that's the drain that picks up runoff from the middle of the park!! If we go in there, we'll emerge back in the park with that crazy owl lady!!”

“We can't go any other way!” chattered Dale.

“Too right!! But even so, I left ol' Striggy out of commission out there! And e'en if she *did* recover, she must 'ave looked for shelter already!!” added Monterey.

“We have no choice!” chattered Chip. “We have to get out through there!!” With what little strength they had left, the group shuffled faster to the side tunnel, and made their way to the first drain as fast as they could. When they got there, a waterfall was already forming, so Monterey climbed up first to help the others. When he emerged, he looked around for the owl lady. All he could see was gusting grey rain all around, soaking him to his hide, whipping and pushing down his ears and tail. It was dark now, and the park lights were on, but that didn't help much, even with the lightning flashes. It was a trifle difficult to breathe with all the humidity and all the rain whipping and splashing back up to him, but he figured that if he couldn't see, hear, or smell the owl lady, the owl lady would not see, hear, or smell him, though he wasn't sure in which part of the park he was since he couldn't see the remains of planes anywhere. Finally, he called down,

“All clear, mates!!” Zipper flew out first and had to perch himself on Monterey's shoulder. Being a fly, the rain hit him hardest, and he felt it almost like boulders smashing on him, so Monterey's head and leather helmet helped shield him somewhat. It was very difficult to get Gadget, Clarice and the bats out; they were practically swimming up a waterfall. But with Chip and Dale hoisting them up in a relay, and with Monterey pulling them outside, it was accomplished, finally. Chip and Dale were the last ones out just as the main sewer overflowed, and by this time everyone was drenched, and all had limp ears and tails.

“We'd better get home fast or we'll get hypothermia!” squeaked Gadget, trying to make herself heard above the cloudburst.

“Other bats called in and said they would help us!” screeched Rosie. “I just hope they're able to detect us!” They weren't that far from another sidewalk, so they padded toward it as quickly as their fatigued and injured bodies allowed, with Clarice and Dale in the lead again, all remaining close in order to counterbalance the occasional wind gusts. As they did, Foxglove echosounded all around, trying to get her bearings, but she couldn't hear or smell anything specific because of the unbelievably heavy wind, rain and thunder. She then took a deep breath and screeched her lungs out in ultrasound, causing the other chiropterids to wince a trifle.

“Hey! Yew doen' hayave tew YEYELL!!”

“But the owl lady could still be out here!! All I was trying to do was make a echosounding!”

“Foxy, NONE of us can hear a *thing* with this storm!!” screeched Richard. “And if we can't hear, neither can that owl lady, IF she's still out here!” So, they continued to limp and struggle toward the sidewalk. The verspetilionids still tried to echosound their way, it was an instinct, but all they got was “static”. Finally, they were at the sidewalk. They stopped there, trying to figure out how to cross the street and the rivers that ran along its edges. Finally, Chip chattered,

“All right, this is what we'll do! We'll need everyone to grab hold of everyone else, and we'll have to make a dash to the other side, as quickly as we can! I know we're all tired and hurt, but we can't relax until we find shelter!! All I ask is that you give it all just one more time, and then we're home free!! There's no traffic right now, so I don't think we'll get interrupted!! I'm going to see where the water is narrowest!!” Chip turned and padded to the edge of the sidewalk-

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” For one brief moment, Chip wondered how the owl lady that swooped in front of him was able to fly, not only with wet feathers, but also with all the rain weighing her down as well, not to mention all the wind-

Reflexively, Chip fell back and was able to dodge Strigidæ, almost. Almost, because one talon *did* made a deep gash on his right thigh, causing him to chatter in excruciating pain.

“:::*Chip*:::” squeaked Gadget, almost inaudibly. Chip also hit the back of his head on the sidewalk, and that caused him to drop the plunger-harpoon.

“Gotta *fly*-” moaned Richard. Strigidæ then hovered a bit, and prepared to move herself back on Chip so she could sink her talons into his body-

Richard suddenly kicked Strigidæ's face, stunning her again. As she backed down, Richard grabbed the lapels of Chip's jacket and tried to ascend as another gust blew, but the avian slapped down on him again, smashing both mammals on the cement. The owl lady opened one foot and-

A stone bounced off her skull, and then another. Strigidæ turned and saw Rosie bending down to pick up another missile with one wing while pressing the bandage on her side with the other. She decided to fly after her. When Rosie heard her, however, she was also about to take off, but just as Strigidæ spread her wings, *another* plunger dart stuck to her face. This time, it was Dale who had picked up the plunger-harpoon when the owl lady had been distracted. As Strigidæ struggled to pull the final plunger off her cracked beak, Dale tossed his empty weapon to Clarice, charged at Strigidæ, and gave another double-paw blow on the owl lady's face, nearly knocking her over. Taking this as their cue, Monterey and Zipper also charged the strigiform. As Zipper tried to poke Strigidæ's eyes, Monterey squeaked,

“Gadget luv! Get everyone outta 'ere NOW!!” The mousemaid had no time to ponder on the sacrifice her three friends were doing, though her chest connected with her throat at this point. As the two rodents and the dipterid continued beating up the owl lady, Gadget, Feyyanna, and Rosie helped Chip and Richard stand, while Foxglove helped her adopted brother. Shuffling as fast as they could, they were about to jump off the sidewalk-

Strigidæ finally yanked off the plunger dart when she saw her prey escaping yet again.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” she hooted. A back-wing sent Dale reeling behind the owl lady. An incredibly fast double wing combo punch sent Monterey and Zipper to a puddle one metre from her. Dale, however, jumped back on her and sank his incisors on her left wing. The bubo hooted in pain, and with unbelievable rage, gave another wing punch right on the tamias' red nose. With feathers and blood in both his mouth and nose, Dale fell off the owl lady, nearly knocked out as well as horrible pain seared through his snout and upper jaw. Chip, meanwhile, had recovered just enough to see this last action. He saw his best friend on the ground, and the blood on his face and the fact that Dale's nose appeared to have shifted a bit reminded him once again of Rocky Balboa. He almost expected Dale to say with a slurred voice,

“Yo Mick-she broke my nose-how's it look?” And he would reply, with a gruff voice,

“Ahh, it's an improvement.”

But no.

Neither Chip nor anyone else would ever hear any movie quotes from Dale ever again.

Strigidæ turned and was about to kill Dale right there and no one could do a thing to stop her-

The plunger-harpoon smashed itself on her head, causing even more bleeding. The weapon shattered and the pieces fell off the avian down to the sidewalk. Dale stopped looking at his now slightly crooked and bleeding nose when he heard,

“Hey, you STOOPID owl!!!!” Strigidæ slowly turned, and saw Clarice standing in front of her, with her injured back to the park, struggling to keep her balance with the sudden gusts blowing around her. “YES, I'm talking to YOU, you miserable vulture!!” Her ears and tail were as stiff as steel. The sciurid then kicked water at the strigid, sending waves of pain up her own back. Strigidæ was now so infuriated that any hint of logical reasoning was now completely replaced by pure rage and predatory instinct at this point. Clarice continued her insults as she backed off into the park, “Why don't you come and get ME now??!! Come ON!!! You think you're so BAD??!! Just TRY to eat me now!!!” She kept on kicking water at Strigidæ, and as she padded off the cement and into the mud, she reached down and threw some mud at the owl lady as well, trying to ignore her horrible pain without much success. “Come and get me, you buzzard!!! Everyone tells me I look delicious, why don't you find out for yourself???!!!” Clarice thought she saw other animals on the other side of the street, but the rain was still too heavy to make them out. She didn't have time to, either. Dale, meanwhile, couldn't believe his ears. Clarice was taunting the owl lady away from *him* and was practically killing *herself* in order to save his life-

This had gone far enough.

He would make sure he did *not* receive this kind of attention, or affection, anymore. He painfully stood and-

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!”

The owl lady took off once again.

Clarice laid her ears back, turned and ran on all fours as fast as she could, no matter how numbingly painful it was to her. She was running toward a hole in the base of a tree ahead of her, but Strigidæ was too swift. Since Clarice kept glancing behind her, she *knew* when to lay flat on the mud, right when Strigidæ passed over her. Immediately, Clarice turned and ran again to another tree, away from Dale. The avian turned as well and made another dive. Once more she opened her talons and was ready to sink them into this chipmunkmaid-

Otis suddenly flew across her and swooped Clarice off the ground. Why he had suddenly decided to do this was something he would never know. But fuelled by panic for Dale's friend and rage against this lunatic avian, Otis decided to ignore his head injury, his limp ears and tail, the unbearably heavy rain, the wind gusts, the lightning, his flailing head bandage, and his own safety to try to save her. Her sudden weight almost knocked him unconscious, as he felt his brain was almost yanked to his foot-paws. And with the rain, he was now carrying some *four* times as much payload than he had ever carried before, and all the wind made his flying *very* erratic. Clarice was nearly knocked out as well, as his sudden yank sent a huge shock of pain all down her back. Strigidæ, naturally, turned against Otis again, and this time, *nothing* was going to stop her.

Dale saw all of this happen in just a few seconds, and for that time, which to him was an eternity, he felt completely helpless. His leader was down, all the personnel was almost out of commission as well, and he himself was barely conscious and had run out of ideas.

Foxglove, meanwhile, had also heard her adopted brother do this crazy stunt, which almost reminded her of Dale's old antics. She knew Otis could not fly fast enough to reach any kind of safety, much less with Clarice hanging below him, as well as all the rain weighing him down, and she, too, was out of ideas.

“:::*Otis*:::”

Dale suddenly turned and looked at her.

She turned and saw him, too, and heard him as well.

They were standing right next to each other.

And they looked/echosounded into each other's eyes-

And saw/heard-

Nothing.

The spark within them was gone.

Dead.

Even their handsome/beautiful features appeared to have died, too. All they saw and heard was drooped ears and tails, matted fur, bleeding injuries, cracked bones, and sunken and glazed eyes.

Their scents had also been altered by the rain, not to mention the adrenaline and the first stages of hypothermia.

The woody/nutty/bubble-gummy/chocolaty scent was dead.

The night-misty scent was dead.

She saw, heard, and smelled a wet and wounded chipmunk.

He saw and smelled a wet and wounded batmaid.

And nothing else.

Dale was dead.

Foxglove was dead.

It was all over.

And then, from out of the grave, the tiniest spark lit up in Dale's eyes.

Their friends needed help NOW.

And that spark surfaced through a memory that had been suppressed in the deepest and darkest corner of Dale's mind. A memory that he considered cubbish, as well as dangerous, since it originally came from the random mind of a random Goof-up; from a plan that was made unexpectedly and instantaneously, and hence, hazardous to everyone's health, despite the fact that it had actually worked in defeating evil before. But there was no other choice now. They *had* to save Otis and Clarice.

With a dramatic lightning flash and wind gust, the faintest spark of randomness ailed as Dale painfully spat out some blood, stiffened his ears and tail, and sinisterly repeated himself,

“Now it's time to play HARDBALL.”

Otis couldn't fly fast enough, much less in a straight line. He was out of energy, his bandage had fallen off, his wings felt as if they were going to fall off, his consciousness was unstable, his head felt like it was going to explode, and unless a miracle happened right now, he and Clarice would fall, if the owl lady didn't catch them first. When he heard Strigidæ right above him, he braced for the end. The bubo slowly closed her talons around the pipistrell, but she was only able to slightly gash his sides. A chipmunk suddenly fell on the owl lady's neck, and though he couldn't get a chokehold, the way he was hanging on was destabilising her. Furthermore, another bat, with very stiff ears and tail, was somehow flapping around her wings, creating air pockets and making her lose her lift, and was very much succeeding where the wind had failed. Otis and Clarice almost fell, but he continued flying, trying to reach a bush or a tree. He then heard,

“Hang on!! We're coming!!” in ultrasound, though very weakly because of all the wind and rain and thunder. He echosounded up, and was barely able to detect more chiropterids heading his way. Though he was now bleeding from his sides, he caught his second wind and flew erratically toward the edge of the park.

“STRIGIDAAAAAÆEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!” With one final burst of energy, Strigidæ shot upward, shaking Dale off her back. Her wet feathers were too slippery, but he then suddenly grabbed a piece of rope that was still tangled around the owl lady. The strigid felt the yank, but it only took one nip from her beak for the sciurid to fall again. Foxglove was quick enough to catch him before he accelerated too much.

“Now what?” she asked, trying to keep her ears from drooping, and trying to ignore the unbelievable pain in her shoulder, which increased as she continued moving it; the bandage having long fallen off as well. The rain kept pushing her down, along with Dale's heavier muscles, and with all the wind gusts she had to draw strength from who-knows-where just to hold her position. Dale then looked up and saw Strigidæ *still* climbing, obviously about to make one final dive for Otis and Clarice: the *coup-de-grace*.

“Climb!!!” he painfully chattered, spitting out more blood and shaking the rain from his eyes, also trying to keep his ears up. “Climb, climb, **CLIMB**!!!!!!!”

Strigidæ difficultly reached the desired height of her dive, and looked down. A lightning flash showed that the other bat and chipmunk were gone, and all that was left was the first bat and chipmunk, who were descending and headed for a tree.

Her rage was now totally beyond measure.

She started her dive.

A lightning flash enabled Otis to see her, and another gust helped him make an about-face, to try to shake her off.

Too late, Strigidæ was already locked on her target. She turned as well, and her dive accelerated.

As she closed her talons over Otis again, her hoot of triumph, her battlecry, rang above the storm,

“STRIGID----!!!!!!!!”

Foxglove had dived on her as well, almost mirroring the owl lady's attack angle.

Right before the batmaid collided, she made a summersault and flung the chipmunk toward the owl lady.

Dale then raised his arms, and right as he came down on Strigidæ, he smashed his elbows on the back of her neck.

And as Foxglove turned back around again, she made a double-kick right on Strigidæ's head, right when Dale hit her, effectively breaking the owl lady's neck, and cutting off her battlecry.

Strigidæ flapped her wings awkwardly, but Dale was grabbing on to her again, by the neck. She was out of control and falling fast, she couldn't lift her head, she couldn't glide, she couldn't slow down, she fell, fell, fell-

The shock of the kick sent Foxglove reeling as well, and she, too, fluttered to the ground, though not as fast as the owl lady.

Dale was hanging on for dear life, though he knew it was futile. He would die with the owl lady, but at least his friends were safe, and no one would have to be hurt in anyway because of him anymore-

-because the curse would die with him, finally.

Strigidæ fell.

Dale fell.

Foxglove fell.

Otis fell.

Clarice fell.

And darkness fell on all of them:

EIKOSIHEX - THE DEAD AND DYING

The pounding of heavy rain, weighing down all ears and tails:

The roar of heavy rain as well:

The howling of the wind:

The random flash of lightning that filtered through heavy eyelids:

The crack of thunder above:

The scent of water and mud below:

The feel of mud and wet fur all over:

The taste of dirt, water, feathers, and blood:

The shivering as hypothermia continued to set in:

And the feeling of PAIN:

So much, in fact, that they could feel every single raindrop smashing painfully on their bodies, as well as the resounding booms of the thunderclaps, not to mention each involuntary muscle twitch as their bodies quivered.

Dale, Foxglove, Otis, and Clarice slowly opened their misted eyes.

Dale raised his sore head a little, painfully spitting out some feathers, mud and blood from his mouth.

Foxglove coughed out some water, sending shocks through her right shoulder and five other joints as well.

Otis' consciousness faded in and out for a moment, before finally settling in.

Clarice would have normally liked cool water over her injury, but right now, the heavy raindrops were getting *very* annoying.

Slowly and with great pain, all turned and looked/echosounded at the owl lady, who was lit by yet another flash of lightning.

She was with her feet up in the air, her wings at her sides, and her head quite plastered on the cement, with rainwater washing away the blood that was coming out of it. Strigidæ's right foot twitched momentarily, and then it went limp.

The Great Strigidæ, Lady and Guardian Of The Park, was dead.

She had fallen headfirst on the cement path, near the edge, and Dale had been thrown down to the mud next to the cement. He slowly stood, with his ribs grinding within him, as well as all his muscles protesting, and with the rain washing away the mud and blood from his body. He fought as he tried not to moan, aside from trying to keep his consciousness on line as well.

Foxglove had fallen on the cement next to the owl lady. She could only use her left wing to stand now, though her chest muscles were now completely powerless. Her right shoulder, left wrist, both knees, left ankle, and neck screamed messages of injury to her brain.

Otis had fallen with Clarice some distance away, but still on the cement path. He slowly bent over and licked his sides for a moment, and stood, also with his pectorals out of commission. He almost fell back down as a sudden dizziness overpowered him. He fought it, and almost lost, and then focused on the chipmunkmaid next to him.

Clarice now had scraped knees and right elbow. Her back was very much killing her, or at least assaulting her. She too, stood, with Otis' help.

And all looked/echosounded at their deed.

Dale and Foxglove, panting exhaustedly, looked and echosounded at each other, and felt ashamed. The Husband and Wife would have never deliberately killed another creature, even to save another. Both were truly dead.

*But even with the Comedian and the Clown gone,* they realised, *danger was still all around them:*

Otis painfully padded toward Dale and Clarice toward Foxglove, with more wind gusts nearly knocking them over. The others were coming behind them now; all with limp ears and tails, all being slowed down by increasing arthritis and the onset of hypothermia and all the wind, and all were completely incredulous as to what had happened.

Otis wasn't too sure of what to make of this. This was certainly not the first time he had seen and heard death, but it *was* the first time he had seen and heard someone impose it. And the fact that it had been the sister he loved was a trifle more than what he could fathom.

Clarice had plenty of moments in her life in which she actually *felt* like killing someone, but she had kept enough sense to always hold herself back. And because she knew that the chipmunk she loved was a crime fighter, she had previously tried to convince herself that this came with the job: killing the bad guys as a last resort. She had seen plenty of movies to support that theory, but now, seeing it actually happen in front of her had left her totally numb. The male she had fallen in love with was *capable* and *willing* to take another life, in the name of justice, or survival, at least. She did not know what she felt about Dale anymore, or so she thought.

Chip was speechless. The Comedian he knew would have never done this. If so, then the Comedian died back at Fat Cat's lair, when Dale threatened Fat Cat that he would kill him if he tried anything else against Foxglove. He knew, he *finally* knew, that the Goof-up and Klutz and Clown and Comedian they all knew and loved was gone forever, with this final action throwing the switch, signing the death certificate, and sealing the tomb. He looked at the most beautiful mus in the world again, who happened to be supporting him because of his massive leg injury. Her beautiful headfur *still* looked beautiful even when it hung in soaked strands. Her ears were still cute even though they hung limp on the sides of her head. Her pained blue eyes were as loveable as ever. The eyes looked back at him.

Gadget *never* considered killing as a logical option, not even as a final one, even when she herself felt such fury and it was possible that they, that *she* may have pushed Dale into doing this, after all they pain that they, that *she* caused him besides the fact that the owl lady tried to kill them all but she must have had her reasons as illogical as they may have been, in which case they could have sent a larger team here and subdued her somehow and then taken her to a mental institution or some place where she could be helped, or detained, at least, and if they couldn't then there *had* to be another way but now it was too late because a life was lost so all of them could live and she couldn't do anything about it and what pained her most of all was that *this* was the life that she had chosen, *this* is what it meant to be a Rescue Ranger, *this* was the life that awaited her family-

She looked at the most handsome tamias in the world.

He was right.

There was NO WAY she wanted her cubs to live through *this*.

Monterey, with a swollen and bleeding face, came up holding Zipper on his shoulder, who now sported a small crack on his right facial exoskeleton. And both could not believe that Dale actually had it in him to do something like this. This was something they expected from RamDale, a pre-fabricated personality, but never from Dale's own heart. But he *had* killed the Entertainment Expert, *and* the Goof-up, *and* the Klutz, *and* the Clown, *and* the *Comedian*.

Hastahah had killed Segoleh.

This was just a culmination of all the previous executions. Dale was most definitely dead.

Feyyanna, Richard, and Rosie came up last, with all bandages gone now. They, too, saw and heard what happened, and they didn't know how to feel. Seeing and hearing Foxglove suddenly taking off with Dale hanging from her foot-paws, despite her injury and the heavy rain, was shocking enough, but this:::*this*:

The pipistrell couple wondered if they should feel proud now that all of the other chiropterid families who were killed by this owl lady were finally avenged, by a daughter of a victim, nonetheless. But they didn't feel happy.

They felt *scared*.

Would other owls hear of this and try to take vengeance on *them* now?

As they all approached the dead owl lady, some mice of an RAS medical team ran up from behind them, as well as another flock of bats.

Dale painfully padded off the mud and back on the cement, and limped toward Otis, wincing as several ribs ground together within him, highlighting the pain in his upper snout. Foxglove limped toward Clarice, with her right wing hanging uselessly at her side.

Otis saw and heard a muddy and bloody chipmunk, with sunken eyes and cheeks that almost reminded him of a skull.

Clarice *knew* Foxglove was beautiful, but now, she looked too much like some characters in some horror flicks she saw a while back:

“Otis, please take care of Foxy! She's *very* special, and she's great and everythin', perhaps--you deserve her more than me!” Even speaking was incredibly painful for Dale now, with his upper jaw almost numb from the horrible pain. And his voice was slow, hoarse, almost as if he were speaking from beyond the grave. The rain, wind, and thunder weren't helping much, either. Otis took a moment to register what Dale said, and took another moment to reply,

“Dale, don't say that! You two just risked your lives to save us! That-is saying *something*!” They had to speak loud enough to make themselves heard above the rain, but even their vocal strength was rapidly fading.

“I know! But I can't take her back, not now, not ever! It's all over between us! It's all gone now!”

“Dale, you *need* to get back together!! You will *die* if you don't!! And she will, too!!” Otis almost fainted from his exertions.

“Otis, I died the night she was kidnapped! I'm not Dale Segoleh anymore, I'm Dale Hastahah!” The bat wasn't too sure what the chipmunk meant by that, but he knew that it couldn't be anything good. Meanwhile, the batmaid finally met the chipmunkmaid.

“You're Foxglove?! Pleased to meet you, honey!” she was finally able to say, despite the present circumstances, as she tried to stop her body from quivering.

“And you're Clarice!” she replied, also quivering. “I hear you're a good friend of Dale's! Please don't think of me as rude, but I can't shake your paw right now! All my joints are killing me, just like the rest of my body!”

“Foxglove, don't talk that way! I'm sure you will recover if you and Dale just-!”

“Clarice, we can't get back together! It's too late now! You, however, seem like someone he could like very very much!” The chipmunkmaid sighed,

“Foxy, I love Dale too, yes, but I also know when someone loves him more than I ever could! You *need* each other, Foxy!!!”

“We *need-ED* each other, but it's all over now! We've changed too much to even try to get back together-we-realised that the other night! And tonight-well-we were confirmed of that!!!”

“Because you killed the owl lady?!”

“Because we killed a living creature, Clarice! I have never felt so much anger at one animal-ever! She--she *did* kill my parents-but it wasn't just *that*! Even when she threatened to kill us, I never wanted to kill her, until everything just started happening so fast and-and--that's when I knew-that Foxglove was *dead*!” Clarice had to think fast. She had to save them *both* from self-destruction, but what-

“Say Foxglove, if I could get you two back together, will you promise me to be good to him?!”

“Clarice, it can't happen! We've already talked, and--it's impossible!”

“But have you tried *all* the options?!”

“What else could we try?! There's no way we can resurrect our old selves now!” Clarice sighed. She lowered her voice so only Foxglove could hear her. It still didn't matter, because all the present weather was drowning them out to the point that even Otis could not hear them. Also, all throats were getting hoarse from all the yelling. Even their beautiful and soothing voices had been destroyed.

“Have you tried:::?!” Foxglove echosounded at her, uneasy.

“No-! But-how can that work if it didn't work on *me* before?!”

“We'll try a different approach! And if it fails, I myself will pay for your funerals, your REAL funerals! You two are dying NOW, and only YOU TWO can save each other!” It finally hit her. Foxglove felt like crying again, but this time, she knew *why* she couldn't cry. This time, the rain appeared to help a bit, as it washed her eyes, along with everyone else's. The faintest spark in *her* eyes now lit up, still ailing, though. Her ears twitched a bit as they tried to perk up,

“Clarice, I love him so much-I *want* him back! What you suggest may be very far fetched, but-but--Clarice, I'm *dying*! We're *both* dying! Please, help us!” The chipmunkmaid smiled.

“Wait, then, until we recover a bit! You'll need to get *ALL* of your strength back in order to do this!!” They all turned and limped back to the others, and no one knew if they were quivering from nervousness, fear, hypothermia, sudden imbalance brought by the wind, or all of the above.

Dale and Foxglove crossed paths one more time.

They looked/echosounded at each other as they did.

Sadness.

Despair.

Hopelessness.

Death.

And yet, one glimmer of faith, of hope against hope, within one certain chiropterid:

The groups parted, with Richard, Rosie, Foxglove, Feyyanna, and Otis padding toward the other bats, and Clarice and the Rescue Rangers padding toward the RAS medical team.

And both groups parted their ways and painfully padded out of the park, with arthritis coming back on them with a vengeance as it was highlighted by the hypothermal shivers, as the rain continued to pour down on them:

EIKOSIHEPTA - THE DEAD AND DYING: SWANSONG

Dale was one more time in The Nutshell. He was sitting at a table right in front of the stage, with a thimble and a bottle of walnut extract in front of him (the bottle having been originally part of a small spice rack for humans). And he appeared to be rather depressed about something. It wasn't the fact that his upper torso still had a brace to keep his ribs immobilised (though his dark grey shirt was concealing it well), or that he had a strange looking brace on his snout. The fact was that he had been practically dragged to come to this place *again*, at the insistence of all of his friends. His only companion at this time was a pink-orange nightingale who wore a lavender Chinese shirt with matching hat.

“Not enjoyeeng youah-serf, ahh you?” asked Chirp Sing, with his high pitched voice, and slow and paused Chinese accent.

“Not much to enjoy, if you knew myself as much as I did,” he replied coldly, staring into space. The pain in speaking had left a few weeks back, but it was still just a trifle uncomfortable.

“You ahh-a-steer upset about that-eenceedent weeth the owr rady, Friend Dayre?” The rodent hushed for a moment, ignored the mispronunciation of his name, looked away from the paseriform, and replied,

“I-suppose I am. But I'm more upset because you came here expectin' a weddin', and-well, we couldn't give you one. Chirp, I'm sorry you came all the way here for nothin'.”

“Werr, I'r just ret you-a-know that on my way heah, I *deed* heah the news of the-postponed weddeeng. And 'or' the moah reason I deed-a-hurry. When Friend Cheep tord me what happened, I just couldn't reave weethout-herping a friend fihst.”

“Thanks, Chirp, but-I'm afraid there's nothin' you can do to help. The weddin's off, me and Foxy broke up, we're feelin' *very* miserable right now, and-you're stuck in the middle of it. And-of course, there's the owl lady.” Chirp sighed.

“Rook, I know you-a-feer upset, but no one's-brameeng you.” Dale just downed another thimbleful. “Even the New Yohk-Streegeefoahm Councir ees not-a-brameeng you. Deedn't Friend Cheep ter you?” Dale sighed,

“Yes, he told me.”

“I mean, you'ahh practeecary a-heero to the Councir. StreegeedÊ was an owr rady weeth-a-tweested views-concehneeng predatohs and prey, and she even attacked othah owrs foh-deesagreeing weeth hah. After hah-expursion from the Councir, she had *owrs* foh-a-enemees!” The chipmunk put his thimble down,

“Look, Chirp, I heard all of her background, and I even got a Thank You letter from the Strigiform Council, but it *still* doesn't make me feel better.” The nightingale leaned closer and insisted,

“Friend Dayre, the owr rady was a menace to both-predatah and prey. She ate onry *half* of what she-a-caught, wheech eencruded othah owrs! She was-a-eensane!”

“Then we should have helped her, somehow!!” exclaimed the mammal, flashing angry and slightly glazed eyes at the avian. “We should have rescued her from *herself*!! We-we-*I* failed as a Rescue Ranger---*again*.” The luscinia replied calmly,

“You weh'en't the-a-onry one goeeng against the owr rady, Friend Dayr. And you *deed*-a-manage to rescue Friend Foxgrov, and the othahs as wer. Pe'haps you deed-a-not rescue 'or' of them, but you *do*-a-know now that StreegeedÊ was-beyond herp. And you *arso* know of how-much troubre she caused at the-Eensteetution een Arbany.” The tamias looked down for a moment. Even with all the information Chip managed to find out about Strigidæ, it still was not enough to comfort him,

“I shouldn't have killed her. I didn't want to. I mean, am I the only one who regrets this?”

“Eet seems that the othahs-regret thees as wer. And the Streegeeform Councir eesn't exactry haveeng a-pahty ovah thees, Friend Dayre. But, accoahdeeng to them, you deed-a-predatohs, prey, and the States of-New Yohk and New Jehsey a pubric sehvice. And you deedn't exactry-huht theah pride, eithah, because eet-a-*deed* take-ten prey to keer a predatah. Friend Dayre, eet was *she* who-eensurted the Streegeeforms' honoh, by-a-hah wohds and actions, *and* by-a-takeeng the StreegeedÊ name for hah-serf.” Chirp cocked his head and pondered out loud for a moment, “Then again, weeth a name rike 'Ima', I am-a-not suhprised she-decided to change eet-” Dale shivered when the concept of “name change” was thrust in his face again.

“Chirp, please,” he said, rather sternly, and looking at him likewise.

“Sahry.” They both hushed for a moment, as Dale poured himself another thimble and looked blankly into space again. Chirp spoke again, “Theah ees-a-sometheeng erse, eesn't eet?” The mammal said nothing. “Friend Dayre, an ord Chinese-provahb says that-a-rejecteeng rovv can be-hazahdous to youah hearth.” *Oh, great, here we go again,*

“So can being a klutz, Chirp. I can't put Foxy or the Rangers through that anymore. Didn't the others tell you why I did what I did?” With urgency in his eyes, the avian replied,

“But Friend Dayre, you deedn't-a-mess up thees time! You deed-a-what you had to do to-save youah friends, *weethout* fooring around. Eet may-a-have been a rast resoht, and *I'm*-a-cehtainry not-happy about eet, but you-a-*rescued* youah friends!”

“Sure, but I've never had to do that at the expense of another life before, have I?!”

“Friend Dayre, thees-a-was onry *one*-event!”

“No! Don't you get it? I was *about* to do it the night Foxy and I broke up!! I'm-I'm a monster. I can't have someone I love be in constant danger. That's why I let her go, and why I killed the Klutz and the Comedian-and Segoleh.” Chirp Sing remembered what *he* thought about himself before he met Dale. This was certainly something he could relate to.

“No one's-proud of what-a-happened. But even now that-a-you've queet being a-Krutz and a Comeedeean, dangah nevah reft you, oh hah. Dangah weer-arways be-a-weeth you, and hah as wer. I mean, do you-a-know how much---dangah *I* went through just to-a-get heah?”

“Chirp, I *know* that. But that's not the only reason I did what I did. I'm also afraid of what will happen to my cub and grandcub-later on-”

“You-worry about the futah weethout-a-knoweeng what eet ees, Friend Dayre?

“Trust me, Chirp, I *know* the future. And-I know you went through a lot yourself, but what's upsettin' me right now is that you did it all for nothin'-kinda like me and Foxy.”

“Oh, I-a-don't know. I came to-see a weddeeng, and that's what I am-a-goeeng to see befoah I reave.”

“If you're referrin' to me and Foxglove, you're in for a disappointment. Chirp, *nothin'* can get us back together. Not even love. I mean, I love her to death, but there's just no way that it can happen.” He looked blankly into the distance, “Not now, not ever.”

“Then why deed-a-youah friends-breeng you heah?”

“Because they're goin' to try one last time to get us back together, and they took advantage of you happenin' to arrive at this very convenient moment to try to convince me as well to get back with her. And it's not goin' to work because me and Foxy already decided.” This sciurid seemed to be a trifle smarter than the last time the turdid saw him.

“Rea-ree? Ah you-a-suah Friend Foxgrov ees-a-not goeeng to-try anytheeng?” Dale looked down a trifle,

“Nothin' she tries will work. Nothin' has, and nothin' will.”

“Then-a-maybe you'ah een foh a-suhprise, Friend Dayre.” Dale said nothing:

Just inside on stage right, Foxglove stood quietly by herself, scanning the stage. Several weeks had passed since that horrible night, and most of that time they had spent it in the hospital. That was the worst Fourth of July she had ever been in. She was hoping that this year would be the first Fourth of July with her husband. She had hoped of having a huge outdoor celebration as well. Instead, she had to spend it indoors; and what was worse, her new friends also spent it indoors so they could be with her, to “comfort” her in these rough times. No, she did not need comfort. All it did was hurt others and rob them of their precious time. They had been released only two days ago, with her sore throat gone and her pectorals back on line, but her joints still ached quite a bit, and her ears would still not perk up. It would be a while before she would fly again, as her right shoulder, left wrist, and both knees were still wrapped with bandages, though her neck was free of braces thanks to the chiropractor. But then, she wasn't sure if she *would* fly again. She had finally realised that both she and Dale were deteriorating fast and sinking more and more into depression. And even with all the medication, she knew that their time was beginning to run out. Now, this last attempt to win back the love of her life was all she had left. It all seemed so impossible, even though she had read the lyrics and rehearsed the song over and over. They were very intense, but would it be enough to get through Dale?

“Ready?” asked Clarice, coming up behind her. For a moment, Foxglove was startled because she did not hear her until the last moment.

“Huh? What? Um, yes, I think:”

“Hey, Foxy, don't worry. You rehearsed the song excellently. You're going to be great!” Foxglove looked and echosounded into her eyes and asked,

“Well, you and the others sing great, too. But Clarice, are you sure this is going to work?” Clarice gently placed her right paw on her uninjured shoulder. Her eyes welled up a bit, her ears drooped, and her tail twitched as she replied,

“Foxy, I *know* it's going to work-because-because-*I* was going to sing that song to Dale, *and* the backup one in case the first one failed. But *you* love and need Dale more than I ever could. That's why I gave these songs to you.” Foxglove scanned her new friend, and sighed,

“Thank you, Clarice. Whether this works or not, thank you. If it works, wonderful, if not, well, I won't be surprised. But still, thank you.” Clarice felt a touch of panic at Foxglove's fatalism. Fortunately for her, Chip padded up, slowly, because his right thigh was still bandaged,

“Foxy, we're doing this for you and Dale. You need this. Please don't lose hope.” She looked and echosounded back at the stage (her eyes also slightly glazed), and looked and echosounded at the most handsome chipmunk in the world. Pain began forming once again inside her chest. In all the rehearsals she and the others did this past week, she seemed so *lifeless* when she sang the song, even with all the others backing her up, including Clarice. Maybe it was because they had done some of the rehearsals at the hospital. But with all the changes both she *and* Dale had gone through, she truly doubted if this was going to affect him in any way. She then turned to Richard, Rosie, Otis, and Feyyanna, who were also backstage, as well as the other Rangers. All ears were up and all tails were twitching.

“We'yere awl heyer fer yew, Sess.”

“Too right! Whatever 'appens, we're right behind ye, lass!”

“If it almost worked on *you*, it will work on *him*,” added Otis.

“Dale's in for a big treat!” buzzed Zipper

“Hey, *I* wish this song had come out when I was dating Rosie!” said Richard.

“And with the orchestrations we prepared, it should work with no p-” Everyone gasped again, all ears fell, and all tails stopped moving. This time, Gadget was quick enough to hold her tongue. She blushed a trifle, and corrected herself, “I mean: 'without incident'.” Everyone sighed in relief, bringing all ears back up again.

“Just go out there, and sing right to his heart. We know you'll get him,” added Rosie. Foxglove echosounded at them all for a moment, and replied disturbingly weakly,

“Thanks. Thank you all.” She then turned and echosounded at the audience, and sighed:

The emcee came up from stage left again, and as he did, the turdid said,

“I'r reave you-arone with-a-youah thoughts foh now,” and he stood and hopped away, leaving the sciurid by himself. Dale wasn't too sure what Chirp meant by this, nor was he enthusiastic enough to find out. The emcee announced with low ears and tail, and a slightly serious tone,

“Hello, once again, all you males and females, to The Nutshell. Tonight, we have a very special number for you. The lovely Clarice Tamiassara is with us one more time, after a near-death encounter, I might add.” The audience hushed and laid their ears and tails low with this serious surprise. “But, I'm glad to say that she's all right and she's back with us to delight us once again with her wonderful voice.” The audience, though not all of it, cheered and clapped at this announcement. “Personally, I'm thankful that she's fine because not only did I almost lose a performer, but a good friend as well. She has something special planned for us tonight, and I'm not sure what it is because she refused to tell even me! So, here she is one more time, the lovely::Clarice!!!” The male squirrel helped the chipmunkmaid pad slowly up from stage right, for her back was still a trifle sore. Her white dress concealed very well her back injury, though, and her fur had grown back a bit on her knees and elbows. Her ears were a trifle down, and her tail wasn't moving. As the squirrel gave her an affectionate hug, the audience greeted her with a thunderous applause, for they were also glad that she was still alive. All clapped and whistled, except for one rodent in particular. A few minutes later, the applause faded, the emcee padded off stage left, and Clarice spoke, also with a serious tone,

“Thank you, thank you so much for wanting me back. I'll tell you, a few weeks ago, I was planning yet another night here and I went to invite some friends-and I almost became owl food-” the audience went dead silent again, and all ears and tails were laid low “-if it weren't for some wonderful and close friends who risked their lives to save not only mine, but of other mammals as well. So, before we begin, I want to thank with all my heart the ones who rescued me and five other mammals. I give you: The Rescue Rangers,” She looked toward stage right and called them out one by one, “Chip Maplewood::” He slowly padded up to the spotlight as the audience cheered thunderously. His leg was still in pain. “Gadget Hackwrench::” Her new coveralls hid her bandaged left arm, but her joints still had a hint of arthritis. A few wolf calls rang out, but she didn't blush, for some reason. “'Monterey' Jack Colby::” His right cheek sported a large bandage. “Zipper Lightringer::” Though too small to be noticed, Zipper had stitches on his facial exoskeleton. And his wing joints pained him a bit as well. Upon seeing their dressed injuries, the audience expressed their gratitude louder and louder, as the Rangers sorely padded/flew onto the stage, with all ears down and all tails dragging as well.. Clarice continued, hushing the audience again, “There is one more Rescue Ranger who saved me that night, but he received *very* heavy injuries and can't come up the stage just yet,” Clarice lied. She knew Dale would refuse to go up on stage because he did not want to be applauded for having done what he did, *and* because he was a stubborn ox. “He *is* in the audience, however, so could you please give a huge applause to: Dale Oakmont, Rescue Ranger.” She still couldn't bring herself to say his new name. Both the audience and the Rangers clapped, and the audience searched for the Ranger in particular, without much success. Clarice looked at Dale, who looked back at her, indifferently, and with his ears and tail down.

*Clarice, I took a life. Why are you so proud of me? Why can't you stop lovin' me? _Why_??*

As the applause died down again, Clarice continued, “I'm also grateful to two other creatures who helped me that night; would you welcome with me: this handsome young bat named Otis:” Otis padded up a trifle shyly as the audience clapped again, and some females even whistled at him. His head still had a bandage on it, not to mention the sides of his torso. And his ears remained drooped. “But most of all, please welcome this beautiful and wonderful batmaid: Foxglove.”

Dale gasped.

He dared not look up at her painfully limping up the stage, ears and tail drooped, and assisted by Chip and Monterey. The audience cheered deafeningly and gave wolf calls as well.

*See, Foxy? Look at _all_ who think you're _beautiful_! _I'm_ not the only male on this planet! Please, find someone who can protect you!!* Foxglove, meanwhile, was pained not just because of all the movement she had to do, but also because one certain mammal would not move from his statue-like position. Clarice continued,

“And now, we have a very special number for you tonight. We're going to perform a song or two, and the Rescue Rangers are going to help me out. And, I know you all came to see me and hear me sing tonight, but instead, on lead vocals, we'll have one of these very special mammals. It's a surprise.” Dale continued staring straight ahead of him. So, this was their final plan. Pity, they cared about him so much, and this was all that they could do. It was hopeless.

On stage, Clarice's band padded up. The female shrew on keyboards, the two male mice on guitars, the male gopher on bass, the female rat on drums, and the male and female canaries on back-up vocals. However, the female shrew gave up her place to Monterey on the left of the stage, while Chip gladly sat down on a scaled-down piano on the right of the stage. Since Zipper couldn't sing very well, he went backstage to watch with the other bats, who fortunately had become good friends with him now. The rest lined up for the back-ups, including Clarice. And on the lead microphone, a pained batmaid padded up,

“This song is dedicated to a very special male out there whom I will always love with all I've got.” Her beautiful voice was still just a trifle hoarse, *DEAD*. Echosounding down at the stone-faced chipmunk, Foxglove added coldly, “You know who you are.”

Dale stiffened once again. Was she going to get back at him for what he sang the other night? But if it didn't work before with her, why did they think it might work with *him* now?

He said nothing.

He did nothing.

He just kept on staring blankly into space.

The song began.

It started with a drum intro, followed by a piano instrumental by Chip, with Monterey providing a few effects now and then, and with the bass also providing body to the intro. The rhythm was somewhat Latin, but again, it was very mellow, sad almost. They all began together, except for Foxglove, who for some reason could not find the strength to sing, for a moment,

“*Mornings alone-*” Falling asleep alone in the morning, for her; awakening alone in the morning, for him:

“*Oh-wo-*” moaned Foxglove, sending shivers up Dale's spine, as well as hers. The rest continued,

“*When you come home

I breathe a little faster.*” Dale remembered the night she came back. He had been more than nervous. True, she always made his lungs and heart accelerate. Foxglove took a deep breath and plunged herself into the song,

“*Every time we're togetheee-oh-wo!!*” She surprised herself by suddenly moaning. She quickly straightened up and perked her ears a trifle,

“*It'd never be the same-!*” No, it would never be. The others repeated,

“*It'd never be the same-*” The knot in her throat was forming again. She continued,

“*If you're not hereee!*” *Here, _with_ me!* Dale stiffened his ears and tail again. Of *course* it would never be the same! Nothing would ever be the same again, not after all that happened!

“*How can you stay away-*” Their chests began aching one more time. *_Me_? Foxy, I thought _you_ had stayed away:* The rest repeated again,

“*How can you stay-*” And together,

“*-away so long?*” *Foxy-it's-it's not easy, I tell you-* There was a slight pause while Foxglove caught her breath. This was more exhausting than what she thought it would be.

“*Why can't we stay togetheee----oh-oo!*” She was beginning to trail each line with a moan she couldn't control. *Dale, I need to know!*

“*Just give me a reason, _give_ me a reason!*” *Huh? Didn't I already do that? Didn't we already decide?*

“*'Cause-*” And together,

“*I--I--don't wanna say it!*” *Say “it”? Say “what”?*

*“I don't wanna find another way.

Make it through the day without youuu--*” Dale sighed. True, he himself was running out of ideas of spending his time without her.

“*I--I--I can't resist!*” *Cute Stuff, I can't resist your echo!* She also wondered how *any* female could resist him, *especially* Gadget and Clarice.

“*Trying to find exactly what I miss.*” Actually, they knew that. They missed everything about each other.

“*It's just another day without youuu--*” Another day, another week, another month. And it was getting to the point of depression and physical deterioration. Foxglove added angrily, laying her ears a trifle,

“*It's just another dayyy, ooh!!!*” She pitched her voice a trifle higher as they continued with the next verse,

“*Making the time!*” Her voice made Dale shiver again. She hushed for a moment to catch her breath, so the rest continued without her,

“*Find the right lines-*” She caught up with them as she leaned a bit on the mike stand,

“*To make you stay foreveeer--*” *Trying to say something that will make you take me back, Darling! _Please_ understand that!* She continued alone,

“*What do I have to tell youuu--oo?*” *Foxy, we've talked about that.*

“*I'm just trying to hold on to somethin-*” Suddenly, her throat knot choked out that last word, so the rest continued,

“*Trying to hold on to something good.*” *On the _best_ I've found, on _you_, Dale!!* She sang,

“*Oh-oo-!!! Give us a chance to make it-*” He looked down, as his hexagonal tracheal knot came back as well. *As I gave Chip and Gadget the chance, and they blew it, like we did:* The others repeated,

“*Give us a chance-*” And together,

“*-to make it!*” Clarice noticed that Foxglove was leaning on the stand. Something was wrong here.

“*Oh, no, no!!*” she added, shaking her head. And her breathing difficulty was becoming more and more obvious.

“*-Wanna hold on togetheee--oh-oo!!*” Her exertions were getting stronger and stronger, and draining more and more energy from her. It was getting more and more difficult to keep her ears up and her tail stiff. Once more, the black holes emerged. *Dale, all I want is one more chance with you!!*

“*I'm not that strong, _I'm_ not that strong!*” *Please, consider that, Cute Stuff! You may be able to take this, but I can't!!!* All sang together,

“*I--I--don't wanna say it!*” *Foxy, I don't want to say it, either!*

“*I don't wanna find another way,*” Chip's ears perked up as he also noticed Foxglove's unusual exertions.

“*Make it through the day without youuu--*” *Dale, I've come to the end of my rope. _Please_ help me!!*

“*No-wo,*” she added. Dale's breathing also intensified with the black hole in his chest. It was clear that she wanted to come back, *to him*, *again*, and all he had to do was accept her. But that seemed so far out of his reach now:

“*I--I--I can't resist!*” Who couldn't resist someone like _her_? Especially when she was so *helpless* now:

“*Trying to find exactly what I miss.*” Chip turned to Gadget, and was about to signal her to stand by to stop the song, but he stiffened when he looked at her.

“*It's just another day without youuu--*” Gadget was singing beautifully, but she had her ears back and her tail stiff, and the angriest expression aimed at *him*. Both didn't notice Foxglove moan again,

“*No-oh!!*” Chip did another instrumental, with his eyes fixed on Gadget. *She* was also singing this song to *him*! *She* wanted him back as well! But-would it work, even after all they discussed? Suddenly, Chip turned back to Foxglove as he heard her moan at a higher pitch,

“*Oh-oo-oh, oh-oo-oh-oo-oh!!*” Chip continued for a moment, and he looked back at Gadget. She was still looking at him angrily, but when he shook his head in the batmaid's direction, the mousemaid looked up at her. Her ears perked up, and her expression turned to one of inquiry, and then Foxglove moaned again,

“*Oooooo----!!!-whyyy-can't you _stay_ foreveee---ooohhh-oh??!!*” Inside, Foxglove was crying her soul out, and Dale was doing so, too. *Dale-please-*

“*Just give me a reason-!*” Her ears and tail stiffened as she suddenly thrust out her left wing and held up one demanding (and trembling) index wing digit at her rodent and screeched,

“*-JUST _GIVE_ ME _ONE_ REASON!!!!!*” *Foxy-I've-I've-run-out of-reasons-* Dale wasn't too sure if he sniffed at this point. But his eyes were completely dry. And glazing more and more:

“*'CAUSE I------!!!!!*” Foxglove suddenly found herself throwing her head back with her fists and eyes tightly shut, ears and tail drooped, and moaning, wailing, wanting to cry, because she could not come out of that note. The pain was too intense for her. And this was the only way she could scream now, the only way her soul could call for help. The rest continued with the chorus,

“*I--I--don't wanna say it!*” Gadget looked at the others. Something was *definitely* wrong.

“*--I---ohhhh-ooo-!!!!!” Foxglove shivered for a moment, and she would have collapsed if she suddenly did not grab the stand again. Her heartbeat was skyrocketing, and even Otis could hear it above the music. She hushed once more.

“*I don't wanna find another way-*” Monterey straightened up when he realised what was happening. He turned to Clarice. Foxglove sang, with trembling wings,

“*Ho-oh-right away-!!!*” and stopped again. Dale, too had unnatural cardiac rhythms at this point.

“*Make it through the day without youuu--*” Otis turned to the others, unknowing of what to do. Foxglove insisted,

“*Don't wanna make it through the day--NO!!*” She couldn't continue with the next line. As the others sang, Clarice grabbed her microphone and slowly padded up behind her.

“*I--I--I can't resist!*” Clarice put a paw on Foxglove's shoulder, and almost gasped. She felt *cold*:

“*Maybe? No-!*” It was all Foxglove could say, and again the others continued alone. For a moment, Dale thought he was shivering as well:

“*Trying to find exactly what I miss.*” Foxglove could only turn slightly and nod at Clarice. She had to go on. She *needed* to go on, but the chorus could not express her *true* feelings:

“*It's just another day without youuu-*” Each word was pressing more and more into the couple. Chip and Gadget forgot their own problems and kept their eyes on the batmaid.

“*Noo-iii-oh-iii-iii-yea!!*” she moaned. She couldn't express herself any other way. No known language could convey what her soul was trying to scream:

“*I--I--don't wanna say it!*” Foxglove was ignoring the chorus altogether and simply answering each line with a cry from her soul. All the performers looked at each other, with their eyes and ears questioning their next move. Dale, meanwhile, couldn't even blink.

“*N-n-no-right away-no-!!!*” *_Dale_--Cute Stuff--* She hushed again, and leaned hard on the stand. She was almost hyperventilating.

“*I don't wanna find another way.*” Enough of this. Clarice turned to the band and signalled that this was the final verse.

“*Make it through the day without youuu--*” Furthermore, Clarice and the other Rangers were also feeling pain, as well as FEAR, as their ears and tails showed:

“*N-nooo--woa-!! Noo-woa-!!*” Clarice suddenly turned back to Foxglove, frightened at her wails.

“*I--*”

“*Noo-woa-!!*” Her throat was on the verge of collapsing.

“*I--*”

“*Noo-woa-!!*” She couldn't say anything else. Her soul was literally pouring out of her, *escaping* her, almost.

“*I can't resist!*” The song began to fade, but the pain didn't. Panic gripped everyone's hearts at this point.

“*Noo-woa-!!*” Dale wanted to wail with her, but he was frozen in place by unbelievable PAIN:

“*Trying to find exactly what I miss.*”

“*ohhh-oo--yeah-*” Foxglove slowly blinked. It was over now.

“*It's just another day without you:*” And the song finally stopped, with the audience cheering and hollering like never before, all except one, whose chest was moving in a very unnatural rhythm.

Clarice dashed toward Foxglove, and flattened her ears and gasped when she saw her face. The batmaid was in a pain felt by no other chiropterid. Her eyes were glazing over, her jaw and wings were quivering, her ears and tail were sagging, she was breathing erratically-

“Excuse us, we're going to take a little break.” Clarice was barely heard above the applause. The other Rangers quickly padded to Foxglove and helped take her backstage:

Dale tried to sigh, but his breathing would not return to normal, nor would his ears and tail relax. The luscinia's eyes widened when he returned to the tamias's table. He quickly hopped to his side,

“Friend Dayre, ah you-a-'or' right?” The chipmunk trembled as he tried to pour himself another thimble. His ears wouldn't rise up again, and his tail was incredibly stiff.

“Chirp-I'm-I'm okay-I think-” The pain in his joints was coming back with a vengeance, and the nightingale had to help him with the bottle. “Um-great song, don't you think-?” Chirp had to think fast.

“Friend Dayre, deed-a-you not see what-she was-a-tryeeng to do? She was-a-tryeeng to-”

“I *KNOW* THAT!!” he chattered.

Yes, he did.

It had suddenly dawned on him that Foxglove had COME BACK TO HIM, *AGAIN*-

Taking a deep breath, he continued, “Ermm-sorry, I didn't mean to yell at you.”

“Friend Dayre-”

“Chirp-I know she wants me back. *I* want her back! I want so much to marry her!” The sciurid actually felt like crying, but his lachrymal glands would not obey him, and he wondered why. “But-I *can't*! If not because of the immediate danger, then because of the danger to our cubs-to our grandcubs, who will go through this pain again and again and again!!!” The turdid stiffened. His throat knotted as well as memories flashed on *him* now,

“Friend Dayre, Friend Cheep arso tord me of what-a-you-bereeeve to be a cuhse. Ees-ees eet-a-true? Ah you-cuhsed?” The chipmunk slowly turned to the nightingale, who shivered when he saw his reflection in the mist,

“I'm cursed. My father is cursed. My grandfather is cursed. *ALL* Oakmonts are cursed. And unlike you, it wasn't because of a plot to overthrow a monarchy! There is no cover-up here! No watered-down opium to cause hallucinations!! No mechanical rooms!! No wakin'-up-and-it-was-all-a-dream-because-everythin's-back-to-normal!! Chirp, this is somethin' that began before the white man came here!! And I don't want Foxy or my cubs to be a part of that!!!” Chirp took a moment to let that sink in, and then he replied,

“Friend Dayre, beleeeve eet oh not, I *was*-a-cuhsed as well. I was-a-cuhsed weeth-haveeng a preencess who-a-decrahed me cuhsed, and-a-made every seengle-effoht to prove eet. I-a-fert so cuhsed that eet-a-caused me to fry away-straeeght eento the Heemaraya!! Friend Dayre, I-a-wanted to run, to-escape from-a-thees vehy rife!!! Ees that the-way you-a-feer now??!!” The avian's tone had acquired an unusual sternness about it, making the mammal calm down a trifle.

“N-no. I want to live. I want-I want to continue rescuin' others. My job's important! I don't *want* to kill myself, but it was the *Comedian*-it was Segoleh who had to die!”

“Friend Dayre, eef you-a-fert so-cuhsed that you-a-keered the Comedeean, then eet-a-ees of no-suhprise that you-a-keered an owr, noh should eet-a-suhprise you that you'ah-keereeng youah-serf-*and*-a-Friend Foxgrov as wer!” For a moment, Dale felt like removing this bird's beak from his head. Chirp felt scared for a moment when he saw Dale's facial expression, but he forced himself to continue in the most serious tone he could muster, “You-a-rescued me when *I* wanted to-keer myserf. You-a-proved that I wasn't cuhsed. Now, I've-a-come to-repay the favoh. You-a-saved my rife, now I-must save youahs. Eef-a-you want to or not, eet-doesn't mattah. What-a-mattahs now ees my honoh, and I-a-won't-eensurt my own honoh by-just standeeng heah and-a-watcheeng you-*and* Friend Foxgrov *die*. *I* weer-arso prove you ah not-a-cuhsed.”

“You're too late for that, Chirp. The proof came the night we were to be married. It came the night my *parent's* were to be married. It came the night my GRANDPARENTS were to be married!!!!” Chirp got angry now. He straightened out and stated,

“Then the-a-onry way that-proof can be annured ees-a-eef I act-agaeenst eet. And the-a-onry way I can do that ees-eef I-a-succeed in getteeng you two married. Youah 'cuhse' can-a-onry be-broken eef-a-you defy the past and-a-come togethah. And I am-a-*goeeng* to-make you do so.” The luscinia stood to his full height and puffed his chest out as he said this. The tamias looked up at him, ears down, and asked defiantly:

As quickly as they could, Clarice and the Rangers sat Foxglove down on the nearest available chair. The batmaid was breathing in a distressingly heavy manner, and she was gripping her chest, causing the other chiropterids to gather around her as well.

“Back off!!” roared Monterey. “She needs air 'ere, lads!!” They backed off, ears and tails low, slightly scared of him.

“Um, Foxy, you-er-you sang better than you did at the rehearsals!!” chuckled Clarice, rather nervously. “But you didn't *have* to sing it *exactly* the way you heard the origi-”

“Clarice! Is there a doctor here?” asked Zipper, in near panic. The chipmunkmaid's brain almost locked up trying to figure out a way to help.

“Um:a doctor? Er:um:there's a first aid kit at the office-“

“Shedoesn'tneedafirstaidkitsheneedsadoctorClarice!!!!!” chattered Chip, with flattened ears and stiff tail. All present were shocked at his outburst, but most shocked were Gadget and Chip himself. He tried to recover, “Uh:sorry, Clarice. But Foxglove needs a doctor!” Calming down a trifle, Clarice replied,

“Sorry, guys, but nightclubs don't require registered doctors in order to operate! We'll have to take her to the hospital-!”

“Did----did it--work--??” All looked at Foxglove, who had somehow managed to gasp that statement. Gadget laid her ears and tail down and sighed,

“Sorry, Foxy, but it didn't work-”

“I don't know about that,” interrupted Otis. “I think you got to Dale somehow. I can hear his breathing and heartbeat from here!” Chip had enough of this musical attempt to save his friends, so he decided to resort to radical measures,

“I'm going to get the nearest justice of the peace and have him marry these two even if I have to---!!!”

“---No---” gasped the batmaid, interrupting him. “Cl-Clarice--I-let's try-one more time-!” All looked at the batmaid, incredulously.

“What'ya mean 'again'? Foxy, yer in no condition to continue!!” scolded Monterey, with stiff ears and tail. With her eyes glazing fast, Foxglove raised her ears a trifle, and replied,

“I'll be the--judge of that!! If-this fails--then it's all over--just--one-more-chance!!” All hesitated. Hearing this, Foxglove tried to breathe deeply, trying to regain her composure. Slowly and painfully, she stood again. “Clarice-Chip-Gadget-guys, I-I really want to try again-I *know* I can do this-I don't want to leave without having tried it all--And if it doesn't, then it's-it's all over-for both of us.” She breathed heavily as she turned to the stage. This would be her final assault. But then, for some reason, she let her ears and tail droop, turned to Clarice, and hugged her. Then, she turned to Gadget and did the same, and to Chip, to Monterey, to Zipper, to Otis, to Feyyanna, to Richard, and finally to Rosie. She stated,

“Guys, if this works, then we'll be fine. If not, then I guess-I guess-that it was an honour being a Rescue Ranger-and having all of you as friends and family-thank you all--thanks--Otis, Feyyanna, you're the best brother and sister one could ever have-!” If Chip didn't know better, he could swear she was saying good-bye not only to the Rangers, but to the other bats as well. He turned to Clarice, who turned to Otis, who turned and looked from stage right out to the audience. A certain avian gave him a signal.

“That's the signal,” he told them. Foxglove then stood resolutely and echosounded at the stage with the most serious expression she could muster, ears at attention, tail stiffened, and breathing angrily, almost growling, even.

This was it.

Just one more time.

She was going to give him her ultimatum.

She would either get through the heart of her male, or die trying, which was a distinct possibility now.

Time for Plan B.

Seeing that she would not be dissuaded, Clarice looked over to stage left and made eye contact with the emcee.

She nodded.

He nodded, and turned to the light controls:

“:and *what*, pray tell, are you going do to make us do so?” Chirp Sing said nothing. Instead, he looked to the stage, made a slight bow, and moved his right wing in a circular manner. The nightingale took one final look at the chipmunk, and was about to hop off again-

“Chirp, I enjoyed havin' you for a friend. I'm glad we were able to rescue you. Have a safe trip back, and take care of the emperor, will ya?” Chirp knew more than perfectly that this was his final good-bye. With a tear in his eye, he replied,

“Then I-a-have done 'or' that I-could do. My job heah ees-a-feeneeshed. My-honoh ees-a-safe-” Unexpectedly, the avian suddenly turned and hugged the mammal, crying. “Th-thank you, Friend Dayre-foh evehytheeng-!!” Chirp Sing then hopped away as fast as he could. The chipmunk wondered why the nightingale broke down in tears when he had just wished him a safe trip back. He knew Chirp would not be staying for long, anyway. There would be no wedding, ever. He continued pondering on what else would never be again: no more goof-ups, no more foul-ups, no more late night movies, no more clowning around, no more practical jokes, no more jokes, *period*, no more laughs-

No more smiles?

He suddenly remembered their first night here, when the others told a spontaneous joke and he did not laugh at it, even though he had gone that night to *have* a laugh. Why didn't he laugh? Why *couldn't* he laugh? Why couldn't he *cry*? Sure, the break-up was devastating, but that didn't exactly bring him to the point of clinical depression-

Depression.

*That's* what he had!!

The doctors' original diagnosis was incorrect. All he had to do was change his medication, and he would be fine. If Foxy was also like this, as she told him, then she, too, would be fine with the new medication. It was all so simple!

Dale's ears perked up a trifle as he downed another shot of walnut extract. True, he was most definitely depressed, but now, it seemed that he would eventually get used to this depression, and it appeared that Foxglove would get used to it as well. And, of course, the new medication would help them both get used to it. This nonsense that they were both dying was precisely that: nonsense. All that was happening was that they were still recovering from their night with Strigidæ, or Ima, or whatever her name was, and they had a chemical imbalance that was easily remedied. In fact, it was probably time to take his arthritis medication again, because his joints were acting up again. But still, this was the life he had chosen, and all Foxglove had to do was find someone else who could keep her out of danger in order to get out of *her* depression; to finally get her out of this life of danger in which he nearly buried her in.

The lights dimmed.

The spotlight then shone on Chip, who was at the piano again, with his ears down. He began playing a slow and very depressing sequence.

*Oh, great,* thought Dale. *That's _all_ I need now! More depressing music!*

Chip continued with that sequence, playing it over and over and over, letting it sink in. At the fourth repetition, he looked up to stage left, and nodded as if giving a cue. Another spotlight then shone on Otis, also with drooped ears, who began,

“*Turn around-*” And yet another spotlight shone on a droop-eared *Foxglove*, who suddenly added with the most angry expression on her face,

“*Every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're _never_ coming round-*” Her voice was low, hoarse:

“*Turn around-*” She raised her head a trifle, brought her left wing to her face and sang,

“*Every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears-*” Though technically, she had not cried since the break up. Maybe she was referring to her soul crying on the inside, weeping, moaning, *mourning*:

“*Turn around-*”

“*Every now and then I get a little bit nervous that the best of all the years have gone by-*” Dale shuddered again and let his ears and tail droop. True, they were both still young, so maybe she referred to the Fourth of July, or the year she spent away from him.

“*Turn around-*” She slowly extended her right wing toward him,

“*Every now and then I get a little bit terrified and then I see the look in your _eyes_-!*” She was pleading with him. *Dale, your eyes used to give me comfort. What happened to them?* The male mouse entered with his guitar as Otis added,

“*Turn around, Bright Eyes-!*”

“*Every now and then I fall apart-!*” More like *all* the time. She fell apart whenever she thought or dreamed of him.

“*Turn around, Bright Eyes-!*”

“*Every now and then I fall apart-!*” *Foxy, I fall apart whenever-*

BOOM!!

“*Turn around-*” Everyone in the club jerked slightly when the rat lady and the gopher suddenly entered with the drums and bass, and someone back stage added a thunder effect, complete with flash. Dale almost clawed some shavings off his table.

“*Oo-oo-*” The rest, also with low ears and tails, backed up Foxglove as she insisted,

“*Every now and then I get a little bit restless-*” This was the first time spring fever had lasted through the summer for Foxglove.

“*Oo-oo-*”

“*-and I dream of something wild-*” Yes, they both dreamed that. And that was all they had of each other, and though they wanted to, they couldn't let go of it. Another thunderclap pounded at their black holes.

“*Turn around-*”

“*Oo-oo-*”

“*Every now and then I get a little bit helpless-*” She held a trembling wing toward him again,

“*Oo-oo-*” and held it close to her chest again,

“*-and I'm lying like a child in your arms-!*” Well, in her dreams, at least. What she wouldn't give to be in his arms now. Another thunderclap.

“*Turn around-*”

“*Ah--*” Her ears and tail stiffened, her eyebrows joined together and her fangs flashed,

“*Every now and then I get a little bit angry-*”

“*Ah--*”

“*-and I know I've got to get out and cry-!*” She turned away slightly, as her features went limp again. *And cry with _you_, Cute Stuff!! Please, help me cry again!!*

BOOM!!

“*Turn around-*”

“*Ah--*”

“*Every now and then I get a _little_ bit terrified-*” Her voice cracked, making everyone shiver. Dale, too felt terrified.

“*Ah--*”

“*-but then I see the look in your eyes-!!*” The look in _her_ eyes, the look of pleading, wanting, begging, *loving*:Gadget joined Otis,

“*Turn around, Bright Eyes-!*” And suddenly Chip felt pain again.

“*_Every_ now and then I fall apart!*” Surprised to hear herself growl for a moment, Foxglove thought, *Cute Stuff, I'm falling apart _now_!! I'm falling apart without you!!”

“*Turn around, _Bright_ Eyes-!*” Chip looked up to see Gadget sing. She was giving him that *look* again. *Gadget:* was all he could think.

“*Every now and then I fall apart-!!*” Foxglove took a pained breath and chorused,

“*And I need you now tonight!*” The rest oo'ed throughout the chorus. *Tonight, Dale, _especially_ tonight!!*

“*And I need you more than ever!*” Her wing kept on pleading with him, but he still would not turn around.

“*And if you only hold me tight-*” She wrapped her wings around herself, trying, but failing, to pretend it was him.

“*We'll be holding on-forever!*” *Dale, just hug me, hold my wing, and I _know_ you'll take me back!!*

“*And we'll _only_ be making it right-!!*” Dale wasn't sure he wanted to figure out what that line meant.

“*-'Cause we'll never be wrong-!*” *Dale, we were _perfect_!! With help, we can't go wrong again!!*

“*Together we can take it to the end of the line!!*” The tamias trembled at the word “end”. True, he expected to live for a long time, but now he wasn't very sure.

“*Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time!!!*” At this point, the lights switched, shutting off on Foxglove, and turning on at the back of the audience.

“*All of the time!!*” yelled the rest.

“*I don't know what to do and I'm _always_ in the dark!!*” Foxglove's silhouette kept pleading with the rodent who was now eclipsing her

“*We're living in a powder keg and giving off-sparks!!!” Dale felt the heat of the spotlight on his cheek, feeling *sparks*, almost. But he couldn't even blink. Instead, he was seriously considering finding whoever was working the lights:::Suddenly Foxglove shut her eyes and screeched, making everyone shiver,

“*I REALLY NEED YOU TONIGHT!!!*” while the rest backed up,

“*AHH--!!!*” Her throat was pressing on her again, but she couldn't stop now. Gadget and Clarice helped her,

“*_Forever's_ gonna start tonight!!!*” And then, Foxglove hushed, leaving the rodentmaids to finish,

“*Forever's gonna start tonight-*” Gadget glared at Chip, with her ears and tail stiff. *You're a _coward_,* she thought. Foxglove, meanwhile, calmed down a trifle, looked up, with limp features again, and reflected,

“*Once upon a time I was falling in love,*” Once upon a *long* time ago:so long ago, it seemed as if it had been a legend she had barely heard of.

“*But now I'm only falling apart.*” Gadget made sure Chip heard her sing that line. She, too, wanted more, and she, too, was feeling the effects of his refusal. Foxglove continued alone,

“*There's nothing I can do, a total eclipse of the heart.*” She almost shrugged at Dale. His love would eclipse that of any other male, now and forever. She looked up, as the spotlight shone on her again,

“*Once upon a time there was light in my life,*” How she remembered that night at the drive in, a night that also seemed like a legend now:

“*But now there's only love in the dark.*” The lights made Dale eclipse her again, but Gadget still kept her eye on Chip. Clarice then joined the two again,

“*Nothing I can say, a total eclipse of the heart.*” Chip looked down, ashamed, as he began another instrumental. Dale then felt a cool breeze on his face as the air conditioning shifted, causing his nostrils to once more fill themselves with Foxglove's scent. He even thought he *heard* the wind blowing, reminding him of their night with Strigidæ-

BOOM!!!

Suddenly, another flash and thunderclap tensed him again. The band was playing the verse as an instrumental, ending each line with a thunderclap. Dale began to tremble slightly as the horrible night, and the previous verse, played in his mind again. And then, not only the night with Strigidæ, but also the night he let her go. As the band played on, Dale kept breathing painfully to himself. No, it was impossible for him to take her back. Realising that she had now come back to him for the *third* time, his whole being yearned for her, but the newly installed logic in his brain kept flashing the possible horrible consequences in the future-

BOOM!!!

Foxglove was again leaning on the stand with whatever strength she had left. The owl lady and the break-up also played once more in her head, draining more and more energy, rendering it impossible to raise her ears and tail. She was doing what she could to keep her shivering to a minimum, but the lyrics and the music and the HANDSOME one in front of her were destroying her. But what hurt her most was that her efforts were not giving any visible or audible results. Her chest and throat were going to implode any moment now-

BOOM!!!

Chip did not know what to do about Gadget. Yes, he loved her, but how could he take *her* back, after all they said? After all the logic *both* knew perfectly well? His own chest began developing a black hole now, and his throat began knotting as well-

BOOM!!!

Gadget could only hope that she would *at least* get through to the sciurid she loved with all her heart and soul and she *knew* now beyond the shadow of any doubt which could be substantiated by a reason that she loved him because she could feel the pressure in her chest and throat every time she looked at him and smelled at him and heard his voice and now even *more* so that she was singing to him what little she had of this song to herself because she *certainly* did not want to steal the show from Foxglove and the *real* purpose here was to bring Dale and Foxglove together and hopefully to finally bring *herself* to straighten things out with Dale and it wouldn't hurt if *another* couple got together on the side and it really wouldn't take much to bring *them* together because their problems weren't as pressing-

She shook herself to the here and now as the entire stage sang,

“*Turn around, Bright Eyes!!*” And another thunderclap rang out. Dale still would not move his head.

“*Turn around, Bright Eyes!!*” they repeated, and yet another thunderclap. Foxglove growled to herself as she echosounded at her spirit/mind/body's desire. She poised herself for the next verse, the one she *knew* would get to him, for she had read the lyrics over and over and over, and if this would not get to him, she would just turn around herself, leave the club, and find Fat Cat. This would be either her moment of glory and triumph, or of disgrace and defeat. Either way:

:this was her finest hour:

:and just possibly, her *last* hour as well:

Otis continued with his pressing command,

“*Turn around-*”

“*Oo-*” The rest oo'ed and ah'ed as Foxglove hissed away each line into Dale's heart, as she reflected,

“*Every now and then I know you'll never be the boy-*”

“*Ah-*”

“*-you always wanted to be.*” And she had come to accept that as well. If nothing else, she would take him back, Goof-up, Klutz, Clown, Comedian, Segoleh, or not, for she, too, would never achieve her dreams.

“*Turn around-*” Dale, too, knew that. As much as he tried, he would never live up to her. He would never be the husband she needed, even with his radical change, not with this curse hanging on to him. He wasn't worthy of her love, of *no one's* love.

“*Oo-*” She suddenly pleaded with both wings at him,

“*But every now and then I know you'll always be the only boy-*” *Huh?* thought Otis.

“*Ah-*” Foxglove pointed at herself,

“*-who wanted me the way that I am-!!*” *Dale, you accepted me, _especially_ after I left Freddy! You loved me for _me_, as I did for _you_!!*

“*Turn around-*” Otis' heart finished breaking here. He was officially on the sidelines now. So all he had left to do was stand there and cheer them on. He would recover, someday:

“*Ah-*” Now came the key line, the culmination of her effort, the *coup-de-grace*. She took a deep breath, and screeched,

“*EVERY-

NOW-

AND-

THEN-

I-

KNOW-

THERE'S-

_NO-

ONE_-

IN-

THE-

UNIVERSE-*”

“*Ah-*”

“*-AS-

MAGICAL-

AND-

WONDROUS-

AS-

_YOU_-!!!*” *NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!* His face almost scowled, but his features were also losing energy. He refused to accept that, because he *knew* she was wrong, *and* he had proof to counter that opinion. If she could *only* realise that!!

“*Turn around-*” *_No one_, Cute Stuff!! No one, not Otis, not Chip, NO ONE!!! Dale, you are _so_ magical and wondrous and perfect, _PLEASE_ let me love you!!!*

“*Ah-*” *Foxy, why-_why_ do you think _that_ of me, after all I made you and the others go through??* For a moment, Dale thought he felt a tear form in his left eye.

“*Every now and then I know there's nothing any better-!!*” *NOTHING AND NO ONE!! ONLY _YOU_, DALE, _ONLY_ _YOU_!!!!!!*

“*Ah-*”

“*-there's nothing that I just wouldn't _do_!!*” *To bring you back, to be one with you, Dale, I'll DIE if you don't, and _you_ will, too!!

“*Turn around, Bright Eyes-!!*” *Turn around, ###### it!!* thought Otis. Foxglove squealed,

“*EVERY NOW AND _THEN_ I FALL APART-!!!!*” It seemed that the music was lifting her, making her feel light-headed. Or maybe the medication was wearing off again.

“*Turn around, _Bright_ Eyes-!!*” Chip and Gadget suddenly looked at Clarice, who had stiff ears and tail, and was glaring at them and pointing in Foxglove's direction.

“*Every now and then I fall apart-!!!!*” They both looked at the pipistrell, who was now singing with a disturbing effort again, and their features also expressed FEAR. All backed her up as she chorused,

“*Oo---*”

“*And I need you now tonight!!*” *Foxy, I-_I_ need you tonight-* Clarice and Gadget repeated,

“*And I need you-*” and all three again,

“*And I need you more than ever!*” *Foxy, I can't go on without you!!*

“*Oo---*”

“*And if you only hold me tight-*” *Foxy, hold me one last time-* Clarice perked up her ears and looked at Gadget,

“*And if you only-*”

“*We'll be holding on forever!*” *Forever, Foxglove-how I wanted _forever_ with you-*

“*Oo---*”

“*And we'll _only_ be making it right-!!*” The batmaid nearly fell, making Gadget and Clarice gasp,

“*And we'll never-*”

“*'Cause we'll never be wrong!!*” Foxglove was now having trouble hearing herself. She kind of noticed all the lights suddenly go dim all around her.

“*Oo-ah-*” Visibly shaking now, she screeched, perking her ears up one last time,

“*Together we can take it to the _END_ OF THE LINE!!!*” Clarice laid her ears back again as she was suddenly gripped with terror. She had seen this type of performance before, and those times it had to do with:with::

“*Oo---!*” The sciurid eclipsed the verspetilionid once more as she continued to screech with balled wings held in front of her,

“*Your love is like a _SHADOW_ ON ME ALL OF THE TIME!!!*” Her soul was crying out its last, almost bursting from within her. The others cried with her,

“*ALL OF THE TIME!!!*” And if Clarice didn't know better, she could swear Foxglove was not only singing her final song-

“*Oo-ah-*” ñbut her SWAN SONG:

“*I don't know what to do, I'M _ALWAYS_ IN THE DARK!!!*” Dale's fur ruffled with Foxglove's squeals. He had never heard her like this, not even on the night they broke up.

“*WE'RE LIVING IN A _POWDER KEG_ AND __GIVING OFF::!!!::SPARKS__!!!!!*” Fireworks suddenly erupted from both sides of the stage, suddenly giving the batmaid a ghostly appearance, as she suddenly extended and raised her wings high. Dale shivered visibly at this, and he even blinked. Foxglove, meanwhile, was rapidly fading. The music was getting harder and harder to hear. The lights were getting dimmer and dimmer. Her ears and tail were getting cramps. Her strength and voice were almost gone now. Her chest pressed against her back. Her throat was swallowing itself. Her knees were painfully losing their battle to hold her weight up. Her wings and shoulders became sore almost immediately, causing them to shrivel back to her sides..

An immense crescendo nearly made Dale and Foxglove explode. The rest, too, felt the pain welling up to incredible proportions as the music rose. Foxglove balled her wings again, and finally burst,

“*__I REALLY NEED YOU TONIGHT__!!!!!!!!!!*” Dale visibly gasped, with limp features. The stage cried out,

“*Ah---!*” Gadget and Clarice chattered with Foxglove,

“*_FOREVER'S GONNA START TONIGHT_!!!*” And then the batmaid gasped, hushed, and grasped the stand as she nearly fell over, features limp, leaving the other two again,

“*FOREVER'S GONNA START::tonight-*” The quiet, the calm. The pipistrell was now hunched over, holding the stand with *both* wings now, totally spent,

“*Once upon a time I was falling in love,*” Something was terribly wrong within her, because she was barely able to sing above a whisper.

“*But now I'm only falling apart.*” Gadget had to help her on this line again. She looked over at Foxglove, trying to deduce her condition. Foxglove continued painfully, with her eyes closed,

“*Nothing I can do, a total eclipse of the heart.*” *Remember when Mick said--sometimes he would fight so hard--that he was thinking that he broke something inside--and was going to die, and that's when he said the angels were pulling on him-* Dale wasn't sure how that line went, but he *knew* something had broken inside him just now, and he had the feeling the same thing happened to Foxglove, and only supernatural beings were holding them up now. The batmaid raised her head a trifle,

“*Once upon a time there was light in my life,*” Odd, she couldn't see the light. Gadget helped her again,

“*But now there's only love in the dark.*” The mousemaid perked her ears up and looked at the chipmunk on the piano, almost asking for a plan. She, Clarice, and Foxglove took it home,

“*Nothing I can say, a total eclipse of the heaaaart-*” The batmaid was now visibly gasping, stirring up soft murmurs among the audience now. Still she continued with the others,

“*A total eclipse of the heaaart--*” She stumbled as she tried to straighten,

“*A _total_ eclipse of the heaaart--*” No, no more. The chipmunk did not turn around, not even to look at her. Dale had flatly refused her one more time. Foxglove released the stand, letting it topple to its upright position. She then turned and nearly fell over the piano, generating even *more* murmurs. Odd, why didn't she hear this thing? Something-something had given way inside her, and it was hurting her more than anything now.

The rest looked/echosounded at her, quite frightened, with their tails low and ears laid back, as she turned and bumped into the piano. Chip continued with a soft instrumental, as a soft breeze blew again.

“*Turn around, Bright Eyes.*” sang Clarice, as she looked the batmaid over. Foxglove stumbled her way past them. She had a cat to find. Which way was the exit, again? Maybe it was in the direction of the breeze:

“*Turn around, _Bright_ Eyes--turn arooound.*” As Foxglove left through stage right, Chip stood and was about to leave the piano when he suddenly saw Monterey's paw motioning him to stop, and then point to the audience. As he sat back down and turned, Clarice continued,

“*Ooo-oo-hoo-oo-!*” The other chipmunk was finally moving. Dale painfully stood up, eliciting still more murmurs from the audience. Odd, where did all his strength go? Why couldn't he lift his ears?

“*Aha, aha!*” sang Clarice. Gadget then held *her* paw up toward stage right, signalling to Zipper and the other bats to stay where they were and not go after Foxglove. All their ears straightened up again, and all tails relaxed as well.

“*Aha, aha-hooo--ooh!-ho--*” As the song faded out, Dale bumped into a table, looking for the stage door. He then stumbled into the wall and fumbled his paws along side it, looking for the doorknob. Perhaps he had one too many shots of walnut extract. But why were the lights so dim here?

The rest on the stage looked/echosounded at him, wondering if this plan had finally worked.

And neither Dale nor Foxglove heard the deafening applause that the audience suddenly gave:

EIKOSIOKTO - DEATH OF A COMEDIAN::AND AN INTERPRETER

Foxglove perked her ears up as she thought she heard the rain again. But then again, she wasn't sure that it was rain. Odd, her sonar wasn't echoing correctly from the objects in this place. She echosounded louder. Still not much echo. And-and-why couldn't she hear herself? She blinked several times, but there was no light in this room, either-

Ouch!

Her hip bumped on something sharp, maybe the corner of a table. Instinctively she held her wings out in front of her, trying to find her way to the exit, to find Fat Cat and feed herself to him, even force-feed herself if she had to. Strange, she couldn't see, hear, or smell too well.

Dale tripped and fell on something, maybe a cable or a chair, he wasn't sure. The lights were apparently out in this part of the club and he couldn't see a thing, and he caught the scent of the metal a split second too late. He thought he heard something come from the room ahead of him, but the noise was very dim, and as much as he tried to get closer to it, it seemed that it was moving further and further away. And he wasn't sure if Foxglove came this way, either, for though her scent lingered, it was too weak to get a definite heading. This was *certainly* a stupid place to settle things once and for all. If Foxglove was deliberately playing hard-to-get right now, he would find her and give her a piece of his newly-expanded mind. Not only had they already talked about this, but they had *also* settled it once and for all. Why Foxglove chose to insist was beyond him. Therefore, he would have to resort to extreme measures to make sure that Foxglove would never love him again. He painfully shivered as he considered the options for accomplishing that. Their love for each other was causing them immense pain, and placing them, and others, in danger, so he had to stop loving her, and make *her* stop loving *him*. And one option that he was definitely considering was to *hurt* her, emotionally at first:

*Insulting* her.

And if *that* didn't work:

He honestly did not want to resort to slapping her, or much less going for greater physical injury. True, they were *both* still recovering from their injuries, so adding injury upon injury was *certainly* something he refused to do, *especially* to someone he cared about. But he loved her so much that he was willing to make her hate him so she would be safe from harm, and if he had to resort to that, well, it would only prove that Dale Segoleh Oakmont was truly dead.

And Dale Segoleh Oakmont would not have died from suicide:

:but from a broken heart:

He would never understand love.

And he didn't need to now, either.

In fact, he was beginning to hate it now.

He painfully pressed on and stumbled through the door.

Foxglove thought she heard something behind her. She turned and echosounded, but no echo returned. She turned around again, but an immense burst of pain shot through her joints, causing her to stumble and fall. She tried to sit, but all of her joints, including those of her ribs, began to painfully stiffen again. Her ears and tail fell once more, as her energy levels dropped more and more. Where were her pills, again? And then, her heart accelerated again, adding to the pain. She began to breathe erratically. Finally, she panicked, and cried out:

“:*Foxglove*:” Dale almost choked. The knot in his throat was pressing so hard that it was impossible for him to chatter now. All he could generate was a hoarse whisper. As he continued, he stumbled over a chair, and fell on his face. He tried to stand, but his joints refused to obey. Not only that, but they were attacking him back. He, too, was hit with unbelievable pain all over his body, and his heartbeat and lungs went berserk as well. His ears and tail lost all energy as well. He was in trouble, AGAIN:

“:*Dale*:” The batmaid gasped. She had forcefully screeched with all her might, and could barely hear herself. She had to find help. She was *dying*:

Now that Dale had his nose pressed to the floor, he caught Foxglove's scent again. But it was still very weak, as if she had passed several days ago. Was this floor scent-proof? He painfully dragged himself in the direction his nose led him.

All of Foxglove's strength, even her emergency reserve strength, her last microgram of adrenaline, was gone. Even the small amounts she used for turning, moving her wingtips, twitching her ears and tail, or even for speaking, were nearly gone as well. But she couldn't stop and rest. She had to find Dale, Chip, *anyone*. She painfully took a deep breath, and screeched with all she had left,

“::*help*::” Someone, *anyone*. But no one could hear her. In fact, it seemed as if someone had whispered that word from behind a thick window, someone with another voice:

Dale pressed on. The floor was becoming less and less distinct now. He needed a full second to make his brain realise that his paw had touched the floor because it would not descend any further. And Foxglove's scent was rapidly evaporating.

“::*Chip*::” It was his last resort. But if he could barely hear himself, then there was no way that his best friend would hear him and rescue him from this, as he had done so many annoying times before. Panic and unbelievable fear enveloped him once more-

Panic and fear that he thought had left him the night of the pyre.

Panic and fear that he thought he had killed with Segoleh.

Panic and fear that had gripped the heart of the Comedian countless times before.

Panic and fear that caused so many foul-ups on his part.

Panic and fear that caused him to faint when his wife needed him most

Panic and fear that nearly killed Foxglove, his friends, and himself:

Panic and fear that he thought had died along with the Clown were back with a VENGEANCE, gripping the heart of the Fightmaster/Body-Builder/Cook/Mechanic/Stealth Expert/Detective/Rescue Ranger.

He could not escape them.

Unbelievable panic and unbelievable fear:

:because he finally realised he was *DYING*:

Foxglove wasn't sure where she was sitting at. She kept swaying her head back and forth, trying to get an echosounding, but neither her throat or her ears responded to her commands, much less her eyes. And now, she was feeling COLD.

No, not again, not when she was so close! She almost had him, and the KLUTZ had missed his chance of having unconditional love, and had missed it FOREVER!! There would be no more chances. And while she knew before that eventually she would die, this was certainly not the place where she expected to die in! At night, alone, in a storage room, backstage, in a nightclub, unloved, not cared for, ignored, rejected, sick, depressed, and broken-hearted, like a pathetic drug addict. But this time, there was no hint of peace in knowing that this pathetic life was almost over. Panic and fear enveloped her as well, practically insulting her in her final moments, adding to her torment:

:not even in death would she have peace:

There was no way out of this one. The Fightmaster/Body-Builder/Cook/Mechanic/Stealth Expert/Detective/Rescue Ranger was helpless! And he couldn't get help, either! Once a klutz, forever a klutz. He would die clumsily, like the Klutz he thought he killed. He would die alone, in the dark, where no one could see or hear him, beyond all help, and all because of his clumsiness. Why didn't he ask Chip to follow him? Why did he have to do this by himself? Why did he have to consider this as something so personal that not even his best friend was to be part of it?

*Stupid, stupid, stupid. You're stupid, Dale. And now you're going to die stupidly. What a _big_ surprise.* In the end, Chip, Gadget, and the others had been right. They *all* had been right in rejecting all input from him. And every single insult he received had been the 100% total truth. His tombstone would declare, “Here lies a stupid chipmunk. Chip, guys, you were right.” A stupid inscription fitting for his stupid life, which he stupidly handled and stupidly tried to share with a loved one, and stupidly disintegrated his loved one's heart and his own as well, and stupidly tried to make a radical change, and brought himself to a stupid end-

And then, his left paw felt something:

Foxglove shivered. She felt something grab her right ankle, sending yet another wave of pain through her throbbing brain, though the grip was *very* light, and she could barely feel the actual touch.

“::::*Dale*::::” she called again. No response.

Something soft, *very* soft. So soft, it was there, and yet it wasn't. His tactile sensors were also fading fast. But he *knew* he had stumbled on to something because his paw would not close. He was grabbing something soft, yet solid.

Huh? Did he hear something?

Foxglove thought she smelled something as well. She painfully extended her wing:

“::::*Foxglove*::::”

The unexpectedly improvised acoustic dome formed by her wing finally brought that sound to her ears. DALE!!! But her ears would not perk up again. They were too cold.

Dale was inhaling as hard as he could, but all the air was scentless, DEAD.

“::::::*Dale*::::::”

He didn't know if he heard his name being called out from within a dream or from beyond the grave, for he couldn't lift his ears anymore. But at the same time the sound reached them, a suspended scent particle triggered one fading nerve in his olfactory bulb. FOXGLOVE!!!

And then he barely felt something touch his back, something light, thin, leathery, and COLD. With pain now beyond measure, he stiffly brought himself to a sitting position.

Foxglove could barely feel him. And what she *could* feel was tremendously cold.

Dale moved himself next to her. He reached out, trying to feel her wing, but all he felt was cold leather. He turned his paw a little, and brushed it on Foxglove's snout. He shivered.

Foxglove shivered as she felt and sniffed Dale's cold paw. Life was so unfair. She knew her loved one was right next to her, but even in her final moments she was denied to see or hear him. His touch was freezing, almost nonexistent. His scent was weak.

Dale had run out of strength, as well as ideas. So he was next to Foxglove, but he, too, was denied actual sensory contact, save that of a fading touch and a fading scent.

It was all over.

Foxglove began gasping erratically as her body fought its imminent final shutdown.

Dale, too, gasped in an uneven rhythm as his body convulsed in the death throes.

Both were gasping so hard that neither could say anything. They were denied a final Good-bye, a final I Love You, a final Hug, a final Kiss, a final Touch, a final Sniff, a final Echo, a final Look.

Dale's life flashed before his eyes. He saw his early life in the forest, his first meeting with Chip, their times in school, their constant battles over females, their meeting with an angry white duck, their rescue of a beaver, their move to New York, their meeting with Plato, their first case, the night at the drive-in, his meeting with Foxglove, his initial reactions, her sudden departure, his failed attempts to win Gadget over, all the painful words and actions done to him, Foxglove's return, her kidnapping, falling in love with her, their times together, the tragic night, all that brought him to this point-

Foxglove's life flashed/resounded before her eyes/ears. She saw/heard herself hanging on to something soft and furry, a sudden blow, a moment in a bush, flying aimlessly throughout the state, trying to find a place to fit in, an encounter with a snake, her meeting with Winifred, the first time she heard Dale, his initial rejection, her pain and desperation, her time in the steeple, her hesitant return, her theft and her kidnapping, when Dale finally fell for her, their year together, his proposal, the night with Fat Cat, the horrible break-up, her time away, all that brought her to this point-

And then, once again, something strange happened to Foxglove.

This time, it was with a definite *deja-vue*.

With death now imminent, words formed in her mind as well as her heart once more, words which she suddenly remembered reciting alone, heavily injured, in a cage, in an abandoned office, one year ago, words that she had never heard nor read nor spoken before then, words that held no clear meaning to her, words that were in a language she had yet to learn, and yet, words that she knew would prepare her for Beyond.

Suddenly receiving a final surge of strength, her ears and tail perked up as she prepared to recite in an “A Elbereth Gilthoniel!” fashion-

The *deja-vue* suddenly stopped when she heard Dale suddenly perk his ears and gasp first,

“*Modeh-'ani lefanekha--HaShem---'Eloqay v'Eloqei---'Avotay--sherefu'ati umiytati---veyadekha-!*” It was certainly *not* the same words she recited last year, but she was surprised once more when she heard herself add,

“*Yehi--ratzon-m-millefanekha shetrappe'eini-----refu'ah--sh-sheleimah-!!*” Dale continued, surprising himself by how easily the words flowed, with only minor stuttering from his part,

“*--Ve'im--'amut---” they both shivered for some reason here, “--t-t-tehei'-miytati--khapparah--!!---'al kol-ch--chata'im-----'avonot-----!!*” It was almost as if they themselves were silent, and someone else was speaking from Beyond, through them. They were hearing each other as if from a great distance, and yet each word came loud and clear. Foxglove trembled,

“*-----Ufesha'im--sh--she--shechata'ti--!!!-veshe'aviti--!---veshepasha'ti---lefanekha--!!!*” They couldn't even say their final words in a dignified manner. Dale gasped,

“*---Vetein chelqi--!!-veGan 'Eden-----!!--vezakkeini-l-l-le'olam haba'-!--hatzafunlatzaddiqim---!!!!!*” And finally, Foxglove cried out,

“*'Al cheit'--!!!--shechata'nu---!!!--lefanekha be'ones----!!-uveratzon--!!*” Dale added, with this final surge suddenly fading out,

“*----Ve'al------cheit'--------shechata'nu------lefanekha-------b'immutz-----------h-h-h-h-h--halev--------ha-------lev-------------ha------------le----------------*” His ears and tail fell limp one last time. He began gasping and convulsing weakly, unable to continue. Foxglove's features also fell as she, too, faded out,

“*----------'Al------cheit'----------'al-------cheit'------sh----shechata'nu-----le---le--lefane--kha---------le-------fa-------ne-----------------*”

Neither was surprised that they were denied yet again, denied of finishing their final words. Foxglove also began gasping and convulsing more and more weakly. Their gasps were shallow, their convulsions reduced to minor twitches, their eyes finally completely covered with the death-mist.

And yet, among all that was denied to them, two glimmers of comfort remained.

One was that the curse from Hell would die with Dale, finally, once and for all, forever and ever, and no one else would have to suffer from it again.

And the other was that while they knew that their friends would have a horrible and depressing time finding them and putting them to rest, Dale and Foxglove would at least leave this life together, and in each other's arms/wings.

This life, this *pathetic* life filled with denials, heartbreak, depression, sickness, torment, not worth a gnat's wing or a bark splinter:

Their gasps became weaker and more and more spaced. Slowly, Dale's arms lowered and rested between him and Foxglove, while her wing contracted and fell limp behind him. Her head drifted to her right and came to rest on his shoulder. Her weight tilted him toward her, with his cracked nose resting on her forehead. Their final memories would be of their touch, of their scents, of their last breaths softly blowing through each other's fur:

Dale gave one final gasp and shudder:

Foxglove gave one final gasp and shudder:

The chipmunk exhaled one last time:

The batmaid exhaled one last time:

Darkness enveloped them:

An *empty* darkness:

A *rushing* darkness:

And finally:

::*oblivion*::

And with that, Dale Hastahah Oakmont, formerly Dale Segoleh Oakmont, Fightmaster/Body-Builder/Cook/Mechanic/Stealth Expert/Detective/Rescue Ranger, former Comedian/Romeo/Entertainment Expert/Clown/Klutz/Goof-up-

Died.

And Foxglove, Interpreter/Desesperada, former Language and Acoustics Engineer/Bride/Fiancée/Rescue Ranger, and even former Witch's Assistant Trainee/Thief/Pretender-

Died as well.

Slowly, their bodies cooled off, and began to stiff-

*BAQASHATKHEM 'USHERAH, BEVAQASHAH LESHAMMESHAH BECHOKHMAH-*

Suddenly, the rodent and the chiropterid gasped, flipping their ears up and snapping their eyes open.

They were sitting together on the floor, in a large and very well lit room, which was filled with small light bulbs of different shapes and colours, lighting fixtures, and mounts of several types, but mostly for stage lighting. There were also several small-mammal-sized guitars, keyboards, and other instruments. A chair had fallen on its side some distance from them.

They turned and looked/echosounded at each other, with utmost confusion and fright in their eyes.

Neither was quite sure Who had said those final words, much less what they meant. But when they realised who they both were and why they were here-

Foxglove was about to plead with him to take her back-

Dale was about to tell her off once and for all-

But then, they suddenly hugged each other, laid back their ears-

And *cried*.

They cried, cried, and *cried*, crying like they had never cried before, thoroughly dampening each other's left cheek and shoulder.

Crying all the tears that had been held back since their parting:

Crying because of the pain of their broken hearts.

Crying because they had missed each other.

Crying because of all the physical pain they had felt.

Crying because of all the rejection they had received, from each other, and from their friends.

Crying because Foxglove's parents were killed.

Crying because Dale had pulverised yet another heart.

Crying because a living creature had died because of them.

Crying because the songs they sang were beautiful.

Crying because all the efforts to get back together had been futile.

Crying because they had no idea what had just happened and they were incredibly scared.

Crying because they both knew that they would *never* get back together, *never* to become Husband and Wife.

Crying even more intensely than they had the night Dale let her go.

Crying for what seemed like an eternity:

And then, something began forming deep within their abdomens.

Slowly, at first.

They both ignored it from the start, but it gradually increased in intensity.

A light tickling?

No, a *definite* tickling.

Odd, no one was tickling each other at this point.

But the tickling intensified, more and more and *more* and MORE and *MORE*.

It then became a definite *bubbling*, which arose from the pit of their bellies, and it increased more and more, rising up their torsos and into their heads, making them think they were both going to explode-

For no apparent reason, the tamias and the pipistrell began to *laugh*.

Not only that, but they began laughing almost as hard as they were crying a moment ago.

Laughing so hard, in fact, that they both began to sweat from their abdominal exertions.

Still in a tight embrace, they continued their spontaneous hilarity, but the laughter was so intense that their arms/wings actually weakened in their grip, transferring all energy to their diaphragms.

And yet, it seemed to them that as they continued laughing, their strength actually began building up again, with all the pain slowly fading away.

Foxglove didn't know what she was laughing at, nor what she found so funny. Then again, she had never heard Dale laugh so hard or so loud. And he sounded *so funny* when he laughed!! And also, he *had* got stronger, as she felt him embrace her tighter than what she remembered.

Dale did not remember seeing or hearing anything funny today, or for the last months, either. But here he was, laughing, and enjoying it, and Foxglove was laughing as well. Maybe it was the way she sounded when she laughed that was causing him to laugh so. Not that he minded, because he *liked* hearing her laugh.

They kept laughing and bouncing and shaking on each other, and their eyes now cried tears of laughter. Both wondered if this was going to make them lose control of *other* corporal functions:

And after what seemed like an eternity of hilarity, they calmed down to soft giggles, which still shook them a trifle. They released each other, and sat back again.

It was here that Foxglove noticed something. All the previous pain she felt, in her joints, in her chest, in her throat, was now gone. She could see, hear, and echosound clearly, and her ears and tail moved without hassle. She was a trifle sore from all the laughter, but, she felt:*fine*, for some reason.

What was more, it seemed that the brace Dale had on his snout had fallen off. She *heard* the echo of the brace on the floor:

:and her right shoulder was *perfectly fine*, too:

Dale could breathe deeply and freely now. All his joints moved with ease. He could wiggle his ears and quiver his tail again. He brought one paw to his chest, and pressed lightly. His ribs no longer hurt-

His chest brace was *gone*.

His eyes and his other paw informed that his snout brace was also gone, *and* that his nose was straight again, *and* that it no longer hurt, either.

He did a double take on the floor, and saw that his snout and chest braces were there, among all the bandages he was wearing a few minutes ago.

He looked over at Foxglove, and, she too, was bandage free.

Her bandages were beside her as well.

That was enough to get him slightly scared again, and he laid his ears back.

Finally, he spoke, and was surprised to hear himself speak quite clearly and normally, if just a trifle nervously,

“Foxy, w-w-what happened?” The batmaid felt in the clouds again as her loved one's voice fill her ears again, as she heard him say her name, without impediment. Still, she had to reply, also with slightly frightened ears,

“I---I don't know, Dale--and--I'm not sure I actually *want* to know.” Hey, her voice worked in *all* frequencies again! The chipmunk also felt a trifle light-headed when he heard her voice again. He sniffed and giggled a trifle, trying unsuccessfully to sound serious,

“Foxy-he he!-um-did we just die and come back again?” The verspetilionid thought for a moment, trying to come up with any type of explanation of the previous experience. She, too, sniffed and giggled, wiping some sweat and tears from her face with her newly restored right wing,

“Dale-Cute Stuff-I---mwhe he he he!--I think--we *did*--but if we came back---kha!--if we were *brought* back--it must have been for a *very* good reason--ha ha!-ahem!” The sciurid chuckled a trifle, still trying to get serious. Maybe pure and flat-out seriousness wasn't an integral part of him anymore.

“And--ha ha!---what reason would *that* be??” The expression on his face was a comical mix of slight fright, bewilderment, relief, and joy. He also wiped some tears and sweat off his face, contorting it slightly. Foxglove almost broke up in laughter again.

“I'm--I'm--har har har!--not sure--” They looked/echosounded at each other's eyes again. They breathed deeply again, savouring each other's restored scents. Too confused to speak, they raised their ears and just looked/echosounded at each other, seeing/hearing relief and love in their eye reflections/facial echo.

“Dale--I--I *can't* live without you--*literally*!!” she finally declared, as seriously as she could, but still unable to remove the smile from her face. Dale just looked at her. That statement had been proven to its maximum extent, and he knew that. He also knew that it was *also* the same on *his* side of things. But before he could reply, Foxglove did something to further increase his confusion. With both of her wings, she took hold of his right paw, and brought it close to her face. With her newly restored nimbleness on her wingtips, she carefully extended all his digits, and took hold of his thumb. Dale was careful to loosen up his arm and paw so she could do this, but he couldn't help but feel just slightly apprehensive of what she was doing.

And then, Foxglove lowered her head, laid her ears back, closed her eyes:

:*and kissed Dale's thumb*.

He shivered, but not because of any previous sickness.

Foxglove looked up at him again, raising her ears and quivering her tail, smiling, with her eyes glistening, waiting for his response to her newly restored instinct.

He wasn't sure of *what* to respond to this action. He wasn't sure if he still wanted to blow her off now. He wasn't sure if that kiss felt good or just plain weird. He wasn't sure if he wanted to give her the biggest kiss ever, on her lips, of course.

He wasn't sure of *anything* now.

So instead, he just embraced her tightly again, without fearing for cracked ribs now. His ears were at full attention, and his tail was now a complete blur. And he wasn't sure if he wanted this moment to end-

“*:and if you only hold me tight, we'll be holding on _forever_:*”

Tears flowed again, from both of them:

NEXT / NÄCHSTE / A CONTINUACION / A SEGUIR / NÄSTA

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