There once was a benevolent fox who lived alone at the edge of a village. The fox, whose name was Basil, was the fastest in all of the land, and was quite proud of this fact. Basil had been a track star all throughout school, and moved on to win countless marathons. All of the forest animals admired his great skill and speed, and nobody came close to challenging him.
There came a day when the townsfolk came to hear of the great feats a certain fox had accomplished, and organized a village-wide race. Certain villages could not believe that an animal could even begin to compare to a human in speed. Most of the villagers were offended, and dismissed the thought that a fox could beat any of them. A certain villager, one named Les Stroud, came to town that day to pick up beans and potatoes for him and his wife. When he heard that a fox had challenged the humans, he laughed, and entered the race immediately. For Les Stroud had also been an expert runner as a teen, and could run the length of the forest in record time. Les looked to the day that the village would truly admire him for not only beating this fox, but for winning the race.
There came the day of the race, and as the sun rose over the hills still wet from dew, the participants lined up to challenge Basil. Basil was not nervous, for he know that he was the quickest, and he would not lose. As the starter gun was fired, all of the townsfolk, including Les Stroud, started at once, but Basil was too quick for them. Basil finished the race half an hour before anyone else. Basil took his trophy, and modestly trotted back into the forest, greeted by all the other foxes. Les Stroud came to the finish line second, but by then, everyone had left. He was outraged. His glory had been stolen by a fox! Les swore that one day, he would have revenge on Basil the fox.
Three years later, Basil was sitting in his den, and chatting with other foxes about days past. Basil had retained his popular status all throughout the years, and had not once been challenged since the big race. Suddenly, Basil’s neighbor, Danial, ran in and told of a horrid creature boasting of great speed, and insulting townsfolk and animals alike. Danial told Basil that he had already vulgarly insulted his friend Susan, who was a cow. Basil felt it was his duty to stop this terrible monster. He went to find Susan, and found her weeping in a field.
“My fare heifer, what is wrong?” Basil said.
“Oh fox! I was approached by a small brown demon! He spoke of feats such as outrunning an entire barn full of threshers, a field full of mowers, and an old man and woman!” Susan moaned.
Susan pointed the direction the creature had followed, and Basil continued on his quest. Soon he came across a horse who told the same tragic story. The horse said that the small devil was waiting in Miller’s Field for Basil’s arrival. Basil uncertainly walked the rest of the way, where sure enough a small creature was standing in the middle of the field. It started to rain and a chill shot through Basil’s spine. The walk to the mysterious creature was one Basil remembered as being filled with fear, fear of the unknown. Suddenly, a booming voice that sounded of nails against glass, but almost omnipresent in the sense that it sound as if coming from no distinct source, screamed the following:
“I've run away from a little old woman, a little old man, a barn full of threshers, a field full of mowers, a cow and a horse, and I can run away from you, I can!”
“Why are you doing this?!” Basil yelled over the new-found thunder.
“You shamed my family! My father would have been world renowned! You stole our fortune before it was even know to us! Now you must pay! Once it becomes known that a Stroud has beaten the infamous Basil the fox, we will strive, and you will suffer!” The small demon retorted in a deathly shriek.
“Tell me your story,” Basil spoke, “for I fear I do not entirely understand!”
“You would be the one to say such a thing!” The devil vociferated, “I am the son of Les Stroud and Martha Stroud! You shamed my father three years ago today! He was planning on challenging you again, but his legs were crushed by a falling tree, and is incapable of walking ever again! My father realized he needed an heir to follow in his path, and thus I was spawned! For not only was my father a skillful runner, but my mother was a famous chef!”
“You have it all wrong! I am not the one who is deserves this torment, it is your father!” Basil pleaded. “Don’t do this!”
But the Spawn of Stroud did not listen, and challenged Basil to a race. The devil of ginger color started with blinding speed, sending rain and barley off the ground and into the air. The rain increased to a downpour, and the thunder was deafening. Basil started, and caught up to the creature in a part of the forest where the sun does not reach. Basil pinned the creature to the soaked earth with lightning speed.
“I warned you.” whispered Basil. He looked into the demons eyes, and saw a look of absolute terror, then sank his fangs into the creature’s heart.
