See what I mean about the Mesdames having worse luck than
the Messrs in Series 2?
Something that the White Stag (the head animal at White Deer Park) did in an attempt to address the growing tensions between the blue foxes and the newly-arrived Farthing foxes was to set aside an area of the park as "Farthing Land". The blue foxes would be forbidden to hunt there and Fox, in exchange, was likewise obliged not to hunt on their land. This didn’t work out too brilliantly in
practice, however. Not only were the red
foxes severely limited in their food supply that winter (most of the animals
who hung around Farthing Land were Farthing animals, after all), but Scarface wasn’t
exactly inclined to honour such restrictions if he thought that he could get away
with it. Mrs. Vole was the first victim of
his debauchery, and she wouldn’t be the last.
When winter sets in and food becomes particularly scarce,
the smaller animals’ trust in the Farthing predators begins to crumble. If anything could drive the carnivores among
them into disregarding the Oath, it’s extreme hunger, right? (Kestrel’s earlier misadventure with Mrs
Field-Mouse wasn’t exactly brilliant PR on that front.) So when Mrs. Vole suddenly goes missing,
Vole’s immediate assumption is that Fox, who was nearby when she had last been
seen, is responsible.
Fortunately for Fox, Scarface's devouring of
Mrs. Vole did not go unwitnessed - Weasel was lurking in the shadows at the time. With Weasel able to vouch for Fox, a potential uprising amongst the Farthing animals is swiftly
averted.
HORROR FACTOR: 7. Scarface grabs and mauls Mrs. Vole
onscreen in a fairly violent (albeit bloodless) manner.
It’s somewhat mitigated, however, by the unintentionally hilarious
close-up shot of Mrs. Vole screaming right before hand.
NOBILITY FACTOR: 2. I can’t really apply the same criteria
here for Scarface as I did the butcher bird in Series 1, given that Scarface knowingly
violated the White Stag’s laws in eating Mrs. Vole. And seriously, who wants their final legacy
to be providing nourishment for an evil shit like that?
TEAR-JERKER FACTOR: 2. This particular death is played more for shock than tears.
RATING: 11
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