Sunset painted the verdant landscape of The Shadowlands in brilliant hues of crimson and orange, casting long shadows over the lush undergrowth. The vibrant wildlife had begun to settle down for the day, their calls fading into the serene whisper of the breeze.
Nestled beneath the sprawling roots of a majestic oak tree, concealed by a moss-covered hatch, was the quaint den of two foxes: Laguna Lacuna and REPL.
REPL possessed wisdom beyond her few years, a precocious and curious kit who -- despite only being a detective for a year -- had already solved more mysteries than any fox outside of her immediate gene pool.
Laguna, her mother, was a fountain of knowledge, her years of experience and understanding etched in the lines of her weathered face. Together, the pair lived amidst the riotous beauty of The Shadowlands, their home a hub of community, wisdom, and warmth.
But tonight, an eerie silence hung over their abode.
Earlier that day, they had discovered a body just outside their home.
The victim was Friendly Zombie, a beloved figure and pillar of the community renowned for his kindness and amiable nature.
Now, he lay lifeless on their doorstep.
As twilight gave way to a blanket of stars, REPL's cousin Feathers arrived at their den, her grey-and-silver speckled fur catching the moon’s light.
The grim set of her jaw echoed the heavy pallor that had descended over the community. REPL and Laguna greeted her solemnly. Together with Feathers, REPL was determined to discover the truth behind Friendly Zombie's untimely demise.
As the morning light spilled through the leaves of the great oak tree, REPL and Feathers found themselves back at the crime scene. Dew clung to the grass, casting an ethereal glow around the area, a stark contrast to the blood stains and scratches left in the tree trunk.
With meticulous care, REPL scanned the ground, her youthful eyes taking in the minutest of details. After a few minutes, she and Feathers both stooped low to the ground, studying the faint imprints left in the soil. There was a certain grace and respect in their movements, acknowledging the tragedy while leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice.
As they worked, the two of them communicated in whispers, ensuring their conversation didn't disturb the quiet sanctity of the dawn.
After what felt like hours of painstaking examination, REPL's eyes fell upon an object half-buried in the earth. A tiny glint of metal caught the morning sun, peeking out from the damp soil. Carefully, she unearthed it with the utmost delicacy, mindful of any potential evidence that could be lost with a careless move. As she held it up for both of them to see, the realisation hit them - it was a small pocketknife.
The find sent a shiver down their spines.
Feathers carefully took the knife, her face hardened as she studied it. Her gaze was intense, full of determination, as she traced the tiny nicks and scratches along the knife's handle. The innocuous little tool had suddenly become the most important piece of evidence.
With the pocket knife safely secured in a pouch, REPL and Feathers retreated to the privacy of the den where they spread out a map of The Shadowlands on a worn table, and with a bit of charcoal, began to mark the residences of potential suspects.
Each name added weight to the task ahead.
I Will Ruin U: Known for his volatile temper and unpredictable nature, I Will Ruin U had a long-standing rivalry with Friendly Zombie. They'd had a public dispute over territorial boundaries just a week before the tragedy. While it was difficult to imagine I Will Ruin U as a killer, his penchant for confrontation made him the lead suspect.
Mempool: Mempool, a shrewd fox, held a financial grudge against Friendly Zombie. There had been a significant debt between them, one that Friendly Zombie had been unable to repay. While Mempool was known to be pragmatic, his sudden desperation for repayment had raised a few eyebrows in the community.
Redemption: Redemption and Friendly Zombie had a complex history. Once best friends, a falling out over a love interest had caused a rift between them. Redemption had been heartbroken and humiliated.
Laguna Lacuna: This was the most puzzling suspect of them all. Laguna Lacuna was the last one seen with Friendly Zombie on the night of the murder. However, the nature of their conversation was unknown. The location of the crime scene didn’t help either.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Confronting her own mother was a moment REPL had not anticipated. Sitting across from Laguna Lacuna in their den, she felt a pang of uncertainty. "Mum," she began, her voice steady, "I need to know what you and Friendly Zombie talked about before his death."
Laguna Lacuna, met her daughter's gaze steadily, the weight of the situation hanging heavily between them.
She answered casually, offering only a brief account of their conversation as she turned and examined the old family portraits that hung over the mantle. She normally hated the reminders of the past.
“Mostly just reminiscing about old times”, she said. “And Friendly Zombie's plans to leave The Shadowlands.”
"Have you ever seen this before?" REPL brought her attention back to the table as she pulled out the pocketknife.
As Laguna Lacuna studied the knife, her face unreadable, REPL found herself caught in a silent battle between the detective and the daughter within her. Without doubt, this was the most difficult interrogation she had ever conducted.
As REPL navigated the emotional turbulence, another development interrupted.
Feathers bounded into the small den without warning.
“Mempool was just seen hastily packing his belongings,” she panted. “He’s abandoned his den without explanation!”
The news struck the mother and daughter like a bolt of lightning - an unexplained flight was as good as a confession. It certainly looked like guilt, but they knew better than to jump to conclusions.
Nonetheless, their investigation had become a chase, and every second mattered. Leaving Laguna behind, they raced across The Shadowlands, their hearts pounding.
The trail from Mempool’s abandoned den led them to the whispering willow, a towering landmark that had once acted as a reliable portal to faraway lands, but had long since stopped being trustworthy.
In the shadows of the base of the tree, they spotted a furtive figure trying to make a hasty escape - Mempool. The fox scrabbled, and scratched, and begged the tree to work.
The detectives closed in on their suspect. Mempool didn’t even notice until he was a pinned against the massive trunk of the willow tree.
His eyes darted between REPL and Feathers, the panic in them belying his usually composed demeanour.
"What's this about, Mempool? Fleeing The Shadowlands all of a sudden?" REPL asked, her voice stern but not unkind. Mempool's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Feathers stepped forward, her voice softer, "We know about the debt, Mempool. The one between you and Friendly Zombie. Is that why you're running?"
The mention of the debt seemed to hit a nerve, and Mempool's eyes widened for just a second before he looked away. "That's old news," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
"But it's not just about the debt, is it?" REPL pressed. "You're scared. What aren't you telling us?"
Mempool's eyes flickered and his body trembled slightly. The silence hung heavy as REPL and Feathers waited for him to speak.
Finally, Mempool's voice broke, a note of desperation creeping in. "It wasn't just a debt between Friendly and me," he stammered. "There was a third party involved. Someone we both owed. Someone dangerous."
The revelation sent a chill down REPL's spine.
"Who is it, Mempool? Who are you both indebted to?" Feathers asked, her voice now filled with urgency.
"I can't say," he whispered, trembling. "But I'll tell you this: Friendly Zombie was killed because of that debt. And I fear I might be next."
As Mempool finished speaking, his eyes flicked to a particular knot in the willow’s trunk. In one swift motion, he lunged toward it. Before REPL and Feathers could react, Mempool melted into the tree, disappearing as if he had become one with the bark. They both stared at the spot where Mempool had stood just seconds ago.
After witnessing Mempool's disappearance, REPL and Feathers exchanged an annoyed glance. Wordlessly, they turned away from the willow tree.
As REPL and Feathers made their way through the underbrush, a shadowy figure emerged from the far side of the meadow and began to follow them.
Suddenly, REPL and Feathers found themselves face to face with I Will Ruin U. The fox, known for his volatile nature, looked up from a patch of berries he had been foraging.
"Ah, the so-called detectives," he sneered, "come to accuse me?"
Feathers took the lead, her eyes locking onto I Will Ruin U's. "We need to talk about Friendly Zombie," she stated, cutting to the chase.
"A tragic loss," I Will Ruin U replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
REPL stepped forward, her annoyance visible. "Were you involved in his death?"
I Will Ruin U chuckled darkly. "Would it surprise you if I said no? I didn't kill Friendly Zombie, but I can't say I'm unhappy he's gone. He was always so... irritatingly cheerful."
Feathers studied I Will Ruin U's face for a moment, gauging his sincerity. "You didn't kill him, but you also don't seem to mind that he's gone. Interesting."
"Why should I?" I Will Ruin U snapped. "We had our differences, but even I'm not cruel enough to murder someone over a petty rivalry."
REPL and Feathers exchanged another glance. I Will Ruin U may not have been the killer, but his lack of remorse didn't do him any favours. Yet, something in his manner convinced them he was telling the truth about not being involved. With a nod, they moved on, leaving I Will Ruin U to his berries and his bitterness.
Returning to the scene of the crime, REPL and Feathers were surprised to find another fox already there. It was Redemption, digging through the underbrush, his face etched with a mix of concentration and frustration.
"Redemption," Feathers called out cautiously, "what are you doing here?"
The fox looked up, startled. "I... I lost something. A keepsake. I thought I might find it here, where Friendly Zombie... you know."
REPL's gaze narrowed. "A keepsake? Anything like this?" She produced the pocket knife, watching Redemption's reaction carefully.
His eyes widened at the sight of the knife. "No, that's not mine. But it does look a lot like the one Friendly Zombie used to carry."
The atmosphere grew tense. Had they just stumbled upon another clue, or was Redemption just as entangled in this web of mystery as everyone else? They couldn't be sure, but every interaction was another piece of the puzzle.
As they made their way back to their den, REPL and Feathers felt the weight of the day's revelations settling in. Upon entering, they found Laguna Lacuna patiently awaiting their return, the ambient light casting her face in a warm glow.
"Laguna," REPL began, "we need to talk about everything that's happened. Especially concerning Friendly Zombie's death."
Laguna Lacuna sighed, her eyes showing a mix of sorrow and seriousness.
“Mempool ran but we caught him. When we confronted him, he managed to disappear into the tree portal."
Laguna paused, absorbing the information. "Did you find out why he was fleeing?"
"He said he and Friendly Zombie owed a debt to a dangerous third party," REPL relayed. "He was afraid that with Friendly Zombie gone, he'd be next."
The atmosphere in the room grew thick, and Laguna Lacuna took a deep breath before speaking.
"It’s best that you know that your father was that third party."
REPL stared at her, stunned.
“I never trusted Savage Quarrel,” grunted Feathers.
"Your father had many dealings, not all of them above board. He left The Shadowlands years ago to evade the consequences but left some unfinished business."
REPL felt her heart sink. "So you're saying Dad could be involved in Friendly Zombie's murder?"
"I don't want to believe it," Laguna's voice trembled. "But if it’s true we are all in danger. He always said his family owed him more than anyone else."
The room fell silent, each absorbed in their thoughts, wrestling with newfound complexities in a case that already seemed impossible to untangle.
REPL and Feathers hunkered patiently in the tall grass for hours. They’d have quit the stakeout long ago if the stakes hadn’t been so high.
Every rustle of leaves, every whisper of the wind seemed to echo with a haunting resonance.
The darkest part of the night had passed. Dawn was around the corner. Another night wasted without sleep.
And that’s when the shadowy watcher emerged for a second time.
This time, he didn’t follow.
He skulked.
And he hunted.
He slithered his way around the base of the tree where REPL and Laguna had lived. He moved smoothly, and quietly -- each step placed with the precision of one who knew every pebble and stick of the land beneath it.
How ironic then, that it was the final footfall in front of the door that hoisted Savage Quarrel off the ground, suspended and trussed by his ankles before he even had a chance to react.
Laguna stepped into the clearing first, her face a mask of determination mixed with sorrow. "Husband," she said, her voice steady yet tinged with a bitterness that cut through the still air, "did it really have to come to this?"
Savage Quarrel's face twisted with fury as he saw Laguna. "Laguna," he spat, struggling against the snare. "Your debts are still unpaid."
Laguna scoffed.
“Cut me down and face your fate fairly,” Quarrel yelled from on high.
A small crowd began to form as neighbours peeked out from their dens.
But before Savage Quarrel could continue, REPL stepped into the clearing, her face stern, eyes filled with a mix of betrayal, anger, and longing for answers.
"You left us," she said, her voice quivering slightly, "and now you come back like this... as a murderer?"
Savage Quarrel whipped his head around, but upon seeing his daughter the fight went out of him. He closed his eyes, unable to meet her accusing eyes.
"You weren’t supposed to see this side of me," he whispered.
The only mystery REPL could never solve was what happened next.
To the assembled observers, it looked just like a pocketknife had abruptly jutted out from Savage Quarrel’s chest.
And thus the debt was paid.