Nearer to home, Tigtoes’s friend, Old HedgeDog, or one of his descendants, had brought news from the wilds, and related how the ancient grey beard badgers had heard of the foxes’ success with infiltrating the urban environment. They were keen to improve the future of their species, even if it meant becoming more friendly with the foxes. They were worried about the culling in certain parts, how to improve the road sense of the species and generally get on better with the foxes, asking for help with tackling becoming a successful urban animal.


Whilst changing their behaviour and investigating what the cities had to offer, they also felt that urban congestion would mean slower vehicles, and a better chance of safely crossing the road.


Old HedgeDog squeezed through the bushes with his cart of takeaway snacks, just where Tigtoes and his braather Squimps were relaxing, enjoying the sunshine.

“Sold out again,” he said, with a shrug of his spiky shoulders, “those foxes love my small additions to their diets. Always pay upfront too! No requests for credit. They’re stocking their store cupboards, in case all this badger trouble kicks off!”


Tigtoes and Squimps were keen to hear more.

“There’s talk along the hedgerows, that the odd badger has been seen scouting out the opportunities,” explained HedgeDog, “there’s trouble afoot, to my way of thinking.”

Squimps mentioned how The Bullpuss and Mungojerrie, on one of their late night investigations along the disused railway line, had encountered a team of badgers, excavating the sandy banks and creating burrows and setts for their families.

The whole neighbourhood was experiencing an increased level of tension. It was this that the Space-Lynxes had detected.