Vixen (Farthing Wood)

Vixen is a fictional character from the animated children's television series The Animals of Farthing Wood based upon the books of the same name by author Colin Dann.

Introduction

Vixen is the mate of Fox and is voiced by Stacy Jefferson.

Vixen was introduced to the series near the hunting grounds, shortly after Fox had gone missing. She met him there, and the two found themselves split up into two separate tracks, running from a hunt. While she was being chased alone by the hounds, Fox took the courage to go back and save her (by throwing the hounds off her trail. It was because of this that she decided she wanted to be his mate.) However the confused hounds were told to then follow the trail of one fox, and that was Vixen. The chase began again, but it was taking it's toll on Vixen's strength as she climbed the hill towards Fox. As she fell, the hunt master was just about to strike her when Adder bit the leg of the horse he was saddled on. The hunt was then called off.

Now welcomed into the group, she later took the Ancient Woodland Vow with Whistler.

Description

Vixen is a caring and fairly optimistic character. She always has kind words for the other animals - even Weasel - and tries to be positive about the journey. Although she worries about Fox when he is absent, she reassures him when he is anxious about the other animals, such as during the thunderstorm in the town. She is very upset when the animals are scattered after the episode "Pandemonium" and blames herself for leaving them behind. She is reluctant to go on without everyone else, expressing pride that they had all come so far together. When Owl then blames Fox for losing everyone, Vixen defends him by telling Owl that an "animals instinct is survival first and foremost". A bit later, when Owl is reluctant to fly out and search for the animals, Vixen cleverly praises the bird's hunting ability and this successfully convinces Owl to take part.

Later in the series, when they settled at White Deer Park, the foxes come into conflict with the resident blue foxes. Confined to Farthing land by Scarface, Fox and Vixen struggle to hunt during the harsh winter and have to accept crayfish from Whistler. Vixen remarks that she feels as if the blue foxes are keeping them prisoner on their own land. Seeing Fox starving, Vixen approaches Scarface and Lady Blue on her own to challenge them. Her pleas to be allowed to hunt outside Farthing land are unsuccessful.

Vixen is sympathetic to Badger when he returns from the Warden's house, claiming that he is simply confused and needs their help. Following Badger's idea of scavenging outside the Park, Vixen and Fox raid a farm. They are in time to see the farmer shooting two blue foxes and are able to take the chickens dropped by the dead animals. Unfortunately, Scarface and his mate see this. The raids continue, and Fox and Vixen are seen carrying chickens again when the deer is shot by poachers in "New Enemies". Vixen is also the only one who seems concerned that the animals have not seen Weasel for a while during "New Enemies". When Weasel brings Fox a message from Scarface, Vixen asks Fox not to be too harsh.

After Fox's triumph over the poacher's Vixen is seen celebrating with the other animals, and once they are alone she reveals that she is going to have cubs.

Children

She has four cubs Bold, Friendly, Charmer and Dreamer. Only Friendly and Charmer are still in the park as adults, Dreamer being killed at a young age and Bold leaving the park and dying as he tries to return home.

Vixen had one grandchild, Plucky, from Bold, who died before Plucky's birth. In the books she also acquires another from Friendly, Pace.

External links

* [http://www.tv.com/the-animals-of-farthing-wood/show/27826/episode.html The Animals of Farthing Wood episode guide]