Vivainne Desegur, Knight Exemplar and Guardian of the Cave rode through the forest, seeking out adventure. As the night came she happened on a well which did show in a clearing there. Knowing of no safe stronghold thereby she did take off her armour and sleep quiet by the well as she had travelled far and was weary.
In her dream she saw a fox, canny and cruel, searching the high and low all the banks wherein the rabbit’s houses did shew their holes or doors. The rabbits, meek and mild, lay quiet in their places safe and sound away from the fox’s swift jaws. Soon after the fox sat a while to see his way to gaining his prize when a mouse did chance by on its chores.
The Fox placed a sharp paw on the mouse and leaned to deal a savage bite, but the mouse cried out saying.
‘There are many creatures greater than I that could satisfy your hunger, if you but spare me I will furnish you with the repast that you require.’
The Fox asked the Mouse what might this be and the mouse replied,
‘I can deliver to you a full-grown rabbit, but in return you must swear to protect me and my kind and chase after us no more. Our accord shall be our safety and protection in return for a rabbit.’
The Fox agreed and sat beneath a nearby tree.
‘Bring me a rabbit now,’ he said.
The Mouse and his companions entered the rabbits burrow and being full strong in numbers tied the rabbit tight with vines and did pull him forth into the outside. Therewith they delivered the rabbit straight to the Fox and claimed their sanctuary. The Fox despatched the rabbit soon and then came towards the mice, eating them up one by one as he came.
The mouse cried, ‘You have promised to protect us but now you are falling upon us, this cannot be.’
The Fox said, ‘I am powerful, you are weak. It is common for powerful creatures to promise all kinds of boons to the weak in pursuit of their goals. But, being powerful means, we have no need to keep our promises and our lies will forever go punished.’
And so saying, he swallowed the last mouse.
The Guardians of the Cave 