As I climb out of my car and open my car boot, my large dog jumps out, and we head off on our daily walk at lunchtime. A welcome break from the hustle and bustle in work. This is the dog's time as well so I leave him off the lead entering the woods. After a few years doing the same 40 minute loop we meet the same people. My dog looks like a monster but has a nervous disposition. He doesn't like strangers but he has gotten to know the old man and his scruffy dog that walk in the opposite direction most days on our walk.
Every day I get the same question from the old man.
Did you hear the banshee on your way around?
Not this time, I reply like I normally do.
The dogs square up to each other and follow us as soon as walk on. The old man is always looking for this female spirit in the forest. Myself and the dog cut off the beaten track to a denser part of the wood. I pull out some leftover chicken and wait by a mound. Out come a little red fox and soon after her cubs. My dog is a gentle soul and he looks on inquisitively at the young ones. He knows they are babies just like the human babies that are at home with us.
Mother fox is always nervous of the hound but the chicken always brings her out. I leave the chicken down as her teeth are like blades and I made that mistake a couple of years previous. My dog whimpers when he sees the poultry but he knows the routine. They have their meal and we leave them in peace.
A couple of minutes later I hear the cries of the banshee. Mother fox calling her kids back to the den.
