Fox's Feud
First edition
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| Author | Colin Dann |
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| Illustrator | Terry Riley |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Animals of Farthing Wood (book series) |
| Genre | Children's, Fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Hutchinson |
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Publication date
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1982 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 174 pp (first edition, hardback) |
| ISBN | (first edition, hardback) |
| OCLC | 12470407 |
| Preceded by | In the Grip of Winter |
| Followed by | The Fox Cub Bold |
Fox's Feud is the third book of The Animals of Farthing Wood series. It was first published in 1982 and has since been included in a single book with both The Fox Cub Bold and In the Grip of Winter and in the "Omnibus" edition (Hutchinson, 1994).
Following the losses of the harsh winter in White Deer Park, the animals face a new danger when they are treated with hostility by many of the Park's residents, including the territorial fox, Scarface.
The book begins with the birth of Vixen's four cubs: Bold, Friendly, Charmer and Dreamer. Shortly afterwards an old scar faced fox, who is referred to as Scarface, approaches them. He tell them that his family has lived on this land since before it became a nature reserve and he does not like foxes from outside. Later Scarface watches Fox and Vixen training their cubs to hunt. Annoyed by how competent Bold is, Scarface attacks them and tries to kill Bold, but is beaten back by Bold and Vixen while the other cubs run away. Though Scarface is forced to retreat, Dreamer is later found dead, her body having been brutally mauled, and Fox has no doubt that Scarface was the culprit.
Fox and Vixen then accompany their cubs at all times while they hunt, however Bold resents this and demands greater freedom. Upon being granted this freedom he leaves the part of White Deer Park where the Farthing Wood animals live, despite his father telling him to not leave this area. While exploring he meets Adder who warns him that Scarface patrols this area; then Ranger, one of Scarface's sons and Scarface then suddenly appear and attack Bold. Though Bold evades Scarface and Ranger, Scarface calls upon a dozen nearby foxes who encircles Bold.
Adder tells Hare that Bold has been captured, and Hare informs Fox and Vixen. Fox then calls the Farthing Wood animals together and everyone heads off together to rescue Bold. Fox, Vixen, Friendly, and Charmer go on ahead to face Scarface while the other animals remain behind. Bold then suddenly appears and tell everyone that he was able to escape from Scarface's foxes by tricking one of the guards and outrunning the rest. When told by Kestrel that Fox is trying to rescue him Bold regrets his rash actions. The animals head towards Fox and find that the Great White Stag is mediating the conflict between Fox and Scarface, resolving it without any fighting. The animals later realise that Adder asked the Great White Stag to be the mediator.
Later, Scarface kills Hare's mate, and Fox decides that Scarface has to be killed. As Scarface is the main threat and has no successor Fox is confident that killing Scarface will cause their problems to end. While Fox wants Adder to kill Scarface he knows that asking Adder directly will not work, so he has Bold and Friendly go and hint to Adder that killing Scarface is vital for everyone's safety. However Bold is not cunning enough to fool Adder and after mentioning that Hare's mate has been killed Adder promises to 'even the score'. Adder then poisons one of Ranger's cousins and returns to Fox only to learn that Fox wanted him to kill Scarface. Fox is angry with Bold for not passing on the message correctly, but Adder does accept part of the blame so Bold is not punished so harshly.
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