A Scoutmaster's Nightmare - A Story for Kitcoon

A Scoutmaster's Nightmare - A Story for Kitcoon

“Right troop, get yourselves ready for the night!”

Kit stood over his scout group and grinned. They were a great cohort this year, excelling in survival and teamwork. Many were already well on their way to Eagle status.

“Yes sir!'' A unified cry came out from the group as they split into their designated teams and unpacked their supplies. Tents went up, cooking utensils came out and nightwear was neatly placed to one side ready for the evening ahead.

Kit couldn’t be a prouder scout master.

“Well done boys!”

The smiles from around him were visible on the faces of all of the kids. As the sun went down over the crest of the hill, they started to shuffle into the newly erected tents and settled down for the night.

“Lights out in ten, keep the noise down and get some rest for tomorrow”

Kit moved around the camp as he saw the lamps inside slowly dim down one by one. His own torch would stay on a little while longer before he himself settled down for the night.

“Oh my”

The voice, joined with a small giggle, made him shoot round to the edges of the treeline next to the camp.

“He’s quite the adorable fox hmm?”

Kit felt a blush come to his cheeks out of instinct. He composed himself as he swept the forest entrance with his torch.

“Who’s there?”

He heard a slight rustle of leaves above him. His torch caught the reflective surface of something as it pulled upwards, but he could see nothing else.

“Quite the scamp. He’s the leader, right?”

“Looked like it, all the other ones went to sleep except him”

The voices seemed to bounce around the trees, keeping Kit from locating the source. They seemed to be above and around him all at once.

“BOO!”

Kit jumped backwards as a small flying animal burst out in front of him. While his legs were expecting to find solid ground when he landed, instead they found the root of a nearby tree. With a squeal of surprise, he fell onto his rear, a soft squelch from the mud under him making him grimace even as he was thankful for the soft surface. The giggling started up again as Kit gazed into the eyes of the small face that had so rudely surprised him.

“Goodness! Didn’t expect you to have such wobbly legs!”

Kit felt his face move into an instinctual snarl as he pulled himself to his feet. But instead of being able to look the little flying creature in the eye he instead felt a distinct feeling of vertigo, falling back to the ground.

“Oops! Bit unsteady on your feet, hmm?”

“What… what the heck are you?!” Kit blurted out, trying to work out why his legs had turned into very wobbly jelly.

A second creature came down and hovered in front of him “We’re the Faeries of the Forest!”

“I said we should be the Grove Guardians!”

“Shut up!”

Kit shook his head, trying to stop it from swirling as his torch reflected off the bright wings of the creatures.

“Ok… right… fairies… I must be dreaming or…”

“Oh no you’re not dreaming! All your little friends are dreaming though!” the first creature interrupted.

“Yeah! They’ve been good and gone to bed! Why are you still up?” The second stopped arguing as they faced the fox in unison.

“I’m… I’m the scoutmaster. I take care of the troop!”

“Oh! You’re like, the big kid?”

“I’m not a kid!” Kit blurted out.

The two faeries giggled “You look like a kid, in that silly uniform!”

“It’s not silly! It’s a scout master…” Kit felt his throat tighten as his voice broke “Wha… why do I…”

“Uh-huh, totally not a kid” the one on the left taunted “Wet shorts, wobbly legs… what’s your name kiddo?”

“Ki…Kit” the fox could feel himself getting close to tears but held it in. What was happening?

“Kit? Like a baby fox?”

“Awww, that’s so cuuuute!”

“I’m not CuuUte!” Kit felt his fists balling up and slamming into the mud around him before he had a chance to stop himself.

“You made him throw a tantrum! Poor baby just wanted to act like a big boy…”

The other fairy simply rolled her eyes “Yeah yeah, they all do. He needs help though…”

“What about the other kids?”

The fairies looked at each other with glee as they sped off towards the campsite. Kit tried to move himself, but found his body and clothes felt heavy, his arms and legs trapped in the cloth.

He’d shrunk!

The ringing of bell chimes started as the campsite lit up with the glow of little torches. Kit could see his troop filing out into the night, the small group huddling round the two small creatures. He managed to get out of the mess of clothes, his fur standing on end in the cold.

“There he is!” one of the kids squealed as they saw him “He’s… he’s a little kit!”

Kit looked over himself as the torch lights illuminated his body. Sure enough, his little pudgy arms and legs were no bigger than a toddler, his fur short and fuzzy. But that wasn’t the biggest shock.

Around his waist was a thick, and very babyish, diaper.

“We found him in wet shorts making quite the fuss!” one of the faeries said, “Any of you got little bro’s?”

“Yeah!” one of the scouts piped up “I’ve even got my Babysitting Badge!”

“Well then you’re a perfect new leader aren’t you!” the faeries were fluttering around Kits head “Don’t worry, he’ll be back to normal in the morning… But you’ll all need to take good care of this little one tonight!”

The entire troop nodded eagerly, the new leader taking Kit in his arms and holding him out.

“You’re a cute baby Mr Kit!”

The fox could only mewl as his thumb headed to his maw. Hopefully the faeries weren’t lying about him going back to normal…