Din Din was awake all night despite his fatigue. He wondered if any dinosaur in Fruit Park had been able to fall asleep. He and his brothers could hear the growling of the foxes who surrounded Fruit Park. When the sun began to creep out from behind the horizon, Din Din announced to his brothers with forced strength, “We must get ready for school.”

“How will we be able to go to the Terrestrial School?” inquired Derek, his younger brother. “The foxes have surrounded Fruit Park! It’s not safe!”

“Tazzo has said that all the young school-going dinosaurs will be led to Terrestrial School protected by an army of elders to ensure they reach school safely,” explained Din Din calmly to his brothers.

“We must not miss school! Education is our greatest weapon.”

“I agree,” said Mrs. Dee, their mother, as she served breakfast.

“Whatever has become of Fruit Park? It used to be such a safe place to live. But then the jackals took over half of it and now the foxes have laid siege around it,” said Grandmamma regretfully. “I pray for the safety of all creatures.”

Soon, a troupe of young, scared-looking dinosaurs marched towards the Terrestrial School flanked by an entourage of ten dinosaurs. Din Din’s father was one of the elders who ushered the students forward. When they reached the outskirts of Fruit Park they could spot the group of foxes camped around. When the foxes spotted the dinosaurs they began to surround them, grunting ominously.

“Friends,” said Din Din’s father in a loud, clear voice. “Please, let these young students pass. They are on their way to school. Let our dispute not get in the way of their education.”

Reynold stepped forward, his orange fur bright and bristly. “Just hand over Filip and his family of fugitives and we will leave you all alone.”

“Filip and his family are with the jackals,” explained Mr. D. “This is for you to sort out with the jackals; the dinosaurs are not involved in this business. We have tried to convince the jackals but they are not willing to listen. Maybe you all will be more reasonable.”

“No one leaves Fruit Park until the fugitives are handed over!” snarled Reggie, the fox who had been attacked by Filip and his brothers.

Fredrick, one of the elder dinosaurs whispered to Mr. D, “These foxes are irrational! Let us return home before they get violent.”

“No!” demanded Dr. Trish. “We cannot let our young suffer! Let us try to convince them.” “Let’s try and reason with the jackals again,” Mr. D sighed. “The foxes are out for revenge no matter what.”

Disheartened, the dinosaurs turned back to the safety of their homes. Din Din felt wretched as he trudged back home. “I must talk to Filip! He must sort out his problems with Reynold and Reggie. He cannot let so many creatures suffer because of his dispute,” he thought to himself.

He waited feverishly for nightfall. When everyone in his household had fallen asleep, Din Din stole towards the part of D’Land where the jackals lived.

“I hope I can find Filip,” he prayed. The full moon lighted the way for him.

“Din Din!” hissed a husky voice, as he passed a growth of mulberry bushes.

“Filip?” asked Din Din.

“Yes, it’s me. I was coming to find you,” said Filip, his green eyes gleaming in the moonlight from behind the leaves.

“Filip!” Din Din said sharply as he pulled Filip behind a grove of sweet scented mango trees. “Stop running! Just reason with Reynold. There has to be an end to this!”

“Reasoning with Reynold means getting captured, imprisoned and tortured,” Filip said shaking his head. “I am willing to do it but I will not let my family be seized.” Din Din peered at Filip. His eyes were sunken and he looked much older than his years.

“My family can stay with the jackals in Fruit Park. They are happy here. I am willing to give myself up,” Filip repeated.

“Okay! Let me talk to Reynold,” Din Din said.

“Let’s go now. Let’s get this over with!” Filip said.

Din Din saw no other way. The two made an unlikely pair as they crept towards the edge of Fruit Park. As soon as Filip appeared in the clearing, Reynold and his band of foxes began growling and coming nearer.

“Filip!” Reggie roared menacingly, his voice echoing in the silent night.

Din Din stood in front of Filip. “Listen to me,” he demanded, his heart beating wildly. The foxes continued to prowl closer. “Get out of the way, dino,” sneered Reynold. “This is between us foxes.” Filip stepped out from behind Din Din’s looming shadow. “I am here! I yield! I am ready to come with you. Just leave my family alone.”

The foxes all turned to look at Reynold and Reggie. The two brothers seemed to be weighing up the idea and spoke to each other in heated whispers.

“Fine!” Reggie said finally, a satisfied smirk on his face. “Filip is ours.”

“Filip…” Din Din protested. “Reynold…there must be a civilized way to sort this out. Please, let us not be savages.

But it was too late. The foxes had caught hold of Filip and were dragging him away. Din Din watched helplessly as they disappeared into the darkness. He walked home with a sinking heart. Sleep came unwillingly.

Din Din was awakened by the sound of voices. “The foxes have ended their siege of Fruit Park!” Derek announced in excitement as he shook Din Din awake. “We can finally go to school!”

As the family sat at the table for breakfast, Mr D. wondered, “I wonder what made the foxes leave?”

“Whatever it was,” said Mrs. Dee, “I am glad they have left us alone!”

Din Din bent his head, his cheeks flaming. He knew the reason. “Filip, you were brave to have made this sacrifice for the good of so many others,” he thought to himself. “I hope you are safe!” He wondered if he would ever know.

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