Adder (Farthing Wood)

Adder is one of the primary Farthing Wood characters in both the books by Colin Dann, and the TV series commissioned by the European Broadcasting Union. Throughout the journey to find a new home, the animals, particularly the tiny Fieldmice, Voles and Shrews, are wary of his commitment to the Oath (the solem word that no member of the party will eat another member). Very much the foil to the other animals' pretensions or idealism. Adder's gender is different in the books, then it is in the TV series (a red eyed male in the books, and golden eyed female in the series).

The Animals of Farthing Wood (book series)
Adder in the books

The Animals of Farthing Wood (TV series)
Adder in the TV series

Personality
Adder is viciously sarcastic, and sharp witted, with a sinister air. Adder initially finds enjoyment in how the tiny animals fear her (due to her deeds as a huntress), and plays off that fear by softly adding 'unless no one is watching' to the her recitement of the Oath. Indeed, she does early on conspire with Owl in hopes of turning the situation to her favor. Briefly, much latter in the first season, she found her self seeking acceptance from the others. Particularly the fieldmice, however, her attempts where understandably responded to in fear, and she committed her self to not trying to make friends. Despite her willingness to kill with her venom, and her slight disdain for Fox, she does have a soft side.

Bio
In Farthing Wood Adder was a huntress who preyed upon the fieldmouse, vole, and shrew populations. She was known as a slithering terror who entered into borrows gobbling up those two slow, or two young to flee. However, such an infamous terror still was not immune to the devistation of the woodland by human developers. When the animals are summoned for a mutual discussion concerning their survival, Adder is one of the last to arrive, and is understandably meet most unfavorably, after reciting the Oath (reluctantly, and with her own little addition) she joins the others, though with little intent on keeping the Oath. She decides to use Owl's desire for leadership to her advantage, conspiring to hav Fox meet an untimely demise so that the stronger predators may us the weaker animals as sustainance along their journey. However, in time she comes to see the social importance of the Oath, though she doesn't become an advocate, and still maintains that she only has to follow it until they reach White Deer Park. During the groups travels she shows little concern when others die, seeing death as a fact of life. However, she does put forth an effort to save a few of them; such as the Voles, Fieldmice, and Vixen. At one point she is nearly killed by a lawnmower. When it's mentioned to the fieldmice that they should thank her, they simply respond that it would have been better for everyone if the lawnmower had got her. She shows a keen interest in trying to get on the good side of the fieldmice, but constant rejections lead her to abandon the presuit, and indeed, the presuit of actively trying to make friends.

Upon reaching White Deer Park, Adder, unlike the others who begin seeking to make good relations with the natives of the park, begins targeting prey, finding the local frog population to her liking. When confronted by Toady, who was upset as the frog she consumed was a friend, she reminds him that the oath doesn't extend to the animals of White Deer Park, and that, if it did, she would starve (showing that despite having stated over, and over that it'd be void upon reaching the Park, Adder still extends the Oath to those she traveled with). She hibernates for the long winter, missing events the warm blooded animals experienced, such as the birth of Fox, and Vixen's cubs. When she does awake, she is groggy. After being active for a while she is approached with information that one of Fox's cubs, Dreamer, has been killed, but shows no reaction to this death. She learns that Fox blames Scareface, leader of the local Blue Fox population. Everyone is so caught up in the blame, that no one gives thought to the fact that Dreamer's mannor of death, is only something Adder her self, or another like her, could accomplish. She followers Foxe's eldest son, Bold, into Blue Fox territory, and introduces her self as an old associate of his fathers'. She also begins to make references to the mannor upon which Dreamer died, but Bold doesn't understand what she implies, and once Scareface does appear, Adder flees.

While resting Adder is approached by Weasel, and Measly with a message from Fox. They tell her that Fox want's her to kill a Blue Fox. This amuses Adder, and she finds Scareface's son, Boulder, and kills him. Igniting a full out war between the Orange, and Blue Foxes. Owl locates her, and informs her that she recieved the wrong message, she was suppose to kill Scareface. Learning of this error, Adder begins resting up to conserve her venom for another attack, however, she is located by Scareface, who knows of her deed, and hides under some rocks, her venom expended, she has no defense, and looses the end of her tail to him. Injured, and enraged she plots vengence, not knowing the political condition, and not caring, she eventually comes out of hidding, and strikes Scareface as he drinks from a stream, and watches him die. She then goes to Toad to boast of her triumph, to which Toad rejoices, yet soon, Adder finds that she now much hide from Scareface's other son, Ranger, who now seeks vengence on her.

As the situation cools down, Adder slowly comes out of hiding, where she meets Sinuous, who becomes her mate. She attempts to settled down, and create a home, however she finds her self again involved in a war. This time between the Rats, and Foxes (Blue, and Orange). She initially only observes, but when she begins to consider the enjoyment that might be involved, she, and her mate get involved, killing dozens of rats, as the serpents can easily sleek into the borrows. The mated pair decide to put a swift end to the conflict by killing Bully, leader of the rats. However, the two find them selves dealing with a swarm deep below ground at the heart of the Rat tunnel network. Sinuous, is killed by the rats while Adder escapes. Again, Adder finds her self on a quest for vengence. She goes on a second raid on the Rat Headquarters, this time accompanied by the Badgers Hurkel, and Shadow. The assualt kills thousands, but Adder realizes no one could kill all of them. During a Hurricane she saves Mole's son, Mossy from the Rats, and joins in the final assault, and victory. She stays long enough to witness Plucky, Fox's daughter, become the new leader of the Animals of Farthing wood before leaving. Although no offspring are shown, it can be infered that Adder has gone off to nest.

Relationships
Fox: Adder doesn't trust in the leadership of Fox, and early on conspires towards his demise. However, as Fox hardens his heart during the journey, he comes to earn a slight respect from Adder. When Fox does find a mate, and that mate, Vixen, is threatened; Adder saves her, and is nearly trampled by a horse,, but insists it was nothing.

Owl: Owl, like Adder, is a predator that feeds on fieldmice, voles, and shrews. Owl is the only member of the pact that Adder trusts in discussing the uneasiness of traveling along side prey, however she mostly seeks to have Owl replace Fox as leader of the group, in hopes that Owl would be more understanding of a predators needs. Owl is the only one brave enough to attempt to rescue Adder is she's in a deadly situation, though it's not likely that Adder would do the same for Owl.

Toad: Adder, and Toad arn't initially on the best of terms, but like the other animals Adder respects Toad's age, and wisdom, eventually coming to affectionitly refer to him as Toady, and consider him a friend. Their relationship goes icey for a time after reaching White Deer Park, do to the actions of Adder. Toady however does maintain a good kinship with her, and is infact, the only one she calls friend.