The Secret Of F.O.X. {Book 1 of the FireTail Family Series}(UNDER MAJOR EDITING)

Chapter 13

~F.O.X.'s POV~

After we were done grieving for her, we carried her body back to the den, where Fireheart was waiting for us. When we were in front of him, Flame and Maple stood in front of Mother's flat body, hiding her from his view, while me and Ranson stood in front of them, side by side.

"Where have you been? You know not to go out without me and your mother's per.....mis...sion....", Fireheart's voice trailed off as he slightly peered over me looking at Flame and Maple.

"Why are you all looking like you played in the mud? And why are you standing like this?"

I looked over at Ranson, who nodded, and over my shoulder at my brother and sister. On cue, all of us stepped to the side, unveiling Mother's limp, flattened, dirty, lifeless, cold, bloody-Well, you get the point-body. Fireheart's eyes grew tiny and his ears flattened.

"N-No, it can't be, it just, can't be..."

Maple cleared her throat and was clearly about to say something, but Fireheart  dashed over to Mother's body and kneeled down next to her.

"No, she can't be dead, not yet...." He whined and licked Mother's fur, but I could tell he regretted it because his face scrunched up from tasting the foul mud.

"What do you mean by 'not yet'?", Maple asked. Fireheart stood up and his eyes grew dark in the moonlight. "I wasn't supposed to tell you this, but now is better than ever."

Flame stepped to him a few paces. "Tell us what?"

Fireheart turned around. "Come. Ranson, stay here." Ranson nodded. Fireheart started towards the den. Me, Flame, and Maple followed him, wondering what was going on. 

We all entered the burrow and went down into now what was Fireheart's den. He sat in the empty nest and curled his tail around his paws while we sat clustered together in front of him.

He inhaled deeply and began. "A long time ago, your ancestors ruled Maple Forest. But, these foxes had something that no other creature could posses. Special powers that helped and protected others. They were called the 'Forest Guardians'. Every creature lived in peace and harmony with the 'Forest Guardians' in rule. But, one day, a pack of powerful wolves, called the 'Bloody Bones' stepped foot into the forest. They too, had special powers, and they wanted to rule the forest in a cruel and harsh way. The 'Forest Guardians' didn't want this to happen, and they wanted them to leave immediately. But, of course, the 'Bloody Bones' were reluctant, so the two powerful creatures went to war. They battled ferociously and hard, but in the end, the 'Bloody Bones' won, and they killed the 'Forest Guardians'. But, before the wolves came into the forest, the Guardians had cubs that inherited the special powers that they had. Those were your great-grandparents. After the 'Forest Guardians' died, the cubs were taken in by normal foxes, who raised them, not telling them about their powers. Then, they had cubs, which are your grandparents, then they had cubs, which are me and your Mother, and now, it's at you three."

Flame quickly said," So, what are you saying is, that we have special powers too?"

Fireheart nodded solemnly. "So did me and your mother."

Flame smiled. "Cool!"

That explains the weird things happening to me, I thought to myself quietly.

Maple asked while slightly cocking her head, in a questioning voice, "Wait, if she had powers, why didn't she stop the tree from falling on top of her?"

 (That's a good question, ain't it?)

He sighed. "Because, she wanted to die." We all gasped. Mother, wanting to die?!?! That doesn't sound like her!

"Why would she want to die?!?!", I suddenly blurted out.

Fireheart looked down, then up at us again. "She wants to tell you more about your powers in the Magic UnderWorld, only for foxes with the special powers."

I grew a little irritated while I spoke. "Well, why didn't she tell us earlier, before she died?"

He blinked a few times before saying, "She told me it would be easier. That's all she said to me. But, since now you know the truth, you must now go."

"Go? Go where?", Flame asked.

Fireheart cleared his throat and started to explain again. "You must now go and defeat the last two remaining 'Bloody Bones' wolves. They live in the bad part of the forest, which, by now, you must know where that place is."

We all nodded in unison. Sometimes, when we would stray far off from the burrow, we would pick up the scent of it. It would smell so bad, that we would run away from it. Once Flame pretended he was dying from the rancid scent.

"But we don't know our powers. How are we gonna stop them without our powers?", Flame asked again.

"You will learn them along the way", Fireheart said. "And, maybe with the help of some friends along the way. I have already killed their father, so this should be easy for you."

Maple smiled. "You sure got that right!" And gave out a small laugh.

He smiled back, then got back to being serious. "I won't be accompanying you on your journey. This is only for you three, and like I said before, a few others."

"So, when do we start?", I asked.

He stood up. "In three days will be when you leave."

Flame leaped to his paws, his eyes full of excitement and adventure.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Lets get going!"