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

Chapter 14

~F.O.X.'s POV~

During the past three days, we had trained really hard, from going over the basics to learning new moves. Fireheart even showed us how to climb trees.

"I thought only grey foxes only climbed trees.", Flame asked him on the second day.

"True, but some foxes have learned the trick of it.", Fireheart replied, while trying showing us a new fighting technique.

"Mm. Glad you showed us." Flame raked his claws on the soft ground and observed them carefully. "Watch this!"

He then leapt to his paws and ran to a trunk of a massive maple tree with twisted branches. He took a few tail-lengths back, preparing to run up the tree. We all watched carefully, my tail twitching in anticipation. He suddenly sprang up, letting out a startling yap. I heard a flock of birds caw loudly, alerting each other of the noise. Maple and Fireheart jumped at his cry, but I sat calmly, watching him intensely. He quickly dashed for the trunk and raced up along it. I watched as he quickly went onto one of the lower branches and laid down on it, his eyes closed and pointing his snout towards the sky.

"Jealous? Maybe I can teach you!", he boasted to the three of us on the ground below. Fireheart smiled and replied back to him, "Nice work Flame." Maple had an astonished look on her face. I just rolled my eyes at him. Suddenly, an idea came to my head.

"Hey, watch this." All eyes were on me as I climbed the tree skillfully and went onto the branch Flame was sitting on. I delicately stepped over his body and faced him. He cocked his head at me. "Are you just gonna sit there or-"

I raised my head and let out a tremendous gekkering. Flame screamed out a alarm bark and jumped. When he landed, his foot landed on the side of the branch and he fell to the forest floor beneath us. Luckily, he landed awkwardly on his paws and stumbled for a bit before standing still, his fur fluffed up and his eyes wide. I stepped to the spot where he was and laid down, my tail hanging over the branch and my nose pointed towards the sky.

Flame whipped his head up to me, narrowed his eyes, and shot a glare while frowning.

I laughed and looked down at him, smiling. "Jealous? Maybe I can teach you!"

                                                                ***

It was the third day, the last day of our training and the first day to start our journey. We had rested well and were ready for what lied ahead of us. I was quite nervous, I had to admit, but I was determined to help my family and the inhabitants in Maple Forest anyway I could. 

We were outside of the den, lined up together, waiting patiently for Fireheart to talk to us one last time.

Flame's tail was waving excitedly, his eyes blazing with an adventurous fire in them. "I totally can't wait! I'm so fired up!", he exclaimed to me and Maple.

Maple spoke up in a quavering voice, "I'm excited too....hehe..." I could totally tell she was nervous, more nervous then me! I gave her a comforting lick on her head and said in a reassuring voice. "It'll be ok, Mother and the Spirit Foxes are with us. They will guide us the right way."

She smiled at me and before she could say anything, Fireheart strolled out of the den and stood in front of us, his ears twitching and his tail waving back and forth. "The time has come. You three have trained hard and well, and will now face impossible odds and great dangers to save all of Maple Forest. It will not be easy, but with the help of your special powers, and with a few acquaintances, you will surely defeat the Bloody Bones once and for all."

Before he could go on, Flame quickly barked out, "Why do you keep mentioning about these friends that will help us? Do they have special powers too?"