Tale of Panthera Regina (Remake)

Chapter 5: New Friend

POV: Rex and Kadupul

(Rex)

Rex walked for two days straight, only stopping to hunt and rest. His brown fur shook in the wind, and he smelled something odd. It smelled like a wet dog, but even though he was curious. He had to resist. Rex continued South when he stopped. He heard growling in the same direction as the smell.

*Curse my curiosity.* Rex thought to himself. If it was Regina on the mission, she wouldn't have gotten distracted so easily.

Rex turned Southeast and did a slow run, not wanting to waste too much energy but doesn't want to waste too much time. He leaped over a log, and the words became clearer. It was two foxes, one a Darwin Fox and the other a Silver Fox (also called a gray tree-climbing fox). The pair were speaking in Fox language, and he had to admit. He wasn't that skilled in fox tongue but knew something was up.

(Kadupul)

"Please, sir. Please, lead me to where Darwin's fox territory is. I'll be out of your tail before you know it." The Darwin's Fox growled. The silver fox sighed.

"Look, kid. You could ask anyone but me. I haven't been to Darwin's fox territory in ages." The silver fox snapped. "Now, I have things to do," he sighed. "I'm sorry, kid, but I wish you luck." The silver fox started climbing a tree.

"No, no wait! HOLD ON!" The Darwin's fox leaped up, non-retractable her claws, and grabbed his tail. The silver fox yelped in pain and used his hind legs to kick her back.

(Rex)

The Darwin's fox stumbled back and lost her balance, rolling down the hill towards the edge of a cliff. The fox disappeared over the edge, but one of her paws reached up and grabbed onto the edge. She held a root that stuck out from the edge of her mouth as she climbed back up, shaking the dirt off her fur.

Rex saw the Silver Fox leave and sighed. He knew that he shouldn't get involved, but something about Darwin's Fox stopped him. Maybe it was because she reminded him of Carbunculus of how she always tried her best. However, he always had someone to lean on. Unlike this pup here, who seems to be on her own.

Rex came from the bushes, and he saw the fox turn in his direction and growl.

"Who are you?" She growled, her fur becoming twice as big to look scarier.

However, for a tiger nearly the size of an adult, like Rex, the fox looked more like a puffball. He studied her for a second without saying anything. She's blind. He noticed her eyes never moving, but her tail and ears twitch like mad.

"I SAID WHO ARE YOU?!!!" She screamed, and he jumped back. He never heard a fox scream before. They normally are shy to other animals other than the same species or family group.

Rex coughed and took a step forward, allowing his paws to make noise. "I am not here to hunt." Was the first thing Rex said to the Fox.

It was common courtesy to say this when not hunting because it was made Law that any predator has to say this to any creature smaller than them. The penalty of lying by saying this is death because it does not give the animal a fair chance.

The fox growled and walked towards him, sniffing him. "You still didn't answer my question." She chuckled, one of her ears twitching.

"My name is Prince Rex." He finally answered, not sure he should leave his title out. It wasn't like titles were really needed as his mother punished her cubs for abusing their titles.

The kit stopped and sighed, walking back away from him and bowing. "How lovely to make your acquaintance, your "majesty." She said kindly.

Rex felt uneasy, wishing he kept his title out. "Please, don't bow. No one else is with me, and I am not visiting anyone important." He lied about the part about meeting someone important, but he guesses it was a half-truth.

He shivered at the cold temperature. "Strange." He looked to the Southwest in the direction of the savanna village. "This area suppose to be warmer."

The Darwin's fox stopped bowing, both her ears twitching. "Hmm, the weather has been going overall crazy. One second it's sunny, and the next second it's pouring rain." She waved her paw around.

"Tell me about it." He didn't know what else to say but knew he had to leave. "Wait, your a Darwin's Fox? Do you have permission to be out of your territory?" He asked.

*Note: It was Law for predators to remain in their territory unless given permission either by their clan or tribe's leader or the Royal Family. Only prey was allowed to roam freely.*

The fox went silent. "I'm uh- I'm supposed to be dead..." the fox looked down, her tail curling to the front. "I'm trying to find my way back, but now I'm not even sure I should next. I know they're going to try shoving a stake through my heart..." She stopped. At first, she appear frightened, then shook her head and smiled.

Rex was taken back by these words. He felt bad for doing this, but the mission he is doing will be twice as deadly for her.

"The leader of the Silver Foxes here is rumored to be kind. How about you asked him to stay." He suggested, then turning in the direction of the village.

"I am sorry, but I have to go." He said taking a step in the long grass that marked the territory of the savanna's land.

The Darwin's fox twitched and grabbed his tail, yanking him back out of the grass. Rex yelped in surprise, but she stepped on his paw. "Shhhh."

A cottonmouth snake leaped out of the grass towards them, fangs open. Its hissing was cut short by the gray fox snapping down on its neck, killing it instantly.

She looked up at him and dropped the dead snake on the ground, it only barely wiggling.

"My name's Kadupul, by the way." She flashed a toothy grin.

He stared at her amazed. "Ho-- how did you do that? I mean, you were quick as a mongoose." Rex said. He thought only Mongooses could kill a snake that quick, but this fox didn't miss a beat.

*Mother said I should do this alone,* He thought. *but.*

"You know what? Can you guide me to the village? I can speak to the Native Chief to let you live there. They will treat you with respect." He suggested Kadupul.

"Mhm, alright, then Rex. And to answer your question, I may not have access to the most dependable sense of an animal. I have been trained to rely on my other senses, smell, hearing, and touch." Kadupul said, slapping him with her bushy tail.

She looked up in the direction of the village and sniffed. "The strongest scent of the Native People of the savanna is this way." She walked through the grass, motioning for him to follow. Rex followed suit.

"Soooo might I ask why you're out here?" Kadupul asked, not looking at him. "Because I'll be honest, I don't know how many Bengal Tigers are around here in the savannah. Were you exiled? Did you run away?" She gasped. "ARE YOU ON A SECRET MISSION?" She jumped up and down, her bushy tail wagging like a dog about to get a treat.

Rex giggled at her pure joy as they walked the savanna's grasslands. It was nice to have someone to talk to. He never realized how much he enjoyed being with his siblings or other animals. During the first two days of his journey, he was alone. Everyone avoided him because of fear of either him or his mother's influence. So, he will keep Kadupul company until they reach the village.

Author's note:

Dragonrider and Wild101Life both wrote this chapter, so its POV is two characters.

Lessons or classes can be separated by species, family groups, prey, predator, rank, or a mix of all of these. This would explain why Kadupul, a Darwin Fox not known for killing snakes can do so. It also explains is also explains why Rex is known for his nickname: Translator. However, this does have some drawn backs. In mixed-species lessons tend to be more chaotic, especially when rank is into the mix lower rank offspring will challenge higher rank offspring. This had led to several almost wars as Rulers often or not have to settle things.