Ella's Wild Beasts

CHAPTER 6

When Ella came to she was still in her nest. The branches were still forming a rough barrier and most importantly she was alive and uninjured. For a moment she thought it had been a dream, but that all vanished when she peeked out of her shelter, and saw the giant fox under one of the large trees right on the forest edge. It seemed preoccupied with its digging. So far only half of its body visible above ground.

   Thinking of slipping away unnoticed she stopped as she knocked one of the branches over and I noisily fell. The fox stopped digging and its body went rigid. It looked around with a snarl but stopped when it looked at her on all fours next to the fallen branch with a terrified expression on her face. The fox immediately stopped all hostile signs and trotted up to her. Knowing there wasn't much she could do she didn't move hoping it would lose interest and leave her be like yesterday. Instead it veered off to the side quickly and grabbed something behind one of the many large rocks and boulders. Now very curious she watched closer.

   It turned around and continued her way with a large leaf in its mouth that seemed weighed down by something. She remained unmoving but some of the terror gone and replaced with a sensible fear and mild curiosity. It wasn't showing any hostility and instead seemed to be bringing her something with a slight tail wag. She tensed up again as it got around three meters from her. Noticing her fear it stopped. Gently lowering its load with a small whimper it placed it on the ground then scampered another three or so meters away looking at her again and sitting. When she didn't immediately move it let out a short bark and its tail thumped the ground as it seemed to be staring at her intensly.

   Startled she looked between the bundle of leaves and the fox. Slowly pulled herself the rest of the way out of her makeshift shelter, and stood staring at the fox, with it making no moves she took a few steps towards the bundle. Ella faltered a little when the fox's tail started to thump the ground furiously. It quickly stopped when she stood still, seemingly waiting for it to pounce. All the fox did was let out a small whine and tilt its head like a nod at the bundle.

   Unsure why she was feeling reassured. She took a quick breath and continued heading towards the bundle, still watching the fox. She quickly covered the distance and when she reached it she looked at the fox, who seemed to be staring at her eagerly. She slowly reached down and picked up the bundle, shocked that it seemed to be around twenty-five pounds. With her small victory, and a small boost on confidence that the fox didn't seem to want to hurt her she turned and quickly returned to her shelter and slipped inside. She didn't see the dog like grin on the foxes face as she accepted its offering. Tail wagging furiously it turned and returned to digging under the tree.