Seasons The Fox Heart (Book one) Redfire

Chapter 2

Blood!

Several dead bodies of foxes laid splayed out on the ground, eyes glazed over. Redfire wanted to howl out in anguish and rage, but he knew he must keep silent. Beside him, Peony scanned the corpses till she came across a dead silver fox.

"No" she howls, before racing over to the dead silver body. 

"Redfire felt sad as he stared at the dead body. That fox was Peony's mother, Silverflower. Redfire recalled the story told by Peony that when she was born her father, Silverbird, had went hunting and never came back. Everyone believed he deliberately left, but she believed he didn't. Silverflower told Peony this sad story the same day Featherfire told Redfire about Flame's death. 

"Mother" whispered Peony.

Redfire padded closer as her voice rose into a wail.

"Mother, please, don't leave me," she wailed. "I still need you."

Redfire sat next to her and began licking her face and ears trying to coax her. Still wailing, Peony buried her face in Redfire's neck. 

"Peony," said Redire in a tranquil voice. "It'll be ok."

"But I'll never see her again," she mumbled.

Redfire stopped as though looking for the right words. 

"I know," he said at last. "But that doesn't mean she's not going to watch over you. I know for a fact, Peony, Silverflower loved you very much. I promise you; she and the rest of our fallen Tribemates won't go unavenged." 

And once I find out who did this, he thought, I will make them pay."

Peony rose up to look at Redfire. Her eyes were still blurry with tears, but she had regained some of her composure. 

"Thank you," she whispered nuzzling his neck. "I'm grateful for having you as a friend."

For a moment, Redfire just felt content with nuzzling Peony and breathing in her flowery scent, but he knew that they had bigger things to focus on. Finally, he pulled away giving Peony a last lick on the ear. 

"What do we do now?" asked Peony. "Where's the rest of the Tribe?"

Redfire looked around scanning the woodland and the forest, where he and Peony came out of, for familiar faces, but he saw none.

"I don't know," he replied. "But I'm sure what ever did this didn't wipe out the entire Tribe."

Peony nodded in agreement and rested her head on her mother's chest.

"Goodbye mother," she whispered. "I love you so much." 

Redfire's throat tightened in emotion as he watched his best friend say her farewell to her mother. She didn't deserve this, he thought, none of them did. As soon as she was done, Peony lifted up her head and turned to Redfire.

"Now wha...."

"Redfire," called a voice. Redfire, "Peony, where are you?"

Redfire's heart leaped with joy. Featherfire!

"Mother," he called. "Mother, over here.

Soon, the red fur of Featherfire became visual from the other side of the woodland. She raced over to Redfire and covered him in licks.

"Redfire," she purred. "I'm so happy you're ok. When the attack happened, I couldn't find you. Silverflower told me she couldn't find Peony. I told her I would find you two." She shivered as she stared at Silverflowers dead body. 

"It's ok mother," purred Redfire. "We're back together now. 

Featherfire smiled than glanced at Peony who was staring at her mother's dead body.