A Leap of Faith - Foxleap X Ryefall fanfic

Prologue

The three siblings wandered, chatting as they trotted to their next destination. They had no place in mind, but no desire to settle. They just followed the wind, seeking adventure. "I wonder if we'll finally find flying squirrels!" Destiny chirped, perking her ears up. Her blue eyes shone with excitement.

"For all we know, that rogue could've been lying," Crystal chimed in, flashing a playful glance toward her sister. "I won't believe it until I've seen it with my own eyes."

"That rogue said their wings were made of fur. Now that's something I want to see!" Rye mewed with a spring in his step.

"You think we'd be able to make wings out of our fur and fly?" Destiny's head snapped toward Rye, a grin forming on her muzzle. 

"Don't even think of trying it, you'll just end up with a broken neck." Though her words were serious, her voice still held a chuckle. The three of them bantered for a little while longer until Crystal raised her tail, coming to a halt. "Do you hear that?" Her ear twitched, her voice dropping to nearly a whisper.

Destiny let a soft chuckle slip from her muzzle. "You're trying to get back at me for scaring you at the lake?" 

"No, I'm serious." Crystal hissed back, her tail lashing. "I think I hear something." The three of them stayed completely silent, stretching their ears for any hint of sound. 

"I think you're just paranoid, Crystal," Destiny trotted in front, confidently standing around. "There's nothing here, see? It was probably just the wind." The brown and white she-cat scoffed. 

"Or it could be coming from in there," Rye pointed his muzzle in the direction of a stone den. His suspicions were confirmed when a deep rumble- almost like a snore- echoed from inside. 

"Let's go check it out! Destiny trotted over toward the den.

"Wait! What if it's something dangerous!" Crystal's protests were ignored by her sister, who continued to head toward the den. The calico she-cat decided to catch up with Destiny, with Rye soon following. The three of them stood cautiously at the mouth of the den. Rye peered his amber eyes in, trying to make out what was hidden in the darkness. He caught sight of black fur, with white stripes trailing on its back.

"Is that a badger?" Crystal hissed, the fur along her spine spiking in anxiety. 

"Relax, it's asleep." Destiny mewed with a shrug, her gaze turning back to the snoring beast. "You should totally poke it, Crystal."

"P-poke it?! Are you crazy?!" The calico's blue eyes went wide. "That thing could kill me in a second!

"It's fast asleep, I bet it won't even notice!" Destiny retorted. "What, don't tell me you're scared of a sleeping badger!"

"No, I'm scared of it waking up and killing me!" Crystal's teeth gritted.

"Fine, how about I poke it first," Destiny flashed a sly smile before slipping into the den. She hovered her paw right over the badger's flank, her gaze turning back to her siblings. Rye couldn't say anything, his breath was caught in his throat. Destiny let her paw down to touch the badger before trotting back out. "See? Now you go," She nudged Crystal toward the badger. 

"Fine!" Crystal growled as she cautiously approached the snoring badger. She froze at every noise it made. soon enough, the badger was just in reach of her. With a nervous gulp, Crystal's shaky paw inched toward the badger, until it briefly touched it. Crystal turned to dart out, only for her paws to have other plans. She tripped over her own paws, slamming right into the badger. Its snores turn into growls as its eyes shot open, angrily glaring at Crystal.

"Crystal! Get out of there!" Rye called out, his ears folding back. Crystal scrambled up to run, but the badger got to her first, fastening its jaws along her side. The calico let out a surprised yelp.