Seasons The Fox Heart (Book one) Redfire

Chapter 11

Peony grunted as the dog fox tightened his grip on her neck. Redfire watched as she was drawn closer to her captor. I have to save her, he thought, but one wrong move and I'll lose her forever.
"State your business," called the dog fox. "Why are you near the Fall Tribe?" Fall Tribe! Redfire whipped around to Lightwing, who seemed to be sharing the same thought as him. This dog fox was part of the Fall Tribe.
"We are weary travelers seeking the Fall Tribe," called Redfire.
"Liars," growled the dog fox. "I know you are here to hunt us down." The dog fox set the paw he had up to Peonys face on fire and pushed it closer to her.
"Peony!" called Silverbird.
"Redfire, help me!" called the silver fox. No, this is all going wrong, he thought, I'll lose her.
"Please, you must believe us," called Lavender, who padded closer to the dog fox. "My name is Lavender, and I am from the Fall Tribe." The dog fox twitched his ear, and another red dog fox padded out from the shadows.
"Bring the kit to me," said the first dog fox. The other red fox nodded and picked up Lavender by her scruff and carried her over to his companion.
"Lavender, no," called Peony.
"Silence," her captor snarled.
"Tell us who you are," called Lightwing.
"My name is Arrow," said the first dog fox. "I am a guardian of the Fire Tribe. I will take you to our tribe and let our leader deal with you. If she finds you guilty, you and all your friends will be killed. Arrow eyed Redfire closely as if he could see into his soul. This dog fox could not be trusted. He may be in pact with the Loners and is trying to lure them into a trap. Redfire thought about the decision he must make to save Peony and the rest of his friends. Lightwing trotted over to him and whispered in his ear. "Listen, let's go with him to the Fall Tribe. I know you're thinking he is from the Loners, but he is not. I don't smell their musty scent on him." Redfire nodded. He knew Lightwing had been with the Loners for many, many moons, to the point he could find their scent easily.
"Ok then," said Redfire. "We will let you take us to the Fall Tribe."
Arrow smiled. "Very well." He flicked his tail at his companion, who had Lavender, the looked down at Peony. "I am going to release you now, but you must stay close to me. I do not want you to run away with your friends." Peony nodded, and Arrow loosened his grip on her. She scrambled out of his reach and padded over to Redfire. "Remember what I told you," Arrow hissed. The silver fox bowed her head and slowly trotted over to Arrow and stood by his side. "Follow closely," he called to the group. Arrow and Peony took the lead with Arrows companion beside them while Redfire and his group followed behind. Redfire eyed Arrow as they walked. His tail seemed awfully close to Peony's spine. It was almost as if he wanted to trail it along her. Did Arrow like Peony? Redfire could feel anger boiling inside him. Hwo dare he. Peony belongs to me an me alone, thought Redfire, no one shall get near her. Arrow took them into a forest completely covered in willow trees. The beautiful branches trailed all along the forest floor as if they were being welcomed into something. Redfire heard Peony gasp and Arrow chuckle. "Beautiful, isn't it?" he said to her. "Our tribe had been hiding here for moons."
Peony smiled and nodded at Arrow. "I love it." Redfire was finding it hard containing himself. He wanted so badly to slash or burn Arrow for trying to get close to Peony.  His heart skipped a beat when he saw Arrow nudge Peony with his snout.
"Oh, sorry, he said blushing, I tripped."
Peony blushed. "It's fine." Redfire couldn't do it anymore. He rushed over to Arrow and Peony and got between the two of them.
"Are we there yet?" he growled at Arrow.
Arrow rolled his eyes. "Yes." They appeared in front of a rock wall with innumerable willow branches stretching down it.
"But it's a dead end," Peony piped up.
"No, watch this," said Arrow. Using one paw, Arrow moved some willow branches out of the way, and a bright gleamed of sunlight gleamed on the other side.
"Come," he said. Arrow padded inside without waiting for a reply. Redfire looked at Peony, who shrugged.
"Let's go," he told her. Peony nodded as the two stepped through the branches. They hardly snagged st his fur, which brought relief to him. But he no longer cared about his fur when he stepped onto the other side. There were trees all covered in leaves of red, yellow, orange, or brown with some coating the ground. It's like they were stuck in autumn. There was a small breeze that blew through the trees whistling lightly. In the middle and straight in front of Redfire, there was abundance of earth's and foxes swarming all around them. There were red foxes, silver foxes, marble foxes, and...  Redfire teared up. He found the tribe. He found his Tribe. Peony padded up beside him and nudged him with her nose.
"We're home," she whispered.
"Yes, he answered, home."