Kitsune

A new Begining

          "Kanji! Wait for us!" I heard my siblings yell after me as we left the den for play time. "I don't want to wait! We have been in the den forever!" I yelled back as I ran to the edge of the forest. The den was a little cave on the side of a hill made of boulders that have decided they would like to be stacked on top of each other. The hill is placed in a small clearing of the forest surrounded by gigantic trees that reach for the skies. The mouth of the den is just big enough for Momma and Papa to get in and out of, which was plenty of room when I was smaller. But now that I was 16, I fit just a bit better than Papa does, which isn't very well. I am a lot bigger than my siblings, while they are still only half grown, I am the size of Momma and Papa now. "Remember Kanji Papa said we can't leave the clearing." Said Tsuki, she was the youngest of all of us, while I was the oldest. "I know Tsuki, I just want to be near the edge is all...." I looked up at the giants that surrounded the clearing as the wind blew slightly threw the trees. The smell of cherry blossoms met my nose and I felt a bit of piece sitting there at the edge. "Momma! Kanji's trying to leave again!" yelled Hatsune. "I am not! Hatsune, keep you snout shut!" I yelled. I hated it when he did that. Hatsune would always tattle on me when it even looked like I was doing something I wasn't supposed to. The little runt.

          "Hatsune, stop being a tattle tale. And stop teasing your older sister." Momma called out as she gracefully walked up to where we were. Momma was a site for sore eyes, her fur was a sun set red and her markings were as white as untouched snow in the winter. She walked with the grace of the most skilled ballet dancer, with wide steps, and hops that made her look like she was gliding through the air like an owl. "Kanji is only older by five minute....." Hatsune muttered. "Hatsune, that still makes her older." Yuki, the second youngest sister stated. "Yeah Hatsune, Kanji is still older!" agreed Ichigo. Ichigo was the youngest boy, and always agreed with Yuki, considering she was older than him. "Now, now. Cubs, stop bickering so much. You're going to wake the trees." Papa calmly advised as he trailed behind Momma. Papa was a very calm father, he never panicked and never questioned what he believed was right. Papa wasn't as beautiful as Momma, but he wasn't horrible looking. He had faded clay fur that was short and course, while his markings were traced with grey paint mixed with the white. He too was graceful, he was also quick and agile. He could balance on the thinnest branch of a tree without falling or loosing balance. It was almost as if he had the wind hold him up.

"Sorry Papa. Sorry Momma." We all chanted in apology for causing them trouble. "Now, go play cubs. You need the exercise!" Momma cooed. As that was said my siblings scurried of to play cat and mouse and to pick berries at the edge of the clearing. And as they scampered off, I once again looked up to the sea in the sky, filled with the graceful beings of birds and the fluffy pillow like clouds. Oh how I envied the birds in the sky, I wish I could fly as they did. "Kanji." I heard Papa call, so I looked back at him to see Momma with Tsuki, and Papa sitting patiently a couple feet away. "Yes Papa?" I asked as he slowly got up and raced past me, into one of the giant in front of me. "Come climb the trees with me, Kanji." He called from one of the branches. I looked back, and seeing my siblings preoccupied with playing cat and mouse, I dashed towards the trees.

           Ever since I learned to climb, Papa had been taking me into the trees to race and climb with him. It was a rare trick for a fox to learn to climb, but those who did, were known to be greatly respected. Papa was one of the most respected creatures of our world, that's why I looked up to him so much. As I followed him through the branches, I could feel the wind brush my silky crimson fur. And as I grew closer to the top, I could feel the heat of the burning sun hit my face and the crisp smell of cedar and pine. I felt so free when I was up in the trees, there was something about being high up that made me forget that I was different from everyone else. Once I caught up to Papa, he was sitting on a thick branch of a pine tree. There was just enough space next to him for me to sit next to him. As I came close to him, I saw that he was looking over the forest. He looked so calm and peaceful, like there was nothing to worry about. As I sat next to him, I saw why he looked so peaceful, the view was beautiful. There was a crisp view of miles and miles of leafy green tops, some had birds of all kinds in their nests, caring for their chicks. Some had monkeys and their kids swinging high in the branches. In other places you could see flowers of red and yellow everywhere in the trees and on the ground. The sight of such beauty took my breath away.

          "Kanji." Papa said without looking away from the sight in front of us. "Yes Papa?" I asked, wondering why he brought me so far up. "I know that you hate being trapped in the clearing...." He started off, slowly turning his head to look at me "And I know that you hate that you are ridiculed for being different. But I want you to know, that you were made to be the way you are. It's the way fate decided you should be." He said calmly. I looked down, its true that I knew I was different. It was kind of hard not to know when I hear the owls say it so much. "If this is the way fate wanted me, then why is everyone afraid of me?" I asked sadly. I hated being feared. My fur and name scared everyone, it wasn't fair. "Kanji, I know that it is difficult to be different. I think the way fate made you is for you to great things. You are strong, Kanji. I believe in you more than you know. I know you believe that Momma and I think that you are weak, but we don't." he said "In fact, we were thinking.......maybe its time you got to explore like you wish to do. Make your own decisions, see the world and make friends and find out who you are meant to be." I quickly looked up at Papa. Was this a dream? Did I hear him right? They are letting me go? He is actually going to let me go explore the world and see what I can do! "Papa.....are you being serious?" I asked skeptical if I heard him right. "Yes, I am being serious Kanji. Its time you discover who you are supposed to be. You are much stronger and mature than the others, so we do not worry about you too much." I perked my ears. This is actually happening! "Thank you Papa! Thank you so much!" I said excitedly. All he did was smile and nod his head. "Tomorrow, you get to start your own story Kanji." And with that he got up, and gracefully jumped down. As he left, I sat there with a grin in my face. I looked up to the sky once more. Tomorrow, is my new beginning.