Hunter's Return

Chapter 18: Feel Better Now?

Marie's POV

As we entered Maxx's house, I heard Ranie mutter something.

"Ranie, are you okay? It looks like you have a fever." I asked the sad fox.

"I'm fine... Maybe it's just really cold."

"But you're a fox. You're supposed to be used to cold weather."

"Well, maybe I do have a fever."

When she said this, I touched Ranie's forehead. It was really warm.

"I'll be alright," She said smiling.

"Okay."

The house was not that big. It was a bit similar to the small cabin, made of wood. Inside there was also a fireplace and a small kitchen but the beds are in separate rooms.

"Come here Ranie,"  Maxx said softly.

Near the fireplace was an armchair and a small side table. The floor around that area was covered with a red, circular carpet.

The husky made Ranie sit down on the armchair and covered her with a beige, wooly blanket.

"I'll be back...," Maxx said as she walked over to the kitchen.

I approached the husky to find her making hot cocoa for Ranie.

"Maxx," I began. "We need your help."

"What is it?"

"It's about Hunter..."

"WHAT?! That no good snake... Wait, didn't we kill him?"

"He's alive..."

"How?"

"We don't know how but he has to be stopped."

"What's he doing?"

"He made this machine to extract powers specifically from us."

"WHAT?!"

"Yes, and he got Ranie's powers."

"Ugh, I hate that snake."

"Yea, that's why we need your help."

By the time I said this, the hot drink was ready.

"I'll help, for the sake of our powers," Maxx said walking over to Ranie.

I looked over to the fox sitting like a princess on the armchair with her royal subjects, namely Leonora, Jacob and Moony, sitting on the carpet talking to her.

"Here Ranie," Maxx said to the fox as she gave her the hot cocoa. "Drink some of this."

"What is it?" Ranie asked.

"It's hot cocoa," I said.

We all sat down before the mighty princess, Ranie.

It was ironic because the name 'Ranie' meant a Hindi Princess, though the fix had no royal blood.

"Maxx, we need you,"  Leonora said.

"Yes, I know about it... Hunter right?" Maxx said quietly.

"Yessss...," Ranie hissed as she played with the marshmallows in her hot cocoa."

"Uh Ranie, why did you hiss?" Jacob asked. "You never liked hissing due to you dislike of Hunter."

"WHAT I HISSED?! I JUST PROLONGED THE S!" Ranie snapped.

"Oooookaaaaayyy...," Maxx said suspiciously.

"Anyways, back to topic, do you have any idea what Hunter did to me?!" I quickly said.

"What about it?" Maxx curiously asked.

"He told me that he spied on us while we were sleeping, tied Leonora and Ranie in ropes, kidnapped me and BROKE MY BONES!" I yelled.

"Literally?" The husky asked.

"Well... When Hunter was hurting me, everything was like bleeding," I explained as I showed the scars on my ankles an the blood on my pants.

"Ehhh...," Maxx said discusted.

Then we went silent for awhile.

"Ranie," Jacob broke the silence. "Are you still feeling sick?"

"A little bit...," The fox replied.

Then Ranie slowly closed her eyes.

"RANIE! DON'T DIE PLEASE!" Jacob screamed trying to wake Ranie up.

"I'M NOT DEAD YOU MEAT SACK! I'm resting!" Ranie snapped.

"Okay chill...," Jacob said.

Ranie closed her eyes again.

"Let's just leave her...," I said as I tiptoed away.

"I heard that," Ranie mumbled.

"Geez...," I said.

"Ranie's so snappy sometimes," Jacob whispered to me.

"Tell me about it," I sarcastically said.

Jacob laughed.

Then all of us went outside, leaving Ranie alone.