Wild at heart

Human toy

The single file line was long, even though it consisted only of foxes. I'd already been waiting there for an eighth of a mayfly life and I still couldn't quite see the front.  Around me I could feel the other foxes getting restless but not I. I'd waited for this moment for a long time and I wasn't going to let a line bring down my spirits. The fox behind me was getting even jumpier. He was quite large, with grey streaks in his fur and a sharp snout. He was pacing back and forth in line now and it was extremely bothersome. Every time he began another pace I felt him step on my tail. He was on his tenth tail step when I finally whipped around. 

"Would please stop pacing!" I snapped baring my teeth. The fox gave a smug smile and continued his pacing, this time stepping on my paw.

"Why should I, you're just a human toy." He sneered.

"What?" 

"You, know a human toy," He paused and smiled slyly as if he couldn't believe I didn't know what that was. "The tag in you're ear, they track you. You heard what Strong Paw said, you're a danger to all of us. I wouldn't let you live if I was the alfa but that's her choice to make, not mine." 

I felt my vision blur and looked down so he wouldn't see. A human toy. I'd been called many things in my lifetime but that was the most hurtful by far. Ever since that one night all anyone can see when they look at me is the metal ring in my ear. No one even knows if humans use it to track me, no animal has any idea what it does. Many animals won't even come near me because they think the ring will explode. The ring could be a good thing but everyone just assumes it's bad. I blinked a couple of times then put my head up to give him a piece of my mind. That's when I saw that he had cut me in line and was now standing a head of me with a superior grin on his face. Some of the other foxes around us were now watching me too, all smiling smug little smiles. That did it. The large fox had its back turned to me now so I crept up behind him and bit his ear. He yelped and spun around sharply, there were flames in his eyes. I saw his muscles tense, ready to fight but I was too quick for him. In a split second I'd swiped my sharp claws across his face. I saw him sink to the ground and put his head in his paws. I stepped gracefully over him and back into my spot in line. He wouldn't bother me anymore. My right paw was covered in blood. Served him right. I began to lick it off. I don't like the taste of fox blood, too salty, but I also hate having blood stains on my paws. I felt the fox stand up behind me. I turned around and snarled and he shrunk back, a sign of my superiority. A deep cut ran from the corner of one eye to the bottom of his cheek and it was bleeding openly. It was more then certain to scar. As he was of no interest to me anymore I turned back around. I could see the front of the line now. A young wolf was sitting and barking out orders. As I watched I saw that he paired the fox in front with the fox behind them, gave an order, and then sent the foxes out to the left. I quickly paired up all the foxes ahead of me in line. I was to be with the young male in front of me. Good, he looked healthy and strong. After a while more of waiting, I was finally second to the front of the line. The wolf stared the young male fox down and then spoke.

"You, the one with the bleeding cut, please step forward." The wolf didn't say a word about the foxes open wound, it wasn't his problem. Predators quarrelled all the time, it was normal. No one else cared unless you killed a member of you're group, then it was an issue. Bleeding half to death, no biggie. Instead he paired the sly fox with the young male and sent them off together. Maybe he thought I'd be better matched with the female behind me, I thought confused. Or maybe he only matches up foxes of the same gender. 

"You will be spying on the flower house on the street to the right of the forest," He barked at me "go out to the left." 

"But shouldn't you pair me with someone?" I asked puzzled looking at the partners around me. 

"Your tag is a danger to all of us but especially to those near you." He told me with no emotion in his voice. "I will not endanger another fox's life just for your safety." 

I'd heard enough. Raising my head I walked out to the left. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the cut fox laughing along with the young male he'd been partnered with. I put on a brave face as I passed them, but as soon as I was out of their eyesight I broke into a run. My eyes stung and I felt the wind streaming past my face catching the tears along with it.  I ran faster, trying to put as much distance between the clearing and me as possible. I slowed to a trot as I neared my tree. I felt myself relax as I saw it's mossy branches. I curled up and wrapped my bushy tail around my body snuggling into a crevice in the roots. This was the same tree I'd woken up beside many moons ago. It resembled a tree near my den when I was a child and served as my only reminder of home. I finally let myself begin to sob the tears absorbing into my tail. As long as I was beneath that tree, I didn't care who saw me cry.