To Save Tiny Lives

Chapter One

Location: Maka
Sage's POV
Sage opened her blue eyes slowly. Light flooded in though the open window and pooled in the room. Sage got up out of her nest and shook her peach colored coat. She walked though the dangling vines that led outside into the village. The morning sun warmed the air and the scent of fresh fruit filled her senses making her mouth water. Joy flooded though Sage when she saw the village's pups playing with a rubber ball. She jumped up to the porch swing that hung just outside her hollow.
"Auntie Sage! Auntie Sage!" A small fox pup bundled up to her.

"Hello, Mouse. How are you?" Sage asked the pup.

"Today is my first day out of the hollow without mommy hovering over me." He said puffing out his white chest.

Sage glanced across the square and saw her sister, Fawn, pacing as her mate, Night Walker tired to soothe her. Mouse was a small pup from the start and Fawn never let him go out in his own. Night Walker must have been trying to convince her for ages now. I'm surprised she actually let Mouse play with the other pups. Sage thought.

"Why don't you go back to playing with your new friends? That ball looks like fun!" She commented to Mouse.

"Okay! Bye Bye!" He scampered back to the other pups. Once he left, Sage got up and padded over to where Fawn was.

"Sage! I was wondering when you would wake up!" Fawn said as Sage got closer.
"I'm surprised. I thought you'd never let Mouse play without you watching him like an Oqin." She chuckled.

"Wait 'till you have a pup of your own. You never stop worrying about them." Fawn said thoughtfully.

"Actually that's what I wanted to talk to you about."  Sage smiled.

Fawn's jaw dropped. "You're expecting! Oh Sage I'm so happy for you! Does Grey know yet? I noticed you looked a little plumper, but I wasn't expecting this!"

"Haha." Sage laughed sarcastically at Fawn's last remark. "And no, I haven't told Grey yet. I actually don't think it even crossed his mind."

"Well you have to tell him when he gets back from the hunt! He'll be so thrilled!" Fawn nuzzled Sage's cheek.

Sage smiled and nodded. A long howl from the Hunting Team's leader,
Night Scar, Night Walker's brother, sounded.

"Night Walker, can you watch Mouse? I'm going to help unload the prey." Fawn turned to Night Walker who smiled and dipped his head. He was large for a fox and had a jet black coat with bright yellow eyes. His chest was a light gray and his tail was bushy.

Fawn beckoned with Sage with a flick of her tail.  Sage followed her sister to the pavilion where they had community meetings, ate meals, and socalized. The pavilion had a large oak tree growing in the center and Kudzu ivy growing along the support beams, their purple flowers always in bloom. As they entered the pavilion, the Hunting Team was returning with the large truck they used to bring in the game. Grey hopped down from the truck and races towards Sage. The two wolves greeted each other in a series of licks and nuzzles.

"I am so happy you are back." Sage murmured through Grey's fur. "I something to tell you after we eat."

"I missed you too, Sage. I'll be back, I have to help get this meat to the smoke house." He smiled and with one last lick to Sage's cheek, he went off to help unload the truck.

There are three hunting teams that go out on specific days. The first team consists of the most elite hunters and they go out every other day for a whole 24 hours and bring back a small quantity of large game like buffalo and kayo, which is a very large hog like creature with large tusks and vicious claws. They also hunt large birds like taliks. A talik is a almost dragon like bird that can range anywhere from 30 feet tall to 45 feet tall with a wing spanned of 90 feet. Killing this bird requires the most advanced weaponry that are supplied by the Oqins.

The second group of hunters are a slightly less skilled group that goes out very week for three days and hunt smaller game like elk, hogs, and to an extent, alligators.

The third group of hunters are almost as skilled as the first group and they go out once every month for two weeks. They hunt mainly deer, opsanas, which are a gruesome tiger like creature with huge fangs, claws, and sharp frills that can be shot from their many tails and can puncture the most strong armour. Many phalens have been paralyzed or killed by these nightmares. The last accounted killing if a opsanas was when the leader if the third group, Night Scar, lost his eye to this beast. Lastly , the werie, which are large rabbits that are extremely fast, vicious and keen of hearing.

The Phelans turn into humans while they unload the trucks. Sage always wanted  to help so she went turned human and ran to the truck doors. The volunteer handed her gloves and goggles. Sage put them on and went to work, picking up the deer and carried it to the preparation room.

After an hour of preparation, the meal was placed on the long tables and phalens poured into the pavilion. Gray raced to Sage with a deer leg in his jaws.  "Come on." His voice was muffled by the deer leg. Sage smiled and she followed him just outside the pavilion where you can eat by yourself or with a small group. Sage and Grey sat down underneath a red maple tree and ate their meal laughing and talking the while time.