Crimson Fox

Chapter 7

The wind had picked up speed, in weeks passed. Though the weather was no longer overcast, the kits weren't able to go outside due to strong winds. Lily was itching to make her trek with Duke, the kits, and Ash. But with the wind speed as high as it had been, she wasn't so sure.

"Mama, can't we go and play outside of the den?" Ashley pawed, biting on Duchess. "You never let us leave here! I want to go and have an adventure." She whined.

Suppressing a giggle of amusement, she realized Ashley and Lily were very similar. "Don't worry, we'll go on an adventure soon." She looked out of the den with longing eyes. 

Ash had grown into a fine young hunter, but still struggled to fight the tornado-like wind. "Sis, why can't we just run out and the wind will push us to Meadow Falls?" Rolling on the ground, 

Oliver perked his head up, unaware of the long journey they would soon be embarking on. "Can I come?" Bouncing all over Lily, pleading for her to not leave him behind. "I really want to go with you, mama." He barked. 

"Don't worry, darling. You're coming with us. And we're leaving in a few days. Maybe tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Ash stared at her, not sure how to feel. Gulping, he sat down beside Oak and Winter, now both foxes were getting quite ill. 

"Are you sure about this?" Oak coughed, his voice was hoarse and weak. "I don't want anything to happen to you, Ash." Nuzzling his son, his eyes were tired. 

"I'll be fine, I promise. But I'll really miss you." Ash reassured. "And I might even visit someday." Forgetting their old age, he suddenly remembered and drew away. "We'll meet again, eventually." He pressed, but padded back to Lily.

Winter laid her head down next to her mate, following Ash with concern. As the two elderly foxes fell asleep, Lily kept a close watch on the weather. The intensity of the winds had increased, still. Duke returned with a field mouse hanging from his jaw, dropping it down for Lily. 

Oliver stayed beside his mother while his sisters wrestled on the den floor, squealing and squirming from their pounces. The young vixens reminded Lily so much of herself and Ruby when they were their age. 

"The wind is still strong, but I think it will calm down tonight and tomorrow it will be safe to travel." Duke reported to his mate, leaning his head on her scruff. "Would you like to leave tomorrow?" 

Taking a deep breath, Lily hesitated. She had waited so long to hear the words, but she was like a deer in headlights when the opportunity actually rose. "Yes," She shook her head and set it back down. 

I am going to be with my sister again, nearly two years after the death of their mother. She wondered if Ruby was still alive and so deeply traumatized by the events. What is Ruby doing right now? Does she miss me? Does she have a family too? How will she react upon my return? 

As the sun dipped down to meet the treeline, more curiosity shined in her, sparking interest of Ruby's whereabouts. Closing her eyes, she was beginning to dream about fuzzy memories of Meadow Falls, though they had faded in time. 

The sky was turning a dark shade of blue, then a mulberry purple. Clustered with stars, they passed the den by, all too fast. 

As the morning crept up on the family of foxes, Lily opened her eyes, blinded by the brightness of the sunlight. The clouds had dispersed and broken away from above the den. Stretching, Lily yawned and stepped outside. 

"What a beautiful day," She chirped, spinning around to see her mate brushing up against her. "I'll let the kits sleep a while longer until we start heading out." 

"Well Ash has been up for hours, waiting for you. So we got some prey for you." Dropping a sparrow at her paws, he nudged it forward with his nose. 

"That's so sweet of you too. I guess he's excited. What about our kits?" 

"Oliver is awake, but Ashley and Duchess are still sleeping."

"Where's Oliver than?" Lily scanned the clearing anxiously. 

Jumping on her tail, Lily was startled to see Oliver right behind her, smiling like always. "I'm right here, mama. Ash woke me up and said we were leaving at dawn." Glaring playfully at his uncle. 

"Welcome to the Ash is a pain in the tail club, Olly." Pushing Ash down and wrestling on the ground like a kit. "But we love you anyway," She concluded, pushing her body up to stand beside Duke. 

"Alright, wake up your sisters and we're gonna head out and be on our way." Prompting Oliver to go to the den, Duke pressed him on. 

Bounding to his sleeping sisters, the two vixens rose their heads when Oliver came into the den and crawled into their nests. "Go away," Duchess groaned, rolling over. 

Reluctantly, Ashley obeyed and crawled drowsily out of her nest. "I'm so tired," She yawned, but Ashley shook her back awake. 

"I'm up, I'm up." Ashley told her brother, walking out with him. Yawning again, her fur burned as she walked into the blaring sun. "I guess we're going to Meadow Falls now." 

"Uh huh," Shaking his head, Oliver leaped over to Lily and Duke. 

"Where is Duchess?" 

"She wants some more time for her beauty sleep." Oliver scoffed.

Lily marched to the den and barked for her to wake up. Anger was fuming from her as she grabbed her kit by her scruff and dragged her to the edge of the den. 

"We are leaving now, darling." 

"I don't want to go. I like living here. Why do we have to go away?" Duchess complained, dragging her paws. Ash followed behind her, keeping a close watch to make sure the kits didn't fall asleep. He had now grown into a handsome young adult. 

"Enough." Lily scowled down in frustration at Duchess. "We're leaving now," Turning forward, she was met by Oak and Winter. 

"Not without saying goodbye," Oak whispered, nuzzling his honorary daughter. 

"We've said goodbye a dozen times now." Rolling her eyes, she was secretly glad she was stopped by them to say goodbye to the life she'd grown to know and love. "I'll miss you like crazy... dad." 

Oak's eyes brightened as that was the first time she had called him that. "I guess I have to let my little baby go." 

Walking up to his father, he laughed. "What about your actual baby?" Rolling his eyes, slightly envious at the strong bond between Oak and Lily. "Nice to know I'm the forgotten kit." 

"Oh darling, you're not forgotten. Molly and Frosty are the ones that are forgotten. They left the den months ago. You've gotten to stay here." Winter didn't seem to be phased. "You know you're my favorite."

"Well I'm certainly not dad's favorite." He sighed, pretending to be more dramatic than he really felt. "Dad loves Lily probably even more than you." He giggled, ignoring his mother. 

Glancing at her mate with a hurt look, she dropped her head, whispering something under her breath that no one could manage to make out. "C'mon dad, admit it." 

"I certainly will not. Especially as this matter upsets your mother. Now you run along." He prompted with a flick of his tail, showing irritation and annoyance at his previous comment about loving Lily more than Winter. 

As the six foxes travelled away from the den and toward Meadow Falls, they could faintly here the distant voices of Oak and Winter arguing behind them. But their voices grew quieter and then silent as they were no longer within earshot. 

"Goodbye," Lily whispered in a tone that no one heard. "I'll always remember you." Glancing at the stars, she pictured Oak and Winter watching over her and felt safe. "Forever,"