Space Between

5: The Unfelt

Jade and Viridian watch as the sun sets down softly upon the horizon. Shortly after, a wolf walks up from the dirt road, with his face hidden by a straw hat. He walks up to Viridian and looks down.

"So this is the fox that everyone has been tearing their voice out over?" he asked, the glare of his violet eyes into Viridian's staring in hostility.

Jade walked up to the wolf. "Tyrian, treat him with a bit more respect." She protectively retaliated. "The poor thing's been through enough."

The wolf scoffed at Jade's mother-like retaliation. "Last thing we need is some redfur stirring up trouble in the neighborhood." he said, "If the thing doesn't like me, that's fine. I'm just protecting the town from potential assassins and vagrants."

The wolf sighed. "We can't trust it, it's capable of anything horrible. Just let it sleep outside."

Now the sky was glowing with a silent blue-turquoise hue. The wind quickly rushed in and brushed up coldly onto Viridian's fur. He looked up to Jade with confusion and loneliness.

Jade looked down to the confused Viridian. "I'm sorry about my husband. He's extremely suspicious of outsiders, especially anybody but wolves."

"Where am I gonna go now?" Viridian asked. "I have nowhere to sleep, and I'm so lost."

Jade guided the fox to a nearby shack and slid open the door. The interior was extremely old and run-down; it was clear that it wasn't used in a while. Viridian walked over to a nearby hay pile, flattened it out carefully, and curled up into it. Then Jade shut the door.

The new morning light slid between the cracks of the rotting wood of the shack. Viridian was still barely asleep. Jade creaked open the door, carefully watching her footsteps hoping not to awaken the fox. Viridian quickly awoke by the sudden rush of light on his face, and Jade looked down to him.

"Morning." she greeted, "Are you feeling alright?"

"This wood is harder than anything I've ever felt before." Viridian answered uncomfortably.

Jade walked over, and set down small pieces of cut roasted meat in front of him. "I know," Jade said, "If it was my choice, I would've let you sleep in my house."

Viridian gave a curious face to the wolf. "That was your husband?" he asked, "What's his problem?" He took a piece of the meat and popped it into his mouth.

"Before your kind vanished, when he was still a pup, his family was murdered by fox assassins for reasons still unknown." she answered, "I don't agree with his ideals and beliefs, but I can't help but feel bad for him."

"Why did you marry him, then?" Viridian asked. "You two are the exact opposite from each other."

"We don't marry for love," Jade sighed, "we simply marry to reproduce. Male spouses choose their female spouses at random, and once the decision has been made, the female can't refuse him."

Jade and Viridian heard a sudden call in the near distance, and the voice sounded familiar; it was Tyrian's.

He walked up to the shack door and sneered at Jade. "Did you not hear me calling you?" he asked with an aggressive tone, "I need you and the fox out here in the field, now."

Jade slowly abided to his orders and grabbed Viridian's hand to lift him up off the ground. "Come on," she said, "we need to get going."

"Alright." Viridian answered.

All three walked out into the field quietly. Viridian picked up a shovel and started patting the farmland down. Jade grabbed some gloves and plunged her hands into the dirt. Tyrian grabbed a plowing tool.