The Fox Who Ran with Wolves

3

   "Moon, eat up. We have to leave or fight, and I'm not about to fight the likes of him, not if it would put you in danger." The vixen finally nosed the rabbit dug in, signaling Moon to do the same.
   "Ma, what are you talking about? Who's him? Why is he coming? Why do we have to leave?"
   Her mother sighed, realizing that her daughter wasn't going anywhere willingly without an explanation. "Do you remember when you broke your leg? There were two silver wolves, an adult and a cub. The cub chased you and you got your leg stuck in a hole, twisting it. Then you passed out. Do you remember?"
   Moon sat back in surprise. "That seems a lot like the nightmare I've been-"
   The red vixen broke her off. "Yes, that's probably it. There's a silver wolf nearby. He's looking for something. Probably foxes. We have to go. Now."
   "What? Why did you never tell me that a wolf-"
   "Moon." Her mother looked her in the eyes. "We have to go."
   Moon only nodded. She understood enough. Nothing could change her opinion about wolves, but she understood that they were in danger. Grave danger. She followed her mother, who had abandoned the food, out of the den. The older fox warned her to be quiet, a feat made difficult by her bad leg. Moon heard heavy footsteps in the distance. It had to be a wolf. It had tracked their scent to the den. And it would find them soon.
   The sniffing sounds grew louder. The wolf was getting closer. Moon knew that they could have outrun it, if it weren't for her twisted leg. But they couldn't. The wolf was going to catch them, she realized. They would have to fight. She paused. The sniffing had stopped, and she couldn't hear any more footsteps. Maybe it had given up. Maybe-
   The silver giant was upon them in an instant. Moon's mother stepped halfway between her and the wolf to protect her. But with that one movement, Moon knew. They weren't going to make it. The red vixen must have known it, too. But that wasn't going to stop her from trying. The wolf bowled her over and pinned her down, trapping Moon under his back leg in the same movement.
   "Why have you come back?"
   It wasn't the wolf, but the red fox who spoke first. Her voice has calm but sad, as though she already knew the answer. Moon struggled, snapping at the wolf's underbelly to no avail. She was trapped.
   The silver wolf growled. "I remember you. And that little brat. I defeated her once, and it seems like I've defeated you both now. You should know why I'm here. It's because of your kind. You are nothing but liars and tricksters, sneaking around like cowards. You even tried to convince me to be a coward like you. But I am a wolf. I am brave. Unlike you." He spat the last word out like a lizard bone. Moon had no idea what was going on, but she knew enough. This was one of the wolves who had attacked them when her leg was broken. Judging by her fuzzy memories of that night, it must be the younger one. The cub had been the one to chase her into the hole. But with his giant size, it could have been either one.
   "Your kind killed Hiirni." With that, he drew back his head and opened his jaws like a snake ready to strike.
   "Wait!" Moon was too late. When the wolf turned back to her, his teeth were stained with blood. His eyes showed no regret, only satisfaction. Moon's whole body went cold. No. She can't be...
   The wolf quickly replaced the back paw that had her trapped with one of his front ones. Sunlight glinted off of his bloody teeth and in his eyes.  He looked down at her with malice. He would enjoy killing her. Moon could only hope that it was quick.
   "So, how does it feel?" It took Moon a moment to recognise that he was asking her something.
   "W-what?" she stammered.
   "How does it feel to have everything you love taken away by your enemy?"
   Moon didn't respond. She only stared. She was confused. She was terrified. But there was something else at well. She was furious.
   Kicking up with all the strength her back legs could handle, she tried to bite the paw that held her down. Adrenaline filled her with energy to fight. He was not getting away with killing her mother.
   But it seemed he was.
   He was too tall for her legs to reach, too strong to be moved, and too clever to put his paw within range of her needle sharp teeth. Moon struggled with all her strength. How was this wolf so strong? What did he have against her, anyway? She had done nothing.
   "What do you want from me?" Moon cried, growling in frustration.
   "Your kind killed her. Your kind will pay. The pack is going to kill you when I get you there, so I'll explain it. Once upon a time, a little wolf had an adopted mother named Hiirni. One day, a deceitful fox tricked her and killed her. The young wolf set out the next day to find a fox to avenge her and raise his status in the pack." The pain in his voice was obvious. "I guess the lucky fox just so happened to be one I've met before."
   Moon sucked in a breath. "It was you. You broke my leg!" She struggled again, hoping for something to change. The wolf didn't budge.
   "Why, yes I did. And you're coming with me. You're lucky, you know, that I don't feel like dragging a dead body all the way back to the valley. You get to live a little longer. I bring you back, you confirm that I killed another fox, and then I kill you." Moon wanted to run away. She wanted to vanish into the trees and grieve. But with her broken leg, that wasn't an option. The silver wolf would catch her in a moment. She was left with no choice but to follow him to wherever he was going.