The Cream Colored Vixen

Pg.71-80

"Okay."

"What for?" Thistlelight spoke at the same time as I, so our words blended into each other.

I shrugged. "You wouldn't understand."

Thistlelight huffed. "Why not?"

"It's between Softpierce and I," I explained.

"How come Birdtail knows?"

Birdtail flicked an ear as if remembering something long ago. "When my name was Birdsong and when Bravetail and Hawktail were King and Queen, I was very close to my mother Brightwave. King Bravetail taught his first litter - Mudheart and Sharpclaw - Brightwave, my sister Brightpass, and I ten lessons he had learned throughout his life.

"Brightwave taught her sister, Echorock, who then taught her son, Softpaw-"

"Who is now teaching me!" I finished.

"Correct."

"What are the lessons?" Thistlelight complained.

Birdtail became serious again. She spun around to watch us. "We've learned the hard way that only certain foxes are capable of knowing them. After Echorock told her mate, Ratstorm, the reynard used the wisdom to betray his kingdom. Now the king and queen will only pass the lessons to their first born."

Annoyance sparkled in my sister's eyes. "Softpierce isn't royalty."

"This rule was created recently when Sharptail became King." Birdtail led straight again. "Either way, we're here."

All we saw was a pile of boulders that touched the sky. Our mother heaved herself up and over the boulders then peeked over at us on the ground. "You coming?"

Thistlelight and I followed. At the top of the boulders, a large cave flowed in the sunlight. A creek leading down to the ferns glittered with shiny, smooth rocks at its bottom.

Birdtail was already heading into the pitch black of the cave. "Follow my scent." Thistlelight rushed after her. I took one last glance at the astonishing landscape beyond. There was an endless lake of water. Was this the end of the world? I followed Thistlelight into the blinding darkness.

Going further and further down the cave, the entrance light began to fade and all sound was muted except for the faint flow of distant water. The walls squeezed at my sides but suddenly the tunnel opened up and grew brighter.

We entered a small opening with a transparent white rock centered within. It was smooth but pointed as if a giant dip of water froze after impact. I immediately spotted a rough, broken surface as if a piece fell off, but the piece was no where around.

"Shut your eyes," Birdtail ordered. She and Thistlelight were silver, and I had no doubt I was too. I settled myself down on the unexpectedly comfortable floor and closed my eyes. I feel asleep immediately.

I still had my eyes closed bit I felt as if
I were no longer in the Cave of the Sky. I felt cramped, cold, and smoke filled my lungs.

"See what you put yourself through?" It was Thistlelight's voice. "All you had to do was tell me what you knew, but instead, you caused the death of your loved ones." She laughs and I hear a clang of an unnatural type of rock. "You stupid fool!" Suddenly, I felt terrible burning throughout my body as if flames had engulfed me.

I opened my eyes and everything stopped. I was on raised terrain focused on Quietheart's clearing. Thistlelight was with a white vixen glowing with starlight. My sister's talking with a fix from the Sky Kingdom!

I was able to pick up what they were saying from the breeze.

"Tell me please!" Thistlelight begged.