The Cream Colored Vixen

Pg.101-106

The foxes of the Fire Kingdom ran into their dens when they saw the last of the Ice Kingdom climbing down. I heard a few laughs from them because the Ice Kingdom foxes weren't exactly used to climbing walls. Ebbfur, the one whose neck I thought I broke, almost really broke it falling when she was halfway down.

I called the gathering on the Ledge and everyone gathered beneath, separate from each other. "I have met with Icetail, and we have agreed to merge kingdoms." At this news, Mintflower's pups dashed towards Dewy.

"Oh, dear! Yeh knew, imma full guard'n. I'm nought as young's ee t'ink I am." The stem pups fled.

"Anyway, because of this, I'm changing the name of our new kingdom." The skulks started yapping up a storm. I held my tail up to quiet them. "I know this is dramatic news, but I still have much to say. This will be the new era of us kingdoms. We will no longer be separated. We will be united with the strength of stone. We shall be called the Stone Kingdom!" The foxes cheered the new name out loud.

"After observing the Ice Kingdom ways, I have decided all stem pups will train to be at least one role. Also, there will be only one leader, and they don't have to share the same blood with the previous leader." I continued, "And speaking of stem pups." I climbed down the Ledge and stood beneath it in its shadow.

"Wolfclaw and Starryheart." The two stem pups looked at each other confused. "You have trained hard as a stem pup in earned your full roles." Wolfclaw and his sister's eyes widened with excitement. "Wolfclaw, young pirate and hunter, what shall you be known as throughout the forest?" Wolfclaw stood speechless for a moment. Did they do this in their old kingdom?

"Wolfspirit," he finally barked. Birdtail whispered in his ear. "Oh, I apologize! I shall be known as Wolfspirit."

I nodded with approval. "Then I commend you to the kingdom as Wolfspirit the Strong." Starryheart stood up for her turn. "Starryheart, young pirate and hunter, what shall you be known as throughout the forest?"

Starryheart didn't hesitate. "I shall be known as Starrynight."

"Then I commend you to the kingdom as Starrynight the Compassionate." The kingdom cheered the first new full roles of the new kingdom's names. When the noise died down, I announced, "I will take them to the Cave of the Sky personally, for I am to receive my leader name."

"How about me?" Icetail asked.

"What do you think?"

"I believe I should keep the name the Sky Kingdom has given me but leave the kingdom in your paws."

I nodded.

* * *

Five Sky Kingdom foxes stood before me. They were all in the dark. The first fox stepped forward into the light of the cave. It was my father.

"My daughter, you've done what no other fox was able to do: reunite our kingdoms. I give you the gift of an open mind. When times are rough, don't forget to remember your possibilities. Choose the right one, not the easiest." Sharptail faded away and Thornstar took his place.

"I heard everything you told me in my last moments of life. Even though we will never be mates, we can always be friends. I give you the gift of equality. Treat every fox as equal even if they are from another kingdom, for we are all foxes in the Sky Kingdoms eyes."

I was confused when I saw Echotail next. "I was a harsh leader but never cruel. Before my dear Quietsong died, I felt something odd. I had no motive then, and I thought, 'What was I doing?'. I didn't kill you because I knew it was wrong. I give you the gift of forgiveness. All foxes are good at heart, and if you forgive them, they will become a better being."