The Chronicles of Hototo, The Blood's Hearth

Chapter 17

The fox and owl walked through the forest, the owl perched on his shoulders. They talked for a while, speaking of the kingdoms and stories they know.

"Then I bit him hard on the nose. For a badger, he wasn't too smart," the fox laughed. "What are some stories you know?"

Hototo leaned back in thought. "Sorry I don't really have any personal stories. Our kingdom doesn't get out much."

The fox went silent for a moment. "Yes, you owls were always very solitary."

They listened to the dying leaves fall to the ground in a graceful dance, the occasional mouse skittering past.

Thinking about mice made Hototo hungry. "Fox, we should hunt."

The fox shook his head and grinned. "It's Adahy, not 'Fox'. And sure. You eat mice, correct? I'll see what I can find."

As Hototo slid off of his friend, he thought on his name. Adahy... I feel like I've heard that before. His eyes widened. At the Kings' Ceremony! King Sinopa was speaking to a fox that he called Adahy. He was there! But that doesn't make sense... He watched the fox's bushy tail disappear within the foliage.

If he was apart of the kingdom, why is he running away? Was he exiled? What did he do?

He tipped his head in thought, looking at the canopy above. Am I traveling with an outcast?

He remembered being told by Dane that outcasts were highly dangerous. Usually they were shunned from horrendous reasons, like killing their own or posing as a threat. 

Hmm... He looked at his talons. They were covered in mud. He began to draw animals to help his train of thought.

Adahy was obviously important enough to be within the King's council. So what made him turn? Did he rebel? That just doesn't make sense. Why would he give up his position, reputation, and life for something as silly as that?

The drawing was of a fox with a crown. Or maybe... it wasn't him. Maybe Sinopa turned on him? Or... His head lit up. The Collective.

Adahy appeared from the parted bushes. Hototo jumped slightly. The fox smiled in a smug way and dropped a chipmunk at Hototo's talons.

"Meal time."

He looked down at it. It was still breathing. But something about this animal was oddly familiar...

"Stick...?"

Its eye opened up. "I-Is that the light...? Grandma...?"

Hototo laughed and nudged him with a talon. "Stick, it's me! What are you doing here?"

Stick got up and brushed his fur, shaking. "Before I get to that," he regarded Adahy with wide eyes. "protect me from this fox."

Hototo smiled. "This is Adahy. He's a friend."

Stick raised an eyebrow. "A friend? He nearly killed me!"

Adahy laughed. "Well, you did look awfully delicious." He licked his lips for good measure.

Stick yelped and ran under Hototo's wing. He laughed. "Stop torturing the poor thing."

Adahy smiled and sat down, yawning. "Yeah, well I still need something to eat. Got any friends?"

Stick shuddered and buried himself deep in Hototo's plumage. 

"I think that's a no." He looked down at his chipmunk friend. "But Stick, why were you all the way over here? Isn't your nest on the other side of the Yellowpines?"