A Foxes Journey Book One: Bright Light's Story

Chapter IV: Inferior Compared To Others

       "Hey, Ice Tail, can we go hunting or on a patrol yet?" Bright Paw asked her mentor excitedly as they went out into the forest for only the second time of Bright Paw's life.

"Not yet Bright Paw, stop the pestering. You are far too inferior to even think about going on a patrol or to try to hunt. First of all, you need to get hay, straw, and cotton for your nest and then I will take you on a tour of the territory and show you the other Range's scent marks which incase you haven't figured out by now we are not allowed to cross," Ice Tail replied harshly to Bright Paw, but Bright Paw was unfazed by her mentor's sharp words and kept on jumping and running alongside him happily. After she made her nest next to Alder Paw's, she went to her mentor, and he took her to a hollow in the side of the mountains and stopped.

"This is the training hollow," Ice Tail said. "You will meet me here everyday. Training starts at dawn, so I need you to be here before then. And I know how vixens are always talking about their glittering shiny coats. Do a quick washing, and that's it. We don't have all day to groom like our elders. We have many other things to do. One more thing, Bright Paw. I know Alder Paw is a handsome tod, but you cannot get distracted with feelings towards other tods at the moment. Your training comes first, above anything else tods are not more important than that. Now, to prove you're worthy to the Range, you need to be responsible. It's sunset now. Go eat a small piece of prey, and join the other apprentices in your den and sleep. Tomorrow is the big day we will begin your training and if you are good you might not be punished."

As soon as Bright Paw had eaten, she went to her nest and fell fast asleep, so she would be ready for her training first thing bright and early the next morning.

"Bright Paw!" Ice Tail growled impatiently. "Get up!" Bright Paw got up, stretched and gave herself a quick cleaning and was out of the den of course none of this was done on time. Ice Tail snorted with amusement when she went out to get some prey, but only backed up when she found out there was no prey on the prey pile.

"It's before dawn. There is no prey yet. The Sleet Foxes are hunting now," Ice Tail grunted, then gave her a stern look. "Stop thinking about yourself. The Range comes first. And if I ever have to wake you up again, you will have to face a consequence from me."

"Ice Tail, maybe we could find a place to hunt then and bring back some prey for the prey pile," Bright Paw suggested to her mentor her eyes telling him that she was in a land of daydreaming.

"No, Bright Paw, I already said the Sleet Foxes are hunting we do not hunt for the Range very often. Now pay attention to what I say," Ice Tail sternly barked to Bright Paw. Bright Paw seemed to have other plans her mind clearly in a different place than Ice Tail's. While Ice Tail was telling her about the code, Bright Paw had gotten into a hunting position and had pounced on a huge squirrel that was three times bigger than her.

"Bright Paw!" Ice Tail growled, and angrily glared at her. Bright Paw put her ears down guiltily she hadn't meant to upset Ice Tail that easily. The squirrel was squirming and squeaking.

"Let it go," he said.

"What?" Bright Paw was confused. "I thought you said--"

"I said we aren't hunting! I should only have to tell you once for you to obey me and you broke the Code yet again Bright Paw!" Ice Tail growled. "Now let it go." She obeyed him.

" What about the Range? Won't they be super hungry now? " Bright Paw asked as she watched the squirrel scurry away scared of the two foxes.

"If someone in the Range is hungry, it will be because you didn't listen to me and because you broke the Code," Ice Tail grunted. "For StarRange's sake, Bright Paw, can't you listen! Everytime I tell you to do something you completely ignore what I say." Bright Paw quivered a little in fear. "The patrol might catch it, if StarRange allows it, but that is way beyond our control Bright Paw," Ice Tail said a bit more calmly. Then his stern look came back across his face. "Since you weren't paying attention, I have to repeat what I just said. If this keeps up, you will never be a Rank. That the other foxes will find worthy of you. Now I can see the good in you, but you must let the others see it too."