A Foxes Journey Book One: Bright Light's Story

Chapter VII: The Fight Of Bloody Stream

"Bright Paw, are you ready to get back to your battle training?" Ice Tail asked Bright Paw anxiously two months later. In reply, Bright Paw groaned, got up, and walked out of the den.

"To be fair Ice Tail, I was sick, but please don't get mad at me for not getting up, I can test my hunting skills if you want me to. I will do whatever you want me to or we could take today off and get to know each other," Bright Paw said to Ice Tail in another groan of pain as she groaned Ice Tail stroked his tail down her side to provide her with some comfort. She wanted to get back out on duty too, but the pain was making it hard on her.

"Well, you still need to work on your battle training, but you have gotten sick, so we can hunt today and I can see that your in much pain, so that would be easier on you than battle training. Yes, and let's do get to know each other while we are at it," Ice Tail told Bright Paw understandingly. Ice Tail than gave her cheek a lick and gave her a sympathetic look.

"I can't wait to get to know you better Bright Paw. I still can't believe that you said yes to me," Ice Tail told Bright Paw excitedly as they got into hunting position.

As Ice Tail made his way out the entrance, he saw Bright Paw stalking a squirrel, bigger than the one she had let go. She pounced, and killed it instantly.

"Bright Paw, you are the best hunter in MountainRange. Not even Owl Beak would have caught that. You stayed in one position, moving forward slowly. You pounced when the squirrel wasn't paying attention, and you quickly took its life by nipping it's neck. You caught that perfectly. Thank you StarRange for this prey. Also one thing about me I love the smell of leaves and your fur," Ice Tail told Bright Paw she then gave him a look and he gave her muzzle a cuddle. She stood a bit higher, and her face lit up with joy. Ice Tail was not impressed easily even if he was her tod friend. Astonished by her skills, Ice Tail looked at her face which was glittering with pride. He knew exactly why he had fallen in love with her. She was spirited, loyal, kind, gentle, brave, beautiful, a quick learner, free willed, and always having fun. Ice Tail then got so close to Bright Paw that their pelt were brushing just so he could give her a quick nuzzle and a lick a cross the ears.

"Ice Tail, could we eat this? I don't think I will have a problem catching more and I am starving," Bright Paw asked her mentor. "We haven't eaten our sunrise meal yet."

"No, Bright Paw," Ice Tail told Bright Paw even though he could see how hungry she really was . "Little Song, said you couldn't eat until she said so. Don't you care about your health at all or are you just willing to die like that? I really wouldn't want to lose you now." Bright Paw was about to bury the prey when she heard yowling and saw Shining Pebbles come rushing into them.

"StreamRange wolf dung are hunting on our territory,"gasped Shining Pebbles, blood was dripping from a huge gash in her side and Ice Tail stepped closer to Bright Paw draping his tail over her shoulders as if to protect her. "They are wanting our hunting ground rights saying that we don't belong here. Our patrol is fighting them off, but more foxes ambushed us. We have the odds of one to four. Holly Berry, Turkey Feather and Ant Leap are already dead. We might lose Moss Fur too and he is our deputy!" Shining Pebbles gasped as she caught her breath.

"Shining Pebbles, go and get Little Song to have herbs nearby and ready if there are any injured that need to be treated right away, and some Hail Foxes to help fight of StreamRange." Ice Tail watched her go. "Bright Paw, stay at the camp. I don't want you getting hurt since you are already stuck in the healers den and I really don't want to lose you my Bright Paw."

"No, I'm coming with you and I am doing it because it is for what is right and Ice Tail even if I die you will see me again eventually," Bright Paw ran with him into the battle. Blood spilled everywhere coming from every fox. Bright Paw and Ice Tail looked at each other one last time and joined the fight. Bright Paw was doing well, considering all that she'd been through. She was still doing good, until Storm Paw, a StreamRange apprentice, knocked her to the ground.

"You won't get away, Mountain pup or should you even be called that after all you don't belong here. MountainRangers always think they are better than every fox else well lets just see about that," Storm Paw sneered at Bright Paw and as he did so his spit got all over Bright Paw's face. Bright Paw plunged at Storm Paw and bit him at the back of his neck, they fought hard, and it was bloody. Bright Paw bit his throat out, but he knocked her off and bit her jaw line, making her go unconscious. Storm Paw was killed when Sorrel Paw jumped on him from behind, biting his open throat wound. Creek Song, Storm Paw's mentor, mercilessly killed Sorrel Paw and yowled a retreat when more MountainRange foxes came. Bright Paw could only see a blur. All she thought she saw was Sorrel Paw fall, and blood rush out of a gash in her throat.

Ice Tail looked for Bright Paw. He saw her, and yelped.

"Bright Paw, no Bright Paw!" he cried, and put his nose into her fur and licked her cheek.

"This is all my fault! I never should have let you fight! Now what will we do if Little Song can't help you! I can't live without you!" he wailed unable to contain his true feelings for Bright Paw because they had been keeping their relationship a secret. He looked at her bloody coat, and slowly he saw her chest rise and fall, but it looked as if she was forcing herself to breathe.

"Shining Pebbles, pick up her other side, so we can get her to Little Song," Ice Tail told Shining Pebbles.

"I don't think she'll make it, Ice Tail," she mumbled around Bright Paw's fur and gave him an understanding sympathetic look. All the foxes who were on the morning patrol that had survived were helping to carry Bright Paw, despite their own injuries. When Bright Paw awoke the next morning, she was once again in the Healer's den. She had coneflower juices to fix every part of her.

"Bright Paw, don't even think of getting up yet. I told Ice Tail that you had to stay in my den until you are better and he said that he would come check on you later. Do you understand me?" Little Song asked Bright Paw calmly. Bright Paw answered by letting her head lull and dropped off into a restless sleep.