A Foxes Journey Book 2: The Lost River

Chapter VI: A New Place

"Bright Light, please bring your pups up here they have shown to me that they are ready to accept life's challenges. Mountain, you are now Mountain Paw and your mentor will be Blue Flower since in the more recent battle she proved that she is ready to take on anything. Frost, your now Frost Paw and you will be Sage Foot's first apprentice I expect that you will learn many great things from her and in turn you will share them with your apprentices. Tiny Tree has just had her pups, due to the stress of the battle with the Fox Killers. She had three pups: Starry, a creamy vixen with blue eyes, Fallow, a light colored vixen with a black tail, and Juniper, a brown tod with white paws." Moss Fur got down from where he was standing to announce that he was done sharing his good news with the Range's .

"I have more news for CanyonRange too. Thunder Fur, is expecting Fly Tail's pups and Cherry Whisker, is expecting Canyon Fur's pups. That is all you are dismissed and if anything else comes up please discuss it with either myself or Moss Fur," Canyon Pelt said as he called the meeting to a close for that evening. Bright Light walked over to her pups and gave them both a lick across the ears she was so proud of them for becoming apprentices like she had waited a long time to see. That was when Bright Light felt a major cramp coming from inside of her belly and she then went into a convulsion of pain. She knew right away that it was pups and that this litter would be bigger than her last. Ice Tail saw Bright Light sway and was almost instantly at her side trying to help keep her on her paws.

"Ice Tail, it looks like your second litter will be here before you know it and by the looks of Bright Light I could say even right now," Lightning Pelt who had just walked over to Ice Tail to take a look at Bright Light told him excitedly because it was always good news to hear that new pups would be born. A few weeks later Bright Light went into convulsions and started to push and heave. The pups were coming and they wouldn't wait any longer to come out.

"Bright Light, you know the drill. You bite down on this stick and push as hard as you can and your first pup should come out. This birth will be much easier than the last one, but I must admit that third birth might be better. The second birth is always the best as I always seem to find out because everytime they have their second litter it hurts less for them," Little Song told Bright Light calmly as the first pup was starting to come out Bright Light pushed and heaved, but the pup wouldn't come because it was breech which meant that Little Song would have to give the pup a little extra push for it to come out. Little Song saw this and then pushed gently on her belly and out came the pup alive and well. Little Song licked the pup as good as she could before she gave it to Bright Light.

"Bright Light, it is a vixen now lick her dry and get her suckling because as you know if you don't she will die," Little Song told Bright Light curtly making sure that she did exactly as she was told to. Before Bright Light could do anything out came the second and third and fourth pups which was two tods and another vixen. Finally Bright Light gave one last heave and out came the last pup a vixen. Bright Light was exhausted from just giving birth, so she just laid her head down and let her new pups suckle. Ice Tail was at her side shortly and slept with her.

"I can't believe you had more pups," Ice Tail told Bright Light.

"I didn't want to tell every fox that I was pregnant," Bright Light told Ice Tail anxiously. "I was scared that you might not be pleased."

"Of course I'm pleased. How about we name these pups?" Ice Tail asked Bright Light excitedly.

"Okay, then how about I name the tods first, they will be Ice and Breeze. Now for the vixens how about Blaze, River, and Snow." Bright Light suggested to Ice Tail eagerly.

"Yes, Bright Light. Those names are perfect." Ice Tail told Bright Light with so much love in his voice. Two weeks later all the pups were causing trouble. Only three of them could see. Blaze which was the third pup born, could see along with Ice and Breeze, but Little Song had figured out that River and Snow couldn't see, but Snow could hear while River couldn't. Little Song asked StarRange to heal them, and Dark Breeze agreed.

"Momma, why can't I play with the other pups just because I am smaller and deaf doesn't mean that I'm dumb," River complained to Bright Light as she looked through her sightless eyes at Bright Light. Frost Paw and Mountain Paw became Ranks, taking their names Frost Heart and Mountain Pelt both were Storm Foxes, a month after Bright Light had her second litter.

"Bright Light, I have something important to tell you River can see, as soon as the full moon. She will be able to hear tomorrow night. Snow will be able to see at the full moon too. I think that River could very well be part of a new vision or prophecy coming soon, so just let her play after all she is just a pup," Little Song told Bright Light calmly. Four months later, they were all ready to become apprentices.

"Starry, Fallow, and Juniper, you are all ready to be apprentices. Tiny Tree, Doe Leap, you have raised your pups well. Starry until you are a full Rank you will be known as Starry Paw and Silent Night will be your mentor. Fallow, until you are a full Ranking you will be known as Fallow Paw and your mentor will be Little Song. Juniper Paw, your mentor will be Falling Star."

"Moss Fur, Fallow Paw is not destined to be a Healer's apprentice, " Little Song announced to the leader calmly. "River is the right choice."

"Then, Fallow Paw's mentor shall be Lightning Pelt. River come here. By StarRange's power may Little Song guide you to be a great Healer and until you are a full healer, you will be known as River Paw," Moss Fur said as though he didn't quite believe it was happening. Bright Light gave a fearful look towards her little pup.

¨Don't worry Bright Light. I will be with River Paw and protect her, but tonight I am going to talk to her about our StarRange."

Later that night, Little Song and River Paw realised that the two Range's were falling apart, despite the journey they took. She was scared, but she knew that everything would work out fine.

There was some sad news after a month. Tiny Tree announced that she was expecting Funneling Cloud's pups, and when Doe Leap found out, he was angry that she did not stay loyal to him. She felt no remorse, and only stated that Funneling Cloud would be a better mate. Bright Light knew that they would not get very far.

Bright Light stood and stared at her only pup in her second litter that survived the terrible drought that had struck, killing Pool Shine too. She bled to death on the soft grass floor of the makeshift Healers den. The saddest tragedy was when Moss Fur and all of Bright Light's second litter were killed by three hounds, except River Paw.

"Mother," Mountain Pelt said. "I want you to know that Blue Flower is expecting my pups."

"What?" Bright Light snapped. "She is at least double your age and Smooth Boulder is already her mate!"

"Well, it doesn't make a difference," growled Mountain Pelt. "Blue Flower, doesn't mind."

Is this how MountainRange will end? Thought Bright Light. Will we all be doubting loyalties, with mates, pups, and our Range's? Oh, Dark Breeze, my old friends are all so lost. Help them! This place is so terrible. This is only the beginning of my torture. Please, help us. Find a place we can call home.