A Fox's Journey Book 7: Lavender Willow's Dream; Part Two

Chapter II: The gathering

Later that night, the foxes were waiting around for Lavender Willow to say to go to the gathering when there was more trouble. Five huge wolves had broken in to the camp.

"Lavender Willow, how ever will we fight off so many wolves?" Sparrow Flight shouted at Lavender Willow in distress.

"Sparrow Flight, go to the nursery and get the queens and then take them and yourself to the underground burrows. After the battle what's left of us will meet up there!" Lavender Willow shouted back at the old grief stricken elder. Suddenly, Lavender Willow had a wolf on top of her they fought and the ground below them which was freezing was cold beneath their bloody paws. As the battle continued, Lavender Willow saw more and more of her beloved RangeMates dying.

"MountainRange retreat to the burrows and regroup there we are overtaken. We must come back and reclaim the territory later, we must get to the gathering," Lavender Willow shouted at what was left of her Range. Soon she was in the underground burrows that were safe for the time being. What will become of me? If I lose my Range, I will just be a lone fox who will be hardened. Lavender Willow thought as she watched what was left of her Range converse.

"Lavender Willow let me take a look at your wounds please." Polar Blaze said solemnly as she walked up to her sister. Angrily she watched Lavender Willow slowly walk across the clearing.

"Lavender Willow I have some very sad and upsetting news in the battle Tiger Leap, River Song, and... and... Rip Tide died. They deserve to be buried, but I know that will not happen, but please we mustn't forget them when more peaceful circumstances come along." Polar Blaze shuddered the words to Lavender Willow as she put cobwebs on her wounds. Lavender Willow just put her head down in grief for the loved ones she had lost.

"MountainRange we leave now for the gathering those who are weak will be tended to by Polar Blaze and Nettle Herb if he is still alive," Lavender Willow announced as her Range saw that her eyes were filled with grief. Soon they were on the route to the gathering. When they got there, all of the foxes were shocked to see them bloody and scared.

"Welcome to the annual gathering I am Red Fern and I will start off the gathering tonight by asking MountainRange what has happened to them. When all have been good and peaceful with all of the others," Red Fern shouted at the approaching MountainRange foxes anxiously.

"There has been trouble on our territory. All has been fine we celebrate new lives with us tonight Pine Cone and Shining Pebbles have both had litters of pups. As you can tell Fiery Claw has passed on to a hopefully better life in StarRange. Back to why we are going to stay here. MountainRange was just recently attacked by a pack of five wolves and many of us have perished and that includes Rip Tide, Tiger Leap, River Song, all of my pups except Willow Paw and Storm Paw, and my brothers and sisters Pine Tail, Tree Bark, and Blizzard Storm. My Range is in a time of doubt, but will stay strong and united. Polar Blaze had a vision not to long ago that was to see with six sets of eyes we must see blind, so now we must find a blind fox, but for now MountainRange's borders have been closed off so we can rebuild here. The gathering is over now get off my territory," Lavender Willow sharply barked at the foxes threateningly.

"Lavender Willow you can't just do that even if half of your Range has been destroyed," Clover Pelt retorted to Lavender Willow. That was when the foxes erupted with unexpected silence because a fox of StarRange was shown to all.

"You all must unite or die, and you must let MountainRange stay here," the fox of StarRange told them all in a growl as it faded out of sight.

"Why should we let you stay here! No fox said we have to," Red Fern barked at Lavender Willow unevenly. Cherry Whisker then got up and gently nudged Red Fern off her place on one of the rocks.

"Lavender Willow please accept my apologies for Red Fern. I believe that we are all in your debt after you took us in when Fallow Tuft was raiding our camps. The reason Red Fern said that is she has gone deaf and is partially blind. She thinks that she will be leader until she dies like Prairie Tail, but that is going to change soon. That is our news to share we will leave your territory now Lavender Willow," Cherry Whisker said solemnly to Lavender Willow. Red Fern saw what was happening and her fur started to bristle.

"Cherry Whisker, whatever you said up there is not my choice. You are not leader I am and I say we should fight them," Red Fern snapped at her deputy and then lunged at Lavender Willow who gave her a weary glance and then side stepped her attack. Nettle Heart, Red Fern's mate then rushed forward to grab her scruff in his jaws and pull her back.

"I am so sorry Lavender Willow it is like she doesn't remember the truce we have." Cherry Whisker guiltily told Lavender Willow as she walked away unevenly.