A Fox Journey

Chapter 2: How it all Began

"Mist"

"Hmph" I sighed and snuggled closer to the warmed grass.

"Mist! Get up great news!!" Ivory sang while pouncing on my body.

"Oof! Ivory! What is it?" I grouched.

"It's the fish! They're starting their migration back!" She cheered.

I bolted up right and started to shuffle my paws in excitement.

"When are you going??" I asked.

Den mother and I don't fish, mostly me because I wasn't good at it. Den mother preferred to stay in the den and snuff out bad patches of dirt. But they always came back holding at least three fish per fox. It saved us from hunger upon a multiple of occasions.

"We are going once the sun breaches the mountain tops! Papa thought you could use this opportunity to prove yourself! And don't worry, I'll show you the ropes!" She beamed.

I was stunned into silence. Papa was letting me come?

My surprise soon faded into doubt but that too was washed away with joy. I was finally getting a chance to prove myself!

"Thank you Ivory! I wont let you guys down." I said puffing up my chest.

She let out a gleeful laugh and ushered me with her to the main entrance of the den. Papa was waiting there discussing with Frost, until he noticed us coming.

"Mist, I'm letting you come with us today. Don't disappoint me." He spoke.

"Yes Papa." I reported as Ivory shook with excitement and Frost rolled his eyes.

Papa nodded his head once in approval, and turned towards the exit with Den mother wishing us luck.

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"Ivory, take Mist to other side of the river and show her how to put in the stakes." Papa ordered Ivory.

"Yes Papa." She acknowledged. "Come one Mist! The fish will be here soon. Here step on this side of the ice so you don't fall through."

I carefully stepped where she told me and joined her on the other side.

"Okay so you'll take this branch in your mouth and hold it like this" She told me while turning the stick so it pointed towards the sky "then I'll take a rock and we'll smash it into the ground. Simple enough yeah? Then when the fish get trapped we'll just go in and take as many as we can get."

It sounded easy enough as I nodded my understanding. After securing Ivory's stick we switched places and I could feel my teeth vibrate with every hit.

"Are you girls done?" Papa hollered across the river.

"All set to go here Papa!" Ivory replied.

"Good, alright everyone find cover." He ordered.

"Cover?" I questioned.

"Mhm." Ivory confirmed "Dad says that if the fish see us near the bank they wont come to us. We'll be far enough away that even your coat wont be a problem."

That relieved me as we went a little ways away behind a fallen log peeking out from the top of it.

Ivory and I passed the time by telling stories that we remembered when we were cubs.

"And do you remember the one time Frost got his head stuck in the snow?" Ivory laughed.

I gave a good belly laugh when I thought of it.

"Yeah, his landing was flawless but he had put way too much power into his jump and ended up getting his whole half of his body stuck under the ice. He was begging us not to get Papa, provider forgive his ego ever be tainted in front of Papa." I giggled.