A Fox Journey

Chapter 3: What am I going to do?

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A groan tore it's way out of my throat before I could stop it. My whole body felt battered, I could already feel a bruise on my back right leg. My fur felt matted and my tongue felt thick.

Opening my eyes slowly, I blinked away the blinding sun along with whatever was crusting my eyes shut.

Getting a look around my surroundings, my eyes widened in awe.

Around me was nothing but lush green forests. The trees seemed to go up forever, and the forest floor seemed to hide all of it's secrets within it's lush tall grass and untamed bushes. The setting sun created an ominous shadow of everything from the tallest trees to the smallest blade of grass. The stream that I was half submerged in was partly shadowed over by the trees but held freckles of golden sunlight that manages to pierce through the dense canopy.

The stream itself was gently floating into my back, breezing through my fur, untangling any knots I may have previously had. There was a missing patch of fur on my left thigh, with light pink skin. I can only imagine that it was once letting out a steady flow of blood, but the cold water running over it, must have stopped the bleeding. I felt no pain from it, it just felt numb.

Looking at the position of the setting sun, it seemed that I didn't have much time left until night fall.

Thinking of the approaching darkness I felt my body wash in fear as I thought of all the predators that would be out. Predators that will be looking for a late night snack.

I shivered as scenarios of what could happen, flashed in my mind.

I need to get up.

I thought to myself.

I winced in pain as I stood myself up. My legs throbbed in pain, after they had probably been battered by many different things floating in the river I started in. My tail hung limply behind me dangling  lifelessly against the back of my legs.

Small water droplets fell down around me, slowly at first, before going into a complete downpour. My fur quickly became stuck to the skin underneath my once protective layer.

Shivering, I looked around in hopes of finding a small shelter to keep me away from the rain at the very least. And for once, my prayer seemed to be answered when I noticed a fairly sized hole underneath a large bush a couple feet from my position.

Limping over in that direction I paused at the entrance trying to smell and see if there was any other creature that was possibly in there. But the pouring rain blocked both smell and sound. Hesitating for moment I figured I'd have better chances with possibility of some small animal besides the larger ones that were sure to come stalking around soon.

Having made up my mind I slowly descended into the tunnel. My eye-sight adjusted to the upcoming darkness and I was surprised when I had to come to an abrupt stop coming up close to a wall of dirt. Looking to the sides I saw one slight indent that was probably meant to sleep someone. And that was it.

My den back with my adoptive family was much larger. It had a large open Entrance with a medium sized eating area where we would feast together upon occasion. Past the entrance was another medium sized room to house Ivory, Frost, and I for sleeping. Ivory and I usually slept together so we had plenty of room for all of us. 

Thinking of my home, made me hang my head and walk over to the small sleeping spot. Curling into a ball to try and keep warm, I covered my muzzle with my tail and pinned my ears back against my head. I pushed back tears and laid my head down to sleep.

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"Hey." a feminine voice spoke through my.

Half awake I chalked it up to my imagination until I felt a light nudge against my side.

I opened my eyes and sat up with a gasp, my night vision having not kicked up yet, I hit my head against the roof.

"Oof." I moaned while keeping my head low.

"Are you okay?" I heard the voice again, and my head snapped into the direction of the sound.

My night vision finally feeling the need to work, gave light to a beautifully figured fox. She was standing in front of me with her eyes slightly squinted with worry.

"I don't know why you're restin' in this dump, but the sun is up if you wanted to start movin'? You must be new 'round here, I haven't seen you before. The names Lily, you can also call me Lil'." Lily beamed cheerfully.

"You...have an interesting accent, what is it? If you don't mind me asking...Lily?" I asked cautiously. She seemed like a nice girl, maybe a little older than myself, and her confidence was something that entranced me in some sort of spell.

"'Course not! I'm not quite so sure myself, but I've been told it sounds southern? If you ask me yer the one with the accent" She giggled, and I couldn't help but join her.

"Why don't we get out of this dusty hole in the ground and go berry picking! I know a great spot that grows blackberries." She exclaimed in excitement.

She turned and started back up to the entrance.

"Blackberries?" I questioned following her towards the blinding sunlight.

Blinking away the brightness, I dropped my jaw as I finally got a good look at Lily.

She had barely any white on her body, only really on her underbelly, chest fluff, and under her chin. The tips of her ears and tail along with the bottoms of her legs were coated in black. And the rest of her, was a very light red-ish color, like what accompanied the rising sun early in the mornings.

"Don't tell me you've never been berry pickin' before! Aw it's the best, if you know the best places to look you can find enough to last you two whole days worth of meals." She explained.

"Really?" I questioned skeptically.

"You betcha! Come on! I found this last place just this morning. I was looking around to see if I could find more in the area when I practically fell head first into that ole' hole in the ground. S'at where you live?" She asked.

"Uh no, actually you're right I am new, but I was separated from my family a couple days ago. When I get better I was hoping to go back to them." I explained.

She paused in her stride and looked back at me.

"I'm so sorry to hear that! If you want you're more than welcome to stay in my den! I got plenty o' room for another vixen such as yourself." She winked with a smile.

"I don't know... I mean we just met this morning. What if I have rabies?" I asked her cautiously.

She looked back at me with amusement.

"Well, do you have rabies?" She chuckled.

I shied away in embarrassment.

"...No..." I mumbled.

"There see? Everything will be fine. Plus I can take care of myself if it came down to it." She spoke playfully.

"Now then, let's find those blackberry bushes, hmm?" She confidently turned and walked in a certain direction, leaving me with no option but to follow her.