A Fox Journey

Chapter 4: You live here?

True to her word Lily took us straight to the blackberry bushes. I had no idea what these edible substances were supposed to look like but I wasn't completely off the mark when I thought they'd be black.

They were in a round or sometimes oval shape, and it looked like the "one"  berry was made out of a multitude of mini berries that had small tiny hairs in between the cracks the mini berries make. But I was surprised to see that the bushes weren't only made out of blackberries, there were other berries that looked exactly the same as the blackberries but instead of the color black, they were a bright red.

"What are these red berries?" I spoke, not looking away from said berries being currently enchanted by their glistening appearance.

"Oh those? Those are called Raspberries I believe. You can eat those too but they're a little sweet for me. I prefer the bitter taste of blackberries." She replied.

I hummed in thought as I carefully plucked one of each to taste them. Eating the Blackberry first I made a face as a tart taste made it's way into my mouth and down my throat as I swallowed.

I heard Lily laugh to the side of me, having seen my amusing display of funny faces.

Switching over to the Raspberry I tentatively ate it and was pleasantly surprised at the delicate taste that entered my mouth. It was a complete contrast to it's slightly darker relative.

A thump to my right made me practically jump out of my skin. 

Looking over to my right I see Lily had put a hallowed out half of a log.

"Ere' we can put the berries in ere'" She explained

My eyes lit up as I nodded my understanding and started filling the log with the little red berries in excitement. Once I felt as though I had enough berries stored in my log, I looked up and waited patiently for Lily to finish storing her own berries.

"Alright," She started, "ave' you ever used one of these puppies fore'?" 

I shook my head and she gave me a mischievous look.

"Well, I ave'n't done this since my dennin' days but basically what you want to do is put on your front two paws on one end and push it in the direction you want to go. Now the challenge is making sure no berries spill along the way. Avin' another Vixen in the den, we'll be needin' more food fer us." Lily explained.

"B-but I don't know where we're going?" I reminded her.

"Just follow me lass, you'll be fine." She instructed.

Nodding to show my understanding, she set off in a certain direction with me close behind her.

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"Ah!" Lily exclaimed as I ran into her back legs for the umpteenth time.

"Sorry!" I apologized yet again.

"Maybe next time try to distance yourself a little more eh? You wont get lost I promise." She teased.

My ears drooped in shame, but I managed to nod.

Her eyes sparkled in amusement.

"Just dump the berried down that ole' under the rose bush. I store the food there since wolves and other critters can't get it, and if they can, we're not there!" She told me.

"Wow!" I exclaimed impressed with the set up "That's really smart!"

She looked happy at the compliment, and gave a nod of appreciation towards me.

"Now let's ead' down to check on those wounds hmm?" She questioned as she strutted towards another burrow entrance underneath a nearby tree.

Thinking about them now, I could feel a slight throb coming from many certain parts on my body but on my fore-paw mostly. Berry picking seemed to have taken most of my senses.

Heading in after Lily I was quickly welcomed by a beautiful warm glow from a small hole in the living space to illuminate the area, I could see a den space towards the right and to the left looked like an extra den room?

"Welcome to my den!" Lily spoke, bringing my attention back to her in the main resting area.

"It's beautiful." I tell her seriously.

"Thank you! Dug it myself." She proclaimed proudly. "This is the living space and a sun spot for if it get's too cold ere'. Over ere' to the right is the dennin' area, and over yonder is the eatin' space in case I get visitors."

I went to ask her more questions about her home when a yawn tore it's way through my muzzle.

"You must be tired, ere' I'm also gonna hit the hay. You're welcome to join me." She nudged.

Nodding my head in a yes motion, I sleepily followed her to a pile of soft grass and bird feathers and started nodding off.

"Oh yeah," Lily added "remind me to take you to see the ealer' tomorrow, I got a glimpse of those wounds and I  don't ave' the resources to patch ya up. Don't worry they're good people." 

I nodded sleepily, not really listening to what she was saying and let myself drift away into my dreams.

"Not someone I would reckin' you look up to as a role model, but they're nice enough, there was one time when I got a porcupine quill in my..." Lily's voice started to slowly make less sense and I didn't bother trying to stay awake long enough to figure out or did I really care at the moment on what she was going on about.

I focused all my attention easily to Lily's wonderful bed, and relaxed my body as it started to get my first peaceful night of sleep since I've been away from home.