CHASE

Chapter 10

Chase milled around the meadow as she normally did, watching her siblings play in the distance. There was a time when she had once joined them, but she now found company mostly in herself. 

She took one last glance at her family before heading into the woods as she normally did. She had been lucky enough to have glances of cats nearly every day now that the days were hotter and prey was plentiful. Of course, this also meant she couldn't head into the woods as often, for fear the cats would be angered by her wandering so near the territory.

Chase walked alongside the river, noticing its plentiful stream of water was slowly diminishing with the lack of rain. To amuse herself, she leapt on the pebbles lining the water. She hopped happily, wondering if she'd be able to get a peak of the cats' territory up ahead, but her foot suddenly slipped, and she let out a yip in surprise.

"Careful," a voice said across the river.

Chase turned her head, freezing. The same male fox she had seen earlier was sitting across the river, staring at her. She had no idea how long he'd been there, but he'd obviously seen her slip.

"I am being careful," she argued.

She watched the mysterious fox cross across the river by stepping carefully on the exposed stones. Chase gulped and moved away from the river's edge as he approached her.

"You seem a bit too young to be wandering around the forest alone," he told her.

"I'll be fully grown in no time," she argued. "You don't look much older."

He chuckled. "I've already lived through the seasons once. Are you one of the foxes living here? My family and I are new."

"Yes," she answered.

"I picked up your scent while hunting. I noticed it earlier as well. You pass through these parts often. Where's the rest of your family?" he wondered.

"Down in the meadow."

"And why aren't they here with you?"

"I like exploring myself," Chase argued. 

"And your parents let you?"

"Yes..."

"I'm Yew," he said. 

"Chase."

"Chase?" he asked, tilting his head. "That's an interesting name. It's unique. I like it."

"Oh, thanks," she replied, staring off in the distance so she wouldn't have to maintain eye contact with him. This was the first time she'd ever come in contact with a fox who didn't belong to her family.

"So why do you explore over here?" Yew wondered. "I know my parents wouldn't have let me wander on my own."

"Because I want to. My family and I don't get along so well these days."

"Why not?"

"We just don't," Chase said, lifting her nose in the air.

"Well, my family and I just moved here. Humans were lurking too close to our nearby territory. We'd love to meet your family sometime."

"How many of there are you?" Chase wondered.

Yew tilted his head. "Let's see...there's my parents, my grandfather, and my two siblings. I guess we're somewhat of a big bunch. How about you?"

"It's just me, my parents, and my three other siblings. I think they want to get to know your family as well."

"Then, let me walk you back, and I can meet them," Yew offered.