Hollyleaf's tale.

~Chapter 7~

   Serena led the search party through the damp woods. "we've been searching for about two hours now. Do you truly suspect that this Eva will be in this particular part of the woods?" A young fox questioned. "Felix, you must be patent. After all, it's been a while since she was missing. She could be anywhere in the woods at this point. Or even further." Serena said. "How do you know that she is in these woods?" Felix asked. His tail flickering around like fire. His bright ginger-hazel pelt reminded Holly-leaf of the burning fiery sun. Holly-leaf turned to Serena to hear her reply to Felix's eager questions. Serena dipped low to Felix's level. "Do you smell that sweet, tangy smell?" She asked. "Yes," Felix replied. "Well, that is the scent of Eva, the wold we are searching for," Serena said. "But, I smell pine and kerusha wood too," Felix realized. "Those sorts of trees grow North from here, right?" Felix asked. "Why, yes they do. All of those sweet scents of wood and trees are apart of her sents. Do you think you could help us follow her scent so we can find her?" Serena asked. "Why, of course! I could smell her scent from a mile away! Don't worry, I'll find her!" Felix said, he bounced ahead and instantly started to follow the smell of Eva.

"Do you think it was a good idea to bring him along?" Asked Holly-leaf, concerned about the young fox leaping about in an unknown place. "It's fine. Felix is very brave. And much stronger than he looks." Serena assured. Holly-leaf glanced at Felix. He looked confident and ready for adventure. Well, if Serena thinks so...

The party trailed on, but Eva was nowhere to be found. "I don't think she is in these woods anymore." Felix yawned. "Perhaps your right. Come on, let's go back to the rest of the clan." Serena offered. "But we still haven't found Eva yet!" Felix replied. "Yes, but it's getting rather late. We need to go and get some rest. I'll organize another search party at dusk." Serena replied. "Well, alright. But as long as I can join that search party too," Felix said. "well, we'll see if that would be agreed with your mother." Serena turned swiftly. "We will go back to our territory and search again at dusk." She announced. The rest of the group yipped in agreement. Thank you, Serena! My paws are starting to ache. 

We trailed on back towards the foxes camp. "Do you think Eva was captured?" Lilu asked, looking worried. "Don't worry. I'm she'll be fine." I replied calmly. Lilu's face lightened as I tried to comfort her. But an upset feeling still lurked in her. "We are going to search again at dusk, you heard Serena," I said glaring down at my friend. "Yes, but what if we don't find her then either?" She questioned. "Then we'll ask to search again," I replied. "Okay," Lilu still sounded a bit disappointed, but she seemed more confident now.

I turned ahead, then realizing an awful thing. "What about your clan? Shouldn't  you be getting back to your camp?" I asked, a bit worried about Lilu's protective family and 'friends'. "No, not know. Especially not at this time. Eva is missing. We need as many foxes or wolves to search for her. And after all, you'll be alone here with a pack you don't even know that well." Lilu remarked. "I know Serena, more or less." I reminded. "Well, I suppose you could stay, knowing she is here to help you. But I'll stay for at least tonight. I will return to my pack at noon tomorrow and come back here at sunset." Lilu replied. I just hope her pack wouldn't be angry about it.

We arrived at the foxes camp as the sun trailed down from the tree tips, leaving the earth to reflect the warm yellow waves of light. I paced over towards a beam of light that landed on a large smooth rock. I leaped onto it and laid down. How peaceful and relaxing it was to finally rest. My paws ached as well as my neck. I remembered the wound I had gotten from the raccoon attack earlier. I let my body relax fully, and let the sun softly burn on the raccoon bite that stang the back of my neck. 

Serena was talking to her clan about the search. I opened my eyes slightly; expecting to see all the foxes facing towards her and listening keenly for her returning words about the search. But instead saw most of the foxes glancing at me in not a very welcoming manner. I figured that they weren't too happy about me bringing a wolve's a troublesome problem into their fox clan lives. I closed my eyes again. Then realizing that I should be watching Lilu instead of resting here with my eyes closed. "Hey!" A voice sounded, and it didn't sound pleased. I looked up and saw a fox glaring down at me with narrow eyes. "yes?" I asked, trying to sound friendly. His eyes lightened but at the sound of another fox clearing its throat with a grumble, he gave me a stern look again. "You shouldn't be here," He warned. Was he trying to tell me that I didn't belong? I laid up and glanced at him with a gentle gaze. "What do you mean?" I questioned. "I mean that this is Darkens nest. He sleeps right under this rock, and when he wakes up for his sunning-rise* he won't be pleased to see you here," He replied. "Oh, is that the problem?" I asked. "Yes," The fox reassured. "Aw, well then, I'll be off then. Perhaps I'll just go rest on the opposite side of this rock, just so I don't bother anyone," I replied. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*Sunning-rise: When a creature wakes up and spends time sunning itself to help it energize its strength. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I leaped off the rock and landed swiftly on my paws. I then remembered about Lilu and searched the territory for her. I must have glanced over her because I couldn't see her the first time I scanned around. I searched around again. Where did that little fox go? I glared over towards Serena thinking maybe I should ask her if we should look for her now. The thought got chased away as I saw her sitting ahead of Serena calmly talking to her. Phew! The worry faded off as I then felt secure again.

I laid down on the opposite side of Darken's den and watched as he submerged from his barrow. He made his way up the rock and laid down peacefully. I gave one last glance at Lilu making sure she was still here, and sure enough, she was. So I closed my eyes and went back to relaxation...

"Hey, Holly-leaf!" Lilu's cheerful voice woke me fully. "Hello, Lilu!" I greeted. "Serena told me where we can stay tonight," Lilu said. "Alright, where would that be?" I asked. "Over at that den over there," Lilu lifted her tail towards the direction that led to a big den. "Alright then," I replied. "Wait. What about the search party? Shouldn't we be about ready to go now?" I questioned. "Serena told me that you could stay if you'd like. She realized that you dozed off, so she asked me if I wanted to go after I told you about the search. I agreed to search, but it's up to you whether you want to go search for a few hours or stay here and rest."  Lilu said. "I'll search. The more eyes the better," I replied. Lilu noded, and with that, we left. 

After the long search, we returned, without Eva. I sighed as I paced right into the territory. "What if she id captured?" Lilu asked again. "Don't worry Lilu," I reassured again. "We can search again tomorrow at first light," I said glaring down at her. "I suppose." Lilu jumped into a small rock tunnel and settled into her nest. "I hope we find her," Lilu said in a worried tone. "yeah," I replied. With that Lilu laid her head down and curled up. I turned around and faced the rest of the pack's camp. It was rather empty, only Serena and a few from the search party where left talking to one another. I stared up at the sky for a while, thinking about all that happened to me today. Soon I glared at my paws, I was just about ready to go and sleep myself. I turned towards the den but before I could trail into the den Felix's voice broke out and made me nearly jump. 

"No! Noo!" He cried. "what's wrong?" Serena asked, her voice softly spoke from her distance from him, but slightly above the noise of the crickets that chirped. "You, You left without me!" He cried. "How could you!" He said his paws spread out and his eyes swelling with tears. "Now Felix," Serena started as she paced closer to the young kit. "I-I told you I w-would go with you!" He stammered. "Felix, your mother didn't approve," Serena said. She opened her mouth but before she could speak Felix interrupted. "She wouldn't mind me going!" He yipped. "She said no Felix. "I wanted to go!" He replied almost ignoring her reply. "Felix, it's fine." "No!" Felix ran away from Serena and passed me. Serena turned to me, I nodded then turned to fetch Felix.

I caught up to Felix in a few bounds. "Felix, wait!" I called. Felix stopped in his tracks and stared down. "She left, without me," Felix said. "I know, but there was nothing she could do. You couldn't go to tonight's search, but there might be one tomorrow. Lilu and I plan to search tomorrow morning, really early. If you'd like, and if your mother agrees you can join us," I offered. Felix nodded slowly. "Okay," "Good. Now, why don't you go on and sleep, you'll need to be ready and rested for tomorrow's search!" I said. "alright," Felix got to his paws and started to bound back to his nest. "And don't forget to ask your mother!" I called. "I won't!" He yipped as he jumped off. I watched as he leaped right into his den silently, then paced back to mine. I turned to Serena, who nodded her thanks to me. I nodded back and smiled, then trailed into my den, curled up, and slowly let my mind drift to sleep...