You choose to follow the white animal..
You follow the flicker of white fur you saw into the forest. As it travels, you recognize it to be a fox of some sort. The fox scampers forward away from the camp, stopping in a forest clearing as it shook out it's fur. You cautiously tail the fox, making sure to stay out of sight, and a good distance away. You watch as the fox leaps up onto a boulder, turning around on it as it layed down. The fox stays there for a considerable amount of time, as if taking a nap. You decide to sit down nearby, leaning against a tree.
Perhaps you should have gone with her? Then have a more secure place to stay? Maybe.. but that's the past.. there's no going back now. You continue to ponder over your decisions as you close your eyes. Perhaps it would have been wise to move deeper into the forest? Maybe since the group is likely to have patrols and people who will attack or chase away anyone who is not from that group without hesitation.. Somewhere, while you were thinking, you ended up falling asleep..
.
.
.
.
"... Up.." something cold prodded against your arm as someone placed their hands against your arm. " ..ke up!" You gave a grumble, sleepily trying to brush off whatever was trying to bug you. " WAKE UP!" you abruptly jerk awake with a yelp, eyes snapping open. A young boy stood in front of you. His tail swayed as you opened your eyes. " You're awake!"
" Kage, we need to go." A second voice sighed as a boy stepped out from the trees nearby.
".. I know.. can we bring um.." he glances back at you, ".. uh.. what's your name.?"
".. (Y/N)..?" You respond, still half asleep.
" Can we bring (Y/N) along? Please, Big Brother?" Kage pleaded watching his brother.
".." his brother hesitated for a second before responding, "... Alright.."
" Alright!" Kage jumped up as he grabbed your hand, " Let's go (Y/n)!"
" And also, not so loud." The boy hissed, " .. well.. guess it doesn't matter now.. you've made enough ruckus to alert the entire forest.." he turned to leave. " There's probably no point in trying to sneak away now."
".. we can still try." Kage said as he stood up, glancing at you as you stand up as well. Kage followed as the boy starts walking away, deeper into the forest.
You hear some rustling in the bushes. Kage tenses beside you, his golden eyes widened.
" Go. I'll deal with it." The boy instinctively steps back as he blocks the figures that step out of the bushes from reaching you and Kage.
" B-Brother?! Wha-"
" Just go!" He yells, not taking his gaze off the figures. You feel a hand grab yours as you and drag you away from the tense situation. As you disappear into the bushes. A loud howl echoes behind you, followed by a flash of golden light. You glance back at where the boy and where the figures were.
" Come in!" A voice snaps you back to reality as a hand tugs you forward, " We that let Brother's efforts go to waste."
After a while a while, you arrive at a forest clearing, stopping there. Kage panted as he stopped. " I'm guessing we can stay here until Brother gets here.."
".. what's his name?" you ask, ".. he never mentioned it."
" Brother's name?" Kage echoed, his tail swayed as walked over, curling up on your lap as a black and white fox, the faded stripe of black on his back curled as he curled up.
".. His name is Tadashi"
Continue to page 4
