The Little White Fox and the Little Girl

Lost in the Woods

The little fox trotted along through snow, big sticky snowflakes still falling around the small canine as it walked along. Passing by bare trees and evergreens, all covered with the white blanket that held the noises and kept the pure silence of the woods thick on the air. Stopping it sniffed the air, fog coming from its warm breath against the cold air.

Still sniffing one of the large snowflakes landed on its nose, the fox's warmth melting the flake quickly. Twitching its nose the fox sneezed, huffing it slinked along, blending in with its own pale white pelt against the pure snow and frost stricken ground. It continued on its journey silently, no other living creature in sight as most were hidden deep in their burrows.

A deep hoot sounded from a large oak the fox had been passing by, making it stop and look up at the hole which looked almost carved into the tree. A white Snow Owl held its home there, a nest of straw and grass to make up the floor of the hole and a bed for her.

"Oh Little White Fox, where have you been?" She crowed, sharp yellow gaze striking down at the fox as she fluffed her black speckled feathers.

"Down by the big red horse home, where the mice are plentiful and fat. Do you not know of your own food source Snow Owl?" the fox questioned back. "Why do you even call for me so?"

"The young Little Girl has gotten herself lost in the woods again," the Snow Owl replied.

"How is this any concern on mine?" It questioned, ears folding back as it curled its lip at the owl.

"All the animals of the forest, big and small, have tried to help the girl learn her way. Though all but you have helped, why isn't that so, Little White Fox?" She questioned back, voice holding a slight teasing edge.

"The humans destroy, do you not understand that Snow Owl? Leave the girl in the woods, do not let her go back, let her die off. Just one less human to cut down our home," Little White Fox retorted.

A purring chuckle came from behind the fox, making its ears flick towards the noise before its head swiveled to see Great Silver Lynx.

"I know you are smarter than that Little White, humans may destroy and kill, but that is how they were taught. Teach this child the animals of the woods are friends, not enemies. The trees are shelter and safety, not dangerous and dark. Then maybe she'll teach it to others, help change things, you need to understand that Little White," he explained.

"Meet her Little White, maybe you'll understand why everyone else helps her. Her might is much larger than she looks, just as you do Little White Fox," Snow hooted, taking off away from her nest and out of sight.

The Little White Fox bowed his head and sighed, the sound of Great Silver Lynx approaching made it look up. The old Lynx put a large paw gently on the small canine's shoulders.

"Please understand us Little White Fox, you never know when there may be a human who can be taught to help the animals and the woods instead of destroying and killing those who live here," the large cat purred.

Taking his large paw off the fox the Lynx slowly sauntered off, disappearing over the small mounds and hills of snow. Ears laid back the fox glanced towards where its own den was before looking towards the ground and making its decision. Looking back up it sniffed the air again, taking one last glance towards its den it darted off towards the small stream that went through the woods.

It ran past the Rabbit dens and the herd of Deer that lived there, ignoring all their comments and questions on where it was going or the young girl that was lost in the woods again. After awhile it stopped, panting lightly it walked slowly. It could hear the sound of water trickling over the pebbles on the bottom of the stream, and the little pieces of ice hitting rocks that jutted out of the water slightly.

Quietly it peaked around a tree, shaking its fur slightly to get the snow it had collected off the white of the fox's pelt making the fur clump up. Its yellow-brown eyes looking for the girl all the animals spoke about, finally it caught sight of a light blue color, yellow and brown. Then the sound of sniffling reached the fox's ears, the little girl picked her head up from her knees.

The Little White Fox watched quietly as she looked around, brown eyes shining and cheeks rosy pink with streaks from her tears going down her face.

"Hello?" She called out quietly, the fox's ears catching it. "Is anyone there?"

Little White lowered its head again, keeping an eye on the girl it stood up tall as it could before walking out. First few yards as it approached the girl didn't see it, only until about a yard away from her did the fox go undetected by the human girl. When she did catch sight of it she jumped slightly, staring at the fox as she kept sniffling.

"Hey there little fox, you lost too?" She asked relaxing.

The fox just watched, sitting down it curled its tail around its paws and just stared.

"Wouldn't know why you'd be lost though, you live here," she laughed lightly at herself. "Silly me for thinking that."

The girl looked towards the fox, seeing its yellow-brown eyes stare back into her pure brown ones. After a few more moments of staring at each other the girl's eyes started tearing up again and she started sniffling more, pulling her knees close to her as she cried.

"I-I didn't mean to get lost in the woods again! I just wanted to see if the stream was frozen over yet," she cried, taking deep breaths as she tried to calm down.

"Usually one of the creatures would come and help me find my way back, like in the spring, s-summer and fall. But the w-winter makes it seem like new animals are here, they help t-too b-but you don't a-act like you're going to help Little F-Fox," she stuttered starting to shiver.

Little White Fox then stood, shaking its fur again it chirped at her making her look at it with wide eyes. Impatient it chirped again, ducking forward and head butting her side before chirping again. Finally the girl got the hint and stood up, hugging herself slightly. As she did the fox headed up the snowy slope, glancing back to make sure the girl was following, soon enough she did start to come after it up the slope.

Together both headed through the woods, Little White Fox silent and quick across the deep snow while the Little Girl trudged along quite slowly and noisily. Every once and awhile the fox would stop and chirp at her, as of to make her hurry up which didn't do much. Finally after what seemed like hours of walking the two made it to the edge of the woods, the large red horse place looming in the snow covered field.

Hope filled the girl's eyes as the fox glanced back again, making it stop and watch as the girl sped up a bit and headed out towards the barn.

"I know this place Little Fox! I know how to get home!" She said, turning to smile back at the fox.

But the fox was gone, and the only trace of it ever being there or what had happened being real, was a few paw prints and her messy trail from coming up from the stream.