Land of Armonia

Chapter eighteen

Herogi was sitting by the fire with Juntul curled in her lap. April was being cradled by Chili in a deep sleep, while Chili himself looked into the blazing fire with tired eyes, burning into his inner thoughts. He was worried about April, Herogi could tell. Amante and Chang were gone, hunting or something, Herogi didn't know which.

But Misty really worried her, she kept leaving into the woods and Herogi didn't know why. Was it because her tribe was at war? But how could she have possibly known before now? The fox was so secretive. In fact almost suspicious.

Herogi looked up at the cloudy night sky with heavy eyelids. She fingered Juntul's fur, feeling the rabbit breath in and out in a peaceful harmony synchronized with the earth as if it too, breathed the same air as she. Before Herogi knew it, she felt herself leaning backward. Farther, and farther, till her head rested against the floor of dirt. Her eyes fell shut and she had swiftly fallen asleep, exhausted from the entirety of the day.

***

Amante crawled over a log like a wild fox would when hunting a rabbit. His ears were perked upwards, pointing up to the sky, swiveling back and forth like satellites. His eyes peered around every pine tree, over every rock, up every tree, Chang following close behind. Amante suddenly stopped, just yards away from a simple creek bed. Chang landed silently on Amante's shoulder, in the form of a hawk.

Before them, resting by the creek bed, was an orange fox. Its ears twisted backward as it heard them stop behind it. It rose to its feet and turned on its black paws to face them. But for some reason, it didn't run. The fox stared at the two, with bead-like glossy black eyes. It cocked its head in curiosity, but also fear. Amante just crouched, placing his fingers to the earthy floor silently. The fox tucked its ears back before facing them forward. Amante tried to look as unthreatening as possible. Chang rustled his feathers but stayed still.

The fox eyed Chang cautiously, untrusting of the hawk. It sat down with its tail flicking in anticipation. Something was different about this fox, but it wasn't very clear as to what it was.

Suddenly the fox's eyes widened, it's jaw-dropping, baring its fangs. Amante flinched backward, nearly causing Chang to lose his balance. A silvery haze drew in around the fox with a shimmering magical glow, captivating Amante. Was it a dream?

The fox spoke. Its voice sounded like that of an angel, very wise and melodic. But also like it spoke from a faraway place. "Cross the boundary where you can touch the atmosphere. But be warned, a friend or enemy will disappear. Fight the beast you thought was she, but let not the mysteries be forgotten by thee. Truth be told, a friend will fold. And be forewarned, she will be harmed. The prophecy is not as it seems."

The fox's mouth shut and they glowing silver mist vaporized around it. It looked at them once again, but this time with the eyes of a wise one, something to be respected. Amante had a feeling it was no ordinary fox. The fox's eyes became saddened, locked with Amante's. Amante felt a loss for words, Chang shifted uncomfortably.

"What... what do you mean?" he asked with a quaky voice. He instantly regretted speaking.

"A prophecy, one you can trust.. This time." The fox replied with that same voice of an angel.

"I can trust? What-"

"You must figure it out on your own. This is a warning, a warning of great danger." The fox said sternly. Before Amante could reply his world went black. Only for a brief second, and when he came back to reality, he was no longer beside the creek bed.

He saw the campfire glowing brightly a couple yards in front of him. He looked around himself. Chang morphed into his natural form and alighted himself beside Amante on the ground.