The Secret Of F.O.X. {Book 1 of the FireTail Family Series}(UNDER MAJOR EDITING)

Chapter 3

All of the trees were now bare, and now the three foxes were  in there mid-ages, old enough to learn hunting. Their mother was out visiting a friend. In a part of the forest, Fireheart, Maple, Flame, and F.O.X. were learning how to hunt. "Ok, now the secret on how to hunt very good is to crouch down, haunches in the air," he explained while demonstrating, "and don't let your paws touch anything that might make noise." He did what he said and sprang on a nearby rock. "Now, you try, Maple. Do what exactly I did." Maple nodded in agreement, and crouched, haunches in air and her tail wagging in excitement, and crept on the rock, making a leaf or two rustle in the process. Then, she sprang and landed on the rock. "Very good, Maple. Just remember to not make any noise."Okie dokie, Daddy.", she replied. She trotted back to her spot. "Flame, your turn." He nodded and did the same thing. (I'm typing it short to save time). "Nice, but you jumped too high. Lower down on energy, son."How can I? I'm made for energy!", Flame boasted. He walked back to his spot and sat, his chest puffed out. "Now, F.O.X., let's see what you can do." F.O.X. nodded and she did the exactly what Fireheart did, like if she was a mirror. Flame, Maple, and even Fireheart gawked at the sight. F.O.X. landed neatly on all fours, her tail waving in a passing breeze. She padded over to Fireheart and sat promptly in front of him. He just closed his mouth and finally said, "I'm so proud of you! Well done, F.O.X.!" He nuzzled her with gratitude and went over to the rock. Flame barked out, "Whoa! That was amazing! Dad has never been that proud at one of us! You are awesome sis!" He licked her face and nodded. Maple said, "Wow...You have a gift. You truly are amazing, F.O.X." F.O.X. looked at her sister with amazement, her emerald eyes sparkling with happiness. "Why, thank you, Maple.", she whispered with her silky voice, just like mother. "Attention!", Fireheart barked out. The trio quickly scrambled back into their positions. "Now, for the last of today's training session, I want each of you to find and bring some fresh-kill for dinner tonight. Catch as much as you can. I expect for each of you to improve on your skills." He looked at F.O.X. "Except for you,of course." She smiled sly-like. "When you hunted as much as you can, follow my scent back to the burrow. It'll be a test for you to learn on how to rely on scent, instead of sight. Good luck." He turned and walked swiftly through a shrub and disappeared. Flame jumped up and exclaimed, "Wow, I can't wait! We will finally know how fresh-kill taste like, instead of milk from mother all day!" With that, he howled a short, low, howl so he won't scare the prey, and bounded off. "Well, see ya later, sis. Have fun and good luck!", Maple said and she stalked off. Now, it was just F.O.X. She sighed and "observed" her surroudings. Then, she walked through two bushes and continued straight. Before long, the ground sloped a little bit into a small clearing. She was about to sigh again, with frustration, when she heard a tiny noise. She turned her head and found a brown mouse nibbling on a seed in front of a bush. She quickly crouched down, haunches in the air, and crept slowly to it. When she was just about to pounce, a tan paw popped out of the bush, quickly killing the mouse, and dragging the lifeless body with it back into the bush. She sat back up & stared at the bush in puzzlement. I wonder what's in there?, she thought. She walked over to the bush, sliding down the slope. She stopped in front of it and sat down. "Is anyone there?", she barked out. Nothing. She let a few minutes pass. Still nothing. Sighing for the last time, F.O.X. got up. She was about to walk away, when a rustling came from the bush. She paused, then nervously turned around. "Is anyone here?" Before long, a head popped out of the bush. It was a dark tan male fox, probably homeless, F.O.X. assumed. And starving. "Why, hello there, little lady.", the stray fox said. His voice sounds like a little like my Dad's, she thought. He stalked out of of the bush and sat in front of her. She cocked her head and got into a attacking position and a low growl formed in her throat, deep at first, then it got louder. The stranger said, "Whoa, whoa, hey there, little lady. You got quite the nerve there, sweetie." She stopped growling and sat back up, her ears cocked. "Ok. Well, why are you talking to me?" He slowly got up and walked a tight circle around her, brushing past her lightly and delicately. "Well, you seemed like an approachable fox, and, well..." He finished his circle and rubbed under her chin with his tail. "You look beautiful." That felt good, she thought. She shook her head and turned to the stray, who was sitting next to her. "So, what's your name?" He looked at her smartly and responded. "Oh how silly of me. My name is Ranson, Ranson McCaw. And your's?" She looked straight into his eyes and replied. "My name is F.O.X. FireTail." He looked at her in the eyes, too, and for a few seconds their eyes met, her green emerald eyes and his light brown eyes. She shook her head again and said, "Well, I can't just leave you out here, all alone and starving. Maybe I can take you to my den." His eyes got bright and he jumped up, exclaiming, "Well, what are we waiting for!? Let's go-"Wait.", she interrupted. He stopped and looked up." What's wrong pretty lady?" She got up and said, "Let me go and catch fresh-kill. I promised my dad." Ranson nodded and said, "Go on, pretty lady. I'll be waiting for you." He added a snicker and sat on a patch of dry leaves. F.O.X. turned off. But before leaving completely, she turned her head and called back, "And stop calling me pretty lady. I have a name, you know." He put a paw over his heart and said, "You have my word, prett-err, I mean, F.O.X." She nodded back and jumped off through the undergrowth.

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A.N. Did I tell you, or did I tell you? No, it isn't a trick question. I TOLD YOU THE CHAPTERS WOULD GET LONGER, BUT NOOOOOO, NO ONE, LISTENS TO KAYLYNN. INSTEAD THEY JUST GO ON THEIR WAY AND CALL ME CRAZY! .......I hoped you enjoyed! See you on the next chapter!