The Fox, Red

049 - The Test on the Mountain V

Madam Odette is waiting for me in the small crevasse of a cave. The fire is going steadily on its own providing an inviting glow on everything it touches. I step in announcing myself before taking a seat opposite of her. With a hefty sigh, I lean my head back against the cold stone. There's just a moment hanging in the air where it's just silence broken by the crackling fire. A short breeze whips by outside whistling in the crack we've taken refuge in.

"Red, how did hunting go?" Finally, the silence was broken. I shuffle in the cramped space reaching for my belt. Hooked in it my lucky catch. Holding it up I can only smile. "This little guy must have run me for two miles before I caught him."

I'm ashamed to admit that I missed it. I had it dead to rights but my aim was off. The stone needle landed short alerting the little guy. He sprinted off and I couldn't let him get away. Hunting isn't chasing but that's what it turned into. In the end, I eat tonight.

Madam Odette takes the rabbit from me with a smile. This must have been the first time since we got out here that she's smiled. "This is a good one. Since you hunt, I'll clean it. How does that sound?" I couldn't resist the offer. From her deep pockets, she pulled an ornate-looking knife. It glistened with the inlaid metals against the fire. A flick of her wrist brought the blade out of its sheath. She must take proper care of that blade. It cut the fur with minimal effort.

It was fascinating to watch her work. It couldn't have taken longer than five minutes for her to clean the fur off the rabbit and prepare it for the fire. One of the sticks I grabbed for kindling was used as a skewer to hold it over the flame. I could only watch as she worked the rabbit from the raw state to edible.

The first bite was juicy, but without a proper way to cook it, it was just bland. Even so, with how little I've had to eat over the past few days, this is almost a feast. I'm not surprised that there's nothing left by the time the two of us are done.

A full stomach can change a person. Hangry is a very real emotion. There's a very real change in Madam Odette's demeanor. She's been spacey, almost non-existent mentally. This might be my chance to get a little deeper into what's going on. "Madam Odette, is there something on your mind? You've been... rather absent since we landed."

During the many different training sessions that I've done, I've learned that the only way to solve a problem is to go after it. It's wise to have a plan when you go after a problem. Sometimes you can't have a plan. In this case, the best I can do is play it by ear as it unfolds.

The silence returns for a lot longer than I expected. I thought it would be an easy question but she seems to be racking her brain trying to give me an answer. Have I asked something I shouldn't have? Is she running it over in her mind to pick her words carefully? The nerves started to get to me. My brain kicks into overdrive overthinking every little thing.

"Red, there have been a few things on my mind. Nothing too much to worry about."

I butt in, "Well, I'm going to."

The quick snap of my response caught her. "You've been absent-minded, lost in thought, whatever you want to call it for the last four days. That is uncharacteristic of you. You are calm, collected, straightforward, and progressive in any action or idea. What is going on? What is wrong? Are you worried we aren't going to make it back? Are you uncertain of my survival skills? Something is gnawing at you and it's affecting us."

It was time to put my paw down! She has been acting like she is someone else since we got her and I need to know what it is and how to correct it so we can continue to move forward. If this continues, it could lead to a bad end to this trip. One or both of us could be hurt if our minds are not in the moment. It seems my snapping at her was enough to bring her out a bit more.