The evening air had grown thick with moisture. Hot, oppressive humidity stuck to my nose, and I took in a deep breath before licking the tough, black skin at the tip of my muzzle. Now lightly dampened properly, I could clearly smell rain in the air, and I didn't think it was going to be a light sprinkle.

Standing before me, the Vixen cocked her head one more time, trying to listen for more signals from the scout foxes, but they had fallen silent; their message now conveyed to the rest of the forest.

She fixed her golden eyes on me and whimpered, I go now. Council need me. You must stay here, Mate.

What's wrong? I asked, still groggy and waking up from our nap together.

Very bad. New foxes in forest. No one ask for new foxes after you.

Turning around, she trotted over to the trail back to the den. Briefly, before ducking into the carved tunnel of underbrush, she turned around to look back at me, and I couldn't miss the look of worry in her eyes. With a final flash of her bushy tail, she disappeared from sight.

_Be careful, Mate,_I yipped after her.

My tail gave a happy flutter. I hadn't meant to call her my mate just now, but it slipped out without a thought. Whether I could admit it to myself or not, I was officially in a relationship with another fox, and I couldn't be happier about it. Back when I was a human, my love life had devolved into a series of occasional one-night stands, until my work life had entirely taken its place. Despite the odd circumstances, I knew this was better than the shallow encounters I had contented myself with.

I rested my chin back into my paws, and listened to the sounds of the night. Now that the scout foxes had fallen silent, there was nothing to disturb the peace. Slowly, I returned to sleeping alone, and not feeling the same sense of urgency the Vixen had displayed as she left. Despite my differences with the rest of the clan, we were magical foxes: there wasn't anything we couldn't handle together.

It started with a slow rustle, like wind blowing the leaves in the treetops, but gradually, the rustle rose to a crescendo, becoming a loud hiss. My first impression to my sleep-addled mind was that the trees of the forest were blocking a large windstorm, because the air was still around me. However, I realized I was mistaken when a cold, damp, raindrop coalesced in the leaves, and pierced the canopy to land on the tip of my nose, causing me to jump from the soft earth I was laying on. All around me, I could hear the pitter-patter of rain hitting the foliage and ground, and I knew my little secret hideout wasn't going to provide enough shelter for the remainder of the night. Quickly, I trotted over to the trail back to the den; I would have to spend the night indoors, and share the cottage with a bunch of foxes I had sought to avoid until tomorrow, especially the Leader fox.

Dashing through the thick brush, I was relieved to find the enhanced cover of my tunnel was keeping the falling rain at bay, which allowed me to stay mostly dry on the short trek back to the den. Once I reached the mouth of the trail, the clearing behind the cottage greeted me with an unexpected sight.

In the darkness of the starless night, the yard was covered in a haze of falling water. No tree cover was protecting the ground from the assault of the sky above. The innumerable divots and foxholes were pooling with a muddy runoff, and droplets leapt from their surface as the torrent bombarded the standing water, making it hard to tell where shallow puddles ended and dangerous pit traps began. Beyond the curtain of rain, huddled against the wall of the cottage, a sea of orange-furred bodies crowded close together to keep dry. At a glance, it looked like the entire fox clan was sitting outside, rather than seeking shelter indoors.

Breaking free of the brush, I scurried toward the entrance hole under the oak tree. As soon as I was out in the open of the clearing, my fur began to soak through completely from the deluge, leaving my light body feeling sluggish from all the extra water weight I was soaking up. Adding to my extremely moist state, as I made my way across the yard, my forepaw splashed loudly in a deep puddle, sinking my arm and paw all the way up to my elbow, and plunging my furry white chest into the surface of the pool as my chin hit the muddy dirt. Immediately, all eyes of the sheltering foxes fixed on me, followed by a muffled gekkered laugh or two at my expense. Feeling the fool, I wagged my dripping, sodden tail, lifted myself back onto my paws, and trudged onward to the building, belly covered in mud. I hoped to find the Vixen inside, and to get an explanation on why everyone was hanging around outdoors in a

rainstorm. Reaching the hole in the wall, and dripping profusely, I began to crouch down to crawl inside, only to notice a rather large fox sitting under the cover of the oak tree.

The fox eyed me from his nearby cover, and I made eye contact back, giving him a friendly salute by raising my snout. But before I could finish climbing into the hole, his scent caught my attention. Instead of the normal sweet, musty scent of the forest that all the foxes wore, a sharp, pungent odor of the city clung to this fox. Smells of tar and asphalt, car fumes, and oily gutter sludge. This fox wasn't one of the clan. My ears fell back in surprise, and I wanted to get inside more than ever.

The other fox, watching my approach, spoke out in a deep, cautionary growl, They said we can't go in yet.

Hesitating a moment, I said, I'm looking for the Vixen. Did she go inside already?

The large fox cocked his head to the side, _Who? Oh, you're not one of ours. If you're going in there, can you remind them we are all soaking our tails off out here? _ he said, ending his sentence with a noticeable shiver.

I'll remind them, I said curtly, finally pulling myself inside.

Had the scents that clung to the fox outside not betrayed his origins, I would have been surprised to see the den full of foxes as I entered. Only moments ago, I believed the clan to be undergoing some sort of evacuation for the storm. Now it was clear that everyone waiting outside were the many foxes the Vixen had been informed of from the howls and squeals of the scouts. My heart skipped a beat, when I remembered what she said about food this afternoon before we fell asleep. There wasn't going to be enough for all the new arrivals. Urgently, I peered around the room, looking for her.

The room was dark, illuminated by only a small amount of natural light coming in through the wide hole in the roof. Water cascaded and flowed freely through it and onto the floor, filling the room with the staccato rhythm of rain on wood. Half of the sloping roof was funneling the water directly inside. As I scrabbled through the tunnel and into the main chamber, countless pairs of eyes turned and shone dimly at me.

Halt!

Before I could react, two foxes from either side of the hole pounced, pinning me to the floor with their paws on my back.

You were told to wait outside. Outsiders aren't allowed in the den, the one on my left barked into my ear.

I'm looking for the Vixen, I half snarled, half whimpered. Get off of me!

The weight of left fox lifted from my back finally recognizing me, while the one on the right leaned in, growling, This is all your fault, isn't it?! Spent the last week wasting the Flame to cook your food like a fool. You're lucky I don't throw you out with the rest of those prey. Only the Vixen wants you and that dumb animal hanging around.

Reluctantly, the second fox took his paws off my soggy back, and sat back on his haunches, finally allowing me to properly stand, but the glare of disgust in his expression was unmistakable.

I didn't know how long I was supposed to apologize for my behavior over the last week, but the Flame had been blue when I cooked the vole yesterday. No one other than the Leader fox had been this openly hostile toward me, and the trouble I had caused him and the leadership after running out warranted some recourse. Now, I was soaking wet, and couldn't shelter indoors without being challenged by the rest of the foxes, and accused of something I wasn't responsible for. Rolling over and letting them openly bully me wasn't an option: we lived too long to hope they would merely forget my troublesome first week. I had to take a stand against them, or they would keep attacking me as long as I submitted. Loud gekkers of righteous fury swam to the front of my mind to rebuke them, but I choked back the anger without so much as a whimper. Instead, wordlessly, I held my nose high, planted all four of my paws firmly on the floor, and shook my fur coat out as hard and as fast as I could.

Mud and rain water pelted the two foxes at my sides as the spray from my fur flew over everything at the den's doorway. Finishing my shake with a flourish of my damp tail, I turned toward the fox that had threatened me, and gave him a cheeky wink. If they were to bully me, I wasn't going to take it without a fight!

Both of the foxes wore the same dripping, shocked expression now that their fur was nearly as damp as mine. The fox on the right recovered first, lunging forward to snap at me for the insult, while his partner's eyes flashed blue from summoning the Flame.

Leaping back from the guard fox's attack, I bolted away from the pair, towards the dais where the leadership foxes would be sitting. It was a short dash to the stairs, made even shorter as the pursuing fox bowled into me, nipping and biting any paw or limb he could get his jaws on. Replacing my impulsive anger with a shortsighted act of disrespect was quickly proving fruitless, as I now was snarling back, biting and clawing any flesh I could catch on the guard fox thick hide. Tangled in a flailing ball of orange fur, I finally managed to lock my jaw across his muzzle after he lunged at my paw in the fray.

Stop! A bark came from above us. No fight!

We both froze in place, and I released the fox's muzzle, flicking my tongue against my fangs to clean the bits of his fur stuck to it. Looking up, I saw the Leader fox, staring down at us. The room had gotten deathly silent, and all eyes were on us. The only sound to be heard was the water pouring from the hole in the roof, and the rain that struck it. Back at the entrance hole, the other guard fox's coat was billowing steam as it dried the water I had flung at him. Slowly, both my assailant and I untangled ourselves and rose to all fours to stand at attention.

Who start? The Leader fox growled sternly, slightly cocking his head with the question. Several other foxes stood behind him, including the Vixen. Our brief altercation had interrupted their meeting circle.

He did, said the fox, prodding the side of my neck with his nose. He shook out his wet fur on us!

Looking over the room, the leader fox spotted the steamy guard, and he turned his gaze down at my assailant. Water not problem for fox. Why fight?

The fox's ears turned down shyly. Well, you know, it's because, it's him, he added with distain. After what he's done, I thought that he should be kept outside, sir.

Recognition started to dawn on the Leader fox's expression as he focused on me. In the poor light and through the scent of my wet fur, he must not have noticed who he was addressing.

You-- he trailed off, furious beyond words. Dimly, his eyes began to shine with a reddish tinge. The fur on his back rose up, and he pulled back his lips to show off his razor-sharp fangs_. You! Destroyer! Murderer! _he shouted with something between a bark and a howl of rage. The red glow in his eyes grew brighter, like an ember ready to spark a new flame. He took a slow step down the stairs, gaze held fast on mine, as if ready to lunge.

Leader! Stop. You waste flame too, the Vixen said, dashing up to the Leader fox's side, and nudging him with her muzzle to calm and restrain him. Not help.

The red glow faded in the Leader fox's slitted eyes, but the anger and rage in his expression did not. Barely containing himself, the Leader fox rumbled, Go. Now. Outside or I change mind.

His tone carried less urgency than his facial expression, but I couldn't miss that the intent behind his words was deadly. I looked over to the Vixen, pleading with my eyes for her help, but she shook her head almost imperceivably. She couldn't do anything for me right now.

You heard him, get a move on! the guard fox at my side growled, shoving me with the top of his head.

Where's Tyler, I demanded, changing the subject and trying to delay as much as possible. If I was to be kicked out of the clan, I couldn't trust that they would treat him kindly without me around.

Leave! Screamed the Leader fox, his eyes flaring up to a brilliant red shine again, the magic Flame only a hair's breadth from bursting forth.

I didn't wait any longer to see if he would actually try to use the Flame on me. Guilty or not, my defiance had its limits, and putting the Leader through the same Flamestarved state I had been in by infuriating him was a step too far. I turned around and bolted for the hole back outside, defensively tucking my tail between my legs as I fled.

Sheets of rain blasted my face once I pulled myself out of the tunnel outside. Charging headlong through the storm and into the forest, I heard a confused yip from the large city fox, but I ran as fast as I could away from the den, ignoring his questions.

Swiftly, I ran down the trail towards the stream. It was the only direction I knew I could go. My paws splashed in shallow mud puddles along the game trail while the rain falling through the canopy blinded me. Within moments, I had reached the now rain-swollen stream. Darting across the deepened shallows, and onto the opposite bank, I ran past the clump of long grass I had seen Tyler laying in early this morning. I didn't know how far the path would take me, but after only a few more yards, the forest opened up to a large grassy field. If the rain and wind hadn't been pelting the grass as hard as it was, the grass would have stood high over my head. For now, I was able to push it down and wade into the sea of dark green without my view obscured from the plant life.

Trudging through the field, my fur became waterlogged again, far worse than ever before. Each blade of grass I trotted across rubbed my furry white belly, imparting the water it held until I was soaking through to my bones, not to mention the torrent of rain still pelting my back. Barely half way across the large open field, I begin to shiver and tremble from the cold and damp. I didn't think it was cold enough tonight to give me hypothermia, but I didn't know what my limits were as a fox. It's not like I had tested them as a human either.

Fully sodden, I reached the other side of the field and stood under the trees there. Panting and shivering, I looked down at the earth where my paws stood, and watched the water that was leaking and dripping from every point on my coat, like I had just gotten out of a bath. Now with a moderate amount of cover overhead, I planted my paws down firmly, and shook my fur out again, like I had at the den. If the forest wasn't already completely drenched, I would have marveled at the spray I sent around the trees near me, but I found no relief from removing the cold and wet all over my body. For now, weighing less from the water would have to suffice.

The woods ahead were dark and unfamiliar, but at least the ground cover was far more sparce compared to the area around the den, leaving mostly dirt and decaying twigs on the earth. This also meant that there was no clear trail to follow, if there was one at all. After I had entered the grassy field, I had been running blind, and if I wasn't careful, I could end up lost with no guideposts to trace back. Weaving between the trees, I pressed onward into the night, still quaking from the cold, and panting from my haste.

Time lost its meaning, and before I knew it, I was completely exhausted. I slowed to a trot, and then ambled along, putting one paw in front of the other, but even that was too much to maintain, and I collapsed onto my side, panting hard and rapidly. My muzzle rested on a dead, crumpled leaf while I let my tongue hang out onto the earth, too tired to care about the taste of dirt in my mouth. Rain still fell against the trees above, but the precipitation seemed to be slowing significantly. Still, it wasn't slowed enough to prevent fat drops of pooled water to leak through the leaves and land on the exposed side of my face.

I didn't do this, I whimpered aloud to myself as I caught my breath and gave myself some time to think. _ I_

don't deserve this. He didn't give me a chance to explain, I growled out. _ _

Admittedly, had I been responsible, the Leader fox had been more than restrained by merely kicking me out. All those foxes outside the den: they had to have been former humans as well. The one I had talked to didn't speak like the natural foxes. From what I saw, there were twenty or thirty of them, so where did they all come from? Stealing the lives of so many people was positively criminal, so who had I changed that could be that sinister? I had only two victims from my stay in the city: The Apartment vixen was already here with us, and Tyler wasn't capable of turning anyone else into a fox. Could another rogue fox have gone out there, pilfering as much essence from the humans as they can, while they could pin it on me? The book the Leader fox was reading depicted a scene where it looked like all the humans had turned into foxes. Could someone be trying to make that a reality? Such a thing seemed unlikely, because creating so many new mouths to feed was foolish and shortsighted. However, if each of the new foxes had the same appetite for changing humans, it wouldn't take long to transform the city, and sharing the land with humans would become unnecessary. It was far-fetched, but I struggled to come up with a better answer at the moment.

My panting slowed, and now that I had my brief respite, it was time to move. Rolling off my side and pulling myself back up onto all fours, I gave my fur another quick shake, and hurried on into the dark.

Somewhere inside of me, it occurred to me that I had been running to put as much space between me and the Leader fox as possible, but as I continued to trudge through this part of the woods, I realized I was running from nothing. No one was following me. The foxes can sit in their den, thinking I'm the biggest monster ever, but I had nothing to be ashamed of, and running just made me look guilty. Looking around the woods, I decided I was far enough away from the rest of the foxes for tonight, and I would need to set up camp. However, there were no suitable bushes to hide in as there had been for me and the Vixen. Sighing, and quickly shaking the drop of rain that splashed off my nose, I focused deep within myself, and welled up the desire for a safe place to sleep out the night, and the rain.

*WISH*

Blue light shone forth, illuminating the woods, and absorbed itself into the ground next to a wide fir tree. Within seconds, there was a soft rumbling and shifting beneath my paws, and next to the tree, the earth opened up a small sinkhole, just wide enough to crawl into.

I guess this will have to do, I said to myself, and I padded over to the hole.

Inside the hole, the earth was damp, but not muddy, and it opened up into a larger chamber once I

cleared the entrance. The musty smell of freshly dug dirt filled my nostrils, but I was thankful to be out of the rain, and relieved to not have to dig the hovel for myself. While the den had been a dirty shack, it at least had been dry, and the wood floor was more familiar to sleep on than raw dirt. Musty scents of my wet fur mixed with the odor of the damp earth, leaving my breathing stifled, but at least the rain was finally off my back. Welling up my desires again, I decided it was time to get dry.

*WISH*

Just like the guard fox back at the den, my fur started steaming profusely, and the resulting vapor wafted quickly out the tunnel outside. Whatever magics were removing the water from my fur also wicked away the damp from the ground, leaving me quite warm and comfortable. Curling into a ball with my fluffy tail over my face, I listened to the rain falling outside, and wondering just how I was going to get out of this new mess I was in.

After everything I had been through, it felt like I kept taking one step forward, and two steps back. Up until yesterday, I had tried hard to hold onto what I had as a human, but I eventually accepted that some sacrifices had to be made to live as a fox. Now, after only one full day, I was being denied the basic luxuries the foxes had managed to gather for themselves, leaving me hiding in a hole like any mundane animal. Only this time, I was being punished for something I didn't do, and not even the Vixen, my mate, could do anything to help me.

The absence of my mate made my heart grow heavy. Her guidance, and dedication to me had made my transition to the forest so much easier, but now I was a pariah, it seemed doubtful she could be seen around me without causing her undue trouble. Accused of being a murderer and destroyer, anyone in the clan would consider fraternizing with me to be betrayal to whomever is left alive in the coming months.

I took a huff of air in through my nose, catching my own scent on my tail.

Even my scent could betray her, for that matter. If the Vixen were to steal some quick visits while no one was watching, she almost certainly would get caught wearing my odor. I couldn't rely on her being able to help me from here on out if it meant she would get into trouble. Just like last week, I was on my own, but now at the mercy of whatever nature would throw at me.

I shuddered, and shifted tighter into my ball, feeling the pangs of the void lightly stabbing at my insides as I drifted off to sleep.

---

_I was standing on the edge of the stream. Beneath me, I could feel the thick mud of the bank squish between my paws, and I heaved a relaxed sigh with the trickling sounds of the water flowing on by. _

_Above me, the sky had reached a gorgeous twilight purple, and it bathed the small clearing in a fiery hue. Taking a deep breath, I let the ills of the day melt away as I began to relax. _

"Pleasant day we're having," a darkly feminine voice came from behind me.

I spun around to see who was talking to me. Her appearance told my dreaming mind it was the Apartment vixen, but instead of orange fur, she looked like she was made entirely of darkness and shadow. Only her slitted eyes shone from her face, a bright yellowish gold among the black. The shadow vixen stepped forward, and sat next to me at the stream's edge. I tried to take a step back to leave a safe distance between us, but the mud under my paws seemed to be gluing me to the spot, and threatened to suck me down to my ankles.

"Hold still, child,"the shadow commanded. "I don't plan on making this last any longer than it needs to."

"What do you want?" I demanded. The words flowed from my muzzle in a vaguely familiar voice.

"Just a moment of your time. That is all," the shadow spoke, her eyes watching the stream as it passed by.

Visions of my previous dreams swam to the front of my mind. The shadow fox was not a friend. She wanted me to hurt someone.

"And why should I give you even that much?" I yelled. "You tried to eat me!" Words came out of my mouth, but I didn't understand why I was saying them. Yet, they were the correct thing to say, even if I didn't know why.

_The shadow laughed. _ "On the contrary, I was trying to help you, child. Impulsive behavior such as yours needs guidance, focus. Without my hand, you would have become lost!"

"I never asked for your help," I replied. "In fact, I'm leaving now. You don't get to control me."

Heaving against the sticky mud, I welled up the desire for freedom, and pulled my paws free. I gave a look of defiance at the shadow, before taking a few steps back, finally putting the space between us I needed.

The shadow's golden eyes glanced down at the mud and narrowed into a scowl, but didn't protest at my emancipation. Instead, she huffed a sigh, and stood up on her hind paws. Fluffy tail swaying casually behind her, she walked on her toes, more natural than any normal fox, and approached a nearby tree before swinging her back around and reclining against it, propping her right hind paw over her left knee, and her forepaws folded over her chest.

_I watched her for a moment before turning back to the water, admiring the purple light reflecting off the slower areas like a mirror. Somehow, I knew I was in a dream, but I also knew this was real. If this was actually real, then who was the shadow behind me? _

Turning back around, I looked to the dark vixen, who was now holding a dusty old blue book in her paws, and flipping through the pages idly as she laid against the tree, her tail fluttering occasionally from under her crossed legs.

Noticing she had caught my attention again, she looked up from the book. "I thought you said you were leaving. Having problems waking up, child?" she said with a mischievous grin. Her white fangs shone through the darkness of her form, giving her features a little more definition than a moment ago.

"You're not going to leave me alone, are you? Alright, out with it. What do you want?" There was no hiding the frustration in my voice.

"Tsk. Tsk. Such a moody fox," the shadow said, closing the blue book and putting it aside, allowing it to vaporize into the ether she had summoned it from. Rising back to her hind paws, she walked over to where I sat.

"Believe me, child, while I enjoy our spirited encounters, I would have approached a far less rebellious guardian, had I the option. Alas, you are the only one I can speak with, and I come to you in dire need."

"You came too late," I retorted. "The foxes kicked me out, and I'm on my own now."

"Not so, my child. Your mate searches for you, now." Her shadowy appearance warped to reflect that of the Vixen, either to drive her point home, or torment me. I wasn't certain.

"Even so, I don't think she can do anything to help me. There's no way she can convince everyone I didn't make those foxes." I turned my head to look out over the water.

"Of course you did not, but they are still here through your actions. The other foxes will not care for the details of how and why, because you have already given them all the reason they need to mistrust you."

"All I did was pee on the wrong tree!" I said, snapping my head back to attention meet her gaze. "I did everything they asked of me yesterday. Even acted like a damn paperweight for Leader fox while he read that book for hours!"

"Perhaps that was an upsetting misstep, but it was one that would be easily forgiven. No, child, there was more you did. The foxes have been here for a very long time. They understand the rules they live under, and they know the consequences for breaking them. Yet, yesterday you showed them you care not for their rules, and you won't bear any consequences. You would do well to break the rules in private from now on, if you must break them at all. Exhibiting your impropriety for all to witness will inspire others to attempt your foolishness, and they will have to pay for it."

_I turned to meet her golden gaze. Wracking my brain, trying to remember what I did yesterday through the haze of my dream-state, I couldn't come up with anything that made sense. _ "I have no idea what you're talking about," _I stated plainly. _

_Her brow furrowed and then she closed her eyes. For a moment, I thought I heard her whispering inside my head, before her eyes snapped open again. _ "In the simplest terms you may understand, child, whether through accident or intent, you have found a grievous loophole to the rules. An 'exploit,' as you would call it. I know not how you have managed this, and I worry for what will result as I am powerless to cease it."

"That doesn't clear things up at all!" I fumed.

"The specifics do not matter," she said. "You will likely forget this conversation once you wake, but this is the only way I can speak with you."

"Okay, so you wanted to yell at me for breaking the rules, fine. You, and everyone else these days already gave me an earful for it."

_The shadow fox turned around and walked a few paces back towards the tree before replying. _

"Your rule breaking is only a secondary concern. While it is my job to watch over you and my children, the inrush of the new foxes in the forest is why I needed to talk."

The sensation of her buzzing and whispering in my head returned for a moment.

"It is imperative you listen, and you listen close. All my children know the dangers of having so many new foxes in the forest, as well do you."

"There won't be enough food for everyone," I completed her thought for her.

"Correct. The council is discussing kicking them out of the forest, and letting them starve until they find a new home. They expect them to find another forest of their own, but I know everyones' thoughts and memories. There is no other home for them. Outside of the forest are human settlements in every direction. If they attempt to find a new forest, it will end in disaster. I cannot suffer the loss of so many of my children, even if they are unwelcome here."

"So, what are you asking me to do?" I asked. "No one is going to listen to me, and you just said I was going to forget we talked when I wake up!"

_Folding her forepaws behind her back, she turned around to look at me again, and I caught the hint of fear and sadness she had been hiding with her back turned. _ "I know not of a plan that will save everyone, and imparting one with you now would be fruitless, but knowing that I have done what I can is all the reassurance I can ask for."

"Are you serious!?" I exploded at her. "You're asking me to do something I can't do, by expecting me to remember something I can't remember!"

She smiled warmly,"Child, I already told you that you were not my first choice. The other foxes follow the rules too well. I am unable to communicate this directly with them right now. It could be days or weeks before my next opportunity. We mustn't delay for a moment if we are to save everyone."

Having said all she needed to say, she turned around and started to walk towards the game trail and the purple nebulous edge of my subconscious.

"Wait!" I called after her. "Who are you, anyway?" I knew deep inside; she had tormented my sleep on many occasions.

_The uneven ground didn't stagger her gait as she began walking backwards to face me for her final reply. _

"I am many things, but you may think of me as your safety and regulatory authority, my child," she said with a wry smirk as she faded away into the purple mists.

---

I became aware of the musty smell of dirt around me. My tail had been covering my nose most of the night, but the sharpness of the scent finally broke through to my waking mind. Above me, a few particles of grit fell from the ceiling of my hole, and landed on my black furred ear, causing it to twitch a few times. With a loud groan, I uncurled myself, and stretched all my limbs out while laying on my side. Only after watching the stubby, clawed digits at the ends of my paws splayed out, did I realize that I was seeing them through the daylight coming in from the entrance of my tunnel. Rolling over onto all fours, I crawled to the opening of my miniature cave, and poked my vulpine head out into the world.

The rain had finally stopped, and the sun shone brightly, but there was evidence of the deluge all around me. From the wet earth to the sparse foliage still carrying drops of water, the woods smelled fresh and renewed as the plant life soaked up everything it could.

Aside from the occasional sounds of water dripping to the ground, the trees were quiet. No birds were around to indulge themselves bathing in the new puddles from the rain, nor to dig up any worms that approached the surface. The woods were perfectly tranquil.

Pulling myself free from my den, I realized I had a decent night of sleep, despite sleeping in a hole during a rainstorm. There was something I had been dreaming of, but the only thing I could remember for sure was that the Apartment vixen had been telling me something. I mused at the choices my unconscious mind had made: there was no good reason I couldn't have dreamt of my mate while I was exiled from her. Had she been curled at my side last night, I may have slept even better. Stretching my neck out by pointing my dark nose skyward, I finished pulling myself free from my den, and then I planted my paws down to shake the dust out of my fur.

New resolve flooded through me after the thoughts of the Vixen entered my mind. Any fear that remained from the threats of the Leader fox evaporated completely, leaving me wondering why I had fled as if I had been guilty. At the very least, I should have waited around for Tyler or the Vixen to come with me instead of the blind dash I made. No matter what the Leader fox thought of me, I had to go back to the den and try harder to smooth things out with the clan.

Looking around where I had set up my own den, I tried to get my bearings. During my flight, direction had become meaningless, and now, with the rain having washed away any scent I may have used to lead myself back to the rest of the foxes, I wasn't sure of where to head to. I closed my eyes and pricked up my ears, twisting them each way, listening for the sounds of the stream or other wild life, but there was nothing beyond a light rustle from the trees. Briefly, I sensed a tiny scurry of something in the ground, but I wasn't hungry enough to pursue another vole for breakfast. Opening my slitted eyes once more, I stood up and set out into the woods, hoping to find any hint of the foxes, or landmarks I was familiar with.

It took only a handful of minutes before panic started to set in. Trotting aimlessly around the area was not helping me find my way back. The night had been very dark and wet, and I had been in a hurry. Now that it was light outside, and the need to find shelter from the rain was gone, I quickly found I was completely lost. For a moment, I considered traveling in a straight line, hoping to find the road to guide me back or give me a bearing to follow, but I quickly realized I didn't know which direction to head for the road either. Distressed, I resorted to calling out for help.

Hello! Is anyone around! I shouted with a barking howl, similar to the ones I heard the scout foxes use.

Only the sounds of the breeze blowing lightly through the trees replied to my call.

Pausing a moment, I called out again, this time, as loud as I could muster, but I only heard silence in return.

Damn, I snorted to myself. With any luck, I would eventually bump into a hunting party, or one of the scouts, but for now, I was on my own.

Mid-morning bled into noon. While I had not woken up hungry for voles, I started to regret not going for the rodent I had heard outside my den. There had been no sign of birds, or other burrowing vermin the whole day. If food options were this sparce on a normal day, I shuddered to think what adding an extra thirty foxes to the forest would do to the food supply, especially once winter came around. Then again, I had been darting around tree after tree, probably scaring away any possible prey. Getting back to the rest of the foxes had been a much higher priority than feeding. Suddenly, after climbing a small mound of dirt between two tall pine trees, I saw bright sunlight in the distance. It was a clearing!

Dashing as fast as my paws would carry me, I ran to the edge of the wood, and found myself overlooking a large meadow of tall grass, now brightly lit by the afternoon sun. I watched over the field as the greenery rippled from the breeze, and listened to the whisper it created. My heart skipped a beat when I noticed the far away sounds of the creek, almost completely obscured by the sounds of the grass. Diving into the verdant sea, I quickly sank in over my head now that the rain was no longer pressing the grass down. Navigation to the other side was going to be more of a challenge while I couldn't see more than two feet in front of my snout. For a while, I let my failing sense of direction guide me toward the creek, but after a few hundred paces, I had to keep leaping out of the grass to spot where to go next.

It was around the fourth time I leapt out of the grass that I caught the smell of another fox on the wind. But before I could react to find if they were friend or foe, a black paw slapped me across the face, knocking me over from the surprise.

Get down, you idiot! A fox barked into my ear. You're scaring away all the food!

Stunned from the shock of the slap, I looked up and saw two foxes standing over me, both males, and their fur slightly unkempt from their day's work.

I tried to open my mouth to apologize, but before I could speak, the fox that hit me spoke again.

What are you doing back here? The Leader said you had to leave. His tone had turned a lot less angry, and a lot more genuinely inquisitive.

Climbing back to my paws, I lightly shook out my fur, and replied, The Leader fox kicked me out for something I didn't do. I came back to negotiate and patch things up.

The two foxes looked at each other, before the second fox spoke, He's still very irritable today, I don't think you will have much luck with him. You'd better lay low for a while still.

Look, I'm not going to sit around in the woods waiting for him to get over it. I didn't do anything to deserve this kind of treatment!

Oh, we know, said the first fox. _ Your mate spoke with us before we went out, in case we found you. She was out all night looking for where you went._

I felt my ears flatten in remorse at hearing this news. Noticing my reaction, he turned to the second fox, See, I told you he feels bad. Not as heartless as everyone was saying.

So, what did she say to you guys? I asked, slightly impatient at the sudden change in topic.

The second fox piped up, Basically, what I just said. Stay away for now. That, and 'find your prey.' Do you have any hunting experience? the first fox asked, cocking his head to the side.

The Vixen showed me, briefly, I said, not liking where this was going. Eating the small, raw animals had been difficult enough. Having to kill them as well was going to be another hurdle.

Prodding the other with his paw, the second fox said, We can't show him how to hunt! The leaders will have our tails if they find we let him have food while its scarce.

I'm not giving him our kills. We can't stop him from eating while he's outside! Replied the first fox. Facing back to me, he added, Well, I suppose what she showed you will have to do. We have to get back to it, now that we have to work double-time. So, stop leaping around like a spastic, and go do whatever you need to talk to your mate. His words were said in encouragement, despite their rough nature.

Alright then, good hunting, I said, before skulking off towards the stream.

Leaving the hunting party behind, I was happy to find that the trail they had etched through the grass was enough of a guide back, and I didn't need to keep leaping to find my way across the rest of the field. Before long, I reached bank of the stream, near the place Tyler had happily thrown himself into the grass to rest.

My introspection turned to Tyler, and I climbed down the bank toward the now-widened stream. He had been doing well when I last saw him, but it was doubtful he would remain welcome while I was gone. The guard fox last night all but told me so. With any luck, the Vixen would protect him in my absence.

Cool water splashed over my paws, now half way up to my elbows as I crossed the water. At its deepest, the tip of my tail dipped below the surface, and the longest guard hairs on my underbelly dragged along the top, matting them together after I reached the shallows and pulled myself out of the stream.

Even if the Vixen had protected Tyler last night from being thrown out, could she keep protecting him, and me? It was already a tall order for the forest to feed me, the Apartment vixen, and Tyler, according to her, but with all the new foxes that had arrived, could she justify feeding him over another fox? Could I justify it, knowing he wasn't magical like the rest of us? I shuddered at the grim thoughts in my head, not wanting to consider them, but also realizing that I may have no choice in the worst-case scenario.

Reaching the game trail, I paused momentarily to shake off the excess water stuck in my fur, though it was mostly my tail that had become waterlogged. I tried to think what I was going to do once I reached the den, now that I was getting close. My mate may be sleeping if she was out all night looking for me, but I couldn't let that hold me back from making sure Tyler was safe. Maybe, I could take him back to my den and have him hunt for me. His natural fox instincts were much stronger than mine, so perhaps he could hunt for both of us.

A matter of a few paces down the trail, my sharp ears heard a mew of a cat off in the woods, followed by the heavy sound of scattering soil on leaves.

Goddamn it, everything is soaked through! The Apartment vixen barked from out of sight. Another heavy scoop of dirt showered the area off the trail.

Carefully, I stepped off the trail and into the underbrush alongside it. She didn't sound like she expected visitors right now, so creeping up on her unwelcome and unannounced would be rude. I made no effort to conceal my approach, but I was rewarded with a flying pawful of mud to the face as soon as I reached her den.

Get out of here, this is my place! she angrily barked from the entrance to a hole she was digging at. Her back was turned towards me, and her fluffy tail held high, but she was prepared to scoop and fling more soil at me from where she stood over her den.

Shaking the dirt from my face, I said, Easy there, it's just me.

Do I need to repeat myself? she said wryly. What do you want? Did you convince them to let me stay indoors?

No, I replied. In fact, they kicked me out too.

Hmph! Just as well,_said the vixen. Her coat was matted and covered in mud, and some fifteen feet behind her, Toby was licking his fur dutifully. _Maybe next time it rains, you can deal with scooping the mud out of your own hole!

I nearly let on that my hole didn't get muddy last night, but then I remembered that I had made my den with the Flame, and she hadn't. It was possible mine had been made with flood protection without realizing it.

How bad is it? I asked instead, lowering my head to point at the hole she was standing over guardedly.

Her tail swayed briefly. Bad enough that I won't be sleeping in there this week. I'll have to dig a new hole before night comes, she said gruffly, but the wave of her tail had betrayed her appreciation for my concern.

Mind if I take a look? I asked. With the help of the Flame, I might be able to fix it for her.

Knock yourself out. I was just scooping as much mud and water out as I could to help it dry faster, she said with a slight sneer. Didn't think someone as high and mighty as you would get your paws down in the mud with me.

Stepping aside, she let me approach the hole in the ground. Carefully, I hunkered down and put my paws into the thick mud lining the entrance. The tunnel to the underground chamber was slick, and as soon as I stopped descending, I had ended up in ankle-deep water. It was practically a swamp down here.

As my eyes adjusted, I looked around the waterlogged room. The den was larger than mine, but the Apartment vixen had all day to carve out as much as she wished for her comfort. The mud she had been removing likely was left over from her digging expansions, and lucky for her, probably acted like a sponge to soak up a lot of the water that had flooded her den.

From outside, I heard the vixen call down. _Toby and I were about to go hunting. Good thing he's way better at catching things than I am. If you can scoop out all the water, I'll bring you something. _

Ok, I'll be here for a bit, I yipped cheerfully. Something told me she didn't believe I could do anything for her den, but her fickle demeanor meant I couldn't reliably expect her to bring me anything, regardless of my success or her appreciation for my efforts. I could only hope she would find a spare to share.

Outside, I heard her leave as she traipsed through the brush, and I looked again down at the water and mud around me. Welling up my desires, I barked aloud, I wish the water was gone so I can sleep in this den.

_*_WISH*

Blue light filled the den, followed by a thick mist that started to rise off the surface of the wet floor. I stood there for a moment, admiring how much water would have to evaporate as the Flame did its work, but within seconds, the hole had filled with so much vapor that I couldn't see my own nose. Taking in a sniff, I began to choke. With this much water in the air, there was a very real chance of suffocation! Quickly, I turned around, and scurried up the tunnel to the surface.

The forest air outside the den was clear and crisp in contrast to the musty underground, but turning around to watch the hole I just left, I was horrified to see a billowing white cloud rushing out from the mouth of the Apartment vixen's home. The cloud of steam was so large, it was sure to catch some unwanted attention. To make matters worse, the water was drying at an increasing speed, causing the cloud to make a loud whooshing sound as it jetted out of the den, like some sort of giant, bizarre underground tea kettle. Standing there, dumbstruck, I watched tendrils of steam start to rise from the forest floor, expanding the earth above the den, like a volcano ready to erupt. With a lackluster gasp, a fissure appeared in the top of the mound, releasing an eruption of vapor and gas from the newly formed vent. In moments, the expanding earth began to deflate, reducing the mound to a hissing crater where the Apartment vixen's home had been.

I was beyond words. The Apartment vixen had trusted me to fix her house, and I had completely destroyed it instead. Looking around the small clearing she had chosen to dig her home, I tried to find a suitable spot to make another den for her. Unfortunately, the trees were too close, and the hole from her house took up too much space. Momentarily, I was going to start anew within the crater itself, but before I could wish another den to appear like mine, pain started to wrack my gut. The void had returned, fiercer than I had felt it in days. Falling over onto my side, I laid in the bottom of the crater, next to a still lightly steaming vent, whimpering.

Oh. My. God. What did you DO?!

The Apartment vixen had returned, summoned back by the sounds of the rushing steam, and staring down at me from the edge of her ruined home.

I tried to find my voice, but I could barely move from the pain of the void. Blinking back tears welling in my eyes, I looked up at her standing above me. _ I... I made it dry,_ I finally squeaked out.

Like hell you did! She squealed angrily, before she dove into the shallow pit and stood over me. Get out, Go! Move! Her head lowered and she shoved the back of my neck, trying to get me to stand up and leave.

With great protest, my aching body started to move, the worst of the void's punishment now over as the harshest pains rapidly diminished. Hobbling up to all fours, I turned to the vixen to apologize, but got another headbutt to my neck for the effort.

I said leave! She gekkered at me.

Shaking from the ordeal, I turned to climb out of the crater, but my limbs weren't responding well enough to pull me out just yet. I tried to tell her I needed another moment before I could climb out, but a sudden shove to my flank pushed me up the slope.

Is this all you do? Make my life miserable every time we meet? She gekkered in a huff from below. _ I spent hours digging out that den, and now you've ruined that too!_

My ears drooped remorsefully. Stuttering from the void, I blurted out, I-- I have a den on the other side of the stream. You can have it. It's dry too.

She didn't even look up to make eye contact. Instead, she looked around the crater that had been her home. It was clear she didn't want any more of my help, but she wasn't finding any better options at the moment. Shaking her head in defeat, she turned to look at me.

Fine, take me there, she snorted. _Come, Toby. _ Under her breath, I thought I heard her mutter about my den burying her alive for taking the offer.

She climbed from the pit, and Toby appeared at her side. Giving him a reassuring nuzzle before turning back to me, _Are we going?_she asked impatiently.

Without a word, I turned around and headed back the way I came with her and Toby in tow. My return to the den had to wait a little longer.

The going was slow as I hobbled back toward the stream, due to the strong pains in my gut from the overuse of the Flame. I couldn't recall when the void caused so much pain after using the blue Flame, but it was slowly lessening like every time I had used it. It may take the rest of the day to be completely gone, but I wasn't worried about going Flamestarved again. The pain never reached the point I had been at when I transformed Tyler, and any relief I had after that incident was from brief infusions of determination to get back home.

Limping along, we reached the stream after only a few minutes. Toby immediately balked at getting wet, so the Apartment vixen had to bend down and let him climb onto her back to cross. The cat happily obliged, and the three of us splashed our way through the shallows to the opposite bank. Despite the threat of getting wet behind us, the cat stayed on top of the Apartment vixen, not interested in walking for himself while he had the soft fur coat of his master to cuddle against.

Once we reached the grassy field, I stopped. There were some foxes hunting when I came through here a few minutes ago. Try not to make much noise, or we might scare their prey.

I wasn't planning on it, she snorted flatly.

Wading into the deep grass, I carved out a trail for the Apartment vixen to follow. Between the trailblazing and the pain from the void the going was slow, and I kept feeling her bump into my tail each time I had to stop to paw down some of the vegetation before me.

_Does it hurt a lot?_I heard her ask from behind me.

It's getting better, I replied, shoving my snout between some blades and separating a space for us to pass through.

No, I mean, when you used the magic. Did it hurt?

Not at all, I replied. In fact, it feels good for a moment, like you accomplished something special. But the pain comes later.

Oh, she murmured, and trailed off for a few moments.

I didn't turn around to look back at her, and continued to busy myself pushing through the grass.

Did you use the purple light you warned me about? She finally asked.

_No, the light was blue, as it should be, but I've never used it to dry more than my fur. I think that was too much water down there to handle all at once. _

I was taking my time clearing the grass for her. My den was a lot further away from the stream than hers, and she deserved an easy trail back to it if she was to live on this corner of the forest.

I thought you said the blue light wouldn't hurt you, she yipped quizzically.

The void tears at me no matter the color of the Flame, I whimpered, pushing over another clump of grass. The difference is, it goes away after a while if it's blue.

I don't remember feeling this void when I used the magic, s_he yipped. _Not enough to limp around like you.

Well, what did you wish for?

Someone shot me for going into his chicken coop. I was bleeding out, and I wished not to die.

What? When was this? I stopped pushing grass down and turned around to her.

Her ears folded back, and she turned her gaze down to the trodden grass. _The first morning of being a fox. _

Her tirade yesterday at the stream came back to me. I had disregarded it in the moment, thinking she was being hyperbolic, since I was the one that had transformed her, and she was having a bad day.

So that's the only time you used it so far? I asked.

I didn't need anything else, she snorted, still staring down at the grass.

_What about when you kissed me at the bus stop? You didn't start to feel any pain then? _ The other foxes thought you would be by now.

No, nothing, she sighed, now completely engrossed with whatever crushed blades she had fixed on.

Well, that's great! I barked excitedly. They said you couldn't stay in the den because they thought you were about to go Flamestarved. But if you don't feel the void, then there's nothing to worry about! Once we figure out what to do with all the new foxes--

What new foxes? she interrupted.

Didn't you hear the howling last night before the rain? A bunch of new foxes showed up, and they were asking to stay at the den.

Asking? Like, speaking? The Apartment vixen asked, looking up at me for clarification and cocking her head. _ They weren't normal foxes like your friend Tyler?_

_Not at all, one spoke with me about getting out of the rain. _

The vixen's face fell, and her ears drooped down to the sides of her head. Did they say where they came from?

I didn't stick around long enough to find out. The Leader fox banished me, and I had to run out. They did smell like the city, though.

These details didn't perk up the Apartment vixen at all. She returned to looking at the flattened grass next to her.

How... How many were there? She said with a small squeak.

I started to get suspicious. There was more to her first day than bad memories of getting shot and nearly dying. _ Around thirty,_ I replied hesitantly. _ _

At hearing my count, she noticeably swooned, and had to catch herself from falling over. Toby dug his claws into her to stay safely on top of her back.

What do you know about those foxes? I demanded with a bark. _ _

Can we not right now? She said remorsefully with her ears turned back. Just get me to this den of yours.

Vixen, if you know something, I need to hear it now. They kicked me out of the den last night because they thought I did it!

_Alright, alright. Get me to your den, and I'll tell you what I know. _ She raised her head and peered over the top of the tall grass, concerned about eavesdropping from the hunters I mentioned.

Turning back around, I pushed through the tall grass. A cool feeling of mounting anger started to build in my chest, knowing whatever the Apartment vixen was about to tell me was not going to make me happy, but she had not said anything to be mad over yet. Wordlessly, we cut through the tall grass, no longer taking the time to press down a trail, now that there was some urgency to get to my den. The vixen behind me didn't complain about our increased pace, since she fit through the tunnels and arches I created ahead of her with ease, but I did hear a few mews from her cat, who had taken a bit of meadow to the face while he clung to her back. Only a few minutes later, we had reached the far edge of the grassy field, and the trees of the forest loomed above us, once again.

_Is it much further?_The Apartment vixen asked as Toby slid down her side to walk on his own. He held his tail high while casually strutting ahead of her.

Not sure. I got lost trying to find the field this morning. It can't be too far, I admitted to her. Putting my nose to the soil, I began to sniff around for the familiar scent of my own trail. It took only moments before I found it, after expanding my search area to a wider circle around were we stood.

This way, I announced, taking the lead.

Unlike earlier this morning, I was able to recognize a few of the trees, and other subtle landmarks from the area. However, despite being guided by my own trail, it was another ten-minute journey before I came upon the hole in the ground I called my den. Compared to the den the Apartment vixen had made, it was clear no effort had been put into creating it. Had I not slept in it last night, it could easily have been mistaken as a divot in the ground from the removal of a large rock. However, there was one thing going for it over the Apartment vixen's den: the hole had appeared near the crest of a mound, making flooding nearly impossible. If she had to stay here in exile, she wasn't going to get flooded again.

Okay, this is it. Now, out with it. What do you have to do with all those foxes?

The moment of honesty had passed for her after we left the field. The vixen stared blankly at the hole for my den, thinking if she should go in and continue to avoid the topic. In her silence, Toby sauntered forward, and poked his head into the hole, curious about this new home. Turning away from us, the vixen tucked her ears back, and heaved a sigh, looking back into the woods from the direction we came.

Well? I pressed again. The cool anger I had been feeling started to warm into hot frustration.

I didn't come here right away after you left my apartment, she finally spoke. _ A concerned neighbor mistook me as a noisy wild animal that got into the apartment, and called animal control._

I remember him, I confirmed. Why didn't you run out if he was calling animal control?

Why should I have? She whirled around to face me with an angry gekker. _ It was my home! I belonged there. That nosey neighbor had no business getting involved!_ With some resignation, she turned back around. But I was scared, and I couldn't stop shouting, and I couldn't recognize my voice anymore. She looked down at her paws in front of her. _Everything was so different, I didn't know how to handle any of it. So, when animal control arrived, I snarled at them, and they tranquilized me for it. _

I stood there aghast. My first week had been rough, but not nearly as horrific as her first few minutes of being a fox. I delt with my transformation by trying to figure out how to open the drawers and cabinets in my house with paws and fangs. She wasn't given a chance to learn about her new form before being thrown out into the world.

I woke up in a field a few miles away from here, she continued, but the crew didn't think to bring Toby with me, but who could blame them? Her tail thrashed spitefully. I was just a fox they removed from someone's apartment. A fox doesn't have pets. They probably thought they were doing me a favor.

So how did he find you? I finally asked, looking over to Toby who was now in the den and sticking his head out of the hole, looking around cautiously.

He didn't. I walked all the way back to the city and got him myself, she barked resolutely. But in the time I was gone that day, a drug addicted squatter moved in, and was laying in my bed.

What? I said shocked. The chances of someone breaking into my remote house so brazenly was impossible. Do break-ins happen often?

It's not as uncommon as you would think. The security at my complex was very lax for that sort of thing. We had a few community meetings about it, but the admin building did nothing for us. Her ears perked up a little at the chance to rant about something else for a moment, but they fell back down as she continued. I don't know how he found my place so quickly, but the man was a raving lunatic. While I was trying to convince Toby to come out, I watched him O.D. in front of me.

I didn't like where this was going, but I waited patiently as the vixen hung her head in dismay. For a moment, I wanted to whimper some encouragement to finish her story, but I couldn't mistake the distress she was in while recounting the evening.

After a long pause, she continued again. I did everything I could to save him, but my body was too light to help. I even tried giving him mouth-to-mouth, but that was a mistake. There was a spark of something from him, and then he started to turn into a fox too.

She looked up at me with her golden eyes, and I could see tears welling up at the dark edges of her eyes.

I don't want to forgive you for what you did, but I did it to someone else just as easily as you did it to me. The worst part, is it felt really good! That spark lasted with me until your girlfriend brought me to you at the bus stop. I'm afraid to be around any humans now, in case I do it again.

Seeing her anguish, I stepped up to her and placed my muzzle on her neck to comfort her. I know how you feel, I rumbled into her ear. But as long as you don't use the purple Flame, the temptation doesn't get to you. So, I continued, what happened to this squatter after he changed? I felt her stiffen under my chin when I mentioned the purple Flame.

I... I don't know, she whimpered. After he changed, he started flashing purple light from his eyes, just like the way you showed me the Flame. But he was out of control, and blew up my apartment! I ran out with Toby and never looked back.

Dread overcame me, and I felt my hackles rise on the back of my neck. Pulling myself away from her I looked directly into her eyes. How long ago was this? I demanded.

She couldn't hold my gaze, and turned away. About three nights ago.

Three nights. That gave her squatter up to two days to turn everyone in that apartment complex into foxes. If he was using the purple Flame that recklessly, he could have gone Flamestarved as much as he wanted, and would be only one wish away at the next door for another refill of human essence. Worse yet, if he didn't arrive with the new foxes last night, he could still be in the city, turning anyone he meets into a fox! The whole city could show up as foxes in a matter of months, and we wouldn't need to wait until winter to starve.

I have to go, I barked urgently. _Stay here, and don't let anyone know you're hiding on this side of the woods. _

You're not going to tell anyone, are you? She pleaded with a whimper.

If I don't, things are going to get a lot worse for all of us, I replied. _I won't tell them you're here, so stay out of sight. _

On that note, I dashed off toward the grassy field, not waiting to hear if she had any further protests.

Having gained some more familiarity with this side of the woods, the trip back to the field took only a few minutes. Thankfully, if the Apartment vixen and I had to stay away from the rest of the foxes, access to water at the stream wouldn't turn into a long daily trek.

Quickly, I dove into the sea of grass, and weaved my way through the thicket. While I had gotten used to navigating in the field, I still lost my sense of direction after only a few minutes with my head under the dense blades. It was a shame I hadn't completed shoving down the trail through the grass with the Apartment vixen, because I really could have used the path to return easily. Without thinking, I leapt into the air, hoping to catch a glimpse of the partially completed walkway, and the way back to the stream. As I came crashing back to my forepaws, there was a sudden flutter of feathers, and a grouse that had been hiding under the grass sprang out and tried flying away, only to smack itself clumsily against the side of my muzzle.

I flinched and stood there dumbstruck for a moment, watching the bird ascend into the air above me. Like a flash of lightning, blue light filled the field, and the grouse abandoned its escape. Instead, it stretched out its wings, and glided down to the grass, only ten feet away. There was a brief rustle, then a pop, followed by two foxes emerging through the wall of green blades. One of the foxes carried the lifeless body of the bird in his jaws.

Good work, that was a slippery one, the fox said, after dropping the dead fowl on the ground. _ It's yours if you're hungry._

I was hungry, and the edges of the void had not disappeared completely yet. However, the business with the Apartment vixen's squatter was foremost on my mind, and I wasn't prepared to take a break to eat.

You said we weren't giving him our kills! squealed the other fox from behind him.

It's his, as far as I'm concerned, chided the first fox. We were about to give up on finding where this one was hiding.

The Hunt Leader wanted us to collect as much as we could before the newcomers get any. He's as good as one of them, the second fox gekkered scornfully.

Nonsense, he was selected by the Vixen to be here. Do you want to explain to her how you had a chance to help him?

The second fox opened his mouth to protest further, but before he could decide an answer, I interrupted, Guys, I appreciate it, but I have something else I need to do right now.

The fox nodded, If you will it so. Turning around to the other fox, he said, do you wish to run this one back, or should I?

I'll do it, the second fox said, and he darted forward and snatched up the dead bird, as if he expected me to change my mind about eating it at the last moment and grab it for myself. Be back soon, he wagged at his partner with his mouth stuffed, then darted off through the grass, disappearing within seconds.

Turning back to me, the fox then asked, How is it you're back here hunting so soon? Did things not go well at the den for you?

I never made it back to the den, I grumbled. Got caught up in helping someone.

Ah, I see. It wasn't one of the newcomers was it? His cheery expression grew a bit more grim. _ I'm sure you feel responsible for them, but if leadership finds you helping them in any way, you'll have a tough time earning your way onto anyone's good side._

No, it wasn't one of them, I said quickly. I didn't want to say too much, because letting on anything about the Apartment vixen's location could get her into huge trouble once anyone found out her role in creating the new foxes. By the way, did you leave all of them out in the rain last night?

Not by my choice. But I'm just a lowly hunter fox, no one would have listened to me if I suggested they get let in. I'm afraid they spent the night outside, and they were none too happy about it. He gave a snort though his nose from a blade of grass tickling it.

So where are they now? I hope something was done for them; they came a long way.

Did they now? He asked, cocking his head and turning a slightly suspicious eye toward me. How do you know where they are from?

One talked to me before the Leader fox threw me out. _ He smelled of the city, so I guessed that's where he was from,_ I quickly lied with a half-truth.

Ah yes, the city proper is quite the walk from here. I suppose you would know that, as you were the only one there the other day. He was still eyeing me skeptically. _ Are you sure you didn't have anything to do with them?_

I didn't turn any of them, I barked flatly, not wanting to fully expand on what I knew.

Yes, I suppose it would have been very difficult for you to find and change that many humans in so short of a time period, he admitted. Even with your inexperienced mastery of the Flame, you couldn't have brought thirty-two new foxes into this world in a day. Not unless you were completely deranged, and I don't sense that about you.

Did any of them tell you who did it? I asked, trying to change the subject.

Not many of us talked to them. The Scout leader took them to a distant part of the forest to give them a bit of their own space. His expression fell, and he hesitated to finish his thought. The Hunter leader suggested the territory. It's a dead zone. We don't hunt there anymore.

My jaw dropped, aghast. You mean, they intend to starve them?

In not so few words, he said with a dour expression. _No one thinks it's going to work, but it's the only option we have right now. We foxes are very territorial. Setting boundaries gives us claim to the prey we find on our land. _

So what are you going to do when they start poaching from us? I asked, incredulously.

I'm part of the hunter order, I'm going to keep hunting as long as there is food to catch, he rumbled flatly. Any other decisions are for the leaders to make.

We sat in silence for a few moments, and I listened to the light breeze flow across the grass around us. Eventually the other fox spoke up, uncomfortable with the silence between us.

Don't you go on thinking I support any of this, he barked out. Unless someone can figure out how to make more food show up, we're all in trouble. I'd like to hear you come up with a better solution!

I couldn't reply, and the guilt the hunter fox was projecting was palpable. Shaking my head, I quietly yipped, happy hunting, and turned to follow the path the other fox had used through the grass.

The faint trail the second fox had carved was a convenient guide back toward the stream. Though, the increasing number of times I had to navigate through the tall grass was helping me decern the sounds of the rushing water from the rustling of the wind. It was only a few minutes before I left the field and was splashing across the stream toward the den.

The news from the hunter fox lingered in the back of my mind as I quickly trotted down the game trail. Thirty-two people, turned into foxes by a madman, and their only reward for doing the right thing, and returning to the forest, was exile and starvation. How long before they give up looking for food in the woods, and then venture into the human world to feed? How long after that before they use too much of the Flame and have to start turning more people into foxes? Not to mention, if an uncontrollable lunatic was the one that turned these people, then certainly they were only the first wave to come. The foxes of the forest would be massively outnumbered in only a few more days, and any claim on their territory would be ignored by the hundreds of new foxes showing up.

I felt my hackles rise as a chill swept over me from the thought. The foxes had been around for a long time; possibly centuries, from what the Lumberjack fox had told me. Whatever rules they imposed on themselves or assistance from the Flame they had relied on, they had remained hidden from the humans for at least that long. If there was a fox in the middle of the city, transforming everyone he could get his paws on, there would be no way to stay hidden in these woods. All of their careful planning and hiding will have been ruined by me and the Apartment vixen in a matter of weeks. Someone will notice the missing people, or see a person sprouting fur and a tail without getting turned themselves. From there, no one would ignore the danger any fox poses to the humans, and it was impossible to imagine they wouldn't come here to quell that threat.

The uneasy chill down my spine didn't dissipate. Instead, I felt myself get weak and nauseous as my stomach started doing somersaults in my belly. Staggering over to the side of the game trail, my insides began to wretch, cough, and heave from the anxiety, but I couldn't vomit on an empty stomach. Facing downwards, I watched the strands of drool and saliva stream from under my dark nose to the forest floor.

You alright, there?

I looked up, feeling the drool on my black lips swing around like a pendulum. It was the second hunter fox, returning from his drop off.

If you're finding bad food, I suggest you use the Flame to clean it before you eat, he said curtly. Cooking it is wasteful and doesn't help make it less rotten.

Thanks, I snorted, trying to fling away the excess saliva dripping from my muzzle. I had no desire to tell him the bleak future I had pieced together.

I don't think the Vixen wanted you to poison yourself when I told you she asked you to find your prey, he continued.

I didn't--, I cut myself off as realization hit me. The message he had relayed from my mate was never about finding food. It was about finding the Apartment vixen. She knew what she had done.

Is my hunting partner still in the field? he changed the subject with a curious snort. I nodded with a strained yip. _ He didn't say anything about moving on without you._

Thanks, he said with a raised snout as he trotted on by. For someone that had expressed displeasure with me earlier, he was being very polite. Perhaps, declining the food helped change his opinion of me.

Turning around, I watched his fluffy tail disappear around a corner of the trail before resuming my introspection. I was on my way back to the den without an argument better than saying that "I didn't do it" to plead my case of innocence. However, if my mate knew of the Apartment vixen's involvement, then maybe she had a plan. Yesterday, she had said she was working on something for her.

Steeling myself, I trotted down the game trail, silently wishing that the two hunter foxes were at my side as my advocates in case I bumped into trouble before I found the Vixen. Helping stir up the grouse showed them I wasn't useless to have around, despite that it had only been a lucky blunder. It was going to take a lot more than helping hunt a dwindling food supply to get the rest of the clan to remotely respect me, and it would be a miracle if I found a way to save the new foxes from starvation.

From deep within, I felt my desires start to mix with the Flame, like another wish was about to spring forth. Slowly, a purple haze began to cloud my vision.

No! No wishes, I barked out loud, and the strong feelings of magical desire abated, clearing my vision.

There was no way to tell what would have happened had the magic ignited, but whether it would have called the two hunters to my side for help or not, I knew I needed to go on alone. It wasn't their mess to clean up. It was mine.

The trail ended, and the trees broke cover, revealing the large structure of the den that loomed ahead. Faintly, I could hear the scrabbling of claws on wood floors inside: the foxes were busy at work with their cleaning and repairs. Partially obscured by the tree next to the cottage, two orange fluffy tails danced behind the roofline, as their owners attended to the hole in the roof.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to mentally prepare myself for whatever greeting was in store, but I abandoned the effort as soon as it started. If I went inside, and my mate wasn't in the den, there would be trouble. She hadn't been able to protect me last night either, as her duties to the clan prevented her from interfering, but I knew she would put a stop to any violence that befell me. No, going in uninvited was too risky without knowing she would be there. Opting to wait for another fox to pass by, I sat down at the mouth of the game trail. Perhaps, I could get someone to intercede for me, or let the Vixen know that I was outside waiting for her.

As if summoned by my thoughts of my mate, a whiff of her scent wafted by me on a light breeze. My ears perked up excitedly, and I stood back up on all fours, sniffing the ground nearby to find the traces of her. Padding around the edge of the clearing and snorting the dirt beneath me, I caught scent of her on one of the leaves only a few paces away. It was part of the trail I had carved with her yesterday!

Hurriedly, I jumped into the bushes and rushed through the vegetation, finding more of her scent rubbed on the bushes and underbrush of the secluded path. For a moment, I wondered if I was smelling her from when she helped me clear the trail, but I dismissed that notion almost immediately. The scent was too fresh, and not washed away by last night's rain. However, worry wormed its way into my mind as I pushed ahead, and I began to wonder why she wasn't inside the den, overseeing the cleaning and construction efforts like yesterday. Could she have gotten into trouble as well? Nudging aside a few of the more resilient branches in the way, I finally reached the end of my trail, finding the Vixen laying on the upturned earth, curled into a ball, sleeping.

I froze, suddenly remembering that the hunter foxes had told me she was out all night looking for me. She needed sleep, and had chosen our quiet hideout to keep away from the noise in the den. Seeing her lying there made me so happy, I couldn't stop my tail from wagging. As quietly as I could, I crept into the small clearing, practically crawling on my belly, just to give my tail a little more room to wag without slamming it into a noisy branch or leaf. Coming to a rest a few feet away from her, I laid fully down on the ground, hoping I didn't disturb her, but also hoping she was sleeping light enough to sense my presence.

Her black ear perked up, listening to my approach, but her face was still covered with her tail, and showed no indication of being awake otherwise. I could see the beautifully groomed fur on her back rise and fall as she breathed, and the worries of the day melted away as I watched her rest. A deep urge to join her overwhelmed me as I realized I was tired from the day of running around the forest. Gently, I stood up, and padded over to the sleeping vixen, curling up against her side. I felt her stir next to me, now disturbed by my irresistible urge to cuddle with her and take a nap.

Found you, she whimpered from under her tail, groggily.

Shh, sleep now, I rumbled back, nuzzling the back of her ear. If she had been awake all night looking for me, she deserved more rest.

She heaved a deep breath, and drifted back to sleep, taking me with her.

---

A few hours passed, leaving us until late afternoon to wake up again. The Vixen stirred first; untangling herself from the ball she was curled in, followed by licking and grooming the fur on the back of my neck.

Wake now, I heard her snuff into my ear.

Groggily, I rumbled back, I'm up, but I didn't move at all. I was mostly asleep.

I felt her standing over me, waiting for me to rise, but when I didn't, she pounced on my ribs.

Ow! Ok, I'm up, I'm up! I snarled from the sudden assault. Instantly, I was sitting on my haunches, trying to shake the sleep from my fuzzy head.

Need help. Must find vixen, she yipped at me urgently. Look for you all night. Tired for find vixen.

The Apartment vixen? I ran into her this morning, I said through a wide yawn.

Good. Show me, she demanded.

I knew my mate didn't intend the Apartment vixen any harm, but I did make a promise to keep her location secret for now. Dodging the question, I asked, What do you need her for?

Must know how many foxes she make. Desperation and worry were reflected in her golden eyes.

_Wait, do you think she made all the new foxes that arrived last night?_I barked back.

Yes, when see new foxes, she admitted. Leaders no talk to new foxes. I talk to new foxes. Say it not her. All from one bad fox. New foxes attack bad fox. If vixen make more bad fox, very bad.

Attacked? _I thought we couldn't attack other foxes,_I yipped, surprised.

She hung her head in dismay. _ No Flame for attack. Must use fangs. Claws. Keep attack until no more Flame for heal. Very hard for kill. Very bad for all foxes in fight._

My stomach made a leap thinking about the brutality needed to kill another fox. Did he survive the attack? I asked.

They say no, she said, lifting her head to look at me. New foxes not know Flame. Say bad fox not move for long time. Bad fox heal while fight, but stop at end. Now must know if vixen make more bad fox. Very bad if bad fox in human city.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and told the Vixen what the Apartment vixen had told me. As horrifying as it was to hear of the fate of the squatter, he didn't leave anyone any other choice. Thirty-two people had been turned into foxes by him alone, and it was doubtful that he would have stopped if the new foxes hadn't made him.

The Vixen wagged her tail as I finished relaying the Apartment vixen's story to her. Very good. No more bad foxes in city. Need to go to city to get bad fox if fox there.

Sounds like you owe the new foxes a favor for taking care of him, I grinned hopefully.

Yes. Big favor, she admitted. Council foxes say no stay. Hope they find other forest instead. No way to give favor.

Some hunter foxes mentioned something like that, I grumbled and dropped my smile.

Council foxes right, she continued. No food for more foxes, but no one know where find more forest.

I don't think there is one, I rumbled back. Not for miles anyway. It's just more suburbs and city in every direction. My house was the only one I could afford around here because it's so remote.

Big trouble then. Her ears drooped and she stared at the ground. _New foxes will starve then fight. Must find new food. _

What if we leave the forest for food? I asked. There has to be some friendly humans that can feed us. In fact, the Apartment vixen found a human with a chicken coop.

No! She yipped. No work for new foxes. I know human with chicken. Foxes cross road. Get shot. Very dangerous.

Sure, but can't we use the Flame to get the chickens? I suggested with a twist of my head.

Maybe food for three foxes, but no more. Not worth danger. Flame will turn purple if use on human for taking chicken. Need human essence for purple Flame, and human with gun be bad fox.

Thinking hard, I then added, But the Lumberjack fox told me there were ways to manipulate the Flame so that it doesn't cost any essence. I thought we were doing that when we gathered food, or when I cooked the vole. Why wouldn't this count?

It was her turn to cock her head for her reply. _Not easy to say why. Foxes use blue Flame and get food. Get good health. Get shelter. Blue Flame keep foxes safe. _

So, survival stuff, I interjected.

She nodded. Foxes not know how you use blue Flame to cook food. Think it not blue. Think it purple and waste. Taking a deep breath and tucking back her ears, like she was shy to mention something, she continued. Foxes know one way purple Flame not use essence like blue Flame. You cook not look like it. Still blue light. You smell like blue after. Not know how you do.

I felt my ears droop in embarrassment. I don't know what I'm doing that's so special. It just happened that way.

Yes, I see you, she yipped. Man with chicken not same as cook. Not same as hunt. Must tell man to leave fox alone. Same as tell you follow in forest when we meet. Flame purple.

So, what is the way to make the purple flame not cost any essence, I asked. Can't we do that instead?

Her ears dipped back again. _ Already try with you. Bad happen. No tell now._

Aw, come on, I whined back at her. Why the secrecy?

Not secret. You not ready, she growled sternly. New foxes not ready too. She stopped looking at me, and turned her head downwards. The topic was distressing her, so I decided to drop it.

So, we can't get food from the humans, because we will need to turn them into foxes eventually, I said, thinking aloud.

No, can get food, not chickens, she quickly clarified. Not know if enough for new foxes is problem.

Do you think they will have a better option elsewhere? I asked, dropping my previous train of thought. Need find one. Foxes live long. Need food long.

I guess so, I finished, realizing the difficulties of naturally convincing humans to share their food with a bunch of wild animals. There had been times when I tossed out scraps of food for the wildlife to pick up, but I couldn't imagine doing it day after day, year after year. Had I seen the animals, I may have been more diligent in helping feed them, but it would have gotten weird if the same set of foxes showed up decade after decade, unageing, and acting uniquely intelligent. Letting out a sigh, I realized getting food had been so much simpler when I could walk into a store and grab something off a shelf.

Changing the subject to give myself more time to think, I asked, Have you seen Tyler today? I didn't get a chance to take him with me last night.

I see he in den, she answered despondently, her mind occupied with ways to help the new foxes. No happy you gone.

Well, I'm back and I'm not leaving! I yipped. But I will need you to follow me back to the den. If they don't hear it from you that I didn't make those foxes, then they will kick me out again.

Lifting her head, her golden eyes met mine. I sorry no help last night. Leader fox very mad. No fight with Leader if he mad. No help for you. She tucked her ears back and dropped her gaze to the ground again, hanging her head in shame.

The thought of the Vixen owing me an apology had not even entered my mind, despite the ordeal of the last day. I didn't fully understand the hierarchy between them, but she had silently made it clear to me in that moment, that I was beyond her help.

Leaning forward, I nuzzled the side of her face, causing her to lift her head again, but I couldn't miss the sorrow in her eyes. Hey, you have nothing to apologize for, mate, I yipped at her cheerfully. _You told me to stay here when you left, and I didn't listen. _

It rain, she whimpered back.

Yeah, but you didn't know that, I said with a flick of my tail. If I have anyone to be mad at, it's the Leader fox. He didn't give me a chance.

Not mad? She questioned with a whimper. I out all night to find you. Worry you cross road. Leave forest.

I'm not mad at all,_I yipped, shifting my weight back and forth on my paws in front of me enthusiastically. _And I never would leave you and Tyler like that!

With a loud squeal, she leapt up and tackled me, bowling me over, positively giddy that I didn't hold last night against her. I rolled onto my back with my maw open, and playfully flailed all four of my paws at her, while she tried urgently to lick my face with her tail merrily thrashing behind her.

Our affectionate jousting match lasted only a few moments before I rolled back onto my paws, and stood up, shaking the dirt from my fur. _ No time to play now,_ I squeaked. I have to check up with Tyler, and we need to figure out what we can do about the food.

Yes, play later, she agreed with a snort. Go to den. I follow.

Without further delay, I trotted over to the trail back to the den, and pushed my way through the trampled brush with the Vixen in tow.

We arrived a mere moments later in the clearing behind the cottage. Most of the moisture from the previous night had absorbed itself into the dusty earth, leaving the pockmarked surface to the entrance devoid of the water hazards I had stumbled in previously. The sun shone brightly overhead, bathing the clearing in a yellowed afternoon light. From inside the den, the activity of the foxes could be heard. Between the squealing and cackling, and the light thuds of debris being rolled and dragged around, it was certain they were still hard at work with their cleaning.

No one challenged us as we approached the nearest wall with an entry hole. Trepidation caused my paws to shake while I bent down to crawl into the tunnel first with the Vixen following close behind. Musty smells of dust and foxes greeted my nose immediately, followed by a furry paw that forcefully shoved my white chin against the floor.

We were wondering if you'd try to show up today, barked the gruff voice of the guard fox that held me down. _Get up. The Leader fox wants to talk to you. _ I recognized him as the guard that had not chased me last night.

Beyond the recognition, I barely registered what the guard had just told me, and I whimpered from under his paw, I'm here for Tyler, not to cause any trouble.

He's hanging around here somewhere. Now, get up, he repeated, lifting his paw from my muzzle. _ We need some answers from you._

I rose to all fours, the hard wood under my pads becoming a welcome change from the dusty, gritty earth outside. From behind me, the Vixen stuck her head out of the hole impatiently, craning her neck around to see what had caused my delay.

Mid-afternoon light filled the room, and the foxes that had been cleaning and repairing immediately stopped their work, and lifted their ears to watch me silently slink across the room towards the raised stair where the leaders sat. Pulling herself free, the Vixen paused momentarily to address the guard fox, leaving me alone in my approach to the dais. A heavy silence hung in the air, pierced only by the sounds of my claws scraping gently on the flooring, and a quiet chirp of conversation from the Vixen. Looking up, I saw the Leader fox watching my arrival, flanked by two other foxes I had not spoken with previously.

The Leader fox wore a neutral expression, which was a marked improvement from the last time I was in his presence. His eyes were a normal gold, as he no longer looked like he wished for my death.

You wanted to speak to me? I asked, deciding to be direct to the point.

The Leader fox furrowed his brow, and turned to one of the foxes next to him, dismissing the fox from his side. Obeying, the fox scurried to the hole in the north wall and disappeared outside.

Must know now, the Leader fox growled sternly, how many foxes you make in city. No lie. Only truth.

I told you before, I yipped back defensively_, only two. I'd rather die than make a third if I can help it._

The Leader fox's ears perked up in surprise at my last admission. No like being fox? Not want share with other humans? No like using Flame? Flame give you all you want. Fox understand if you want share.

No! I barked sharply, startling a few of the foxes watching around the still silent room. One or two of them lashed their tails from the insult of the hard rejection. Realizing I had overstated myself, I amended my outburst. _ I mean, I'm getting used to being a fox, it's fine, but the Flame isn't worth hurting anyone over. It's caused me more trouble than the good it's brought me. _ I felt the Vixen appear at my side, her discussion with the guard concluded.

The leader fox considered my words silently, cocking his head to the side in thought, ever so slightly. Suddenly, he came to a decision, and grumbled something quietly to the other fox next to him, causing the second fox to spring towards the exit after the first.

He tell truth, the Vixen added. Not make new foxes.

Yes, he say truth, the leader agreed, flattening his ears for a moment in apology. _ I send you outside in rain. Not talk to new foxes. Talk mean welcome. New foxes not welcome. Think you make foxes so you not welcome. But new foxes talk to scout fox. They say bad fox, different fox change them. It mean bad fox in human city. Only your prey in city to make new fox._

He had figured out the Apartment vixen was responsible. I felt my ears twitch, betraying that I knew of her involvement.

Prey not Flamestarved, he stated, more as a confirmation of what my ears told him, than a statement of a fact he already knew. _If prey not Flamestarved, she must go with new foxes. No place for prey in forest. Not share food. _

Not her fault, yipped the Vixen. She here before new foxes. She get food!

A murmur passed itself around the room of the cottage. Open contradictions between the council leaders weren't normal for everyone to see.

Prey make foxes, she leave forest, demanded the leader.

_She didn't do it either,_I defensively blurted out with a squeal, momentarily forgetting to withhold everything I could about her from the other foxes.

How you know not her? he growled. Scout foxes try find. No one see her. She run away. Guilty fox!

I ran into her at her den, I said, keeping her location vague. S_he said she tried saving someone's life, but they turned into a fox, and went crazy!_

There was a gasp and hushed murmuring around the room from the other foxes.

The Leader fox cocked his head, trying to understand. Crazy? Crazy how?

I stammered, I don't know, but he tried blowing up her home with the Flame. That's all she told me.

The leader fox took a step back in shock, falling onto his haunches, finally piecing together what had happened in the city. He cocked his head thoughtfully, and I noticed his tail flutter with merriment.

Before he could recompose himself, the Vixen stepped forward. _ I talk to new foxes when you make leave. Bad fox not in city. They kill._

This made the Leader fox freeze, and he turned toward the Vixen. Fox heal with Flame. How kill?

She didn't reply, and hung her head mournfully.

I watched as the Leader fox's ears slowly drooped sideways, understanding the unspoken message from the Vixen. Always happen, he finally growled out, more to himself than the two of us, or any of the many eavesdroppers in the room.

What always happens? I asked.

In front of me, the Vixen turned her head around to make silent eye contact, and shook it urgently for me to drop the subject, but the Leader fox replied anyway.

Many new foxes at once very bad. New fox fight back. End in bloodshed. Look for way to stop fight but not find. Lose foxes. He trailed off, and turned away from us, slowly moving toward the debris pile partitioning off the back wall.

I cocked my head and started to ask how many foxes were lost, but I caught the look on the Vixen's face, and I could tell she wanted me to drop it. Instead, I asked, So if you know I didn't do anything wrong, will you let me stay here?

His ears turned backwards towards me in response to my question, but he didn't bother answering. Instead, he pawed at the tunnel in the debris to make his opening, and crept inside.

Turning to the Vixen, I said, Well, that was better than a 'no'.

Stay not matter to Leader now. He no punish you if not bad fox, but if clan hungry, you not want stay. Food big problem now.

Nodding, I realized that the Leader fox may have given me far more than permission to stay. It was also the freedom to leave. "Talk mean welcome" as he had put it, a few minutes ago.

Turning my attention to the rest of the room, I watched as the rest of the foxes immediately busied themselves with their work, pretending they had not been watching the whole conversation, and certainly avoiding eye contact with me.

All the foxes had been hard at work today, and their progress was the most pronounced I had seen. The piles of dust and debris were reduced to hardly more than small lumps in the corners of the room. In front of the door, nothing remained blocking it from swinging open, however, with the rusted handle, and the foxes' lack of hands meant it was doubtful anyone could use it. A few frames of broken chairs were strewn about, but aside from the gaping hole in the roof and the fallen support beam, it was as clean as any residence in the woods could hope to be. Even the floor beneath the hole in the roof lacked any sort of indication of water seepage or sun damage. It was normal wooden flooring, not any different than the rest of the room.

It's looking really good in here, I whined quietly to the Vixen.

Yes. Clean now. Room for all foxes now, she hummed her reply as she looked around the room, taking on her overseeing duties while the Leader fox had left the space.

Over at the north wall, a fox scurried in through the hole, and dropped off a prey animal it had captured into the oversized daily food pile before darting back outside. Having plead my case to the clan, my anxiety from the day had subsided considerably, and the audible rumblings of an empty stomach began to gnaw at my insides.

_You hungry, go eat,_the Vixen said, her ear twitching to the sounds coming from my stomach. She turned away and climbed the stair up to the dais.

The foxes around me appeared to be winding down their cleaning duties for the day, so they soon would be taking their pick from the oversized stack of food. Considering how I had not lifted a paw to help out, it didn't feel right for me to have first picks, but my hunger put me in no position to disagree with the Vixen. Sauntering over to the heap, I eyed the dead prey animals, trying to find one that looked delicious enough to eat. Just as yesterday, it was hard to look at them as edible, but the cooked vole had proven I could find nourishment from them with a little help from the Flame.

Too big to stay situated on top of the pile, I noticed a larger bird that had rolled off to the base of the mound. It was the grouse I had helped scare up for the hunters. Recalling that they had offered it to me for my help, I decided that it would be my pick for the day, as I had some limited entitlement to it. Bending down, I reached out with my mouth, and nipped the dead animal by its neck, carrying it with me. I was about to take it up to the dais and eat near my mate, but I remembered everyone's opinion of me cooking my food in the den. Opting to take it outside and away from the other foxes, I trotted over to the north hole, and scurried through the exit with my mouth stuffed full of feathers.

This side of the cottage didn't have the wide, open clearing outside of it, and I was greeted by a wall of greenery. There was no need to explore the forest and risk bumping into another hunter fox returning to the den, so I slinked alongside the wall of the cottage, and turned the corner to sit under the stainedglass window that illuminated the Leader fox's reading area.

I dropped the grouse in the dirt under the window and eyed it carefully. Its beautiful, mottled plumage was still in pristine condition despite the bird's demise, which did nothing to convince me with all my vulpine instincts that I should start consuming the raw bird.

Closing my eyes, and focusing on the hunger in my stomach, I welled up my desires and whimpered aloud, I wish I could eat this bird.

*WISH*

Summoned forth, the blue light glowed brightly, overtaking my vision for a brief moment before disappearing entirely. Slowly, just like yesterday, the scent of cooking bird flesh started wafting to my sensitive nose, moments before the carcass split open and steam billowed out through the fissures. Within the span of a minute, the feathery skin of the bird had fallen off into a pile on either side of the meat, and a steaming, cooked bird stat on the forest floor beneath me.

Laying down, I wrapped my paws around the meat, and began ravenously chewing on the edges of the prey, taking brief pauses to prod it with my nose to look for the next part I wanted to chew. Unlike the vole, this bird tasted a lot more like food I was used to eating when I was human. It was practically a whole chicken, although sized much more appropriately for a fox like me to consume. As I came closer and closer to finishing the grouse, I stopped trying to pick between the bones with my tongue, and started chomping down hard on them with a satisfying crunch. The hollow bones offered no resistance to my strong jaws and jagged teeth, and the broken shards gave the remaining meat some much needed texture. Subconsciously, I let my tail wag in the dirt and dead leaves as I fully satisfied my hunger.

Belly stuffed, I stretched out on dirt, splaying all four limbs in each direction while I rested off my gorging. It was just the meal I needed to cap off the long day of running around, not knowing if I had a place among the foxes still. I longed for the simpler days when I could make a trip to the corner market and pick up some ingredients for dinner, and I missed the zesty flavor of herbs and spices on my chicken. Now I could only eat what the forest provided, and everyone agreed that it wasn't going to provide for much longer. Sighing, I concentrated on my full stomach, trying to memorize the wonderful feeling of being full, knowing that this may be one of the last times I would be offered such comfort and luxury as a forest animal.

If food was about to run out for everyone, then the foxes would have to try something new, I continued to muse. For a moment, I considered the idea of setting up a farm, but quickly dismissed the idea. The only enclosures the foxes could hope to build would be fenced pens, and there was no way birds and voles would stay in the best constructed farm the foxes could muster. No, the answer had to lie with the humans, but what options were there that wouldn't doom them to joining us after our essence runs out?

Shifting around a bit, I got my paws underneath my torso, and stood up. Using my nose, I prodded and pushed the remains of my dinner into a nearby bush, hoping no one would notice I had been cooking again. As if in response to my subterfuge, from around the corner, the frustrated wails of a fox approaching the den reached my ears. Curiously, I poked my head around the side of the cottage, to see three foxes approaching: one carrying another prey animal, while the second played defense for the other. The third fox was Tyler, and he was leaping around, snapping at the food in the first hunter fox's mouth, trying to steal it from him before he could take it inside.

Tyler! I barked out, reprimandingly. Let them do their job.

Tyler immediately broke off from the other two hunter foxes, and dashed up to me, leaving very little personal space between us. He proceeded to yip, whine, pant and quiver at me urgently. I tried to make sense of his animalistic sounds, but all I could make out from the furrowed brow and the expression in his amber eyes that he was very upset about something. Had I not seen him bickering with the other foxes, I may have interpreted it as him telling me how upset he was at me for leaving without him last night, but my abandonment of him didn't seem to be on his mind at the moment.

Ok, ok, settle down. I can't understand you, I squeaked back at him. The Vixen seemed to understand you well enough yesterday, let's talk with her.

Tyler ceased his yammering abruptly, and looked at me with his fang hanging over his lips askew, head slightly cocked. Without further hesitation, he spun around and ran, full bore, to the hole inside, leaving only a flash of the white tip of his tail for me to follow.

Diligently, I followed, trotting over to the hole and then crouching down to crawl inside. The two hunters had already dropped off their prey onto the pile, and were queued in a line of other foxes that were taking turns selecting their meal. Over on the dais, I saw Tyler prancing back and forth impatiently in front of the Vixen.

Approaching them, I rumbled to my mate, He was upset about something, but I can't understand him.

He catch prey. Foxes steal,_she growled back, interpreting for Tyler. _Very hungry now.

Raising her head, she looked over the congregation, Which fox steal, Tyler?

She had barely finished growling out her question before Tyler spun around, and ran across the wooden floor, his claws creating a racket as they scrabbled across it. Reaching the one of the hunter foxes in line, he reached out with his nose and poked his shoulder.

Get away, you dumb animal, the hunter snarled, and he lifted his furry paw to swat at Tyler.

Tyler leapt back before the hunter could land a blow, but the Vixen had seen it all. She rose to all fours, and marched purposefully to the hunter and his companion. The hunter saw her approaching, and raised his head to make respectful eye contact, but without pausing, the Vixen quickly reached out and nipped the hunter's ear, pulling him out of line.

_Ow! Ow! What gives?_Yelped the hunter as she dragged him away from his turn of selecting food to eat.

Releasing his ear, she barked, Tyler say you take food. Bad fox!

What...? I-- he trailed off, realizing there was no denying it. I didn't think he counted as one of us.

And you didn't think he could tell anyone about it, I added for him.

His head fell and he tucked his ears back. No, I didn't, he admitted. _ He acts like a normal fox!_

The Vixen's expression had not softened at all. Tyler once human, like you. No forget! Choose food. Give food to Tyler.

Cowering, the fox simply replied, Yes Ma'am, and returned to the pile to choose something to feed Tyler.

When bed turn? She demanded to the hunter as he nosed around the edges of the pile, looking for something to pass to my former coworker.

Tonight, Ma'am, he whined.

No. Not tonight. Tyler turn, she commanded.

The hunter started to reply with another remorseful Yes, Ma'am, but the Vixen wasn't listening. Instead, she was barking out to all the foxes that had assembled for the daily meal.

Tyler fox is clan fox. Be nice. Play nice. Fox in trouble if mean!

Most of the foxes in the room gave an affirmative yip, but there were a few grumbles and growls of frustration and dissent. For now, Tyler had the protection of the Vixen, and no one was going to challenge that.

You didn't have to go that far, I said quietly as the din of affirmative yips died down.

Tyler has no Flame. Need protect. Clan will treat Tyler like new fox if no protect.

She was entirely right. Just overnight, I had seen the foxes of the forest rally to guard what they had in the woods from the new arrivals. First the den, and now food. If everyone felt Tyler unworthy to be part of our clan, they would try their best to starve him away like the others. The Vixen needed to make sure everyone understood that Tyler was one of us, and welcome here.

I watched as the hunter fox gingerly picked up a ground squirrel and marched it over to where Tyler was waiting. The hunter then returned to the end of the line, having to start the wait for his turn all over again. The pile was still quite large, as the hunters had been working overtime to collect as much food as they could, so there was little worry that he would be left with a meager option in the end. Losing the comfortable dog bed was the real punishment for stealing from Tyler.

Turning around toward the dais, I looked at the neat stack of oversized pillows that were meant for pets. They had been in the room when I had first visited, but there weren't nearly enough for all the foxes of the forest. I recalled sleeping in the den the other night, and how some of the foxes were using them then, but as far as I could tell, the beds had not been distributed or taken on a first-come basis.

Mate, how do I get a turn sleeping on a bed? I asked. They look a lot more comfortable than the wood floor.

The Vixen didn't reply immediately. Instead, she trotted back up to the dais, and stood in front of the stack of beds. It towered over her head while she stood on four paws.

Turning to me, she yipped out. _ My bed turn tonight. Share bed with you._ She stood up on her hind paws, and started to nip and tug at the corner of the top pillow.

That sounds great, I said as my tail began to wag. _ Though, where did you get them in the first place?_ I blurted out the question before I realized I was asking it.

Human leave outside, so fox steal, she whimpered. Human get new bed many time, but fox steal. Human stop leave outside. She had managed to pull the top pillow down off the pile. It landed softly on top of her, practically crushing her with its massive size.

It doesn't look like they got enough for the whole clan, I remarked.

Not problem, she chirped, poking her dark nose and whiskers out from under the large bed on top of her. Many fox sleep outside. On den floor. Many fox no need bed. Take turns with foxes that want.

Do you think there will be enough for the new foxes if we can find a way to feed them all?

The oversized pillow stood up and trotted over to an open area near the back of the dais. With a heave, the Vixen allowed the bed to slide off her back and onto the floor, now marking her preferred sleeping spot for the night.

No. New foxes want bed. Human used to bed, so new fox want bed. Foxes no get more if human not get more. She crawled on top of the pillow, and stepped around in a circle before laying down in a fluffy orange ball, her head still raised toward me for our conversation.

It's a shame I can't access my bank account. I had plenty in there to buy us all beds and food. They aren't that expensive, I grumbled.

It was cruelly ironic: I had been saving up to buy a car so I wouldn't need to take the bus anymore, but had I bought a car, I wouldn't have been turned into a fox. Now, when I needed the money most, I couldn't use it to help us.

Bank account? The Vixen said, cocking her head to the side.

Yeah, it's a human thing. We can get the things we want with it.

Like Flame! She yipped out excitedly, fluttering her tail next to her. I understand!

Padding my way up to her and plopping myself down next to her on the bed, I murmured, Well, I

wouldn't make that comparison. The rules are really different. While we cuddled together, I affectionately nuzzled the back of her ear.

The two of us watched the line of foxes start to dwindle as each finished their selection, and then trotted off to various parts of the room to eat their meal. It was an orderly procession, and no one found a reason to fight while the Vixen watched over them. After seeing the hunter fox lose his bed for the night, they didn't dare to get a taste of her ire.

This bed is quite comfortable. So, what else have we stolen from the humans? I whimpered to my mate.

_No steal much. Few human near forest. Human near forest not leave thing for foxes. _

_So, no food from them? _

I tell you. Flame not get food from human. Dangerous.

A spark of an idea floated to the front of my mind.

Vixen, what if we use human Flame. A bank account, I said, the idea forming as I spoke it aloud. A bank account would solve all of our problems, I think.

How use bank account? You fox! She demanded, spinning her head around to fix her golden eyes on me directly.

We go to the city.