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Sharped piece of wood to my throat, and a soft growl from the female fox breed pinning me to a boulder at my back. My life of adventure definitely cut short quicker than I had anticipated.

How did I get here? I've asked myself that several times in the past hour. Each time, I recall the path I've taken so far and each time I'm surprised to be here. I guess the only way to make sense of it, is to start at the beginning.

My name is Tanthis, as I was born to a peasant family I have no surname. I have soft blond hair, blue eyes, and what I consider a pleasant tone to my voice. My mother was a simple house maid and my father a blacksmith. Our village was small and quaint I suppose with no real problems, life was quiet and growing up was a pleasant memory. I was unable to help my father, My build was weak and my aim poor with the hammer. And I couldn't maid as that's woman and breeds work. I decided the only thing I could do would be to try and help others do what they do and stay out of the way. One morning I awoke with a start, what I dreamt I never remembered. In my minds eye I recalled only this, the sign to a town south of here and the word fox. Where this came from, I don't know, but that morning stuck with me for weeks until I could bear it no more. So began my trek south east to the larger town of Torrnal, to study the practice of a priest and earn my keep when I return home.

My travels were quiet and thankfully without incident, there were bandits of course but the look of a tattered youth with a hole ridden cloak only made them smile. They were in better shape than I and we all knew this. I arrived in Torrnal only a week after I set out, the mornings were warm and the sky clear. Perfect spring weather for my travels.

I arrived to the town, I'd only heard stories of it. The town itself was just like my village, but much more spread out and larger, like an entire country side walled in and secured from the wilds. Two gates stood before me, my path led through the open one and into the town. The other door was barred tightly and led to no path yet was heavily guarded. Inside was a cobblestone road leading a winding path from building to building and the town itself seemed fairly busy. There were even a few breeds running around running errands for their masters, more here than I'd ever seen in my 18 years growing up at home.

Let me digress a moment.

The breeds are uncommon and not well tolerated, they are all half breeds of humanoid and animal. Most are shunned or put to service at best, at worst they never see the next morning. Each one is quite unique in appearance. I don't know how many types of breeds there are, but I've heard stories of a few clans.

The cats are supposed to be the most intelligent, they are often employed to help with crafting and design. I've also heard tale of the wolf clan, they're very rarely seen as their pride demands they die before serving another. They are supposed to be the strong ones, never backing down and holding ground until unable to draw breath. Finally the foxes, They're the most wise, knowing when and where to be, and often only watching as words would be wasted speaking what is already known.

Back to my recollections.

I wandered aimlessly for two days, getting a feel for the town. I learned how it flowed, when the wares were put out and when the food was put away. On my third day, I wandered down to the chapel. An old man leaned against a wooden rail of the porch sipping what smelt of mulled wine while his son perhaps relaxed in the shade nearby.

I slowly worked my way towards the back of the building, doors lined each side of me, maybe eight rooms total. Each was closed save two, and those were empty except for benches for praying and waiting. There, at the back, was a priest tending to an elderly woman. He prayed for her well being for what seemed like hours before dropping to a knee exhausted and sending her away.

"Father?" I asked softly, standing just a few feet away.

"Yes, just a moment while I catch my breath. Healing those takes a great deal out of me these days. What can I do for you, young?" he replied, glancing at my tattered garb.

"I erm, I am simply Tanthis father, I have no surname" I bowed softly in introduction

"I see, and why are you here then?"

"I'd like to study here, learn to tend those who need it most"

"Very well then, Come by tomorrow and I'll have one of my aides put you to work. You are far too weak to manage even a simple mending right now" He looked over me again, a slight frown on his lips.

"One last thing father, I was wondering about, Fox?"

He glared at me then, standing straight and tall. "She's gone and will do you no good, that breed was nothing but a bane on my church. Be here first thing in the morning, and don't ask about that girl any more if you want to remain welcome in this town." With that he turned and left out the way I'd come in, grumbling to himself.

Wandering out, convinced my dream was just a simple mistake of recollection, I noticed that the old man was staring at me. Edger, he looked like an Edger to me though I don't know his real name, stared intently at me as I drew near.

"She's gone, but she might be alive you know."

"Who's that?" I asked Edger, "The Fox?"

"Aye, the fox breed girl that was here a while, she might still be alive."

"Might? What happened?" I asked as I settled close so we could speak softly

"The father, Father Jules Mendal, caught her attempting a healing without his blessing. He was fed up with her ways and plus she's a breed, who cares right? Sent her to the hot box for punishment."

I whispered softly, concerned, "The hot box?"

"Think of a prison cell, too small to lay in. Wolves and other beasts surrounding you, waiting for a hand or foot to slip too close to the bars. A steel cage baking in the sun until the metal burns to the touch."

"How do you get out of the hot box? I mean, that's no way for anyone to die, even a breed"

"Oh the gate's open, they're free to leave whenever they want. Assuming they can get past the hungry beasts waiting at all hours to eat."

I sat, worried that the reason for my journey might die before I could get there, "Where is this jail?"

Edger cackled softly, leaning over the railing to look past the porch of the chapel to the east. His sons face somewhat calm for someone hearing the tales of another sentenced to death. "She's there, on that island over the river east of here. It'll take you half a day to walk there and it's safe till you cross the river. Then you're on your own."

Gripping my walking stick, I slowly turned to leave. The son, lets call him James for now, called to me just as I take a step from the porch. "Boy, I say boy." He pressed a small pouch to my hand. "Take this to her, don't open it."

I gently put the pouch in my cloak, it didn't weigh much at all and felt like just a rock in a bag. I nodded softly to James before turning to leave, my goal set to the east. Only half an hour down my path I passed a leather worker. He was preparing pelts for winter coats while it's warm and he could take his time. There I saw a large pelt, black brown in color, and it gave me an idea.

"Excuse me sir, that animal skin you have there, could I perhaps trade or work to earn that from you?"

The man, arms like corded ropes slowly stood and scanned over me with his brown eyes, sizing me up. "It's torn in places, was going to use it for scraps and patches. Clean out the shop and get the sludge from the tannery out back cleaned up and its yours. But hurry, I ain't shutting down my shop for the likes of you"

I nodded softly and set my small pack and walking stick aside, quickly taking stock of the shop and cleaning needs. His floors were dirty and the shop dusty. A simple brooming and opening some windows while I worked took care of that quite easily. The tannery however, was another matter. The scraps of animal flesh rotting on the floor made the room an assault on the nostrils. There was a barrel in the corner for scraps and I went to work quickly, scooping and scraping up the masses and filling the barrel in an hour. The smell reminded me of kills I'd seen left out in the sun.

"Boy, I'm a man of my word, which you'll not find around these parts anymore." He tossed me the pelt as I exited the tanning shed. I tore off a small piece and darted inside, filling it with some of the rot and tying it off.

I rolled up the skin and tucked the pocket of rotting fats into my cloak for later, the plan I thought at the time was a good one. Gathering my gear I quickly worked my way east. Edger was right, as the sun was setting I came to a river and there across it I could feel the gaze of hungry eyes.

I thought it was a good plan, I walked up stream a ways, until I was across from the southern bank of the island. There I slowly waded across and left just the rotting meat in the pocket of pelt, then, drifting down stream to the northern edge I crept out. I was counting on the smell of the meat to keep the locals interested while the water washed away most of my own scent. I unrolled the wolf pelt and draped it over my frame, letting it hopefully conceal my scent further. I crept, slowly inland while listening to the howls of curious animals south of me. Not 20 minutes inland I saw a clearing, there, was a female fox breed in the cage. She was slumped back, barely standing. The vixen seemed half starved and the other half delirious from exposure. Quickly I ran to the cell and opened the door, dragging her frame from it easily. She was so weak that she fainted right there in my arms.

Now I had two problems, an unconscious breed whom was in need of help and the natives who were starting to get bored of the new scents to the south. I quietly dragged her out the best I could, her clothing was tattered and more so once I finally got her to the river bank. At that point I was fairly sure this worked out. I eased her into the water and carried her as I waded back to the safer side of the river. Once clear of the water, I set a small fire with what was left from my pelt and some shreds of my cloak for kindling.

Hours later, she slowly stirred and glanced up to me.

"I'm Tanthis, and you're safe for now. We're off the island with the hot box"

"Jeseia, Jeseia al'Kendara Arabala" with that, she passed out again into a deep sleep.

Myself, I drifted off quietly as well, a rock against my back for support and the fire slowly dying out. I awoke with a shove and a start. I think that is about where we came in to this little story.

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Please comment and critique! Been a long while since I've written.