# metathesiophobia

Author: Earthfox twinwolf
Tags: Feline, Fox, SheerContest 2022, Wolf

A young gray wolf walks down the&nbsp;road&nbsp;filled with lush&nbsp;green&nbsp;trees.&nbsp;The&nbsp;warmth&nbsp;of the&nbsp;sun&nbsp;feeling&nbsp;as if he's being hugged by a&nbsp;warm&nbsp;fire.&nbsp;The&nbsp;sun's rays dance with the&nbsp;shadows&nbsp;from the&nbsp;leaves,&nbsp;using&nbsp;the&nbsp;sounds&nbsp;of the blushing&nbsp;leaves&nbsp;as their&nbsp;music.&nbsp;The only other sound's the&nbsp;light&nbsp;rattling of the remaining chain links from his ankle lock.  
  
He&nbsp;has no idea how long&nbsp;he's been&nbsp;walking&nbsp;down&nbsp;this&nbsp;seemingly&nbsp;endless&nbsp;path.&nbsp;However, to him it didn't matter.&nbsp;This&nbsp;was&nbsp;something&nbsp;new&nbsp;to him, something&nbsp;he&nbsp;didn't mind&nbsp;taking&nbsp;his&nbsp;time&nbsp;with after all,&nbsp;he&nbsp;liked&nbsp;this&nbsp;new&nbsp;feeling.&nbsp;He would slowly speak to himself.  
  
"Relic from the past, Chained and bounded long ago, The Lingering Snow"   
  
As&nbsp;he&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;his&nbsp;short&nbsp;poem,&nbsp;he&nbsp;thought back to&nbsp;where&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;before, a&nbsp;harsh land&nbsp;where&nbsp;there was&nbsp;hardly&nbsp;any green, only the&nbsp;cold&nbsp;and&nbsp;gray.&nbsp;The gray wolf walked in line with others,&nbsp;crossing&nbsp;the frozen land.&nbsp;Bound&nbsp;to one another by the&nbsp;ankle&nbsp;as he&nbsp;walked&nbsp;one behind him&nbsp;fell&nbsp;to his&nbsp;knees&nbsp;slowing&nbsp;the&nbsp;line&nbsp;down.&nbsp;Before long one of the&nbsp;guards&nbsp;came&nbsp;and&nbsp;ordered&nbsp;the tried Canine to&nbsp;stand.  
  

&nbsp;Tried&nbsp;as the fallen canine looked up at the&nbsp;figure, the&nbsp;person&nbsp;obscured by the&nbsp;light&nbsp;spoke again "stand, you're holding&nbsp;the line,"&nbsp;he&nbsp;said&nbsp;reaching&nbsp;for the&nbsp;whip&nbsp;the&nbsp;others&nbsp;looked at the&nbsp;figure&nbsp;then away as the fallen canine struggled to&nbsp;stand.&nbsp;They had been&nbsp;walking&nbsp;in the&nbsp;cold&nbsp;for&nbsp;so long.&nbsp;The&nbsp;figure&nbsp;raises&nbsp;the&nbsp;whip&nbsp;up and&nbsp;swings.  
  
However, before he could&nbsp;finish&nbsp;his&nbsp;reflection&nbsp;the&nbsp;sound&nbsp;of a&nbsp;twig&nbsp;being&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;on&nbsp;brakes&nbsp;his&nbsp;train&nbsp;of&nbsp;thought.&nbsp;'Never stop&nbsp;moving&nbsp;lest the trackers&nbsp;find&nbsp;him,'&nbsp;he&nbsp;thought&nbsp;to himself starting to&nbsp;walk&nbsp;down the&nbsp;long&nbsp;road again.&nbsp;Slowly picking up speed.&nbsp;Slowly&nbsp;going from his&nbsp;walk, to a&nbsp;jog, then from a&nbsp;jog&nbsp;to a&nbsp;run.  
  
As he does so he would think to himself thinking up another poem.  
  
"An sin from kindness, Misguided I confounded. Annoyed with myself"  
  
As the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;ran&nbsp;through the&nbsp;woods,&nbsp;he&nbsp;would misstep and&nbsp;falls.&nbsp;He&nbsp;scampers back to his feet hearing others behind&nbsp;him, using trees to&nbsp;keep&nbsp;his&nbsp;pursuers&nbsp;at&nbsp;bay.&nbsp;He&nbsp;would&nbsp;come&nbsp;to a&nbsp;drop, below&nbsp;him&nbsp;is&nbsp;a&nbsp;river.&nbsp;Without a second&nbsp;thought&nbsp;he&nbsp;throws himself over the&nbsp;edge&nbsp;and&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;river&nbsp;as his&nbsp;pursuers&nbsp;grow&nbsp;closer&nbsp;only to&nbsp;see&nbsp;him&nbsp;splash&nbsp;into&nbsp;the&nbsp;water.  
As he&nbsp;rolls&nbsp;and spins in the&nbsp;water&nbsp;his&nbsp;vision&nbsp;fades&nbsp;into&nbsp;darkness&nbsp;as a memory plays in his&nbsp;head.  
  

&nbsp;As he&nbsp;rolls&nbsp;and spins in the&nbsp;water&nbsp;his&nbsp;vision&nbsp;fades&nbsp;into&nbsp;darkness&nbsp;as a memory plays in his&nbsp;head.&nbsp;The&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;remembers&nbsp;how he would&nbsp;walk&nbsp;down the dirt path&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;meet&nbsp;his&nbsp;father&nbsp;halfway on his&nbsp;home&nbsp;from&nbsp;work.&nbsp;A&nbsp;smile&nbsp;on his&nbsp;face.&nbsp;He would scamper down to him&nbsp;would&nbsp;jump&nbsp;into his&nbsp;father.  
  
His&nbsp;father&nbsp;would then&nbsp;grab&nbsp;his&nbsp;son&nbsp;and&nbsp;embrace&nbsp;him.&nbsp;Always happy to&nbsp;find&nbsp;his&nbsp;boy&nbsp;on that same road, heat or&nbsp;cold, rain or snow.&nbsp;His&nbsp;father&nbsp;would&nbsp;see&nbsp;his&nbsp;son&nbsp;with a&nbsp;smile.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;time&nbsp;he would&nbsp;teach&nbsp;his&nbsp;offspring&nbsp;how to&nbsp;hunt, track, fight and escape people as he got&nbsp;older&nbsp;and&nbsp;older.&nbsp;One&nbsp;day&nbsp;his&nbsp;father&nbsp;looks&nbsp;at him and&nbsp;says&nbsp;'remember&nbsp;son, if I don't return take care of your&nbsp;mother.' The&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;gives&nbsp;a determined nod at his father&nbsp;walks off down the dirt road.

Like always he&nbsp;waited.&nbsp;A&nbsp;day&nbsp;became&nbsp;a&nbsp;week.&nbsp;That&nbsp;week&nbsp;became&nbsp;a&nbsp;month.&nbsp;That&nbsp;month&nbsp;a&nbsp;year.&nbsp;Over&nbsp;time&nbsp;he&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;waiting, the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;started to&nbsp;help out&nbsp;more and more&nbsp;at&nbsp;home.&nbsp;Helping&nbsp;his&nbsp;mother&nbsp;clean,&nbsp;helping&nbsp;with the&nbsp;hunt&nbsp;and&nbsp;sparing&nbsp;with others around his&nbsp;home.  
  
Over&nbsp;time&nbsp;like his&nbsp;father&nbsp;before him,&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;and&nbsp;help&nbsp;the&nbsp;people&nbsp;defend&nbsp;his&nbsp;home&nbsp;from another&nbsp;group.&nbsp;A&nbsp;fight&nbsp;going on for longer then&nbsp;he's&nbsp;known, armed with some&nbsp;armor&nbsp;and a&nbsp;sword&nbsp;at&nbsp;first&nbsp;it was uneventful.  
  
One&nbsp;day&nbsp;he&nbsp;found&nbsp;someone scouting their&nbsp;walls.&nbsp;The other person looked up at him.&nbsp;A young feline, no older than thirteen.&nbsp;Scared, unsure as to what&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;would&nbsp;do&nbsp;to him,&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;pointed to the&nbsp;trees.&nbsp;Letting&nbsp;him&nbsp;go, his&nbsp;heart&nbsp;taking&nbsp;over his&nbsp;mind.  
  
With a jolt he wakes up back in reality, he looks around and sees other beings around him&nbsp;As he did so he would see a few felines.&nbsp;The&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;feels&nbsp;his&nbsp;body&nbsp;weaken&nbsp;on him as&nbsp;he&nbsp;drifts in and out of&nbsp;consciousness.  
  
When&nbsp;he's&nbsp;fully&nbsp;awake,&nbsp;he&nbsp;finds himself in a&nbsp;cell.&nbsp;He&nbsp;starts&nbsp;looking&nbsp;around&nbsp;trying to find&nbsp;a way out only to&nbsp;see&nbsp;another canine&nbsp;looking&nbsp;at&nbsp;him from outside.&nbsp;A small&nbsp;fox&nbsp;no&nbsp;taller&nbsp;than four feet&nbsp;tall, the&nbsp;fox&nbsp;looks at&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;and nods.&nbsp;"Hello, my&nbsp;name&nbsp;is&nbsp;Fin, how are you?"&nbsp;The&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;didn't reply.&nbsp;He&nbsp;just&nbsp;looked at the smaller fox and&nbsp;said&nbsp;"I&nbsp;want&nbsp;to go home."

The&nbsp;fox&nbsp;looked at him "Okay so where do you&nbsp;live?&nbsp;"he&nbsp;asked&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf, after a&nbsp;bit&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;replied "substratum&nbsp;village."&nbsp;The&nbsp;fox's&nbsp;ears&nbsp;lay down as&nbsp;he&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;"That village&nbsp;is&nbsp;gone, it's been&nbsp;gone&nbsp;for&nbsp;two&nbsp;years&nbsp;now" the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;blinks unsure of&nbsp;what&nbsp;he&nbsp;heard.&nbsp;"What&nbsp;do&nbsp;you&nbsp;mean&nbsp;gone?"&nbsp;The&nbsp;fox&nbsp;goes&nbsp;on&nbsp;telling&nbsp;him&nbsp;what&nbsp;happened, a&nbsp;war&nbsp;that&nbsp;lasted&nbsp;ten&nbsp;years&nbsp;ended with the&nbsp;fall&nbsp;of&nbsp;substratum.&nbsp;As&nbsp;the&nbsp;fox&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;refused&nbsp;to&nbsp;take&nbsp;in&nbsp;what&nbsp;he&nbsp;said&nbsp;he&nbsp;refused&nbsp;to&nbsp;believe&nbsp;such a&nbsp;change.&nbsp;The&nbsp;fox&nbsp;shakes&nbsp;his&nbsp;head&nbsp;"I&nbsp;know&nbsp;it's hard.&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;sorry,&nbsp;part&nbsp;of the pact says we can't&nbsp;keep&nbsp;you&nbsp;here though, so&nbsp;you&nbsp;are&nbsp;free&nbsp;to&nbsp;go&nbsp;but at least&nbsp;let&nbsp;me."&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;barked&nbsp;no in defiance.  
  
The&nbsp;fox&nbsp;packed&nbsp;the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;some&nbsp;new&nbsp;clothing to&nbsp;wear.&nbsp;His last clothing ruined from the&nbsp;fall,&nbsp;he&nbsp;would&nbsp;rush&nbsp;to&nbsp;substratum&nbsp;wanting&nbsp;to go home.&nbsp;Wanting&nbsp;some&nbsp;familiarity.&nbsp;When&nbsp;he&nbsp;saw&nbsp;his&nbsp;was home&nbsp;he&nbsp;went down to the village only to&nbsp;see&nbsp;ruins.&nbsp;As&nbsp;memories&nbsp;played&nbsp;in his&nbsp;head, it dawned on him, his&nbsp;mother.&nbsp;He&nbsp;would&nbsp;then&nbsp;start rushing down to where his&nbsp;house&nbsp;should be only to&nbsp;see&nbsp;it was&nbsp;crushed.&nbsp;The&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;wanted to&nbsp;say&nbsp;a poem to&nbsp;help&nbsp;him calm down, but couldn't as&nbsp;reality&nbsp;started to set in.&nbsp;From&nbsp;behind&nbsp;he&nbsp;heard&nbsp;someone&nbsp;say&nbsp;'Hey'&nbsp;he&nbsp;turned&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;Finn&nbsp;holding&nbsp;his&nbsp;hand&nbsp;out "follow&nbsp;me, I can still&nbsp;help&nbsp;you." The&nbsp;fox said looking into the wolf eyes, The wolf sees the determined look in the foxes eyes as Finn sees the uncertain look in his.&nbsp;The&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;takes&nbsp;the&nbsp;fox's&nbsp;hand, as&nbsp;he&nbsp;did&nbsp;so&nbsp;he&nbsp;noticed, the&nbsp;cold&nbsp;on his&nbsp;iron&nbsp;around his&nbsp;ankle&nbsp;was&nbsp;gone.&nbsp;"Hopefully, we'll&nbsp;find&nbsp;them,&nbsp;so&nbsp;tell&nbsp;me your&nbsp;name?"&nbsp;Finn asked, as&nbsp;he&nbsp;looked back at the&nbsp;wolf&nbsp;who&nbsp;replied&nbsp;"my&nbsp;name&nbsp;is&nbsp;Felix."

Source: https://sofurry.com/s/dmBZQLzm