Bright morning light warmed my face as the tree cover broke and the rising sun shone on my furry orange face. After the short trek from the den, I had finally made it back to the road. On the far side of the pavement stood the bus stop bench, lonelily waiting for the next traveler to sit upon its cool, dewcovered surface. With a light rustle of leaves, the Vixen appeared at my side, barely controlling her quivering from unease.

No go city, she quaked out with a whimper. Road dangerous. City dangerous.

I turned my head to meet her face. Her slitted eyes were catching the sun and illumining as brightly as if she had learned to cast the Flame with a new color of gold.

I don't have a choice, I grumbled through my nose back to her. We can't let all those foxes starve, and no one else has come up with a plan that will last for everyone.

Plan no good if you die, the Vixen squeaked back, her jaw trembling with worry. New fox must leave forest. Find new forest. Eat there.

I don't think there is another forest, mate. I gave her a lick on the side of her muzzle to reassure her. If I find a map, I'll look for anything that could work, but all I know are the suburbs and open fields for miles. You said it yourself; we can't stay around humans for long without becoming a threat to them. The new foxes need the same isolation we have, or there will be trouble for them.

I felt my ear twitch as the sound of an approaching vehicle reached us. A brown jeep drove past the bus stop without slowing or acknowledging our presence. The reminder of our proximity to civilization did nothing to calm the Vixen.

Road dangerous,_she repeated. _ No time to use Flame if hurt. Dead fox. Stay off road and no hurt.

I'll be fine. There are things you can do to be safe on the road. I'm far more worried about the clan getting into fights with the new foxes. They have already managed to kill a magical fox once. Don't you think they could do it again for their own survival?

Her ears drooped, and her gaze drifted to the forest floor.

Forest have no food for new fox, she whimpered resolutely, but she knew I was completely right. The entire fox clan was headed straight for calamity while food was scarce and the fox population was divided.

Again, you're welcome to come along, I suggested as I nuzzled her a second time. I would love to have some company this time to keep me out of trouble.

She shook her head. _ I no leave forest. Must watch clan._

In that case, can you at least tell the new foxes to hold tight and wait for me to bring them food? I don't want a war breaking out while I'm gone.

Yes. I help. Foxes no fight when you gone, she yipped. Her ears had perked back up, now that there was a role for her in my plan. New fox hungry now. No wait long, she added with a wag of her tail.

Rearing back on my haunches, I reached out with my furry black paws and wrapped them around her, pulling her into an embrace. Nuzzling close, I squeaked into her ear, I'll be back by this evening. Be safe, and I love you.

The Vixen swished her tail against the ground, happy to receive the affection I was giving her, but her posture was rigid, not knowing how to reciprocate a hug from another fox. She opted for pressing her cheek into the side of my neck, before I let my paws return to the earth.

I love mate, she affirmed.

Taking in a deep breath through my nose, I turned around and stepped out onto the pavement, and crossed the street while the Vixen dissolved back into the shade of the wood.

A brief feeling of nostalgia rushed over me once I reached the bench and leapt upon it. It had been only a few days since I last had sat here, but it had represented my portal to the human city, long before I could have thought of it as such. Now as a fox, its familiarity also spoke of the risk and danger the humans and I posed to each other. I would have to be very careful while I spent my time around them.

Time marched forward as I waited, but the bus I had expected was not arriving. Instead, I got to watch the occasional car or pickup truck cruise on by. Perhaps, I had lost track of time this morning while trying to argue with the Vixen that this trip was necessary, despite the risks. If I had missed the bus, I

would have to wait several hours for the next one to show up, and there was no guarantee that it would take me to the correct part of the city. I had done a very poor job of memorizing the bus schedule as a human, only taking in the schedules I needed to get between home, work, and the occasional stop at a store for food.

Then it hit me: it was so obvious that I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it sooner. The bus wasn't always available to get me the food I needed, so I would walk down to the corner market. I didn't like the trip, because it was nearly three miles away from my house, but I could make it there in a pinch and stock up on something I was sorely missing. On four paws, the journey would be rough, but manageable, and the store sat on the far edge of the fox's domain, over in the direction the new foxes had been exiled towards. If I was able to get the food I needed, carrying it over to them would be a cinch.

Hopping down from the bench, I trotted along the shoulder of the road, listening to the rhythmic clacking and scraping my claws and rough pads made on the pavement. I had become a lot more stealthy than I had been the first time I scampered along this path. Perhaps, my time in the forest had allowed my fresh claws to finally wear down so they didn't rub noisily with each pawstep. It would be a long while before I would have to attempt pouncing and hunting without the Flame, but it was good to know I wouldn't be scaring away any prey before I found them.

The road wound its way through a grove of trees, and the shoulder disappeared for a few hundred yards, forcing me to duck and weave through the brush and branches alongside it. Very likely, I could have dashed across the length of the road until the safety of the shoulder appeared again, but that seemed like an unnecessary risk. My mate was already scared enough of letting me cross the road and leave the forest. There was no need to tempt fate and risk an inattentive driver striking me and validating her concern for my safety.

The two-mile gallop from the bus stop ended far faster than I had realized. My vulpine form had carried me the distance within twenty minutes, and by not pushing myself, I hadn't even broken into a pant. Turning the final corner in the road, the forest parted, and I could see the Country Corner Market in the distance, next to a large grassy field at the T-junction, which marked the road back to the city.

Ambling forward, I approached slowly, unsure of how to begin or what to do once I reached the building. It was large, very large to a fox, and had been converted from an old longhouse the loggers had used decades ago. Briefly, I wondered if the Lumberjack fox had spent any time in there before its conversion, but it was unlikely his input would help me out here. Thankfully, business was slow at this time of morning, so the parking lot was empty, and I had no one to avoid once I reached the side of the building.

Suddenly, the loud sputtering of a car engine revved by, and I quickly dove for cover, hoping the passing car wouldn't spot me snooping around. Without realizing it, I had taken refuge behind the store's garbage dumpster. The smells of years of rotting food and other trash thrown out smacked me across the face the moment my sensitive nose inhaled its next breath. Shoving aside my natural instincts to add my own scents to the foul odors, I slunk around the corner of the building and approached the front door.

The entrance was closed off by a standard aluminum and glass swinging door, precisely the kind that were equipped with a strong tension spring to stay closed against harsh winds and other inclement weather. Closed enough at least, to keep small wild animals from scurrying in uninvited.

I snorted at the door. Through its window, I could see the corner of the checkout counter, and lined all around it was various snacks and candy bars. My mouth began to water, thinking about the delicious treats I had been missing out on, and a strand of drool slid down the side of my muzzle. Putting aside my selfish temptation, I had to remember that I was here for the other foxes, and not to steal sugary snacks for myself. Besides, chocolate was practically poison now, which limited my options severely, were I to partake.

Turning my attention back to the door, I stepped up and placed my head against the cool glass and pushed as hard as I could. It didn't budge at all. Looking up at the hand bar above me, I noticed a small adhesive sign sticking to the inside door

PULL

Even if I was strong enough to pull open the door, there was nothing for an animal of my size to grip onto in order to try. Squeaking out a bark of frustration, I padded away from the door, and slid into an alcove between the ice cooler and a stack of firewood, putting my furry body out of sight from anyone casually walking by. I would have to wait for someone to enter the building in order to get inside.

Fifteen minutes passed, and not a single car pulled into the small parking lot, and very few needed to pass by on the country road for that matter. The Country Corner Market, in its best days, was hardly more than a convenience store, and wasn't about to receive the kind of foot traffic a larger grocery store would in the city. Still, they had food, and it was worth gaining entry to get it.

Finally giving up on patience, I gracefully hopped out of my alcove, and sniffed around the ground with my tail in the air, hunting for something that would help me gain entry. Separating the concrete walkway in front of the building and the asphalt parking lot was a strip of rounded landscaping river rocks. Without hesitation, I picked up one of the rocks between my fangs, and trotted back to the glass door. Whipping my neck around, much like I had seen Tyler attempt when he threw his own stick, I launched the rock against the glass, causing a loud THWACK as the projectile met its target. The door didn't break, but it did cause a loud enough report to catch anyone's attention. Hurriedly, I darted back to my alcove, and peered over a fire log with my ears pricked high to watch the door.

Nothing happened.

Whatever sounds I had created indoors, it wasn't enough to entice anyone to investigate. Bolting again from my hiding spot, I picked up the discarded rock, and whipped it around again, releasing it from my jaws with perfect timing.

THWACK

The repeated attempt rang even louder the second time. Any harder, and I could be at risk of shattering the window, and I didn't want to have to crawl through and over broken glass with my bare paws. Thankfully, my skillful throwing managed to catch the shopkeeper's attention this time, and after a brief delay, the door slowly swung open, and a portly man wearing a work apron with a balding head and mustache peeked out.

The shopkeeper looked down, and saw the smooth river rock laying on the cement walkway. Taking a step out while holding the door open for his own convenience, he bent down and picked up the stone to toss it back onto the strip of landscaping where it belonged. Summoning the will to not be noticed by the man, I took the moment to dart past him before he let the door swing shut again.

I stood stunned for a moment in the entryway. Steel inventory shelves towered high above, as did several other cardboard display stands that were emblazoned with advertising marques. In the back, I heard the buzz of the cooler for the drinks, droning on quietly. Hanging sweetly in the air, the scent of the hotdog roller filled the shop, and I felt my mouth begin to water at the thought of the cooked, meaty links. All around me, the options for food were practically endless, but rather than waste time trying to figure out what I wanted to eat, I had to think quickly about what I could carry that would also feed thirty-two foxes. With a scuffle of my claws on the tiled floor, I dashed around the first shelf, out of sight of the shopkeeper before he turned around from the doorway. The Flame would keep me safe as long as I focused on being stealthy, but I didn't want to tempt fate and reveal that a fox had gotten into the store if I could help it.

Carefully, I peered around the corner of the shelf as he walked past the end of the counter and then resumed his position behind it. He grumbled something to himself, picked up a folded newspaper, and then began reading it. With no customers in the store, there wasn't any reason to be attentive. Satisfied I wasn't about to be interrupted on my shopping spree, I turned away from the end of the aisle, and looked at the products on the shelves in front of me.

I had ended up in the area for cleaning supplies. Undersized and overpriced bottles of dish cleaner and washing detergent spanned the end I was on. They smelled wonderful through their packaging, but no nutritional value would be offered from their floral scents. Scurrying past the household supplies, the aisle continued to morph into automotive accessories, such as hanging air fresheners, and strapping buckets to call a backseat trashcan, obviously meant for the small market of passing travelers. Slightly discouraged by my random aisle selection, I padded my way into the next.

This time, I was a bit more impressed by my options. The aisle was filled end-to-end with snacks: each package was brightly colored, and vying for my attention over the others. I sniffed at the nearest one, and the scent of the sugary contents wafted lightly through the plastic wrapper. Reaching in with my fangs, I started to pull the bag free from its small display box, and then stopped. If I had skipped a day or two of eating like the new foxes, and someone came by and only offered a few sugary treats, some of which may end up being mildly poisonous, I might see it as an insult, rather than a favor. I pulled my nose out of the box of candy, and moved on, looking for something with a little more protein.

Glancing up and down the aisle, the only thing that caught my eye was a travel snack bag of Tyler's favorite cheese crackers. There was no way I could feed the new foxes with crackers, but I decided to stand up against the shelf and pull one of the bags down from the hanging peg. While I had the opportunity, Tyler would be getting a treat tonight. With a loud crinkle of packaging, the bag of crackers caught on the end of the peg and fell from my fangs to the floor.

"Is someone over there?" Called out the shopkeeper from behind the checkout counter.

I froze with my maw hanging open over the bag as I was about to pick it back up. There was a shuffle of newspaper, and then the sound of footsteps approaching. Without further hesitation, I dashed to the far side of the shelf, away from the approaching man, leaving the bag of crackers in the middle of the floor.

Stealthy thoughts, I said to myself as I peered around the corner of the next shelf, watching the shopkeeper turn the corner and spot the abandoned crackers in the middle of the aisle.

"That's odd," the man said aloud, and he bent over and hung the crackers back on the peg where I had pulled them from. Thankfully, he couldn't see the head of the fox looking at him only a mere ten feet away.

Satisfied that the sounds he heard was the bag autonomously falling off the peg, the man lumbered back to his post behind the counter.

With the portly man away from the snack shelf, I was about to make another attempt at the crackers, but the picture of a smiling cartoon cat on the can next to me caught my eye. It was a can of cat food. Looking further down the aisle, I realized I had stumbled into another household supply aisle, but it was all pet food!

I nearly yipped in excitement as the realization hit me that this was a far better option than the snacks, but before I could make a sound, the excitement waned. It dawned on me that no one would be able to use can openers, even if I were to bring one. Looking down the row, I saw some larger bags of food after the stacks of cans ended. Dashing over to the bags, I was greeted with a near life-sized picture of a happy husky frolicking in a grassy field. It was dry dogfood, and it was a lot of it.

I felt my tail begin to thrash happily behind me, and I stepped forward and nipped the top corner of the bag to pull it down from the shelf. The thick papery packaging started to tear as I pulled, and before I could move it anywhere, I realized that it was far too heavy to move as a fox. Glancing down, I saw the packaging read: Net Weight 50 lbs.

There had been no chance to weigh myself after I had turned into a fox, but I couldn't weigh more than twenty. This bag was at least twice my weight and size, so there was little hope of dragging it through the forest to the hungry newcomers. Sighing, I looked around at the other shelves around me. There were other options for animal feed, but all of them were for livestock. All the rest of the dogfood was in cans, and would be inaccessible without aid from the Flame.

Cursing my fortune, I sat back on my haunches in front of the intimidating bag of food, pondering my options. My day had started while I had intended to get to the city and find a more reasonable selection of food to bring back, and I thought the Vixen would have been with me to help, but she still wouldn't cross the road with me, and missing the bus didn't help any. If I had my backpack, I could have tried to pour as much of the bag of food into it as I could manage, but I had abandoned that at my house, like the rest of my human life. Now, I was a fox looking to steal from the humans, and I had gotten this far without a second thought about if what I was doing was wrong.

While human laws didn't apply to me anymore, I saw no reason to disregard them because I was now a fox. The den still followed rules, and there were punishments for disorderly conduct, as was the case with the hunter fox that stole from Tyler. Most of us were human at one point or another; it made sense that there was an orderly life to continue as a fox. So, if stealing from other foxes was wrong, then stealing from humans couldn't be any more righteous.

I shook my head. I had gotten too far into overthinking the problem with the bag, falling into a dilemma that I didn't need to worry about now. There were thirty-two foxes in the woods that were starving, and I wasn't able to hand a wad of cash over to the shopkeeper to buy the food properly. Committing a small amount of foxy larceny was the only option I had. Or was it?

Perhaps there was a compromise between stealing from the human, and getting the shopkeeper to give the food to me. Asking him directly was out of the question. Not only would I have to use the Flame to properly communicate what I wanted, but convincing him to offer thirty-two times the food that one fox would need seemed a stretch without fully enchanting him, as I had done with my former co-workers. Whatever I did had to be sustainable to keep the food flowing to the new foxes. My mate had been right to question my chances of success, because I was here now, and no closer to getting what we needed.

Instead of outright stealing the food, I would commit a little bit of petty vandalism. I put my paw up on the large bag, and began to tear at the heavy paper wrappings with my fangs, gouging out the face of the majestic husky pictured on it. My claws and sharp teeth made quick work of the bag, and within moments, kibble was freely flowing from the hole in the bag, scattering noisily over the tile floor. Quickly, I sampled some of the food as it flowed out of the bag. I would have preferred a cooked meal, but it was like crunching on a meat-flavored cereal, now that my jaws were more than capable of gnashing small animal bones.

"What the heck?"

The noise from the kibble spilling over the floor had caught the shopkeeper's attention again, and I could hear him waddling over to my aisle. Hurriedly, I stuck my paws into the hole and started scooping out pawfuls of the food onto the floor, creating as much of a mess as I could before he arrived. Once the shopkeeper turned the corner, I had already started to focus on my stealthy thoughts, rendering myself invisible to him. All he could see was a floor covered in brown pellets of dogfood, and the bag that was still slowly hemorrhaging more.

Letting out a long sigh of exertion, the shopkeeper bent down and inspected the torn bag before standing up again, shaking his head. He peered down the aisle past me, and then took a few steps backwards to peer down the adjacent aisles, looking for the fiend that had made the mess.

"Come out, come out, little fella," he called out quietly, "I'm not going to harm you."

His sweetly impatient voice told me otherwise. Thankfully, I didn't have much to worry about if I kept quiet and out from underfoot. All I had to do now was wait for him to clean up the mess and dispose of the ruined merchandise. After that, I was free to take as much as I could carry back to the new foxes. Until then, I just needed to get some bags to carry the food through the forest. The shopkeeper was continuing down the aisles, looking for the hiding offender, but after completing his sweep, he huffed a snort of frustration, and disappeared behind a curtain into the back room.

As soon as the man had left, I bolted for the counter and scrabbled behind the register where the plastic shopping bags hung. Sitting back on my haunches, I lifted my paw and scratched at the bags; each swipe freeing another bag from the loose thread of plastic that held them together. Once I had three bags freed from their dispensing stand, I nipped the bunch, and tore them away.

No sooner than I had finished grabbing the bags in my jaws, the shopkeeper reemerged from the back room, carrying a broom and dustpan, as well as a tape gun. Placing the tape gun on the top rack of the pet food aisle, he began to sweep up the fallen food into a neat little pile.

Not wanting to be caught behind the checkout counter, I scurried over to the snack aisle with the bags in my mouth. I had a few free moments before the shopkeeper takes the damaged bag outside to the dumpster, so I decided to spend them getting the cheese crackers for Tyler. There was no telling when the next time would be where I could offer him such a treat. Now prepared for the shape of the shelving peg to try to keep me from yanking the crackers free, I was able to snatch three snack-sized bags off the hook, and place them in one of the bags. There wasn't going to be much room for them after I filled the rest of the bag with dogfood, so it was good I was getting them stashed away now.

The shopkeeper in the aisle next to me bent over with a groan, and I could hear the clatter of kibble on a plastic dustpan. He was almost done scooping up the mess.

With a faint rustle of plastic, I nipped the shopping bags up, and trotted over to the far end of the aisle so I could peek around and see his progress. The bag of food was now lying in the middle of the aisle with the damaged side up. Straddling over it, the portly man was bending over the hole, dumping the filled dustpan back into the torn orifice, replacing most of the fallen food and refilling the bag. Silently, I hoped he was just trying to keep it all in one parcel when he caried it outside, but instead, he reached over and picked up the tape gun from the shelf next to him. The loud growl of the tape gun screamed through the store as the man pulled free a strand of tape, and he stretched the loose strand over the gaping hole. Each time he pulled a new strand free, my eared twitched at the din the gun caused, and within a few more seconds, the hole I had torn in the bag had been sealed up. Giving one more heave, the shopkeeper pulled the bag back up onto the shelf, right where it was when I had found it. Clapping his hands together to dust them off, he picked up the dustpan and tucked the broom handle under his arm as he left the aisle and returned to the back room.

I was aghast. He planned on selling that food anyway, even though it was damaged and spilled out on the floor. While it wasn't intended for human consumption, it still seemed rude to package it up for sale so casually. Few people would want to buy a bag with a large hole in it with packing tape holding it all together, and I had great need for it.

Dropping my plastic bags at the end of the aisle, I rushed over, and reached the bag to wrap my fangs around the side of the bag where the tape ended. Chomping down hard, I pulled with all my might, and ripped the tape off the bag and hole, as well as large strips of the paper packaging, immediately eviscerating the product on the shelf. The top half of the bag fell free from the lower half, and all the kibble erupted out over the shelf and floor, creating the loudest racket yet. I needed the food to be completely unsellable.

Unfortunately, the shopkeeper had not returned from the back room yet, and may not have heard the sounds of the bag being ripped open. I tapped my paw on the floor impatiently while my tail twitched along with it, but he did not reemerge to deal with the mess I had made. Losing all sense of caution, I opened my maw wide, and screamed high pitched gekkers at the food on the floor.

"EEEEEEE EEEEEEEEK"

From the back room, there was a clatter and a thud, and then the scuffle of work shoes on tile rushing toward me. Bursting from the curtain, the portly man appeared, brandishing the broom he had been using to clean up.

There was a moment where our eyes locked: my golden slitted eyes to his brown. Without breaking my gaze, I stopped screaming, and bent down. My flat pink tongue lapped out to snatch some of the kibble off the floor, and I crunched it delightfully in my fangs, while my eye contact dared him to do something about it.

Fury overcame the man's face, and he lifted the broom over his head to swing at me, but I was already dashing back down the aisle to where I had left my bags, holding my tail between my legs.

"Get back here, you little sneak!" the man bellowed as he chased me down the aisle, holding the broom above his head, hoping to clobber me once I was in range.

Reaching the end of the shelves, I nipped up the bundled plastic bags containing the crackers without missing a step. The shopkeeper was hot on my tail, and in my haste, my paws scrabbled across the floor while I tried to gain some traction for turning the corner, leaving me only a second ahead of the broom that was thrust where I had just been. It struck the wall and bounced off harmlessly.

The near-miss wasn't anything to deter the shopkeeper, and he hastily picked up the broom again to continue to the chase in the next aisle. Once he rounded the corner, he saw me already standing defensively on the far end from him, clutching the bags in my mouth, and waiting for his next move. Taking a moment to regain some composure, he took a few paces past the end of the row, and opened the front door.

*BING* *BONG*

The entry alert tone made my ears twitch while I watched from the far end of the shelves, and the man bent down to lock a doorstop in place.

"Ok, like last time, you have nowhere to go but outside," he commented, more to himself than to convince me of leaving. He couldn't know what I wanted from him first.

I watched from over the top of the shelving units as he walked down an adjacent aisle, hoping to outfox me, and herd me towards the exit, but I wasn't going to be fooled quite so easily. Once he reached the midway point, I left the aisle I was in, and moved back to the third row with all the dry food spilled on the floor. He saw what I was doing, and hustled toward the end of his section, hoping to get me between him and the door.

Had I been a normal fox, the tactic would have worked, as the exit would have been the place to go to put as much distance between me and the human, but I wasn't going to leave until I was sure he wasn't going to wrap up the food again for sale. A normal fox never would have had such an agenda.

Scurrying along, and keeping as much distance as I could between me and the broom, I reached the other side of the aisle again just as the man arrived at the opening near the back room curtain. By now, we were going in circles, which meant it was time to change up the tactics. Careful not to step and slip on the hard pellets of kibble all over the floor, the shopkeeper walked through the mess, brandishing the broom.

Instead of returning to the previous aisle, and continuing our recursive loop, I leapt into the next aisle to take me further from the door. This aisle was filled end-to-end with personal hygiene products. A brief thought flashed through my mind about how I hadn't brushed my teeth in nearly two weeks, but that wasn't much concern right now while the shopkeeper was chasing me. I trotted to the middle of the row, and saw the portly man looking over the shelving unit and down at me. He hadn't chased me around the end of the aisle like I expected.

THWACK

I squeaked from the broom impacting my face. Instead of giving chase, he had managed to lean over the chest-high shelf and swat me with his herding tool. Grabbing the end of the handle with both hands, the man tried to push me back toward the end of the aisle I had entered from.

"Get out! Get out!" he bellowed.

Wincing against the bristles of the broom stabbing and prodding me, I planted all four paws down and resisted his attempts to push me back toward the door. All my obstinance gained me was another heavy swat from the man, who was growing impatient at the fox that wouldn't leave his store.

Stop hitting me and just take the food outside! I screeched at him, wincing from the second strike.

*WISH*

Purple light filled my vision, and reflected off of the plastic bottles of shampoo around me.

Immediately, I regretted my outburst, but what was done was done. The man withdrew his broom from over the barrier of shelves, and stood rigidly for a moment, before taking the broom to sweep up the mess of food.

I stood in the adjacent aisle, looking at him turn his back to me while he worked at cleaning up. The Flame was too effective for getting what I wanted from the humans. He had completely forgotten that he was trying to chase a fox out of his store, and more or less had become my puppet. Again, my hackles rose on my neck, recalling the amount of power I wielded over the humans. I had returned to the human world, wanting to avoid using the purple Flame at all costs, but it had happened anyway, and it was too easy.

The shopkeeper continued his work, occasionally bending down to scoop up the dry food around the floor. He left the aisle at one point to get a bucket from the back room, to put the kibble in, since the bag had nearly been destroyed from my tearing it. Bending down out of sight, I heard the rattle of kibble getting scooped up and dumped into the plastic bucket. Thinking about being invisible, I padded back to the edge of the aisle and watched him finish his work. The bags in my mouth crinkled lightly as I adjusted my grip on them, hoping to employ their use soon.

From deep inside my gut, I felt the familiar insatiable hunger of the void start to creep into me. Letting out a deep sigh through my nose, I resigned myself to the fact that I was going to have to live with this mild discomfort for a very long time. Someone would have to become a fox before I would find relief from it, and I still had no intent to be the one to do the deed. It would take another fox from the den willing to share their newly acquired essence with me, much like how the Apartment vixen had shared hers when I was in need. I tried to think if there was something else I could have done to prevent this, but the magic had slipped out from my anger and desires melding together. Maybe, my approach to stealing was all wrong, and I shouldn't have relied on the shopkeeper to carry the food outside, but I

couldn't think of a better option. The mere act of opening the door to the store required a human's hand, or more magic that I was already trying to avoid using. If I was to accomplish my goal of feeding the new foxes, I needed the human's help, and that never was going to happen without using the Flame.

The shopkeeper finished his sweeping, and lifted the bucket by its handle. It was a lot of food that filled the bucket, and he had to grip it with both hands as he waddled to the open door with the load. For my needs, it would be more than enough for me to carry into the woods. Hurriedly, I trotted after him, trying to remember to keep myself from being visible. While I was using the magic, there was no need to keep hidden behind cover, so I followed closely at his heels, looking more like a faithful pet to any would-be onlookers. Once outside, the man rounded the corner of the building, and dropped the bucket next to the large trash dumpster, leaving me next to the foul-smelling monstrosity to collect my prize. I had to scrabble out of the way for a moment after he turned around to go back inside, but once he was around the corner to the front of the building, I dropped the wad of bags onto the dusty gravel, and went to work.

First, after setting down the bags, I dashed back toward the entrance and picked up a few stones in my mouth. Hurrying back, the bags had begun to unfurl, and were preparing to flutter away in the light morning breeze. Dropping the rocks on top of the bags to hold them in place, I selected the first bag to fill, nipping and nuzzling it into an open position. Next, I grabbed one of the stones and placed it in the bag so it too wouldn't fly away while I worked. Once that was accomplished, I was ready for the hard part: Tipping over the bucket.

Grabbing the handle of the bucket, I braced all four of my paws and pulled hard, hoping the leverage from the top would be enough to spill the kibble. It slid a little across the loose gravel, but it did not tilt. While I could try scooping the food at the top of the bucket out to lighten the load, I wasn't ready to try it just yet. Scattering that much dogfood around would certainly mean picking up the gravel while I stuffed the bags, and I didn't want to have to carry small stones back to the forest. It would be dead weight, and there were already plenty there for anyone that would want them, I mused.

Stepping back up to the bucket, I began to paw and scratch at the hard-packed earth and gravel at its base. Fluffy tail held high, I dug at the edge, finding it hard to penetrate, but I only needed to make a small divot. I could hear the plinking of stones scattering behind me with each swipe, and before long, there was a crescent-shaped ditch around the front of the bucket. Grabbing the handle again, I pulled as hard as I could, letting it slide forward into the freshly dug pit.

The trick worked. Bottoming out on the hole I dug, the bucket slid forward, and then spilled out all the kibble into a landslide of food. Now, filling the bag without extra stones or gravel would be easy! Lining the bag's opening with the pile of food flowing from the bucket like a cornucopia of kibble, I stood between them and gingerly dug at the food, trying to toss it backwards into the bag.

Unfortunately, the bag had other ideas. Whatever flimsy arch I could convince the plastic bag to hold, it wouldn't hold long enough to stay open while I shoved food into it. Eventually, I resorted to dipping my nose into the pile of food and scooping it over into the bag. After only a few moments, I had managed to get the bag around a third full. The delicious scent of the meaty, salty food covered my snout, and I licked it clean, enjoying the flavor far more than I would have expected. At least, it was better than the taste of raw voles.

From behind me, there was a soft rustle, and then a creak of metal rubbing on metal. Snapping up from my work, I spun around to see the shopkeeper holding the sprayer from the building's utility hose and pointing it straight at me. Next to him sat the lower half of the dogfood bag, propped up against the side of the building.

"Get out of here, you little rat!" shouted the shopkeeper, and he pulled back the lever on the hose.

Water sprayed forth, and the stream struck me right in the face. I leapt back, trying to get out of his range, but he turned the hose onto the pile of food, trying to flood it away.

"Let's see how much you want it now!" he called out, manically, as he soaked the food with the hose. "No more free meals from me!"

I watched in horror as the food I had spilled onto the ground started to billow out and then flow away from the bucket as the water stream saturated it. Everything I had done today was being lost and destroyed, all in some vindictive fit against the local wildlife trying to get food. I even had used purple Flame to get this far, and he was leaving me with nothing for the sacrifice. Horror changed to seething anger, and I shouted out with a loud bark, Stop!

*WISH*

The stream of water from the nozzle slowed to a trickle before stopping. Now stunned, the shopkeeper's devilish smirk melted into a blank expression.

I took a step forward, now that the water had ceased its spraying.

Put the hose away.

The man, still giving a thousand-yard stare, turned around and hung the utility hose back on the wall of the store.

Now fill those bags with dry food, I commanded with a bark. I took another assertive step forward.

The portly shopkeeper obeyed. Walking over to the bags that were held down by the stones I procured, he bent over and picked all three up.

Leave the crackers in that bag, I added. He was reaching his hand in to remove them.

One greasy handful at a time, he bent down and started pulling fresh food from the bottom half of the paper bag. I stood next to the bucket, my head lowered defensively and watching the process unfold. Even after filling my three bags, there would be plenty left for a return trip. With the first filled, the shopkeeper set the bulging plastic bag down and began work filling the second, dumping fistfuls of kibble over the packages of cheese crackers I had saved for Tyler. I would have to dig them out later for him.

As he neared finishing the second bag, I started to grow impatient. Bending down, I bit the bottom of the partially filled and completely soaked bag I had been working with. As I lifted it from the ground, the brown mush of wet dogfood splattered to the gravel, and I trotted the dripping bag over to the working man.

He finished stuffing the last handful of kibble into the second bag, and he took the remaining one from my mouth. I looked down at the two full bags in front of me. He had filled them so that their carrying handles were stretched upwards, and they looked like they were bulging at the seams. Fox territory was only across the road, but I had no idea how far I would have to carry them intact through the forest. Hopefully, they wouldn't get caught on some brambles and tear open while I took them to the new foxes. Then I remembered my conversation with the Vixen; I needed to find a map of the local area, in case there was somewhere we could safely send them.

I'll be right back. Keep at it.

Leaving the man to fulfilling my commands, I dashed back to the front of the store. Thankfully, the door was still propped open, and I was able to go inside without his help. Right in the entryway stood a spinning rack filled with maps and postcards for the travelers. I had missed it while I was more interested in finding the food to take to the foxes. They looked dusty and ignored by the customers as well, now that everyone had GPS on their phones. Still, I had use for them as I couldn't use such luxuries anymore. Nipping the corner of the local map I needed from the stand, I retreated back outside and turned the corner to where the shopkeeper was still working.

Put this in the bag, I yipped.

Hardly breaking rhythm, the man took the folded map from where I placed it next to him, and jammed it into the kibble before robotically throwing another handful on top of it.

While I waited for him to finish filling the last bag, I threaded my jaw through the loops of the filled bags next to the man, and gave them a lift. Already, the two bags were a bit strenuous to lift, but I felt I had enough strength in my neck to lift one more. Moving through the woods with them in my fangs would be another problem I would have to tackle as I came to it.

The shopkeeper finished filling the bag, and I held my snout up to him, positioning myself for him to hook the final bag in my jaws. Without hesitation, he followed my wordless suggestion, and worked the plastic handle into my black lips.

Now go inside and forget you ever saw me today, I said with a muffled woof and a wag of my fluffy tail.

Standing up, the man walked back toward the corner of the building to go back inside, looking dazed and confused about why he was outside.

Straining against the weight in my mouth, I watched him leave and disappear around the corner. Before I could lift a paw to start my trek toward the new foxes, I felt a lurch in my stomach. The void was thrashing angrily from my expenditures of the Flame. It wasn't painful, but it awakened a fury and resentment I didn't know I had within me.

I had come here to help the new foxes, and yet, because of that man's stubbornness, I had damaged myself through the use of the Flame, and I would have to live with it biting my insides for a very, very long time. At least, until someone gets turned into a fox and shares their human essence with me.

But why wait until then? The man was here now, and he had done this to me. Did he not deserve paying for the trouble he caused?

It was an enticing thought. Humans didn't tread in the woods, so it was unlikely I would get another opportunity so soon. As a candidate for foxhood, he was a far better choice than the crazy man the Apartment vixen had turned. No one was around to see him, or to miss him, and there weren't dozens of people around in their homes in case the transformation drove him insane.

Finally lifting my paw from the ground, I took my first steps towards the corner of the building, intent on reentering it. The new momentum made the bags of food sway gently, and the nearest one lightly bumped against my fluffy white chest.

I stopped.

Whatever anger I had been feeling from the void dissolved immediately. This whole trip was to help the new foxes, and I suddenly wanted to add to their numbers because of a little bit of discomfort. I had gotten used to being a fox after only a few days of living in the woods as one, but that was no excuse to go back on my promise I had made to myself.

Anger replaced itself with shock and disbelief. It was only a few days ago I was willing to die to prevent causing anyone more harm from my curse, and the first moment I had to be tempted, I nearly failed. If the food situation wasn't so dire, I wasn't certain I could have had the presence of mind to stop myself.

Without wasting another moment, I heaved my neck upwards to keep the bags from dragging, and scurried across the road into the grassy field on the other side.

---

Possessing the powerful jaws and neck of a predator allowed me to get further into the woods than I had anticipated. While overburdened by the bags of food hanging from my fangs, I had expected to need a break within minutes after leaving the shop, but to my surprise, fatigue set in only after the exertion forced me to pant through my clenched teeth. By then, the dark trees of the forest had enveloped me after passing through the yellowing field grass that lined the road.

Setting down the trio of bags on the packed earth of the woods, I twisted and stretched my neck out to give it a chance to recover. My pink tongue slipped out of my muzzle, and I began to pant out my heat, now that my mouth was free to open on its own accord. Between breaths, I snorted at the absurdity of it all: never in my life would I have thought about missing sweating, but here I was after lifting and running around with nearly half my weight hanging from my teeth, and I had to drop what I was holding just to cool myself off. I didn't have to think about sweating when I was human. At least, I mused, if I still had sweat glands as a fox, this was better than trying to wipe sweat from my fuzzy brow with paws that could barely reach the tip of my nose.

Looking down at the bags, I saw the map I had grabbed from the store poking through the piles of brown kibble. Gingerly, I nipped the exposed corner and pulled it free, tossing it in front of me with a flick of my neck. It spun through a few rotations before the air caught in one of the folds, and it fluttered to the forest floor, now partially open. For a moment, I tucked my tongue back into my mouth to prevent any drips of saliva from falling onto the paper. Taking my paw, I held down one corner, and nudged and nuzzled my nose in between the folds to get the map to unfurl. A few minutes passed as I tried to open the map between breaths, and by the time it was open and unfolded properly, I had stopped my panting entirely, as well as covered a sizable portion with damp pawprints.

Dominating the center of the map was a green blotch that represented the foxes' domain, but it was listed merely as a historical wildlife preserve. To the humans, there would have been little reason to visit such a locale, despite the country highway that surrounded it. No dotted lines of nature trails were marked on the map, and aside from a short service road marked in the southern corner of the wood, it didn't look like anyone would ever need to enter the forest. Just as well, because any humans that managed to get into the forest would be turned away or turned into foxes for their effort. Considering how little evidence I had seen of deforestation from the lumberjacks, I wondered if anyone had actually managed to collect lumber from the land, or if everyone merely thought they did. I would have to ask the Lumberjack fox his story someday.

Studying the legend and the distance I had traveled from the Country Corner Market, it looked like I was nearing the southern corner. The Vixen had not been able to give clear directions to where the dead zone was that the new foxes were staying, but she implied it was as far from the den as possible, and the southern corner met that description. For all the terror that the Vixen had from roads, I hoped that the new foxes had not been exiled onto one, even if it wasn't used often.

Huffing another sigh through my dark nose, I began to paw at the edges of the map, doing my best to fold it back up along the creases so I could keep it safe in the bag of food. I still needed it to show the new foxes their options for finding food and shelter.

Leaning into the bag with the lightly crumpled and soiled map in my teeth, I jammed it back into the mounds of kibble, and gently laced the six bag handles through my fangs. With a heave of my neck, I lifted the bags from the ground and pressed deeper into the woods.

Moving through the forest with the food became more and more difficult. Still, something in the depth of my gut told me I was on the right path to find the exiled foxes, and now I had an idea of how far I had to go. Aside from the odd bramble or twiggy bushes that dared to snag on the delicate plastic bags, there was little to stop me from reaching my destination with my cargo intact.

Ducking under one such bush, and lightly dragging the bags against the earth, my paw fell on a dry stick, and it snapped in half with a loud crack. Immediately, a loud cacophony of fox warning barks sounded in the deathly silent woods. Gently, I placed the bags on the ground, and raised my head and ears high; each twisting back and forth to find the source of the calls. They were all around me, and I didn't have to wait more than a few seconds before I was descended on by the scout foxes.

Halt! Cried the first fox to emerge from the brush and confront me. _ You city foxes were told to stay on your corner of the forest and find your own home. This is our woods. Go back to your space and keep out!_

The scout fox was bristling with anger, but he finished reciting his edict before he noticed the bags of food in front of me. Hey, where did you get those?!

Despite being pointlessly chewed out and the lightly irritating burning of the void, I gave my tail a merry sway to reply, but before I could yip an answer, a second scout fox appeared.

No danger. He Leader Vixen mate. Vixen come here. Tell he come with food. She turned to me and said, You not come until nightfall. How you early?

Again, I tried giving the answers to the questions posed to me, but the first fox interjected. His expression changing from anger to dubious suspicion.

Why are you bringing them food? The clan needs the food just as badly. He sniffed the air around the bags before sticking his nose in. _Wait, are you feeding them dogfood?! _

By now a third and fourth fox had shown up, taking positions behind me. The fourth then asked with a whine, Why dogfood? Couldn't you have raided a vending machine if you had to go to the humans for food? That stuff leaves a waxy taste in my mouth.

Yet again, I wanted to say that the food was fine when I tried it, but the third fox interjected with a laughing gekker, That's pretty rich coming from the guy that won't eat his prey uncooked; feeding the city foxes with dogfood. Ha!

Two more scout foxes popped out in time for all six of them to join in on the squeaky laughing at my expense.

I was starting to get flustered and my hackles rose with my irritation. Not one of the forest foxes had tried to do anything to accommodate the newcomers, and now they were all laughing at me for trying something, and that something had cost essence I didn't want to spend. Opening my mouth wide and raising my paw toward the first fox, I prepared to gekker angrily back in the midst of their laughter, but their laughter died before I could squeal back.

The second fox yipped gleefully first. Scout fox no more tease new mate. I go to den. Tell Vixen you here. All scout fox back to perimeter!

In unison, the other five foxes snorted their agreement, and in the blink of an eye and a rustle of leaves, they all disappeared into the brush around me, leaving nothing behind besides a few shallow paw prints in the dirt.

I was stunned enough at the encounter that my paw was still hanging in the air, no longer able to place it on the furry chest of a taunting scout fox. Slowly, I set it back down and looked around for anyone that needed their questions answered, but every one of the scouts had left. Shaking my head at the absurdity of it all, I lowered my head to the bags, and laced my fangs through the handles once more. I must be getting close to the city foxes if I was passing through their security perimeter.

Less than a hundred feet later, I rounded a rather large fir tree, and immediately recognized the dead zone the hunter foxes had told me about yesterday. A small band of grass separated the rest of the wood from the dead zone, and the closer the grass grew to it, the browner and drier it became. The trees were gray and densely packed together, covered in lichen and moss, and missing all of their foliage. It looked more like a bone yard for trees than any other verdant part of the lush forest. A musty scent of decay and rot wafted in the air and made my nose twitch.

Astonishment froze the breath in my lungs as I looked up at the towering monochromatic trees. The other foxes had told me of the troublesome position they had been put in with the arrival of the newcomers, and I fully understood it, but I couldn't see it as anything other than cruel to stick them here in exile. I only hoped I could help find a solution with them, because the foxes of the forest didn't have one to offer, and I had already damaged myself by taking the initiative for them. Resolutely, I trotted over the dying grass and entered the dead zone, fluffy tail held high to show any of their guards that I was coming in peace.

Dead needles and prickly forest debris scratched my paw pads while I passed through a wide path between the dead trees. Unlike on my clan's side of the divide, there didn't seem to be any scout foxes waiting to repel intruders, because every crunching and cracking twig was met with the lingering silence in the air. There was no way to tell how close I was to the city foxes without putting my nose down to track them, and that was going to be difficult while carrying the bags of food.

Where are you going with those? asked a voice from above.

I nearly jumped out of shock and surprise, but I felt my hackles prickle instead. High in a dead sycamore ahead, a young vixen sat on one of the larger limbs that stretched overhead, paws curled under her tiny frame. She was looking down at me with wide golden eyes, and her head was cocked to the side in curiosity.

Gently, I set the bags down on the ground, and raised my nose to address her. I heard you needed food, so I brought what I could carry, I said with a flick of my tail before sitting down on my haunches. The fur on my hackles started to flatten as I relaxed from the startling she gave me.

Awesome! I'm starving, she replied with an excited yip. Standing up on the limb, she gingerly crawled to the low trunk base, and hopped down. What'cha bring me? She added with a squeak. No sooner had she asked the question, then her ears drooped and her expression turned sour. _ Is that-- dogfood? You're feeding us dogfood?_

My heart sank. Despite my best intentions, perhaps the junk food and snacks would have been accepted more readily. I'm sorry, it was the best I could do.

She grimaced. It looked like the same face I must have made when confronted with eating voles. Fine, whatever. It will be better than the grubs anyway. She turned away from the bags and started trotting ahead. _ I'm sure my parents will appreciate it._

_Can you help me carry one of these bags? They are quite heavy,_I barked ahead at her. There was a long sigh through her nose, and she rounded about without stopping. Wordlessly, she returned to the trio of bags, and snatched one up in her mouth before returning to her original course. It dangled from her mouth at a haphazard angle as she carelessly trotted ahead.

Thanks, I added, and picked up the remaining two, finding the weight a lot more manageable, but anxious about her handling of the third. Her only reply was a sardonic tail flick as she led. The remaining trip wasn't long, and with her carrying the third bag, we covered the remaining distance in minutes.

The trail ended in a wide clearing. A large fallen log spanned the width of the camp while a handful of foxes perched upon it, curled into balls of orange fur. Next to the log sat several more foxes having a heated discussion; their mouths open wide in a quiet gekker. All around the edges of the space, more foxes were lying around, many curled neatly into fluffy balls. Despite the quiet bickering of the few still awake, it was their naptime, and we were intruding.

Imperiously, the vixen trotted over to the middle of the camp, and carelessly deposited her bag onto the dirt. It slowly slumped over, and some of the food started to spill out from the top. Following her lead, I placed the other two bags down next to it, making an effort to set them where they could support the third bag from falling over completely.

Mary Ann, you said you weren't going to leave the forest! Chided an older vixen as she turned around from gekkering at the other foxes. _ Where did you get those?_

The rustle of plastic, and the chastisement of Mary Ann caused most of the orange balls of fur lying around to each sprout a fox head, ears at attention, and their golden eyes fixed on the newcomers.

I didn't, mom. This guy brought them.

The mother fox turned her attention toward me. You're not one of us. Did the foxes from that cabin send you?

Not exactly, I started. Everyone went into a frenzy when you showed up, and I wanted to make sure you had something to eat.

Then is that food you brought? The mother excitedly squeaked. Several foxes from around the clearing started uncurling to stand up on all-fours and come investigate the bags.

Don't thank him just yet, mom. It's dogfood, interjected the young vixen.

The astonishment and gratitude on the mother's face fell, as did the ears of many of the foxes looking at us. Dogfood? Well, I suppose it's better than nothing... she trailed off, no longer able to maintain her enthusiasm.

By now, the other foxes that had been quietly gekkering out their argument had stopped and were watching us and the bags of food. The larger two foxes didn't look quite so disappointed with the offering as the mother fox.

The other foxes are trying to get all the food out of the forest so you have nothing to stay around here for, I rumbled patiently. After all I had been through today, I should have expected more praise, but I knew I wasn't providing premium cuisine. Only days ago, they would have seen my choice as a demeaning insult. Now that they were no longer human, animal feed was edible and far more nutritious than no food at all. I had to leave the woods so they wouldn't have any claim to it. This was all I could carry.

I'm hungry enough I could eat dogfood, said a fox from behind the mother. Now distracted away from whatever disagreement he had been in with the other three foxes, he padded over to us. Standing next to the mother, I could see him at his full height; a whole head taller than the vixens and me.

I remember you from outside in the rainstorm, he continued. Two of the foxes that brought us here were talking about you. They said you picked a fight and left in exile. Is this your way of getting back at them? His expression narrowed suspiciously. We are looking for food, not more trouble.

No, actually, I chittered back conversationally, I managed to patch things up with them last night. They told me they couldn't feed everyone, and were forcing you out. Being a fox hasn't been easy, so I want to help in any way I can.

Well, I appreciate it, he lifted his paw to shake. My name is Mike, but everyone here is calling me Big Mike.

Returning the cordial gesture, I lifted my paw and touched my pads to his, making the closest approximation of a handshake we could without hands. The title is fitting, I remarked with a snort, having craned my shoulder to meet his greeting. It would have been nice to not lose quite so much weight and size from my transformation. Did something happen to you while you were changing? I asked.

Everyone here has the same story, he grumbled, so I don't think so. I was very large before that bastard broke into my apartment and did this to me. His grumble turned into a sigh, and his golden eyes sank to the ground. _ Big humans make big foxes, I guess. Howard and I were 6' 5"_, he said, lifting his head and gesturing to the large fox behind him.

The other large fox, Howard, corrected him. 6' 7", actually. He stood up and padded over next to Mary Ann's mother, leaning affectionately against her and nuzzling the back of her ear. So, what was this disagreement you had with your clan? Usually, exile means you don't come back and patch things up.

I was taken aback. I wasn't expecting the foxes to try to poke holes in my side of the story. Stammering, I chirped out the truth. The Leader fox saw all of you arrive, and he--he thought I was responsible for turning all of you into foxes. He learned later it was someone else.

Now why would he assume something like that? Interjected Big Mike. The city is miles away, and it took us a whole day to get here!

Bashfully, I dropped my gaze to the forest floor. Well, I was in the city a few days ago.

What?! How! Exploded Howard as he pulled away from the mother fox. Half of the foxes that had been napping were now standing in a circle around us, watching and listening to our conversation. Subtle cues in their posture made me feel uneasy, like they were looking for a fight.

Glancing around nervously at the foxes encircling me, I replied earnestly, I caught a bus and went back to my old job.

There was a brief moment of silence as my words sank in before the entire congregation of foxes erupted with squeaky laughter.

I stood still, waiting for their laughter to die down, taking their jeering in stride. Big Mike was the first to catch his breath. Slapping his paw across my back, he asked, _Man, a bus! I wish we had thought of that. _

Could'a saved a lot of time. So, what was your old job? Mail courier?

Data entry.

Immediately, the loud gekkers of squeaks and laughing filled the fox's camp, this time more uncontrollable than the last. Several foxes fell over into the dirt from their fits of giggling at my foolishness.

Still chuckling next to me, Big Mike managed to heave out, And while you were doing your data entry, did you happen to meet any crazy people. His chuckling had stopped, and he was looking quite serious as he towered over me. The rest of the clearing had become deathly silent. Snarling dangerously, he finished, And how much did he look like a fox when you last saw him?

I wanted to answer him truthfully, and tell him what I knew after my visit to his apartment complex, but between him and Howard flanking me, as well as the rest of the camp closing around, there was a very real chance they would try to kill me. They had done it before, and there was no doubt in my mind that they were emboldened by it.

I never met anyone other than my coworkers that day, I said, still technically the truth.

Mike looked down at me suspiciously, trying to figure out if I was lying. He gave up after a moment and turned to face Howard. Do you believe him?

Yeah, Mike, growled Howard. _I think I do, but it's quite a coincidence he was in the city when this happened to us. Yet, he brought us food, after all. Does he seem like the type to leave a psychopathic monster in a populated area? _

No, agreed Big Mike.

All around us, the new foxes started to relax as the tensions subsided. Deciding to change the subject away from my mistakes, I asked,The foxes at the den said you actually killed him. That's supposed to be really hard to do with our healing magic.

Yeah? Well, it's true. Ripped out his throat myself. Howard and I took him on. The madman was running out of people in the apartment complex, and would have changed the whole city if we let him. He took in a sharp breath through his snout as he relived the memory in his head. _You're damn right about being hard to kill. The vicious bastard kept healing himself with the same magic he used to change us. Took a few chunks out of me before he went down. _

He lowered his head to show me the top of it. Thankfully, the magic doesn't play sides. It returned my torn ear in a matter of minutes. You can't tell it was ever savaged! He chittered excitedly as he got lost in recalling the tale.

Yeah, you can't see any scars or anything, I said flatly, desperately hoping to keep them thinking about anything other than my admission of being in the city.

Howard interrupted Big Mike's excited war story, We're still amazed that magic is real. Though, regrowing an ear is a lot less shocking than suddenly turning into an animal. You're probably used to it all by now.

I've had a few surprises still, I countered, thinking back to the incident with the Apartment vixen's den blowing up. Just be very careful what you use the magic on. It jumps out of you if you want something too much, and it's possible to overuse it.

That makes sense, squeaked Mike. I was pretty mad about losing my ear so soon, and that's when it started to regrow. He twitched both of his ears back and forth. So how much is too much?

By now, the rest of the foxes around us were starting to mill about, no longer exclusively interested in our conversation. A handful of them started to encircle the bags of dogfood instead.

Addressing Big Mike, I rumbled out, It depends on what you do with it. Don't focus on the random things you want too hard, and you'll be fine. Something like healing, or other survival necessities, and you'll never run out of magic. I used it today to keep myself hidden from the humans while getting the food. As long as the light from the magic is blue, you are using it safely.

Mike cocked his head to the side, trying to relate my words to what he had seen from the last few days. Mary Ann's mother piped up with a yip toward Howard. _ Honey, wasn't the light blue when your throat healed?_

Howard didn't get a chance to respond. A pair of foxes that were nosing around in the bags of food started to bicker loudly. One snapped at the other, causing the other to screech and gekker back.

Wheeling around, Big Mike immediately intervened. Hey, hey, hey, settle down. We need to divvy up that into rations before ya'll start taking your fill. Howard, can you come help?

Responding to the call, Howard gave his wife a lick on the side of her muzzle and trotted over to the fighting foxes. The several that weren't fighting broke their circle and let him pass so he could break up their altercation. Rising up onto his hind paws, he shoved the two down to the ground, pinning them with his forepaws before gekking loudly into their ears to knock it off.

Mike turned back toward me, and leaned down to fix his golden eyes on mine. I remember a lot of purple light sparking from the eyes of the fox that did this to us. He practically never stopped glowing with the stuff. It was like he was possessed by it. I figured after what he did to us, he used to be human too, but there was no humanity left in him. He was just an animal by the time we put him down.

Flamestarved, I confirmed for him. That's what the other foxes call it once you run out of magic. I dropped our eye contact, and looked over to Howard dealing with the other foxes. The crowd around him had all their fluffy tails held high with excitement, but it looked like Howard was having success in calming down the fight. _You all have to learn to control yourselves, or you will end up like your madman. _

Big Mike furrowed his brow and then darted back a few paces to the fallen log. Leaping atop it, he bellowed out in a warning bark, _Listen up, everyone! No one is to use the magic without clearing it by me first. _

The camp was filled with a series of barks and yips from everyone, all acknowledging their orders. However, not everyone was excited to treat Big Mike as their leader; I caught sight of Mary Ann on the far end of the log, shaking her head in disapproval.

And don't let me catch any of you cheating, Mike continued, nodding toward Mary Ann who had taken on a scowl. _ If you need medical treatment, you can use it without my permission. Any other use will put you one step closer to becoming like the fox that did this to us!_

Turning his head to address me, he finished, Now, this nice fox from the woods brought us a late lunch, so I need all of you to form three lines so we can get this separated out into proper rations.

He stepped down from the log and trotted to few paces back to where I sat. _Your warning about the magic may have saved some of our lives. Not everyone has been cautious with their new powers. _

Around us, the foxes dutifully carried out Big Mike's call to assembly, queuing up into three lines while Howard took over managing the food in the bags. A few more fox heads poked out from holes around the edges of the camp. With only a moment hesitation, they launched from their dens, and added themselves to the food lines.

_Glad I could help,_I chittered back to Mike. _ It was over a week before I had any guidance, and things didn't go well immediately after that. _

Mike! Called out Howard from over by the bags of food. What do you want to do about these crackers?

My heart sank. I had forgotten to remove the crackers from the bags, and now I understood what the two foxes were bickering over.

Um, wait! I yipped out impulsively. Those weren't meant for you guys.

Thirty-two pairs of eyes stopped what they were doing and fixed on me. The crushing weight of the disapproval in their expressions caused me to take a step back and droop my tail between my legs.

Howard spoke out first. What do you mean they aren't for us? You bring us dogfood, but you want to keep the good stuff for yourself?

A few of the foxes turned their nose up in disgust at my perceived selfishness. One broke rank to try to secure the crackers for himself.

I knew they had every reason to try to protect the last bit of human food they may eat in a long, long time, but the crackers never were for me. No! I barked out with a squeak. I don't want the crackers either. I got them for my friend!

Your friend? That sounds like a convenient excuse, Big Mike chortled sarcastically_. I suppose your 'friend' couldn't get crackers on their own? What's their excuse for making you do all the work, that they didn't want to help us?_

His accusation was quite damning, enough so that Howard picked up on of the packages of crackers, and started trying to open it with his fangs.

Mike continued, If they didn't want to help you get food, then we don't owe them anything. Just tell them you forgot and let us enjoy the crackers.

Howard, stop! I barked out before he could get any further. My friend couldn't come because I turned him into a fox, and now crackers are about the only way I can make it up to him.

Big Mike chuckled out a gekker, So? Join the club. We are all foxes now. Crackers aren't going to change a thing for your friend. If he wanted them so bad, he should have helped you carry more food for us.

He didn't end up like us, I whimpered._ _ Thankfully, Howard was doing me the courtesy of not opening the packaging while I explained myself._ I turned him into a normal fox. He doesn't have the magic, and he doesn't really speak anymore. I don't know if he remembers being human either. The crackers are the only thing that shows me there's still a part of him in there, and it's the only thing I can do to make up for what I did to him. _My ears dipped to the back of my neck, and I trailed off remorsefully.

Several of the onlookers' muzzles dropped open in shock. Mike's ears plastered themselves back as well, and he looked like he would have gone pale if his face wasn't covered in fur. The fox that had jumped the line looked like he had lost interest in stealing the delicious snacks. Whatever anger or frustration the foxes were feeling towards me dissolved completely, and a moment of silence hung in the air.

Mike was the first to break the pall that hung over the camp_. Despite everything we've been through_, he muttered with a low growl, that's the one thing we've been telling ourselves to keep us going. For all that happened to us, we don't have to be animals like that madman. We know who we were and who we love. He paused to nod toward Howard and his family. If your friend doesn't have even that much to hang onto, then he can have the crackers. It will save us the effort of splitting those tiny bags up.

Thank you, Big Mike,_I whimpered out somberly. _I know the old Tyler would appreciate it.

Mike turned away to help Howard, and I watched them begin work on dividing the food into thirty-two portions. It was slow work, and each fox barely got more than a few mouthfuls of food, but the happily swaying tails and the sounds of crunching kibble told me that they were enjoying what they had been brought.

At the edge of the cluster of foxes, I caught sight of Mary Ann using her nose to scoop her portion into a small pyramid before chomping off the top of it. I smirked at the juxtaposition of her delicate handling of the food, and the haphazard consuming of it. Without realizing it, her mother appeared next to me after she had consumed her ration.

Having noticed the amusement, on my face from watching her daughter, she yipped out, She's taking to this pretty well, all things considered.

She seems rather independent, I murmured through my fangs. Turning to meet her golden eyes in proper conversation, but that could be the fox in her now.

No, she hasn't changed much in that regard, the mother fox shook her head. She's always preferred to be left alone. Howard and I were getting worried about her future because she never listens to us. She graduated last year, and hasn't been taking any initiative to move out on her own or get a job, and she doesn't have many friends from school either. All she did was stay in her dark bedroom until I'd call her out for dinner. Then this happens to all of us, and suddenly she's excitedly going door-to-door to let everyone know we were confronting the madman. If being a fox is what it takes for her to find her place in the world, then I guess we can live with it.

Really? I asked. You're okay being a fox for your daughter?

It wouldn't be my first choice, no, she squeaked, but we're trying to remain positive. Seeing her happy has made this a lot easier for Howard and I.

I never planned on having kids, so I couldn't really relate. It took me almost two weeks to get used to being a fox, and only the Vixen had been my silver lining through the ordeal. Somehow this family had managed to exceed my progress with a positive attitude in a matter of days. Granting that, it was hard not to be a little envious of how much pain they got to skip compared to me.

The foxes around us finished their meal of kibble, and a few moments of silence slipped by as we watched Mary Ann finish her pile. The silence between us started to feel a little awkward after I caught the mother vixen looking at me, looming around as if something was on her mind. Turning toward her I asked, Was there something you wanted to ask me? Her comments about her daughter didn't seem like enough reason to hang around an outsider like me.

Well, it's about the magic. Mike sounded like it was serious when he said we shouldn't use it and I've seen Mary Ann playing around several times over the last few days.

What color was the light when she used the magic? I yipped out urgently._ Please tell me it was blue._

I-- I don't know, she whimpered._ I think it was blue every time. All I saw was her making some flowers grow in a field on our way from the city. She also made the back of that log fall off without touching it, but I didn't see that one. She ran up to me to tell me what she had done._

_She was up in a tree when I entered this area of the forest, I informed her. If she was up there playing and practicing the magic, there's no telling how much of her essence she has wasted. She needs to stop using it immediately. Every time the light shines purple, the closer she gets to becoming like the fox that changed all of you. _

Her golden eyes went wide, and she barked over to Mary Ann, scurrying away from my side to scold her daughter for playing with such dangerous powers. I watched them gekker and argue for a minute before Mary Ann rolled her eyes and slunk off into the decaying woods, no longer interested in fighting with her mother. The mother vixen gave chase, being the only one of the two that understood the danger Mary Ann was in.

Appearing at my side where her mother had just left, Big Mike dropped off the packages of crackers and the map that had been jammed into one of the bags.

I stopped our property manager from stealing these, he said flatly. Judging by the expression on Mike's face, he wanted to eat them as well, but he was holding to his decision to let me keep them for Tyler.

The map was for you to look at, I returned. Bending down, I pushed it towards him with my snout.

What do I need with an old road map? He yipped, a tone of frustration entering his vocalization. For all my good intentions today, a lot of my solutions were coming across as nonsensical to him.

Look, the other foxes won't let you stay here, and if you try, you all are going to starve to death. The food I brought today won't be enough to sustain you for very long, even if you all march over to the corner market and pick up the leftovers--

Don't think I've haven't figured that out already! he interrupted angrily. Your clan kicked us to the curb the moment we showed up, and we didn't even start anything with anyone. We've been as polite as we can be, but none of you seem to care! Have you all been foxes so long that you've forgotten what it was like?

As a matter of fact, yes, I wagged flatly.

Mike's ears flatted at the callousness of my reply, but before he could respond, I continued.

_For me, it's only been two weeks, and that's why I'm here helping you now. But the other foxes have been doing this for decades. The magic can be used to keep you alive and healthy a lot longer than any normal fox, and possibly far longer than normal humans from what I've gathered. Feeding you a few plastic bags of food is too short-term of a solution for the way the other foxes think. _

The news that he would be alive for an excessively long amount of time caused Big Mike's head to spin and he had to drop his haunches to the ground. He looked around the encampment at the other foxes, realization dawning on his face that they were all going to be foxes forever.

The map is a backup plan, I rumbled. _ If I can't find a way to get more food to you, then you'll need to leave the forest, or we all will starve. You need to look at it and find another forest you can get to safely, and where you will be safe from contact with the humans._ Reaching down, I picked up the map by the corner with my fangs.

I decided we were going to head back to the suburbs tomorrow. We passed through them on the way here, and there were plenty of houses and trashcans to raid. If your clan doesn't want us to stay in the forest, then we'll find shelter there, he barked resolutely. I'd rather eat table scraps and handouts than dogfood anyway.

Shaking my head, the map flopped back and forth while I whimpered, Then all of you are going to have to be prepared to turn the humans there into foxes. After what I did to my friend, I can tell you that you don't want that on your conscience.

Mike scoffed, I don't think I'm going to be having sex with anyone looking like this. I'm sure none of us will be. He gave me a dubious look, like he was judging me for my impropriety.

I sighed through my nose, placing the map down on its edge so the first fold would unfurl. _ It's not that simple. Eventually, you don't have much of a choice. I spent this morning fighting the shopkeeper for the food I brought. After all the care I took to not use the magic, it eventually slipped out and forced him to give me the food. If you go to the suburbs wanting help, day after day, year after year, one of you is going to run out of magic, and then steal the humanity from someone that had been feeding you._ The sheet of paper yielded, and I stuck my paw in between the folds to try to pull it apart further.

A shimmer of understanding flickered on Big Mike's face, but his defiant expression remained. _ I will make sure everyone is careful! We will make it work. Howard and I can stop anyone that takes it too far and disobeys us!_

What if it's his own daughter? I asked, stopping my task of unfolding the map to look Mike in the eye. His wife said she's been playing with the magic like a toy.

Mike opened his mouth to respond, but he choked on his words before they left his muzzle. He turned away sharply, unwilling to return the eye contact I was making. I'll find a way, he finally stated, but the resolve in his voice had faltered.

Leaving him to his dark thoughts, I nipped another fold in the paper and pulled, finishing the unfolding of the map. _ _I felt bad for Big Mike. He didn't have many options, and I was there telling him he had even less than he had planned for. Had I not brought the food today, he may not have trusted my expertise at all, as I was just another fox of the forest to him.

Ok, ok, we'll call your plan, Plan C, I whimpered to him, wagging my tail sympathetically. _ I brought the map for finding a strong Plan B._

Mike turned around from his brooding. What's Plan A then?

_I still have some money stashed in a bank account from when I was human. Plan A is to go to the city and buy as much food as I can afford and get it here. _

What kind of plan is that? Didn't you just say you can't be around the humans? He scoffed.

_I think I can do it, I chirped. The magic will have to help me a lot, and I've had some experience dealing with the humans as a fox. _

Mike sat back on his haunches. Ok, say you make it to the city and get all the food you can afford, what do you want us to do for food? I'm not going to make everyone sit around and starve for another day when I've promised them we're heading out tomorrow.

It was my turn to sit back on my haunches and think for a moment. Take those plastic bags to the corner market here, I indicated the corner street on the edge of the woods with my paw._ There's a at least a half-bag of dogfood still there by the dumpster. A group of you could collect a lot more than I could on my own._

No good, growled Mike while shaking his head. _Your clan is blocking us from leaving the forest to the north. _

You'll need to use this service road here, I said pointing my paw at the southern corner of the marked nature reserve. Skirt around the perimeter here, and you should be able to make the trip in an hour or two without anyone stopping you. Just keep away from any humans you meet.

I think you've made that much clear, he scoffed._ I was at that road only an hour ago. It's only a few hundred yards that way_, he rumbled with a nod beyond the camp. _Some sort of cell phone relay tower was set up there. _

Interesting, I muttered, a half-formed puzzle piece falling into place in the back of my mind. Now let's find you a Plan B if you've agreed to delay your Plan C for a bit.

Fine, he snorted. I'll give you one extra day if there's food we can collect.

Thank you, I yipped.

Big Mike didn't look too enthusiastic about our arrangement, but at least I got him to trust me before he did anything rash. Together, we poured over the map, looking at the greenbelts, and using our collective knowledge of the area to figure out if the blank sections were habitable for their group. To our best recollection, all the closest options were grassy fields that would provide little shelter from the elements. Slowly, our radius expanded outwards, leaving us with the next viable forest nearly thirty miles away.

I had just finished comparing the legend to the number of my paw-lengths between our forest and the next candidate when Mary Ann returned to the camp with my mate in tow. Pulling my nose from out of the map, I wagged my tail to her, welcoming her over. Big Mike raised his head from the map as well, shifting to the side to make space for my mate to join us.

I wait at road. You no come, she demanded sternly as she sat down on her haunches next to the map.

My enthusiastic tail wagging diminished to an apologetic flutter. _ I'm sorry, Mate. I missed the bus and ended up coming here directly._

You get human Flame for make food? She asked, looking around the camp with her head cocked. No food here now.

Human Flame? Big Mike interrupted. Having a barbecue here would start a wild fire with all this dead wood!

No, no, no, I laughed with a gekker. I told her about money, and that's what she's calling it.

I don't get it,_he said flatly. Turning to the Vixen, he then added, A_side from those crackers, we ate it already.

Glancing down, the Vixen eyed the packages of crackers on the ground next to me. Cracker no food for fox, she growled. Much danger and bad food. You no help fox.

_Vixen, I didn't feed them crackers. These are for Tyler. _

_Plan not work. Fox no leave forest every day for food,_she screeched. Stepping forward onto the map, she leaned forward to give the bag of cracker a prod with her snout.

Tyler no need human food. Tyler fox now. He eat-- she interrupted herself as she caught my scent, and her golden eyes went wide. Urgently, she stepped fully onto the map with total disregard, leaving dirty paw prints on the clean paper. She continued to sniff the white fur on my chest, and worked her way up my neck, across my fluffy cheek, and then in my pointed ear. She sat back, completely obscuring the map on the ground from either Mike and I.

You use Flame! She gekkered loudly. You use Flame for one day help! How you feed tomorrow?!

Her hackles were bristling up with anger, but I could see the sorrow in her eyes.

Behind her, Mike piped up. Ma'am, you're wrecking the map.

Mike should have stayed quiet. The Vixen spun around and lunged toward his face, maw gaping open and ears pulled back as she screamed at him. Why you here! You told to leave! You no leave and now he hurt!

Big Mike, while a whole head taller than the Vixen, shrank back from the sudden ferocity of the irate fox, but he didn't yield fully. Instead, he stood his ground rigidly, and let the Vixen vent her frustrations at him.

Forest no home for city fox! Fox stay in city and leave clan alone!

Vixen, I whimpered softly. I want to help them. It's my mess to clean up, and Mike didn't do anything wrong.

She stopped screaming at Big Mike and turned around to face me, smearing a few more paw prints on the map. Calmly she whined back, Small hurt now. Get big hurt if feed foxes every day. Foxes must leave.

Regaining her composure, the Vixen turned away and trotted out of the camp the same way she came in, her nose held defiantly in the air.

As I watched her leave, I noticed how the other foxes in the camp had been watching us argue loudly. I bent my ears down in embarrassment before turning around to sweep her dirty paw prints off the map with my tail.

Phew, and I thought she was the nice one, Mike said as the tension dissipated. Bitches be crazy, am I right?

Hey! I snarled._ She's my mate! She's just worried about me._

Oh, sorry, he whimpered. Then he turned a suspicious eye toward me, So, you and her, you guys are... he trailed off and gestured suggestively with a sideways nod of his head in the Vixen's direction.

What? No! I barked out, shocked by the suggestion. Though, now that he had said it, I realized my reaction was more from embarrassment of our relationship than horror at his suggestion.

Hey, no judgment from me, Mike smirked and waggled his tail. _ Things have gotten weird for all of us, and a man has his needs._

I didn't have a cogent reply, so I flicked my tail in acknowledgement, and went back to reviewing the map. However, my focus had been broken, and after only a few moments, I realized I needed to catch up to the Vixen.

Leaning back onto my haunches, I prepared to announce my departure to Big Mike, but before I could say anything, Mike rumbled without breaking his attention from the map, If you need to go to her, I got this Plan B of yours.

Thanks, I do need to go, I yipped to the top of his fuzzy head.

Just one question before you go, he said. Finally sitting back on his own haunches, he made eye contact. What did you mean by us being your mess to clean up?

I felt my ears flatten back against my neck, and my eyes went wide in horror. Without realizing it, I had spilled the beans to Big Mike.

I stood there stunned, unsure of what to say next. Again, Mike repeated, How are we your mess?

Hastily, I bent down and nipped up the crackers, I have to go now, I snorted through a mouthful of packaging. _ I'll have food for you in two days. Stay put!_

With that said, I dashed out of the camp, ignoring Big Mike's protests echoing behind me.

---

Without any more dog food to carry, the trip back to the edge of the dead woods was quicker than I expected, leaving me with the impression that it wasn't a very large territory. Even if the area wasn't devoid of prey animals, it would have been too small to feed so many foxes. I was thankful Big Mike didn't give chase as I left, and I hoped he would find something he would be willing to take his group to, but the options were scarce. It had to remain as a Plan B if they all wanted to survive. But even if I

could find a way to deliver them a proper supply of food for the foreseeable future, would they accept it now that I had let on that I was responsible for their transformation, or would they turn on me like they did with the squatter?

The tree line broke, and I reached the dying band of grass that separated the dead zone. Sitting in the middle of the separation was the Vixen. Her back was turned to me, and her ears and head hung in a morose posture. Slowly, I approached her and sat down to apologize.

Vixen, I--

In a blink of an eye, she whirled around on me, lunging straight at me with her black paws wide. Startled, I jumped back, but not before her paws wrapped themselves around my neck, and the bags of crackers fell from my jaws, rolling down her backside with a light crinkle. Pulling herself in close, she embraced me as firmly as her unwieldy vulpine arms would let her.

Why you stubborn,_she sobbed and whimpered next to my ear, her head now pulled behind mine. _Need you stop help foxes. I lose you if you help! You say foxes your fault. Not your fault! You no fix.

I had been sitting rigidly, expecting an attack, but I slowly relaxed and pressed my furry body against hers, accepting her embrace.

Vixen, I'm sorry I made you worry, I restarted. Things didn't go at all as planned today. One thing led to another, and I'm here now.

Releasing her hug, she pulled back and dropped back to all fours, but she couldn't look me in the eye. Foxes not get much food. You use Flame and help for one day. Foxes hungry tomorrow, and next day, and next day. You keep use flame, you go Flamestarved again, and foxes still hungry! You no win! Foxes must leave soon.

Let me try one more time, I rumbled quietly._ I never got to the city to spend my bank account._

No! She barked sharply, now turning her gaze towards mine. Foxes not Mate's duty to fix. Bad fox make foxes. Other vixen make bad fox. Make her fix!

And I made her into a fox, and you made me as well, I continued the chain of logic for her. The squatter is dead, and I don't think the Apartment vixen is willing to help our clan with the treatment we've given her. If I don't help them, then no one will.

She gekkered, opening her jaws wide but keeping them turned away from me, holding her eye contact at a sideways angle with her ears pulled back. Not fair! Make foxes before. Not make trouble like mate. I make mistake. Let Mate alone too long. I not make trouble!

_That wasn't my point,_I said sternly, but I regretted saying it at all. Making me into a fox was the only part of all of this she had planned. It wasn't fair to rope her in with my mistakes while I took on the blame.

_Then what point?_She snapped at my muzzle angrily, expressing her frustration.

My point is, we all made choices that got us here. I never meant to hurt anyone, and I know you didn't either. But if we don't do something, a lot of foxes are going to die. With all this power of the Flame, I know there is something I can do to fix this, and I don't want to live forever with the guilt of knowing I

could have saved them.

The Vixen closed her jaw, and stopped gekkering, but her ears remained folded back. She stood there motionless for a time, gaze now drifting to the dead grass at our paws. I kept quiet while I let her think, feeling a light breeze rustle our orange fur.

Minutes passed before she finally broke the silence. Leader fox right. Talk mean welcome. I no live with guilt too.

I nuzzled up to her, licking the side of her face affectionately. Tomorrow, I'm going back to the city again, but I'm going to need your help.

She nuzzled back sorrowfully, and then whimpered. I no leave forest. Too dangerous.

I think I can do this on my own, but you need to teach me something before I try.

Her ears perked up, curious about what I had in mind. There weren't many chances for her to show me how to be a fox, and I finally had asked for specifics. Cocking her head to the side, she waited for me to ask the question.

You told me there was a way to make the purple Flame act like blue Flame. The Flame jumped out of me a few times today before I could stop it, and I need to know what you do to control it. I don't think I'm pulling anything off tomorrow without using a lot of the purple stuff.

I watched as her expression fell again, and her whole head drooped with her ears this time, but I also caught the tip of her tail fluttering.

You no ready. You no need lesson, she protested. _ Stay in den._

Vixen, after today, I think I'm more likely to bring back a new fox from the city than let everyone back there starve. I rested the tip of my muzzle on the back of her neck. Please, if there's a way, I need to know it!

I could feel her quivering under my chin. Whether it was nervousness or anxiety, I couldn't tell, but the swishing of her tail made me think it just may have been excitement.

We mate, she squeaked.

Without realizing it, my bushy tail also began to wag merrily.