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Sleep didn't come easily that night. Between the pains of the void mounting and ebbing in retribution for my expenditure of the Flame, and the ceaseless adulation from the other foxes for fixing the den all by myself, I eventually found myself creeping out into the cool midnight air to go rest in my sanctuary.

It wasn't that I was unhappy that the clan was finally starting to accept me, even if it had taken something close to a miracle to earn their respect. However, I needed more space than they were allowing me, especially after they had already intruded on me while I was having intimate time with my mate. Apparently, I was the only fox in the clan that still held onto the notion of privacy. Maybe with time, that would pass, like much of my human life had, but not even turning into an animal was enough to change my mind about what was supposed to be private.

I slumped onto my side into the moist dirt, wincing and panting for a moment while the void lurched in my gut, only for it to disappear completely yet again. Whatever I had done to fix the roof was causing it to go haywire. Every other time I had felt the void creeping up to punish me for using the Flame, it was done in one rise and fall, or stuck around from permanent overuse as I went Flamestarved. Tonight, I was forced to endure its rapidly changing whims, and it was making my rest after a weary day impossible.

To make matters worse, tomorrow was to be my day to return to the city, and I needed to be fresh. Not only to make it back in one piece, but also to keep my mind sharp so as not to lose control of the Flame around the humans. If the void was going to prevent me from sleeping, I would have to rest on the bus, and I had a history of that not turning out well for the other passengers. Momentarily, I considered postponing the trip to wait for a safer day, but then I realized Big Mike would be leaving the forest soon if I didn't bring a food source to them. After what Leader fox told me, it was very likely their departure would rekindle the forgotten war between the foxes and humans, and not even the power of the Flame could prevent the loss of life once the humans realized what the foxes are capable of.

In the dark, the sound of a twig snapping sounded from the entrance tunnel to my sanctuary. My golden eyes snapped open, pupils wide and round in the dead of night. Twisting my ears around to listen, the rustle of fur and the soft patter of paws on dirt approached in the tunnel. Before I could lift my head to greet the intruder, I caught the soft scent of the Vixen in the air as she approached.

Mate feel bad? She asked as she entered my sheltered clearing.

I thumped my tail in greeting and said, Just having trouble sleeping.

Not accepting my explanation, she trotted over and dipped her head down over me, sniffing my fur from head to tail.

Not good, she whimpered, folding her ears back and drooping her tail.

What are you smelling on me? I asked, finally raising my head from the ground to look at her standing over me.

Mate is Flamestarved, she explained. My fault. Make you fix den. She turned her head away, unable to look me in the eye. I sorry.

Flamestarved?! I barked incredulously, pulling myself up on my forepaws. This doesn't feel anything like last time! The void evaporated in my gut while I felt my heart drop in my chest from shock.

She turned back suddenly, and prodded my neck with her nose, trying to confirm her prognosis. When I expected her to pull back to tell me what she already knew, she froze. Urgently, she jabbed my fur with her snout, looking for something. Snorting and snuffing, she inhaled up and down my body, trying to find something that was no longer there.

What's wrong? I asked, cocking my head to the side.

Not Flamestarved? She chirped out suspiciously. How not Flamestarved now?

I didn't know what to say. She was the one with the magic nose, and I hadn't done anything in the last ten seconds. It's been like this all night. I can feel the pain and then it goes away suddenly.

Flame not work same. What do? She demanded. There was concern in her voice, but there was also a hint of irritation.

I laid back down on my stomach and rested my head between my paws. You were there. I lost control of the Flame and fixed the whole den, I rumbled.

She yipped back, I see you use blue Flame when I use purple. You break fox rule. You break Flame rule. What do?

I don't know! I barked, raising my head from my paws. I wished for safe shelter for all the foxes. What did you wish for?

I ask Flame for more roof, she replied. You ask too much. Dangerous. Now you sick fox.

My head turned away in disagreement. It will be fine once I get some rest, I grumbled.

The Vixen let out a sigh through her nose. You not know. Fox not get sick like you. Sick fox no go to city.

Shocked at the suggestion, I snapped my head back to lock my eyes with hers. Vixen, we agreed we need to help Big Mike before they leave the forest. We have to go to the city, or they will be in trouble!

Mate, I no want go to city, she stammered. Scared. Dangerous.

Fine! I yipped irritably. Sick or not, I'm going tomorrow with or without you. I didn't appreciate her changing her mind at the last minute on me. Placing my head in my paws, I laid down again.

She stood there a moment, silently thinking. Her golden eyes catching the dim forest light as they darted back and forth, considering her options. Finally, she closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. I go. I keep mate safe. Not let you get Flamestarved.

Without another word, she crouched down and laid next to me, putting her chin across the back of my neck. I rolled over and let her snuggle next to me, feeling her warm fur against mine. She pressed herself in tight, afraid for what dangers the daylight will bring.

We have to get up earlier than this morning, I snorted softly. I missed the bus, and that's the only way we're getting into town.

She whimpered back, relaxing finally, I wake you. Rest now. No be sick.

I'll be fine, I squeaked again, more to convince myself than to reassure her.

Closing my eyes again, I drifted off with my mate laying against my side.

---

...The den was dark. Not even my vulpine eyes could pierce the gloom that hung in the air. All around me, the inky black of the night made the walls of the cottage impossible to see, leaving me feeling like I was in an endless void.

In front of me stood the mirror. I tried to look at my reflection, but the darkness was all encompassing, and its surface was as if made of slate. Padding my way over the wooden floor, I approached the blackened glass, intent on touching it with my nose.

Upon reaching the mirror, I could see my luminous golden eyes reflecting back at me, but nothing else in the murk. Just as suddenly as I blinked, they disappeared.

"Enough games. Where is it?" commanded a voice from behind me.

I whirled around. Standing in the shadows where I had been a moment before was a woman, dressed in a black satin evening gown, and holding her hand outstretched with her palm facing up.

"I don't have anything to give you." The words left my muzzle as if someone else was saying them.

The room shifted, and without moving a muscle, the woman was upon me, grabbing my scruff and lifting me into the air in one swift non-motion. I pulled my legs in tight and curled my fluffy tail between them.

"Child, you are not entitled to it. That is the deal we make," she growled dangerously, pulling my face close to hers. There was no effort to disguise her fury, yet something still held her back.

Words fell from my mouth again. "It's not yours. It's mine. It has always been mine."

My defiance earned me a rigorous shaking as the dark woman lost her temper. I yelped in pain as my body thrashed about in her grip.

"Stubborn fox," she shouted, forcing my ears to flatten against the booming of her voice. "I do not suffer thieves and swindlers in my realm!"

I arched my neck, and the skin on my scruff shifted, causing her to lose her grip. Falling to the floor with a soft thud, I landed on all-fours, now free to escape. Without wasting a second, I scampered for the door, intent on leaving into the night. The portal hung open wide in the distance, but before I could reach it and leave the oppressive darkness of the den, the woman appeared, standing in front of my escape, fully blocking the exit. Not to be taken again so easily, I planted my paws down and practically pounced backwards, reversing my direction without advancing another inch toward my captor. Instead, I dashed past the mirror and toward the back of the room.

The layout of the den was very different, but still familiar. Galloping past the fireplace in the kitchen, I reached the back wall and bolted up the stairs to the second floor. Like the rest of the cottage, the small room at the top was sparsely furnished, with little more than a rustic bed and a chest of drawers shoved in the corner. There were no windows on this floor, but the stonework from the kitchen stove below extended up one wall, offering a dual chimney for heating this bedroom.

Another blink and then a black fox with golden eyes sat upon the bed, staring daggers at me.

"If I can not bend you to my needs, and you will not return what you stole, then I will hold you here forever," the fox spoke.

"I know you can't do that," I replied in reflex. "Holding me will cost you more than you can lose."

Fury radiated off the black fox in a ripple of darkness. "Child, your obstinance will not go unpunished," she growled. "Yet, I am conquered by circumstance. Holding you as my thrall can only resolve the lesser of your transgressions. But know this: you can not escape my will. Until you have done all I asked of you, I will torment you in slumber and when you wake."

The black fox fell silent, but her gaze still held fast on mine. Then, without another word, she evaporated as a puff of smoke.

Satisfied she was gone, I turned around and crept back down the stairs. The den had gotten a lot more cluttered while I was upstairs. Piles of debris blocked the kitchen from the rest of the main room, but vaulting over them was effortless. Trotting around the fallen support beam in the center of the dwelling, and weaving between destroyed furniture, I went outside through the large wooden door and felt the warm, golden sunlight hit my furry face. Surreptitiously, I nipped at the sun suspended in the air, grabbing hold of the golden nugget I had hidden there for safekeeping. Not waiting to see if the black fox would show up again, I swallowed it, and let its golden warmth fill my belly once more, bathing in its radiance...

---

Gradually, I became aware of the intense morning sunlight beating down on my furry orange face. Somehow, despite being buried under several layers of the forest canopy, the sun had found the perfect angle to shine directly into my eyelids. I stirred briefly, finding my paws still outstretched as I laid on my side. It was a shame to wake up now, I could tell I was having a good dream.

The Vixen raised her head next to me, uncurling and removing her fluffy tail from her face, then opening her maw wide with a tongue-curling yawn. Closing her mouth, she looked skyward, letting the sun catch her slitted eyes as she gauged the time of day.

Good time. I wake mate soon, she snorted.

Fluttering my tail in acknowledgement, I rolled over onto my paws and stood up to shake the dirt out of my coat. The humidity in the air at this early hour made it clear that today was going to be a hot one. Turning around and pushing into the nearby bushes, I reached the tree I had marked as my own personal bathroom. After relieving myself, I poked my head out, finding the Vixen already standing and lost in thought, but ready to depart.

You good to go? I asked for confirmation. Nothing you need to do before we head off?

She shook her head. Neither of us were feeling very talkative after waking up, but I could tell she was not looking forward to the day. At least the sleep I managed to get was revitalizing enough where I wasn't groggy.

I padded over to her and nuzzled her ear. We're going to be fine, I snorted confidently. Just stick close to me and only go in the road when I say it's safe. Not much else can harm us, right?

My words did nothing to assuage her concerns, but she squeaked out an agreement, unable to find a suitable argument in the moment. Together, we departed my sanctuary, and headed past the den toward the road and bus stop.

From the angle of the sun, I felt the Vixen's sense of time didn't leave much margin for error when it came to the bus schedule, so I found myself hurrying ahead, leaving the Vixen to fall behind in the shrubs and bushes.

Hurry up! I yipped back to her. If we're late, we won't have another chance at this.

Over the sounds of my paws on the earth and the rustling of branches, I couldn't be sure I heard her less-than-enthusiastic reply.

A few short minutes later, the tree cover broke, and the gray asphalt of the road spread before me. On the other side, the solitary bus stop bench stood unattended. Listening carefully, I couldn't hear the sounds of any incoming traffic. We had arrived at a good time.

Lightly panting, the Vixen arrived at my side. One look at the sprawling road sent a shiver down her spine, and I could see her hackles rise.

I leaned over and licked the side of her muzzle. We made it, I think, I said with a wag. I don't hear any cars coming, so we should cross now.

Mate, she whined. You stop bus, but very dangerous last time. Need better way.

She was right. I had been freely using purple Flame when she last saw me attempt to reach the city. Now that I understood more about the Flame, and how to use it safely, I needed a way to get aboard without damaging myself.

The obvious solution was to mate again and use the magic while in the throes of passion; she was accompanying me for that very reason. Once the thought of last night swam back to the front of my mind and our coupling had turned so public, the idea of blatantly repeating that on the open road wasn't very exciting.

Maybe if I run into the road and wish to not get hit by the bus? I thoughtlessly wondered aloud.

Her head twisted so fast to look at me, I thought for a moment she was snapping at a fly.

Mate in road and stop bus? Very bad, very bad idea. More dangerous than you use purple Flame!

Yeah, bad idea, I snorted back. She was right. Jumping out into the middle of the road like last time was reckless. If I did the same now, I could expect the Flame would turn blue for that request, but it was a gamble I didn't need to take. It could still turn purple as I enchanted the driver, or the driver could merely drive around me, granting my wish and never letting me and the Vixen board. Quickly, I thought of another way.

Vixen, go sit on the bench, I'll be over in a sec.

She froze for a moment, not wanting to enter the road, but after a brief hesitation, she scampered across the pavement as fast as her paws could carry her. Once safely on the other side, she hopped up onto the bench, and sat down to watch me.

Stepping out onto the road myself, I turned around and scanned the tree line. Gray bark of tree trunks stood exposed like pillars holding up the forest canopy, having had their northward branches pruned back by road services. Carefully, I inspected each tree from where I stood, looking for the perfect candidate.

Bingo! I yipped to myself as I spotted one that was leaning a little too far toward the road.

Hopping back to the forest edge, I crawled down to where the leaning tree stood rooted to the ground. It was a healthy specimen, roughly a foot in diameter, but it had been crowded out by its neighbors, and it was no longer allowed to stand perfectly erect.

Taking a deep breath in through my dark nose, I closed my eyes and focused.

I need a den large enough for a clan of foxes under this tree! I exclaimed to myself.

*WISH*

Blue light sparked out of my vision, and a massive sinkhole formed in the soil under the tree. The dark passageway looked inviting to dive into, but I didn't need to rest in a den now. Very fortunate, because no sooner had the magic finished excavating the root system of the tilting tree, it lost its grip on the earth, and with a loud series of cracks and snaps, the tree descended to the ground, falling over the road and thirty feet past into the grassy field on the opposite side.

Scrabbling my way up the shallow bank that separated the road from the woods, I climbed up on top of the fallen tree to inspect my handiwork. There was little chance the bus would be able to proceed past this tree, and it was large enough that there was no way the driver would miss it before colliding with the makeshift barricade.

Satisfied, I dropped back to the pavement, and trotted back to the bench where the Vixen waited. She was tilting her head quizzically as I approached.

Blue Flame. How do? She asked, dipping her ears back in noticeable irritation.

I asked for a very large den under that tree, I said proudly with a devilish smirk and tilting my ears back.

Fox have den. No break forest for more den, she coughed in frustration. Use purple Flame to stop bus next time.

If everything goes well, there won't be a next time, I countered, but she turned away from me, looking down the road for the incoming bus.

I followed her gaze, and pricked my ears to listen for the low rumble that heralded the bus's approach, but the morning air was completely silent. Looking to the Vixen, I saw that she was avoiding eye contact with me. When standing atop the fallen tree, I had been proud of the trickery I had pulled with the Flame, but she would have preferred I spent my valuable and limited purple Flame on the wish instead.

Vixen, did I do something wrong? I chirped.

Quiet. I hear bus, she growled.

My black ear twitched, and I also heard the deep engine sounds of the incoming bus. Likely, it was still almost a mile away.

Once it arrives, just follow my lead, I snorted and nuzzled the back of her neck.

She didn't respond, but she understood.

We waited in silence as the sounds of the approaching bus grew louder and louder. Before long, the bus rounded the corner ahead, and as predicted, it slowed to a halt before it hit the fallen tree. A moment later, the thrumming of the engine stopped.

Time to get going, I said, hopping down from the bench. Wordlessly, the Vixen left her seat and landed silently on the pavement below.

Concentrating on stealthy thoughts, I trotted over to where the bus was stopped with the Vixen alongside me. As we reached the fallen tree, I could see the driver through the windshield, holding a CB radio to his face as he reported the incident to his superiors.

He's calling for help, I murmured to the Vixen behind me. We're pretty far out, so I don't think he's going to get any coming this way soon.

She didn't reply, so I turned around. The Vixen was looking at the fallen tree, sniffing and inspecting the trimmed branches along the lower part of the trunk.

Vixen? I asked to see if she was paying attention. We were in front of the bus, and she wasn't giving the humans a single thought.

She looked up from the tree. No break more tree now, she softly gekkered. This one sick. But no do more!

Impatiently, I squeaked back, now seeing the driver hang up the radio on the dash and stand up from his seat. Okay, okay, I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Can you get ready, please?

A loud hiss came from the side of the bus, and the door slid open. Out came the driver, followed by three curious passengers. The driver walked in front of the bus and inspected the shoulder and field opposite the forest while two of the passengers prodded the trunk with their feet, checking to see what kind of give the tree had for moving. All of them were oblivious to the two foxes sitting in front of them.

With the doorway open and clear, I chirped to the Vixen, Now!

Splitting to either side of the delayed bus patrons, my mate dashed onto the stopped bus, while I held close behind her. Hopping up the stairwell, I immediately found choosing a safe seat was going to be a challenge. Many of the passengers that had chosen to stay on the bus were crowding against the windows and watching the driver inspect the grassy field, making it no longer clear which seats were unoccupied for the trip. Thankfully, most others had remained seated with disinterest, while two had their phones out and were chattering into them with agitated fervor, reporting that they were going to be late to whomever was on the other end of the line.

"Looks like we can turn around in the field here," I heard the driver call out. "Ground seems stable enough."

Standing silently in the aisle, the Vixen stood transfixed. We need to pick a seat that none of the other passengers are using, I rumbled softly to her.

She was barely listening. Her hackles were raised, and she was shaking nervously as she looked from side to side. Too many humans, she squeaked out.

They can't see you if you don't want them to, I hummed back urgently, but I assumed she knew this already. Quickly, I gave her a prod to her flank to encourage her to move further onto the bus. She jumped in surprise at the sudden contact, but allowed herself to be sprung into motion. She was a few rows down before she ducked under one of the seats on the left.

Following after her, I felt my pads scrape against the rubberized corrugated flooring. It had been only been a few days since I last stood in a bus, but I had quickly adapted to my time in the forest. Such surfaces felt so artificial compared to the dirt and grass of my new home.

Rather than hide under the bench as my mate had, I leapt atop the cushioned seat and curled into a fuzzy orange ball, resting my muzzle on the end of my tail. The Vixen's choice to sit on the floor was risky, should another passenger choose to sit on the seats behind us, she would be in kicking range if they wished to stretch out.

Time passed on as we waited, and the sounds of a diesel engine arrived and shut off ahead of the bus. I perked my ears up to listen, not needing to stand up and look out to know what was happening outside. Another vehicle had arrived from down the road, and was also blocked by the fallen tree. Indistinct chattering between the passengers and the bus driver floated softly in the air, as well as a deeper, baritone voice of the new arrival. After a few moments, the ripcord of a chainsaw revved, and the bus was filled with the loud buzzing of the tree being cut away from the road.

Mate, when go? Quietly squeaked the Vixen from underneath my bench.

Soon, I chirped down to her, uncurling a little to put my paws on the edge of the seat with my muzzle between them. Sounds like someone showed up with the tools to remove the tree.

I didn't hear a reply, so I added, It's a lot softer up here. Do you want to join me?

A black nose and whiskers poked out into view, hovering slightly above the floor and sniffing the air with great trepidation. Loud, she whimpered before withdrawing out of view again.

They are going to be done very soon, Vixen, I murmured down to her. You really should come up here before someone sits behind us and kicks you. These busses can get pretty full.

Again, the black nose poked out, but this time the rest of the Vixen's face followed it. Her slitted golden eyes looked up from the floor and met mine. Unmistakably, she was still angry at me, as her eyes told me everything she was thinking as she stared daggers at me. Again, she withdrew her head under the bench, protesting with a loud groan, No want sit. Need space.

Can you at least come out and talk to me? I asked. I really don't understand why you're this mad. I leaned past my black paws and tried to reach the tip of my muzzle down past the edge of the seat to give her an apologetic prod with my white chin.

There was no reply. Rather than hop down to the floor and bother her further, I let her sulk in silence. Instead, I started to look around the interior of the bus, searching for some sort of list of stops along the route. I was a bit less familiar with the commerce districts than my daily work location, but I had made our destinations a few times in the past.

First, we would need to get to the bank. That part would be easy, as I had been to the central bank one time before, when I needed to arrange financing for my house. Once there, I could empty my bank account, and then I could assess the options I had for feeding the foxes. That would mean we would have to find a store that would offer delivery services. Perhaps a local pet store would be able to provide a bulk drop shipment to the forest for us. All this had to be done while keeping my use of the purple Flame to an absolute minimum. As long as I could figure out sly tricks like what I pulled with the tree to stop the bus, I figured would only need to use my magic twice. In the middle of my pondering the Flame, realization hit me like a ton of bricks: I had been too distracted by trying to get onto the bus that I ignored the comments by my mate. Leaning over the edge of the seat again, I whimpered down to her, I'm sorry about the tree, meaning the words sincerely this time.

Her head emerged slowly from under the shade of the seat. Golden eyes turned to look up at mine, Fox no break forest, she panted and huffed. Fox protect forest. No break.

When we get back tonight, you're going to have to go over some of the fox rules with me, I chuffed. Every time I think I'm doing okay, I find another rule to break.

Just then, the curious passengers that had disembarked from the bus climbed back on board, followed by the driver.

"Alright everyone, sorry for the delays. Please be seated and we'll be on our way," he called out to everyone in the transport.

A loud whoop and cheer sounded through the vehicle, and everyone enthusiastically returned to their seats. Wasting no more time, the driver turned the ignition, and the bus sprang to life, whirring and rumbling reliably.

With a sudden lurch, the bus resumed its journey down the country road, causing my claws to instinctively dig into the vinal seat cover. From under the seat, I heard the Vixen scrape and slide a little on the flooring. Hoping the bumpy ride would convince her off of the floor, I stretched my neck out to lean over the edge again to summon her, but instead yelped out loudly in shock!

Searing pain from the void had suddenly returned, and I could feel the energies of the Flame evaporating away, leaving me vulnerable to being spotted as a wild animal on the bus. Already, several passengers were looking up from their various phones and reading materials, trying to figure out who made such an animalistic squeal.

Vixen, I need you up here, I growled through clenched fangs, but she was already pulling herself out from under the seat.

What do? She asked urgently as she leapt up to my side. Not waiting for my reply, she began sniffing the scruff of my neck.

I didn't do anything, I shivered through the pain of the void in my stomach. It just started hurting as I sat here. Through my pained panting, I could see my pink tongue at the end of my muzzle as it curled into view over my black nose.

Flamestarved, the Vixen confirmed. Need human essence soon. She raised her head over the top of the back of the seat, black ears pricked at attention. Many human here now. I call one now.

Vixen, no! I yipped.

She lowered her head, cocking it to the side as she addressed me. Mate not survive to night with no essence. How you help new fox if you die? Must do now.

I'm not turning anyone into a fox today, Vixen, I panted weakly. Use your Flame to help keep us hidden. I can't use mine right now.

She glowered down at me with her golden eyes, but I saw them dimly shine with a bluish tinge before she plopped her hindquarters down on the seat, and curled up next to me. Mate is fool, she groaned before flicking her fluffy tail over her face.

I was being foolish, but I could already feel a fraction of my strength returning, and the pain of the void was starting to lose its stabbing edge. Tormented by the void or not, Flamestarved or not, I knew what I had to do today, but the right way. No more stealing, no more controlling people like puppets, and certainly no more new foxes. It wasn't going to be easy, but I had the means to make this work without abusing my powers any further than getting a human to view me as one of them.

The bus reached the end of the route, and rolled off the side of the road into a gravel shoulder to perform its wide U-turn and head back toward the city. As the bus shook and shuddered from its maneuver, the Vixen uncurled and stood up to look out the window, stepping over me to get a better view.

It does this every day, I rumbled to her forepaw that ended up a few inches away from my whiskers. Someone didn't plan the route very well for a bus.

Yes, foxes stop humans making road here, she whimpered over me. Try cutting forest, but make stop.

The void had fallen to a dull throb, and I already stopped panting a few moments ago.

That explains a lot, I commented. The bus route made little sense in this area, but if the foxes had been involved with disrupting its planning, then it was a wonder that it had space to operate at all.

She turned her head down to face me. Foxes protect forest. Foxes not let trees break. Take long time for tree to grow.

A normal fox would barely get to see a sapling grow into a full tree before it died of old age, I agreed, reinforcing her point.

Her ears dipped and I caught a flicker of a smile on her face as she saw I understood. Behind me, I could hear her tail swish on the back of the seat as it fluttered a little, happily. Bending down for an affectionate lick on my whiskers, she stopped suddenly, and started sniffing my fur again.

Flame better now? No much Flamestarve now.

Focusing my will, I tried to make myself invisible to the humans once again. It was always hard to tell when it was working, since the spark of the Flame was as subdued as possible for stealth, but once again, I could sense the magical energies wrapping around me and protecting me like a blanket.

Good. Better now, she confirmed as she watched. Satisfied that the Flame was returning to me, and now that the bus had completed its U-turn, she brought her forepaws back to the aisle-side of the seat and curled back into an orange ball.

She was still mad at me, I realized, but she also was worried. Lumberjack fox had been very clear about how the Flame worked, and nothing in his lesson would explain how I could go from normal to Flamestarved, and back again to being normal while sitting here. No doubt, my mate knew this too, but neither of us could do anything about it.

I rose to my forepaws, resting in a sitting position so I could see out the window. We were already passing the remains of the fallen tree and fully on our way back into the city. Soon after, the bumping and bouncing bus rolled to a halt as it cautiously turned on the road the next to the corner market I had stolen from yesterday. Craning my neck, I tried to see if the half-bag of food was still out next to the dumpster. It was hard to be certain, but it looked like Big Mike's team had managed to get the rest of it overnight, because there was no sign of the empty bag against the side of the building.

The Vixen had been quiet the last mile, but the sharp motion of the turning bus had shaken her out of her ball while she tried to claw and scrabble the seat to stay on it.

I think Big Mike got the rest of the food, I whimpered to her, nonchalantly. She was already resuming her balled posture next to me.

Hmm, she hummed in reply, unwilling to lift so much as her head, should another lurch send her flying. A moment passed before she quietly squealed out with a wide maw, I no like bus.

I bent down a licked the top of her head, We'll be in the city in an hour. The whole trip won't be like this. Now try sitting up like me. You can use your paws to absorb the motion better.

She didn't budge, whether she was being stubborn or scared, I wasn't sure, but I turned around and looked out the window again, hoping to see a landmark I could use to get us off the bus as soon as possible.

We had reached the suburbs already. Neatly manicured lawns and cracked cement sidewalks sprawled on ahead of the bus. Aside from one old, graying man walking his German Shephard, the foot traffic was almost nonexistent. That was going to change once we reached the city limits. Everything would be so much easier if there were the fewest amount of people around, especially for the nervous Vixen.

---

Right on schedule, we arrived at a suitable stop in the commerce district of the city for the two of us to disembark. I gave her a nudge with my nose when the bus began to slow down for its next exchange of passengers from the street. She almost didn't react this time, having already anxiously tried getting up and leaving at the last six stops. Realizing this wasn't another false alarm, she jumped off the seat and into the aisle, barely mindful of the towering humans also trying to shuffle out the door.

Vixen, wait! I barked to her as she disappeared from view in the shuffle. I caught sight of a few confused humans glancing around whom had heard my call again.

With a light thump of my paws, I crawled down from the seat and into the aisle, waiting properly in the departing queue. A few pairs of legs got close to touching my tail, so I tucked it in as tightly as I could, hoping to keep it from revealing my physical presence through their careless impatience to leave. The queue shuffled along, and I kept in step, finally reaching the exit door to escape the confinement of the bus.

As soon as the last passenger cleared from my view, I saw the Vixen sitting patiently in the shadows of the bus stop shelter. I leapt down from the bus exit door, right as the Vixen gave a warning bark. Mate, wait!

I had been quickly spoiled by the cool, natural earth of the forest under my paws. Today, in the heart of the city, the sunbaked sidewalk cement made sure to remind me that I was treading in foreign lands. Searing heat stung my paw pads, and I yipped out in pain, immediately throwing myself with a giant leap, all four paws forward, into the same shadow that the Vixen had found in the shelter. She had to scrabble out of the way, tucking herself into the deep corner of the shelter as I flew at her with a frantic flying fox kick. It still wasn't enough, and my momentum carried into her, knocking her off her paws.

We both had to untangle ourselves from each other, and as soon as she was free from me, she stood up on her hind paws and pushed her forepaws into my chest, gekkering loudly into my face.

Mate clumsy, she yelled in my face. Mate trap us in city. City burn paws!

Finding my proper footing, I pushed my paws back on her, returning her tone with an open maw. I didn't know it was going to be this painful! It wasn't this bad last time I was here.

Her ears dipped, and she turned her head away. Still, she lightly squeaked, Need more careful when jump.

Lowering my tone as well, I replied, I'm sorry for jumping into you. I was surprised, that's all. My paws fell back to the shadowed cement once more. There was a guy out walking his dog earlier so it can't be that bad everywhere. Also, we have the Flame. Surely, we aren't trapped in here.

She looked down at the brightly glowing sidewalk, its radiating heat could be felt on my nose from where we stood. Cocking her head sideways, she stated, Flame risky here. Hot stone not dangerous. Only painful for fox. We mate now. Make path cool.

I felt my ears dip backwards in surprise at the suddenness of the offer. While the bus stop shelter was clear of humans after the recent passenger exchange, not moments could pass before human after human would walk within a few feet of where we stood. Even as a fox, I couldn't really imagine mating in the open and in view of so many people like this. Worse yet, we hadn't reached the bank or a pet store yet. It was too soon.

I think I can make it blue, I offered as an alternative. Focusing on the lingering sting on my paw pads, I welled up the desire for the sidewalk to be cool where I set my paws so that I wouldn't be trapped in the bus stop.

*WISH*

Blue light flashed briefly, and all four of my paws felt cool wash over them, like they had stepped into the stream back in the woods. Tentatively, I put my forepaw out into the sun, and placed it firmly on the pavement, letting my pads splay out as I put my weight into it.

Nothing. It felt as temperate as if it was the middle of an autumn night.

There, we're fine, I yapped back to the Vixen. Just think about the pain you'd be in without the help of the Flame, and the danger of being trapped here all day.

Worry flashed across her golden eyes, but she closed them tightly, letting only a small amount of blue light to escape from them as she called upon the Flame.

Sensing she had done it correctly, her fluffy tail began to wag, and she leapt out of the shelter excitedly, nearly committing the same offense I had against her, but almost colliding with a passing human instead.

Righting herself out of the way of the city's pedestrians, she happily licked the side of my muzzle, still wagging her tail. I no risk Flame before. Better to wait. Patient fox. But no time today.

I licked the back of her ear reassuringly, but had to sidestep a purposefully striding pair of legs almost immediately after. You're right, we should get a move on, I said, looking up at the person that had narrowly missed tripping over us. I don't know how long the visit to the bank is going to take.

Together we set out, with me in the lead, and only a vague recollection of where the bank was located to guide me forward. Aided by the Flame, avoiding detection from the passing humans was easy, but the same sun that had been baking the sidewalk was still beating down on our furry backs. I knew we had to find the building soon, otherwise heat exhaustion would become a problem shortly. My fur would only keep the sun off my back until it didn't.

Briefly, I paused to let a lady with a stroller pass by, and I felt the Vixen bump into the tip of my tail before she stopped too. We at human place soon? I could hear some desperation in her high-pitched vulpine voice; she was starting to experiencing some of the same overheating concerns as I was.

I think it's only another block or two, I yipped back. It won't be long.

Food in human place? Water? She asked as we continued again.

No food, but there should be a drinking fountain if you're thirsty.

What? She stopped suddenly. No food? Why go here? She sank to her haunches to wait for her answer.

Turning around to face her, I realized how poorly explained my plan was to her, and that she barely had any concept of money in the first place. Now wasn't the time to explain human economic systems either.

My head twisted in thought, looking for the simplest explanation to give her. The building holds proof that the humans owe me food, I said, giving her something she could understand. I get the proof, we get the food, and Big Mike can stay in the forest with us.

She stood up and started trotting forward again, urging me to continue onward. Fox no need proof. Fox need food, she yipped ahead to me.

Yes, but I've stolen enough food this week, I replied. First there was the Apartment vixen, and then there was that shopkeeper yesterday. He went completely insane when I let him see me.

You let human see you? She barked. He dangerous!

Yeah, I figure you guys must have been harassing him for a while with the way he reacted to me, I wagged back at her. That's why we're going to this bank. No one is getting mad, because we're only taking what I'm owed.

She fell silent, leaving the clicks of our claws on the sidewalk as the only sounds between us. Just as I was about to turn around and reassure her that things were going to be alright this way, my paws began to burn on the sidewalk, followed by a sharp stab of pain in my gut. The void had returned again!

"YIIIP!" I screamed out, staggering from the pain and nearly falling over. Part of me wished I had, because the burning cement wasn't worth standing on, but I had to hobble out of the path of a human walking by. Sensing a disturbance around his gait, he sidestepped my furry body without a second thought, right as the magic protecting me faded completely. Once clear from being trampled, I slumped to the side, letting my fur-protected hindquarters rest on the hot ground while I braced myself with my forepaws.

Quickly, the Vixen shot up next to me. Nuzzling my side to comfort me against the pain, she urgently whimpered. Not good place. Can Mate move?

Shakily, I replied through haggard pants, I think so.

With her help pushing me up, I stood onto my paws, sliding my hind legs under my body again, but I couldn't stop heaving and panting. As on the bus, my long pink tongue slipped out of my muzzle and curled past my black nose from the pain and agitation.

Together we limped down the sidewalk. The Vixen kept close alongside me, giving me her body to lean against if I stumbled. There was nothing she could do about the hellish burning on my pads, however.

Need be at human place soon, she growled after we had made an arduous journey of fifty feet. Hot sun. You not last long.

I pulled my tongue back into my mouth long enough to give her an affectionate lap across her muzzle. I'm fine. There's some shade up ahead.

It wasn't much of a shelter, but there was an alleyway between the next two buildings. We would be able to get out from underfoot of the humans, and rest up long enough for the Flamestarvation to pass without getting baked by the sun. As soon as we reached the corner of the building and ducked into the alley, I nearly used all the strength I had to leap for the darkest corner between two discarded boxes and a dumpster, while the Vixen cautiously surveyed our temporary haven.

The contrast of the cool pavement seemed like it deserved a cartoonish hiss of steam from my paws to express the relief I felt getting off the sidewalk. On top of that, the sun was no longer beating down on my fur, giving me a chance to shake some of the heat buildup on my back.

Now satisfied that I was no longer in trouble, the Vixen began to sniff around the discarded trash in the alley. Seemingly finding something interesting, she turned around and squatted, marking the spot as hers.

Ugh, did you have to do that now? I gekkered from my corner. Truth be told, the odors in the alley were very strong, and if I wasn't half-scorched, I likely would have been instinctively marking it the same.

Smell bad here. Smell prey too, she whimpered curtly.

She lowered her head to get a better look under a dumpster on the far wall, and with a flick of her fluffy tail, she dashed around its side, pouncing for the space against the building. There was a muffled squeak, then she turned around, holding a dead rat in her jaws.

Find food, she wagged merrily, dipping her ears back with glee. Keep strength up.

Thanks, but I don't have much of an appetite right now, I barked out. The void's pain was more than enough to silence any hunger I could have been feeling. Not to mention, eating an uncooked rat wasn't really going to do me many favors.

I eat then, she snorted, still proudly wagging her tail as she dropped it to the ground. Without waiting a moment longer, she began tearing at its flesh and gnawing off sections to feed on.

As I watched her consume her meal, the stabbing and aching in my body began to lessen, and soon I was climbing back onto all-fours to shake out my fur. No longer was I panting, and my tongue had uncurled and found its way back into my muzzle. Like a trickle of water, the magical energies of the Flame started to flow back into the void and fill it up again.

The Vixen finished her meal, leaving a shredded hairy pelt on the ground. Getting up, she trotted over to where I stood, looking to see if she could assist my recovery.

Mate Flame back now, she murmured after a quick sniff. There was relief in her golden eyes, but her ears were dipping sideways with concern. You go to human bank place now?

I closed my eyes to focus on probing the void so I could feel out my recovery. Not quite yet, I chirped after a moment. I'm a little bottomed out, and I don't think I can hide and keep my paws cool at the same time.

She nodded, and gave my whiskers a small lick. Turning around, she decided to spend a few minutes curiously exploring the rest of the alley. White-tipped tail in the air, she paraded around the piles of trash and stacked cardboard, occasionally taking a moment to mark her spots among the overpowering smells. Finally, she reached the back of the alley, and pawed at the loosely closed gate on a chain-link fence before disappearing on the other side of the reddish vinyl privacy slats.

Don't go far, I warned loudly out to her. I was almost done recovering enough to travel, and tracking the Vixen down wasn't how I wanted this day to continue.

Minutes quietly passed. The hum and buzz of the street outside the alley filled the silence, and the void had become less than a whisper, allowing my limbs to gather their strength. My mate had still not reappeared.

Vixen! I called out with a sharp bark. I'm ready to go!

No response.

Vixen! I barked again, feeling my heart starting to race. There shouldn't be anything in the alley that would hold her back. I trotted over toward the gate, feeling dire concern well within my chest, but before I could take more than a few steps, the Vixen poked her head around the slats in the gate.

Mate ready? She said with a tilt of her head.

Yeah, I've been calling you, I snorted out. What was back there that was so interesting?

Trash. Much trash, was her reply.

---

Resuming our journey on the street was monumentally easier than when we had stopped for the rest in the alley. Being given the chance to cool down, as well as the snack the rat provided, put a bit of pep in the Vixen's step. Without the ache of the void and the ability to use the Flame returned to me, I was free to use it to protect my paws once more, and that's all I really needed.

Up ahead, I recognized the ornate marble structure of the central bank for the city. Massive Greek pillars lined the front of the building, while it towered almost menacingly over our diminutive fox forms.

That's it! We're here, I excitedly wagged my tail while I prodded the Vixen with my snout.

Why human building have stone trees? She asked, cocking her head to the side quizzically.

Those are... Never mind. Let's get inside, I yipped impatiently. There was little I could tell her about historical architecture without a library or access to the internet. If she was curious later, maybe we could make a second adventure when thirty-two foxes lives were not on the line.

Together, we reached the embossed brass door of the building. Not wanting to spoil the Greek aesthetic, a door with spiraling floral patterns had been selected over the standard glass and steel the rest of the buildings in the city would use. While foot traffic was light for the humans entering and exiting the bank, the metal door posed a problem for us: We couldn't see inside to make plans or to know when to anticipate the next time the door would suddenly swing open from an exiting member.

I think I need to use purple Flame here, Mate, I said to the Vixen.

For open door? She asked. Not wait until inside?

I can't see inside. We don't know how long it will be before someone comes out.

Then it time for my help, she nodded dutifully. Darting behind a pillar, she squeaked at me to follow her.

Obeying her beckons, I trotted over to where she stood.

You need use Flame on humans inside, and use Flame for door, she stated, confirming my plans.

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping to do once I'm inside.

Good. We mate now. Very important to move while mating. Flame not wait for you finish. Need be in door quickly.

This was going to be weird, but I tried to mentally prepare for what I had to wish for in the throes of passion if this was going to work.

Ready? She squeaked, lifting her tail for me.

Grunting my affirmative, I rose up on my hind paws, and climbed up on top of her to lay across her back.

Her furry body was comfortable to hug after all the time I had spent today on the road. Her warmth and scent welcomed me, offering a meager respite from the chaos of the city.

However, the pillar she chose next to the door still exposed us to the street. Between the black pointed ears of the Vixen, all I could see was the cars racing by, and the foot traffic only a few paces from us. Everything felt wrong about doing this now.

What wrong? She asked from underneath me, sensing my hesitation.

I- I can't do this here, I grumbled.

Then why you take me to human city? She gekkered, shaking me off of her back. I here to protect Mate from Flamestarve!

My black paws landed back on the ground, and before I could make a single sound to reply, the brass door to the bank swung open, and a young couple walked out.

Both of our ears sprang to attention and our heads snapped to the open door; our bickering forgotten. As if on cue, both of us bolted for the open door as fast as our paws would let us. I got there first, slamming my body carelessly into the inside of the open door, and the Vixen slammed into me, using my fluff as a cushion between her and the hard metal.

We were in.

Lightly panting from the mad dash, I took in the cool, air-conditioned climate through my black nose. A large room spread out before me. The floor was made of polished gray marble, and the teller counter was constructed of a beautiful dark mahogany. Barred glass windows separated the bank employees from the public, and lines of stanchion posts with reddish velvet ropes strung between them, guided the customers in orderly queues.

Mate. Many humans here, the Vixen said next to me, shrinking away a little from the oblivious crowd in front of us.

For a central bank, the lines weren't very long today, but because they had so many tellers open, there were at least fifty people in the building, each with the potential to trip over or kick an imperceivable fox.

Just stay close, and help me hide our line so no one comes up behind us, I nuzzled her affectionately. We'll get my money, and then we can get the food.

Muh-nee? She asked.

Oh, right, I rolled my eyes in frustration at myself for not explaining things to her. Money. It's little slips of paper that tells the humans how much food they owe us.

She cocked her head to the side as she processed this new information. Together we made our way over to the closest line, clacking our claws on the marble tile the whole way. How you get more muh-nee? We need much food.

Well, I used to have a job, and that got me enough money for what I needed, but that incident with Tyler put an end to it forever.

Once again, she pondered in silence for a moment, then she piped up excitedly with a new revelation. Monee get more human things? Monee for Mate's den?

Actually, yes, I said, complimenting her intuition.

Foxes no need. Fox hungry, fox get food. No monee, she declared.

We both took a step forward in the line as the teller finished with the person at the front.

That works in the forest, but not here, I explained. I want to do things the right way today. Even if I were to cheat and use the Flame for free handouts, there's no way we're getting a single bag of food to the forest ourselves. Not without using the Flame to control countless people to do it for us.

Her ears dipped a little, now fully understanding why we had to come here first. That too much purple Flame, she whimpered.

Mhm, I agreed. After today, I want to never come back here, go live as a fox in the forest with you, and never use the purple Flame again!

Her ears dipped bashfully, and I took the moment while she was off-guard to give her a quick lap across her nose. She responded by dusting the floor with her swishing tail, and then licked me back.

The line stepped forward again, and we moved along with the last human in front of us. Due to our magic, no one else had come into the bank and selected our line to get behind us. With only three more people ahead, we would be to the front of the line soon.

No one see us here. We mate now? The Vixen asked suddenly.

Looking around the room, I sighed through my dark nose. No, I think I'm going to have to use the Flame normally for this. After my performance anxiety outside, I realized I didn't have much chance to pull this off using the Vixen's method of cheating the Flame.

You go Flamestarved many times today! She squeaked, distress in her hushed voice. Not know how much essence you have! Mate no live in forest if Flamestarved forever!

Nuzzling her reassuringly, I said, I think I'm going to be fine. When I ask the Flame for help, I'll ask for the weakest charm I can use. I don't feel the void at all right now, so I think I can spare using it a few times today.

Taking another step forward, the line shrank by one more person as they finished talking to the teller. The Vixen was perturbed at my reckless choice to use the Flame, but there was little more to discuss, and little time left to change plans. We sat in silence, waiting for the next person to finish their business.

Just as the human in front of us reached the woman behind the counter, the Vixen hummed distractedly, Shiny, mesmerized by something across the room.

Looking up and following her gaze, I saw a massive, round, silver vault door in a barred anteroom, hanging open with an armed security guard stationed outside it.

Ah, yeah, that's the vault. That's where they keep all the money, I explained.

All the money? She asked.

They need it in case the tellers run-

"Next!" called out our teller.

Panic struck me as I realized I hadn't used the Flame to prepare myself for talking to the teller. She probably was seeing an empty line in front of her.

Quickly, I focused inward, and said to myself, I need the teller to see me as human and know all the bank account info so I can get the money to feed Big Mike's foxes!

*WISH*

A blinding flash of purple light lit up the room, but no one seemed to notice. Instead, the teller stared blankly ahead, and recited "Welcome, how may I help you today?"

Good afternoon, I said with a merry yip. I would like to close my account today.

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," she said as she absent-mindedly typed on her keyboard. Squinting at the monitor, she asked, "So, what would you like me to do with your remaining balance, Mr. Fox."

Fox. The Flame was playing games with my name again, but still getting me what I needed. Cashier's check, I said politely.

"Very good," she murmured, further skimming the display in front of her. "And what would you like me to do with your thirty-two linked accounts? Do you still wish to bank with us through them?"

Linked accounts? I barked in confusion.

"Yes sir, I show you are the joint caretaker of thirty-two additional accounts here." She kept typing on the keyboard loudly as she tried to bring up all the relevant information. "First on the list shows a Michael Kulakov as the joint account holder."

Michael. Ah, yes, Big Mike, how could I forget! I squealed out happily for show. The Flame was not only providing me with access to my funds, but to the funds of each of the other foxes with him!

My heart leapt in my chest. I knew I only had a few thousand dollars to my name, but after delivery charges, I didn't know how much food I was going to be able to provide. Maybe enough for the winter, but it was only meant to buy us some time anyway. With everyone chipping in for the food, we weren't looking at a stop-gap measure, we were going to be buying us a short-term solution!

Yes, close them please. Add all of them to the check, I finished answering her question.

"Very well, sir," the teller said before loudly hammering on the keyboard like she was trying to win a typing race.

I held still, trying to focus on holding the stealthy thoughts in my head while also making sure I wasn't expending any more magical energies than I needed to get the woman to give me the money I came here for. My gut didn't feel any poking or prodding from the void, but it was a bit soon to tell how much I had just used.

"Oh, that's a big one," the teller idly commented, as she continued her work.

It was a strange comment to make, but I wagged my tail in acknowledgement, hoping it would translate to a smile and a nod. I had no idea how much money was in those accounts, but it was better to pretend that I knew what to expect from them. Any suspicion raised would mean the Flame would have to convince her to ignore the contradictions, and that would require more of my essence being sapped away. It was bad enough that I was convincing her that I was human, and she could hear Fox as unbroken English. I only hoped it wasn't going to kill me to do it again when I went shopping.

Her rapid tapping on the keyboard slowed its cadence, and with a few final punctuated Enter strokes, she finally announced, "Alright, we're done! Let me finish printing this off, and you can be on your way."

A few more whirrs of the printer, and a tearing of perforated paper, the teller slid the check through the exchange tray at the bottom of her protective glass. As if she wasn't thinking about it, she gave it an extra flick, so that it was launched out into the air, where it floated back and forth a few times before landing like a feather on a breeze.

"I'm sorry, that's never happened before," she said, shocked at her own actions. The expression on her face was becoming a bit more focused now that the Flame's task was complete. "Do you need me to come out and get that for you?"

The sheet of paper had landed face-down on the marble tile, and would be difficult to pick up for a fox.

No worries, I wagged, I got it.

I put both paws on the slip, and slid them together. Gently nipping the center that bunched up between my paws, I lifted the check from the floor with impressive proficiency, and turned to where the Vixen had been standing next to me.

She wasn't there.

Vixen! I barked out, shocked by her disappearance while I was focused on the teller, but also worried she was in danger.

"Have a nice day, Mr. Fox. And thank you for banking with us today!" the teller said automatically, seeing I had my check, but not at all aware of the panic I was now in.

Vixen! I called out, distressed. Another customer was heading for the door, his shoes making a rhythmic tapping that echoed throughout the hushed room.

Maybe she was waiting for me outside? Those heavy doors would be difficult to open without the help of a human, and there would have been time for many people leaving the building while my teller closed all those accounts.

I had to trust that if she was lost in the building somewhere, she would be able to get out without me. Steeling myself against the fear of losing my Vixen, I chased after the man that was almost to the door. Desperately, I barked out for her once more, letting my echoing squeaky voice carry around the room, which turned a few heads, but the Flame still kept me from being noticed.

Suddenly, from the far side of the room, I heard my Vixen squealing and screaming as she emerged from the anteroom, running as fast as her paws could carry her.

I stopped a few paces from the door, right as the man began to open it, hoping she would catch up. Instead of coming to me, she blazed on past, a streak of orange and white amid the gray marble.

Vixen? I yipped as she flew past and out the open door. Worried, I quickly chased after, barely making it through without pinching my tail as it closed.

The hot sun brightly warmed my fur as I stepped back outside. On the steps below, the Vixen was practically rolling around on her stomach, laughing like a maniac. In her mouth, roughly the size of an adult chicken, was a white canvas bag.

Did you- did you really steal that?! I gekkered angrily, almost letting the check fall from the delicate grip in my fangs.

She didn't reply. Instead, she clambered up to her paws and dashed down the stairs to the sidewalk to put as much space between her and the bank as possible. I had no choice but to chase after her.

Vixen, stop! I called ahead.

Together, we ran along the city streets, ducking and dodging around the pedestrians like trees in the forest. A half-mile later, she finally slowed enough to let me catch up to her. Between her huffs and pants, she still was gleefully humming from her elation and spoils.

Vixen, what the hell were you thinking- ow!, I gekkered again, yipping a little as the hot sidewalk finally started to burn my paws from stopping.

She dropped the bag on the ground to clear her mouth. Fox need money. So I get money fox way!

No! I barked out while I tried focusing on cooling my paws again. Blue light flashed from my eyes as I explained, That's not how we're doing this today. The Flame already gave me all the money from Big Mike's foxes. We don't need this much! You're taking this back to the bank right now.

How much money food you have? She asked.

In the haste to leave, I realized I never looked at the check. Carefully laying it on top of the bag so that the abrasive sidewalk wouldn't wreck it, I flipped it face up.

It read $320,000.

My jaw dropped, and my head began to spin. I never held this much money before, and now I was doing it with my mouth as a fox.

Seeing my shock, the Vixen asked again, a smirk playing at the corners of her muzzle. How much food?

I don't know! TOO much food! I yelped, finally finding some words to speak.

Good. How much food I get?

Carefully, she nipped the corner of the check to remove it from the bag, and held it out for me to grab. Then she shoved her nose into the top of the drawstring, and pried an opening to look inside.

Countless stacks of $100 bills rested on the top, each bearing a gold paper band that read $10,000.

Vixen, we can't keep this. It's not ours!

How much food? She demanded again.

Looking over the bag and judging the number of stacks it would hold, I finally whimpered, I think you got more than me.

Her tail wagged proudly behind her. Good. She quickly nipped the check out of my fangs, and put it on top of the money pile. Then she grabbed the drawstring with her teeth and tugged, closing it all into one bundle. Fox way is better!

I stood there, flabbergasted. There was little more I could say other than pointlessly repeat myself.

Can not take back. Door not open. Risky to try. Need food for foxes more, she countered to my unspoken protests.

Shaking my head, I sighed, Ok, fine, more food for us in the end, but you had better hope no one notices it for a while. This much money going missing will get us in trouble if we keep pressing our luck.

Not like human by forest store, she agreed with a nod. He mad when we steal many times.

A frustrated silence hung in the air for a few moments. I couldn't argue against anything she had said, and the survival of all of the foxes is what mattered more than anything else. This much money could mean food for decades, if it supplemented what the forest was already providing the clan. All I had to do now was find a place that could exchange this much cash for goods, while also offering delivery services. No local pet store was set up to handle this level of volume.

I knew just the place that would work, and they were big.

Vixen, let's go shopping before you get us into any more trouble.

---

Big Club had been in the city for years, and until I became reliant on the bus system, it was one of my favorite places to shop. They had everything there: TVs, home appliances, and food of all sorts. But most importantly, they were a main supplier for businesses in the greater city area. It was very likely much of the merchandise at the Country Corner Market was bought wholesale at Big Club first. If they couldn't deliver truckloads of food to us in the forest, no one could.

The Vixen and I sauntered into the busy parking lot of the large warehouse store. Hanging out above the entrance was the company name imposed over a cartoon caveman holding a log-sized stick, preparing to smash high prices for every shopper. It was trite, but still evocative.

My mate bent down to place the bag of money on the ground. Many human here, she yipped, now that her mouth was free. Much more human than bank.

I watched as cars cycled in and out of the parking spaces, all the while dodging pedestrians, and the pedestrians dodging the cars while they tried to return to theirs. It was utter chaos, and I was about to dive into it while no one could see us.

There's going to be a lot of people inside, but we won't have to go far, I wagged my tail with an impatient whimper. Guest Services is near the entrance, and all we need to do is give them the money and tell them what we want.

We mate now? She asked hopefully. Not use purple Flame again.

Surveying the parking lot, I wasn't any more comfortable doing it here than I had been at the bank.

I have this, I said confidently. The void isn't giving me so much as a tickle. I must have used less essence at the bank than I thought.

She turned her head away in disappointment, and I sensed the same worry as before that I was damaging myself on this adventure.

Hey, I said compassionately, giving her a gentle prod of my nose on her muzzle. We're almost done, and I couldn't have done this without you. Just stick close to me in case I suddenly go Flamestarved again.

She barked an affirmative, grabbing the bag of money again while I took the lead. We descended into the lot in single file, craning our necks and ears in every direction as we slunk along stealthily. The path to the entrance of the store would have been a lot more treacherous if I hadn't noticed how much fox-sized space there was between the front bumpers of all the parked cars. No human would bother sidling between the vehicles while there was wide open parking lot elsewhere, but for the two of us, it was a perfect highway to the closest wall of the building.

Scampering alongside the gray cement and reddish pinstriping of the structure, we arrived at the front door where the club members had to check in with the greeter. Dutifully, the Vixen queued up in line to get in.

We don't need to wait in that line, I said with a hushed rumble.

She wagged her fluffy tail, and started to dash past, narrowly missing another human that was oblivious to her underfoot.

Over here, I chirped, once inside the door properly. Thick smells of the hundreds of humans that passed through here today hung heavy in the air, and not all of them had the best hygiene. Faintly, in the distance, I could smell the ovens of the bakery and the deli, which made my empty stomach start to gurgle a little. Ahead, the Guest Services desk loomed imposingly, having grown massive from my new perspective.

Unlike the bank, there was only a pair of customers in line ahead of us. The first was speaking animatedly to the clerk, and looking like she was about to demand to speak to the manager, while the man in front of us kept shifting his grip on the opened Blu-ray player box he was holding, and patiently waiting for his turn at the counter.

I think this may take a while, I rumbled to the Vixen as she sat down next to me and placing the bag of money on the cement flooring.

Why? Only two human to wait.

Yeah, well, some people like to argue about anything they can, I growled, giving an irritated look to the customer at the counter.

Fox and human same. Argue much.

Really? I yipped, cocking my head. I thought everyone got along pretty well back at the den. At least, when starvation wasn't the topic of the day.

Always small fight. Like human lady, she bobbed her nose at the customer at the counter. Will go home. Forget fight. Start next day normal. Start fight again later. Fox same.

It was a surprisingly insightful comment from the Vixen, recognizing the similar behavior from the human. I nodded in agreement, finding that she had hit the nail on the head.

Looking up at the drained expression on the employee's face as he had to listen to the ranting customer, I decided it was time to take action. Welling up my desires, but trying to avoid placing too much impatience into it, I whimpered out, I wish this lady would think she got everything she wanted, and more.

*WISH*

Purple light flashed out of my eyes, and the Vixen jumped back in shock. Mate? She questioned.

Watch, I said, nudging the air toward the lady.

The customer stopped flinging her arms around madly, and started smiling, looking like the cat that got the canary. Picking up her handbag from the counter and thanking the clerk, she turned around, a glassy look on her face as she walked past us to leave back through the entrance.

The clerk hesitated and then shook his head, huffing a sigh before motioning the next in line to the counter.

Why use purple Flame to make human leave? She said, cocking her head. You waste. You hurt yourself.

I shrugged. We'll call it my good deed for the day. That clerk didn't need her in his day any more than the next guy in line.

Fox argument end quick if we could use Flame, she muttered with a grumble.

Right, I said. It had only just dawned on me that foxes couldn't use the Flame on each other to settle disputes. But hey, you get a chance to solve your problems instead of seeing who can tell the other to go away faster. We live a long time to keep holding grudges, right?

Mate understand fox well, she said, swishing her tail on the floor.

Well, I've been one for a couple of weeks now. I'm learning! I yipped out cheekily.

The man with the Blu-ray player was quickly finishing his return, and was now pulling out his wallet to receive the refund. Not wanting to be caught off guard again, I had to focus fast on setting up our transaction.

Quickly, I ran through my head a few things that we needed to get for the clan, as well as several luxuries and nice-to-haves, but nothing I could conceive of would allow us to spend a million dollars. It was too much money for one delivery. It was too much to ask for in for one quick, limited use of the purple Flame.

Resigning myself to the possibility of overusing my powers today, I heaved a sigh through my nose. I wish this clerk will help us spend every dollar in our bag, I asked the Flame.

*WISH*

Once again, purple light flashed from my eyes, and the man behind the counter snapped into a rigid stance, then relaxing as a glassy expression filled his eyes. He finished processing the returned merchandise, and placed the box on the shelf behind him.

Turning back, he looked down toward us, but not quite at us, and asked, "What can I do for you two, today?"

Next to me, the Vixen nipped up the bag of money, and I replied to the clerk in a formal manner, winging it with a half-truth. Good afternoon, I represent a local wildlife reserve. Whom can I speak to for setting up a reoccurring business transaction?

The clerk shifted his gaze to the banker's bag of money dangling from the Vixen's fangs. Suspicion flickered across his expression, so I forced a little more of my will into the magic holding him. "Where did... Is that the money you wish to use for your business transaction?" he asked, changing his question as the magic dissolved his concerns.

Yes, it is, I squeaked proudly. Almost a million dollars in donations to help the wildlife.

His expression flickered from shocked to annoyed. "We don't normally handle large sums of cash here in the stores," he said sternly.

The Vixen's ears dipped as she held the bag silently, understanding the rejection, but the clerk hastily added, "But we may be able to make an exception. Let me call over a manager."

Hastily, he grabbed the store's phone off the counter, and hammered a few buttons. A couple of rings later, the manager answered and the clerk explained the situation, asking for him to come down for an urgent request.

Hanging up the receiver, the clerk turned back toward us, still wearing the same glossy-eyed expression. "He said he's on his way."

The Vixen put down the bag, and squeaked her concerns at me. Use purple Flame twice. New human come. Need three time now. Her ears were drooping to the sides of her head.

Four, if you count the bank, I added. I'm still feeling fine, I yipped with a wag of my tail. If this goes well with the manager, we'll be back in the forest tonight, and the damage won't be too severe.

She leant forward and nuzzled the fluff on my cheek. I still worry Mate hurt yourself. Let me use Flame on new human. Take turn this time.

Images of the Vixen aching and limping around the forest in perpetual pain from the void swam to the front of my mind. No, let me do it, I grumbled softly. I know what we need to buy, and it's going to be a lot more than food today.

Leaning past her, I nipped the canvas bag up into my fangs. He needs to count this too, since I can't do it with my paws, I said with a muffled whine.

A fat balding man wearing a white button-up shirt walked up behind the counter, and casually asked the clerk, "Where are they?"

The clerk nodded to us, but when the manager turned to look, we were still invisible to him. He looked around, confused that he was missing the thing that was so obvious to the clerk.

A cold chill went down my spine: I was messing this up again. Refocusing my will, I desired that the manager would also see me and the Vixen as humans.

My vision flashed purple, and the manager took on the familiar glazed look as his subordinate. With an embarrassed scoff at himself for missing the couple clearly standing in front of him, he walked around the edge of the counter. "Welcome to Big Club. I'm Ray," he said cheerfully as he bent over to extend a handshake to the pair of foxes in front of him.

Leaning into my left paw, I raised and slapped my right paw into his hand, letting him grasp it and bob it up and down a few times. The Vixen looked mortified that I was making such physical contact with the human, so when he moved his hand over to shake her paw, she recoiled back a few steps.

The manager looked slightly taken aback at her rudeness, but recovered quickly. "Not a toucher, I guess?" he said, opening his palms and raising his hands. "I promise, I don't bite."

She's a bit dirty from the work we did at the reserve today, I chirped, covering for her as I set the bag back down.

Ray smiled, "Ah yes, I felt the rough callouses of a working man on you." Idly, he traced his thumb over his palm where I had placed my paw. "So, what can I do for you today?"

My mate, er, wife and I run the wildlife reserve outside of the city, I restarted for Ray. We need a truck to deliver periodic shipments of pet supplies to the reserve, so long as this money holds out. I prodded the bag in front of me with my black paw. Can you work something out where we give you the money, and you ship us the food?

"May I?" he asked as he bent down to open the bag. I nodded, and he bent down to pull open the draw string. His eyes went wide with delight as he shuffled the stacks of money as he tried to get an estimate of how much I had brought him.

"This is a lot of money," he said as he pulled the string closed again and stood up. "Normally, we don't ingest this sort of cash at the stores. That's up for corporate accounting to handle."

So, you can't help us here? I asked, feeling crestfallen. Contacting their corporate office would be difficult with paws, and there was no telling if I could get someone to understand me through a phoneline, even with the Flame to help me.

"Now, I didn't say that," Ray chided. "Corporate accounting would kill me if they knew I let a sale like this slip away. How about we go up to my office, and we can discuss what kind of order you need."

I turned to the Vixen, and she nodded silently, but there was an uneasiness I could sense in her. Like she didn't want to get further into the store and leave sight of the doors.

The two of us followed the manager across the store, weaving in between other customer traffic, as well as the shelving units that towered over us like skyscrapers. As we approached the rear of the store where the offices waited, the smells of the deli grew stronger and stronger. The scent of fresh roasted chicken wafted around us, and my mouth began to water. I turned toward the Vixen trotting next to me, and I could tell the tantalizing aroma was starting to get to her as well.

Human food smell good, she whimpered quietly.

We neared the back of the store, and cut through the pet food aisle. Bags and bags of dog and cat food towered over us, some in cans, but most of it in dry 50lb bags for the larger dogs. Despite being sealed with plastic-lined paper, their scents escaped the packaging and tempted my empty stomach with their savory odors.

Squeaking with shock and awe, the Vixen looked up at the towers of food stacked around us while we followed Ray through the aisle. How human get so much food? She mused aloud.

She asked the question rhetorically, but I felt it deserved an answer. There's a lot of humans with a lot of pets. This may be too much for the forest, but they could go through this in a matter of a few days if all the pets came here, I replied in hushed tones. Ray didn't need to overhear our conversation about the wonders of mundane human life.

Finally, Ray stopped at an office door set in the wall next to the deli. The scent of the roasting chicken was stronger than ever, and Ray's office was certain to be overpowered by it as well.

My mate stopped dead in her tracks, finally seeing that the human food she smelled was in fact, chicken. She almost barked in excitement, and then lunged toward the warming shelf the recently cooked and finished product sat on. I had to quickly drop the bag and nip the tip of her tail to restrain her from getting carried away and blowing our cover.

Hold still, I growled, looking up at Ray who had his back turned while he unlocked the office door.

Human have chicken! She yipped excitedly.

Ray turned around, extracting the key from the door. "Oh, she talks!" he said with a sly smirk. "Yup, those roasted chickens are great, but I can't get the damn smell out of my clothes. It drives my wife and kids nuts when I get home." He stood aside from the door, and held his arm into the door frame, welcoming us in.

Vixen, I mumbled through gritted fangs and her fluffy white tail fur, if I let you go, you can take one chicken. You can wait out here and I'll pay for it while I'm talking to Ray.

She stopped pulling against my restraint. I take one chicken, she agreed.

Be careful, they are hot, I said, cautioning her. Have your chicken and don't get into any more trouble while I'm in the office. They won't like it if a fox contaminates all their food.

She squeaked an affirmative, and I let her tail go. She bounded merrily up to the warming shelf, and nipped a bag down from the rack by its plastic handles.

She'll wait out here, I said to Ray, who was being quite patient with our antics, but the spaced-out expression in his face made it look like he wasn't entirely aware of the time passing while the two foxes negotiated over the chicken. Grabbing the money bag from the floor, I trotted through the door, holding my head and tail high.

Inside the door was a narrow hallway of a flight of stairs heading up to an office mezzanine. My fox paws had little issue getting me up the stairs quickly, but I had to wait for Ray to lumber up them a little more deliberately. At the top, he said, slightly winded, "Whoa there, I didn't think we were racing!"

I chirped through the bag mirthfully, I guess it's all the time I'm spending outdoors with the wildlife.

Glancing around the office, there were several empty desks situated about the room. Brown wooden paneling lined the walls, and the thin carpet was an ugly puke green. Over to the right of the stairs, and next to a window overlooking the sales floor, sat Ray's desk. A name placard sat prominently in front of stacks and stacks of paperwork, marking the desk of the sales manager for the store.

"Come, have a seat," he said as he sidled around the edge of the desk to sit in his chair. A pair of cheap stackable visitors' chairs were positioned at the front, so I scurried over and leapt atop one, letting my tail dangle off the edge.

I placed the bag of money in front of Ray, and nudged it forward with my nose. Use this to start a business account with a positive balance, please, I asked, but I put my will into it, letting the Flame do the convincing for me. The last thing I needed right now was getting this far and being stopped by Big Club's red tape and transactional systems.

"Certainly, I can do that for you," he said, grabbing the bag, and unloading stack after stack of cash onto the messy desk so he could count it.

The scent of the deli below was making my stomach growl, and I had to think about the food I would be getting delivered. Firstly, I had to think about getting the most non-perishables as possible.

I'll need fifty bags of your best premium dog food delivered to the end of the service road in the forest. There was no address for me to repeat, so I forced my will into thinking about the map I had looked over with Big Mike, hoping the magic would instruct Ray to fulfill my request as it had with the bank teller.

Ray was scribbling my instructions down on a notepad. "And you want the reoccurring shipments how often?"

I tried to think about how much food a fox would eat in a given month, and if anyone could stomach eating one meal for months on end. Let's go with every three months, I decided.

He put down his pen, and looked at me with a serious expression. "You want to give me this much money, and that's all you want to buy with it?"

It's what I was given, I said flatly.

"How long do you plan to be taking care of these animals?" he asked. "At that rate, it will be fifty years before you run out of this cash. And you want us to dump it in the middle of the woods for you?!"

There is a cell tower station there, I gekkered defensively.

"I can set this up in the system, but I have to say, this is the strangest sale I have ever made!"

Wait, I yipped suddenly. Can you add one of the roast chickens from the deli onto my tab?

"Sure. Anything else?" Ray said, picking up the pen and jotting down the roasted chicken.

Wracking my brain, I tried to think of all the things that the foxes could want to have delivered to them, as well as ways to preserve the food over rainy days, but all I could think about was the alluring smell of roasted chickens. Maybe there was a way I could offer the foxes more than dry dog food.

Remembering Lumberjack fox's reaction to my microwave, I wondered about getting electricity into the forest. If there was a cell tower station there, then there had to be power. If there was power, then there had to be a service outlet. If there's a power outlet, then we could run some appliances and store food for longer.

It all struck me like a lightning bolt, and I burst out, asking for every modern convenience that jumped into mind. Ok, give me fifty plastic tarps, seventy dog beds, two freezers, a couple of industrial extension cords, a microwave, a patio tent, ten rolls of garbage bags, and two hundred pounds of frozen chicken!

Ray was madly scribbling down everything I said, only just keeping up with the list as I barked it out.

"Would you like a partridge in a pear tree with that?" he asked with a sarcastic smile as he finished the numerical list.

Already got one, I yipped back, not missing a beat.

"Ha! Good answer," he laughed as he flipped his pen and stabbed the button closed against the desk. "How soon would you like the first shipment?"

Tomorrow, if possible, I rumbled seriously. The dry food is a time-sensitive matter. The rest of the order can arrive whenever.

"Next day shipping, got it," Ray said, tapping his pen again to note it on his pad. He started sorting through the cash to count it one more time, while also pecking at his computer to input the order.

Emotion overcame me, and I heaved a huge sigh of relief. We had done it. Big Mike's clan would be able to stay in the forest, and no one had to leave and die. Better yet, there would be enough beds for everyone, so there would be no more sleeping rotations. To top it all off, we now had access to luxuries that the older foxes hadn't seen in their time as humans, and no one had to steal and carry them into the forest.

Do you need anything more from me? I chirped to Ray.

"No sir," he said as he finished typing another entry into the computer. "I have your money added to the account, and I'm inputting the order now." He paused for a moment and reached out his hand across the desk to shake my paw. "Thank you for saving big with Big Club!" he proclaimed as he gripped my pads and pumped them up and down.

Thank you, I wagged back to him. There will be a lot of happy foxes at the reserve tomorrow!

Carefully, I hopped down from the chair onto the thin office carpet, holding my tail proudly in the air. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of light filter in through the window next to Ray's desk. Barely thinking about it, an uneasiness overcame me, and I felt my hackles rise up. Something was going wrong.

Without wasting another second, I sprang for the stairs back down to the ground floor, ignoring the "Have a nice day!" thrown by Ray after I suddenly left his sight. Descending the stairs was tricky, and I almost flipped tail over head on the way down, but I made it to the door as fast as my paws would take me without injury.

The door was closed shut, and it needed to swing inwards over where I stood. It also had a round knob that would be impossible to grip with my paws. Only Ray could open the door for me to get out!

On the other side of the door, the sharp cacophony of a fox screeching in terror filled my ears, and without a second thought, I leapt back from the door, and demanded, Open, now!

*WISH*

Purple light shone forth, and the door slammed open, as if struck by a battering ram. Not waiting for it to rebound closed after the sudden magical force moved it, I dashed out of the office space, and back onto the sales floor by the deli.

All around me stood crowds of people, all staring in complete stunned silence to the left of the door. I swung my head around, and saw the Vixen on top of a man and pinning him down. Her muzzle was shoved into his mouth, and her tail was covering his exposed nethers from where his pants had been removed. Orange and white fur was exploding all over his body, and every time she withdrew her long pink tongue from his mouth, he shouted out in a vulpine scream, no longer able to form words with his protruding muzzle.

Vixen! What are you doing! I screamed at her. I couldn't believe she was changing another human after all we had been through! Glancing around, it was obvious she wasn't hiding it either: Every single human was watching someone turn into a fox before their eyes.

Immediately, I started to focus on hiding the three of us. All the humans would need to forget what they just saw here. My will swirled into the flame, making it cloak us, but right as the blanket of stealth started to wrap around me, it all sank into a pit in my stomach, fading away entirely.

Pain wracked my body, worse now than the last time I endured it, and I doubled over, gasping and choking to the floor.

Vixen! I rasped out with a barely audible squeak.

She lifted her head from the changing man's face, and locked eyes with me, licking her chops; eyes blazing with purple flame.