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III

Henry felt his oversized mouth drop open in shock. Redford?

Yes, Hen? the fox replied, dipping his ears back and acting like he expected Henry to have a pertinent question to where they were going.

They... they got you too? Henry squeaked out, his stammering voice still feeling strange in this throat. It all made sense now, seeing him here. He too had entered the forest and never made it back to the Jeep to get help.

If what you mean by 'they,' yes, the foxes got me too, he said dismissively.

If finding that Redford had also been turned into a fox wasn't shocking enough to Henry, his cavalier attitude about it was even more so. How can you be so calm about this? Henry shrieked at him. We've been turned into animals!

Redford blinked his golden eyes back at Henry. No, actually. Not just animals. Magical foxes. He swayed his tail proudly.

Henry's feeling of shock started to melt into anger. What's the difference? He demanded. A strange prickling sensation filled the back of his mind, almost like the feeling of gaining consciousness after a long night of sleep. Redford was being entirely too calm about this, and somewhere deep in his subconscious, he understood why.

Come now, Hen, Redford replied in frustration. His ears were flat like the wings of an airplane. Could a mundane fox be crushed by a tree and then run around the woods to bark at anyone he pleases?

Redford's normally playful tone and aloof demeanor was oddly serious for once. No, Henry replied with a defeated gruff. He didn't like the way Redford was patronizing him, but he couldn't argue his point either.

That's right! Glad you haven't lost your senses completely, Redford burst out with a mirthful gekker. So, now that we have that out of the way, may I show you around your new home? Or are you going to run off again to start yapping at the humans?

Henry noticed that Redford's ears continued to droop low, despite the laughter. Whatever instinctive understanding of the Fox language he had been gifted with, Redford's mood was being betrayed by his ears. He wondered what sorts of body language he was displaying back while he tried to keep his composure.

I wasn't yapping! Yapped Henry. I was trying to warn them away from the forest. And what do you know about being a fox in these woods? Being a surveyor doesn't mean you get to condescend me!

Whoa! Slow down there, Redford chuffed. I told you I would get you help, and I did. You're alive because of me!

Of course, Redford would try to play his bumbling luck off as if it was his master plan. Henry felt his fur start to bristle in rage. If I didn't know any better, he growled, you wanted this to happen to us!

Redford dipped his ears guiltily for a moment but quickly regained his composure. Henry, my boy, he rumbled gently, do you have any idea how long it's been since I was a human?

The question rang in his ears, unleashing something he didn't quite know. Then, realization hit Henry like a truck, and the nagging feeling in the back of his mind came crashing down on him. Try as he might, he couldn't remember anything about Redford before meeting him on the work site. All his childhood memories of growing up with him; the time they spent in school and after they started their careers, it was all gone. He could only remember that he had the memories, but now seeing Redford as a fox, he could only picture himself talking to that same fox which followed him around all day. He could recall all the times the fox led him around the edges of the forest to waste a day of work, or the evenings he carried heaps of food outside to feed the fox and his many friends. All of it had been a farce!

Redford didn't wait for a reply. The expression on Henry's face was all the answer he needed. Yes, it's been a very long time, Hen. I know a thing or two about being a fox, so take me seriously when I say you're lucky to have me as a friend. Today should have been very bad for you.

Redford's ears were still betraying the turmoil he held within, but Henry had more on his mind at the moment. The betrayal he was feeling from finding out his best friend never existed was almost as shocking as everything else that had happened today. He couldn't process it all.

You... You tricked me! Henry screeched as he closed the space between them. Placing both of his forepaws on Redford's fluffy white chest, a sharp whine left his wide-open mouth. I've wasted months on this hellhole of a site because of you!

Redford didn't object to the accusation, nor did he gekker back. He turned his head sideways submissively, accepting Henry's anger. I had to, Hen. Once you've been a fox long enough, you'll understand.

Nuh-uh, no way, grumbled Henry, taking his paws from Redford's chest and turning his back on him. You gave me this magic stuff-

Flame, interjected Redford

-Flame, whatever, huffed Henry. I'm turning back into a human now!

Hen, you can't use it that way, Redford moaned, but Henry wasn't listening.

Closing his golden eyes, Henry focused hard on what he wanted most: to be restored to being a human again. The desire welled up within him, and right as it hit its peak, it deflated, adding a sad and disappointed sensation nestled within the emptiness lingering in his chest.

Hen, stop, commanded Redford. That's one of the few things we can't wish for. You can't ever be a human again. You're going to be a fox forever.

The artificial feeling of dissatisfaction dissolved into a real feeling of dread and panic. There was a tone of finality to the way Redford said "forever."

Redford, just how long have you been a fox? Asked Henry nervously as he turned around to face him again.

Oh, gee, Redford said nervously as he pawed at his ear with his hind leg. Time starts to blend together after the first fifty years. I still hunted with a crossbow while some people were using muskets, if that gives you any idea.

Henry's jaw hung open. No one uses muskets anymore, Redford!

I guess I was a trendsetter then, he remarked casually. Either way, you need to get comfy, because you're going to be here for a long time.

You mean to tell me I'm stuck like this, and I can't die? Screamed Henry. Suddenly, being stuck under the tree didn't seem quite so bad anymore. Immortality was yet another curse being thrust upon him today.

In a sense, you already have, Redford rumbled wistfully. At least, that's how I came to terms with it. Many of us have the same way. For you, you can look at it as a second chance.

Frustrated, Henry turned away from Redford, letting his golden eyes fall on the tree that had done him in. His old clothing still lay pinned under the trunk, a haunting reminder of the life he was leaving behind. Next to his flannel overshirt was his axe, a tool of his trade he could never hold again with his paws. Ears drooping, feelings of disgust and sorrow swam through him, and he quickly found himself staring at the dirt below.

Hey, Redford barked out, causing Henry to look up from the ground. Let's do something about those clothes, he snorted. You have fur now. There's no need to keep such things around.

No, I want to leave them there in case someone finds them, Henry churred solemnly. they know something happened to me.

Redford cocked his head to the side, And what message do you think they would take from finding it? That you went crazy and are running around the woods naked?

With this job site, it's possible, Henry replied, dipping his ears dismissively.

Rolling his eyes, Redford chirped, At least let me chew them up a bit if that's your plan. Make it look like a wild animal got you!

No! Don't. Henry said hastily. It was true that he was going to be running around the woods naked after being attacked by an animal, but Redford was cutting to the core of the issue: He didn't want to let the last relics of his humanity taken from him. Everything else was just excuses.

Sighing through his dark nose, he turned to Redford. I'll bury them, he mumbled quietly, letting his ears and tail droop in sorrow.

Numb to his own thoughts, Henry wandered over to the fallen tree and sniffed at his empty clothes. His human scent still clung to them, a musk that was familiar but now entirely too strong to be tolerable as he had lived with it. Other notes of gasoline and his breakfast lingered on the material, making him long for the relative peace he had this morning at HQ. With a final grimace, he nipped at the flannel shirt and pulled it away, dragging it a few feet to rest next to the large, buried boulder that had kept him alive long enough to be changed into a fox.

Carefully at first, then with increasing confidence, he pawed and clawed at the black soil. His claws sank easily into the dirt, and his short digits pulled away clumps of earth easier and quicker than if he had a shovel. Digging and swiping, he swiped and tossed every clump he dug behind him to make sure it didn't fall back in. Once complete, he clasped the flannel shirt between is fangs and slid it into the hole. With a few aggressive dabs of his nose, he pushed and packed the shirt in until it was all below the surface. Taking one last look at the red plaid vestment, he then started scooping globs of dirt on top of it, packing it in further and firmer with his black nose.

From afar, Redford wordlessly watched him work. After Henry was done packing and covering his new hole, he finally offered, If you'd prefer, I can help you bury your overalls and boots. You will need almost a whole burrow to cover them.

Looking up from his finished hole, Henry licked off some dirt that had caked onto the tip of his snout. He wanted to accept the offer but instead shook his head. This was his project to complete, and it was up to him to bury his human relics. Besides, just like when he was chopping the tree, he was feeling a strange sense of relief and wholeness he had been missing. He needed this.

Respectfully, Redford waited for Henry to finish, but his fidgeting and pacing didn't go unnoticed by Henry. He was taking a lot of time, and Henry was carefully placing his belongings around the boulder, treating it as a sort of makeshift headstone. As he finished the final presses of his nose to hide his tool belt, he turned around to see his final belonging, his axe, waiting for him.

The finality of what he was doing finally struck him. Redford, do you want to do the honors? He asked. He didn't have the emotional strength to continue.

Raising his head from his paws, Redford stood up on all fours and stretched his leg behind him. Sure, Hen. I can do that for you. He shook out his fur and then added, But first, let me show you around the forest. You're going to need to learn the rules around here.

A spark of irritation flustered Henry at the mention of rules. He had spent the last twenty minutes working hard to put his life behind him, and Redford was brushing all that aside as if it didn't matter.

We're wild animals, Redford, what kind of rules could there possibly be!? Henry snapped.

The rules we need to follow if we want to survive as'wild' animals, Hen, Redford retorted harshly. I said we live a long time, but that doesn't mean you can't die. He rose from his sitting position and strode over to Henry. The Flame grants us a long and healthy life, but only if we follow its rules. Disregard them at your own peril.

Henry dipped his ears irritably. Redford nearing him without showing the correct deference was eating at him almost as much as the feeling of emptiness in his stomach. Gekkering, he chittered out, And what if I don't? Are you and your friends going to throw me in fox jail? Fire me from my fox job? Bury me in my burrow while I sleep? He knew he wasn't being rational, but the mere odor of Redford was more than he could stand.

By all means, if you want to live as a lawless animal, we're not going to stop you, Redford calmly cooed as he bent his neck down to nip at the axe handle. But you'll find that as much as your fox instincts tug at you, you'll never be entirely rid of your human experiences. He winked his golden slitted eye at Henry before clasping his fangs firmly around the wooden axe. He staggered a little lifting the tool as the iron head weighed a lot for a fox. Giving his tail a small flick, he trotted to the edge of the void, holding the axe aloft and continuing his lecture. That is, unless you go completely Flamestarved. God help you if you do that to yourself, because we won't be.

Henry's uneasiness lessened with Redford leaving his personal space, giving him the presence of mind to ask a relevant question. What do you mean by Flamestarved?

Redford dropped the axe with a metallic thud, narrowly missing his paws as the blade fell into the soil. Do you feel that hungry abyss in your stomach? The one that grew after you healed yourself?

Henry inhaled sharply, surprised that Redford knew that he was feeling so odd.

Giving a knowing look, Redford continued. That abyss will grow each time you use the Flame; until it consumes you, and then you will truly become a wild animal. Reaching down again, he picked up the axe and marched into the brush at the sides of the small clearing.

Henry sat and watched the white tip of Redford's tail disappear from sight, but his sharp ears could still hear him traipsing around the ferns and holly bushes beyond the edge of the void. A horrified feeling of terror welled up as he realized how consuming the hollow emptiness already felt within him. How many more times could his body become crushed before he would lose his mind completely?

Before long, Redford returned, no longer holding the axe. Catching the grim look on Henry's face, he asked, What's wrong?

Redford, Henry whimpered, I feel like I'm already half Flamestarved. How many more times can I use the Flame before I lose my mind?

A hearty laughter burst out from Redford's muzzle. You're going to be fine, Hen! Be wary of falling trees for a few more hours! He kept gekkering merrily. The abyss goes away if you've followed the rules. Keep it to healing yourself and catching food, and you'll live to be two hundred, easily! It will take care of you as long as you use it for fox things. More seriously, he added, So long as you don't start using it to sculpt statues or something. We did lose someone that way years ago.

What would a fox need with statues? Asked Henry aloud.

Exactly, was Redford's immediate reply. They all turned to mulch only a few years later too. He couldn't put his hobbies behind him and paid the price.

Henry began to cock his head, trying to think of a hobby he had that could tempt him, but before he could come up with anything, Redford interrupted, So, now that we have the basics out of the way, can I finally show you around?

---

Together, the two of them traveled north. Henry could catch the scents of the other three foxes he had met lingering on the leaves and earth of the path they followed. The other foxes had dashed through here quite quickly and carelessly, but it seemed unlikely they had to worry about being tracked. That's when he realized how little he knew about living as a fox. How many more things in the forest would there be that would try to kill him? Before, all he had to worry about was the occasional cougar or bear attack, but those could be easily thwarted by keeping a rifle or hunting knife on hand. Foxes were never a real threat to him, so how would his fangs and claws compare to those weapons?

Redford, Henry asked as they crossed a grassy divide into the next section of forest, what threatens foxes out here?

Redford stopped and looked around, seeming to search for an immediate answer around them, but gave up in a moment. Humans, he said shortly, not putting any more thought into his response. He resumed his trek by hopping over a fallen tree limb, landing gracefully on his forepaws as his fluffy tail sailed behind him.

No, really, pressed Henry as he tried to imitate Redford's leaping. There had to be something you're afraid of before we got here. He landed on his paws with the same grace Redford had. He was a natural!

Hen, said Redford as he stopped and sat down on his haunches to face Henry. The last time anyone was afraid of anything here was the last time you humans showed up trying to take our forest.

Last time? Henry cocked his head.

Y_es, about forty years ago_, Redford clarified. Y_ou didn't think it was odd that your project started so easily? We weren't going to waste effort stopping you from rebuilding their road!_

Henry was flabbergasted. There were no records of another logging expedition in the area. He had been certain that they were clearing virgin lands!

After what you've learned today, why are you so surprised? Asked Redford, seeing the look on Henry's face.

Henry shook his head and huffed. So many illusions were being shattered for him today. Next thing Redford would be telling him was that the sky wasn't actually blue. Another flash of irritation rose within the back of his mind, making him want to bark at Redford, but Redford had already turned around and continued on his way.

He needed to control himself more. These flareups of his temper wasn't like him. Redford got under his skin on the best of days, but now he had little reason to tolerate his attitude. All of his history with him had been imagined. Redford had been lying to him from the very start, which meant he had already eaten through all the goodwill Henry would have had for him while still human.

After squeezing between two large trees that had grown together, Henry found himself longing for the easy travel of the road. The greenery of the woods offered a comfort and safety he knew he wouldn't get anywhere else, but there were only so much dodging ferns, trees, holly bushes, and other flora he could tolerate. He had managed to run at incredible speeds when there was nothing in his way, and Redford had casually dragged him through the densest part of the forest.

Redford, Henry barked out, how much longer are you going to lead me-

Shhh, he snorted through his nose, pricking his pointed ears up tall.

Henry ceased his complaining; no longer sure they were safe here. Redford's tail was rigidly hovering behind him, and seeing the fox's posture put Henry on alert as well. Together, they twitched and twisted their ears back and forth, listening to the sounds in the forest. It dawned on Henry how odd it was to move his ears around like parabolic dishes, but it was quite natural and even instinctual now. In the distance, he heard a large THUMP of something hitting the earth.

Humans, Redford chuffed solemnly.

Henry felt his tail gently sway behind him. Maybe it was someone he knew from the camp! He must have made it to the north end of the woods where they were still working.

Redford caught sight of Henry's tail betraying his elation. A sly expression played across his muzzle, exposing the tip of his fangs behind his lips. Are you ready for a little fun?

Ideas about ways to approach his company and let them know what had happened to him were playing across Henry's mind. It was the responsible thing to do after all, even if it was inadvisable. Judging by the mischievous look on Redford's face, this was not on his mind at all. Henry's tail drooped in response to the question, a quick yip in reply. What are you going to do?

Nothing you should try repeating, Redford replied solemnly. At least, not yet. Come, follow. He leapt into the brush ahead, trying to close the distance between them and the sounds of the loggers. Try to envision yourself invisible to the humans, he called back as Henry started after him.

Paws drumming on the earth, Henry used the Flame as Redford had suggested. No matter what he did, he couldn't make his limbs disappear beneath him. However, just as the two of them reached the edge of the forest where the humans were, a strange ease came over him and he knew he wouldn't be seen.

Not twenty feet away, a small crowd of lumberjacks, each excessively adorned with safety vests and hard hats towered above them. All seven of the men were huddled alongside a gigantic logging truck, their attention on a survey map that had been spread atop a broad stump that had been sawed flat into a makeshift table. Henry noticed how several of them were looking bored and had their axes slung over their shoulders while they idly waited for further directions from their supervisor. Two others were arguing animatedly on which tree was the safest to start next. He wasn't certain, but he was pretty sure it was Team Six, which explained why they were working so close to HQ and wearing so much safety equipment. The foreman wouldn't have wanted them far from Medical with how accident-prone they were.

Henry eyed the crowd of people dubiously. If the foreman decided to check on them, safety would be their last concern if he caught them all standing around like that. His crew had enough common sense to not laze about so close to HQ.

Redford rumbled softly, breaking Henry from his silent judging. See how they haven't noticed either of us? He asked with a snort of his black nose. T_hat means you're protecting yourself correctly. Good job. You learn quickly!_

Sure enough, the two of them were standing out in the open. Their orange and white fur contrasted against the sparse greenery should have caught someone's attention by now, but all the men stood by, totally unaware of the two foxes watching them.

The Flame is for protection and keeping yourself alive, Redford continued. But it can be used to make things happen.

Henry cocked his head to the side, What do you mean? What kinds of things?

All sorts of things, he replied ominously with a gleeful trill. The easiest ones are the simple and unexplainable coincidences, but it can be used to dull a blade or snap a taut rope. He tilted his head toward Henry with a wink, Or, it could be used for something more costly, like deluding a human into seeing you as one of them.

Henry felt a flash of anger bubble up in his chest at Redford's cavalier attitude about tricking him for months, but he didn't respond. He knew making a scene here would be unwise.

I was in pain for weeks after I met you, he remarked, but I- I got over it, he trailed off briefly. Now that you're a fox too, I'm going to have to find someone else to be my patsy.

Inside Henry's mouth, his tongue curled against the roof of his muzzle as he tried to suppress a loud outburst. He wanted to explode at Redford for insults he was feeding him, but he had enough sense to not do it in front of Team Six. If his disguise dropped and Redford's didn't, they would see a single fox fighting thin air. He didn't think the loggers would understand seeing fragments of magic playing out in front of them and take him for a rabid animal.

But for now, Redford rumbled, oblivious to the antagonization he was causing Henry, I can show you this. He placed a paw forward and lowered his nose to the ground, keeping his eyes on the lumberjacks ahead.

A flash of light reflected off the trees, as well as the truck and men. Startled by the sudden illumination, one of the bored loggers let his grip on his axe handle slip. Seemingly to defy pure chance, the axe head flipped over his shoulder and spun around as it fell, sticking the ground with the heel of its grip and bouncing rigidly toward the truck next to them. The point of the blade struck the sidewall of the monstrous truck tire, gashing it wide open with a deafening explosion!

All seven men and the two foxes jumped at the rapport of the tire bursting, and the poor man that had dropped his axe was blown off his feet. Worse yet, the sudden shift in balance caused the truck to start leaning precariously toward the lumberjacks, threatening to fall over on top of them. The six standing men scattered, not realizing they had left their colleague in the path of the tilting truck. Stopping just short of the tipping point, the truck suspension came to a rest, leaning over the man still on the ground.

Henry watched the chaos unfold before him. That poor man did nothing to deserve what Redford just did. Gone was the anger and frustration, but a chilled horror at what the magic was capable of stood in its wake.

That was an easy one, Redford yipped gleefully to Henry as he shook his ears to ward off the effects of the blast. But that doesn't mean you can go around using the Flame like that. I only used it to protect our home and to show you how easily we can do it. Besides, these guys in particular have been causing us a lot of trouble, and I love messing with them!

Henry wasn't listening to Redford's gloating. Head spinning and ears ringing, he watched as the six lumberjacks backed away from the tilting truck like cowards. There was another creak of metal, and the logging truck sagged a little closer toward the fallen man. C'mon, get up, Henry whined under his breath.

Not one other logger dared to get closer to the truck as they stared from a safe distance and the fallen man was either too stunned or wounded to pick himself up off the dirt. The truck shifted again, and without wasting another moment, Henry dashed forward, leaving Redford's side.

Hen! Wait! Redford called to him, but he didn't stop. Running as fast as his paws could carry him, he bolted up to the lumberjack and grabbed his overalls shoulder strap with his fangs.

Get up, you idiot! Henry snarled as he pulled on the prone man, barely inching him away from where he fell. Still disoriented, the lumberjack started kicking against the earth, pushing himself further from the tilting truck. Tugging and tearing, Henry didn't relent until the man was clear, but even before he was satisfied for his safety, the other lumberjacks had swooped in and surrounded them.

"Get it off him!" one of them shouted as Henry squinted against a leather glove whipping his face. Another logger tried punting him, and Henry's frustrated growls turned into a loud yelp of pain as a heavy boot connected with his ribs. A third man started to bring his axe to bear to separate him from the fallen lumberjack, and so Henry finally released the strip of denim in his muzzle and dashed back into the cover of the forest.

From the safety of a bush, Henry watched as Team Six helped their fallen colleague to his feet. Grumbles of concern turned to roars of laughter as the fallen man hobbled up and sat against the flattened stump. Half of the group was finding humor in his sudden misfortune while the others rushed to the far side of the truck to try to counterbalance it.

Satisfied, Henry turned around, only to find himself nose-to-nose with Redford.

What the hell is wrong with you!? He screeched loudly, rearing up onto his hind paws and steadying himself upon Henry's white fluffy chest. You let them see you!

The audacity for Redford to reprimand him after he tried to save the logger's life set something ablaze in Henry, and in a fit of rage, he reared up against Redford, placing his paws on him and gekkered as loudly in return. You tried to kill him! He shouted at the top of his lungs.

I did nothing of the sort! Screamed Redford, pushing Henry one pawstep backwards. You put us all in danger!

Henry shoved back, forcing Redford to yield a step backward. Bullshit! You showed me you were using that Flame magic stuff! Exploding tires are not a prank!

He was fine! retorted Redford, jousting his open maw at Henry's. Besides, if these intruders had not come to my forest, I never would have had to do it! He reclaimed his lost ground with another shove. Now they think there's a deranged fox ready to pop out of the woods to attack them!

I don't care! Shrieked Henry, louder than ever. They are my company, and I'm responsible for their safety!

Redford turned his muzzle to the side, evidently losing a bit of his composure. I wasn't going to hurt him. Not seriously, at least.

Henry was about to shove him one more pawstep back to assert his position over Redford, but as he did so, a gleaming axe head parted the bushes between them and the tilting truck. The man that had been menacing him with the tool had approached them to find the two foxes fighting loudly.

Run! Barked Redford, but Henry didn't need to be told. Together, they bolted deeper into the forest, effortlessly dodging through the brush as easily as if it wasn't there.

Heartbeat pounding in his ears, Henry finally slowed to a stop. Fleeing through the forest with Redford running parallel to him, he barely could remember what their argument had been about. Redford slowed too, rounding through the brush back to him as soon as he had stopped.

See, Redford whimpered between panting. That's why I didn't want us to be seen. Had he decided to use that axe and end us, he would have watched us both recover from mortal wounds and then disappear. We must stay hidden at all times!

Henry, tongue lolling out of the side of his muzzle, rolled his golden eyes incredulously. Redford, no one believes in magic- I certainly didn't. He took a moment to compose himself and get his long pink tongue inside his mouth again. Swallowing, he added, If he saw that, he would think he didn't hurt us enough to keep us from escaping. Wounded animals escape hunters all the time!

Shaking his head, Redford replied, Not after he watched a magical light revive us, Henry. Did you already forget how the magic healed you?

Henry didn't reply, so he continued. No one is to risk showing humans our magical abilities. They will know what it is when they see it, even if they didn't believe in magic!

I seriously doubt that, shot back Henry. You have everyone fooled that this is a bad jobsite!

That's because no one knows it's foxes doing it, Hen! Redford closed the distance between them and put his paw on Henry's shoulder to reassure him. We're the foxes of folklore. It's instinctual for the humans to see us as a magical threat!

Henry twisted his head in confusion. What... What folklore? He couldn't remember any stories or news involving foxes in all his life.

Come now, surely you remember some stories about the trickster fox causing all sorts of devious havoc among the townsfolk and countryside?

After another moment of thinking, a spark of recognition hit finally Henry. Redford! He exclaimed. Those were children's fables! You think a grown man would go running back to HQ raving about children's tales?!

Redford's paw slipped from Henry's shoulder. Stranger things have happened today, he nodded towards Henry's new vulpine form. That's all beside the point. I wasn't going to kill anyone back there, and those children's tales should be proof enough!

Henry's forgotten anger started to simmer once more now that Redford had returned to their argument. But, if Redford was being honest with him, none of the fables he recalled involved the foxes being outright murderous. Only sly tricksters that created all sorts of trouble for the other characters in the story. He had opened his mouth to protest the notion but no longer found anything to say. No real harm had been done to the lumberjacks either.

Redford continued, Also, I rather offer someone a chance to join us than kill them. I'm certain you can appreciate that.

Henry's ears drooped, defeated in their argument, but something still felt wrong about what he saw Redford do. Despite his reassurances, Redford had to be hiding something, and Henry could feel it. It was like he only held back because he was being watched by him.

Redford, Henry whined solemnly. Promise me you won't go that far again. That was too close, and I don't want to see my men hurt.

Hen, Hen, Hen, Redford said in a tone like he was addressing a child, I can't promise that! I'm fighting for my home. It's your home now, too!

I don't give a shit, Redford! Barked Henry. Logging is dangerous enough without you blowing up the machines! No one is here to hurt you, but you want to hurt them!

I want them to leave! Barked Redford loudly in reply. But he didn't rear up to gekker in Henry's face. Instead, he flattened his ears thoughtfully. Ok, fine. I promise to not hurt your men, he said, emphasizing his frustration with Henry's stubbornness. It's been a one-sided fight and I grow tired of it. Just don't come bellyaching to me when someone does something stupid from a trick. It's out of my paws then!

Deal, Henry said. He lifted his right paw to shake on it but quickly realized that wasn't going to physically work anymore.

Redford noticed the gesture. No need to shake on it. We live long enough that I can't afford to have a reputation for going back on my word. I expect the same honor from you too, Hen.

You have it, Henry replied earnestly, but he couldn't be certain Redford took the vow equally so.

Very well! Yipped Redford. Now, with all that behind us, may I show you around the rest of our forest?

Redford led Henry all around their territory for the remainder of the daylight hours. The whole afternoon became a blur of meeting new orange and white furry faces that Henry could barely distinguish between. After the sixth obscure hole Redford introduced him to that someone called their home, he started noticing it was easier to recognize the scents lingering around each fox rather than the faces and names of each. Some wore their vulpine odors more heavy and pungent than others, which caused his nose to crinkle and twitch, leaving him with a poor impression of the fox he had been introduced to.

The most important thing Henry remembered was Redford explaining how Fox society worked in the forest. There were four roles each of the foxes had adopted, and he was free to choose whichever one suited him best. First, there were the scout foxes, which Redford was a part of. They would patrol the woods and look for intruders and intercept them if it was safe enough. Redford liked being part of the scouts because it meant he was free to roam as much as he wanted.

Second, he explained, were the hunter foxes. They were tasked with finding and collecting food for the entire population of foxes. Redford didn't care to work with them often. They spent too much time quietly hiding out of sight to ambush possible prey. The only times he would help them was when his team scouted a flock of birds landing in a tree, or some other fortuitous event.

Next was the guard foxes. Redford didn't bring him to any within their number. They were spending most of their time on the front lines, doing their best to repel the lumberjacks from the northern side of the forest. He also explained that because the Flame couldn't be used on other foxes, the guard foxes spent most of their time keeping order between the different groups.

A defense force? Asked Henry.

Close enough, agreed Redford. Either way, only the toughest and most trustworthy foxes become guards because they will separate us if there's a squabble over who smells worse, and they can't use the Flame to do it!

Lastly, he described the leadership foxes. All the other teams report to the leaders, and in return, their team provides any manual labor the foxes require. Mostly, they are there to make sure no one leaves an unwanted dead carcass on someone's den or put a hole in the middle of a game trail, but if someone needed a new den dug while out hunting, the leadership members will be there to do the digging.

Of course, since we have our history and I know you like the outdoors, I hope you will stick with us scouts, finished Redford.

Henry didn't know what to think. Among being turned into an animal, he didn't expect he would still be working a job.

So, no one lives like a normal fox? Asked Henry. We still have jobs to do?

Oh no, no, no, squeaked Redford. We tried that a long time ago. Too much fighting. Some would leave, but that would make the problems worse.

Worse? Asked Henry.

Before Redford could reply, the distant sound of the dinner triangle being rung reached their ears.

Right, Redford said, his thoughts interrupted by the alarm. Now that you're a fox, getting food from the humans is going to be a bit more work. I tell you, the hunters won't be happy to hear their break time may be over.

Henry had lost count of the number of times Redford had casually revealed how much of a patsy he had made him over the recent months, and he was no longer shocked hearing he had been feeding the wildlife without knowing it. All he could muster was a dismissive eyeroll this time.

We had better get over there quickly while the food is hot, he encouraged Henry.

Wordlessly, he agreed and let Redford lead on. He hadn't eaten since breakfast and was getting hungry after running around all day.

---

The two foxes reached the northern edge of the forest within a few minutes. Before them, the remarkably large longhouse loomed from across the road, mouthwatering smells of dinner wafting from it. Waiting patiently near the tree line, a cluster of five foxes sat neatly: their ears perked high and their bushy tails curled alongside them as they watched groups of men enter the doors of the building.

You're late, Scout, growled one of the hunter foxes to Redford once they reached the group. The food will be half eaten by the time you get your human to open the doors for you!

The hunter fox then eyed Henry suspiciously, Who was this?

Redford's ears flattened. My human, he said guiltily.

Oh, great! Roared the hunter fox irritably, his shrill squeal a sharp contrast to the words Henry could now understand from the fox. You didn't think to tell us sooner?

I've been busy showing him around the forest since midday, Redford said, his black ears twitching irritably.

Harumph, grumbled the hunter fox. Looking directly at Henry, he said, Welcome aboard. Now do you know any good way to the food without your human body or use of the Flame?

Henry was so taken aback by the demand that he was momentarily at a loss for words. He had never even considered the idea of getting into the longhouse without use of his human hands, and he wasn't about to suggest dropping a logging truck on the building with the use of the Flame either.

Clumsy and useless, then, the hunter fox answered before Henry could collect his thoughts for an answer. I was nursing a cracked rib all night from when you tripped on me!

Henry opened his mouth to gekker a response, but Redford jumped in.

H_e's messing with you, Hen. That rib was healed before you finished eating. Someone is a bit cranky now he can't keep slacking at his job,_ he taunted.

Taking advantage of a valuable opportunity isn't slacking, Scout, said the hunter fox. Now enough gekkering, what plan do you have for us, or do you want to tell Leader Fox that because of your bad planning, no one is getting fed today?

No need to be so dramatic, said Redford. Have your team follow my lead and we'll all be eating plenty tonight.

Henry, robbed of his chance to speak for himself, watched the other six foxes cross the road and position themselves on either side of the longhouse's front door.

Hen! Get over here, barked Redford from the front decking. Or do you want to go hungry tonight?

The smell of food in the air was as tantalizing as ever. He couldn't be certain, but Henry thought he could detect fried chicken on the menu again today, which meant it probably would be rewarmed leftovers from last night.

Still, he hesitated. The foxes were asking him to casually join them in a heist of the company's dinner as if it belonged to them. There may have been plenty of food to go around at the camp, but that didn't entitle the foxes to a share.

Having watched Henry not move an inch, Redford barked again, Hen! Now!

Hunger won out in the end. Reluctantly, Henry crossed the road to join the other foxes as soon as he realized his only alternative was to hunt and kill something in the forest to eat raw.

Why did you choose this guy? Asked the hunter fox to Redford as he approached. He's a bit slow in the head!

Henry had enough. He was already being pushed into stealing food and now they were calling him names for it! What did you say?! He roared inches from the offending fox. I dare you to say that to my face!

The hunter fox fixed his golden eyes on Henry, Rearing for a fight on your first day? I see at least your temper is quick!

Stop it, you two, demanded Redford before Henry could escalate further. Hunter fox, I remember your first day too. Leave Henry be.

Harumph, growled the Hunter fox. I still had the good sense to eat when it was time.

I never said I didn't want to eat! Barked Henry. I'm not keen on helping you steal my company's food!

No sooner had he finished saying the words that he wished he hadn't. Immediately, all six foxes, Redford included, broke into loud screeching laughter. Half of them couldn't contain themselves and fell flat to the wooden deck, squeaking and wheezing at Henry's remark.

Hen, Redford started between his laughing and wheezing, nothing is stealing now you're a fox!

Another subordinate hunter fox chimed in, Yeah! If they didn't want us taking it, then they should have peed on it!

Again, all six foxes burst into fits of laughter while Henry watched them from the ground in front of the raised deck. If the sounds of the raucous lumberjacks weren't as loud as they were, he would have expected someone to come outside to check on the odd animal noises from beyond the front door.

Are you done? Asked Henry flatly. I thought you said you had a plan.

Redford finally composed himself enough to prop himself up on his paws. This is the plan, Hen. We wait for someone to open the door and we'll sneak inside to grab the food. I will need you to keep the door open, though. Do you think you can handle that? He asked with a hint of patronization in his tone.

No one is going to let a bunch of animals swarm in and steal food, Redford! Cried Henry.

He cocked his head to the side, Did you already forget to hide yourself when near the humans? His nostrils twitched as he took a few sniffs in the air in Henry's direction.

Just great, grumbled the surly hunter fox. All that gekkering and screaming at me, and he wasn't hiding it from them. Are you trying to prevent us from eating today?

The notion of going without food made Henry's stomach start to growl. Just as he was about to deny his oversight, the sound of gravel crunching caught his ear. Every fox turned their heads toward the approaching footsteps and Henry hurriedly welled up the desire to not be seen.

To Henry's shock, the interloper was none other than Sam. He was trudging along the side of the road, looking weary and absentminded as always. He neared the foxes and the front step, completely oblivious to their presence.

It's Sam! Henry chirped to Redford, feeling his own tail sway a little at the recognition and luck of finding someone from his crew.

Indeed, Redford said as Sam marched up the step and past him. He gave a ravenous look at Sam as he opened the door, clearly unaware of the vulpines behind him that were ready to barge in his wake.

Now, chuffed Redford, and the five hunter foxes dashed in through the door, breaking left and right past Sam as he haplessly obstructed them.

Hold the door, Hen, commanded Redford finally as he stepped into the threshold to prevent the tension spring from locking the hunters inside.

Henry wasn't sure he wanted to be an accomplice to their heist, but the intensely delicious smells of dinner wafting out the open door offered him little choice to decline. Hesitantly, he braced his furry body against the open door in place of Redford who in turn darted inside.

From the door, Henry could see the ends of the rows of tables occupied by the hungry lumberjacks. Even with the men all sitting, he couldn't see past the first few seats now that he was so much smaller than them. To his right, the only person left in the lunch line was Sam as he collected as much food as he could fit on his sectioned platter. Just as he grabbed a pair of tongs to scoop up something in front of him, Bill appeared from between the rows and rushed up to Sam.

"Did you find him?" Henry's keen hearing heard Bill ask Sam over the din of the hall.

Sam shook his head as he finished dropping a hunk of breaded chicken onto his platter. "No, I thought he might be here," he sheepishly replied.

Bill jerked his head forward like he had cursed under his breath and then urgently headed for the back office.

I'm right here, guys, Henry murmured to himself. I'm still alive. His ears dipped forlornly knowing he couldn't reveal himself to them like this. A painful longing settled in his chest as he watched Sam gesture to one of the culinary staff and make an unheard request. The staff member nodded and rushed back toward the kitchen partition and disappeared for a few moments. When he returned, his hot mitt covered hands were carrying a large chafing platter stacked tall with fried chicken.

Now!

He heard a yip from behind the counter, and suddenly the staff member tripped face-first and out of view, throwing the platter ahead of him and scattering the golden breaded meat with an ear-shattering crash! One breast landed within inches from Henry as it skittered across the wooden floor. Temptation pried at him, and just as he was about to move to snatch up the nearby chicken, another two foxes ran in through the door.

Without wasting a second, the first of the two foxes reached down and snapped up the fallen chicken while the other darted toward the counter. Holding the chicken in his mouth, the fox looked up at Henry, and that's when he realized it was the Pedler fox he met at the south end of the forest.

Looks like they are already making you into a useful doorstop, he snorted with a wag of his fluffy tail before bending his neck down to clamp a second fallen piece of chicken into his maw.

Henry found it hard to tell if the comment was meant derisively while his mouth was stuffed with food, but before he could take offense to the fox, three foxes burst from behind the counter and ran outside past Henry, their mouths completely stuffed full of steaming hot chicken.

The fallen staff member had barely had a chance to pull himself back up before two more foxes emerged, also carrying as much as they could hold between their sharp fangs. Like a streak of orange lightning, they galloped past Henry and then across the road to the tree line.

He was starting to get impatient. Each of these foxes were taking more than their fill of meat and he was being left at the door without so much as a morsel to himself. He was hungry too, and they were treating him like a simpleton, fit only to hold a door open!

Blood roared in his ears as his irritation turned to anger. Just as he started to rise to all-fours to take some of the food he needed, Redford and the two scout foxes emerged from behind the counter, each carrying large payloads of food in their jaws.

Let's go, Redford snorted to Henry as he trotted past.

No! Barked Henry. Not until I eat too, he demanded.

Redford rolled his eyes, but he wasn't able to reply with more than a confirmation huff through his nostrils while his mouth was packed with dinner. Instead, he displayed his disapproval by lowering his ears and setting himself as the doorstop in place of Henry.

Henry didn't need his approval, however. As soon as the door was securely held open, he quickly scampered behind the counter to find three of the kitchen staff crawling around on their hands and knees, scouring the floor for all the fallen chicken. The platter had been set down behind them, and only a scant few breaded breasts had been placed upon it.

Hurriedly, he dashed and weaved between the prostrate men and quickly nipped the top chicken breast off the platter before whirling around to make his way back toward the exit. As he fled, his fluffy tail brushed under one of the staff's faces, causing him to flinch in surprise at his invisible touch. It didn't matter, however. Before the man could rise to his knees to figure out what had touched him, both Henry and Redford were leaving the through the exit and the door slowly swinging shut behind them.

---

Whoo boy, we are eating plenty tonight! Cried Pedler fox as they all reconvened inside the edge of the forest. Each of the foxes had placed their collection of chicken into a large pile on the mossy ground.

Practically yakking up the birdflesh shoved tightly into his jaws, Redford turned to Henry once his pilfering had been added to the growing pile, You couldn't grab more than a single breast? He demanded irritably.

The juices of the tender meat had started to drip onto Henry's tongue, and instead of replying to Redford, he started to gnaw greedily at the delicious food hanging from his muzzle. After he had finished consuming it, he stood his ears up on alert, defiant. I'm not greedy like the rest of you! he stabbed at the lot of them.

All eight foxes stared back at him, aghast at his behavior. Redford was the first to reply. Hen, this food is for the whole clan, he said calmly as if explaining to a child. When you went to grab your share, I held the door expecting you to come back with all you could carry.

Behind Redford, the boisterous hunter fox finally exploded. You idiot! Not only you didn't help us carry the food, you ate a whole chicken to yourself! That was two-days rations for any of us, and you gobbled it all down without a care!

Henry felt his ears dip down for a moment as he realized that he had actually screwed up this time. It wasn't at all like when the foreman yelled at him for having difficulties on his worksite. But instead of feeling remorse, he felt a fury ignite, and he screamed back at the hunter fox. I don't care! You shouldn't have been stealing their food!

You stole food too, Redford interjected as he stepped between the hunter and Henry.

No, I didn't! Roared Henry. It was my food! I'm supposed to be in there eating too! The words left his muzzle with as much acid as he could spit. Now I'm stuck like this because of you, and I can't enjoy a nice meal without you all snapping at me!

Hen, settle down, Redford said with a hushed whimper. You've been a fox for less than a day, you have a lot to learn still. It's not a big deal.

Fuck off! Screeched Henry, Don't tell me to settle down! Before Redford or any of the other foxes could reply, he turned tail and dashed back toward the road.

Within moments, Henry found himself galloping as fast as his paws could carry him. Shards of gravel stabbed his paw pads as he ran, but he didn't care where he was going, he just needed to be away from those foxes. His whole world had been turned upside down today, and try as he might to accept it, he wasn't ready to put his old life behind him.

His run slowed to a trot and then diminished further to an amble, barely placing his paws in front of the other. He asked himself, when the hell did Redford become the voice of reason, anyway? It was so irritating taking orders from him. Redford had always been so capricious, and yet the foxes respected him more than Henry. Maybe perhaps not as much as his crew respected him as their lead, but certainly far more than Redford deserved. He could never trust the Redford he knew to do right by him, and yet it only made him madder knowing he should, now their roles had reversed.

Henry blinked his golden eyes, and that's when he realized he had made it all the way down the road to his old cabin. His gait staggered and then he decided to sit in front of the small wooden structure. It had grown much larger than he remembered it from this morning, but it was his cabin all the same. He watched it in the dying evening light, realizing he needed more time to say goodbye to his old life.

Mindlessly, almost as if in a trance, he placed his furry paw on the short deck on the front of the cabin, followed by the rest of his body. The door was closed tightly, but one of the two windows that flanked it was ajar to let in some of the cool evening air. He stood up on his hind paws to the windowsill and shoved his pointy muzzle into the gap. With a firm shove, he was able to lift the pane up and climb and scratch his way inside.

The cabin was dark as usual, but his new vulpine eyes made it much easier to see than ever before. Casting about the room, he searched for something of his he could take with him. He wasn't sure what would be useful to a fox, but he knew while he was here, it was time to grab a souvenir or anything to offer him comfort. He saw his bunk and a spare change of clothes, but neither were going to help him live in the upcoming years. There was the newspaper he had been reading, but that would be out of date within the week if he tried taking it with him. Just as he was able to settle on nipping at his pillow, the thud of a boot hit the deck outside.

Whirling around, he turned to face the door as it swung open, revealing a tired Sam standing in the doorway.

"What the heck?" He said as soon as he saw Henry next to the bunk. Sam was shocked, but clearly not frightened by the appearance of a wild animal in his cabin.

Quickly recovering his composure, Sam cooed softly, "Ok, little guy, time to leave." Bending low, he slowly walked toward Henry, giving him plenty of space to circle around the wire spool table as he tried to herd him outside.

At first, Henry didn't move. He wasn't in the mood to take orders from Sam of all people, but as Sam crept closer, he started to feel a bit uncomfortable and knew he couldn't let him get near. Taking the opening Sam had provided, he scrabbled across the wooden floor and out the front door.

Just as he reached the road, he heard Sam call "Hey!" behind him. Stopping and turning around, he saw Sam standing at the door, reaching into his pocket.

"Here you go, little guy," he said softly as he extracted part of a dinner roll and tossed it in front of Henry. "My boss would kill me if he was here..." Henry heard him say to himself.

Wagging his tail thankfully, Henry bent his head down and snatched up the roll. It was nice feeling a little bit of respect from his crew again, even if he was a fox. It was more than Redford and his hunter friends would give him today.

Scurrying across the gravel road to the brush on the other side, he looked back longingly at Sam before he returned to their cabin. Suddenly, dealing with Redford and the foxes seemed surmountable, so long as he still had a friend in the camp. Ironically, Sam's rule breaking that landed him in hot water last night just might be the thing he needed to stay sane in his new upside-down life. Chewing the doughy roll he held, he made his way back to the foxes before they disappeared back into the forest.

---

"Christ, he was busy," murmured Bill as he ran is fingers through the gashes on the bark of a tree. Scanning with his flashlight, he found the next few trees marked with the signature glyph. "Every tree is marked for removal."

Holding his own flashlight beam on the mark near Bill, Alfred asked, "How long was he working alone instead of getting us those ropes?"

"Beats me," shrugged Bill. "But I'm praying we don't find him now. It's not going to be pretty."

"Don't say that!" moaned Alfred. "Henry wouldn't be so stupid."

Bill grunted in dismissal, knowing the evidence showed otherwise. "The path he marked is clear, and I know the foreman will be happy to hear what he found without us," he added, not wanting to leave such a pessimistic thought hanging in the air, but Henry's fate was getting more and more grim the deeper into the woods they traveled.

Together, their boots trampled and crashed through dead twigs and brush while both scanned the darkness with their flashlights, letting Henry's marks lead them deeper. Just when some of the marks started to lose their defining features, the forest yielded, leaving them both standing in the middle of a small clearing.

"Those chips are fresh," pointed Bill as he scanned over the stump of the fallen log in the middle of the clearing.

Urgently, the two men rushed over to survey the lumber, hoping to find some other sign of their missing friend. Perhaps fortunately, there was no sign of him anywhere other than the felled tree.

"Why would he have chopped one tree down and left?" asked Alfred.

"Heeeeenry!" shouted Bill to the darkness, hoping to hear a reply, but the forest itself seemed to eat up the sounds of his voice.

Hastily, Bill stepped up the fallen log and scanned the edges of the clearing once more from a higher vantage point. "Look around you," marveled Bill. "This clearing is large enough to pull our machines into. Even if we can't find him, he may have saved our operation!"

Alfred spun around, twisting his flashlight to every edge of the clearing. "Do you think a wild animal got him?" he asked darkly. "There's no signs of him at all."

"What's that?" asked Bill, pointing his flashlight a little beyond the edge of the clearing. "Something is shining."

Bill dropped from the log and the two men rushed to find the source of the glint in the brush. Bending down, Bill grasped the heavy object and lifted it for Alfred to see, shining his flashlight on it.

It was Henry's axe.