Chapter 9

It had been a quarter moon since the last peace day. MoonFox, WishFox, And SkyFox had started hunting training a few days ago. Today, FrostFur had invited WarmFur to help master there hunting skill.

In the pines, by AutumnSkulks border, they sat listening to instructions.

Once they entered the woods, they went to an empty area. WarmFur brushed her fur against FrostFur's coat, then started barking her instructions. "I want to see your best hunters crouch!"

MoonFox crouched down, lowering her tail keeping it straight, and paws ready to pounce.

"You'll make a fine hunter MoonFox. WishFox, we still need to work on that wobbling, and SkyFox, you're fine." WarmFur barked as she walked past.

Once they exited there hunting crouch, WarmFur was standing proud. "MoonFox, SkyFox. You both look good. I would like you to go into the woods and bring back as much prey you can till sun sky. WishFox, you can stay with me while I help teach you."

MoonFox nodded and ran the opposite way SkyFox went. She already smelt squirrel. She heard it rustling, as it ran down a tree. She soon saw it unburying a nut in the ground. She crouched down, still as stone but light as a feather. She slowly approached the prey. She then pounced. It tried to rush back up the tree, but she was to fast. Her claws threw it off, killing it in a swift swipe. She looked up as a bird flew away, she then went to find a new place, where prey wasn't running scared.

   She soon saw a black sparrow, looking for worms in the grass. As she got ready to pounce, it looked towards her. Her fur blew in the breeze then her tail twitched. The bird soon realized, and flew off.

   But she luckily heard a mouse in the grass. After killing it in a single bite, she buried her findings. She then went to look for more prey.

   She looked up to see the sun was now in the middle of the sky. She had successfully caught a squirrel, a mouse, and two birds. She entered the empty place in the woods. WishFox was still training, while SkyFox also entered.

   MoonFox set down her prey, and WarmFur praised her. SkyFox had gotten a mouse, and two squirrels.

   FrostFur came over and gazed proudly at her. "One day MoonFox, you will feed this skulk when there is not a single mouse out during winter. I believe it."

   MoonFox wagged her tail in delight.

   Everyone then stopped and turned when a group of red foxes came out of the shadows. There were two adults with two trainees. The leading one snarled, "This is our territory now!"

The fox then jumped on FrostFur, and FrostFur howled a battle cry. A dark brown trainee jumped on MoonFox. She squirmed, kicking with her hind legs as he bit at her. She pushed hard, throwing him off. She got up and clawed at the trainee. But, she had no training. He jumped on her again, easily pinning her to the ground. She saw as WishFox then came, using his strong muscles to throw him off her.

She watched as SkyFox had an equally hard battle, MoonFox sprinted in to help her. She bit at the opponents tail, surprising her. Once she saw there were two of them, she growled and ran back into the woods.

WishFox came back, blood bleeding from wounds. "I got him." He quietly said, then pasted out on the ground. MoonFox turned her gaze to see FrostFur easily beating his opponent. For WarmFur, her opponent now had her pinned down, ready for the death bite.

MoonFox ran and bit at the reynards tail, while SkyFox jumped on his back. He veered away from WarmFur, shaking to throw of SkyFox. SkyFox let go of her grip, and flew into a tree, falling limp. He moved his tail, tripping MoonFox over.

FrostFur's opponent then ran to his friend. "You may of won this one FrostFur, but there is still much blood to be revenged!" He then bit down on WarmFur's neck, killing her.

They then ran off into the woods. FrostFur looked down, worried. SkyFox then appeared with WishFox, now woken up. FrostFur looked at SkyFox and her now limping leg, "Are you fit to go back to camp?"

Her eyes full of fear, she then nodded her head, "Yes."

His voice now stern, "Go now and get IceBreeze."

SkyFox ran into the forest, ignoring her limp. They then looked back at WarmFur, not moving on the ground. WishFox licked her body saddened. He wept, "Why WarmFur!"

MoonFox soothed him with a lick on the air, his eyes still fearful.

   WishFox whimpered, "I wish she was still alive!"

   MoonFox stepped back in horror, when he too fell limp. "No!" She shouted.

   She licked his coat fast as she could, hoping to make his heart beat again. FrostFur stood still, speechless.

   She couldn't believe her eyes when WarmFur's eyes widened, and her tail twitched. She immediately looked towards WishFox.

   "I should've died." She whispered.

   CloudPuff and SkyFox came running through the woods, with a guard. CloudPuff shouted fearfully, "IceBreeze is collecting herbs."

   CloudPuff put down her herbs and looked towards WishFox. Her eyes teared up as she walked towards him. She felt his heartbeat, not moving at all. She then gazed at the sky.

   She took a deep sigh. "Ancestors, please let me heal one last time. My life for his."

   IceBreeze came out of the woods with StormCloud, and watched as CloudPuffs body also fell limp. MoonFox ran up to him, "Whats happening?"

   He sighed, "A healer gets a power. They can heal one last time if they would like. This means they die instead of the other fox."

   She jumped back in surprise when WishFox stood up, looking at what had happened.

   FrostFur went up to him, to stop his confusion. "You figured out your power. But for ever power, there is a disadvantage. You can wish for anything, but you have to die in return."

   WarmFur immediately ran up to him, covering him in licks. "You saved my life. I don't known how I will ever repay you."

   WishFox backed up, "What happened to CloudPuff?"

   IceBreeze mumbled, "She healed one last time. She loved you too deeply to see you gone."

   WishFox gave an approving nod, saddened by the fact that he never knew.

The protector went up to CloudPuff, licking her coat softly. "I'm sorry CloudPuff. I'm sorry I, your father couldn't protect you from your own words."

MoonFox realized, that must me ThickCoat, CloudPuffs father.

FrostFur ordered ThickCoat, WarmFur, IceBreeze and hisself to carry her body back to camp. They walked back, not speaking a single word.

*— —*

Once they had gotten back to camp, the sun was falling. SnowWinter was starting her meeting as everyone gathered below. ThickCoat And PebbleStone leaned on one another for there dead daughter.

"Today we have lost CloudPuff. She gave her life for WishFox. She would of been a great healer, always kind hearted, loving, and cheerful. We will always remember her, and tell our pups her story. Now we must send her to our ancestors. What four will bring her?"

ThickCoat And PebbleStone immediately raised there tails up. "Who will watch over my newborns?" PebbleStone asked.

   LightSong And ShiverSky raised there tails. PebbleStone nodded a thank you.

   IceBreeze raised his tail, after being her teacher. Then SkyFox did, since she was her best friend.

Everyone went up to her, saying there goodbyes. When it was MoonFox's turn, she whispered, "I wish I would of known you better." Then she left. She saw as WishFox left towards the den, without speaking to CloudPuff.

She followed him inside, his face full of sadness. "What happened out there?" She asked.

WishFox took a deep sigh. "What happened to CloudPuff makes me think, she never told me how she felt. Maybe things would of been different. But I don't want that to happen to me. So, MoonFox, I love you! I don't feel like you understand..."

MoonFox paused for a second. Then spoke, "I do WishFox, I do."

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