1 October 2012
She could feel it, the danger was getting closer, deep in her bones. She knew this feeling, she had felt it before they took her there, to the nightmare. She was scared, up until she found a fresh blood-mark, and she knew it was time. This thing had been here for a while now, killing everything, and unless she was very lucky, she would meet the same fate. The blood-mark could not have been more than a few minutes old, it was here somewhere.
She had been living in this forest while traveling for a while now, and she knew it well, there was a clearing not far ahead. She was faced with a tough choice, did she try and sneak round but risk being sneaked up on? Or did she face it, the thing, out in the open?
She finally decided to do the honourable thing, and to face her fears. She stepped out into the clearing, and winced. And then came... Nothing, she was alone in the woods again. Then, something very strange happened that would set in motion an odd chain of events. A bush at the edge of the clearing rustled softly, and out came a tiny fox cub, covered in mud and blood.
It had obviously been abandoned or orphaned, some time ago by the look of it. It was too young to know varg-tongue yet, so there was no communication involved, but it looked very pleased to see a friendly soul. It limped up to her, shivering, and gently nuzzled her front leg. It was ice-cold and really quite thin, but she knew it had taken to her as its new mother.
The danger would still be after her, but at least, for now she had some comfort in knowing, finally, she was not alone.
Tala, Chapter 7 • Opuss № I