FOXXTROT CHAPTER 7

The rain began to pour down, washing away the freezing snow that took ahold of the earth. Odd-nose rose his bitterly torn nose to the sky, allowing the rain to drench his muddy pelt, washing it clean to the dark-grey it was. His paws sloshed the earth as he continued on his patrol, Black-claw and Swift-wind trotting by his side. There was a strong wind that swirled through the tribe, Odd-nose sighed lightly. “This rain is worse then the snow is,” His paws felt heavier then ever, “We have nothing to patrol, there have been no enemies in a while, what are we even looking for,” He flicked his golden ears back to Black-claw. Black-claw scoffed, “Odd-nose, you howl to much, you know damn well that the spring brings more prey, and more pups, which means a stronger clan, right swiftwind.” His overlying fur clung tightly to his eye, He ruffled his fur and glanced to the irritated female fox trotting infront of him. “Is that all you men ever think about!” She scoffed bitterly, “Yeah whatever. I just hope Yatasari isn’t one of those with pups…” She trailed off, always concerned about her younger sister and her flirtatious personality. Odd-nose looked around his suroundings, the rocks seemed slimy with water, and the earth slippery with damp mud. The colors seemed so grey even though there were specks of green here and there. The river flooded over the banks, making a muddy shade of blue, spring was definetly coming now.
     Odd-nose stopped and sniffed slightly, “Hey that scent…I’ve never scented it before.” Black-claw snarled, “Its….i-I really don’t know” he sniffed it slowly, inhailing the stench that stuck strongly to it, “ I have no idea what it is,but its fresh, and it smell hazardou-“ Swiftwind snarled, “Mountain lion.” Black-claw and Odd-nose glanced at her, wondering if it really was a concern, “A….cat?” Swift-wind snarled wildly “ NO DIP-SHITS, It’s a filthy hunter, worse then the wolves them self, worse then all of us combined! They can kill a clan without using any energy, A HUGE DANGER TO OUR CLAN.” Swift-wind  bristled feiercly, “And its on our territory, marking it as if the land is it’s own.” She clawed the wet earth. “Lets investigate some more.” She sniffed strongly, following the stench quickly, the scent led to a small den, surrounded by jagged rocks and bramble bushes. Swiftwind crouched down, odd-nose sniffed softly, glaring at the den, “Think you can tell how many?” Swiftwind studied the surroundings, the claw marks on the rocks, the over troddned earth, and the bones of prey that lay infront of their cave.
                        “A mother and two cubs,” Odd-nose felt his pelt bristle “YOUNG?! Swift-wind, we can’t hurt them!” Swift-wind snapped fiercley, “Its them or our tribe Odd-nose, which do you prefer?!” Odd-nose crouched back, “You’re right, but I just wonder how painful it’d be if the mother survied.” Black-claw whimpered, “If I’d lost my little Ryo-mizu, I would be devestated.” Swift-wind swatted them both “Shut your mouths you weak rats, we have no choice to kill them ,we have no mercy, it’s the strong who survive and the weaklings, like you, who die!” She bristled, “Now we must report to the tribe!”
* * * *
           Odd-nose reported quickly to Kankumatsu, he gave the meeting and all were on watch. “Do you think we should warn the other tribes, my lord.” Kankumatsu studied the sky and pondered deeply. “Hm, indeed I do, it’d be quite the journey, but well worth it.” He glanced across the tribe’s bustling traffic, studying each quality of his tribe members. “I need a patrol, the members will consist of Sagome, Kuro, You,Odd-nose, Sanzo….and I think I’d like to have….” He pondered deeply, odd-nose glanced down then smiled “Dark-paw.” Kankumatsu glanced to him and studied him thoughtfully. “Hm, alright, this journey should make her strong.” Odd-nose smiled, “Indeed it shall.” Kankumatsu rose and turned his six bushy tails towards odd-nose, “You, send out the message to my patrol, I will instruct your orders as soon as you are all assembled, understood?” Odd-nose nodded firmly and head out to find the members .

* * * *

It  was sunset now and the sky grew dimly pink instead of the usual orange.  The rain was finally letting up, making the soil a bit more firm then it was earlier. All five of the patorl members were present as instructed. Sagome snarled, obviously hating the rain, unlike Kuro who constantly pressed his paws into the muddy puddles all around. Sanzo sat firmly, watching the small pack play around like kits once more, even Dark-paw was getting a blast from the filthy water. Kankumats strode calmly towards the pack. “Sagome, you know your role, I’m sure, Kuro, You are to help protect along with Odd-nose should their be any problems. Dark-paw, I want you to be the negotiator, being as you can approach things gently, And sanzo, you will, obvioulsy, be the healer but also the escape artist, should things get worse then planned. Now your job is to travle around the land, telling the four other tribes of this mountain lion that Odd-nose has found earlier. I’m sure, being as she has cubs, she has to tred over much land for prey. I insist that we warn the other tribes, let them know that If th time comes, we all must becom comrades and not enemies.  Don’t prey on other lands, unless you are given permission, although spring is coming, we are still in the midsts of winter and all the land has little prey. Now eat your fill before you head out, and then say your farewells to the tribe, it will be along  journey.” Kankumatsu bowed his head and turned away, “I’m counting on you, my little pack.”
Sagome looked up to the sky, “I say  we hunt before we leave the land, thiers no one to say farewell to, the quicker we go, the sooner we can return home. Lets head out.” Sagome took lead of the pack, dashing quickly through the bushes that hid the tribe well. They had just started their journey, their hearts were pounding but instinct told them what was right. The tribe always came first, the other tribes always came last, but now they were to all fight for the land, Odd-nose bristled and pelted faster, he was ready. Sagome smirked then skidded to a quick stop. “Prey,” she crouched down to her belly, leaning most of her weight on one back paw instead of both. She lifted her tails in the air, making the red tips shimmer from the weak sun. Shelicked her chops and went in quickly for the kill, A light grey and brown rabbit, lay dangling in her jaws. She trotted over to Kuro and smiled, “For us to share. Now the rest of you may hunt.” Sagome took her few bites of the prey and left the rest for kuro, “I”ll stand guard while the rest of you look.”
               Odd-nose wagged his tail and sniffed softly, the rain finally let up, all the scents were somewhat weak, but he was sure he could find something. He sniffed around then pricked his ears, a vole or a mouse of some sorts. Dark-paw just sat and watched, while sanzo headed out to find his meal. Odd-nose bolted back quickly, two voles in his mouth and a small mouse as well. “There, one foe me, one for Dark-paw and one for….hey, were did Sanzo go?” Sagome looked to him with a square look, “ He went to look for food, guess he lucked out on your catch eh.” Dark paw smiled, “That’s quite alright Odd-nose, you can eat a vole and the mouse, you’ll need your strength, besides, we know sanzo will probablly get a bird or something.” Odd-nose nodded, “But I’ll let you have the mouse, I think I’ll be fine with just one vole.” Dark-paw’s eyes lit up brightly, shimmering as if the sun was hitting them with all it’s might. “Really? Thank you Odd-nose,” She trotted over and ate what Odd-nose had catched. Odd-nose gulped his vole down in two bites, wanting to hurry on their adventure before the weather became worse. “Sagome, what will we do when the moon rises?” Sagome looked at him once more, almost as if questioning his stupidity, “We’ll rest of course, werever we can find a place to rest.” Kuro smirked and let out a chuckle. “Odd-nose, you’re so weird.” Sanzo had finally arrived. A large bird in his mouth.  Dark-paw smiled, “I  told you Odd-nose” Odd-nose smiled, “So sanzo, you like a challenge eh,” Sanzo glanced up at him “We were equiped with claws, any fox can climb a tree.”
* * * *
    The moon was high in the sky, most of the time it was hiding behind drifting clouds, which seemed to promise rain. Sagome lifted her head, “Whose keeping on guard tonight?” She looked about for any volunteers, Odd-nose sighed. He was feeling exaughsted already, but he would do it, “I’ll do it tonight, but I do need rest eventually.” Kuro snarled, “Way ahead of you smart ass, I’ll take the next patrol, don’t pass out on us alright.” Sanzo nodded firmly, his beads  clattering back and forth, he layed his head down softly on his paws and curled his ears back.  Dark-paw smiled “I’ll stay up with you to odd-nose,” She wagged her tails. “Its gonna be a long night huh.”