FoxFire

Preface

The foxes barreled through the winding hallways as guards fired their launchers at them.

"Hurry!"

She cried behind him as he let out a startled yip as more guards appeared in front of them.

The red fox growled as he quickly switched directions and while his mate followed closely behind him.

Time was running out and it would only be a few moments before they were found.

Ducking inside the control room, the red fox made a wall of fire appear in front of the doorway as the room became stifled with smoke.

His mate coughed hard as he drew near her and grasped her by the scruff of her neck leading her towards the square shaped hole in the floor that stood dauntingly in front of them.

"You need to jump! You need to jump NOW!"

He cried as the flames engulfed the room.

The smaller grey fox felt her eyes growing heavy as the smoke filled her lungs making it harder for her to breathe.

"No. You need to go my love. You need to save them. It's too late for me."

She said weakly as she lay down on the floor making her mate let out a low whine.

"I can't go without you…I can't leave you here. You'll die…"

He said as hot wet tears trailed down his furry cheeks.

With the last bit of strength that she had, his mate pressed her nose against his before biting him hard on the leg and sending him tumbling down into the darkness of the hole below.

She watched as her mate's unconscious body began lowering down into the ground disappearing from her sight completely.

Laying down on the ground she slowly closed her eyes as images of her mate flashed in her mind before the flames engulfed her completely.

End of Preface

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXXXxXxXxXxX

It was a warm sunny day in the Glade as Newt wiped a hand over his forehead ridding it of the wet sweat that had built up after hours and hours of hard work.

He had been assigned to the Glade's sunflower garden where he picked and pruned the massive yellow flowers as they stood tall above him.

Glancing up at the bright blue sky above him, he sighed contentedly as a light breeze swept around him.

Deciding that he had done all he could, he made his way through the twists and turns of the garden until he reached the tallest patch of sunflowers on the very edge of the Glade.

Looking around to make sure he was alone he closed his eyes and let the Change transform his body into his true form.

A moment later a large red fox that had eight tails whipping in the wind sat down right where Newt the human was just standing.

Dropping down onto the ground he lay amongst the dirt and leaves as he put his head on his paws.

It was days like this that he wished that she was with him.

He thought about her every single moment of the day for the entire three years that he had been in the Glade.

He felt his eyes prick with tears as he remembered the day that he had awoken in the bottom of the box alone and very afraid.

It had been three years since his mate's death and it broke his heart even more knowing that she had sacrificed her life so he could live.

To his dismay most of his memories of her had been erased from his mind making him curse the ones that had put him here.

All he could remember now was the feeling of her soft fur as she lay beside him and how her eyes glittered in the flames as she took her very last breath.

As Newt daydreamed about his lost mate, he barely even registered the sound of the Greenie alarm echoing across the Glade.

Suddenly realizing what was happening, Newt jumped to his feet and quickly changed back into his human form before racing off through the fields.

His limp became more noticeable as he winced in pain when he finally reached where the others were gathered around the large metal hole in the ground.

Alby patted him on the back and gave a nod of greeting as they both turned their attention to the darkness below where they could hear the pulley system slowly bringing the new Greenie to the surface.

"Right on time, eh?"

Newt huffed out as Alby gave him a crooked smile.

"As always. How goes work in the gardens?"

The dark skinned boy asked making Newt laugh a little.

"It's going. I think the flowers will be ready to be harvest soon. Only a few more days I reckon."

He said nonchalantly as he tapped his foot against the metal edge of the Box hole.

Alby nodded before they both turned to look down at the darkness below them.

It took all of thirty minutes for the Box to arrive as Newt and the other Keepers took their places on each side of the metal grates.

With a strong pull, the grates fell open as they all leaned over the edge to see what was inside.

Newt's brows furrowed along with the others as they realized that there were no boxes of supplies stacked at the bottom.

And worst of all, there was no Greenie.

All that lay inside was a small slip of paper making them all look at each other with confusion expressions.

"All we get is a shuckin piece of paper?"

Gally growled as the other's raised their voices in agreement.

Alby held his hand up silencing them before nodding to Newt.

"Shut your holes! Newt, go find out what the shuck is going on."

He said as Newt nodded and jumped down into the box.

The metal box shook heavily as his steel toed boots hit the grated floor below him.

Bending down he carefully picked up the piece of paper and read it aloud.

What was lost will now be found,

Even if it shall never make a sound.

Your cleverness will be rewarded,

But be forewarned that your efforts may be thwarted,

Prepare yourselves,

Change has yet to come.

Newt's eyes widened as he realized that it was a riddle.

And who knew riddles better than a kitsune?

Folding the paper in his hands he decided that he wouldn't let on that a fox spirit may be the cause of this.

No, he would simply let the humans figure it out themselves until he was sure what exactly the note meant.

Jumping out of the Box, he handed the note to Alby who read it aloud to the others who looked at each other before turning to Newt who stood still looking down into the darkness of the Box.

"It sounds like a riddle."

Alby said as a grave expression came over his features.

Newt only nodded before he turned to his best friend with a small smile.

"Guess the Creators want to play games with us. Now the only question is, are we going to play?"

He said before he pushed his way out of the crowd and headed towards the Homestead leaving a crowd of confused and shocked Gladers in his wake.

Things were going to change. That he knew for certain. What he couldn't figure out was how and that left a hollow, unsettled feeling in his chest.

But sooner or later, he knew that they all would find out for themselves.