Alex looked at the small forest as the cats marched towards a log house with smoke coming from the chimney. Isabelle on the other hand were observing how there were birds nesting beside it " the smoke keeps most predators away " the cats explained.
While focusing on the amazement that this forest was way more different then their home, Alex's ears pricked to the sound of a creaking door as a old man came out " there you are my sweets " he said as the cats marched on the porch as the man handed out tuna.
Turning his half bald head, he saw Isabelle and Alex " FOX!" he yelled as she dropped the tuna can and tried to rush the cats inside, but none moved inwards, only towards the can of tuna as the old man ran inside and returned with a gun " scram scoundrels!"he said as he loaded the gun.
Scrambling for the bushes, Alex heard a loud bam as he felt blood trickle down his right ear " gwaah!" he yelped in horror as the warm liquid drooled down his cheek " whats wrong with him?" he asked as he and Isabelle stopped and panted behind a thick oak tree.
Panting heavily, she looked up and gasped " Alex! Your ear its..." she stopped to think of a word that mght not send this fox in a panic " nicked" she ended as she laughed nervously as his eyes went wide.
" REALLY?!" he asked with a smile " all the tough male foxes all have a nick or large scar somewhere and now I have one! Now I can finally join the VIFs ( Very Important Foxes)"he cheered as Isabelle glared at him darkly.
" Oh so I tried to be nice to you for nothing?!" she barked " well that nick is ugly and your just a wimpy orange fox that just nearly escaped a hunter !" as she tried to nick his shoulder.
" Your jealous aren't you?" Alex teased as he backed away from the angry vixen.
" Who would want that ugly thing on them?" she hissed angrily as she tried lashing him again.
As a black cat appeared from the bushes, he looked at Isabelle who was lashing at Alex " What on Earth is going on here!?" He hissed as Isabelle nearly hit him.
Isabelle, who was too intent on hitting Alex, didn't notice the cat until it hissed. Turning her head she muttered " I've had enough of this, this..." She paused to think of a word " this *****!" She said as she panted while Alex gasped.
" D-did you just call me that word? " Alex gasped as Isabelle was calming herself down " well you must be really mad then" he said to himself as he nodded.
Looking at the cat who was staring at him wide eyed he wondered what was wrong " your ear! You got hit by the bullet didn't you?" he asked loudly and seemed to be constipating as Alex nodded proudly as he stumbled around " That bullet has poison of wolfsbane plant! Hunter made it specifically to kill"
Alex shivered " I've gonna be bye buh?" He asked with a dizzy tone as his world seemed blurry as he blacked out.
Isabelle grinned " serves you right thinking a wound is awesome " she laughed as Alex fainted " speaking of which," she turned to the cat " is wolfsbane really that deadly?" She asked almost in a whimper.
" hmm" the cat said " lets just say its rated four and a half out of five stars in deadliness " he said with a grin which quickly faded into a frown " there are currently no antidotes for it yet."
Eyes turning wide in fear Isabelle gulped " are you %100 sure?" She asked, her knees weak afraid she might have been touched too as she turned her head toward the unconscious fox.
" Naw, I'm just messing with ya, that is just a basic anesthetic dart, the hunters afraid of killing us cuz he thinks its bad luck to kill a cat with a real lead bullet, religions" he laughed as Isabelle glared hard at him and someday, this cat really will have bad luck with us foxes she thought as she went to Alex to pick him up.
The cat showed them the way and everything but she still didn't feel safe. There could be poachers and hunters lurking everywhere if that old man was allowed to hunt here. After walking about an hour, Alex woke, then they walked another 20 minutes to get to the house.
It was then Isabelle noticed something as she stared back at the forest" hey, why aren't there any other foxes in the forest?" She asked as she felt a feeling comparable to death as the cats all looked at their paws until a young one piped in
" momma told me all of them are big meanies. So the hunter was nice enough to kill or sold them to the lab!" He said cheerfully as his entire group glared at him as Isabelle heard a silver tabby hiss at her son
" They'll kill you! They are distant relatives to dogs, but stronger and faster!" She hissed in a low voice to her son, glancing up often and hoping the foxes didn't hear her.
Isabelle was completely shocked " all are killed?" She gadoed, barely managing to say those three words.
The cats nodded in unison " anyways, Onyx will clear everything up for you." one said as he flicked his tail towards a sleek black cat...
