Chase milled around the meadow as she normally did, watching her siblings play in the distance. There was a time when she had once joined them, but she now found company mostly in herself.
She took one last glance at her family before heading in the woods as she normally did. She had been lucky enough to have glances of cats nearly every day now that the days were hotter and prey was plentiful. Of course, this also meant she couldn't head into the woods as often, for fear the cats would be angered by her wandering so near the territory.
Chase walked alongside the river, noticing its plentiful stream of water was slowly diminishing with the lack of rain. To amuse herself, she leapt on the pebbles lining the water. She hopped happily, wondering if she'd be able to get a peak of the cats' territory up ahead, but her foot suddenly slipped, and she let out a yip in surprise.
"Careful," a voice said across the river.
Chase turned her head, freezing. The same male fox she had seen earlier was sitting across the river, staring at her. She had no idea how long he'd been there, but he'd obviously seen her slip.
"I am being careful," she argued.
She watched the mysterious fox cross across the river by stepping carefully on the exposed stones. Chase gulped and moved away from the river's edge as he approached her.
"You seem a bit too young to be wandering around the forest alone," he told her.
"I'll be fully grown in no time," she argued. "You don't look much older."
He chuckled. "I've already lived through the seasons once. Are you one of the foxes living here? My family and I are new."
"Yes," she answered.
"I picked up your scent while hunting. I noticed it earlier as well. You pass through these parts often. Where's the rest of your family?" he wondered.
"Down in the meadow."
"And why aren't they here with you?"
"I like exploring myself," Chase argued.
"And your parents let you?"
"Yes..."
"I'm Yew," he said.
"Chase."
"Chase?" he asked, tilting his head. "That's an interesting name. It's unique. I like it."
"Oh, thanks," she replied, staring off in the distance so she wouldn't have to maintain eye contact with him. This was the first time she'd ever come in contact with a fox who didn't belong to her family.
"So why do you explore over here?" Yew wondered. "I know my parents wouldn't have let me wander on my own."
"Because I want to. My family and I don't get along so well these days."
"We just don't," Chase said, lifting her nose in the air.
"Well, my family and I just moved here. Humans were lurking too close to our nearby territory. We'd love to meet your family sometime."
"How many of there are you?" Chase wondered.
Yew tilted his head. "Let's see...there's my parents, my grandfather, and my two siblings. I guess we're somewhat of a big bunch. How about you?"
"It's just me, my parents, and my three other siblings. I think they want to get to know your family as well."
"Then, let me walk you back, and I can meet them," Yew offered.
"Wait," Chase said as he turned to head toward the meadow.
"What is it?" he wondered.
"Who was the cat you were speaking to? Did you really understand him?" she asked.
Yew turned and laughed. "It must've been your ears I saw peeking up from behind the bushes."
Chase crouched down. "I'm sorry. I was eavesdropping, not that I could make out anything you were saying."
"It's no wonder I keep picking up your scent around here. Were you hoping to run into me again?"
"N-No!" she stammered.
"My grandfather, Claw, is proficient in cat tongue. He grew up living near some cats and learned to converse with them. They belonged to humans and warned him and his family of what the humans were planning to do to their territory. He taught it onto my parents and me. Of course, I'm the only one who's kept up practice. I suppose it'll come in handy with all the cats that live around here."
"You can speak to them?" she asked, simply shocked.
Yew nodded. "Yup. Their words are as clear as day to me."
"But who were you speaking to?" Chase wondered.
"Just a loner passing through. He was asking for directions. I told him he better head away from the warrior clans before they attacked him. He thanked me and told me of some good hunting spots. I haven't seen him since."
"Warriors clans?"
"Yeah, that's what the cats around here call themselves. Warriors. And they live in something called clans. We had some in our old territory, though they weren't as close."
"Did you get along well with them?" Chase wondered.
Yew shrugged. "All right, I guess. They were a bit too far to cause any issues."
"I don't think the cats should be our enemies," Chase said. "But my family thinks otherwise."
"Are cats a problem here?" he wondered.
"I don't think they would be if we talked to them. I think their way of life is fascinating. I come over here to catch glimpses of them," Chase explained.
"Better be careful. Even if they're smaller than you, they're mighty ferocious."
"I know that!" Chase said, digging her claws into the ground. "That's just what I think."
Yew tilted his head. "I think my grandfather would like you. I'll have to introduce you to him someday. Would you be willing to show me the way to the meadow now?"
Chase sighed and nodded, leading him past the brush and foliage until they came to the grassy meadow. Her siblings were still playing while her mother and father napped outside the den.
At the sight of a mysterious fox, her brothers and sister froze, glancing up.
"Who's this?" Whorl asked.
"Someone new to play with!" Hop gasped, running forward.
Their cries awoke their parents. Chase watched as Copper and Apple slowly lifted their heads, glancing at the stranger.
"And who are you?" Copper asked, marching forward in a defensive stance.
"I'm one of the new foxes around here," Yew explained. "Your daughter told me you wanted to meet me, so she led me here."
"Oh, well, forgive me. I don't want anything happening to my kits. Already lost one earlier this year. It was difficult," Copper grumbled.
"I'm so sorry," Yew said sympathetically.
"Ah, it's expected. The others are doing well. I see you've met Chase," Copper said, shooting a glare at her.
Chase frowned, wondering how introducing her parents to one of the foxes they wanted to get acquainted with was a bad thing.
The others kits ran forward to greet Yew.
"This is my other daughter, Whorl, and then we have Hop and Pounce," Copper explained. "I'm Copper, and this is my mate, Apple."
"Nice to meet you," Yew said, dipping his head.
"I hope Chase hasn't filled your brain with any wacky ideas," Copper offered.
Yew blinked. "Huh? She's done nothing of the sort."
"Why don't we all go inside the den to speak?" Apple asked, trying to break up the awkwardness. "We'd love to get to know you, Yew, and the new foxes in this area."
"Sure," he said.
"I'm going to stay outside," Chase announced.
"Yeah, yeah," Copper muttered.
"Are you sure?" Yew asked.
"Yes," she said. She watched them head into the den before spinning around and heading back into the woods. She still hadn't managed to catch a glimpse of a cat today, after all.