Chapter 13
Another year of learning the Chaljsko, working in the fields, building a friendship with Jerimijo, and growing in love with Maria, had once again passed. A lot can change in one year. Fox was almost fully matured into a man, sporting a more muscular build, even though he still showed his frugalness with his thin frame and peasant attire. He donned new clothes, as he grew taller over the year. Fox adjusted the large black belt holding up his baggy tan linen pants as he smoothed out his dark brown tunic with the other hand. Under his tunic was a long white sleeved shirt. Over his tunic was a nice black vest, made out of leather. The vest was a gift from Jerimijo's mother, given to him for being his friend. Black boots adorned his legs, and still looked new, even though they were at least a half a year old.
With Frankjo selling cattle again in Caviske, Fox had a lot of time to himself. Usually he'd tag along with the old Careinian, but this time Frankjo told him to stay behind and watch over the property while he was gone. That soon got boring for Fox, but he knew Frankjo meant more than just tending to trivial chores and masses of dependant animals. Frankjo constantly warned Fox of a Mafian invasion that could take place at any given moment. He said to remain watchful, but more importantly, he said to be ready to fend for Fasaldesk in case of an attack. Fox was now a master in the art of the Chaljsko and had learned nearly every technique and skill, adding to the importance of having him stay behind. Headaches no longer ailed him, as he got the thought process down flawlessly. Only a few things gave him trouble, but he was more or less ready at any moment. With that in mind, and with the growing threat of Mafian intervention, it was invaluable to have at least one Chaljsko fighter in town.
As Fox ambled in the soft forest, which had just relaxed in soft downpour only hours ago, he held a vixen at his side. The vixen, Maria, had also matured over the course of one year. Her thin, frail frame was still apparent, but she looked almost like an adult now. A white dress hung over her body, with new black boots, bought by Frankjo, tied up in laces on her feet. Her dress was almost new too, since she received one from her parents to welcome in the spring a few months ago. It looked almost like a hand-me-down wedding dress, as it was strapless and had lace, which was torn in some places, on the edge of the dress by her high-heeled boots.
"Fox, do you fear the Mafia?" Maria asked. "There's been a lot of talk of them making a move in our region for a long time now, and I'm scared."
"Of course not, Maria," Fox assured. He squeezed her hand tighter as they continued through their familiar forest. Deep inside, Fox feared the Mafia after hearing Frankjo's stories of the hellish battles he endured, only to see innocent lives slaughtered and young virgin soldiers slashed to pieces right in front of his eyes. But, not only was Fox scared, he was infuriated. What right do they have to make Maria worry? he thought. I wish General McRasko was here right now so I can chop him to bits, ending his reign of terror and his Mafia once and for all!
"The forest looks refreshed after that rain we had," Maria said suddenly.
Nodding, Fox fell back into reality. "Yeah, I think everything needed it," he replied. "Even though the sun has set, I can still see water on the leaves and branches."
"Even our brook looks fuller than usual," she exclaimed. Leading Fox to the small stream, she pointed by the rocks and tapped a few of them with her foot. "See, the level is higher than it was in the morning."
Fox nodded, but something else caught his eye and provoked him to beam a great smile. "Maria, would you look at that?" he said as he pointed to a tree.
She walked up to the tree and placed a hand on it, moving around its knotted bark and limbs full of luscious green leaves. The rain seemed to make this tree look more alive and perky too. "F.MC. and M.MD." she replied as she felt the worn carvings in the tree. "Do you remember that night, Fox?" she asked.
"Remember it? My Maria, it feels like yesterday!" He started pacing around. "We slept away from home that night, one day after we both realized we loved each other, when I rescued you from those Mafian slimes. I had my father's knife in my hand, and I carved our initials in that tree, saying we'd always meet here if we ever parted." When he reached where Maria stood, he guided her hand around the carving. "Then I carved a heart around it, doing one of the sides, and then helping you carve the other side of the heart."
"We were only kits then, how did we know our love would grow this much?" Maria smiled as she shook her head and moved her hand away from the letters forever etched in the old Jaku tree.
Fox moved closer to her and kissed her lightly on her blue-furred cheeks, placing a hand on her left shoulder. "It was supposed to happen like this," he replied as a gust of wind winded through the dense foliage.
Guiding his love with a gentle arm around her back, Fox took her back to their brook, which softly churned and bubbled nonchalantly as it always had when there was no rain disturbing its indolence. Trees of all sorts stuck their roots in it to get an easy drink – even the scrounging vines that riddled and twisted throughout the trees made sure not to pass up on the opportunity for more water. Rocks lay about around its bends and curves, almost as if they were guiding it to a certain destination across the extensive forest.
Fox dipped his fingers in the cool water, letting the soft current ease his tired hands. Soon he felt another soothing presence, one of Maria's hands, which held the back of his as water swept by.
"Fox," Maria asked, "what do you think your life will be like five years from now?"
Fox looked behind him as he saw Maria kneeling near the brook, being careful not to get her dress ruined by running water. "Five years from now? Only five years? Well, by then, I'll be twenty-one, and you will be twenty. Under the roof of a large cathedral, hopefully in great Cavask, we will be wed, but that will be years before we are in our twenties." He paused. "I see myself as a loving husband, next to my loving wife. We live in a peaceful corner of Uno where I work each day as a hard provider."
Maria cocked her head slightly. "Fox, I thought you were one day going to enlist in the Unonian army. That's what Frankjo told me before he left for Caviske a few days ago."
This was Fox's dilemma. He couldn't bear to leave Maria for training, but he knew, being a loyal Chaljsko fighter concerned with the well-being of his nation, that he had to in order to learn more. When he was first confronted by Frankjo on the issue, he was totally against it and hated even talking about it. But, Frankjo wouldn't budge, and after months of discussions and lessons packed with a variety of stories and boring analyses, Fox gave in. He underwent many sleepless nights, asking and thinking of a better way for him to learn and protect, but he found none. After all, it would only be for a few months. But, once he was finished with training, he would have to partake in battles, something he abhorred to think about. All he wanted was to share his life with Maria. Fox sighed as the brook churned near him. "I will, but that doesn't mean I have to stay a fighter. I could always work as a defender or an agent."
"But isn't that more dangerous work than going onto the battlefield? Many who become spies are found out immediately and killed! Defenders aren't much different, from what my father told me."
Fox rolled his eyes. "Okay Maria, I confess. I haven't thought of this very well, but I don't know what to do. I must join the army so that I can help Uno, but I don't want to do that my whole life. I'd much rather live with you in peace, protecting you and any children we have."
Maria took her hand out of the stream and shook it. "Life's full of hard decisions, Fox. But people find ways to get through them."
Fox stood up and dried his hand in his tunic, making sure his tail wasn't wet too. "Well, where do you see yourself five years from now, Maria?"
She smirked. "With you, of course." Getting to her feet, she followed Fox, who began to walk around the edge of the brook at a slow pace. He felt Maria's hand rest on his shoulder again as he passed over a boulder in front of him. "What's wrong, Fox?" she asked.
"N-nothing, Maria," he replied, feeling a bit flustered that his future still held a giant question mark in its path. "I'm okay, you don't need to worry."
Maria moved in front of him and stopped him with a hand to his chest. "Fox, I know when something bothers you. You're torn between the life you want and the life you must live, right?" As Maria gazed into Fox's eyes, Fox let his eyes wander apprehensively. "It's not easy, and it's okay to be scared or confused. As a great young fox once told me 'it's the most confusing times of our lives.'" She paused. "He said he learned it from his half-father when I felt confused and scared one night."
Fox suddenly began to crack as smile as he gazed down at Maria. "I remember that night," he replied. Holding Maria with both of his hands, Fox let out a deep sigh. "I can't let you go, Maria. I will never do that. But there will be a time when I will have leave for training, or even fight in a battle. I have to. I feel it's my duty, to help Uno weather this terrible storm. I want to, so that I can prevent what happened to my parents for someone else."
Maria gazed back up at Fox, almost as if she had been waiting for him to finish. "Fox, that's a very humble decision. Why don't you just follow that plan? Serving in the Unonian Royal Army isn't a life sentence; you even told me that it would just be for brief moments. We can still have that large house in a peaceful part of Uno with you working and us loving each other. Also, who says the civil war will last that long?" Nodding his head silently, Fox let go of Maria. "God will help us," she continued. "We are never alone." Maria stroked Fox lovingly on the cheek. "Don't worry, my love. It will all work out, you'll see."
"It's not that," Fox replied. "I just have problems leaving people, even if it's just for a short while. Even if I go off to battle every once and a while, I'll still be thinking about you." Fox watched as Maria stared up at him. "I just wanted you to know that. I don't know when I will have to leave for training, but…" Fox paused as his face darkened. "I lost my parents when I left them, and I fear that if I leave you, something will happen."
"Oh Fox!" Maria said with a grin while shaking her head. "I don't think you have to worry about that either. Frankjo will be here when you go off for training… you won't have to leave for a while now, right?"
Fox paused to think. "Frankjo hasn't said anything about it, so I don't think so, my Maria." He started to smile again.
Maria breathed a sigh of relief. "See? You look better already. My mother taught me to talk about my problems, and so I usually say them to you, Fox, since you love me and understand me. I trust you." She paused again and smiled. "You won't hurt me if you tell me what's bothering you, Fox. I want you to be happy just like you want me to be happy."
Fox grinned as he began walking again. Maria followed closely at his side, guided by his hand. Fox turned his head toward her. "Maria, thank you. You always listen to me and aren't afraid to tell me what's bothering you. We are a perfect match." Fox pointed out some rocks and exposed roots along the path so that Maria wouldn't trip on them.
"Fox," Maria began, "why did you bring us out here in the evening? Is there something else you want to tell me?"
Nervously scratching the back of his head, Fox coughed into his other hand. "Yes, one other thing." He walked ahead of her and stood in front of her. When she was face to face with him, Fox grabbed her clasped hands and smiled. "Maria, someday you and I will be wed. It will be a great ceremony – all of Fasaldesk will be there, with your parents, Frankjo, Mrs. Milowski, and others. It will be in a great cathedral, one of the large ones like in great Cavask. You will have on the most beautiful dress a vixen has ever worn, and I will look my sharpest for the occasion."
"And it will be on the most beautiful day of the year, and all of the birds will sing beautiful hymns as we march down the long aisle," Maria interrupted with a warm grin.
Fox nodded his head. "It will be great." He paused as they continued walking. "Maria, could I ask you a question?"
"Yes, Fox," she replied.
"Our wedding day will come when the time is right, right?"
"Yes, Fox, whenever God wants us to wed. I'm sure He will let us know."
"Well, do you think you could be engaged to me right now?"
Maria grinned as she looked up at Fox with a relaxing stare. "Yes, Fox," she responded.
Fox smiled. "But it's more than that. I want this to mean that no matter what happens, no matter what good times or bad times befall us, we will always be together."
"Always and forever," Maria replied. Her eyes gazed up at Fox, almost as if they were waiting for something. "Is that all we have to do then?"
"No Maria," Fox answered. "We have to proclaim it to God. But I don't know how to do that yet. Do you know? Is there a special way we tell Him, or special chants to chant, or certain rites we must complete?"
Maria placed a finger on Fox's lips. "We don't need to do any of that. There isn't a set way to talk to God, Fox. He listens to us always. We just do whatever we feel we must do. The Holy Spirit works within us, and He will guide us."
"I understand," Fox replied. "But first, I have something for you." Fox hastily reached into his pocket and searched for the object within its linen walls. When he pulled it out, Maria immediately laid eyes on it and smiled in jubilation.
"Oh, Fox!" she shouted as she marveled at it. "It's beautiful!"
"I knew you'd like it," Fox replied with a satisfying grin. "I bought it with the money I saved up since last year's Vionj and found it in a large shop in Caviske." He paused. "Well, here, it's for you. I hope it adds to this already wonderful night."
Maria grabbed the gift, a large jade bracelet crafted by an excellent jeweler and bought by a gracious man. Without hesitation, she slipped it over her right hand and gazed at it with awe. "Thank you, my love," she replied as she spun the bracelet around her arm with her other hand, the turquoise band glistening in the moonlight. "I will never forget this night."
"It's not over yet," Fox replied as he walked up to her. "We still have to proclaim our togetherness to God." He reached over and stroked Maria on her soft cheek.
Maria did not say a word, but instead held out her hand for Fox to clasp as they walked through the forest, their forest, their cathedral, in complete serenity. Only the sounds of crickets chirping and the occasional gust of wind over the moonlit landscape would dare to disturb the peaceful silence. Water also trickled nearby, but that sound was almost customary for them whenever they journeyed to this place. It was truly theirs – stated by a carved Jaku tree, and marked with hundreds of memories over the past five years.
When they reached a lonely edge of the brook, lined with green bushes and hidden rocks, Fox cupped his hands and drank its cool liquid. Offering his love the same drink, he positioned his hands up to her lips and watched as water slowly moved down into her mouth and throat. Then, Maria imitated Fox and fed herself and him water from her hands in a devoted manner.
"We share alike," Fox replied as he wiped his mouth with a furry arm.
Maria smiled. "That's because our hearts beat as one, Fox."
Suddenly, like it was command echoing throughout the forest, the two foxes brought their lips together and kissed. Fox wrapped his arms around the vixen he had known for so long, the vixen that had changed his very life, the vixen that now was his life. Maria moved closer to Fox and let her body fall into his, submitting to the passion that enveloped around the two like an invisible fog. Together they had grown together, played together, and loved together. Now, it was more than that.
Fox leaned back and fell to the ground with Maria still in his strong arms. He continued to kiss her as if she was an addicting drug that warmed his very soul. They both moved their heads as they kissed, kissed deeper, kissed longer. Maria lay on top of him and began to move her head around his face. In the heat of the passion, the two foxes kissed like they never had before. Fox couldn't tell if he was in heaven or still in Uno. Either way, being with his love was greater than anything he could think of.
Then, with love still flowing like the Unonian wind around them, they slowly and with great hesitation began to pull away. Maria gazed down at Fox with deep blue eyes, halfway covered by her gorgeous eyelids. She smiled as the moon cast light on her beautiful façade and thin body, covered in a bright white dress.
"I love you, Fox," she whispered as she laid her hands on his chest.
Fox stared back at Maria with a peaceful look. "My Maria, my love, I love you too."
As Maria scooted off Fox, Fox sat up and watched her sit on her legs in front of him. Then, under the silhouette of the pale moon, they clasped their hands together and prayed to the Almighty God, proclaiming their love for each other, asking Him to bless their love and relationship, thanking Him for the gifs He had bestowed to them, and to let them, fox an vixen, be together with each other forever.
As Maria opened her eyes and lowered her hands, she stared at Fox. Fox was bothered by this, as he wasn't sure what to say. But, Maria soon broke the silence. "Thank you, Fox," she said. "Soon we will be wed, and that time will be revealed to us sooner than we think."
"Yes, my love," Fox replied.
They both fell onto the cool yet dry forest floor, under a veil of treetops. Lying next to each other, they gazed into each other's eyes. Fox smiled peacefully.
"Hold me, Fox," Maria asked as she yawned silently. "Protect me from the night."
After Fox yawned, he reached over and held Maria close, closing his eyes slowly as he exhaled a deep breath. Nothing would separate her from him, Fox reasoned. He yawned again as his mind raced with thoughts of the events of the day, his future, her future, but more importantly, their future. Fox opened his eyes. Noticing Maria was already asleep, Fox succumbed to his yawns and fell asleep under the light of the full moon with a peaceful grin on his muzzle.