A/N: Back again! Anyway, Fox is now on his way to the sharp claw cave to
see a sharp claw. Scales has now realized that he needs to save the young
Prince and his friends. This chapter is mainly focused on that encounter.
However, to extend the chapter I'll include what Scales plans to do to kill
the King. Again, no flames, if you don't like it please go somewhere else
and stop wasting your own time.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Star Fox. Nintendo and/or Rare do. Any characters related to my made up ones in anyway is entirely coincidental.
______________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4-The Sharpest Claw
"What took you so long? The sun is already down and you're late!" Slippy rasped. "I thought you weren't going to come seeing as how you're all talk and no action." He chuckled quietly.
"Fox is a fox of word." Krystal said. "But really, why are you late?"
"I'm late because Scales kept me with another story." Fox replied. "No big deal. Let's go before someone sees us."
"No one will see us, once the sun goes down no one wanders the streets of Corneria." Slippy said. It was true though. But the furs should've been happy though. Under the rule of King James, crime rates had dropped to almost nothing. Within the rule of James McCloud, the worst crime was of a wolf that got extremely hungry and resulted to cannibalism, and ate a pig. It was later found that he was homeless. When given the chance for food by King James he declined and gave his own punishment. He exiled himself. The wolf's name everyone remembers: Wolf O' Donnell. No one was really certain if he hated the king or not, and no one knows what happened to the lupine. That crime happened merely two years ago.
The pig's name? Every fur can only remember that it was Pigma. In fact, Pigma was one of the only wanted crooks Corneria ever had, but he was only a thief and for that he was never executed. The furs always wondered why Wolf didn't just become a thief.
Anyway, the two foxes and the toad set out into the desert. They went west of Corneria. It was dark, but not quite as late as expected. To be safe they crawled a little way. When they finally came to a stance they ran the rest of the way. Wandering all the way out to the sharp claw cave really showed them just how far from Corneria it really was. It wasn't really that far, though to kits like them it seemed like an eternity.
When they came up to the seal on the cave it glowed a pale white. Inscribed on the seal was a cloud with...scales on it? It was so. This was either to hint at the password, or remind someone of the password. However, to any other fur looking at the drawing, the lines wouldn't be thought of as scales. No, instead they think it was part of the cloud.
"This is it." Fox said and took a deep breath. He sighed. "You guys ready?"
Krystal took a breath, as did Slippy. "Ready as we'll ever be." Slippy replied. He was scared. He still didn't think they'd make it out alive
Fox finally recited the password. "The Scaly Clouds." He said. Nothing happened. Puzzled for a moment. Fox didn't know what he was missing. It was then he saw something on the cloud. It looked like a place where you would put your paw. Scales never mentioned that part. He put his paw there and recited the password again, "The Scaly Clouds." This time the picture of the cloud glowed a bright white color. Slowly the seal disappeared and the cave opened.
There was a long dark path lit by torches. When the three kits stepped inside the cave slammed shut behind them. Scales didn't mention that either. "No turning back now..." Krystal shivered. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I'm scared Fox."
"I told you that you didn't have to come. But nooooooooooo, you had to insist on coming along." Fox smiled. "Let's not waste anymore time!"
"Maybe we should keep our voices down." Slippy insisted. "Talking loud like this might disturb them. They're very dangerous after all."
"Nonsense!" Fox laughed, and rather loudly too. "We'll be fine." He grabbed a torch and signaled for Slippy and Krystal to come along. Being that they were both scared they basically clung to Fox.
The cave was dark but not too dark. With each step they took, they heard a dripping noise. It was probably just some water. They also heard breathing. This made Krystal and Slippy all the more frightened, but only increased Fox's curiosity. Something was living and breathing.
When they reached the end of the path it divided into three directions. Left, right and straight. "Want to split up?" Fox asked.
"NO!" Slippy and Krystal both spoke in unison and it was rather loud. By then the breathing they heard had stopped.
Something was now starting to come their way. "Fox, I think now we should leave." Slippy suggested.
"We can't leave now! Something is coming and I want to see it! Besides, the cave is closed and we can't go back."
Suddenly there was a roar. It was very intimidating and it made the cave rumble. Krystal shrieked and Slippy hid behind Fox. Finally, a sharp claw stepped out. It was small, covered in armor and was holding a club and that was about it. The club didn't even have spikes. "This is what's supposed to be so dangerous?" Fox said sarcastically before he began to laugh. "This little guy couldn't even beat ME up!"
Finally the rumbling started again. Then from behind the young sharp claw stood a much larger scaly that was often referred to as a "dinosaur." This dinosaur had brimming red eyes. This was in fact, a red eye that stood before them. Fox suddenly stopped laughing. The red eye before the three furs roared and stepped even closer. "Now we leave!" Fox said and turned around ready to dash for dear life.
The red-eye gave chase and roared like nothing else. Every time Fox turned back, the only thing he saw was the red-eye gaining on him. "It's hopeless!" Krystal screamed.
The red eye reached forward and opened its mouth to try and bite the kits as they ran. The good news was he never got a hold of them, which in turn made them put the red-eye further behind them. The bad news was that the red-eye could move nearly twice as fast as they could! They finally came up to the cave exit where the red-eye cornered them. "This is the end!" Slippy said with fear. "It was nice knowing you Fox. So long Krystal." He began to whimper.
Suddenly from behind the cave opened and the three kits fell back outside the cave and heard a booming voice shout, "STOP!" The red eye, peeking out of the cave, did just that. He stopped. When the three kits looked to see who it was, it was General Scales.
"Leave these three be and return to the lair. They mean nothing to you!" The red eye did just that. He turned and went back into the depths of the cave.
Fox looked behind Scales and saw that James was with him. Busted.
***
On the way home from the caves, the wind was suddenly blowing. James looked furious and didn't even look at Fox. It was clear to James that Scales was the one who gave him the password indeed, but James already talked to Scales about it.
Scales was walking beside James and only whispered, "I'm terribly sorry. Perhaps I shouldn't have told him the password. It'll never happen again my liege."
"We've talked about it before Scales. It isn't your fault. Your intentions weren't meant to harm my son." James spoke. Then he stopped in the middle of the desert. The three kits following did the same. James looked to Scales without moving his body. "Take Krystal and Slippy home. I'd like a word with my son...alone."
Scales bowed and walked back to Slippy and Krystal. He took them by the hands and walked back to Corneria. Fox only held his head in shame.
"Fox McCloud! Now!" James said and didn't even turn to face Fox. He stood with his back to his son and breathing heavily. Unsure of what to say or how to approach it. He didn't think his son would ever deliberately disobey him.
With his ears held low, Fox crept up beside his father. He was scared as hell and his fur was suddenly cold as ice.
James breathe a sigh and his inner spirits calming a little he finally spoke. "I told you never to go there. You deliberately disobey me!"
"I'm sorry dad. I just--"
James cut him off, "You placed yourself in danger. What's worse? You put your friends in danger! Do you know what could've happened if Scales hadn't showed up? You could've been killed. Not just you, but your friends as well!"
Fox sunk down and sat on the desert surface of the sands. The dunes were actually pretty this time of night as the stars shine upon them. It was funny how when James got angry, Fox decided then was the time to notice the beauty of things. Still, he listened to his father anyway.
"You had me worried sick!"
"I was only trying to be brave dad. Like you and Scales. I wanted to be...you."
James felt a tear in his eye. He was proud that his son looked up to him. It was the first time Fox had showed admiration to him.
"You're not scared of anything. You always stick things out to the end. I just wanted to be as brave as you." Fox sniffled.
James sighed. "We're not that different son." He began. "Kits and adults aren't quite as different as you think. I get scared just like you do. Bravery as a king is not always a choice, but an obligation." He sat down next to his son. "You see my son, I'm only brave when I have to be. If you want the truth, I was scared."
"You actually get scared? What did you have to be afraid of? You weren't even there." Fox asked puzzled. He didn't quite understand fear the way his father did yet.
"I was scared that I was going to lose you." James said, and quickly continued, "Fox, it is every parents greatest fear that their kit will die before his or her time has come. Do you know what that time is?"
Fox shook his head. He didn't even understand what his father meant.
"Fox, should a kit die before his or her parent, it is hard for that parent to stay strong. A kit needs to live longer than their parents. It is every parents fear that their kit will die before them." He sighed, knowing that Fox may not understand it all just yet. After all, the young Prince was only ten. "Someday you will have kits and you'll understand what I mean."
"But we'll always be together dad. You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine. You'll be okay too. We're going to be together forever." Fox said and almost managed a smile.
James sighed once more. He remembered saying that to his father once too. It was until James was about twelve that he realized this wasn't true. When he was sixteen he had to face that truth too. His father had died of a heart attack. After the heart attack, his mother died from grieving. Sixteen was a much younger age to take the throne than furs thought.
"Son," James began, "I may not always be here for you. There will be one day when you won't have me by your side. One day I'll be gone and the throne will be yours. I want you to remember this talk. One day your kit will do something crazy just as you did." He chuckled.
James stood up and started to walk, taking his son's paw in his. "Look at the stars Fox." Fox looked up but didn't see anything different from what he normally saw. He felt like saying 'so? They're just stars.' but he didn't. James continued, "Have you ever seen such a brilliant sight in your life? Of all the things I see day after day, night after night, the stars I always see something new."
Fox blinked a few times. "I don't get it."
James pointed at a star that's very different from all the others. This star was red, unlike the other ones that looked white from the eye. "See that star?" James said pointing to the red star. "From now on that's your star. No one can take it from you. For as long as you live Fox, that is your star."
Fox stared at that star for a long time before they were finally back in Corneria and on their way to the palace once more.
***
After taking the kits home, Scales went to the bar. He was going to meet with another fur that he thought despised James so much. When he walked into the small bar, there were several furs inside. Not just furs but a few scales as well. He made his way to the back of the bar where a cloaked fur was sitting.
The fur looked up to reveal a patch over his right eye. "What did you call me here for?" Wolf spoke rather lowly as if not wanting to be heard or seen by all the other furs. "Did you send for me so that I could be executed for cannibalism?" Wolf said.
"I assure you not. I'm glad to see that you obtained my message." Scales said. "I want you to help me with a situation. If you do so, I'll make it worth your while." Scales said and tossed a bag of scarabs to the lupine. Wolf looked at the scarabs. He certainly could've used the money, but from Scales? There had to be some sort of catch. But because of starving for so long (he did eventually become a thief) the money would do him some good.
Wolf actually wanted to live a good, honest life now. But Scales was asking something of him, and Wolf didn't like the tone of his voice at all. "What do I have to do?"
"All you have to do is help me murder the King! Tomorrow the King plans to throw a party. Everyone in the kingdom is invited. Its Fox's birthday party actually. There will be drinks." Scales spoke in a low voice. "I want you to kill the king while I get his guards drunk. This will be after the party of course. When the guards are drunk and passed out, I want you to take the Arwing dagger and take the king out." Scales wanted a second man. Why? In case he couldn't blame the murder on Fox, there was someone else to fall back on.
"What's in it for me?" Wolf asked. "Besides the money?" It wasn't that Wolf was thinking of doing it. After all, King James had spared his life and let him move on.
"Kill the King and I'll make you the Vice King!" Scales grinned. "Take out the King and I'll handle the guards."
"How about I handle the guards and you take out the King?" Wolf asked. He'd done so because he knew that he wouldn't be able to bring himself to kill King James. James had been such a good man after all, but if it got Wolf off the streets and made him Vice King...then hell he'd do it!
"That can work as well." Scales tapped his fingers on the table. "When I've killed the King using Fox's dagger, I'll take it and smear the Prince with the blood of the King. That way it looks like he killed his own father!" Scales cackled. Not loudly of course. No one else was hearing them.
Wolf nodded. "As long as I don't have to kill the King. I'll take out the guards. I shall have them drink as much wine as they can. The guards are brought up with the utmost respect. They wouldn't refuse a drink being offered to them."
Scales like how Wolf thought. He was glad he had him. Scales actually NEEDED him. Not for the murder of the King, but incase no one believed that Fox had done it. He could easily say that Wolf had done it and no one would question him. He'd much preferred that Fox be killed too, but if that happened, it would look much too suspicious to everyone.
So now Scales had a plan, and a back-up plan for that matter. The first plan was to simply have Wolf get the guards drunk at the party. That way once the time for bed came, the guards would be passed out and drunk. Then Scales would steal Fox's dagger while the kit slept. He'd take the dagger and kill James. Afterwards, he's smear the blood all over Fox to make it look as if he did it. The plan seemed brilliant.
The back-up plan was that if the guards did get drunk and pass out..there could be a chance no one would believe Fox did such a deed. Therefore, Wolf was easy to fall back on. Scales could always point out to everyone that that was the reason Wolf got the guards drunk in the first place.
What if both plans didn't work? One of them would surely work. There was not a chance Scales would fail. He wouldn't fail.
Wolf grabbed the scarabs. The chance to be Vice King would be worth it. The only problem was that Wolf didn't want to kill James. The one who spared his life. That was why he'd let Scales do it. If this worked..Wolf would have power.
If Wolf and Scales did become the King and Vice King, then no one would be able to accuse them of murder right? Well, furs could, but the evidence would all be on Fox. There wasn't a chance they'd fail.
_____________________________________________________________________
A/N: That's it for this chapter. I really like this chapter a lot and I hope you all did too. Again, please don't flame (its more of waste of your time than mine anyway) . The next chapter will come shortly I hope, got a lot of work to do lately.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Star Fox. Nintendo and/or Rare do. Any characters related to my made up ones in anyway is entirely coincidental.
______________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4-The Sharpest Claw
"What took you so long? The sun is already down and you're late!" Slippy rasped. "I thought you weren't going to come seeing as how you're all talk and no action." He chuckled quietly.
"Fox is a fox of word." Krystal said. "But really, why are you late?"
"I'm late because Scales kept me with another story." Fox replied. "No big deal. Let's go before someone sees us."
"No one will see us, once the sun goes down no one wanders the streets of Corneria." Slippy said. It was true though. But the furs should've been happy though. Under the rule of King James, crime rates had dropped to almost nothing. Within the rule of James McCloud, the worst crime was of a wolf that got extremely hungry and resulted to cannibalism, and ate a pig. It was later found that he was homeless. When given the chance for food by King James he declined and gave his own punishment. He exiled himself. The wolf's name everyone remembers: Wolf O' Donnell. No one was really certain if he hated the king or not, and no one knows what happened to the lupine. That crime happened merely two years ago.
The pig's name? Every fur can only remember that it was Pigma. In fact, Pigma was one of the only wanted crooks Corneria ever had, but he was only a thief and for that he was never executed. The furs always wondered why Wolf didn't just become a thief.
Anyway, the two foxes and the toad set out into the desert. They went west of Corneria. It was dark, but not quite as late as expected. To be safe they crawled a little way. When they finally came to a stance they ran the rest of the way. Wandering all the way out to the sharp claw cave really showed them just how far from Corneria it really was. It wasn't really that far, though to kits like them it seemed like an eternity.
When they came up to the seal on the cave it glowed a pale white. Inscribed on the seal was a cloud with...scales on it? It was so. This was either to hint at the password, or remind someone of the password. However, to any other fur looking at the drawing, the lines wouldn't be thought of as scales. No, instead they think it was part of the cloud.
"This is it." Fox said and took a deep breath. He sighed. "You guys ready?"
Krystal took a breath, as did Slippy. "Ready as we'll ever be." Slippy replied. He was scared. He still didn't think they'd make it out alive
Fox finally recited the password. "The Scaly Clouds." He said. Nothing happened. Puzzled for a moment. Fox didn't know what he was missing. It was then he saw something on the cloud. It looked like a place where you would put your paw. Scales never mentioned that part. He put his paw there and recited the password again, "The Scaly Clouds." This time the picture of the cloud glowed a bright white color. Slowly the seal disappeared and the cave opened.
There was a long dark path lit by torches. When the three kits stepped inside the cave slammed shut behind them. Scales didn't mention that either. "No turning back now..." Krystal shivered. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. I'm scared Fox."
"I told you that you didn't have to come. But nooooooooooo, you had to insist on coming along." Fox smiled. "Let's not waste anymore time!"
"Maybe we should keep our voices down." Slippy insisted. "Talking loud like this might disturb them. They're very dangerous after all."
"Nonsense!" Fox laughed, and rather loudly too. "We'll be fine." He grabbed a torch and signaled for Slippy and Krystal to come along. Being that they were both scared they basically clung to Fox.
The cave was dark but not too dark. With each step they took, they heard a dripping noise. It was probably just some water. They also heard breathing. This made Krystal and Slippy all the more frightened, but only increased Fox's curiosity. Something was living and breathing.
When they reached the end of the path it divided into three directions. Left, right and straight. "Want to split up?" Fox asked.
"NO!" Slippy and Krystal both spoke in unison and it was rather loud. By then the breathing they heard had stopped.
Something was now starting to come their way. "Fox, I think now we should leave." Slippy suggested.
"We can't leave now! Something is coming and I want to see it! Besides, the cave is closed and we can't go back."
Suddenly there was a roar. It was very intimidating and it made the cave rumble. Krystal shrieked and Slippy hid behind Fox. Finally, a sharp claw stepped out. It was small, covered in armor and was holding a club and that was about it. The club didn't even have spikes. "This is what's supposed to be so dangerous?" Fox said sarcastically before he began to laugh. "This little guy couldn't even beat ME up!"
Finally the rumbling started again. Then from behind the young sharp claw stood a much larger scaly that was often referred to as a "dinosaur." This dinosaur had brimming red eyes. This was in fact, a red eye that stood before them. Fox suddenly stopped laughing. The red eye before the three furs roared and stepped even closer. "Now we leave!" Fox said and turned around ready to dash for dear life.
The red-eye gave chase and roared like nothing else. Every time Fox turned back, the only thing he saw was the red-eye gaining on him. "It's hopeless!" Krystal screamed.
The red eye reached forward and opened its mouth to try and bite the kits as they ran. The good news was he never got a hold of them, which in turn made them put the red-eye further behind them. The bad news was that the red-eye could move nearly twice as fast as they could! They finally came up to the cave exit where the red-eye cornered them. "This is the end!" Slippy said with fear. "It was nice knowing you Fox. So long Krystal." He began to whimper.
Suddenly from behind the cave opened and the three kits fell back outside the cave and heard a booming voice shout, "STOP!" The red eye, peeking out of the cave, did just that. He stopped. When the three kits looked to see who it was, it was General Scales.
"Leave these three be and return to the lair. They mean nothing to you!" The red eye did just that. He turned and went back into the depths of the cave.
Fox looked behind Scales and saw that James was with him. Busted.
***
On the way home from the caves, the wind was suddenly blowing. James looked furious and didn't even look at Fox. It was clear to James that Scales was the one who gave him the password indeed, but James already talked to Scales about it.
Scales was walking beside James and only whispered, "I'm terribly sorry. Perhaps I shouldn't have told him the password. It'll never happen again my liege."
"We've talked about it before Scales. It isn't your fault. Your intentions weren't meant to harm my son." James spoke. Then he stopped in the middle of the desert. The three kits following did the same. James looked to Scales without moving his body. "Take Krystal and Slippy home. I'd like a word with my son...alone."
Scales bowed and walked back to Slippy and Krystal. He took them by the hands and walked back to Corneria. Fox only held his head in shame.
"Fox McCloud! Now!" James said and didn't even turn to face Fox. He stood with his back to his son and breathing heavily. Unsure of what to say or how to approach it. He didn't think his son would ever deliberately disobey him.
With his ears held low, Fox crept up beside his father. He was scared as hell and his fur was suddenly cold as ice.
James breathe a sigh and his inner spirits calming a little he finally spoke. "I told you never to go there. You deliberately disobey me!"
"I'm sorry dad. I just--"
James cut him off, "You placed yourself in danger. What's worse? You put your friends in danger! Do you know what could've happened if Scales hadn't showed up? You could've been killed. Not just you, but your friends as well!"
Fox sunk down and sat on the desert surface of the sands. The dunes were actually pretty this time of night as the stars shine upon them. It was funny how when James got angry, Fox decided then was the time to notice the beauty of things. Still, he listened to his father anyway.
"You had me worried sick!"
"I was only trying to be brave dad. Like you and Scales. I wanted to be...you."
James felt a tear in his eye. He was proud that his son looked up to him. It was the first time Fox had showed admiration to him.
"You're not scared of anything. You always stick things out to the end. I just wanted to be as brave as you." Fox sniffled.
James sighed. "We're not that different son." He began. "Kits and adults aren't quite as different as you think. I get scared just like you do. Bravery as a king is not always a choice, but an obligation." He sat down next to his son. "You see my son, I'm only brave when I have to be. If you want the truth, I was scared."
"You actually get scared? What did you have to be afraid of? You weren't even there." Fox asked puzzled. He didn't quite understand fear the way his father did yet.
"I was scared that I was going to lose you." James said, and quickly continued, "Fox, it is every parents greatest fear that their kit will die before his or her time has come. Do you know what that time is?"
Fox shook his head. He didn't even understand what his father meant.
"Fox, should a kit die before his or her parent, it is hard for that parent to stay strong. A kit needs to live longer than their parents. It is every parents fear that their kit will die before them." He sighed, knowing that Fox may not understand it all just yet. After all, the young Prince was only ten. "Someday you will have kits and you'll understand what I mean."
"But we'll always be together dad. You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine. You'll be okay too. We're going to be together forever." Fox said and almost managed a smile.
James sighed once more. He remembered saying that to his father once too. It was until James was about twelve that he realized this wasn't true. When he was sixteen he had to face that truth too. His father had died of a heart attack. After the heart attack, his mother died from grieving. Sixteen was a much younger age to take the throne than furs thought.
"Son," James began, "I may not always be here for you. There will be one day when you won't have me by your side. One day I'll be gone and the throne will be yours. I want you to remember this talk. One day your kit will do something crazy just as you did." He chuckled.
James stood up and started to walk, taking his son's paw in his. "Look at the stars Fox." Fox looked up but didn't see anything different from what he normally saw. He felt like saying 'so? They're just stars.' but he didn't. James continued, "Have you ever seen such a brilliant sight in your life? Of all the things I see day after day, night after night, the stars I always see something new."
Fox blinked a few times. "I don't get it."
James pointed at a star that's very different from all the others. This star was red, unlike the other ones that looked white from the eye. "See that star?" James said pointing to the red star. "From now on that's your star. No one can take it from you. For as long as you live Fox, that is your star."
Fox stared at that star for a long time before they were finally back in Corneria and on their way to the palace once more.
***
After taking the kits home, Scales went to the bar. He was going to meet with another fur that he thought despised James so much. When he walked into the small bar, there were several furs inside. Not just furs but a few scales as well. He made his way to the back of the bar where a cloaked fur was sitting.
The fur looked up to reveal a patch over his right eye. "What did you call me here for?" Wolf spoke rather lowly as if not wanting to be heard or seen by all the other furs. "Did you send for me so that I could be executed for cannibalism?" Wolf said.
"I assure you not. I'm glad to see that you obtained my message." Scales said. "I want you to help me with a situation. If you do so, I'll make it worth your while." Scales said and tossed a bag of scarabs to the lupine. Wolf looked at the scarabs. He certainly could've used the money, but from Scales? There had to be some sort of catch. But because of starving for so long (he did eventually become a thief) the money would do him some good.
Wolf actually wanted to live a good, honest life now. But Scales was asking something of him, and Wolf didn't like the tone of his voice at all. "What do I have to do?"
"All you have to do is help me murder the King! Tomorrow the King plans to throw a party. Everyone in the kingdom is invited. Its Fox's birthday party actually. There will be drinks." Scales spoke in a low voice. "I want you to kill the king while I get his guards drunk. This will be after the party of course. When the guards are drunk and passed out, I want you to take the Arwing dagger and take the king out." Scales wanted a second man. Why? In case he couldn't blame the murder on Fox, there was someone else to fall back on.
"What's in it for me?" Wolf asked. "Besides the money?" It wasn't that Wolf was thinking of doing it. After all, King James had spared his life and let him move on.
"Kill the King and I'll make you the Vice King!" Scales grinned. "Take out the King and I'll handle the guards."
"How about I handle the guards and you take out the King?" Wolf asked. He'd done so because he knew that he wouldn't be able to bring himself to kill King James. James had been such a good man after all, but if it got Wolf off the streets and made him Vice King...then hell he'd do it!
"That can work as well." Scales tapped his fingers on the table. "When I've killed the King using Fox's dagger, I'll take it and smear the Prince with the blood of the King. That way it looks like he killed his own father!" Scales cackled. Not loudly of course. No one else was hearing them.
Wolf nodded. "As long as I don't have to kill the King. I'll take out the guards. I shall have them drink as much wine as they can. The guards are brought up with the utmost respect. They wouldn't refuse a drink being offered to them."
Scales like how Wolf thought. He was glad he had him. Scales actually NEEDED him. Not for the murder of the King, but incase no one believed that Fox had done it. He could easily say that Wolf had done it and no one would question him. He'd much preferred that Fox be killed too, but if that happened, it would look much too suspicious to everyone.
So now Scales had a plan, and a back-up plan for that matter. The first plan was to simply have Wolf get the guards drunk at the party. That way once the time for bed came, the guards would be passed out and drunk. Then Scales would steal Fox's dagger while the kit slept. He'd take the dagger and kill James. Afterwards, he's smear the blood all over Fox to make it look as if he did it. The plan seemed brilliant.
The back-up plan was that if the guards did get drunk and pass out..there could be a chance no one would believe Fox did such a deed. Therefore, Wolf was easy to fall back on. Scales could always point out to everyone that that was the reason Wolf got the guards drunk in the first place.
What if both plans didn't work? One of them would surely work. There was not a chance Scales would fail. He wouldn't fail.
Wolf grabbed the scarabs. The chance to be Vice King would be worth it. The only problem was that Wolf didn't want to kill James. The one who spared his life. That was why he'd let Scales do it. If this worked..Wolf would have power.
If Wolf and Scales did become the King and Vice King, then no one would be able to accuse them of murder right? Well, furs could, but the evidence would all be on Fox. There wasn't a chance they'd fail.
_____________________________________________________________________
A/N: That's it for this chapter. I really like this chapter a lot and I hope you all did too. Again, please don't flame (its more of waste of your time than mine anyway) . The next chapter will come shortly I hope, got a lot of work to do lately.
