5

Jugga's clan had separated for the time being, branching out into camps for each type. The fox camp in particular was moving along at a rapid pace, constructing those awkward machines on their clan master's will. Work was currently at a lull for a moment, and the camp was filled with friendly conversation. However, under the placid scene, the vermin were anxious with the promise of spilled blood and plunder.

Ariell sat at the river, regarding her reflection with indifference. Were she just a bit younger, she would have been unhappy at how she looked much older than she really was. Now that she stared at it, she couldn't really bring herself to care. She told herself that she had more important things to do than obsess about what she looked like, like some of the others her age. The fox stood and returned to the hut she slept in.

His father still slept. Were she younger, she would have hated him too. He had done far too much to her, had had too much of a hand in what she became. But again, she dismissed those thoughts from her mind as well. She rummaged through her meager possessions and pulled out her most prized object; her knife. Made from fine steel with a sapphire in the pommel, she had only used it for carving and cooking. A smile came to her face, one of the few times her emotions betrayed her, as she thought of the use she had reserved for it, why she honed it every single day.

She loomed over the sleeping beast. The knife was clutched in her paw so tightly she might have worried her paw would bleed if she wasn't so focused on the bastard in front of her. Her arm went up and…

"Slinkbat!"

Her eyes lost their shine as she was brought back to reality. She walked to a block of wood just as his father woke up and the guest burst through the makeshift door.

"Eh, wot'd'ya want?" he grumbled, glancing just for a minute at his daughter, carvng at a block of wood like nothing happened. He decided he'd let it go for now as he turned his attention back to the fox at the doorway.

"The shaman, she's callin' for you."

Slinkbait stood, casting one heated glance at Ariell before leaving with his friend for the tent on the other side of the encampment.

Back at our favorite religious building…

Felix's mood hadn't improved when he was called to the Abbot's study and the old beast was there with him. Never one to make pleasantries, the Abbot spoke first. "Our boarder here is going back to his campsite."

Felix feigned sorrow, "Really? Gee, and we were having such a fine time while he was here." He said, making no effort to hide his sarcasm, "Too bad, nice knowing you, etcetera…"

"Felix." Celix called warningly, "As I was about to say, he's going back, and he needs someone to go with him."

"Great, so who's going?" Felix asked, hoping he wouldn't say what he knew the Abbot was going to say.

"Not exactly the smartest lil' cub, ain' he?" The old timer taunted, but said nothing else after looking at Celix's ever-present warning glare. The Abbot sighed; he was already getting tired of the sparks these two were setting off, and the old fox hadn't even been here for a day. "He wants you to accompany him, Felix."

"Is that so? Well then, why doesn't he get someone less of a sissy to help him out?"

The fox rose from his seat, "And leave m'fate in the hands o' Fluffies? Next ye want me ta jump in a burbot filled riva', o' light me tail on fire?" Felix was about to bite back an argument, when Celix pounded down on his desk, silencing the two instantly. Felix was more shocked than anything; in all the seasons he'd known him, he'd never seen the Abbot angry.

"That's enough from the two of you Dibbuns!" he yelled, and then sighed, "I apologize, but you both need to stop now. He," he began, pointing to the older beast, "Will be leaving tomorrow. In that time, I want you ready to leave. You will be accompanying him to wherever he is going and then you're coming back. While you're gone I expect you to act like a proper Abbeybeast and not some wild untethered animal. Do you understand?"

"F-Father Abbot!" Felix stammered, oblivious to his counterpart's stare of incredulence. The two foxes filed out of the room, leaving Celix to gather whatever remained of his sanity.

"Why does everyone in this Abbey act like Dibbuns?"