7. Lost Morals
Scout led Red to a deep gorse thicket at the bottom of a playing field just outside the town. Once there Red couldn't help but admire the sight he saw. Underneath the protection of the thicket Scout's family had dug one huge, interlinked earth. Multiple tunnels connected chambers of various sizes together to create an almost ant like colony. Unfortunately, it would be here that Red would meet someone who'd adversely alter his outlook on life forever, Scout's father.
Red followed Scout into the den, the scent of foxes was thick in the air. Red could pick out at least twenty different individual fox scents. By the looks of things Scout had a very large family. Moving as quickly as he could Red managed to just about stay pace with Scout. Scout seemed oblivious to the fact that Red had no idea where he was going and proceeded to wind through the tunnels as if he was on his own. This worried Red immensely, if they somehow got separated, he would be no more than an intruder to the other foxes living here and likely live a very short existence. Thankfully it wasn't long until Scout came to a stop, he turned to Red.
"Ok this is it, my father and mother are just through here," Scout said gesturing to an opening just ahead. "I'm going to go in first to explain things, I'll come and get you when they are ready to see you."
Scout turned and entered the chamber up ahead. Watching him leave Red began to puzzle over the last thing Scout had said. Ready to see me? Red thought to himself, what are they, royalty? Red had no idea just how close to the truth that was.
It took about ten minutes for Scout to re-emerge from the opening. Stopping just on the threshold he gestured for Red to join him, Red obliged.
"My father will see you now," Scout said in a hushed voice "there are a couple of rules to abide by when addressing my father though, one, don't speak unless spoken to, and two, if he asks a question answer it, abide by those rules and you'll be fine."
"I never agreed to any of this!" answered Red in a loud voice.
"Shhhh, keep your voice down!" whispered Scout "you can't back out on me now, I got you in, you'll make me look bad if you leave!"
"Fine, but you better not be pulling one over on me, because if you are I guarantee you'll be the one to regret it!" conceded Red "and I'll speak to your father however I like, whether I'm in his home or not, now lead on!"
The chamber beyond was large and cavernous, it must have taken some time to build. In the middle of it sat two male foxes. One was young and muscular with a cruel sloping brow giving him a fearsome looking appearance. It was also obvious he had seen many fights, scars literally littered his body. The second fox was a lot older and seemed to squint constantly. He had twinges of grey to his red fur coat and his movements seemed a little laboured but nevertheless calculated. Red followed Scout to the centre of the chamber and sat down just off to his right.
"So, you're the one who saved my sons life, I'm indebted to you," stated the elder fox at seeing the new arrivals.
"Yes, although it wasn't my intention, I was simply defending myself," commented Red "and I don't believe in holding debts either, they sound far more trouble than they're worth."
"That they can be indeed," acknowledged the elder fox "however a debt owed to me is always well paid and not one to be passed up lightly."
"I just came here to get some rest at Scout's recommendation that is all, I don't want anything more," answered Red meeting the elder fox's stony gaze.
The fearsome fox was clearly agitated by Red's tone of voice and butted into the conversation. "How dare you speak to my father in such a manner, I'll-"
With the raising of a paw the elder fox cut the fearsome fox off mid-sentence. "Very well, if that's all you want then that's what you'll get…there will however be conditions, but we will speak of those at a later time," he said diplomatically "my mate here will show you to your earth and take care of that nasty looking wound of yours." From the shadows behind Scout's father stepped forward a young vixen. Red had absolutely no idea she was there and he started to wonder just how many other foxes were lying hidden in the darkness, he thought better of asking. The vixen, head bowed passed the four foxes and exited the chamber without so much as a word. Red thought he heard Scout's father whisper something to her as she passed but he couldn't make out what. Sensing that it was time for him to leave Red turned and followed the vixen out.
"We will discuss things further tomorrow," called out Scout's father as Red cleared the entrance way.
Red followed the vixen on through the winding maze of tunnels that made up her family's home. The two foxes moved in complete silence with the vixen barely even acknowledging Red's existence. Red meanwhile had been watching her closely as he followed. She was both young and very attractive, but to Red something seemed a little off about her. She moved with purpose, perhaps a little too much. She was totally dead set with the task appointed to her by her mate and appeared to be totally subservient to him.
After a short time the vixen led Red into a smallish chamber. "You may rest here," said the vixen sheepishly as she looked at the ground, totally unwilling to meet Red's stare.
"I guess this place will do," replied Red playfully as he looked around "Thank you."
Red sat down and began to watch the vixen once more. She hadn't moved an inch since entering the room and continued to stare at the same patch of dirt on the floor. Once the vixen realized that Red had made himself comfortable, she made her way over and sat next to him. Red was confused at this action and had absolutely no idea what her intentions were. Before Red could react, the vixen had knelt down and began to lick at the wound to his front leg.
"What are you doing!" exclaimed Red recoiling.
"Just…just doing what my mate asked me to do," replied the vixen a little flustered.
"Well don't ok, its healing fine," said Red.
"I'm sorry, I…I just wanted to please my mate…he told me to," quivered the vixen, tears began to form in her eye's "I don't want to fail him."
Red could see the genuine distress in the vixen's eyes, or was it maybe fear? He couldn't tell. "Whoa! Now calm down would you…here, do what you must." Red thrust his injured leg out in front of her. The vixen sniffed and looked at him for a second before continuing to administer to his wound. When she was content that all that could be done to help had been done, she left. Red was quite happy to be alone again and soon drifted off into a very comfortable sleep.
Red was awoken by the boisterous barks of a young fox, it was Scout. Red's leg now felt a lot better, the attention it had received the night before had worked and he could walk almost normally again. "Good morning!" yapped Scout loudly as he entered the chamber.
"Is it?" replied Red groggily as he blinked the sleep from his eyes "I don't think I've ever experienced a good one."
"But you haven't spent a day with us before, have you?" countered Scout as he made his way over to Red and sat down.
"No, I guess not, but I get the feeling I don't want to either," replied Red.
"And why's that, it's great here, how could you not like it?" said Scout confused.
"How about you let me ask some questions for once?" cut in Red "I mean all I've done since I've got here is get ordered around, I don't owe any of you anything!"
Scout suddenly went stock still and from his expression you would have thought he had seen a ghost.
"No, you're right young sir you don't owe us anything, but that doesn't mean to say you never will," announced Scout's father as he made his entrance. "You may leave now Scout, but don't go far I'll be needing you." Scout nodded and left leaving the two older foxes alone. "Now then, I believe you and I have a few things to discuss, how about we start with names?" said Scout's father in a high and mighty tone.
"I don't have one…at least not as far as I can remember so call me what you want, I really couldn't care," answered Red flippantly.
"Very well," said Scout's father ignoring Reds attempt to rile him "how about Outcast? Seems appropriate."
"Fine, but personally I'm more interested in hearing what they call you, I mean besides master that is," replied Red sarcastically.
"My name is Chief and you'll start showing me some respect or you won't be around here much longer," growled Scout's father.
"That would suit me, I was thinking of leaving right now anyway," joked Red as he got up and began to approach the exit.
"Oh you can come and go as you wish but you can never leave, I promise you that much," pointed out Chief "leave and I'll have you classed as a traitor in league with the northern foxes, because if you're not with us you must be with them!"
Red stopped, he knew there was something more going on here. "I'm listening" he said as he turned to face Chief once more.
"Good, I knew you'd see things from my point of view," chuckled Chief "for you see us southern foxes here are fighting an ongoing war with our traitorous cousins up in the north. They steal our land, attack us on sight and kill without mercy. Hence, we have to fight back, and we need all the help we can get."
"So where do I fit in?" said Red, he already knew the answer he'd get.
"Just lend us your fighting skills and you can live here in peace, as an equal," offered Chief.
"But under your command, right?" asked Red.
"Yes, but you'll find I'm not so bad to work for," replied Chief with a smile.
"I'm no fighter either, I don't think I would be the help you're looking for," pointed out Red.
"According to my son you're the best and most ferocious fighter he's ever seen, and although he may be young, he has a knack for spotting natural skill," answered Chief.
"I got angry that's all, that's not a skill," dismissed Red.
"Ah but it is, anger is the most powerful tool in a fighter's arsenal, using it correctly can often dictate the outcome of a battle!" explained Chief.
"I don't know about that..." said Red unsure.
"Look, how about you head out with our patrol tonight and maybe then you'll see for yourself," suggested Chief.
"Fearsome!" barked Chief.
"Yes father!" replied a voice from the earth's entrance tunnel.
"Come in here, I'd like you to meet a new member of your unit," announced Chief.
From the darkness of the entrance way a fox appeared. Red instantly recognized him, it was the fearsome looking fox he'd met earlier.
"This is Outcast he's coming with you on tonight's patrol, I want you to show him the ropes so to speak," continued Chief.
"Yes father," acknowledged Fearsome as he looked Red up and down. He was clearly not impressed with what he saw.
"Do your usual rounds, check the whole boundary…and take Scout with you too, he still has a lot to learn!" ordered Chief.
Fearsome nodded and turned to Red. "With me."
Red followed Fearsome up to the surface. They walked in dead silence, Red could feel Fearsome's dislike of him hanging thick in the air. Before long they were both out in the open air. It was night time and the moon was out in its fullest. They continued to move onwards. Upon reaching the edge of the gorse thicket Fearsome let out a loud howl, from different hiding places numerous foxes began to appear. It wasn't long before eleven foxes had lined up in front of the two of them, one of which was Scout. Rightfully feeling he was in the wrong place, Red moved forwards and got in line with the other foxes.
"Okay just the usual route today, I think most of you know the drill," ordered Fearsome glancing at Red and Scout "move out!" The line of foxes broke up and fanned out. "You two," barked Fearsome at Red and Scout "I want the both of you to stay at the back, you're both observing tonight, I don't need either of you messing things up!"
"Understood" replied Scout, Red merely nodded. Fearsome took up position at the head of the group and motioned to move on.
Most of the patrol was quiet and Red had plenty of time to speak to Scout in detail about the current situation. It seemed that the northern foxes had savagely driven Scout's family from their original home, a human rubbish tip north of the town. It was a place rich with food all within easy reach, and a place Scout's father had vowed to get back. Red also learnt a lot about Scout during this time, discovering that he secretly hated the war with the northern foxes although conceding it was both right and necessary.
It wasn't until the end of the patrol that the tranquillity the group had enjoyed was suddenly shattered. As the group crossed the centre of the town a second unit of foxes about equal in number rushed from a side alley and attacked. It happened so quickly that Red only noticed what was happening once the fighting had already started. Red hadn't been expecting anything quite like this. Everywhere he looked pairs of foxes were battling it out trying to get one up on the other. In his distracted state Red wasn't prepared for the attack he was about to receive from behind. Both Red and Scout were suddenly launched forwards as two foxes butted into them. Instantly getting to his paws again Red turned to face his assailant. Feeling his anger explode Red attacked.
The battle didn't last long and the southern foxes came out the clear victors, chasing off the northern foxes. There had been only two fatalities sustained during the fight, both from the northern group. They were also the two foxes that had attacked Red and Scout. Red stood over their bloodied bodies looking down at what he had done.
"Very good work, excellent in fact," congratulated Fearsome as he approached "getting a kill is usually quite rare, but two is just plain remarkable, you certainly know how to fight."
Red continued to stare at the bodies of his fallen attackers. He'd let his anger control him again only this time it had felt good, very good, as had ending his attackers' lives.