The Farm, Upstate New York, 2002.
I held up my fist and quickly gestured the others to take cover as a hawk flew overhead, the four of us moving behind trees and rocks as the hawk flew above us in the daylight.
"The hunt goes on, I see..." Reynard remarked quietly.
"Careful...I have eyes on possible enemy air contact. As long as we keep moving from cover to cover, we should be fine," I assured. Snow yawned, looking like she was about to keel over any second.
"Lovely...the best way to remain undetected is to find somewhere to curl up and sleep," Snow grumbled.
"Snow, passing out in the middle of hostile territory is an extremely bad idea so please try to bear with it," I reasoned as I checked the perimeter again.
"Deputy Pierce is correct, sweetie. There are other things in these woods that are looking for us...I wish you were also packing heat to protect me and my darling sister from the lions, tigers, and bears oh my," Reynard commented and Casey groaned slightly at what would come next.
"Sweetie? Sweetie?!" Snow snapped in irritation which caused me and Casey to shush her out of paranoia.
"Will you two please be quiet before you attract the more unfriendly locals?" I suggested in exasperation as we moved quietly, but I was ignored.
"Since when do you get off on calling me "sweetie"?" Snow questioned with an arched brow.
"Ever since I didn't wake up blind and stupid every single day of my life. Any dumb bloke can see that you are one hot babe and who's more qualified than I am to declare you a total vixen? And for the record, I didn't "get off" yet but one can hope," Reynard stated with a sly grin.
"What the fuck Reynard? We are in the middle of enemy territory and you are not only hitting on the Deputy Mayor of Fabletown, but you are also making sex jokes? At a time like this? To the Mundies, being in a relationship with an animal is considered disgusting and abnormal," I rounded on him in disbelief.
"Oh, like you're the one to talk, since you are now mating with my sister," Reynard retorted dryly, causing me to inhale sharply and I sputtered while my face burned in embarrassment.
"Brother?! What the blooming hell?!" Casey cried out in shock while her eyes bulged in disbelief.
"What the fuck is wrong with you Reynard?! For your information smartass, we aren't official yet. We just decided to give things a try and see where they'll go from there. We're not just going to up and start humping like out of control rabbits...you know what? We are in the middle of enemy territory so can we do this later? How about you show us what you and Casey wanted us to see because right now, I have half a mind to plant my boot up your ass," I threatened, still blushing.
"Very well...it's right this way, my shape-shifting friend," Reynard said sarcastically as he moved ahead and gestured for us to follow him.
We kept moving for a while until we found ourselves in a large field. I aimed my gun around just as Reynard started chatting with Snow again.
"As I'd hoped, no hunting birds this deep into our lands. They're all searching the borders, assuming we'll make a run for it. So Miss White, back to our conversation. In my own defense, everyone knows you've been bumping uglies with Bigby Wolf," Reynard stated bluntly.
"I most certainly have not!" Snow exclaimed incredulously, causing me and Casey to whip our heads at the tod in disbelief.
"Brother! Quit being such a damn prude and get your bloody mind out of the gutter! That's the Deputy Mayor you are speaking to," Casey lectured while I frantically shushed everyone.
"Would you all please be quiet? I don't think the entire state heard you," I hissed harshly while quickly looking around to see if anything was approaching.
"Anyways...back to the subject, Miss Snow. If you're already into Big Bad Wolves, then it's just a matter of time before you move up several rungs on the sophisticatory ladder to one Reynard T. Fox Esquire," Reynard stated with a foxy grin.
"Two things: sophisticatory isn't a word and the only thing that's "just a matter of time" is that I'm going to personally strangle you if Deputy Pierce doesn't shut you up himself," Snow threatened.
"Yeah...sure. Here we are, so take a look at this. My darling sister and I found it last night while we were running for our lives," Reynard informed me and Snow as we approached an object that was lying on the ground. We could see that it looked like a helmet with a revolver attached to it.
"What the hell is this?" I wondered as I holstered my gun and picked up the helmet to examine it.
"A gun...specifically one that's been modified for use by non-human Fables. In this case, I suspect that it's intended to be a crew-served weapon system...strap the thing to one Mr. Tortoise for battlefield mobility and team up with one Mr. Hare for actual operation," Reynard explained.
"Jesus Christ...that's pretty fucking clever," I muttered under my breath and caught a whiff of a familiar tiger Fable who was in the distance.
"Nate? What's wrong?" Snow inquired in concern when she saw me looking tense.
"We have incoming enemy contact...it's Shere Khan," I notified grimly as I put my hand on the butt of my gun.
"Oh God...what do we do?" Casey whimpered and I kneeled down to place a hand on her furry back in order to calm her.
"Someone needs to draw him away from us...which is why I'll do it. I'll change into someone else and direct him in the wrong direction, alright?" I inquired and everyone looked uncertain.
"I don't know about this Nate...things could go horribly wrong," Snow pointed out in concern.
"I'll be fine Snow. Just take cover and hide your scents. Everything will be fine, I hope," I muttered the last part as I started changing and my uniform disappeared.
My body snapped and shrank down to about 5 kilograms. Red fur with white coloring covered me as my long tail grew in with fluffy red fur and a white puffy tip. My arms, hips, and legs cracked into a vulpine shape while my ears, head, and face stretched and compressed into a long and slender muzzle. Finally, the last change was my green eyes turning amber and I looked to see Snow, Casey, and Reynard looking at me in surprise.
"So, how do I look?" I asked in Reynard's voice.
"Incredible...I never get tired of seeing you do that," Snow responded as Casey and Reynard came over to sniff me curiously.
"Well I'll be...aren't I a handsome devil," Reynard observed while I rolled my eyes.
"I have to admit Nate...you'd definitely make a handsome tod. I can't wait until we are official," Casey stated lowly which made me shiver slightly at her tone.
"Anyway...you all hide while I deal with a certain fuckin' muppet," I instructed and went to confront Shere Khan, who started growling eagerly when he saw me.
"Well now...if it isn't Reynard The Fox. Done hiding like a coward? Now, hold still so that I can grant you an unpleasant death and find your sister to make her scream," Shere Khan threatened.
"You don't want to do that, old boy...because I want to tell you where Miss White, my darling sister, and Constable Pierce went," I lied, causing Shere Khan to narrow his eyes in suspicion.
"Why would you want to betray your sister and those Fabletown Government officials? And for what purpose?" Shere Khan questioned.
"Because I'm trapped here just like you are and what sane person would want to be trapped in this prison? As for my darling sister, I want to convince her to come over to the other side so that we can escape this accursed place and create lives of our own out in the world..." I said with a sly grin.
"So, the great Reynard T. Fox has decided to join us? Why are you making this decision now when we tried to kill you and your sister? You always have an angle of some kind so that things would benefit you and your sister...you're not known as the Trickster Fox for no reason," Shere Khan pointed out and I pretended to look hurt.
"You truly doubt me, my feline friend? I'm hurt that you think of me in such a manner. Wasn't I the one who saved you, King Noble, and the others from the King of the goblins who were in the Adversary's employment?" I questioned and Shere Khan grumbled.
"As unpleasant as it is for me to admit, you have a point but you were never known to be trustworthy...what the hell. Since I don't have time to deal with your antics, I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for now," Shere Khan muttered reluctantly.
"Splendid, my dear chap! Now, Miss White, my darling sister, and Constable Pierce took off to the West in an attempt to escape the area," I lied as I gestured my tail in the opposite direction of where Snow and the others were.
Shere Khan huffed as he sculked away and I waited until he was far enough away to head over to Snow and the others while I shifted back into my human form.
"It's all clear," I announced quietly as the others came out of hiding.
"Nathan...I have no idea what to say. You had my personality down so well that I almost thought you were a clone," Reynard stated, looking impressed.
"Well, we have no idea how long Shere Khan will buy what I told him so let's hurry and keep moving," I stated but Reynard shook his head.
"Sorry Constable, but my darling sister and I need to meet up with the Loyalists so that they can prepare to fight back against the Rebels. Now, if you blokes want to figure out what is going on, then continue hiking over these hills, pass through the valley of the Big Sleepers, and up into the hills beyond. A day's travel up the highest peak will lead you to a remote cave where you should be safe. With any luck, we'll meet again," Reynard told us and I knelt down in front of Casey.
"Take care of yourself, Casey," I said softly while running my hand down her back and through her fluffy tail, causing her to shiver blissfully at the contact.
"You too, Nate," Casey said as I stood up and went to leave with Snow.
I looked back one more time to see Reynard and Casey moving fast in the opposite direction and I looked at the rock wall, placing my hands and feet on footholds while Snow and I started climbing.
I didn't know how long we were climbing, but I was feeling the effects of the adrenaline wearing off and exhaustion from a combination of getting injured and staying awake all night and day was hitting me hard which was forcing me to struggle in an effort to stay alert and awake. As we reached a ledge, Snow yelped while she looked to her right and I turned my head to see the three giants and dragon currently out cold.
"Oh, God...I forgot...how this sight...always leave me...breathless..." Snow panted as we pulled ourselves up and I rested my hands on my knees as I tried to regain my breath.
"...We can't stop...we're dead if we pass out," I stated breathlessly and Snow nodded in agreement.
After Snow was done taking a restroom break, we kept climbing up until we heard a voice I hoped we never had to hear again.
"Did you think I would fall for that trick, Deputy?" I heard and my blood ran cold when I looked down to see Shere Khan pursuing us.
"Shit! I thought I led you away, asshole!" I exclaimed in disbelief while the tiger Fable chuckled darkly.
"I have to admit...you almost fooled me there for a second, but then I remembered that Reynard wouldn't just be without his sister due to them being inseparable, and he also wouldn't just hand his sister over like that. The final thing that convinced me was that I recalled you having the ability of being able to change into a limitless amount of shapes, so it was an amusing effort to divert me away but it wasn't enough," Shere Khan stated as Snow and I frantically climbed up into a ledge.
"Go to hell!" I yelled as I kicked Shere Khan in the snout, sending him bouncing off the rocks and landing on a tree.
"Arghhhh! You are fucking dead when I get my claws on you, Deputy!" Shere Khan roared in agony and fury while Snow took out the helmet with the gun.
"Nate, what do I do!" Snow cried in terror.
"Check to see if it's loaded, take the safety off, and get ready to fire!" I shouted urgently as I pulled out my gun and got ready to shoot.
Shere Khan leaped up and went to attack us, but a shot to the right shoulder from me sent him tumbling against the ledge and he looked at us in fear.
"Please! Mercy!" Shere Khan begged but I felt no sympathy for the tiger.
"Fuck you, you sick son of a bitch!" I roared as Snow and I opened fire, killing Shere Khan as the slide of my gun locked back and I witnessed the dead tiger falling and hitting the ground far below.
I released a shaky breath I was holding in as I loaded my gun and I turned to see Snow, who tossed the customized gun aside and latched onto me while she sobbed from the trauma she had just experienced and at the knowledge of taking another life. I holstered my gun and just held her while her tears wetted my slightly torn uniform shirt. The two of us stayed this way, next to each other as the sun lowered toward the horizon and nightfall approached.
"I'm sorry Nate...I didn't mean to lose it like that," Snow hiccuped while we stood up.
"You needed that, Snow. You've been through hell these past few days," I reassured her as we moving on.
We climbed for a while and my ears eventually caught the sound of faint tapping above us.
"Snow...do you hear that?" I gasped in exhaustion and Snow nodded as we finally made it to the ledge and climbed up onto solid ground.
We saw a cave nearby and I pulled out my gun. Snow was right behind me as I heard the tapping sound turning into a loud clanging as we got closer. I aimed my gun while we slowly went inside, my eyes widening in shock as I saw Weyland Smith chained by his ankle, working on creating something.
"Holy shit...Weyland?" I wondered and Weyland looked to see me and Snow appearing worse for wear.
"Snow White? Nathan Pierce? Is that you two? Fancy meeting you here so what do I owe the pleasure? Are you two okay? Neither of you look very well," Weyland pointed out in concern.
"Weyland, what happened to you? Why are you up here? Who did this and why did you quit the Farm without telling anyone?" Snow questioned.
"I quit? Really? I can't imagine why I'd do that but if you say so..." Weyland trailed off.
"So Reynard was right-" I started to say, but I was cut off when something hit me hard in the back of the head and I dropped like a sack of bricks.
As I was losing consciousness, I heard Snow and Weyland calling out for me in panic and I could've sworn that I heard Rose's voice.
"Rose?" I thought dizzily and everything went black as I passed out.