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Judith waited for the arrival of the fox mercenary not too far from the apple tree he indicated as their meeting place. The sun falling down, hiding beyond the treelines and taking away with it the light, giving its place up towards the shadows and creeping darkness. The bunny stood proud, her posture straight and ears held high, searching for the sounds that would alert her to the presence of the fox. Or others.
- Judith? What are you doing here? - the question was posed by none other but her younger sister Clover, who looked slightly wary, but seeing the clans wielder seemed to relax. Holding her paw was Rupert, the young buck who was caught by the Hindspaw clansmen today. The youngling sported an assortment of bruises, but thankfully no open wounds were dealt to him, so the buck would recover soon enough.
- I could ask you the same, Clover. What brings you here? - Judith was curious as to the duo's arrival.
-- Um… I actually never got to thank the fox properly for saving Rupert. And he actually wanted to see his angel once more, so… We are here. - The reluctance and nervousness in the voice of Clover were clear as day to Judith. The young buck though seemed unperturbed and was turning his head, eagerly looking for any sign of his russet furred savior. The fox was notably absent though, leaving the two does to chat for a while, resting in the last rays of sunlight for this day, their ears taking in the sounds of their homefields.
The abrupt absence of ambient noise did not register with the does for a bit. But the bunnies were way too used to constant inflow of information from the background that their hearing picked up constantly, and the silence could not go unnoticed for long. It made both bunnies silent and alert. Rupert on the other hand suddenly seemed more alive and alert than his bored self from moments ago.
Judith saw the fox finally standing to his full height less than a dozen feet away. She knew her sight was rather poor due to the lack of light but still, she thought she would be able to locate him from a further distance. Anyways, why would the mercenary traverse his contractor's land hidden? That should be a dead giveaway he had some ulterior motive.
Her spear clutched tightly, Judith positioned herself between her sister with her son and the mercenary who was now openly approaching them. The fox held some kind of sack thrown over his left shoulder, and she could not see any sign of weapon on him. Did he see her as such a little threat he needn't bother defeating her with weapons?
Judith had her teeth grit tight against each other. She would demand respect and if the fox believed he could take her on armless she would disabuse him of the notion. But before the doe could utter a single word, the sack the mercenary was carrying landed at her feet.
- As challenged, little bunny, I give you my proof of being a warrior. But, since I am twice your size, it is only fair for me to have to prove myself twice over you. So you can count this as only six kills. - The fox looked down on her, this much was clear from the sound of his infuriatingly self satisfied voice. Her, the best spear wielder in the Bunny Burrough. She has already played the same exact scenario in her head time and again, prepared to reply to his every demeaning with her own. Judith was prepared. But now, when the reality hit with unknown cruelty, the doe could not reply. Suddenly, what she has seen this afternoon did not seem like that bad of a sight. Judith desperately clang to her spear with both paws to stay upright as she could finally see there was no bag. And time passed.
- You throw me a challenge to see which one of us is a better warrior. What did you expect, a spar? - Cold tone made Judith tear her eyes away from the pile in front of her, but the mercenary was already leaving, his back turned in a show of contempt. With horror, Judith once more stared at what the fox has thrown to her feet. A dozen of fresh bunny heads.
Clover took her son, much to his charging, a slight distance away from the confronting duo, tension between them as subtle as the creeping darkness. She was of little help should the two of them start fighting, but she always could run back and call for help. There was no fight though, with the fox turning and heading back to the apple tree, while her sister remained silent and unresponsive. Deciding it was safe, Clover took a step forward.
- Judith? Is everything alright? - Her question and advance were met with raising of a shaky paw.
- F-fine. Just, better not come close. I… I have to report this to father. - Taken out from her stupor, Judith picked up the thread of a fishing line that kept the grotesque thing together. Unwillingly, she saw the faces of bunnies and even recognized some of them. Henry, for instance, who was one of the harder opponents in the tournaments and the best hunter among the Hindspaw clan. She heard he was in charge of a group of Hindspaw clan militia. But not anymore. His eyes were bereft of any semblance of life, glassy and still, any expression lacking on his frozen muzzle. Same as all the others.
Judith started walking back to their clan's main burrough, the heavy weight of the burden in her hand slowing her down. The doe felt the humiliated. Worse still was the realization of the fact, she got off lightly. It was her head that could be now separated from her body. Were she to spar with the mercenary, would he spare her life? Probably not. He was someone who killed just to prove a point, no words or trophies but the grim proof of his prowess. Judith now knew one thing. Whatever she thought or felt about wanting to be a warrior, she was wrong.
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Nicholas started a small fire, when it appeared that he would be having guests. Not that the absence of the silently watching him young buck would make any difference, but the fearful presence of another bunny doe, probably some kind of youngling's relative, was grating. Especially since the fox was fixing his meal, which consisted of the leftover carcass of a bird from this morning. He lifted the preservation charm from it and put the carcass over the fire to heat up.
- Well, to what does this fox owe such an engaging company? - Asked Nicholas, sitting down and leaning against the old tree. He felt no fatigue after his little skirmish with bunnies. Conflicts of such scales were not even worth his attention. They were a job for an assassin, not a mercenary. Hopefully, the following days would bring more sizable confrontations between the bunny clans, where he would be able to at least test some of his new weapons and gear.
- I wanted to come see you, but mom told me not to be a bother and keep silent. She didn't want to come too, said it was dangerous and that foxes eat bunnies. - Both males looked at the now uncomfortable looking doe. Nicholas looked back at the young bunny in front of him.
- And? You are not afraid to be eaten, little ration? - The fox bared his fangs in a broad grin, feeling quite merry at the thought of trying bunny meat.
- My name is Rupert, mister angel fox. And you probably have enough bunnies to eat now, so it should be safe for now. - Nicholas might have teased a bit more, but one thing caught his attention.
- A name? At your age? - The fox was confused. Names were important and given only after individual reached adulthood.
- Yes. Everyone has a name, they are given by mom and dad after birth. - Now it was the little buck's turn to be confused at the expression of disbelief on the fox's muzzle.
- Um, don't angel fox's have names? - To young Rupert, that could be the only explanation. Besides, he only heard the fox being identified by his species in the burrough.
- Well, we will have to deal with this one thing at a time. First, I am no angel. A simple fox. Red fox, to be precise, but those are technicalities. Angels do not interfere into the deals of mammals the way you saw me doing it. - Taking the slightly heated carcass from the fire, the tod eagerly tore into it. Even though his meal lacked any spices and proper cooking, was more bones than meat, the fox did not require much food to sustain himself. Finishing the first bite, he continued appreciating the fact he was not interrupted.
- As for a name, I have two. My first name is Nicholas Wilde. The other one is for mercenaries to distinguish between themselves. But up north we don't get a name until adulthood, when we prove ourselves either through a noble or brave deed. - The fox continued eating, while Rupert kept eyeing him, fascinated with how the fox's fangs seemed to stab the meat and he then turned his muzzle slightly to tear out a bit from the carcass. Being taught not to interrupt one's meal, the buck sat silent and kept his curiosity in check for a bit. Finally, the red tod polished off remains of meat from the carcass and threw it into the fire. Without reluctance, the fox then thrust his hands straight into the flames, eliciting a gasp from Rupert and a cry from his mother who rushed immediately to the blind fox's side.
- Sir, fire, burn! - Clover clasped the mercenary's long arms with her own short ones and pulled them away from the fire with some surprising strength. She then immediately went to check up on the burned paws of the fox, but was surprised. Instead of burning or smoking fur and bristling skin she found… perfectly fine unscathed fox paws. They were different from bunny paws, having thin pads on the inner side and blunt claws, that were not unlike her own, just bigger and longer. Fascinated for a second, she looked the unfamiliar paws in the light of fire and what little of it the setting sun still provided.
- I don't sell those, nor can you hire them separately from me. We go as a package. - The voice from right behind her, drew the doe back to the reality and the fact she was standing right next to a fox registered. With a silent gulp, her ears falling behind, she released the fox's hands a took a step away to where her son set.
- I am sorry, sir, but your paws… fire… - She was at a loss of words. Fire burned, she knew it well enough from witnessing her brothers try and "conquer" it and even once sticking a paw over the open fire herself. The fur caught ablaze almost instantly and she was grateful it was just a small patch that she could extinguish almost immediately. It still hurt a lot. How could this fox not understand it and be so carefree around a fire when he could not see it was beyond her.
- So eloquent, I am struck speechless. - If Clover were to hazard a guess, the fox had his brows raised. He also began to stretch his hands out towards the fire again.
- I am one with fire, so you do not have to worry I will suddenly turn into a running screaming torch. But, thank you for the thought and for trying to save me. Not that scared of this old fox now? - Nicholas made a show of reaching deep and picking up a piece of burned wood out of the fire, holding it for a bit and then throwing it back.
Clover did realise she did not feel that much fear towards the predator anymore. He was not how she expected him to be. The fox was strange with the way of words, but his actions spoke a simple story. The tod saved her son from Hindspaw, did not try to chase her and her son away, did not move his paws while the doe stared at them. And he never once berated or chased Rupert away, instead patiently and seriously answering the young buck's questions. Being courteous to total strangers who were nothing but rude towards him all this time.
- I am sorry, sir. You were kind to us and here I am, not even offering a simple thank you for saving my son. What would my mother say? - Tears welled in the corners of her eyes and the doe went to swipe them away.
- You can still go and ask her for advice, you know? If she is a good mom, she would give you a whooping and then send you back to say thank you. - Nicholas sported a smirk that suggested he found something very funny, while his muzzle was lowered to the fire, close enough for the flames to lick it. Rupert was fascinated by the sight in front of him and sat unmoving.
- Thank you for saving my son, sir Wilde. - Nicholas gave a nod, and then done something unexpected.
- Rupert. While I am no angel, does not mean I might not have been sent by one. So you be a smart and obedient bunny, listen to your parents and don't throw tantrums when you are told no or being punished. A life can only grow into something proper when it has limits set out for it. Accept yours and grow up in a fine individual. Reject that and grow up into something ugly and unsightly, something I won't hesitate to weed out. - The fox's tone grew colder at the last sentence. Not as cold as he was towards Judith, but enough to send chills down both bunnies' spines. Rupert nodded, trying to remember what he was just told. Clover too listened to the words being said, her motherly nature subconsciously understanding that what was spoken came from deep experience and bore wisdom rarely so readily shared or found.
- You should go before it is completely dark. I have to get some sleep and prepare for tomorrow. Goodnight to you Rupert, and to you Clover. - The fox was still resting, for the lack of better word, in the embrace of burning fire, while shooing both bunnies off. The sun was at the verge of disappearing completely, thick shadows covering the earth, trying to hold off the coming of darkness, but without light, inevitably losing.
- Goodnight, sir Nicholas.
- Goodnight, mister an… Nicholas. - Both bunnies turned towards their burrough and left the fox alone to bask in the warmth and contentedness only fire could provide. And, just maybe, a bit less scornful towards the bunnies that were not Stuart Hopps. At least some of them had manners where they lacked prowess.
\m/
Stuart Hopps sat in his personal room, nursing a cup of herbal tea his wife prepared after taking Judith away. The bundle of dozen bunny heads still laying in a corner. The buck was too tired to deal with it now, and the gruesome sight did not really bother him. The head of clan Hopps saw things much more terrifying in his youth.
Besides, he was used to predators and their completely different worldview. Everything was simple to them. Live and let live. Predators strived to live to the fullest of their potential. Kill or be killed. They killed without reservation once a fight broke out. Which is why warriors and mercenaries were in great demand and respect among the predator species. Why war was the most common way of solving big conflicts.
Foxes though, not the strongest or numerous specie, got a reputation for being silver tongued. They had a way with words, able to achieve the desired result through talks, not force, to a point where they became an object of envy of others. Thus the rumours surrounding their solitary kind. Still, a fox was as much a predator, as a bunny was not.
Judith came with questions and fears and as always Stu tried to answer his daughter to the best of his ability. He never wanted for her to pursue the career of a warrior, because it was a path that was littered with death of both guilty and innocent. A path to a hardened heart, which would be a difficult undertaking with someone who had a heart as big as Judith's. But no, unless truly desiring, she would not become like the fox mercenary was - unmoved by death and suffering. Once more, their kind were different.
A heart of a prey cherishes and values every life, it lives simply to love. Judith, no matter what, would never be able to lose it.
Predators though. A predators heart knows no remorse, and it lives for the kill. It lives for the hunt…
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A lone apple tree stood in the darkness, dying fire giving out a dim light that barely reached the from. Clad in darkness and cloaked in shadows, the figures heart steadily picked up its pace, while a vicious smile was making its way towards the edges of the mercenary's lips.
These days without the sun, when the dying star of light set, he was the burning darkness to bring flames. For the end to come. For the way to Hel to be filled. For killing to commence.
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A/N: The original story was inspired by several songs, most influentual being Live for the kill by Amon Amarth.
This Nicholas though is inspired by the very song this chapter utilises as its title.
More songs to come linked to him and other characters.
I just hope at least someone finds here a song or a band that he likes. On to the next piece...