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Chapter 6: Society

The sun was beginning to rise when Sagepaw, Ictus, and Acerbitas padded into an empty clearing dotted with short rocks and protected by tangles of briar. Sagepaw looked around hesitantly, taking note of the lack of cover. He shivered slightly. Many foxes were slinking out from the shady ground underneath the bramble patches surrounding the camp.

"This is the meeting place for the Fire Tails," Acerbitas explained, not looking at Sagepaw but glancing around the clearing, "every morning, all the foxes gather together and I announce news and hunting parties for the day."

"Where do they live when they're not in the camp?" asked Sagepaw, fighting to keep his breathing normal.

"Each fox has his or her own den nearby. They sleep and eat there," Ictus replied, not bothering to keep her contempt from her voice.

Sagepaw nodded his understanding and peered around at the other foxes. He had never seen so many of the creatures in his life and it was a terrifying sight. Some of the foxes glared at him and growled, others looked confused. Sagepaw was surprised to recognize the fox who had attacked his father and kit-napped him. She spotted Sagepaw and her lips curled up into a silent snarl. The tom suppressed the tremble that was threatening to run down his spine.

"Follow me," Acerbitas said, trotting towards a flat, low rock on the ground that Sagepaw hadn't noticed before.

Ictus abruptly turned her back on Sagepaw and stalked away, to where the hostile she-fox was sitting, watching him. Sagepaw quickened his step, hurrying to catch up with Acerbitas, afraid of being left alone amongst all the foxes in the clearing.

Acerbitas was waiting for him, perched serenely on top of the rock, gnawing at a burr stuck in the fur of his bushy tail.

"You've got to moisten the area around the burr," Sagepaw advised, "and then pull it out by the base."

Acerbitas looked around, surprised. He reluctantly did as Sagepaw told him and the prickly burr slipped out of his fur. He looked impressed.

"How did you know that? Vorago said you probably never left your mother before," Acerbitas said.

Sagepaw paused. Vorago must be the name of the fox that took me, he thought.

"Where I come from," Sagepaw said carefully, "we learn from an early age how to take care of ourselves. Plus the nursery was full of burrs."

Acerbitas let out a harsh bark. Sagepaw realized he was laughing.

"I see," the Fire Tail's Leader said, "you're afraid we're going to kill your cat friends."

Sagepaw's tail lashed around nervously as he scuffled his feet on the ground, refusing to answer the fox's question.

"You don't need to worry," Acerbitas laughed, "we don't actually like the taste of cats that much. We've got prey around here that's better than cat meat. And if you fulfill your promise to help my clan, then you can rest assured that the Fire Tails will never hunt your friends."

Sagepaw breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't know how much he trusted this fox, but he decided to take his word. He was, after all, supposed to save his clan.

"So what are you going to tell them?" Sagepaw asked, flicking his ears towards the group of foxes who were beginning to get restless.

"They already know about the prophecy," Acerbitas said simply. Then he faced outwards and let out a short yelp, catching the attention of the assembly of foxes. Sagepaw watched, reminded of when Sprucestar would make announcements on the Lowstone, as the faces of the foxes turned towards Acerbitas.

"Foxes of the Fire Tails," he began, "welcome to the Sun Greet. May its warm light shine over us all."

"Forever and always," the congregation of foxes replied in unison.

"Salsus, you will lead the hunting patrols for today," Acerbitas, nodding to a female fox with dangerously sharp claws, "take Ustulo and Teres as well." A beautiful vixen with blue eyes and a small male bowed their heads to Acerbitas.

"What about me?" a harsh voice called out.

Sagepaw looked over the crowd, finally catching a glimpse of Vorago's rusty orange fur. The she-fox was standing up, her ears pricked forward angrily.

"You have a different job for today," Acerbitas grinned, nudging Sagepaw forwards. Sagepaw's breath began to get ragged as he felt glaring eyes fix on him from all directions.

"This is Sagepaw," Acerbitas introduced, "and he is the cat in the Star Walkers' prophecy." A collective gasp went through the foxes and Sagepaw watched as orange heads bent down, whispering together.

"How can we be sure?" a large male fox barked.

"The Star Walkers have sent him. Do you not trust your ancestors, Regnum?" Acerbitas questioned.

Regnum looked sheepish but didn't back down. "The Fire Tails shouldn't have to take assistance from any cat!"

"I agree," Acerbitas said, sending a shiver of dread down Sagepaw's spine, "but this is what the Star Walkers have planned for us and we must honor that."

Regnum growled at Sagepaw and then sat down grumpily, pointedly staring away towards the trees.

"Now since Vorago so kindly found Sagepaw," Acerbitas said, "she will take care of him."

Vorago spat on to the ground, digging her claws into the soil.

"She will feed him, teach him our ways, and protect him from harm," Acerbitas continued, his amber eyes fixed upon the vixen and the scrawny male fox seated next to her. "Are we all clear?"

"Yes," came the simultaneous yipping from the crowd. Sagepaw noticed that some of the foxes were less enthusiastic than others.

"Good. Vorago, Domito, step up here and claim your new charge," Acerbitas commanded, "the rest of you may go."

Vorago and her skinny mate approached the low rock and bowed resentfully to Acerbitas. Sagepaw gulped. Why did he have to live with the fox that nearly killed him and his father? As the clearing filled with foxes began to thin out, Acerbitas stepped down from the rock, guiding Sagepaw off the stone.

"Treat him respectfully," Acerbitas warned, "remember that he was sent by the Star Walkers."

"Yes, Acerbitas," Domito said, attempting to smile kindly at Sagepaw. All the black and white cat saw was the male fox's huge teeth.

"Fine," hissed Vorago, "come with us."

Sagepaw looked back at Acerbitas, terror clearly outlined in his eyes, as he padded after the two foxes.

"You'll be fine," mouthed Acerbitas, unconcernedly, "I'll come to see you later. I have to tell you something important."

Sagepaw nodded anxiously and faced forward, finding himself once again, between two foxes. Sagepaw thought of his mother longingly.

What would she say if she could see him now?