AN: I know it's been weeks and I am sorry for that i have been short of the inspiration to write as of late and I do alternate between this story and another one I write. Hopefully I won't disappoint with this chapter. I would like to go ahead and set forth a few things as well. First I would like to thank all of those who read and reviewed the story so far it's you that keep me motivated. I also want to go ahead and reveal those who inspired me to write this story: TailstheAssassin25, Miles Depth and kaacey, whose StH stories will always have a fan and reader in me. I would also like to thank those of you who have given me OC's and are on the Were Tribe team in some form or another: xXTheRedHedgehogXx, matthew069, DarkFoxTailz, Supersaiyaninfinitygohan, Brandon the Lynx, crawford15, TitanHyuuga and ZanderPrime. Without all of you none of what I have created here would be possible. You are all the best supporters any StH writer could ever hope to have! With that said please enjoy…
Chapter 5: Tails Decision Part 2
Tails continued to follow Fiona's scent as he got on his first task. 'Lets see,' he thought as he stopped to pick up the scent after following it to the edge of the lake, 'I have eight people to get a ribbon from. Snow will probably be the hardest as he is the only full hunter of the group. I don't know Blaze, Rain, Chase, Swift or Ariel. Those ones will probably be hard just not as hard as my twin seeing as him and me share an emotional link and can probably sense my whereabouts thanks to it. Bunnie is my adopted aunt and is a healer not a hunter so her skills in camouflage and hiding aren't as good as the rest. Fiona will probably be the easiest as I can probably outfox her.' He smiled at the obvious pun and continued to track the crimson fox. After about two or three more minutes and a false turn later he spied what appeared to be some cream colored fur in a bush.
"Too easy," he muttered as he flattened himself to the ground and crawled toward the bush. Luckily the gentle breeze was carrying his scent behind him and away from the unsuspecting and flicking patch of cream fur. He continued to move forward, on all fours and with his weight evenly distributed so that he was silent on the leaf strewn ground. Willing his heart to quit pounding he slipped silently into the bush and spotted his quarry. Tails frowned when he noticed where she had placed the ribbon on her body: hanging out the back of her chest wrap. Delicately the young Kitsune reach out and slowly started to pull the ribbon free. When he almost had it out the beautiful vulpine's hand shot up and grabbed his. Tails blushed at the contact.
"Well, well," Fiona said in a sing-song voice, "I knew you would come after me first. You should have realized I knew when I left such a blatant scent trail, especially since Snow was made my mentor after my mentor was killed when we were still in Westopolis Woods. Oops, guess I did forget to mention that."
"So why did you leave the scent trail," Tails asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
The red vixen in front of him merely smiled, turned around while making sure to keep the ribbon on the verge of coming out completely, "This is why." Without another word she pressed her lips to Tails', causing him to turn redder than Knuckles. After a moment Fiona broke the contact and said, "I want an opportunity to let you know that I have a crush on you and also to deliver some instructions from your twin."
Tails looked at her in confusion, "isn't that technically cheating?"
Fiona grinned broadly, "yes but the little group that Snow leads isn't know for following the rules."
Tails smiled, "my brother has definatly changed. There was a time when he wouldn't consider cheating!"
The vixen simply shrugged, "oddly enough it comes with the primal nature of a fox. Foxes are some of the most cunning and crafty creatures there are. Anyway, Snow wanted me to give you a few pointers. Both him and me want you to succeed and get into the tribe. There are eight of us in total so I'll give you tips on three of them then you need to go and track down your twin. He'll give you tips on the rest."
"I was gonna track him down last," the yellow Todd replied.
Fiona shook her head, "let me rephrase that. You won't need to track him down. Once you gain the ribbons of the three I tell you about he'll appear to you right here and tell you how to get the ribbons of the others."
The yellow vulpine nodded and replied, "ok, let me know who and how."
"The ones I'll tell you about are Blaze, Bunnie and Chase," Fiona started, "Chase will be the easiest. He's an air head so any simple trick will be enough to get his. Bunnie may not be a fox or a hunter but she is still quite hard to trick but perhaps using your chaos crystal to it's advantage will work on her. Blaze isn't able to be fooled very easily or tricked either. Snow and I would give you more specific advice but we don't want it to seem as if you had someone helping you."
"Sounds reasonable enough to me," Tails said with a shrug, "some help is better than no help." Without another word Fiona handed Tails her ribbon, kissed him on the cheek and slipped out of the bush. Tails sat there for a minute then left the bush as well. Once out he looked around and scented the air. He caught onto Bunnie's scent trail almost immediately. Fiona's words still fresh in his mind, he headed in the direction of her scent…
'How can I ditch this shadow I've developed,' Snow wondered as he continued to run with Ariel keeping pace, 'I'd use my chaos crystal to warp away but that would be a big tip off.' Snow sighed, he'd had a feeling the plan he'd made with Fiona to help his twin wouldn't be able to go off without a hitch. In this case the hitch was an emerald vixen that stuck to him like glue.
"I know what you're planning Snow," Ariel said, breaking him from his thoughts.
"What do you think I'm planning," he asked her.
"We're both foxes and I could imagine it. Your planning to help Tails with his trials," Ariel shot back.
"Wrong," Snow shot back, "Tails is my twin, if anyone could pass these trials blindfolded it's him."
"Fine," the now angry vixen shot back, "if you won't let me help you with them then I guess I'll make my own." Without another word she reversed direction and headed away.
'This could get interesting,' Snow thought, glad to finally be rid of her. Without another word he touched his chaos crystal and concentrated on it. An ice blue bird appeared on his shoulder and he whispered to it before he sent it off. After he sent it off a glowing red bird landed on his shoulder, similar to the one he'd just sent off. He touched it and instantly heard Fiona's voice in his head, 'Part one complete. He came after me first just like you thought. I gave him info on Blaze, Bunnie and Chase. The others are up to you. After he is done he'll return to where I hid, I have already returned there and await your arrival. Thanks for keeping your end of the bargain we'd made before we ran into him. I'm glad you finally let your secret out. The one you'd shared with me. Don't stay away for long swirling snow.' The snowy todd chuckled at her use of his twin's name for him and headed to the place that was shown to him in the message. He then whispered to the red bird and it flew off, returning to it's owner. 'Guess it's about time I took on an apprentice, but should I take on someone who is just starting or should I take on someone who has been in training for a bit,' Snow questioned himself wonderingly.
'I can't believe he still won't let me in,' Ariel thought with tears in her eyes. She hadn't meant to lose her temper on Snow. Honestly she had a crush on him but he was so shut off to her she didn't know what to do. 'Maybe it's just how he is. The only time I've truly seen him smile is in front of his twin,' even as she thought this an idea popped into her head. She whipped the tears away and sniffed, 'he's nearby. Good, time to put my plan into motion.'
Tails had almost caught up to Bunnie and was closing fast, being mindful of the southern bell's sensitive hearing. He ducked into a bush so he could think of how to get her ribbon, 'Fiona said that a trick using my chaos crystal would work on Bunnie. Only thing is I don't know of anything, nor do I know how to even activate my crystal.' While he sat there thinking a certain green vixen peered at him from the tree above trying to figure out how to gain his help in winning over the fox she wanted. After finally coming up with her plan she silently dropped in behind him and cleared her throat.
Tails jumped and looked at her, "what do you want Ariel?"
"Oh," she replied, "just to find out how you are doing with the trial and whatnot."
Tails frowned, "I'm not stupid so cut to the chase."
"Fine," she replied hotly, "I swear you're exactly like Snow. I have a proposition for you."
"Not interested," Tails said as he turned away, not wanting to let the vixen bring him into her machinations.
"What if hearing me out would mean the difference between you being accepted into the tribe or you, Fiona and Snow being banished," she fired back with a grin on her face, knowing she would win right there.
"Fine," the Kitsune replied defeated, "I'll listen to your proposition."
"Splendid," the vixen said merrily, "it's simple. There is something I want. More specifically someone I want and I want your help to get him."
"My twin," Tails groaned, "you have a crush on my twin and you want me to help you get his attention and get him to fall for you instead of the violet she-cat that I can tell he has feelings for."
"Not exactly," Ariel said with a frown, "there is a little know law in the tribe that is aimed specifically at Werefoxes. To be specific it's subject is multi-tailed Werefoxes. The tribe considers it a blessing to have Kitsune among them. So much infact that they encourage them to take on more than one mate in the hopes that when they reproduce they will have more Kitsune. I simply want you to help me gain his affection and get him to enact the law concerning Kitsune Werefoxes."
Tails frowned, "and what, pray tell, do I gain from helping you by manipulating my brother?"
Ariel smiled, "For one, you'll get this.." She then proceeded to reach down the front of her chest wrap and pulled out a green ribbon. "Secondly, I'll be in your debt. That means that if you ever ask me for a favor or for help with something I'll comply without question."
Tails looked at the ribbon, "this is something extremely difficult that you ask. If I helped you do this then you wouldn't just owe me a favor you'd owe me about ten. Of the two of us Snow is the hardest to coerce and manipulate. He's more in touch with his primal nature than I am right now."
"I'd actually have to say that you're more in touch with the primal nature of the fox than you realize," the young vixen replied with a grin.
Tails snatched the green ribbon she was holding and grinned, "you got a deal, and I think I'm gonna start collecting on that large debt now."
Ariel frowned, "yeah, you're definatly the snowy Kitsune's twin. What o you want me to do?"
Tails smiled, "I hear that a lot. What I want you to do is distract Bunnie while I grab the ribbon off of her."
"How do you plan to do that," She frowned.
"Easy, with an illusion," he replied as he concentrated on his chaos crystal. He suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Crystal Illusion!" Once he'd said that the vixen before him turned into a rather vicious and feral looking she-wolf.
Ariel looked at herself and then at Tails, "what have you done!?"
Tails grinned even wider, "simple, I turned you into the thing that rabbits fear the most. She'll be to focused on you to notice me sneaking up and taking her ribbon."
"This is cruel," the now she-wolf replied, "I like your style! What's the plan?"
"Simple," Tails replied, "Your going to locate Bunnie and chase her past this bush. When you find her make her think your looking to make a meal of her. She should get frightened and bolt. Give chase but push her past this bush. When she goes by I'll grab the ribbon from her. Once you get to the bush you quit chasing her and once she's out of sight I'll reverse the illusion. Easy right?"
Ariel nodded and headed off. It didn't take her long to locate the southern rabbit. Once she did she noticed that Tails plan would more than likely work. 'That for is more cunning than I thought he was,' she thought with a smile. She then came up behind Bunnie quietly and said, sounding as mean and hungry as she could, "well, well. What have we here? A delicious looking rabbit just waiting to be eaten!" Bunnie looked behind her wide-eyed and saw Ariel, then bolted as fast as she could. Tails waited inside the bush and watched as Ariel chased Bunnie. As Bunnie ran by Tails hand shot out and snatched the brown ribbon she had hanging from the side of her loincloth. Ariel stopped as instructed. Once Bunnie was out of sight Tails came out of the bush holding his prize.
"Crystal Cancel," he said simply and was surprised to find Ariel holding a gray ribbon in her hand when she was back to normal.
"Here," she said handing him the ribbon, "it's Chase's. he saw me chasing Bunnie and tried to fight me off. I knocked him out and took it from him. Who do you have left?"
Tails took the ribbon and replied, "I have yours, Fiona's, Bunnie's and Chase's. so that means I still have Blaze, Rain, Swift and Snow to retrieve one from."
Ariel frowned, "Those will be the trickiest ones to get. Especially your brother's. I hope his faith in you isn't misplaced."
Tails grinned, "It isn't."
"Him and Fiona are helping you aren't they," Ariel asked only to get frustrated as Tails simply walked off…
Snow finally reached the bush where he was to meet first Fiona and then Tails. He slipped in and saw the red vulpine wasn't happy. "Do you have shit for brains," she asked crossing her arms.
Snow grinned, "no I don't. I just didn't want to involve Ariel in this. You know as well as I do that if we were caught aiding him we'd be banished from the tribe. I guess they forgot that there were foxes in the when they made up these trials and their rules. How is it they expect us to let the person trying to join the tribe do it alone, yet encourage us to tap into our primal nature. The nature of a fox is cunning, deceit, stealth, trickery and loyalty to our own kind. At least it's the primal nature of Mobian foxes to do those things."
"When the trials came into existence the tribe was new and had yet to have any Werefoxes," Aero said as he slipped into the bush, "back then there were only Werewolves and Werehogs. The primal nature of those two races is very different from our own."
"Almost as different as night and day," Pyra said as she joined them, "we are still learning to adapt the laws to account for the primal nature of other Mobian races. Werefoxes became plentiful and dominant in the tribe merely five hundred years ago. I do think it is time to be a bit more accommodating on the trials rules to account for the loyalty foxes have for their own kind."
Snow hung his head, "You knew we would assist my brother with his trials, didn't you?"
"Yes," Aero replied, "yet when we chose the group who he would have to get a ribbon from we still chose to include three foxes. We did this because we aren't just testing young Tails."
Fiona looked at their leader in confusion, "what do you mean?"
"Simple," Pyra answered, "yes, we are trying to see if young Miles is worthy of joining the tribe but we are also testing the bonds of loyalty that bind you, Blaze, Snow, Tails, Swift, Rain and Ariel together."
"We have seen how, although you are all the same age, all of you look to young Snow for guidance and leadership. In essence, although Pyra and myself lead the tribe, you guys have formed your own little group with it's own leader," Aero stated.
Snow frowned, "that may be true Chief Aero and Chieftess Pyra, but our loyalty has and always will belong to the tribe and to you. That is something that will never change. We will always give our all to protect the tribe."
Aero smiled, "we are glad for it too my former apprentice. Now, there is something that Pyra and I wish to talk with Snow about." Fiona nodded and stepped out of the bush and went off to do some hunting before Tails finished his trials.
"What is it you wish to talk to me about," Snow asked, curiosity written all over his face.
"The future of the tribe," Pyra simply replied, "Aero and myself have led the tribe since we were fourteen. We aren't getting any younger and now we are almost sixty. We are past our prime and must now worry about the future of the tribe."
"But you and Aero have plenty of years left and you have lead the tribe thru it's darkest times," Snow replied with both surprise and worry in his eyes, "What could I possibly do to help the tribe at eight that you haven't already done in the almost fifty-eight years you have on me!?"
"You speak less of yourself than you should young Snow," Aero returned, "or should I say Nova Snow Prower, former member of the Sonic Heroes Team Dark. The one who has fought against tyrants and petty evil geniuses who have made bids at world domination. A Kitsune Warrior, a powerful multi-tailed fox that can wield chaos energy and manipulate the elements to the aide and betterment of all who inhabit Earth. Is this not who you are? The very fox I found nine months ago, shortly after being bitten by a rouge Werewolf and brought to the tribe a month later? You now stand before me having accomplished all this, as well as becoming the youngest Tribe Hunter that has ever existed!"
"No, young one," Pyra chimed in, "You have done much more in your short eight years than we could hope to do in eighty."
"That is why I chose to be your mentor," Aero stated, "I wasn't training a new Tribe Hunter, I was training my successor. Pyra and I have decided that we wish to adopt you, and Tails if he succeeds in his trials."
"This is not a decision we make lightly, nor is it one we want an answer form you on just yet," Pyra finished, "ultimately the decision is yours. If you and Tails agree to it then you, as the one who was born first will become the tribe's Chief and your mate or mates the tribe's Chieftess when we either pass on or retire. Tails will be forever a Tribal Prince and his mate or mates Tribal Princesses."
"Why," Snow inquired simply.
"We are no longer able to have kits of our own," Aero replied, "by tribal law our eldest child is to succeed us. This is to prevent a power vacuum if something were to happen to the tribe's leaders. Unfortunately, we have given all we can to the tribe. The only thing we can't give is a new leader as Pyra has always been incapable of becoming pregnant. The only recourse we have is to adopt a kit and name it as our heir."
Snow sat quiet for a moment before speaking this time, "I am honored but this isn't a decision I can make on my own. After my brother has completed the trials I will talk with him about it and see what he says."
"Very well," Pyra replied, "Aero and I will await the two of you's decision." With that said Aero and Pyra left, leaving the young fox to his thoughts.
Tails was looking around and hunting for Blaze, the last one that Fiona had given him info on. He didn't have far to go to find her. She was lounging about in the center of a clearing as if waiting for someone.
"Don't even try to sneak up on me. There is no need to be quick or cunning. Just simply come here and sit next to me and chat for a few and I'll hand it over Tails," the violet cat said, causing him to jump.
"It's me you were waiting on," he replied. She nodded and patted the grass next to her in a motion for him to sit.
"I know you are in the middle of your first trial but this is what I ask in order to get what you seek from me," Blaze stated.
Tails nodded and sat down, "what do you wish to talk about?"
"You," Blaze said simply, "I want to get to know the brother of Snow."
Tails nodded and noticed that she had her hair up in a white ribbon. The same white ribbon Snow was given by Shadow to give to his first love, "very well. I am only agreeing to this because of the ribbon you are using to tie up your hair."
Blaze looked at him in puzzlement, "what do you mean because of the ribbon Snow gave me?"
"I guess he never told you about the two ribbons he has that match his primary fur color," Tails inquired.
"No," Blaze replied, "I never even knew he had a second ribbon like this one."
"He does," Tails said, "they were given to him by the person who is like an older brother to him: Shadow the Hedgehog. He gave then to Snow at the same time as he bought himself two that matched his fur color. Those ribbons are only to be given to someone that Snow has fallen in love with. To put it simply: my twin is in love with you. I recommend for now that you keep it a secret. He will eventually confess it to you. Now, what is it you would like to know about me?"
"You've already told me all I needed to know. Here you go," Blaze answered as she pulled out a violet ribbon and handed it to him.
"Thanks Blaze," Tails said with a smile, "now I only have three more to get."
"No problem," Blaze replied as she vanished back into the forest.
Tails headed back to where he had found Fiona and entered the bush once more. Upon entering he found his brother already there lost in thought.
"Hey bro," Tails said, causing the snowy fox in front of him to jump.
"Oh, hey," Snow replied, "sorry about that. I was thinking about something. Did you get the ribbons from Blaze, Bunnie and Chase?"
"Yeah, and then some," Tails said with a smile showing his brother the five ribbons he'd collected.
Snow looked them over and noticed Ariel's green one was among them, "Nice job bro. Swift and Rain are simple. With Swift stealth would be your best bet and as for Rain, well she would probably just hand you her's due to us being related and here is mine." Snow added his white ribbon to the collection then finished his sentence, "I need time alone now so imma split. Crystal Control!" With that Snow disappeared and Tails set off in search of Swift.
It took Tails all of ten minutes to seek out Swift. He crept up as silently as possible mindful of the tip Snow had given him. Swift apparently didn't mean to make it easy on him. The Werehog had his ribbon tied around his arm, a tempting target. Thinking quickly, the young fox pulled Yellow Tails off his back and revved it while creating a whirlwind around Swift. Once the whirlwind disappeared Swift looked around for the yellow streak he had spotted just before the whirlwind had appeared. He looked in every direction, not realizing that like his twin, Tails could fly. By the time he realized it and had looked up all he saw was a fast approaching yellow fox with a stream of wind trailing it. The fox and the wind collided with him and sent him headfirst into a tree trunk, knocking him unconscious. Tails hopped off his board and placed it back across his back, bent down and relieved the black ribbon from the now knocked out hedgehog. He then whirled around as he heard some clapping behind him.
As he watched a midnight blue and white flecked she-wolf stepped into the clearing and said, "Well done Miles!"
"Rain, hey," the fox replied.
"I just watched your little performance and was really impressed," Rain replied, "you're just as quick witted as your brother is."
"I've heard that quite a bit," the canary Todd replied, "we aren't identical on the outside but inside Snow and myself are virtually the same."
"Well," Rain replied, "here you go. I would make you have one helluva time trying to retrieve it from me but I don't care to go through all the trouble to make it hard for Snow's twin." With that said she handed him a midnight blue ribbon and started to walk off.
"Wait," Tails called out.
"Yes," Rain inquired with a look over her shoulder.
"I've completed this trial, why don't we head back to the starting area together," Tails answered.
"Very well," she replied nonchalantly. She waited for him and the now conscious Swift to catch up and the trio returned to the clearing from which the trial started, talking all the while.
"So, all finished young Miles," Aero asked as the trio appeared. Fiona walked up and joined, Ariel and Bunnie.
Tails looked around hoping his brother would be present, "I have but if I may ask, where is Snow?"
"He will probably be here shortly," Pyra replied.
No sooner than the words had left her mouth than a massive pillar of fire appeared and Blaze appeared bleeding, with her clothing in tatters.
Aero rushed over to her as she lay there prone and bleeding profusely, "young Blaze what happened?"
"Th-they came out of a portal of some type," Blaze responded, "they didn't say anything but just started attacking. Snow is fighting to hold them back but needs help."
"Who is attacking," Pyra asked.
With eyes wide Blaze stared at their leaders and said the words nobody on earth ever wanted to hear again, "Black Arms…"
A/N: Oh, god I know I'm evil for the massive cliffhanger but I just can't help myself. Anyway please hang around for the next chapter: Chapter 6: Dark Day, Black Night and as always: Read, Review and Enjoy!