Chapter 12: The Fox

"Sandkit run!" Rougefoot screamed as he launched himself at the fox. He saw the small brown kit dash insanely to the camp before turning his attention back to the snarling male fox in front of him.

The fox was at least twice his size with full muscles and strong legs. The fox snapped at his head. Rougefoot leapt back, the searing jaws barely missing his nose. He blindly swung out, trying to hook the fox on the muzzle. His efforts were in vain; the fox struck out again, tearing down his side with blunt claws. Rougefoot was now infuriated and jumped up onto the fox's back. He thrust his back legs deep into the fox's back and kicked with all of his might. The fox ran around in circles wildly, trying to dislodge the angry cat. Rashthroat and Squirreltrack threw themselves at opposite sides of the fox, raking down its side with vicious strokes. Rougefoot cuffed it around its ears while Rashthroat bit down hard on its tail. Soon after, it turned and ran, fleeing into the forest, devastated by the wounds it received.

Rashthroat and Squirreltrack were only mildly hurt and went back into the forest to retrieve their prey. Rougefoot limped his way back into camp where he was cheered on by some of his Clan mates. Shortleg, Leafstream, Berrykit, Brownkit, Sandkit and Specklepaw immediately crowded around Rougefoot chattering excitedly to one another.

"Step back! I need to see his wounds!" Shortleg roared.

The cats instantly retreated a few feet and Shortleg silently assessed the damage done by the fox.

"Only a few scratches, most of the blood is from the fox. I want you to go the Underground Spring and wash off. Then come back here and I will treat your wounds."

Rougefoot climbed up the hill into the pine forest and painfully walked down the slope into the spring. The warm water was relaxing on Rougefoot's wounds. He rubbed off all the blood on his dark grey pelt and pulled himself out of the water. A breeze blew right at him and he shivered, puffing out his fur. He wandered his way back home where the entire Clan was now situated around the outer rim, chattering like birds.

Shortleg returned to Rougefoot and pressed cobwebs mixed with a marigold poultice in his scratches. "You'll have to take it easy the next few days but you'll be better in no time. Did you see that Shadowpaw? How I placed the cobwebs inside of his wounds, but not too deep."

Shadowpaw nodded and went back into the medicine den.

Rougefoot hobbled over to his den and lay down with a sigh. Sandkit walked over to him, embarrassed. "Sorry for wandering out of camp and making you fight that fox…" he cried.

Rougefoot placed his tail over his brother's sandy colored shoulders. "It's fine. All kits get into trouble. Just don't go out of camp next time, understand?"

"Thanks Rougefoot." He purred and curled up beside his brother. Berrykit and Brownkit curled up next to their brother and also purred.

"I don't know what I'd do without you." Leafstream meowed. "I don't think I can stand to lose another kit."

"It's fine Leafstream. I was just there at the right time." He meowed.

Leafstream nodded. "Come on kits. Let's go back to the nursery so we won't annoy your brother."

Rougefoot giggled slightly and watched his younger siblings pad away, disgruntled.

Specklepaw eagerly skipped up to her mentor and settled down next to him. Brackenpaw nestled in beside her. Rougefoot glanced over to the kill pile and saw Tinyflight and Pebblepaw sharing tongues. He smiled then realized Specklepaw had asked him something.

"What?" he meowed.

"Will you teach me battle skills when you're all better? I want to be an awesome fighter just like you!"

"Sure I will. But I have to get better first." He teased.

"I know. I want to learn how to fight a fox! And a badger!"

"You don't really want to take them on in real life. They are very dangerous and you can get seriously hurt or even killed."

"I know, but I want to learn how to defend myself. Or if I have kits I want to learn how to defend them."

"When you have kits I'm sure you won't need battle training. It will all be through instinct. But I'll teach you everything I know once I heal up."

"Will you make it to the Meeting tomorrow?" Brackenpaw meowed.

"Maybe, maybe not. Snapstar gets to decide whether I go or not."

Brackenpaw nodded. "We better get going Specklepaw. It's getting kind of late." He observed the sun setting in the distance.

"Do you want anything to eat before we leave?" Specklepaw meowed.

Rougefoot nodded. "Yes please."

Specklepaw ran over to the kill pile and brought back a juicy looking rabbit. "I hope this enough. Goodnight." She meowed and walked back to the apprentice's den with Brackenpaw.

Rougefoot quickly tore into the rabbit, eating up every last scrap. He buried the bones and thanked his ancestors for the lovely meal it was. He smashed up into a ball with his tail covering his nose and fell asleep.