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Chapter Three "Voice in the Wind"

The fox let out a frightened bark as it was chased by two large dogs. Much bigger and with curled lips of sharp teeth, the fox was frightened. Her little heart pounding in her chest as she felt jaws snap at her heels. The female gray fox scampered out of the alley desperately trying to escape. Darting onto the street, she barely missed not being hit by a blue pick-up truck. Though almost ending her life, the truck in her path had done one good thing. The truck and the street traffic had deterred the dog's pursuit. The large black dogs had turned back.

It had been a risk coming into a place with so many humans and buildings. But hunger and lack of successful hunting the last two days had left her no option. The female fox trip had been successful in the event she had found sustenance in a garbage can. Her belly was now full but it had almost cost her life. Her appetite had been steadily increasing the last two moon cycles. She tired easier as she made her way following the star. It would be so easy to stop, to find a nice place to make a burrow. But something deep inside her spurred her onwards.

The leaves on the trees were turning colors where she was now. The reds, yellows and oranges were so different that the scrubby pines and palm trees she had encountered when she first started her journey. She continued onward on tired feet. The fox heard the voice again and stopped.

Come to me, do you hear me? the voice asked.

It sounded closer to the little fox. The fox shook her head trying to understand what was happening.

Usually the sound of human voices frightened her. The voice she heard forever and always had been her constant companion. It sounded different today. A clarity suddenly was realized by the fox that she was not merely following the star. She was seeking the one with the silky voice that whispered into her pointed ear. The fox knew she was getting close. She could almost feel a warm breath on her ear. And though uncertain of what she was going to find she could not resist the pull of answering back. The fox was at least going to try.

The fox lifted her nose into the late afternoon sky and yipped back. It was not particularly loud but it did not need to be. It was carried on a magical breeze as the fox thought about the voice that had spoken to her. The fox felt something brush against her fur and shuddered. She stepped back instinctively trying to protect herself.

Relax, it's just me, relax, you know me, the voice the fox knew purred but the invisible touch withdrew. I won't hurt you. You are safe with me. I'm waiting for you. Come to me!

-O-

It had been eight long years since she had crossed through the portal into this land. With her had come Queen Snow and Prince Charming. The Queen and Prince of the White Kingdom had become like second parents to her. With them, came a group of hopeful refugees from the Enchanted Forrest that wished to escape the treacherous dark rule of Queen Cora, the Queen of Hearts. On the eve of their departure a baby boy was left at the castle's doorstep. A note written specifically to Regina. It was from the boy's mother who asked Princess Regina to care for her baby and give him a better life. Regina instantly claimed as her own and she carried the baby boy through the portal in her arms. With the help of Princess Regina's magic and planning of Queen Snow, Storybrooke had been born.

Time ran differently in the world beyond the borders of the magically created town. In the magically created town of Storybrooke, Regina had experienced eight long years. Years where she had helped manage the tiny town and saw to the needs and usefulness of its people. Regina was also keenly aware outside the border of the town it had been a much shorter. Though unable to calculate exactly, after consulting with Mr. Gold both magicians felt it must what had been years to them had been weeks outside the Enchanted Forest and now Storybrooke.

Regina had built a good life and lived in a good safe place in this land beyond the Enchanted Forest. She however felt a void and was constantly aware of her bonded lost and alone out in this new world. Her Emma was alone and suffering under her mother's curse to a form of a fox. It had two years' time and planning for Regina to come up with the spell to open the portal to the land Emma had been exiled to. That had amounted to what was two weeks to Emma the fox. It had now been another eight years. Since arriving here, Regina had been able to reach out and partially communicate with the fox that was her bonded. The ability to magically communicate to Emma was what kept Regina sane and kept her from losing hope. Her son, Henry had grown up hearing about Emma and also waited for Emma's coming.

Regina, who had taken the last name, Mills, was devoted to her son. . Today, as was her daily custom, Regina had left her office as Town Manager of Storybrooke, Maine at three o'clock. She always left promptly at three so she could pick spend the afternoon together. She would help him with his homework and then they usually went to the stables.

"Are the apples in our tree ready to picked yet mom?" seven year old Henry Mills asked his mother as she walked him home from school. Today it seemed Henry had another thing he wanted to do.

"I do think they finally are ready for us to pick," Regina hold the brown haired boy with a gentle smile taking his hand as they crossed the street. "And I expect you wish for us to go check before we go to the stables for your riding lesson?"

Henry smiled sheepishly giving Regina a soft nod.

"Nana Snow!" Henry exclaimed running to what for all intents and purposes was his grandmother.

"What have I told you about running young man?" Regina chastised her son in her rich alto voice. "Snow is coming this way you don't need to shout and scamper over to her.

"How was school today," Snow asked her grandson giving a soft smile as she locked the brakes of a baby stroller up the side walk so she could give her grandson a hug.

"Good Nana," Henry answered his grandmother. "We went on a nature walk to look at the leaves on the trees. I did not see any foxes though," Henry added having been told from a very young age about his mom's bonded, Emma, being turned into a fox by his evil grandmother. "The kids in my class think it's silly for me to keep watching for a fox to come to Storybrooke. But I don't."

"It's not silly my little prince," Regina told her son patting his shoulder as she gave a teary eyes Snow White an understanding nod. "I keep watch for her also Henry and my magic feels her presence in this world. Every day she moves closer to us. We each just have to keep watch and wait for her."

"That's right Henry," Snow added reaching into the diaper bag and handing her baby son Neal a toy horse to play with while she talked to her adopted daughter and grandson. "I want to call a town council meeting this Friday and discuss the new library. Can you get me the figures by Thursday afternoon?" the mayor of Storybrooke asked the town manager.

"That should not be a problem," Regina quickly answered keenly aware of her son pulling on her hand wanting them to leave so they could start their afternoon.

"Mom," Henry implored, "the apples!"

"Yes my prince," Regina assured her son bending down to address the youngest member of the royal family. "Bye Neal," the dark haired witch magiced another toy horse and handed it to the toddler. "You need a dark colored horse like Rodanthe."

"You spoil him Gina," Snow replied with a mock rebuke. Snow loved how affectionate Regina was with both Henry and Neal. She was both a great mother and big sister.

"Of course I do," Regina replied kissing first the toddler's cheek and then Snows before allowing Henry to lead her away. "See you for dinner tomorrow night," she called over her shoulder waving good bye.

"Yes honey and bring your appetite, David is grilling out I believe," Snow called back hurrying away. The queen now mayor shook off the pang in her heart she felt every time someone mentioned foxes and/or Emma. It had been so long but it felt like yesterday. Snow wanted to be reunited with her blonde haired princess with all her being. She trusted Regina and her adopted daughter's magic. She also had faith in the bond Regina and Emma shared. It was just hard to be patient. It had felt like an eternity. Finding Emma would only be half the battle. After she was back with them they would have to figure out how to turn Emma back. But first thing was first, what needed to happen first was Emma had to come to Storybrooke with Regina leading her the way.

"Come to me," Regina whispered closing her eyes later as her son sat on the grass eating a freshly picked apple. The brunette's voice carried on the wind by magic as it often did now.

"Yip" the frightened fox frightened call answered back its cry also carried by a returning breeze of magic to Regina Mills. Wide brown eyes shot up at the latest development. The powerful witch immediately reached out her hand trying to establish a connection. Close, she was so close. Regina could feel it. She could not quite grasp onto the magical energy of her bonded yet. She could brush against Emma through their bond now though. She was close. It would be soon.