YIPPY! ANOTHER CHAPPY! THIS ONE IS A BIT SHORTER, BUT LOTS OF STUFF HAPPENS. AS ALWAYS, PLEASE READ, ENJOY, AND REVIEW! AND I JUST FOUND THAT SOMEONE BOTHERED TO VOTE ON MY POLE! TT_TT I APPRICIATE YOUR SUPPORT! P.S; I REALLY NEED TO GET A PLOT GOING HERE, SO THE STORY'S REALLY GOING TO START CURVING. AND I'M GETTING BORED, SO I'M KINDA B.S'ING HERE.

Ch.15: Wildlife

I wandered for a time before I had an epiphany. I had absolutely no idea where I was going! When I had stormed off from the prison, I hadn't paid attention to where I was going. I walked over to a boulder on the shoulder of the road and plopped down for a breather. I rested my head in my hands. Ok, I don't know where I am. I'm completely without help, and resources. None of the navigation skills from home seem to apply in this world. So…I'm doomed.

I looked up to the sky and screamed, "DAMN THIS WORLD AND IT'S IRREGULAR TIME PATTERNS!" I looked back to the ground, my yelling having come nowhere near close to satisfying my anger. I sigh and stand up, well, sitting around never got anyone anywhere. I spun on my heels and decided to just follow the trail.

Then, probably the most irregular thing today happened. I heard some crackling in the bushes. I tried to stay calm; figuring the last time the bushes had made noise and freaked me out it had only been Ace. But these particular noises made me particularly edgy. They didn't sound like footfalls. So, like a stupid girl in a cliché horror movie, I went to check out the strange noise. Unlike the B-movies, however, I went armed.

I pulled my pocket knife and clutched it in my right hand. I also wielded a large stick in my left; just as a precaution. (In case you're wondering, I'm a lefty.) I approached the brush and hefted my stick to the ready. I peeked over the leaves to see…a dog. I breathed a sigh of relief before inspecting it further.

Now that I looked at it, it wasn't a dog, but a fox. It was a small, mangy looking vixen with light brown fur, stained with red. …Wait, red? Holy crap, it's dead! I knelt down a bit and poked at it a bit with my stick. Not the best idea, but who can resist? Judging from the jagged edges on these wounds; poor girl either got into a fight or a larger predator had a go at her. Either way, she was already dead and there was no helping the poor thing. I was contemplating whether to take the time and bury it, or just kick some leaves over it and leave it for a scavenger when an icy chill crept from the base of my spine to the tips of my hair.

I ducked behind a tree to hide, knowing something was coming this way. A blur appeared in the shadows. It seemed to be in the demented shape of a deformed person, barely contained within a boundary of being. Coles of eerie light glowed, sunken in the shadows of the things head. Nausea came over me as I watched it move silently over the grass, leaving no footsteps. Several others of the thing emerged from the trees. They all gathered around the vixen's corps. The things were see-through, so I could clearly see the fox's body. It began to disappear, replaced by a large, blood covered watch. One of the things picked up the watch and clutched it close. Then, one by one the things left as suddenly as they had appeared. The creatures and the vixen were gone, leaving no sign of their presence aside from a pool of blood amongst the green grass.

I turned from the seen as my knees gave out. I slumped against the tree and clutched my heart. WHAT THE HELL? …Was that what Alice had meant when she said that everyone had clocks for hearts? Even the animals? And what the hell were those things? Rested my head in my hand, knees pulled up to my chest. Damn, I hadn't felt this sick since my first real crime scene. "PUN." My head shot up and swiveled in the direction of the noise. Oh, sure. Throw something else into the rest of my crappy day.

I stood up and walked over to the tree nearby where the noise had come from, picking up my stick and hefting it over my shoulder. I looked around, "PUN!" I looked straight down. At the base of the tree, snuggled up in a burrow between the roots of the tree, was tiny little fox kit. I knelt down and peered at it, dropping my stick. It was still tiny, but its big, golden eyes were already open. It looked and blinked at me, "PUN!" it had the strangest coloring I'd ever seen. It was silvery white, with a pink nose and paw pads. Albino, no. It was also covered in dark red patches on its belly, paws, and tips of its tail and ears. I almost thought it was bleeding!

We stared at each other…just stared. C-cr-crap! Is this the kid of that vixen? If so, the poor thing was a goner. A baby animal can't survive out in the wild all alone! This little guy didn't even look like he could walk yet! It stuck its head out to me, ears pinned to its head. The look in its eyes…it was as though it already knew its mama was gone. "PUN!" There was a hint of desperation in the little kit's cry. I gently reached out and brushed my finger over its head. It shoved itself into my hand. I pulled back, a nervous smile on my face, "Say, aren't you friendly for a wild critter?" It twitched its ear and shook its head, as though in disagreement.

I stood up, prepared to walk away. I couldn't just take a wild animal from its natural habitat! I turned around, "PPPUUUUNNNN!" My head snapped around. The little kit was trying to crawl out after me. Crap. Major moral dilemma. If I took this animal with me, it would either become a total pet, or be too wild to keep but too domestic to set free! But if I didn't take it, it would defiantly die! I knew damn well the issues. DAMN IT!

I sighed, walked over, and picked the little thing up carefully. Its fur was soft and fine as silk. Its tail flailed in an attempt to wag as it buried its little head into my chest. I held it up. Correction, he. I held him up. I lowered him to look him in his bright, golden eyes. "Well, looks like I'm stuck with you, eh?" He reached his little pink tongue out and licked my nose. I ran my finger over his spine, "Now, what to call you…." He cocked his tiny head, "Pun?"

"Hmm…how about…Scamp?" His head tilted down and he chuffed. "No? How about…Scruffy?" He shook. "Hmm…getting closer….. What about Patch?" In retrospect, that was probably the most obvious name. It looked at me with wide eyes, "PPPUUUUNNNN!" I grinned at him, "Alright then, Patch! It's very nice to meet you! My names C.J! Do you know how to get to the circus?" Yup, I'm cracking up.

He cocked his head. "Guess not." I placed Patch on top of my hat. I could feel him nestle up in the dark blue fabric as his warmth seeped down to my scalp. "Let's get going, shall we?" Patch punned from the top of my head as I set out once more to find the circus.

Patch and I wandered about for a while. I absorbed the scenery as I talked to Patch, who listened quietly. It was strange that I only just now realized how beautiful the forests here were. The trees and grass were all so much greener that home, and the sky so much bluer. And there were so many wild flowers! Such variety, and they were all colored so brightly! I trotted along, Patch's company cheering me up. I came to a stop when the trail came to a fork. There was a post stuck in the ground between the roads split. Two signs were nailed to the post; one pointing to the left, the other to the right. Both illegible.

I tried really hard to read the signs, but the letters that had once been there were so worn and faded that I could hardly tell there had ever been words there. I plucked Patch off my head, "Which way should we go, hmm?" Patch sniffed. I replaced him on my hat. "Well, let's go left then." I turned to the left and trotted off.

I walked down the path until I notice the change in scenery. The trees were thinning out, and the grass was getting sparse. The sky started to get grayer. I stopped and looked up at the clouds. "Umm, maybe we made a wrong turn, Patch." A horrid cry echoed through the air. It was some kind of cross between the howl of a wolf, the screeching of a bird, and the bellowing roar of a…dragon. Patch was freaking out and trying to crawl under my hat. I took a large step back. The cry had seemed very near.

At that thought, a huge shadow passed over me so swiftly that I almost didn't notice it. The ground trembled as something huge dropped onto it. I snapped around and gasped in horror.

The enormous creature behind me was beyond massive! It looked like some kind of bat/dog/snake/dragon! Its head had a long ugly snout, butcher knife-like teeth dripping with sticky and stinky drool. A long and scaly neck connected the terrifying head to a body, plated with armor-like gray scales. Great, torn up, wings of flesh attached to its scrawny upper arms, giving it flight capabilities. It seemed to be capable of walking on its hind legs, but still had a spine that allowed it to crawl around on the ground like a bat. Three toes per foot, like that of a bird, with huge grappling talons jutted from its feet. Its tail which coiled and writhed about behind it, tipped with a spade; adequate for running straight through a body. But the most blood chilling of all, were its eyes. Great, red, reptilian eyes that saw nothing but it's pray. Its long forked tongue slipped fat fish lips, tasting the air as its terrifying gaze locked onto me.

Patch curled up, trembling, under my hat. I didn't waste a moment as I turned and shot away to the right, off the trail. The beast howled its chilling howl and rushed after me. I raced across the now barren floor of the area. I knew I couldn't run forever, but what else could I do, damn it! I spotted a large rock pile with a small opening in between. My only shot. I charged for it. The thing zigzagged after me, fluent as a snake. I dove for the opening and scrambled in. I pressed my back to the far wall of the cave. Silence roared in my ears.

Then, the things huge terrible talons were grappling with the rocks, trying to make it give way. But the great boulders stood strong. One of its claws caught me in, my right arm. I clasped my other hand over the wound and pressed hard, trying to ward off the bleeding before it really started. The beast gave a frustrated cry and stalked away. I heard the flapping of its wings as it took off into the cloudy sky.

I looked down and inspected the wound. It was already swelling and bleeding. I knew I had to get this looked at, but what if that thing was camping out there, waiting for me to leave? I pulled a red bandana, which had once been yellow, from my bag and fastened it over the gouge. I leaned back against the cool rocks and closed my eyes for a moment….

P.O.V Change: ?

I sat in that damned cell just as I always had. The prison warden made his usual paces trough the prisoners. He, as he had been instructed to do when he'd gained his title, made extra sure that I was present and accounted for. Then he continued his rounds. I was kept in a special cell, separate from the other prisoners. Designed to keep me completely isolated.

Years ago, id been thrown into this cell. Right after the role holders had taken everything dear to me. The warden's footsteps echoed as they disappeared down the hallway. I lay down on the floor of the cell. How much longer? When would I finally get a chance for freedom?

Silence drummed through the prison cells, most of the inmates having fallen fast asleep. I allowed a smirk to play on my lips. My plan was ready and waiting for just the right moment. Soon, I would have my vengeance.

P.O.V Change: C.J

"PPPPUUUUUUUNNNNNN!" My eyes opened to the sound of the desperate little Patch scratching feverishly at my sleeve, trying to wake me up. I looked down at him, "Crap, how the hell did I drift off?" I tried to move, but a searing pain enveloped my right arm. I looked down, oh, that's right. That hell beast caught my arm. The blood had already clotted and was a thick and sticky mess. I gently plopped Patch on my head and managed to crawl out of the cavern. I didn't care if that thing was here, I needed medical attention! I glanced around and started to wander off, in which direction, I hadn't a clue.

I eventually found the trees again, but now I was hopelessly lost, and injured. My steps wobbled and my vision blurred after walking for so long. Dusk was gripping the world in its clutches as my knees finally gave out and I collapsed on the grass. Patch pawed desperately at my face, but no amount of cuteness could keep my eyes open. I vaguely registered a voice and dismissed it, believing it to be my own mind. As my eyes closed, the last thought that rolled through my mind was, I'm so screwed.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S IT FOR THIS CHAPPY! ALL COMMENTS AND REVEIWS ARE WELCOME, AND PLEASE VOTE!

WARNING: NEVER TAKE A WILD ANIMAL FROM ITS HABITAT! C.J DID IT ON ACCOUNT OF CURCUMSTANCE, AND NO ONE SHOULD EVER DO IT! AND FOXS CARRY MULTIPULE DISEASES, SO I ADDVISE YOU NOT TO GO NEAR THEM.