Falling Leaves

Chapter 1- Introduction

( Word guide/meaning: 'New Moon'= month, 'Senior'= retired solider, 'soft mouth'= young foxes in training until they're adults)
Note: All of these characters are from my WIP book- title shortened for 'BTYM'. If you want to follow along with the book that I'm making, feel free to join my Discord server (My Discord user: artychameleon

----------------------------------------               Beginning

A grey sky with dark, heavy clouds circled the empty clearing of the forest. Only few foxes tread this area, and always with at least one more fox beside them. Everyfox was nervous, stressed and tired, tired of keeping their guard up at all times, even in their own dens. 

Leaf Falls, the Advisor of this kingdom --Kingdom of Mystic Forest-- looked down from a fallen oak tree that leaned on a mound at the jumpy foxes in the Crown Clearing. It was miserable. She knew that if you wanted a safe, comfortable home, it purely depended on the foxes themselves. But there was one slithering between trees, snatching everyfox's trust away.
Now, to the point; there was an 'accident' last week, again. A murder, as Leaf suspects. These mere coincidences have raised her attention ever since the first death and she's just about had enough of them. Since there still was no suitable monarch to take this matter into their own paws, it was up to her to settle this and bring back the home she used to know; a clearing crowded with foxes chattering, sharing prey, cubs play-fighting as they rolled and tossed around in the soft grass. If only Casimir Forest was still here.

But there was no time wishing for somefox to come back to life, the previous king died months ago. The lack of a stable monarchy must have made this unknown murderer more comfortable with starting this killing spree. 

The vixen scrambled down from the tree and landed at the edge of the Crown Clearing. She bounded up to a familiar fox. "Morning, Mystic. Any news?" she muttered quietly.

Mystic shook her head, her eyes squinted as if the question was difficult to answer. "No, sorry sister. I kept guard at the area but there was nothing of any suspicion." 

"Well, that should be a good thing, right?" a bark made her sister spin around to face a tall, light red vixen. "Calm down, calm down. I don't understand why y'all have to be so jumpy all the time."

"You know very well why everyfox's fur is on edge, Jumping." Leaf sighed. Though, thankful for more company, she couldn't help feeling a spark of happiness. Jumping Moon was the type of fox which could break through any awkward barrier and come up with something to talk about. The more familiar faces, the safer she felt. "Anyway, any news from you?" 

Jumping's eyes widened. Obviously, she reminded herself of something. "Right, that's why I came here! I found a tuft of fur on a thorn bush."

And that's important how? Leaf shook her head; this fox tends to explain things pretty vaguely, so you have to prompt her more to get the whole story out. "Where is this bush?" she asked calmly.

Jumping turned her head facing the north-west of the kingdom. "Somewhere in this direction," she pointed with her white tail tip.

Pricking her ears, Leaf was starting to understand the reason for this information, but she had to make sure. "This is roughly the direction to the Training Grounds," she informed her sister. 

Her realisation was exactly the reaction she needed. Mystic's eyes grew wider, "Wait, that's where Devland's body was found..." she trailed off. 

Devland Woods was the latest victim. Leaf nodded, "Let's get going. Lead us to the evidence, Jumping."

The three paced through the woods, Leaf and Mystic's gazes flickered from bush to bush, trying to find the piece of fur Jumping had told them about. Even if she couldn't find out who's fur it is, she wouldn't be able to prove that that was the murderer; anyfox could have passed by here after the death! But then again, the scent could hint when it was left there. The murder took place two days ago--maybe the scent could hint that it was as stale since then?