Snippets

A Fox from Another Life - Chapter One

What was I thinking? Bite. Squirm. All better options.

The woman's eyes widened as her head tilted. She adjusted a loose portion of hair on her right temple, tucking it back behind her ear. I could not tell her thoughts as she moved me away from her face. "Did you just lick me? You are not even trying to get out of my grasp..."

She is thinking the same thing.

My eyes met hers, and my ears went flat against my head as I lowered my head, symbolizing that I knew what she had said and what I had just done. Her grip lay tight on my fur as she looked at me with even more curiosity. My tail curls up slightly as I think about what will happen next. She lowers me slightly and looks around the forest.

Her green eyes pierced mine one last time. I looked away, not wanting to see what would happen next. She tussled me slightly and asked, "Hmm... You know what you did. Look at me."

My eyes darted up at her. "You really can understand me?"

I can feel the little heart in my chest race as I take a few quick breaths. I glance around everywhere before my ears perk up. Wait a second? I could show here that I am not a regular fox. My snout lifts as I stare back into her eyes and nod.

She instantly crouched but still held me by the scruff of my neck. I could see the wheels turning in her head—the possibility of a wild animal being more intelligent than the common ones she hunts. "If I place you down... you will not run away, or I will hunt you down," she paused as she saw my eyes widen. "If you understand and agree, nod your head."

Oh, yes. I agree with her one hundred percent. I have no intention of dying one day after coming to this world.

My head nods slowly before she slowly lowers me to the ground.

I don't notice when she first releases her grip on my fur. My four paws touch the cool ground. My ears shift slightly as I think; I have no intention of dying anytime. I know I will one day, but this early and not of natural causes would be a real pain in the...

My head tilts as I notice her staring at me with her elbows on her knees. I stop moving as my attention goes back to her. Her right hand scratches her chin as she wonders what I am thinking. "What is going on in that little head of yours?" she asks as her lips scrunch together. "You look deep in thought... and now you are thinking as I talk to you. Very interesting."

Her posture changed as she crossed her legs and sat before me. The bottom of her boots was covered in mud, the same as my paws. I looked at her as my tail waggled. My head darted back as I stared at my tail for a moment. I must be happy. That means happy, right?

The thumb on her right hand rubbed against her index finger. "Since you can understand me... Are you hungry?"

My head nods swiftly.

"Have you been trained by humans? Possibly," she states as the corner of her mouth rises. "I am Laura, by the way. Were you trained by another person?"

I shook my head at her after she said her name and final question. My mind is still focused on making it out of this situation alive. Then, a thought pops into my mind. Laura is a warrior or hunter of some kind. This woman could protect me.

Laura watches as I take a step closer to her. Right before I reached her, I paused. My head sways back and forth as I weigh the options. I nod as I stand with my front two paws on her knee and look into her eyes.

If I am to survive this world... being accompanied by Laura, even if as a pet, I will be better off than waiting to run into some wolf or another human with hunger in their eyes.

My eyes never leave her green eyes. The tip of my tail wagged fast as I leaned forward slightly and looked deeper into her eyes. Laura stares back at me and then sighs. Her hand quickly pets the top of my head. Looks like I have a way to survive. Good. A source of food. Water. Safety, I think as she scratches behind my ears. I could get used to this.

"You seem smarter than any other fox..." Laura says as I watch her get in a more comfortable position. Her boots cross as her black pants lay dirty but well-kept. She continues to scratch behind my ears. "Hmmm..."

I stare at her, wondering what she is thinking, before she leans forward and picks me up. Laura quickly places me down about a foot in front of her. My feet stumble slightly as she places me down on the ground and snaps her fingers. "Sit!"

Great. I stare at her for a moment. I guess this is better than being hunted...

My eyes roll, and my body shuffles slightly as I sit down in front of her, letting out a huff of air. She smiles as she stands. "Don't move. Stay!" she explains, holding out her hand as I tilt my head a bit. Laura walks a few steps away and looks down at my small form. I sit there and look at her with a small amount of defeat.

"Come here," she crouches down, snaps her fingers, and clicks her tongue.

I let out another small huff, slowly stand to my feet, and make my way towards her. Laura smiles wide. She kneels and pets my neck, then along my body. My tail wags, giving away that my new form now likes this type of attention. I glance back at my tail before looking back at her.

Better than being hunted...