I’ve finally decided to post the some of the writing I’ve been working on. Mainly, a novel that I’ve had in the works for a few years. I was planning to have a picture drawn for each post but I didn’t have time to work on one with commissions and all. So I might do one for the future chapters and update this post if I get one done, but we’ll see.

As for the story, it is a quest-type story about and written from the point of view of foxes. In order to explain parts of the world, the foxes have various myths and legends that tell how certain things came to be. The most important of these stories is “The Story of Our Golden Eyes” which serves as background info for the novel. Also, since it's from the point of view of foxes, I've implemented a fox language, which doesn't really come into play in this post except for some instances of onomatopoeia (which I've put in italics), but I wanted to add a heads up in case it got confusing. I hope you enjoy this prologue of sorts and are interested in seeing more. :)

Even though I’ve edited this many times, it is still in the rough draft stage so comments and constructive critique is welcome and greatly appreciated.

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The Story of Our Golden Eyes

“If a fox tells only one story in his life, let him tell ‘The Story of Our Golden Eyes’”
-The First Wisdom of the Storytellers


In the before times, when the forests were young, the Great Light shone in the sky, bringing warmth to the land. As he watched the animals throughout many mornings, he noticed that –occasionally some would make a den together, and from that den would come a litter of kits. After watching this happen for many cycles, the Great Light began to long for a denmate of his own, so he searched every forest and stream to find one. He sought out all kinds of creatures, but none could prove a suitable denmate; the rabbit was skittish, the snake’s tongue was full of deception, the deer was vain, the bear’s temper surged like a summer storm, and so on and so forth. One day, as he surveyed the forest, looking longingly at the animals all snug in their dens, he spotted an orange, bushy-tailed creature emerge from one of the holes and carry a mouse off in her jaws. Now, the Great Light sensed that something was amiss –for creatures normally brought food into their den so it cast its light on the animal, surrounding her with such intense heat that she was forced to stop in place.

“Bushy-tailed creature,” he said, “Why are you taking prey from this den? Do you seek to take from a den that is not yours?”

The creature dropped to her belly, pleading with her blue eyes. “Please spare me, Oh Brilliant One. I am but a lowly fox. I steal food for I would not survive otherwise. You see, my brother and his vixen are sick and cannot hunt for their kits, so I must catch food for them. But there are so many mouths to feed that I have no strength to hunt for myself, and so I must steal. Normally, I’d rather go hungry, but if I died, how would their den survive?”

The Great Light’s heat lessened upon hearing what the fox had said, but he had to ensure that her story was true. He asked her why her own denmate was unable to hunt, and she replied that she had no dog of her own. She led him to her brother’s den, where it was made clear that she had been telling the truth.

Seeing the miserable, starving foxes saddened the Great Light. He couldn’t bring himself to punish the fox and leave the den to die, but he couldn’t allow the fox to go on stealing either even if it was for another creature. Then it occurred to him that she wouldn’t need to steal food if she had a denmate, which gave him of an idea.

“You do not need to be afraid,” The Great Light said to the fox. “You will not be punished. I have an idea that will settle your worries as well as my own. You see, I have been searching for a creature to make a den with –for I have felt alone for many cycles. If you will make one with me, I will ensure that neither you nor your brother’s den will ever go hungry. However, you must promise to no longer take food that is not rightfully yours or trick any creature out of what they have.”

The fox agreed to the offer, thanking the Great Light who radiated so much joy that his light and warmth restored her brother and his vixen to full health. In fact, he was so pleased that he instructed the fox to gather all her kind and take them to the center hill that overlooks the trees so he could shine his favor down on them all.

At midday, all the foxes in the forest gathered at the top of the hill where the Great Light cast his glow upon his new denmate.

“Foxes of the forest,” the Great Light said. “This fox before you has agreed to start a den with me. To show my gratitude, I will bestow my light upon her and your kind so that you will never want for food, and all your kits can live long and happy lives. However, you must not misuse the gifts that I give you, and you must promise to never steal food or den from another creature.”

All the foxes promised, crouching low to the ground in respect as the Great Light shone with a light brighter than any of them had ever seen. This light entered their bodies, filling them with strength and vigor. When it had faded, the foxes opened their eyes and saw, to their amazement, that their once-blue eyes, were now as gold as the Great Light himself.

“You’re golden eyes will be a sign to all creatures of my light within you,” the Great Light said. “As long as you have them, you will never struggle for survival. You will now protect your kits no matter the risk to your own life, for the light within you will dispel fear’s darkness, and strength will shine through your small form. No problem will trap you –for your minds will illuminate every hidden solution –and will you run as free and unhindered as the daylight that twists and dances through the leaves on the trees. Lastly, the black of your paws will be like the shadows cast by the light, and you will move undetected, even in the brightest day. Use these gifts to help your kind thrive.”

The foxes thanked the Great Light for his gifts before departing, leaving him alone with his vixen. From their position, the two denmates saw a lot of good places to make their den, but the fox chose to make one on the hill as a reminder to all foxes of what happened that day. That evening, after the den was finished, the fox crawled inside and settled onto the cool earth, falling asleep as the Great Light set, his red and violet light joining her as night descended on the forest. After that day, this fox became known as Falpa, or “Loved by the Light”.

~

It was not long before Falpa’s den became full of kits, and the Great Light made sure that they never went hungry, and they grew up safe and strong. One of their kits was named Zaru, and he was the smartest, swiftest, and strongest of them all. His coat was of such a bright gold that many animals often mistook him for the Great Light himself. However, though his father’s radiance shone in Zaru’s fur, it failed to reach his heart. And as he grew, that light moved farther and farther away.

By the time Falpa’s kits were full grown, the Two-Legs appeared in the forest. These strange creatures walked on their hind-paws and used the forest in unusual ways. Their presence worried Falpa and the other foxes, so they went to the Great Light, who told them to stay away from the Two-Legs until he determined whether they were dangerous or not.
But Zaru disobeyed. That night, he left the den and went to the edge of the Two-Legs’ territory. Observing them from the brush and shadows, he saw how the Two-Legs would create fire by hitting rocks together and noticed that their prey smelled different when they used sticks to put it in the fire. The incredible smell made Zaru’s mouth flow like a river, his drool going pillib pillib onto the ground. He wished to run up and snatch the food right then, but he knew that one fox couldn’t steal it all before getting caught. So he came up with a plan.

The next day, Zaru gathered the other foxes and told all of them about the Two-Legs’ delicious-smelling food. That is, all except for Falpa, for he wanted to make sure his mother didn’t find out what he was planning.

“Why should such silly creatures get to enjoy that kind of prey?” He said. “Don’t we –creatures given favor by the Great Light himself –deserve it instead?”

The other foxes were quick to remind him what the Great Light said about stealing another creature’s food. But Zaru’s brain quickly formed a clever lie.

“Oh, but the Two-Legs didn’t live in the forest when he said that. Besides, I’ve seen them store their food in great caches like squirrels with acorns, not knowing that meat rots if it isn’t eaten. Their wastefulness is taking food away from the rest of the forest. But if we were to take it, we could share it with the other predators. That way, they will have food, and the prey won’t have to worry about being hunted. Such peace between creatures will please the Great Light, and he’ll make our kind the greatest in the forest.”

Now, peace among the creatures sounded good to the foxes, but being the greatest in all the forest intrigued them so much that they quickly agreed to Zaru’s plan.

Night fell, and Zaru led the foxes to the Two-Legs’ territory, where they smelled the desirable prey for themselves. He had them split into two groups , one hiding among the trees while the other took twigs over to the bushes on the other side of the den where they proceeded to jump on them.

Krikipik!

The sound of snapping twigs caused some of the Two-Legs to leave their food and walk over to the bushes. From the foliage, the foxes leapt at them, luring them away from the den while Zaru had his group run from the trees, getting the rest of the pack to chase after them.

With the den clear, Zaru crept over and picked up as many prey sticks as he could carry before sauntering away to a secluded part of the woods, where he gobbled up every bit of the delicious food. Then, with his belly full, he dug himself a small den to hide in as he slept.

~

The next morning, Falpa awoke to an unusually hot day. The Great Light shone with a great intensity that hurt her eyes and beat on her back. She questioned her mate as to the reason for the horrible heat, and learned that he was scorching the land in anger.

“I have discovered that the Two-Legs’ food has been stolen by foxes,” he said. “Gather them all and bring them here so I can find those responsible and punish them.”

Now, the other foxes had already realized that Zaru had tricked them, but since he had hidden himself away, they failed to find him that night. So, when Falpa gathered them at the top of the big hill, and they learned of what angered the Great Light, one of them was quick to declare Zaru the guilty one. But Zaru denied the accusation.

“Liar!” he barked. “I had nothing to do with this. Great Light, I am your own son. He is the guilty one. Can’t you see that he is blaming me because he is jealous of your strongest and brightest light within me?

There was great arguing back and forth between Zaru and the other fox. As for the other foxes, they kept quiet for they feared confirming the other fox’s story would prove them guilty –just as Zaru had planned. However, The Great Light declared that finding the guilty one was a simple matter, for the Two-Legs had a strange and powerful scent that worms its way into everything they touch. Everything, including their prey.

Realizing that he must have the Two-Legs’ scent on him, Zaru turned tail to run down the hill, but the intense rays of the Great Light fell upon him, causing him to collapse from the weight.

“Did you think that you could outsmart me, Zaru!” the Great Light said, seething. “Since you have taken my gifts and used them to steal, I will take away everything those gifts have touched, and I will mark you so that every creature will know what you have done.”

Every fox watched as all the light was pulled from Zaru’s squirming body, marring his once golden fur and eyes in black. After it was done, Zaru flopped to the ground, and the other foxes surrounded him, scratching and nipping at him and dragging him by the tail. They ran with him down the hill until they reached the slope, where they released his tail and sent him tumbling down to the bottom as they all gave a vindictive cheer. But the Great Light’s anger now turned on them, for he saw the scratches and bruises on the other foxes from where the Two-Legs had hit and poked them with sticks. When he asked them how they all had gotten so many wounds in one night, they remained silent for they knew it was useless to try and lie.

“Since all of you shared in Zarus’ crime, you will all share in his punishment!” the Great Light shouted.

At this, Falpa got to her paws and walked into the harsh light.

“Oh Great Light,” she said to her denmate. “Please have mercy on them. They may have aided Zaru, but they didn’t eat any of the Two-Legs’ food. I know because only Zaru ran when you tested them. The Two-Legs will no doubt try to hunt my kind out of anger, and –without your light– none of the foxes will last another cycle. It will break my heart being the only fox in the forest, so I cannot let you do to all of them what you did to our son. If you are to do it, then you will have to take my light as well.”

Amazed at Falpa’s decision, the Great Light relented his scorching heat, for he could not bring himself to harm the fox he loved. However, he could not allow the misuse of his gifts without consequence, so he commanded all the foxes to crouch low to the ground as he passed his new judgment.

“I will take the light from all who helped Zaru to steal.” He said. “However, since none of you ate the stolen food, it will not be taken away completely. I shall leave an ember, a tiny trace of my gifts within each fox and all of their future kits. Only after that ember is allowed to grow to its full glow will one see my golden favor restored.”

Falpa watched as –one by one the Great Light took his light back from each fox, making their golden eyes fade back to their previous blue. The Great Light then rose into the sky, taking his light with him, but not before saying one last thing to the creatures he had once thought so highly of. He told them that he will continue to watch over them and give guidance, but it would be up to them alone whether or not they would ever regain what they had lost. The foxes then departed in sadness, mourning the loss of their golden eyes. They all went their separate ways, down the hill and out into the forest which –while it had felt safe for many seasons –now seemed a lot more dangerous.