A booted, long-haired fox stepped out of a musky apartment building, awakening the dark night only with a jingle of keys as she locked the door behind her. Her eyes, bent and angry-looking, scanned the streets before she ventured out into the night. It was time to work.
Sunset, I close my eyes.
I pretend everything’s alright.
Drowning in anger, from all these lies.
I can’t pretend everything’s alright.
The fox, female, and alone, looked up at the red, polluted sky, as though lifting her soul in prayer.
Please don’t let me fall forever.
Can you tell me it’s over now?
A tremor came over the woman. She sighed, two tears falling from her eyes. It was happening again. Since she left her home more than a year ago, she’d felt waves of grief crash over her. Many days nothing would happen, and she’d convince herself she was over the pain she felt at home, with her love. But today, like many other days if she was honest, brought her back to the same core feeling: She’d rather be home, where it was safe, than run from half-truths and lies. Where did that get her? How did she ever feel running solved anything?
There’s a hate inside of me like some kind of cancer.
I try to see you but I can’t find the answer.
I’m holding onto you, I’ll never let go.
I need you with me as I enter the shadows.
The fox woman, Kursed as she was known as, covered her head with her hands. NO she almost whispered, shuddering. It was in these broken times for her that she came to the truth of the matter. What she really felt inside. No, I want to be with him. Fox Macloud was all I had, and now I’ve run from it.
Kursed, better known to the previously mentioned male as Krystal, stamped her booted foot on the ground. “No.” she said, a couple more tears falling on their own accord, “he lied to me. He thought I wasn’t strong enough.” Rage welled up inside, like a spring-loaded gun, then sprang from her.
Kursed raised her gun and fired a shot, growling. Involuntarily, she fell to her knees. She didn’t even care anymore. So what if Fox had told her to leave the team? It wasn’t like before…
Caught in the darkness. I go blind.
Can you help me find my way home?
Nobody hears me, I suffer the silence.
Can you tell me it’s over now?
Krystal rose. She felt bipolar. Sure, it was sad that Fox told her to leave the team, it felt like everything was taken from her, AGAIN, but it wasn’t…
Many nights, when the Krystal in her was allowed, she would open her consciousness far and wide, and, some nights, she could feel another person, alone, desperate. She always fell off to sleep, dreaming that it was Fox, longing for her to return.
Now the crying came freely. Kursed dropped to her knees and wept, not holding back. Being gone for so long, only meant more pain for her. She originally left because she felt A) Fox had abandoned her, and B) the people of Corneria no longer accepted her as a hero, but, because of her decision to join StarWolf, called her a traitor. That was where the camel’s back broke.
Krystal felt scared, like a frightened child. ALL she longed for was to rush into Fox’s arms and hold him, and be held. He DID, after all, save her life. He DID, after all, give her a place on the team, in a new home of Corneria. He DID, after all, love her enough to take charge, even if it wasn’t the best thing, to PROTECT her.
Kursed stopped, hearing boots walk up behind her. Kursed sighed; probably the stupid Kew police wanting to fine her for causing a ‘disturbance’. They always did that. “What?” Kursed asked, her voice biting and raw.
“Krystal?” Came a soft voice. Kursed’ mouth fell open, her eyes wide. Then again, like a spring load, the anger welled up. With a roar, she swung her gun down, missing the mark entirely, the gun shattering on the ground. Now facing the figure, Krystal dropped to her knees again, crying, reaching tentatively with her hands, grabbing the figure’s pant legs. She knew who it was…
“PLEASE, PLEASE don’t go away!” Krystal said, grabbing hold of the man.
The figure stooped down and helped Kursed up. Kursed blinked away her tears, and could see him. He’d come for her.
“I’m right here.” Fox Macloud said soothingly.
Kursed, and Krystal, hugged the man, silently, then sighed. Kursed released Fox quickly and stepped back, curling her hair over her ears, then crossed her arms. “How’d you find me?”
“Satellite.” Fox said simply. Corneria hadn’t reached this far yet, but I asked Peppy to send a satellite over here, then found all the residents of the main district…”
Krystal could see Fox, standing there, smiling. He was happy he’d found her.
Now that he WAS here, Kursed got a foot-hold. “Hmm.” She said bluntly.
Fox seemed to see Krystal’s apparently bipolar activity, and quickly turned away and got a phone out of his pocket, dialing a number.
With Fox’s back exposed, Kursed had her chance. With a roar, she ran for the pilot and swung…and met only air. Fox had nimbly side-stepped out of the way, facing Kursed with a serious expression.
Kursed looked sad that her attack had failed, but lashed out again, blocked expertly by Fox.
Krystal stopped the fight, walking back to her apartment sadly, holding her wrist which Fox had blocked with little gentleness.
“Yeah, it’s me.” Fox said on the phone. “We found her. She’s in an apartment building on East Main, there seems to be no number of the actual apartment, but I’m standing out here looking at it right now.”
A voice, one just audible enough for Krystal to hear, answered. “Alrighty, the satellite should get your location in a few minutes, then we’ll figure out where Krystal, or, is it, Kursed, is?” Slippy Toad asked.
Fox sighed, a tear welling in his eye. “I don’t know.” After a long pause, Fox finally said, “She’s bipolar. Like Jekyll and Hyde.”
There was silence. “Well get someone on that as soon as we pick her up, early tomorrow morning.”
Fox nodded. “Alright, thanks Slip.” Click

To be continued…

Lyrics: Shadows by Red