Troop of Outcasts - WiP - Chapter 3 Up!

[Weeping_Angel }Y{]

Chapter 1 - Skunk or Fox

It was just another day in my life. Rose, the fox who looks like a skunk. Forced out of my troop as a kit, I have lived my whole life without family or friends. I don’t like talking to other foxes because I am actually a little scared of them.

When I was thrown out of the troop, I was literally thrown out. I was grabbed by who knows who and thrown into a thorn bush that bordered the troop. I thought it couldn’t get worse then that, but it did.

A group of skunks that lived near the troop sprayed me when I wandered by their home. I smelled for weeks. Everyone avoided me before and after the stench wore off. I was and always will be an outcast. It will never change.

I was crouched in the bushes, watching some young kits play. How I longed to play with a fox my age, but I knew it would never happen. My best friends were rocks and my only home was a small cave abandoned long ago.

Knowing I would never be invited to play, I crawled out of the bushes and headed home. It was slow going, what with all the mud from a storm a few days ago. To get home I had to cross the river, which was churning like mad. I slowly padded along the slippery rocks, being very careful not to slip. If I fell, the river would swallow me and my story would end.

Long ago I had thought of sacrificing myself to the rapids, but I thought better of it right before I jumped. What if I could actually find a fox like me, and outcast? We would have so much fun, if I ever found someone like me. I knew there had to be someone, somewhere.

I crossed the river and made my way through a meadow. I paused to roll in the flowers before continuing on. At the rate I was moving, it would take me at least a half hour to reach home.

I trudged through the meadow and padded through a forest, thinking all the way. Only when I reached the mountain where my cave was hidden did I pause my thinking.

I walked to a small hole in the rocks at the base of the mountain. Crawling in, I laid down to go to sleep. My dreams took me a troop of foxes. I looked normal, not like a skunk, and some foxes were playing with me. What great fun it was!

Morning came all too soon. I wanted to keep dreaming my lovely dream, but the sun wouldn’t have it. “Its a foolish thought,” he seemed to grumble to me. Knowing he would win, I crawled out of my cave into the warmth of summer.

I curled up in the sun, feeling lazy. Any kits born this year will be out playing, enjoying this sun. And here I was, laying in the sun that I used to love when I was younger. I was two years old and I still hadn’t found a mate. But I don’t think I’ll ever find a mate. Not the way I look. My inner fox cannot overpower my outer appearance of a skunk.

[Weeping_Angel }Y{]

Chapter 2 - Ruby Red Radiance

I watched as her ruby red coat glistened in the sunlight. Ruby. That was her name. I often heard a vixen calling her to help with some kits. I watched her play with the kits everyday from the bushes. Her coat shone like rubies in the sunlight.

I couldn’t help but stare. But why would she love an outcast like me? I’m Bandit. No one likes me. I left my troop because everyone hated me. Why wouldn’t she hate me too? She looked so elegant and kind, though. I long for the courage to go over and talk to her.

I found my chance that night. She was chasing after a kit and caught it very close to the bush I was hiding in. I walked out slowly and approached her from behind. “Hello,” I whispered softly.

She jumped. “I hope I didn’t frighten you.” I said, feeling nervous.

She set the kit down. “You just startled me a little, that’s all. I’m Ruby, who are you?”

“I’m Bandit.” I said, starting at her soft brown eyes.

“Hello, Bandit.” she said. She looked very uncomfortable.

“I should probably be going,” she said, looking back at the kit.

“Yeah. Will I see you later?”

“Maybe,” she said with a mysterious glint in her eyes.

How I longed to be with her. She was the only vixen that didn’t seem put off by my strange markings. Sure, she hadn’t been that comfortable when we had spoken. What was to be expected if you were approached from behind by a stranger? I turned and walked away slowly, back to my bush where I could watch her from a distance.

Her charm and grace haunted my dreams that night. But not in a bad way. I dreamt of us being together forever with kits of our own. I wished on the north star we could be together, but wishes never come true. She would never love me, and I knew it. But I kept wishing and hoping.

The next day, I walked out form behind my bush and stretched. When I straightened up, I saw Ruby coming my way. Her coat was shining as much as it had the day before. Her eyes were sparkling in the sunlight. “I got the day off. We can hang out if you want,” she said as I stared. “And stop your staring, its not polite.” she whispered with a giggle.

I got my act together, then we ran off into a nearby meadow. We spent the day there, laughing and talking about anything and everything. Then she asked the one thing I was afraid to answer. “Why did you leave your old troop?”

I turned to look her in the eyes and said, “No one there liked me. They thought I was heartless and had a bad temper. Plus, everyone hated me because of my name.”

“Your name doesn’t reflect who you are at all.” she said, mulling over what I had said. “In fact, you are probably the kindest fox I have ever met.”

My heart practically leaped at the thought of her actually liking me. We lay in the grass until the sun set, then we had to head back. “Why don’t we run away together?” I asked.

“Why not? It would be fun.” she said.

So we turned away from her troop and ran into the sunset. It was beautiful, and I was with the vixen I loved. We could now be together forever and there was nothing stopping us. Nothing could get in our way.

[Weeping_Angel }Y{]

Chapter 3 - The Cocoa is Gone


Everyone ignored me, so I left. End of story. I never want to revisit my past. I’m wiping my slate clean and starting over. So, I’m Cocoa. No one in my previous troop payed any attention to me, and I was getting sick of it. I was always ignored, so I finally left. I doubt they will even notice I’ve gone. But who really needs a troop anyway? Not me, that’s for sure. Not if I get ignored or treated like dirt by the members.

I had left on the summer moon. The kits from this spring were a handful, so no one noticed my absence. I wasn’t really needed there anyway. My parents disowned me and no one wanted to be seen with a golden-eyed vixen like me. It was surprisingly easy for me to leave, so I went without so much as a backwards glance. I haven’t looked back since I left.

Okay. I said I wanted to forget the past, yet I keep looking back at it. Why can’t I keep my mind in order? Some foxes can do it so easily I envy them. No matter, I will try not to let my thoughts interfere.

I’ve been wandering the woodlands for a few days now. I finally found a place where I will be left alone by other troops. Its in a secluded area surrounded by tall trees and bushes. I haven’t seen any foxes nearby, so that means I will not be bothered by people who ignore me.

I dug myself a small den under a clump of berry bushes for the night. It was warm and cozy, the perfect place for a fox without friends. I didn’t need anybody or anything but my den. Nothing could spoil my perfect evening. Nothing at all.

The sun shone right into my den in the morning, warming me awake. I peered out of the small opening in the branches before crawling out. I watched the small clearing and the surrounding trees as I stretched. Standing slowly, I saw a flash of light green in the shadows.

Ignoring it for the moment, I turned to the berry bushes. The berries were ripe and looked delicious. Just as I was about to take a bite, A mint green fox jumped in front of me, blocking me from the berries. “I wouldn’t do that. Those are elderberries.” he said.

“How silly of me. I guess I was just really hungry.” I said, looking up at the fox’s golden eyes.

“Come with me, then.” he said before walking away into the trees.

“Where are we going?” I asked, following behind him swiftly.

“To get you some real food that isn’t poisonous.” he said with a swish of his tail.

“Okay.” I said, following closely behind.

I picked up my pace until I was right next to the fox. “What’s your name?” I asked timidly. How unlike me to be shy.

“Minty, and yours?” he turned to face me and raised an eyebrow while maintaining a steady pace.

“I’m Cocoa. Don’t you belong to a troop or whatever?” I asked softly; if he didn’t, maybe we could start our own.

“Nope, and I’m assuming you don’t either.” he remarked.

“That obvious, huh?” I responded, starting to open up slightly.

“Considering a charming vixen like you is out here alone, yeah. It’s obvious. Why are you out here anyway?” he paused and turned to look at me, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.

“I left my troop. Even my parents avoided and ignored me.” I looked straight into his eyes, raising my head slightly. “But it doesn’t matter. I’m much better off out here where I can be alone without a constant reminder of my past.” I sighed, waiting for an answer.

“Same here. I left because no one seemed to care about me. Just look at me. My fur is green. I’m surprised I wasn’t kicked out of my troop sooner. I guess no one really noticed me.” he said after mulling it over for a short while.

“Well, maybe its a good thing we ran into each other.” I said, the last of my shyness dripping away into the abyss of time.

“Maybe it is.” he said thoughtfully before turning back towards the direction we had been heading in. “C’mon. Let’s go get something to eat. How does deer sound?”

“Great!” I yelped enthusiastically.

I bounded ahead, sniffing for a deer. I trotted on, following the scent of a young doe, still practically a fawn. I could hear Minty’s pawsteps behind me as my speed increased. The thought of a fresh kill excited me. Minty raced beside me, his golden eyes gleaming with excitement.

[Weeping_Angel }Y{]

Chapter 4 - Is There A Spark Between Us