As another mundane day drew to a close, I grappled with my keys, which seemed to slip through my tingling fingers. Autumn, not exactly my favorite season, always left me feeling perpetually cold. Some even joked that I wasn't truly alive, as anything below seventy degrees sent a shiver down my spine.
"Damn fingers!" I muttered aloud, dropping the keys for the second time. All I wanted was to get home. The buzzing streetlight dimly lit up the vacant parking lot as I struggled to pick them up off the cold asphalt. When I usually arrive to work, there is never any parking spaces close by, so I end up parking several blocks away. The city wasn't big, but it also wasn't small. Finally managing to unlock the door, I started the engine and silently pleaded for the heat to kick in faster than normal. It would be another thirty-five minutes before I could finally find some solace in sleep, only to wake up and repeat the entire cycle once more.
Once the pickup truck had warmed up enough, I shifted it into gear and set off. Navigating through the empty streets on the fastest route possible, I managed to hit nearly every red light. I held my hands Infront of the heater vent, debating on running a few of them, as there was no other car in sight. I ultimately decided not to, tapping my fingers on the steering wheel, feeling down that my radio wasn't working, something I keep forgetting to fix. Nearing the edge of town, the houses and lights thinned out, then faded behind me in the rear view mirror. I sighed, thankful to be leaving, and leaned against the arm rest.
Living amidst the mountains had been my saving grace, providing an anchor to my sanity. I reveled in the great outdoors, particularly the vibrant wildlife that surrounded me. Every morning, I was greeted by deer in my yard, and occasionally, a fox or two would make an appearance at night. I made sure to seize these opportunities, capturing some of the most breathtaking wildlife photographs. Unfortunately, some people assumed I had manipulated the images using an expensive photo editor. After a while, I withdrew from people, and just quietly observe my backyard, relishing in my serenity.
Yet, despite my love for the mountains, I longed for some sort of companion. I suppose we all do.
Snapping myself out of my wandering thoughts, I refocused on the road to avoid veering into a ditch. That's when movement among the trees caught my weary eyes. It appeared to be a large timber wolf, but the darkness and fatigue prevented me from dwelling too much on it. However, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to take a short walk roughly three miles away from my house. I pulled into a roadside pullout near an overlook, turned off the engine, and stepped out of the truck. Inhaling deeply, the crisp air tinged with the scent of pine trees provided a much-needed respite for my tired mind. Gazing up at the starry sky, a sense of foreboding settled upon me. What truly is the purpose of life?
With a heavy sigh, I shook my head, acknowledging that such questions were beyond my grasp. Returning my gaze to the heavens, I caught sight of a shooting star streaking across the sky. I closed my eyes and uttered a silent prayer.
Lowering my head, I glanced at my phone. It was time to get some sleep. I made my way back to the pickup, but as I approached, an uneasy feeling washed over me. I looked up at the stars, finding them unaltered. Then, a glimmer of light caught my attention, gradually growing larger and brighter. It became so intense that I had to shield my eyes. Suddenly, a surge of dread consumed me as I realized it was hurtling directly towards me. Panic surged through my veins, compelling me to back away in fear.
"Oh, God," I gasped, my heart pounding. I swiftly turned around and sprinted towards my pickup, knowing there was no way I could outrun this impending calamity.
The ball of light collided with me like a colossal truck, and everything plunged into darkness.
I groggily regained consciousness, my head pounding relentlessly. Attempting to sit up, a searing pain shot through my skull.
"Dammit! Feels like I got hit by a train," I muttered, clenching my eyes shut tight, trying to lay still. Deciding to wait until the pain subsided, I began counting down from a hundred, hoping to ease the pulsing ache. With each number, I took deep breaths, focusing on the counting.
"Ninety-nine... Ninety-eight..." I continued, trying to distract myself from the discomfort.
Reaching fifty-two, I cautiously attempted to move my legs, but the agony intensified, forcing me to start the counting again.
After repeating the process three times, I finally reached twelve, and the dull ache in my head allowed me to think clearly. Memories of the events slowly resurfaced.
I remembered being at work, then going home. And then... I wanted to take a walk. I saw a light. Was it a star?
As my headache subsided completely, I made another attempt to sit up, this time successfully. I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by a snowy forest, with me sitting in the middle of a crater. Gentle snowflakes fell from the sky, settling on the desolate ground. Some trees leaned at odd angles, while others lay fallen. And it was completely silent.
"Hmm..." I pondered, looking up and inadvertently catching a snowflake in my eye.
"Ah! Stupid snowflake!" I exclaimed, instinctively raising my hand. To my surprise, instead of a hand, I saw a white paw. Blinking, I noticed the color gradually transitioned to indigo halfway up. I placed my paw back down and turned my head, catching sight of my night-sky-colored fur, adorned with specks of snow. An indigo, bushy tail with a white tip and streaks completed the surreal sight.
"What am I? Where am I?" I wondered, feeling a mix of confusion and awe.
Turning my attention back to my surroundings, hunger gnawed at my stomach, and the cold began to seep through my fur. Realizing I needed to take action, I reluctantly considered the idea of hunting for food, even though the thought saddened me.
Lost in my internal debate, a sound caught my attention from the right. I focused intently, trying to see what it was, and hoping it would pass by without noticing me. Yet, luck was not on my side as a shift in the wind unveiled my presence to a small mouse. Its small shape was barely discernable until it moved. The creature approached me without hesitation.
"Pretending to be asleep won't fool you, huh?" I grumbled, sitting up and growling softly.
The mouse looked at me with a sorrowful expression, causing me to soften. I lowered my head and cautiously sniffed it, detecting the scent of earth, leaves, and musk. It froze momentarily, allowing me to nudge it away gently. However, the creature unexpectedly jumped at me, causing me to flinch. Instinctively, I placed my paw on it, causing it to squeak.
"Oh no, I'm sorry!" I whimpered, lowering myself to check if it was hurt.
To my surprise, the mouse approached my cheek, then bit my lip. Yelping in pain, I tried to spit it out, but my efforts only resulted in swallowing it.
"Dammit... Did I just eat a stupid mouse?" I exclaimed in disbelief, feeling a mix of regret and disgust.
A strangely feminine voice sternly answered, the words echoing in my head, Yes, it happened. Deal with it. It sacrificed itself to prolong your life.
I glanced around, wondering where the voice had come from, my ears on a swivel. There was nothing. I, could've swore, I- Trailing off, I sighed heavily, then sat there, contemplating the situation for a few minutes.
A shiver ran through my body, reminding me of the cold. Not really wanting to freeze, I gathered my strength and attempted to stand. However, my uncooperative legs caused me to stumble and fall, hitting my muzzle on the ground.
"Stupid legs," I cursed, frustrated.
I grunted, picking myself up and took a step, then another, and another, until I realized I needed to use my back legs as well. After a few more attempts, I managed to walk, albeit clumsily. But just as I was gaining confidence, I tripped over my own paws and ended up face-first in the snow.
"Fuck me, that hurts," I muttered, shaking the snow off my face while trying to maintain my balance. Once the stars and checkers cleared from my vision, I looked down to see if my nose was bleeding. Tentatively, I took a step, followed by another, and another. With each step, I grew more confident.
"Hey, I'm getting the hang of it!" I thought optimistically, continuing to walk, step by step.
But just as I began to believe I had mastered the art of walking on four legs, I stumbled once again, this time landing with a thud on my side.
A frustrated huff escaped me, hissing through clenched teeth. "Okay, third time's a charm," I muttered, refusing to give up. I rose to my feet, pushing through the embarrassment and pain, and attempted to walk once more.
Step, step, step, step, step... I carefully placed one paw in front of the other, focusing on maintaining my balance and coordination. Each step brought a glimmer of hope, a sense of progress.
But then, in an instant, my legs tangled up, causing me to trip, my chin slamming to the ground, grunting from the impact as the air from my lungs was driven out.
"Fuck!" I exclaimed, my voice echoed around me off the trees, then fell completely silent again.
I jumped up, seething with anger as I didn't understand how I kept failing. Without thinking, I ran blindly with my eyes tightly shut.
"Aahhh!" I let out a yelp as I unexpectedly collided with a tree, the impact sending a sharp jolt through my body. I bounced off, rolling a few times before sliding to a stop. Taking a moment to catch my breath, I released a heavy sigh, feeling the throbbing ache in my nose.
"It's okay, just take it one step at a time. You can do this. Just try to mimic the way a dog walks," I reassured myself. Standing up, I took a couple breaths and resumed walking, counting aloud to find a steady rhythm.
"One. Two. Three. Four. One. Two..." I continued counting, stepping in sync with each number. A surge of joy rushed through me as I reached 30 paces, despite the childishness of my celebration. Progress was progress, and that was what mattered. Pausing momentarily, I pondered my next move as I looked at my surroundings a bit more. The moon shown brightly after emerging from a break in the clouds for a moment, illuminating the blanket of snow that was not very deep. It had also stopped snowing briefly. Before I had a chance to look up, the moonlight faded, making the outlines of the trees now hardly visible again.
"I don't even know where to go. I suppose I'll just walk in one direction for a while and see what unfolds," I muttered to myself, shaking my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts. Making a 45-degree turn to my left, I set off once again. As I looked up at the sky, a glimmer of hope sparked within me, remembering that the stars might guide my way. Scanning the unfamiliar constellations through holes in the clouds, my heart sank as none appeared recognizable. Even the stars seemed different. Frowning, I forced myself to keep walking, my mind now racing with a multitude of questions. How did I end up here? What was the purpose of my presence? Where exactly was "here"? Why had I transformed into some kind of fox? What were my options? Where could I possibly go from here?
Just then, an unexpected collision jolted my hind leg, prompting a startled screech to escape my lips. Whirling around, I instinctively favored the injured limb as I sought to identify the source of the impact. To my surprise, I found myself face-to-face with a small white cottontail, its eyes widened in fear. Annoyed, I couldn't help but yell, "Hey! Watch it!" The rabbit trembled, a mixture of fear and astonishment etched on its delicate features. With a frantic scramble in the snow, it darted away from me. I cast a glance at my leg, then at the fleeing rabbit, muttering under my breath, "That hurt. How did you not see me?" Attempting to shift my weight back onto my leg, I made a futile effort to continue walking. It suddenly dawned on me, "Oh yeah, maybe it's because I blend into the darker surroundings."
After a short while, an odd sensation of being followed caught my attention. Glancing behind me, I confirmed my suspicion—the same rabbit was diligently trailing me, maintaining a distance of about twelve paces. Rolling my eyes, I was somewhat surprised that it now appeared unafraid. Soon enough, the rabbit sidled up beside me, matching my pace, its beady eyes fixated on my every move. Then, to my astonishment, it spoke.
"You're a fox."
Raising an eyebrow, I replied, "Yes, I'm aware."
"Foxes are supposed to chase rabbits," it remarked, tilting its head in confusion.
"Yeah," I responded, trying to keep my focus ahead.
The rabbit tilted its head further. "Then why aren't you chasing me?"
"Because I just woke up, and I'm not hungry." I said, remembering the mouse. "Okay, you know what," I stopped in my tracks and sat down, facing the curious creature. "My question is, why are you following me?"
The rabbit mirrored my actions, gazing up at me. "You're different."
I made a face and tilted my head in confusion. "And? What's your point?" I asked, growing impatient. The creature placed its paw on its chin, seemingly lost in thought. When it failed to respond, I stood up and continued walking.
"B-because I've never seen or heard of a fox like you before," it stammered, hastily following behind me.
"Oh, so you're an expert on foxes now," I retorted with a touch of sarcasm.
"Well, no, I can just sense it," it replied, its tone sounding peculiar.
"So you can sense it. Speaking of senses, that really hurt," I said, giving it a piercing gaze.
"Oh, yeah, sorry about that. You see, I was actually running away from another fox," it explained, looking down.
"What?" I froze, frantically looking around, fear creeping into my voice.
It giggled. "No, silly. I was just frolicking around, enjoying my night. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was going."
I flattened my ears, feeling slightly annoyed. Did it really play a prank on me like that? "Wow, okay. That was quite the trick," I remarked. It giggled even louder, and I resumed walking.
"I'm Cottontail," she announced.
"Tch. How fitting," I muttered under my breath.
"What's your name?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
I pondered for a moment, then glanced at my chest. "Star," I replied.
"How fitting," she mocked, giggling again. "I like you."
"Oh really?" I responded, unsure of how to interpret this peculiar situation.
I noticed the sound of bubbling water nearby, and my ears perked up, instantly intrigued. Picking up my pace, I stumbled a few times, my excitement getting the better of me. Throughout our journey, she had remained silent, only speaking up as we reached the edge of a small river. A thin ice shelf hugged the shore, tempting me with the promise of refreshing water. The river flowed swiftly, its ripples gently lapping under the ice. Aware of the dangers of falling in, I scanned for a spot where the ice didn't extend too far into the water. Finding a suitable spot, I eagerly lapped at the crisp, cooling liquid, quenching my thirst. Meanwhile, Cottontail hopped clumsily on the ice.
"Huh. This was frozen over the last time I crossed it. How am I gonna get home now?" she mumbled absentmindedly, clearly distressed.
I looked at her, confusion wrinkling my brow. "How long were you gone?"
She turned to me, her gaze filled with weariness. "A few days. I was out foraging. We were running low on resources due to the unexpectedly prolonged winter season."
Raising my head, I expressed sympathy. "Wow, I'm sorry you-" Before I could finish, the ice shelf beneath her gave way, and she fell into the water with a surprised squeak. Reacting without thinking, I leaped forward and swiftly pulled her out, setting her down on solid ground. She shook her body, trying to rid herself of excess water, but her soaked fur clung to her, causing her to shiver.
Curious about my actions, she asked, "Why did you save me?"
A mischievous smirk played on my face. "Can't have you floating away now, can we?"
Cottontail didn't appear amused. "Haha. Very funny." She glanced back at the open water. "I don't know how I'll get across."
An idea sparked in my mind, and I couldn't help but grin. "I do." Bending down, I fitted my fangs around her body, causing her to emit a squeal of surprise, and carefully picked her up. Scanning the opposite shore, I prepared to embark on an audacious plan.
"Can you warn me next time?" she exclaimed, exasperated.
"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled with her fur in my mouth. Placing a paw into the icy water, I shivered at the frigid touch. I had reached a point where there seemed to be no other option. Might as well, I thought to myself. I trudged forward, the water rising to my belly, its icy chill drawing away my body heat.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Cottontail asked, her concern evident.
"Mhm. We'll be just fine. I promise." I mumbled again, trying not to drop her, or crush her. Why am I doing this? I thought to myself as the pebbles shifted beneath my paws slightly, and I lifted my head.
"If you say so," she responded skeptically.
Stepping into a relatively deep spot, I grunted as I struggled to lift her out of the water. She clung to my muzzle in a panic, her tiny paws gripping tightly. "Yep, everything is fine," I assured her, gasping for air and swimming with urgency. The current carried us downstream, farther away from our intended path. Finally, I felt solid ground beneath my paws and scrambled to the shore, breaking the ice to climb up and out. Panting heavily, I placed her back on dry land. Shaking myself vigorously, water sprayed in all directions.
"You didn't have to do that," she said, curling up and shivering.
"Yeah, well, I wanted to," I replied, huffing.
"You really are different," she remarked quietly, starting to groom herself.
"Yeah, if I wanted to, I would have eaten you by now," I said, averting my gaze.
"Thank you," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.
I nodded in understanding. "Which way?" She extended a paw, pointing to the left of me. "Alright, let's keep moving," I replied, affectionately licking her a few times before lifting her up again.
"I'm capable of walking, you know," Cottontail retorted.
I grunted, acknowledging her remark, and proceeded in the direction she had indicated.
As we continued our journey, a hush settled over us, and the only sound that filled the air was the soft thud of my paws on the snow-covered ground. Cottontail remained silent, her paws swaying gently as we made our way forward. I quickened my pace, noticing the first hints of dawn breaking above the trees, painting streaks of light across the sky. The stars began to disappear, and the snow stopped falling. I was so intrigued, I found myself looking around. The trees were fairly close together, but there was plenty of room to navigate through.
Wow. It's really quiet. I thought, glancing at Cottontail. I still have no idea why I am doing this. The trees had stripes and blotches of snow on their trunks that reached half way up on most of them. I could eat her. She might be the only one I see.
Off in the distance, I could see the edge of a large clearing, the trees ending abruptly. Reaching the edge, I stopped and looked around the massive area, the far side a considerable distance away. To my left, a large path cut through the trees, bending away slightly towards the river I just crossed that was barely visible. Cottontail's legs shivered, pulling my gaze back to her. She was looking down, fear evident on her face. Her breath was rapid, and I could feel her heartbeat. My eyes softened, watching her for a moment. I looked behind me, then directly in front of me towards the tree line, setting my sights on one of them.
Nah. I thought, taking a deep breath through my nose, and letting it out slowly. Different scents tickled my nostrils. Not this one. I'll just drop her off and keep going.. I made up my mind, lifted my paw, then stepped forward, the snow crunching softly.
Author's Note
Hey there, and thanks for taking an interest in this story! To my returning readers, I tweaked it slightly, hopefully making it a little better, and easier to follow. I've had this in my head for several years, and have been trying to find time to type it out. Thing is, i have a hard time taking it from my mind, and putting it on paper. Thanks for reading, and I hope you join in, for a glance at my imagination 
Tell me what you think, chapter 2 will be coming very soon. Stay gorgeous friends 