The next week, Ferif's mother was rambling again. About some war between animals. And how Bjorn wouldn't like it that her mother, the queen, was dead. Bjorn. Ferif had heard that name before. It was the princess. The daughter of the queen that Ferif's father had killed. Ferif's mother kept rambling about how the foxes needed allies.
"Soot. Fetch me some mint leaves." Ferif's father soothingly said this order to the black stained fox. Soot nodded and ran off. Ferif followed. "Your father sure is worried about your mother, princess." Soot said to Ferif once she caught up.
"He is always worried!" She yelped back to the small fox. They cantered along the plain, nodding towards other foxes that say hello. They carefully step past the remains of the attack yesterday, before continuing their canter. It rained shortly after the attack, putting out the barn fire. Ferif looked at the tree line, wondering what was past this dusty plain. Soot suddenly stopped in front of a small mint plant. Ferif gently bumped into him before stopping fully.
"Have you ever wondered what is out there, Soot?" Ferif asked, still looking into the tree line.
"Nope. Never. I mind my business." Soot replied as he plucked the leaves from the plant with his mouth. Ferif nodded as they turned to run back to her father. He was standing solemnly near the den, beside a fully white and scarred fox. The white fox looked aggitated. Ferif recognized the white fox. He was an elder, a fox that was higher than Ferif's parents on the hierarchy. Ferif slowed before them. The white fox moved so Soot could enter the den.
"Ferif. Scorn is here to speak to you." Her father said, looking down at her then at Scorn. Scorn shook, his white fur seemed to sparkle.
"Someone made a opening in the trees. Breaking the twigs and making it easier for outside animals to access. You were the last one out." Scorn said, snarling a bit.
"That was a week ago." Ferif said in response, with just as much sas.
"You rushed inside! Destroying the exit! It is your fault the hyenas were able to enter without warning us with the sounds of the snapping twigs!" Scorn snarled back, he was as angry as ever. Ferif's father stepped in before Ferif retorted back.
"It was a simple mistake, Scorn. For she is just a child." That was true. Ferif was older than a kit, but not old enough to become a soilder. She was somewhere in the middle. She hated being called a child however. It made her seem weak. Scorn and her father had a long talk about responsibility and such. And how Scorn should punish her as an adult by giving her chores instead of banishing her to her den for a week.
"I'll treat her like an adult when she ventures out and makes peace with animals like I did with the wolves and their kingdom!" Scorn snarled out to Ferif's father, before turning back to go to the elders den.
"He knows you're not old enough..." Ferif's father said, entering the den and sitting down beside her mother. Soot exited the den. He sneezed and some of the black soot fell off him. Soot was older than Ferif but much smarter and faster. He had escaped from humans and always had dust and soot on him. He could never get it off.
"How much did you hear of that?" Ferif asked him as they both started walking.
"All of it."
"Scorn has his snout up his butt."
"He always does, Ferif." Soot leapt over some sticks. Ferif looked past the trees once more. She longed to leave. Maybe one day she would have an excuse...