He urged the foxes dig for a little bit, having them adjust their positions slightly so the whole was deep rather than too wide. He had a glimmer of an idea as to what he wanted them to do, but he could already tell from how he had needed to direct them in placing the sticks that he would need to oversee such an activity personally, rather than giving directions and letting them do it themselves. They were clever, these foxes, but they were still just animals, and abstract thought wasn't their strongest suit.
He had just called a halt to the digging and ordered them to collect more sticks when a dark shape flew silently by overhead, only noticeable from the way its dark silhouette momentarily blocked out the moon-and-starlight above. He cocked his head up to watch its flight and landing, blue eyes narrowing in slight suspicion. Not that he didn't see the occasional owl out hunting at night, but little barn owls didn't usually linger around foxes. Healthy owls might be safe, but the young, sick, or injured occasionally fell prey to hungry vulpines. This dark-feathered adult looked sleek and in its prime, though, so its curiosity was equally curious to the fox. He left a light order on his 'assistants' to keep gathering large sticks, and turned his attention to the owl.
Who? he asked dryly, his mental voice soft and still tentative as he forced himself to reach out to this potential stranger... who still might just be a normal owl. But at least no one would be around to see him making a fool of himself if it was!
He had just called a halt to the digging and ordered them to collect more sticks when a dark shape flew silently by overhead, only noticeable from the way its dark silhouette momentarily blocked out the moon-and-starlight above. He cocked his head up to watch its flight and landing, blue eyes narrowing in slight suspicion. Not that he didn't see the occasional owl out hunting at night, but little barn owls didn't usually linger around foxes. Healthy owls might be safe, but the young, sick, or injured occasionally fell prey to hungry vulpines. This dark-feathered adult looked sleek and in its prime, though, so its curiosity was equally curious to the fox. He left a light order on his 'assistants' to keep gathering large sticks, and turned his attention to the owl.
Who? he asked dryly, his mental voice soft and still tentative as he forced himself to reach out to this potential stranger... who still might just be a normal owl. But at least no one would be around to see him making a fool of himself if it was!
