The wolves were bigger than him, but when one was a fox that was true of most of the world. Even as a man he was used to being the weakest of any group, tall but slender, who used words as weapons rather than steel.
But for all he lacked strength, he was swift and nimble of both step and mind, and though he tried to be a good man, that wasn't the same as being nice. The little fox looked at the wolves that towered over him, and as they growled he grinned, white teeth against white fur and white snow, already planning the merry chase he'd lead them, leaping just ahead of fanged death--
The damnably intrusive voice in his head went silent for a breath and then something impacted the snow behind him. Even then he wouldn't have turned away from his opponents, but Remi's voice babbled out, confused and afraid, and for a split second the fox looked away, looked back--
He tried to twist, knowing he had made a mistake, but even his vaunted agility couldn't dodge the swift lunge of the wolf. A high-pitched yip rang out as teeth closed on his shoulder, and he turned his head back around to snap small, vicious teeth at the nearest eyeball of the beast that had caught him, struggling to free himself, wriggling loose and leaving the wolf with a mouthful of bloody fur for his trouble.
The wolves had Remi. Somehow, the hawk had been brought down and the wolves had the boy.
With a snarl the fox flung himself not away from the wolf, but under it and between its legs, dashing on three good legs. He wasn't as fast this way, nor as quick, but now he didn't need to outpace the wolves - he needed to catch them.
And if the wolf behind him was foolish enough to try for another bite of the white fox, he could lose his other eye in the bargain.
But for all he lacked strength, he was swift and nimble of both step and mind, and though he tried to be a good man, that wasn't the same as being nice. The little fox looked at the wolves that towered over him, and as they growled he grinned, white teeth against white fur and white snow, already planning the merry chase he'd lead them, leaping just ahead of fanged death--
The damnably intrusive voice in his head went silent for a breath and then something impacted the snow behind him. Even then he wouldn't have turned away from his opponents, but Remi's voice babbled out, confused and afraid, and for a split second the fox looked away, looked back--
He tried to twist, knowing he had made a mistake, but even his vaunted agility couldn't dodge the swift lunge of the wolf. A high-pitched yip rang out as teeth closed on his shoulder, and he turned his head back around to snap small, vicious teeth at the nearest eyeball of the beast that had caught him, struggling to free himself, wriggling loose and leaving the wolf with a mouthful of bloody fur for his trouble.
The wolves had Remi. Somehow, the hawk had been brought down and the wolves had the boy.
With a snarl the fox flung himself not away from the wolf, but under it and between its legs, dashing on three good legs. He wasn't as fast this way, nor as quick, but now he didn't need to outpace the wolves - he needed to catch them.
And if the wolf behind him was foolish enough to try for another bite of the white fox, he could lose his other eye in the bargain.
